Kaine Starts With Rhetoric, Is Action Forthcoming?
By Greg L | 11 January 2008 | Illegal Aliens, Virginia Politics | 32 Comments
After exhibiting a dedicated intransigence towards addressing the illegal alien issue in Virginia is Governor Kaine finally ready to do something? By the looks of today’s Washington Times, perhaps he is:
“We are a nation of laws,” said Mr. Kaine, a Democrat. “It is our obligation to enforce those laws, and we should continually assess the consequences of illegal immigration.”
This would be a significant change from his policies last year, as Delegate Jackson Miller noted in the article:
Still, some Republicans were skeptical that Democrats will be serious about passing bills aimed at cracking down on illegal aliens.”I hope they want to take the issue seriously, and we will see this year,” said Delegate Jackson H. Miller, Prince William Republican. “Last year, they were not serious about it.”
And they certainly weren’t, especially Democrats in the Senate which killed all but one bill last year that attempted to deal with the illegal alien issue.
Now Democrats are starting to talk tough, and some (notably Chuck Colgan) have introduced some very interesting legislation on this issue, which offers at least a glimmer of hope. Whether these initiatives make it through Senate committees this year will really determine whether this is all bluff as some expect, or whether this critical issue really has begun to be understood by a Democrat leadership that has demonstrated nothing but hostility to policy reforms on the illegal alien issue in the past.
With the General Assembly session kicking off, pretty soon elected officials are going to have to match actions to rhetoric, and we’ll know for sure. Rhetoric is nice, but actual votes are coming up soon.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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There is NO way Kaine does NOT know what the American people in general want….to shut down the illegal alien problem once and for all! That is a fact! By not taking action like some of the other states (that have been widely publicized) he would be knowingly turning his back on we the people. We need to put the pressure on him and provide him with the success stories from OK and AZ, etc.
I have a feeling that Kaine will be dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing, that is enforcing the law. Right now he’s got the pro-illegal alien groups asking him to resist any attempts to change the status quo. I am also predicting many alert memos from “Liberal Control Central” coming out this legislative session. I will forward them out as I receive them from my sources.
Hopefully the Governor will see that obeying the laws of the land will not be seen as unfriendly to immigrants, but should show them that the Commonwealth is respecting the hard work, of those who came here LEGALLY, performed to follow the correct path to citizenship.
It will not show businesses that we do not tolerate immigration, but that we have their best interests in mind so they do not have to worry about the raids and possible fines.
I know many will have more respect for the Governor if he stands up and does the right thing. Once this issue has been solved, many of the Commonwealth’s other problems will show improvement as well.
What happened to the open thread? Does anyone else see a white screen, no writing?
dolph,
I’m getting the same thing.
I am too
Me too….
mcr,
Where have you been? Happy New Year!
Laf -
“lurking”…… Happy New Year to you, too!!!!!!!!!!!
Me, five or is it six.
Kaine shows his confusion on the issue. He says we’re a nation of laws AND we have to assess the consequences of illegal immigration. What’s he saying? That if we like the consequences we can ignore the laws? Can we assess the consequences of illegal child abuse, etc… ?
Gov. Kaine better have a chat with the leading luninary of the Democratic Party. In a comment made in Nevada, Sen. Clinton proclaimed that “No woman is illegal”. This statement was made in response to a comment from a resident which clearly indicated that his wife was in the US illegally (or without documentation - which is the politically correct way of saying the same thing).
The Constitution of the United States makes immigration a federal concern. Both the problem and its solution will be found in the next occupant of the White House, not in the Governor of Richmond. Kaine is mumbling about enforcing the law only because he expects to have the burden lifted from the Commonwealth in about 1 year when Sen. Clinton is inagurated.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/13702902.html
Sorry … should have been “the Governor in Richmond”.
I can’t see anything but white when I click on the open thread. Greg….are you here?
Since the open thread is messed up: http://www.lvrj.com/news/13702902.html?numComments=1000#blogcomments
Clinton the panderer! If she wins this country is in big trouble!
Read that article. Oh brother…..
Well, then good news Hiliary has just cut the illegal problem from 12Million to 6million as “no woman is illegal”. Utter nonsense. Amnesty for women. Sigh… Now that’s strategic.
She abandoned the Gregory K battle when Bill was elected and picked Health Care because it would make her. She should have stayed with the children.
