Lieberman: Border closing should be on the table

[babylonsister]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/04/30/lieberman-border-closing-should-be-on-the-table/

Lieberman: Border closing should be on the table
@ 3:27 pm by Michael O'Brien


The Obama administration and Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano should not have taken closing the border with Mexico off the table as a method to contain swine flu, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) argued Thursday.

"We urged Secretary Napolitano to please keep that option open. We're not recommending it," Lieberman, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said on Fox News. "It just seems to us that if we get to a point where contagion can be carried by proximity and there are more of the cases in Mexico then we want to keep separate for a while."

While some lawmakers such as Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) have called for a closed border with Mexico, where swine flu cases have run amok, the administration has rejected calls for such a response, reasoning it would damage the political and economic relationship with Mexico.

"If you close the border with Mexico even temporarily, it would have tremendous economic, dislocating effects. It'll also dislocate a lot of personal lives of people who go back and forth most every day," Lieberman explained. "But if we get to a point where public health experts tell us that closing the border temporarily will save lives in this country, then that's a choice that we've got to make."

Video at link~

[The Magistrate]

1. If He Really Worked At It, Ma'am, He Could Probably Become An Even More Worthless Panderer

"What a nimrod! What a ultra-maroon!"

[babylonsister]

5. Trying to throw his weight around, and no one listened?

Poor joe.

:hi:, Magistrate.

[LakeSamish706]

9. Well said, and he certainly is a worthless individual... I wish he would switch to...

the Republican party where he belongs.

[Bluebear]

2. 'Close the Mex'kin border, Joementum said on Fox News' . . Man, I detest this guy.

[tridim]

3. You know, I'm really starting to hate that damn table.

[Howardx]

4. joe knows who's votes he needs to get in his next election

and it aint democrats

[Sequoia]

6. Shut up you old crone. SHUT UP.

WE WILL NOT CLOSE THE FREAKIN' BORDER !!!!!!

[pleah]

7. White rat is at it again. n/t

[aquart]

8. I'm gonna go with tiny strokes. Every day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Playing to his RW racist base

poss

[Mike 03]

11. He pressed that at yesterday's testimony, but it's completely pointless.

It would also be a huge waste of manpower and resources at this point where it is more important to focus efforts in more effective directions.

[walldude]

Oh man don't let the guy watch the Simpsons Movie or we'll all be

living in "The Dome".

[wtbymark]

12. funny how all the NEasterners want to close the mexican border

ask them if they'd like to close down all roads and airtraffic into and out of Conn. and NY - what idiots

[Retrograde]

13. Now that we got all those horses out of here we can close the barn door

Uh, Joe, it's already here, brought in by people who legally traveled from Mexico, then going about their lawful businesses like going to school or the mall or riding the subway and spreading their infections.

Mexico seems to be doing its best to contain the spread of the flu. Maybe we should close off the airports in New York to keep the disease from spreading from Queens? Oops, too late.

[Debi]

14. Which border you stupid shit??!!

Why only the border w/Mexico? Confirmed cases in Canada already so shouldn't we be closing the northern border? And why not the east and west coasts as well?

I live in Iowa - where there are currently NO confirmed cases - should Iowa close it's borders too?

:puke: <--- b/c of Lieberman not b/c I have the flu :crazy:

[scarletwoman]

15. Iowa will have to close the border with Minnesota! We have a confirmed case up here!

Save yourselves! *cough* *gasp* We're *cough* done for!

[The Magistrate]

17. They Will have To Seal Off Illinois, Too, Ma'am

We have several cases here. Lord love us, but we are DOOMED....

[scarletwoman]

18. *sob* Then... this is the *cough* end...

We'll never *cough* share long walks on the *cough* beach... I'll never *cough* look into your limpid blue (or brown, whatever...) eyes... Or *cough* *gasp* feel your strong yet tender arms around me...

O, cruel world! That all our lovely *cough* dreams are dashed to dust!

*cough*

*hack*

*gasp*

*cough*

...

[The Magistrate]

19. That Is So Sweet, You Poor, Brave Thing

Farewell, all that could have been....

"We'll rule Hell, my Dear!"

[scarletwoman]

21. ...

:*

[Chemisse]

16. Ludicrous Lieberman

Nearly all the cases in this country are here because of people vacationing or otherwise visiting Mexico, then returning with the virus. Rather than close the borders to commerce, why not just say no more nonessential travel to Mexico? Of course, nearly everyone has stopped visiting there anyway, so why not just SHUT UP?


No, Joe-mentum is making a feeble attempt to criticize Obama, rev up a little anti-hispanic fervor, and make himself sound relevant all at the same time. As usual he just looks ludicrous.

[rustydog]

20. Slam the door closed AFTER 11 states have confirmed cases

Liebeman, you neeed to go to the corner and be offended we still use the term Swine flu.

[uppityperson]

22. Don't mix flu and immigrant debate

http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/columnists/x845558474/Dont-mix-flu-and-immigrant-debate

Some of what is being said about the possible swine flu pandemic that seems to have originated in Mexico demonstrates that ignorance is infectious. Among the infected: Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Lakeside, who recently proposed that President Obama consider restricting travel between the United States and Mexico and prepare to close the border to “ensure this virus does not spread any more than it might already have.”

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, about half a million people move between the two countries each day – and that's just at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world's busiest border crossing. The economic cost of restricting cross-border travel would be enormous. And to what end? As Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently noted, “You would close the border if you thought you could contain disease – the spread of the disease – but the disease already is in a number of states within the United States so the containment issue doesn't really play out.”

Also infected is CNN commentator Jack Cafferty, who irresponsibly spouted off this week about how Americans would be much safer had we secured the border after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, because of “all these illegal immigrants who we let come in . . . (some of whom) may have brought this in.”

The operative phrase being “may have” since we don't know how the disease – which, as of this writing, has infected at least 68 people in the United States, including five in San Diego, and more than 1,000 in Mexico – came to this country. Although Cafferty used the word “secure,” from the sound of it, what he really wants is to “seal” the border. With 2,000 miles between Brownsville, Texas, and San Diego, good luck. Also, for those eager to blame the spread of the disease on illegal immigrants, the odds don't add up the way they might have a few years ago. Illegal immigration into the United States is down dramatically thanks to the sour U.S. economy.....

[UTUSN]

23. Dear Joementum: I look forward to your being OFF the table, does CT *not* have a Dem?!1 n/t

http://notexasborderwall.com/

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Many excellent ones. What we do not have is an election

for that seat until '12.

[JerseygirlCT]

24. I might be up for closing the border

If they could guarantee that Lieberman was on the other side at the time.

[Canuckistanian]

26. I knew it! I KNEW they would use this as an excuse.

I was waiting to see the first person to use it.

Lieberman.

I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die from NOT surprise.

[varelse]

27. News flash, weasel

it's already on THIS side of the border.

Unless you're thinking of closing the New York, California, Kansas, and Texas state borders?

[Vidar]

28. Close the border? We can't even close Lieberman's mouth.

[Jennicut]

29. Loserman, my lovely Senator. I would take Specter over him. At least he is now actually a Dem.