September 22, 2019

What Exactly Is An Immigrant?

A column by Pete Riva; a couple of excerpts:

If you look at precedent (legal eagles always use precedent to prove court cases) as well as US law history, immigration has varied from wide open (give us your huddled masses), to “we can throw you out if you’re not born here,”

Is a woman and child watching from across the Rio Grande breaking the law? Not yet on US soil, no law broken even if you could say the intent is clear. If she sees a Border Patrol agent and deliberately crosses asking for protection and refuge, is she breaking the law? Up until 2017 she was not, now she is and can get separated from her child and thrown across the border with or without her child. You read that right with or without, usually without, her child. Why do we do this? Ostensibly as a deterrent. Does that work? Possibly, but it certainly works to deter the rest of the civilized world from having any respect for our pontification as being “the land of the free.” To quote one French commentator, “Land of the Free” has come to mean “free to mistreat humans and deny human rights.”

On the subject of ICE:

It may sound fair to say you are protecting innocent children from unscrupulous traffickers by taking them into custody but you discard any credibility when they are kept in filth and locked in chain-link cages.

The whole column.

September 22, 2019

A trip to Agua Prieta, Mexico

Abe Villarreal, columnist and assistant dean at WNMU writes about his student trip. A couple of excerpts:

And through the bumpy unpaved roads of main streets, between corner taco stands and panaderias (bakeries), there are people just like you and me. People that want a better life.

Isn’t it funny how that phrase seems like it only belongs to foreigners coming to the United States? Most of the people I know, red-blooded flag-waving Americans, also want a better life. Doesn’t that make us the same?

Even after you think about it for a moment, we still feel so different, and it’s because we have an obsession with focusing on our differences. They are poor; we are rich. They are foreigners; we are citizens. They speak Spanish; we speak English. They, we, they, we, the back and forth goes on forever.

Before the weekend ended, we visited a migrant center. In the courtyard, the men played basketball. Mothers breastfed. Kids chased each other. Most had smiles, and then the mood changed. We were taken inside to hear the stories of several migrants who had been traveling thousands of miles from several Latin American countries.

A younger woman began to tell us how she was in medical school when her professor accused her of spreading ill will about her country’s administration. She was forced to flee, leaving her family and a dream career. Her words were few because she could barely speak as she held back tears. She’s not sure where her journey will take her.

The whole article

On the other hand, Yvette Herrell, defeated by Xochitl Torres Small for NM-02 (but running again) releases this BS:

Going forward, the wall will serve as the foundation for future progress, enabling law enforcement officers and policy makers alike to take a more proactive approach to securing the border now that there will be fewer open areas along the border to breach.

It’s been a long, slow march in the face of constant Democratic obstructionism, but President Trump is keeping one of his most important promises to the people of New Mexico and America: He’s securing the border and keeping our communities safe.

Here's the rest, if you can stand it

July 25, 2019

Need twitter help

Can I even do this? I want a tweet to appear to followers of another twitter account.

July 4, 2019

We have forgotten the example of Lady Liberty

Column by Abe Villarreal — some excerpts:

What would we be as a country if we restricted the entry of these new Americans? What would we look like, physically and ethnically? What inventions or innovations would have we missed? What businesses and communities would be absent from our history?

But today we don’t have a desire to stand tall and hold a bright light. We are afraid of what we don’t know. We see people that don’t look like us and we turn away. We convince ourselves that they are uneducated and sickly. We tell each other that these poor people must be criminals that have nothing to add to our country.

Lady Liberty never closes her eyes. She doesn’t even squint. She looks forward eternally, never turning her back. Her light is always on. Her tablets carry the same message, reminding us that independence is a gift to all.

Abe Villarreal is a columnist for the online Grant County Beat and an assistant dean at Western New Mexico University in Silver City.

April 24, 2019

Militia Defiant in New Mexico: 'It's My God-Given Right to Be Here' NY Times article

According to this 2|New York Times story, the vigilantes harassing refugees at the border may be digging in before their Friday eviction deadline. A few excerpts:

“It’s my God-given right to be here,” said one balaclava-clad militia member who gave his name only as Viper. Chafing at the hostile reactions to the militia’s actions, he said that he was an Army veteran and that he expected his group, if pushed out, to set up camp in another location along the border.

