Rand Paul

[kaskaskiakid]

I supported Trump on immigration. I've been a hardliner on immigration since the '80s when Reagan granted amnesty to 4 million illegals and the promise to lock the door. We failed to lock it.

I've never understood what part of "illegal" is so hard to understand.

We didn't handle the children and separating families issues well. But the parents knew there was a legal procedure to emigrate. We owe them nothing more than a cot and 3 meals a day, but separating young children from their parents and cages are ridiculous.

Yes, I blame Pelosi and the left coast liberals for our failure to take a rigid "by the book" stance on immigration.

I see our only option now is to grant amnesty to the 14 million illegals already here and lock the door once and for all. I agree that we have our own poor to take care of first.

I amend to say I am all for legal immigration.

 

[bullitpdq68]

I can agree mostly with this BUT, how do you propose we "lock the door once and for all"?
Until that is done, really done, there is no value in amnesty. I do prefer an over time earning citizenship but ONLY after closing the border for real.

It would have to be a combination of two things. A more secure boarder, be it better fencing in some areas and more boarder patrol agents in others. However we then have to have a more sound policy to deal with those who still make it over. I think it has to be close to a zero policy or people will tell thier family and friends and more will continue to cross, you have to have a deterrent...I know some will call that cruel but open up what you think we can allow and after that it is illegal no if ands or buts.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

It would have to be a combination of two things. A more secure boarder, be it better fencing in some areas and more boarder patrol agents in others. However we then have to have a more sound policy to deal with those who still make it over. I think it has to be close to a zero policy or people will tell thier family and friends and more will continue to cross, you have to have a deterrent...I know some will call that cruel but open up what you think we can allow and after that it is illegal no if ands or buts.

I can agree mostly with this BUT, how do you propose we "lock the door once and for all"?
Until that is done, really done, there is no value in amnesty. I do prefer an over time earning citizenship but ONLY after closing the border for real.

Agree, bullit. My opposition to the wall is it is not cost effective in the most remote desert and canyon areas. We have to have more boots on the ground. Station armed outposts all along the border. Any wall or fence by itself isn't going to stop illegals. I've often thought what better place be training our military than in the desert and canyon lands, as terrain and temps would be similar to the Middle East. More drones and daily manned flyovers. And definitely put some teeth into our enforcement. For instance, 800,000 six month foreign work visas are given out every year, and an estimated 50% do not return to their native country after six months.

 

[bullitpdq68]

Agree, bullit. My opposition to the wall is it is not cost effective in the most remote desert and canyon areas. We have to have more boots on the ground. Station armed outposts all along the border. Any wall or fence by itself isn't going to stop illegals. I've often thought what better place be training our military than in the desert and canyon lands, as terrain and temps would be similar to the Middle East. More drones and daily manned flyovers. And definitely put some teeth into our enforcement. For instance, 800,000 six month foreign work visas are given out every year, and an estimated 50% do not return to their native country after six months.

Just a question, do you really want military as border agents, not saying we do or don't just wanting to know the pro and cons? However it might make a great training tool. The challenges or military faces today is way different they do have to know how to deal with civilians.

I knew a wall was never going to be the solution, it might work well for some areas but really just is not feasible for most.

The biggest thing that would help is for Mexico to strengthen thier own border, they just don't care if people from other countries come up on the way to the United States, it would be very helpful if they did and help deter those making the trip.

 

[bullitpdq68]

The problem with ANY people being the barrier is people can be bought off. There is a ton of money involved in the drugs crossing the border and they often mingle in with the immigrants.

Make drugs legal....take the money out of the cartel and tax it, then there is no incentive...

 

[3Rfan]

If you want to use military, fine but, if you can have a base of sorts, you can build a wall of sorts. The wall is a one time expense as opposed to never ending patrolling. You have to have border agents either way but the numbers would be much less with a good fence/wall.
Enforcement is the real problem. When people have a problem with kids in holding pens, the media can make ANY enforcement draconian.

The wall is NOT a one time expense. Half of the wall Trump claims he's built was existing wall that had gone bad or been damaged and was being replaced.

 

[MGHS]

Just a question, do you really want military as border agents, not saying we do or don't just wanting to know the pro and cons? However it might make a great training tool. The challenges or military faces today is way different they do have to know how to deal with civilians.

I knew a wall was never going to be the solution, it might work well for some areas but really just is not feasible for most.

The biggest thing that would help is for Mexico to strengthen thier own border, they just don't care if people from other countries come up on the way to the United States, it would be very helpful if they did and help deter those making the trip.

The Military is against policing the borders....a lot of reasons why.

 

[3Rfan]

Mail in ballots have ALWAYS been a big issue to those who want election integrity. The problem for conservatives is that we hate the system but defend each states right to form their own system.
ANY vote that was cast legally should count, NO ONE is saying otherwise.
Yes, there have been tears in many states over mail in voting because it isn't the way to insure election integrity. First they say no voter fraud then no massive voter fraud then not enough to overturn the election. How many illegal votes are acceptable? How can you prove ANY mail in ballots were cast by the person they were mailed to and that person was who they said? I CAN with certainty say if you voted this year, it was you who cast the ballot. Mail in states have no way of showing that.

Trump's Attorney General, who has long been his lap dog, said today his DOJ found out the election was NOT rigged! Imagine that, I guess he no longer cars if Trump fires him with less than two months left in office anyway.

 

[r14veer]

You will have more dying from drugs than covid. Add in the "healthcare" costs associated and you can pay for a wall pretty quick.

You might give this a look: http://www.midcoastforum.org/wp-content/uploads/greenwald_whitepaper.pdf

 

[3Rfan]

I think it is important to the future of our democracy to know WHO is voting in our elections.

Who is one thing, how is another.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

The secret ballot is fundamental to our democracy. I can vote if I'm an American citizen. It's nobody's damn business if I vote or not. Although I don't like mail in voting. If you have a legit reason, request an absentee ballot. It's not hard to do.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

Sound like a Republican with that position.

Just an American. KISS - keep it simple, stupid.

We do need to fix a few things with election day.....

It's crazy that we still have people in cities waiting in lines for hours to vote. Keep the polls open until midnight in cities, or 24 hrs, if needed. Make polling places in big arenas. I know I would probably say screw it if I had to wait over an hr.

 

[Expect2Win]

Just an American. KISS - keep it simple, stupid.

We do need to fix a few things with election day.....

It's crazy that we still have people in cities waiting in lines for hours to vote. Keep the polls open until midnight in cities, or 24 hrs, if needed. Make polling places in big arenas. I know I would probably say screw it if I had to wait over an hr.

Make voting a week long. Or over an extended weekend Friday through Monday with Monday being a holiday.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

Why close the polls at 7pm? It's simply customary so the east coast media can project the winner on the 10pm news.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

You really need to get out more if you think bad things happen after 7pm.

 

[kaskaskiakid]

You said midnight.

Plenty of places still had long lines when the polls closed, and they were allowed to vote if they were in line. Make it 9 or 10pm. Whatever it takes to eliminate lines, even 24 hrs voting. Not everybody goes to bed at 9pm. In large cities where the long lines occur, all the shift workers could vote during slower times. There is no reason to not expand the hours where needed.