RALLIES ON IMMIGRATION REFORM
Tens of thousands of protesters, in what was clearly a coordinated statewide effort, held rallies to protest what they consider to be unacceptable solutions to the country’s illegal immigation 
problem.
This is a national debate, and while the FR is a California-centered publication, there is probably no other state that is as negatively impacted by the failure of the federal government to address this problem than ours.
Mike Der Manouel has a commentary on the main page on this issue — but it seems to me that you can divide the issue into two parts. The first part — the easy part — is border control. Congress needs to put up a security barrier between Mexico and the United States, and take seriously the role of tracking who is coming into this country. Pursuant to this is an obligation to exclude from entry anyone who would try to come into this country without legal permission.
The second half of the equation is the dicey one — and that is what should be done about the millions of illegal aliens who are currently in the United States. The proposals before Congress run the gamut, from amnesty for all (thank you, liberal Democrats) to some proposals to literally round up and eject all of these folks (not too realistic, eh?). The FR is not going to solve this problem, but a good start would be to require proof of legal residency to do ANYTHING. Whether one is seeking a job, or pursuing government benefits, or even to fly in an airplane or drive in a car, proof of legal residence should be required. The message: if you are going to come to America the right way, through the immigration process, then the doors are open to this land of opportunity. But if you sneak in, well — tough luck. Go it on your own.
On a final note, I don’t know if it is a Constitutional Amendment issue, or a law – but the idea that someone would be an American citizen if they are born here, yet born of a mother who is not here legally.
ARNOLD AND HIS GOP CHALLENGERS
There is a story on the main page that highlights that, despite his GOP Pre-Primary endorsement, the Governor is actually facing a half-dozen GOP challengers. Of course, no one know their names, and I would be surprised if any of them have more than two nickels to rub together. I think we can easily predict a "Team Arnold" primary win. The good news is that while the Governor is ‘terminating’ these non-issue candidates, the Democrats are in the midst of a ‘battle royale’ — one of whom will emerge as a very bloodied-up opponent for the Governor to take on in November.
BRUCE MCPHERSON: ENERGIZER BUNNY
If you had told me a year ago, when Bruce McPherson was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to fill out the term of disgraced Democrat Kevin Shelley, who was forced to resign as Secretary of State, I never would have told you that McPherson would do this…. Believe it or not, he has been driving the ENTIRE state, visiting Registrars of Voters in all 58 counties. I have some appreciation for his efforst, as I hit over 45 county GOP committees when I was serving as State GOP Executive Director. It is quite a big state. McPherson will hit LA, his last county, this week on the one year anniversary of his appointment. Tom Ross pens on this on the weblog.
Have a great Sunday!
Jon
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