Watching and listening to the debte over immigration has forced me to really think about this national issue. I think it's time to hit the immigration reset button.

Here's my thoughts on the issue:

First, let’s really strengthen the borders by tripling the number of enforcement officers we have patrolling them. Don’t just catch those immigrants that want to illegally come in to the US, but those that are trying to get back home. It’s time to really lock down the border for a while. As apart of this effort, the US will create a real citizenship or work visa program that will allow immigrants to either become part of our society, or visit for a short time to make some money and leave.

Then we hit “control, alt, delete” on this issue recognizing that the US is as much at fault as the immigrants themselves. Let’s start over with a clean slate.

Next we offer amnesty to those that were able to illegally cross the border into the US. Yes, they broke the law getting here but had the US not enabled them to do so with lax immigration policy and poor enforcement they wouldn’t have taken advantage of the porous border to begin with. They have to acquire amnesty within a certain amount of time, say a month. After 30 days, anyone who doesn’t take us up on this generous offer has, in effect, admitted that they are here for criminal purposes.

Lastly, no tolerance. If you can sneak through the border illegally, you’re a felon. If you were already here and didn’t want amnesty, you’re a felon. The felony carries a minimum 5 year sentence in one of our newly constructed prisons. Instead of watching cable TV everyday, sitting in your cell, your going to do what you came to do: perform a job that an American wouldn’t perform, like picking lettuce. Only instead of the $5 an hour you would have received as a contributing member of our society, you get nothing. Well, you’ll get three meals a day and a warm bed to sleep in, but that’s it.

After you’ve served your sentence, you’ll get a nice ride, in an air conditioned bus, back to your pitiful 3rd world country where you can think about trying to sneak back.

For my fellow bloggers and all you other lost souls that happen across this page looking for good political ugliness, look no further than a little city in my state: Las Vegas.

A political corruption trial involving former state legislator turned county Commissioner, Dario Herrera and former Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey entered its second week Monday with prosecutors hammering the commissioners for failing to disclose their relationship with Galardi (a strip club owner) when voting on matters related to his clubs. A May 2003 federal indictment charges Kincaid-Chauncey, Herrera, Malone and former commissioner Erin Kenny with taking cash bribes and favors from Galardi and his employees and, in turn, voting in favor of issues that benefited his strip club empire.

If you want to see ugly local corruption, follow this story. I'll be posting on it as it unveils it's ugly face.

Here's one story of many:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-19-Sun-2006/news/6430393.html

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) voted today against the budget bill and the spending cap. He was one of only three republicans to do so. Doesn't mean much, the damn thing passed, but at least a couple fo conservatives voiced their opinion about the way the Government has been spending lately - and I'm not talking about the war, we need to fund the war - it's all the happy other stuff people get to support the war.

Here is his news release:

March 17, 2006

Washington, D.C. – Senator John Ensign warned of a fiscal disaster for future generations if runaway government spending is not curtailed as he voted no on the 2007 Budget Resolution and $9 trillion debt-ceiling increase in recent days.

“We need to think about the fiscal crisis awaiting the next generation of Americans and the legacy of debt we are leaving for our children. Washington must start setting priorities and reigning in spending,” Ensign said. “I voted no on the budget out of concern for Congress’ spending habits. We cannot continue down this road because the consequences are too great.”

Ensign said the budget became laden with amendments that pushed it to more than $10 billion over the spending limit set by Congress. He said he voted against a $9 trillion debt ceiling because that level of debt would adversely impact America’s economy.

“Too many members of Congress are too involved in grabbing what they can for their states or districts without enough emphasis on overall fiscal restraint for the sake of the nation as a whole,” Ensign said. “We need to usher in a new era of fiscal sanity. I am not willing to subject my children and grandchildren to the level of debt that Congress has created. America has a wonderful tradition of ensuring that the next generation will be better off than their parents. I do not want my children to be denied that promise. A legacy of debt almost assures that will be the case.”

Ensign, along with six Republican colleagues, is a member of the Senate Fiscal Watch Team. The group’s goal is to offer measures to reform the spending system in Washington.



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It seems I’ve been reminding people that “all politics are local.” In light of that this blog will be dedicated to the elections that are occurring in my state, NV, in August (primary) and November (general). I encourage all of you bloggers out there to do the same and let me know via comment that it’s posted. I think it will be interesting to see your take on what’s happening in my state and yours. I'll be especially interested in initiatives out there and will make them the topic of my next post.

I’ll start with some races today and fill in the blanks over the next couple of days.

The big dogs – Constitutional Officers.

Governor
Our Governor’s race will be fun to watch. The democratic Primary is looking to be a blood bath between State Senator Dina Titus (D- Las Vegas) and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson. Gibson has the most $$ in the bank with 1.8 million (as of 1/1/06) and is the favorite among the insiders. Titus is proving to be one tough cookie though taking a bit of the Howard Dean – use the internet as much as possible routine. She has about a million banked. Oh, and she’s everywhere. Gibson has been working his Southern Nevada fan base, not getting out much.

On the republican side sits Congressman Jim Gibbons and State Mid-Term Senator Bob Beers. Gibbons is the public favorite to win, Beers is using the race to pitch a tax and spend initiative to The People. Gibbons isn’t liked very much within Republican circles though and it’s expected some other serious Republican will jump in.

Also rumored to be thinking about it is the Country’s Happiest Mayor, Oscar Goodman (D-Las Vegas). If he does decide to run both Gibson and Titus will be killed (not literally, well maybe – he is a mob lawyer)

My prediction: If it stands as it is now: Gibbons v Titus, Gibbons wins by 5 points

Lt. Governor
Not much going on here. The favorite and only committed candidate is the current State Treasurer Brian Krolicki. A really good guy, someone I refer to as “the smartest, most intelligent politician in state government.”

My prediction: a couple of dems will jump in and get their butts kicked.

Secretary of State
One of the more crowded races with a couple of Nevada’s famous figures kids running for the slot making it a fun one to watch.

Democrat Ross Miller, son of former Governor Bob Miller. I’ve only known Ross as a kid. I worked for his dad when he was the gov and sometimes picked him up from school.

Republican Danny Tarkanian, son of infamous UNLV and Fresno State basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian. I’ll be interested to see if Danny sucks on a towel on election night.

Republican Brian Scroggins. Former head of the Republican party in Southern NV, not very well known in the north.

Prediction: Miller will slide through the primary and win easily in the general.

Attorney General:
Up until two days ago this was looking like another General Election blood bath between the republican George Chanos and the Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto. Chanos is actually the current AG having been appointed to the seat by Republican Governor Kenny Guinn when it was vacated by Brian Sandoval – he became a federal judge. Chanos shocked everyone when he suddenly pulled out saying that he just didn’t have the stomach for politics. I’m glad he figured it out now, the AG needs to have pretty damn thick skin. There are a couple of good potential republicans but Cortez Masto was given a great gift.