The open thread is working again…..
I agree Patriot!! The dems want to ignore the ILLEGAL aliens and grant them amnesty, it provides them the necessary people to keep up the nanny state.
monti,
Just recently Kaine was up in arms about enforcing the laws of ILLEGAL aliens being in VA because it would give the Commonwealth an appearance that we were intolerant to immigration. Not a very good thought process.
Now he has changed his tune after what appears to be some education on the issue. I want to thank whomever did the educating!! Now if this isn’t just grandstanding, I will be impressed, but like other politicians, I will not get excited until I see them fight in the trenches for passage of their bills they introduce and sign.
Groveton;the idea that only the feds can regulate immigration is one of those urban myths. The constitution doesn’t even mention immigration. The only time congress exercised its plenary power to prohibit the states from controlling immigration was when they gave themselves exclusive power to punish employers with criminal penalties but left open the power to regulate illegal employers through licensing revocation to the states.(title 8 sec 1324a(h)(2) in 1986. Local and state police can arrest an illegal alien for the mere fact that he or she is in the country illegally.-Vasquez Alvarez 10th circuit court of appeals-and the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Carlos Mackey:
Your interpretation of the Vasquez case is overbroad and simplistic. Vasquez was asking the court to suppress evidence obtained in his arrest because it did not comply with 8 USC 1252c, the law that gives State and Local police the authority to investigate and arrest illegal aliens only if: (1) the arrest is permitted by state and local law; (2) the alien was deported or left the United States after a previous felony conviction; and (3) prior to arrest, the officer obtains “appropriate confirmation” of the alien’s “status” from the INS. As you state, Vasquez was arrested only because he appeared to be an illegal alien. The three conditions of 8 USC 1252c were not met. The court refused to suppress evidence gained as a result of his arrest because suppression was not an appropriate remedy for police officers failing to adhere to 8 USC 1252c.
State and local police have authority to investigate and arrest illegals only if the three conditions quoted above are met. But if they arrest an illegal without those conditions being met and find evidence of a crime, that evidence will not be suppressed, at least in the 10th Circuit. The Vasquez case does not stand for the idea that local police and state police can enforce federal immigration laws.
I heard a blip of a story on the news, that Kaine wants to take a look into the abuser fees and replace it with a gas tax increase? Anyone know? Also, is this not the outcome because the proposed tax fees were voted against? Help me out.
Well, this is kinda interesting ( found after my previous post)
Bicyclist Gets Four-Figure ‘Abusive Driver’ Fee
January 11, 2008 - 8:05am
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=600&sid=1324727
Timmy should be smart enough to know the difference between an illegal and an immigrant. His BS about Virginia gaining a reputation for not being immigrant friendly is as absurd as a store claiming that having shoplifting laws will discourage people from shopping.
Advocator;I never said that local police could just walk up and say “Your papers please”. If you had read the ruling you would have seen that an INS had noticed an apparent drug deal going down and called the police and asked them to investigate and if the suspect was found to be in the country,to arrest him on immigration charges. Also you didn’t address the issue of the states having the authority to deny all state funded benefits,post k12 education,in state tuition if the state does grant post k12. Also federal law allows the state to deny payment for prenatal care,driver license,state ID,professional licenses or any thing that is not mandated by the federal government. There is this belief that the states can do nothing. All the state laws that have withstood all court challenges so far deal primarily with business licenses;a vested right specifically granted in “title 8 sec. 1324a(h(2)US code.
Sorry I meant to say INS “agent” and “in the country ILLEGALLY” sorry about those two gaffs.
Carlos: Your statement, “Local and state police can arrest an illegal alien for the mere fact that he or she is in the country illegally” is patently wrong. But I agree that there is plenty that both the state and local governments can do about illegal aliens, short of investigating and arresting solely on the basis of being illegal.
Advocator;read Vasquez Alvarez again. The INS agent who witnessed the apparent drug deal specifically asked the local police to ascertain the immigration status of the suspect and to arrest him for violation of immigration law. Again; please read it thoroughly. The officer didn’t just ask for papers;he investigated the incident and after he found out that the suspect was here illegally he arrested him for immigration violation. There was a problem with jurisdiction so the INS agent had the local police first place him under arrest and then the INS agent then stepped in and took the suspect into custody. I am not an attorney but have extensive experience in legal matters having won tens of thousands of dollars in judgments against government lawyers in administrative law suits for me and my partner in our process service business including a $55,000 award for my partner for a claim for $20,000 which was denied but was granted for the above sum of $55,000 after I gave the talking points and drew up a rough draft for an appeal and after the law clerk put it on a formal petition was granted without even going to court. The quickest $13,000 I have ever earned. This was for military back pay for pension against the best government attorneys.
