Calblog

TIME did not run it's story because of J&K. TIME is big/national, J&K is small/local. J&K does not set the agenda for massive media outlets.

J&K's game will get media attention if only for its strangeness, especially since the liberal media is more than happy to run news stories about conservative infighting.

As for Dreier's legislation, I heard him talking about a guestworker program, and that would be a step backward in the immigration battle. Far from doing an about-face on immigration policy out of fear of J&K, Dreier was peddling the same spineless split-the-baby approach that got him in trouble in the first place.

The one good piece of news is that the liberal freaks that want to hand our country to the illegals are wasting their time in picket lines. I love stupid protestors. Make sure you flip them off as you walk by. Picket lines are worthless except against very sensistive people, and vehicles if the picketers break the law by lying down in the road.

It is good that J&K are making a big deal out of immigration, however it is disappointing that they want to waste their effort promoting a stupid, counterproductive idea instead of putting their focus where it can do some good.

According to Dreier: "In fact, the legislation contains specific language stating that it is the policy of the U.S. that the Social Security card not be used as a national identification card."

Isn't that the same thing they say about driver's licenses? And, hasn't he supported national ID legislation before? Isn't this an attempt to make it look like he's doing something when in fact he's proposing something that even non-libertarians should be scared about? (A national ID card in fact or effect).

As for the protestors, I'd imagine they're from an extremist group that could be discredited. The last time I heard of a protest against J&K it was by August|n Ce8eda of the Br*wn Bere|s. Racist, anti-American comments from him are easy to find. Even Telemundo would be forced to renounce him.

I'd imagine the TIme piece was an attempt to help Kerry. Eventually, hopefully, he will start to help himself. Bush is about 1000 times more vulnerable on immigration-related matters than Dreier.

What exactly is scary about a national ID card?

We already use a combination of state drivers licenses and federal Social Security numbers.

And ooooh! Passports are scary too.

The real immigration battle will begin after the November elections and we shift into re-elect Governator and elect Hillary mode (assuming Bush is re-elected). Look for more California initiatives in November 2006 and 2008.

Also, here may be more support in the Congress since more illegal Mexicans are moving north and taking low paying jobs away from the denizens of the midwest and south. Unions don't like this!!!!!

Don't look for any relief from Dreier....... so SACRIFICE HIM!!!!!!

And ooooh! Passports are scary too.

Passports aren't scary (except for the bit about iris scans), but internal passports certainly would be. They say you wouldn't be required to carry this "national work card" all the time, but, like a driver's license, it could end up with a million everyday uses other than employment.

This is a slippery slope leading to all your biometric details stored in government-accessible computers. Examples here.

An anti-illegal immigration Republican ran against Dreier in the promary. John & Ken should have made this pitch then. Now, if Dreier is sacrificed, we lose the strongest CA Republican in Congress, and hand one of the few Republican districts to the Democrats.

I don't think there will be any more long term effect than that. Anti-illegal immigration issues tend to be remembered as anti-minority in this state.

I still don't see the problem.

You are, essentially, required to carry some form of identification for all travel as it currently stands (ID at airports and train terminals, drivers' license, etc.).

I don't see any major fright difference between that being at the state level and the federal level.

Nor do I have a problem with the iris scans- one already must submit fingerprints (or at least a thumbprint) for ID documents (keep in mind that the birth certificate allows the government to look up the full finger and toe prints made of you at your birth), and the blood vessels in the iris are simply another individually identifying characteristic.

There is no slipperly slope- none of this is really a departure from the current scheme. Would you care to try and convince us that drivers licenses are horrifying examples of government invasion?

National ID cards, iris scans, they all peg my Rusty Shackleford/black helicopter/blue helmet/NWO meter. There's a page on them here. I don't have specific arguments, just a natural and correct revulsion.

Part of that is based on questions why the U.S. government sponsors biometric conferences. Part of that is based on companies that trademark phrases like "Get Chipped[TM]". Part of it is based on the anti-privacy comments collected here, like this: "We think we are the first (school) in the country to use this," [the schoolmaster said of iris scanning his students so they can get their lunches]. "But this is not a James Bond school for spies. ... This is not science fiction. This is technology that exists."

Fight the power, Chuck.

Yawn.

I'm so not convinced that this is any more pernicious than our current driver license/fingerprint regime.

You're just scared because its different than what you've grown up with.