Who'll React First?

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement department issued a statement today saying it would cost no less than $94 billion to remove the 12 million illegal immigrants that live in the United States. That comes to nearly $8,000 to kick out each illegal immigrant--locating and legal fees not included.

That sure doesn't sound like a deal to me!

I can't wait to hear some of the GOP presidential candidates start tossing that figure around on the stump and mock what they're sure to say are the "overly-lenient" practices of the ICE, including the average 32 day incarceration period for each immigrant. I assumed captured illegal immigrants wouldn't cost much so keep overnight, but apparently it costs $97 for each day of ICE detainment.

$97 a night x 32 nights = $3,100+

Since I'm sure a handful of the candidates are looking around for some good price comparisons on that, I headed over to Hotels.com started imagining someone like Tom Tancredo saying the following line:

"It'd be cheaper to put up each illegal immigrants for a month in a Superior Room at the Fiesta Inn in Laredo, TX with satellite TV, air conditioning, a private balcony, and internet access! "

Good point, Mr. Tancredo, it certainly would be cheaper (that room would cost only $87/night).

Enough of me, just listen for the "spoiled immigrant" lines to start hitting the campaign trail soon--I'll make sure to put some of them up here when they do.

In case you were wondering, I'm no fan of illegal-immigration, and I wish we'd wise up and tighten our borders up, but the idea of booting out 12 million immigrants is completely absurd and un-American in my eyes.

Finally

It's not really news (as it's been circulating since June), but the internet media is throwing around quotes from Tom Tancredo and rumors about the Tommy Thompson campaign that the two will drop out of the presidential race if they don't perform well in today's Ames Straw Poll. For Trancredo, that means a top 5 finish, and Thompson says he's done if he doesn't place first or second, high results that seem out of reach for both men.

To be honest, I like the Ron Pauls of the campaign, and I hope he doesn't (and he certainly won't) drop out of the race until next year at least, but the likes of Tancredo, Thompson, and Hunter have added little to the campaign and clutter the debates without adding any positive dialogue. Tancredo and Hunter are one-issue candidates, and Thompson has as little charisma as you'd expect from the Secretary of Health and Human services. My money's on at least one of them to make a departure from the campaign in the coming days.

Oh My God

If the 2008 campaign seemed too scripted and smooth for any real news to jump out, Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo's recent comments sure break that trend.

During a meeting with Iowa voters this week, Tancredo said the following:

If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. But as I say, if I am wrong, fine.

Reading that for the first time (and every successive time), each of his statements was like a bucket of cold water in the face.

Some outlets of the MSM have proclaimed that the statement is a ploy to appeal to hard-line Republican voters just prior to the Iowa Straw Poll. I live in Massachusetts and don't spend much time with diehard war-on-terror Republicans, but I can't imagine any sane person actually believing what Tancredo said...even Tom Tancredo.

Was it a slip-up? Hell no! Tancredo had a response for everyone who would undoubtedly attack him for his comments:

...in this battle against fundamentalist Islam, I am hardly preoccupied with political correctness, or who may or may not be offended.

I was already mad enough when Rudy Giuliani completely discredited Ron Paul's belief of the "blow-back" theory when applied to the war on terror, but Tancredo's remarks make me as stark raving mad as he is.

If consequences don't matter in the real world (as our friend Tancredo apparently believes), then I'm sure Al-Qaeda wouldn't feel the need to strike back at say...EVERY JEWISH TEMPLE IN THE WORLD, right? Or better yet, why not send some of the million new terrorist recruits over to the Vatican and level that place too?

I can only think that after running through all the possible scenarios that could come as a result of his strategy Tancredo would have sobered up a bit and backed down, right? Wrong again!!
In the words of the man himself:

But as I say, if I am wrong, fine.

Oh my god.

Targeting the Base of Your Support...With an Actual Gun

I recently stumbled across an interesting summary of a Tom Tancredo event in New Hampshire. The Congressman spoke about protecting the right of Americans to own and carry guns, and it just so happened that a number of those in attendance were actually carrying concealed weapons and weren't shy about letting everyone know.

It's not hard to see why Tancredo's campaign is running into the ground; not only has he scaled down his campaign effort in New Hampshire, but he's not even talking about the issues that the top tier of candidates are having to wrestle with. Aside from the small portion of the population that considers protecting gun rights as the most pressing issue in America, the majority of us realize that a candidate whose strongest points are making sure only English is taught in schools, mandating that a 2,000 border fence is built, and broadening gun rights would fail to properly address issues like poverty, the environment, and a peaceful resolution of the Iraq war.

It's the most used saying in the campaign phrase book, and Tancredo seems to be using it now, "If we can place well in the __ primary, than our campaign will really take off."

I hate to rain on Mr. Tancredo's parade, but candidates such as Governor Mike Huckabee and Governor Mitt Romney (who have placed similar emphasis on states like New Hampshire) are actually seeing a rise in their support in the granite state.


Tancredo has nearly $600,000 in cash on hand for the '08 election, but he's got a long way to go before he can start building his border fence...