US Constitution
Article I
Section 8
Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;–And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section. 9.
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Section. 10.
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
“To establish an uniform rule of naturalization”
and ….
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”.
I give up - why is this an urban myth?
Carlos:
Congratulations on your exploits against government lawyers. I find them to generally be a lazy, offish lot. Wins against them should be relegated to the same status as kissing your sister.
The law is what it is. If you can’t understand it, that probably explains why you never got accepted to law school.
In Spite of the promises and hot air from our Presidential Candidates this Nation faces it most perilous times since WWII. Most of the Candidates are refusing to recognize or address problems that in time will destroy this nation!
We have an arrogant, incompetent, illiterate, and inept fool in the White House, a demoralized and decimated military, plundered treasury, trashed world standing, trampled rule of Law and Constitution, plunging dollar, and sliding into recession. While the nation is sinking under an tidal wave of Uneducated Illegal Aliens waving the Mexican flag, demanding their rights, while feasting at the trough of Public Welfare, as they Kill, Rob, and Rape thousands of American Citizens each year. .
We as a nation can survive fools in our White House. What we CANNOT survive is fools both in our Congress and white house like Bush, McCain, Hillary, Obama, Kennedy, Reid, etc. & now they want to be President! Each promising a new American, rebuilding the middle class and taking care of the poor. But what they refuse to acknowledge or recognize is no single Nation or people is rich enough to lift the 100,s of millions of poor out of poverty. In others words American & American taxpayers cannot bear the cost of becoming the welfare state for Mexico and Latin American. To attempt to do so will only reduce all Americans to poverty equaling what the uneducated invaders are fleeing from in their home countries. The poor and criminals pouring across our Borders have an average of an six grade education. Each person with less than a high education is a net cost of 20k per year for American taxpayers. This applies to American citizens as well as the millions of Illegal Aliens. So the displaced compassion, or pampering for votes, endorsed by Edwards, Obama, McCain, Hillary etc. is deeply flawed. Failure to close our border or to give Amnesty to the 12 to 30 millions of Illegal Aliens in this country will in the long run, with the Chain Immigration result in adding 100 to 160 millions poor citizens to our welfare rolls. Their high school drop out rates exceed 50 percent with a high crime rate and a very high illegitimate birth rate, is in part the very combination that keeps Mexico & Latin American a cesspool of crime, corruption, poverty & misery!
Maybe the results is what the multinational companies and the rich dream of, a Nation full of poor docile labors like China, India, Mexico, but I do not believe it is the future most Americans aspire to for their children and grand children!
In all, my country, a potential benefactor and beacon for all the world - is headed right off a cliff and to an third world status!
If the Politicians with the Citizens support, decide they must do more for the worlds poor then they must find a way like an Marshall plan for Latin American. What they must not be allowed to do, though flawed logic or by criminal intent is to turn this Nation into a Cesspool of Crime, Corruption, Poverty, and Misery by continuing the open borders policy and Amnesty for the millions pouring across our borders.
In my view - - this has all come to pass because the Politicians, the elected and sworn stewards of this country, have allowed it to happen. Surely they should have known better when they build bridges to nowhere …when they refused to abide by the Constitution against invasion or enforce our laws they have disgraced their oath of office. One way this Nation can start to recover is for the lot of them to be gone from those hallowed halls of Congress and the White House, because most of them have become a house of party-bound Prostitutes paid by the special interests, swirling and partying, amidst the rubble of their own malfeasance - taking this Nation right down in the gutter with them.
As a proud and concerned American that proudly served my Country in time of War as did my Father, my two brothers and my son. I am appalled and very angry at what self severing, stupid/corrupt politicians have done to my country!
Re: Bl said on 14 Jan 2008 at 3:51 pm:
Sounds great. Another believer that the tree of liberty needs to be refreshed with its natural manure (the blood of tyrants and patriots). Tyrants can be those who visit tyranny on their people by inaction (such as failure to enforce the Law), as well as action.
Buy guns and gold.