Maybe he’s referring to the thing in the White House who thinks he’s God?

Armando Gonzalez, 52, said he drove to Sunland Park, which sits on New Mexico’s borders with Mexico and Texas, from his home in Tulsa, Okla., to lend a hand to the United Constitutional Patriots. He said he believed that the news media had distorted the group's work and the reality of life along the border.

“If you ask me this is all about politics,” said Mr. Gonzalez, adding that he was a disabled Army veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. “The Democrats want illegal immigration because that means more votes for them.”

A bit unclear on the concept?

Judith Sierra, the owner of Tortilleria Sierra in Sunland Park, chuckled at the thought of armed men traveling to the border to chase after women and children. It’s not uncommon for migrants to pass through her property, she said, lately in large groups.
“We offer them water or tortillas,” she said, adding that the Border Patrol is never far behind.

At least someone is offering a little New Mexico hospitality.

Three Democratic members of Congress — Deb Haaland and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Veronica Escobar of Texas — wrote to F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray requesting an investigation of the United Constitutional Patriots.
“As a nation, we must end this xenophobic behavior.”

This madness is going to get someone hurt.

April 12, 2019

GOP commissioner sends dems to mob their own convention - follow up

[link:?1555081067|

The background is in my original story, but to summarize, Billy Billings is a GOP county commissioner who sent out an email to try to get conservative Democrats to pack the county convention and vote for a county chair who would try to adopt a GOP-like platform for the Democratic party. The plan backfired big time and progressives ruled the convention.

Ty Bays ran for county commissioner as a republican, was defeated, and re-registered as a Democrat. But not soon enough to participate in the party convention. (28 day minimum) He was not allowed to vote and was required to stay in the visitors/observers area.

The above ad was NOT placed by the Democratic Party, but by an unknown individual. Nevertheless, Mr Billings has supposedly registered a complaint with the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Wah.

Wah.

Wah.

March 31, 2019

GOP commissioner sends Dems to mob their own county convention

Grant County NM republican commissioner Billy Billings emailed a group of supposedly "conservative" democrats a plea to mob their own convention. Some excerpts:

"Socialism has never worked! In the last century this failed ideology has led to the misery and even death of millions. The nationwide Socialist movement started at the grassroots level and is especially strong right here in Silver City and Grant County. We must push back! Socialism began at the grass roots level and it must be defeated at the grassroots level."

First, this guy is unable to differentiate between Communism and Social democracy. He needs to read Ernest Lesigne: most of what he wrote in 1887 still rings true today.
Second, Socialism does work. There's SOCIAL Security and Medicare, which he pays into or receives, he drives on public roads, etc. In Scandinavian countries, everyone has health care, education and retirement, while capitalism and entrepreneurship thrive under Social Democracy.

"Please contact as many common sense democrats as you can and commit them to go to the Local Democratic Convention at the Brown Derby in Santa Clara tomorrow - March 30th at 12:00 Noon. If you are a registered Democrat, please go! Many good common sense people that you know will be there and they need your help to wrestle control of the local Democratic Party away from the leftist so called Progressives. Your one vote may make the difference.

Imagine if socialists were not elected to party offices and the Democratic Platform was re-written to support jobs, life, and freedom! This would send a message to the Governor and other left leaning liberals that we no longer support what they are doing to Grant County and to New Mexico."

So what is an elected republican doing trying to influence the platform of the democratic party? If not unethical, it is, at the very least, in poor taste.

"Please go and vote for Sam Morales for Democratic Party Chair of GRANT County. He is pro-life, pro-business/mine jobs, pro 2nd amendment, and he recognizes the border CRISIS and believes in a secure border.

We need 200 conservative democrats to attend and take party control away from the Democratic Socialists. We will meet that goal if good people will just show up.

Thanks for your help!

