Turncoats: Border Governors Richardson & Schwarznegger

Why has Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) decided to host the annual conference in spite of the fact that all six Mexico border state governors boycotted the conference when it was to be held in Arizona following the State's new  immigration law, SB-1070? And why is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) going to attend the conference that has been rescheduled for late September?

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was to host the 2010 Conference but after the boycot by the Mexico Governors, Brewer sent a letter the Honorable Governors of the States of Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas with copies to the Governors of California, New Mexico and Texas.

"Dear Colleagues: Acting in my capacity as Chair of the XXVIII Border Governors Conference, I am writing you to let  you know that your recent confirmation regarding non-attendance at the upcoming conference has led to my decision to cancel the Conference. As you know, all member Governors originally agreed many months ago to have Arizona as the site for the 2010 event. At this time, I find no appropriate alternative to cancellation, since each of you has stated in your correspondence that you will not come due to legislation recently passed in Arizona. Naturally I am disappointed by your decision, as I sincerely believe the gathering of the Governors in Arizona would have presented a great platform to initiate dialogue about the legislation and other topics of great importance to the border region." Read the entire letter here. .  

Both Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) and Rick Perry (R-TX) have indicated they will not attend the September event in New Mexico. Who can blame them? Border security should be a number one priority among the four Southern United States border states and solidarity is called for. I have to question the motives of Richardson and Schwarzenegger. Why are they being solicitous of a government that ignores the soverenty of another country?

On Wednesday, after only three days of contacting other states, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed a legal brief in U.S. District Court supporting Arizona's immigration law. Joining Michigan are Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Virginia, as well as the Northern Mariana Islands. Conspicuously absent are California and New Mexico. The Michigan brief puts forth the argument that States have the authority to enforce immigration laws and protect their borders.

On the other side of the fence or lack thereof, on June 22, Mexico ask a federal court in Arizona to declare the state's new immigration law unconstitutional. How brazen is this? They actually stated “grave concerns,” saying that having consistent relations with the United States shouldn’t be frustrated by one U.S. state. Mexico also said it has a legitimate interest in defending its citizens’ rights. May I remind Mexico that once your citizens cross the border illegally, they are breaking U.S. law.

What about the rights of American citizens to be safe and secure in our own country; Not to have to pay millions of dollars in welfare and services for illegal aliens; to protect the environment and beautiful countryside that is being damaged by thousands of illegals moving through these states without regard for anything including private property and protected species. Mexico president, Felipe Calderon, should be apologizing to the United States for his failure to curb the violence and illegal crossings along the border.

Let's not forget the outrageous hypocracy of Mexico. Mexican law requires their law enforcement officials to demand that foreigners provide proof that they are in the country legally prior to any other issues, so if you visit Mexico, you should have your papers with you at all times. The Arizona law requires that a person must be stopped because of another infraction and then can be asked for papers.

If Mexico is so concerned about the rights of their own citizens, why don't they protect their own at home? Drug cartels are killing people right and left. Americans are being warned not to travel in the country. Schools across Mexico are teaching students how to avoid bullets amid constant urban gunfights. Now, it is suspected that islamic terrorist groups are operating at the Mexican border.

The best indication of this occurred July 15 and 16 — terrorist killings in two of Mexico's border cities. In downtown Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chijuajua, across the border and spitting distance from El Paso, Texas, A car packed with 22 pounds of C4 explosives and detonated by mobile phone killed two police officers and a paramedic, and wounded at least 16 other civilians or officers. The French press reported a doctor was also killed. This is the first time a car bomb has been used.  

Associated Press has reported that on July 16 in the border city of Nuevo Loredo in the state of Tamaulipas, a stone's throw from Loredo, Texas, a shootout between soldiers and suspected drug-cartel gunmen killed twelve and wounded twenty-one people including three children, seven listed in serious condition. No wonder Texas is supporting Arizona's SB 1070.

In case you haven't been to El Paso or Loredo Texas, you probably don't know that they are separated from the Mexico cities only by the Rio Grande. These are not little villages. Juarez has an estimated 2.4 million people and is known as one of the most violent zones in the world outside of declared war zones. Four bridges connect Juarez with El Paso.

Nuevo Loredo is connected to Loredo, Texas by three International bridges and a rail bridge that cross the Rio  Grande. It is the largest inland Mexico port and larger than Loredo, Texas — close enough to see and hear the violence.  

If you have the naive attitude that this violence isn't spilling over into the United States, you probably work for the administration, and you should know better! NewsMax Online reported that Anthony Placido, Assistant Administrator for Intelligence at the Drug Enforcement Administration. testifying before Congress in March of this year, said that some drug smugglers in the U.S. - Mexico region have had relationships with Hezbollah. In 2006 the House Homeland Security Committee released a report detailing incidents of Hezbollah operatives apprehended when trying to come into the United States through the U.S. Mexico border. That's four years ago for gosh sakes!

According to Fox News, Republican National Committee representative, Sue Myrick, asked Janet Napolitano to create a special team to investigate the potential threat. We know Alcaida is in South America. It has been reported that these groups are now recruiting Mexicans to do the dirty work in the United States. Obama fiddles while the border burns. Amazing.

Americans have already lost their lives on both sides of the border. An army of gun toting smugglers of both people and drugs are moving through the Southern United States like tourists — unchecked and unstopped. Who are they really? Where are they really headed? Your state? Your city? Next to Mexico city, Phoenix already has the unique distinction of being the second largest kidnapping city in the world. You didn't know this? You must be living your life on main stream media sound bites!

The Feds don't seem to care. They'd rather add to the deficit by sueing Arizona for doing what the government is  supposed to do. Why is the Justice Department taking on our own citizens? Personally, they should go after Mexico for failing to be good neighbors; failing to protect their own citizens; spilling their confounded crime into this country! Take the lawsuit resources and help secure the border? The government is not upholding the law and is not protecting us. The administration is politicizing a critical National problem. Why? Beats me!  Got any ideas?

Makes you wonder why anyone who is an American citizen would protest securing the border and the Arizona law. Wait until these lame brains are personally affected by illegal criminals and terrorists in their own backyards, neighborhoods, cities and states — the way it is happening in Southern Arizona. Then we can say "We told you so." Unless — the government takes action now.

So just what is this "Border Governors' Conference" between the ten U.S. and Mexico states?  What are their goals and what have they accomplished? More to come.

Remember the President saying he was ordering 1200 troups to the border? Of course, he couldn't say exactly when. Knowing this President and his lack of any sense of urgency, it could take months. Well, on July 16, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered 260
members of the California National Guard to become part of the federal effort to deter drug trafficking and illegal immigration along the Mexican border. This won't happen right away. Some kind of politically correct training no doubt. What if this was a national emergency? Isn't it?

Troops will assist with federal border protection, customs and immigration agents for about a year. The big question is, "what does 'assist' mean?" If they are assisting customs and immigration officials does that mean at legal crossings? I hardly think thousands of illegals and terrorists are going to tromp through the official points of entry. Will they be paper pushers? Do they have to leave their guns at home? Are the troops supposed to intimidate by their mere presence or actually do something to protect us? Wait — that's right. Wait and see.

Securing the border is not complicated to anyone outside of Washington. Just take some bucks from the billions in non-military aid we are sending to Pakistan or from the unspent stimulus money and put people to work building the gosh darn fence!  

Next, give the border patrol and the guard the OK to do their jobs and stop tip-toeing through the tulips. Quit tying their hands behind their backs. Then the country would probably be behind exploring immigration reform providing it does not include blanket amnesty and is looked at with good old fashioned common sense.

Is there any of that left in Washington?

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