Billy Billings"

The Morales platform is not Democratic, it is republican, and directly conflicts with the official platform of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

The email went out Friday afternoon, the day before the county convention. However, the message also reached a member of Mimbres Indivisible, and others who spread the word to progressives. Attendance was a record-breaker; 295 registered democrats signed in and voted for ward and precinct positions. (60 at the previous convention) When the newly elected precinct delegates voted, it came down to this:

A.J. Sandoval (progressive) - 74
Sam Morales - 15

Progressive Cindy Provencio was elected vice-chair.
Most of the ward and precinct positions were filled by progressives, and state party central committee delegates are a mix of progressive and moderate Democrats.

So Billings' conspiracy with "Conservative" Democrats backfired miserably, much to our delight!

February 28, 2019

New Mexico counties declare themselves "2nd amendment sanctuaries"

While the New Mexico state legislature works to do what the federal government has failed to do - implement tighter gun control by expanding background check requirements – sheriffs within the state are asking their counties to declare themselves “2nd Amendment Sanctuaries” where only federal gun laws that they deem constitutional would be enforced.

Grant County, home to historic Silver City and portions of two wilderness areas, recently joined about 15 other New Mexico counties in passing such resolutions. At last Thursday’s county commission meeting, two resolutions, brought by Sheriff Frank Gomez (elected as a Democrat) were discussed and voted on.

No. R-19-23 was in support of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and declaring Grant County to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

No. R-19-24 was a resolution opposing legislation that would impose rules, regulations and restrictions exceeding federal law on all private firearm transfers between individuals, and referred to a bill requiring background checks for gun show sales.

Sheriff Gomez also opposes HB 87, which is intended to give law enforcement court-ordered authority to remove firearms from the homes of individuals deemed a potential high risk of violence, and is directed toward people involved in domestic violence and situations involving mental instability. (added edit)

Grant County is overwhelmingly Blue, but because supporters of the resolution had “packed the house”, the crowd was not representative of the majority of residents.

Opening of the news story in the online Grant County Beat by editor Mary Alice Murphy:

“Proud Americans stood, hands on hearts, and proclaimed: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…" About 1,000 of them stood in the large conference room and in the halls of the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center. The sound filled the room and grew, phrase by phrase in unison, with a crescendo to "with liberty and justice for all."”

[link:?1551369628|

Impressive prose, perhaps even worthy of a Bulwer-Lytton Award. However, other attendees, including this resident of the Mimbres Valley, saw things a little differently:

"I attended the Grant County NM Commission meeting on Feb. 21, 2019 and witnessed the Trump base froth generated by emails from the local Chamber of Commerce CEO, Scott Terry, and NM District 38 Representative, Rebecca Dow (and possibly also the NRA?). It was not only ugly, it was scary. Some in the camo-wearing, mining company orange-vest crowd made 'almost threats' (e.g., "You try to get my gun and I'll come get you!&quot against the two liberal Commissioners and the 4 liberal speakers."

[link:?1551369628|

Another attendee commented,

“I think it is worth noting that those supporting these anti-background-check Resolutions had organized to completely fill the hall to SRO over an hour before the scheduled meeting leaving another large crowd of would be speakers outside, many of whom would have spoken against them.

It also seems relevant that the comments of these folks over that 4 hours were less about the proposed background checks and more about "Don't take my guns," the right to sell their property to their grandchild, and "creeping regulations," ignoring the facts of the legislative bills with which they did not seem familiar.”

The resolutions were brought to a vote and passed 3-2. Democrats Javier Salas and Chris Ponce voted in favor, along with Republican Billy Billings. Democrats Edwards and Browne voted against.

Granted, they’re resolutions, not laws, but why did our “Democratic” sheriff and “Democratic” majority on the county commission suddenly defy the will of those who elected them?

How many counties in other states are enacting these resolutions?

What is behind these actions by county sheriffs here in New Mexico and in other states? It may well be connected to the philosophy of the Constitutional Sheriffs Association. According to politico.com:

“The strange idea that unites all members of this movement is that a sheriff is the highest law enforcement officer within a county’s borders—superior not only to local police, but also to officers and agents of the federal government.”]

Conspicuous members of this group include former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke and Joe Arpaio, convicted of violating a federal court order and pardoned by trump.

But the question remains: Why would law enforcement officers want fewer restrictions on the possession of guns that might end up pointed at THEM?

January 29, 2019

King trump of Id

Ain't this the truth!
[link:|