Janet Napolitano: Good Business Manager - Good for America!

Janet Napolitano sounds like a good business manager. I have been a manager in business for over 30 years and she is taking some of the same steps I take when I go into a new assignment.
Yesterday, she issued a press release which said she gathered all of her department heads together and asked each department head to provide assessments about their current programs, including metrics of success, gaps in service/ resources, partnerships with state and local governments and other federal agencies as well as offer suggestions for reforms, restructuring, and consolidation where needed. Each department head is to provide a final report due February 20th.
When I have done this with teams, they bring back their results, we identify the top issues, then we set our goals for the year(s).
Ms. Napolitano has already stated her overarching goal: "As a nation of immigrants, we will manage America’s borders in a way that furthers this heritage, promoting legal immigration and cross-border commerce, while upholding the rule of law."
If you further analyze this overrarching goal, you see she leads with, "nation of immigrants" and ends with "rule of law". When I studied various news reports, some of her famous immigration quotes include:
. You build a 50 foot wall, somebody will find a 51 foot ladder.
. Crackdown on employers who hire illegal workers, not workers.
So already, we know her focus. She is going to tackle employers and felonious criminals (e.g. drug cartels & gangs).
Now, let's look at her department heads' programs. She asked them to ANALYZE, REPORT and PROVIDE "What Worked and What Didn't Work" (and I love this part because this is what I always do).
Which Departments?
I. The Criminal & Fugitive Aliens Program. The subgroups include:
A. The Secure Communities Program
B. The Institutional Removal Program
C. The Fugutive Operations Team
D. The Electronic Travel Document Program
E. The 287(g) Program
II. Legal Immigration Benefit Backlog
III. Southbound Gun Smuggling
IV. National Guard
V. Widows & Widowers of US Citizens
VI. Immigration Detention Facilities

Obviously Napolitano is going to find plenty that DID NOT WORK.
Tops on the list:
1) Arpaio's 287(g) policies didn't work. She has said for years that this program was meant to target felonious criminals (e.g. the Drug Lords, gangs, felonious criminals). It was NOT meant for Arpaio like "suppression sweeps" which targets and racial profiles Latino neighborhoods. Napolitano has a unique way of expressing her perspective: "jail model agreements versus task force model agreements."
2) Felonious Criminals: What didn't work was targetting the workers. What will work is getting your Task Forces to Target the Felonious Criminals, the gangs! the Drug Lords! Stop the Guns from going back into Mexico to the Cartels! Everyone will support you on this! Stop targetting the workers or little towns like Latino Guadalupe, AZ and the Confirmation Ceremonies. Tell the evil Sheriff Arpaio to STOP his masked posse from harassing little children and their moms.
3) Southbound Gun Smuggling: For Heaven's Sake, STOP The Gun Smuggling!! And STOP or put a halt to the Border City Drug Cartels and the Violence. Pull all the stops! WE Support You!!
4) Immigration Detention Centers: Close the Family Detention Centers! Period! The End! They do not work and they cost lots of money!

Now, I do not know if Janet Napolitano will succeed in her process improvement efforts, but I can tell you this. She has a very good approach for identifying and resolving the major issues. She is studying the issues and putting forth recommendations for improvements. Such lofty goals. This is the only path to process improvement!

Reference Documents:
Secretary Napolitano Issues Immigration and Border Security Action Directive

BREAKING NEWS: The New Face of the Republican Party: Michael Steele Elected RNC Chair!

Michael Steele defeated Katon Dawson and was elected the new chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Michael Steele is the first African American ever to achieve this position.
Pundits across cable news are saying Republicans, desperate and fearful since the Presidential election of Barack Obama, elected Steele to regain the minority vote. Steele is not an RNC member and is viewed by some members as an outsider.
The Washington Post reports:
After five ballots, the race came down to Steele and Dawson. Republican party strategists in attendance at the meeting openly fretted about the possibility of electing Dawson, who had acknowledged his membership in a whites-only club, and the signal it would send to a country that had just elected Obama as the nation's first black president.
From Steele's acceptance speech:
"It's time for something completely different and we are going to bring it to them...we are going to bring this party to every boardroom, every neighborhood, every community, and we're gonna say to friend and foe alike we want you to be a part of us. we want you to work with us and for those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over. This is our opportunity. I cannot do this by myself.. New Direction for this country.. Grow and build the Republican Party with this country."
From wikipedia:
Oreo cookie incident (Oreo Cookie = Black on the outside, white on the inside)
After a September 26, 2002 gubernatorial debate, which had occurred without reported incident, Paul Schurick, Ehrlich's communications manager, claimed that the Townsend campaign handed out Oreo cookies to the audience. Five days after the debate, Steele said that one or more Oreo cookies had rolled to his feet during the debate suggesting a racist statement against him. "Maybe it was just someone having their snack, but it was there," Steele said. "If it happened, shame on them if they are that immature and that threatened by me." At the time of the debate"I was in on the cleanup, and we found no cookies or anything else abnormal. There were no Oreo cookies thrown.", Schurick had not mentioned any such incident, but in November 2005 he claimed "It was raining Oreos... They were thick in the air like locusts. I was there. It was very real. It wasn't subtle."In a November 2005 Hannity and Colmes appearance, Steele agreed with Hannity that cookies were thrown at him. Neil Duke of the Baltimore NAACP, who moderated the debate, praised the "passionate audience" and noted their "derisive behavior"but did not see such behavior. "Were there some goofballs sitting in [the] right-hand corner section tossing cookies amongst themselves and acting like sophomores, as the legend has it?" Duke said. "I have no reason to doubt those sources; I just didn't see it."The operations manager of the building where the debate was held, interviewed three years after the event by the Baltimore Sun, disputed Steele's claim and said Some eyewitnesses including AP reporter Tom Stuckey who was at the event have said cookies were handed out.[Other eyewitnesses could not corroborate Steele and Schurick's claim.

ANTIs True Core Agenda is to Stop the Census Bureau's Prediction of Majority Minority Country by 2040

The key factor behind the ANTI Immigration Reformers agenda is this: The Census Bureau calculates that by 2042, Americans who identify themselves as Hispanic, Black, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander will together outnumber non-Hispanic whites. In other words, America is rapidly evolving into a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-cultural society. The ANTI Core Agenda is to STOP this prediction from coming true and maintain a White, Northern European ethnicity majority as long as possible.
The ANTIs are fully aware their ability to stop this change would be like stopping a runaway train. Four years ago, officials had projected the shift would come in 2050. The main reason for the accelerating change is significantly higher birthrates among immigrants.
This is not a new prediction. John Tanton, self-proclaimed godfather of the ANTIs, made this proclamation in the 1970s, detailing this "threat" in the most racist of terms. He rallied his followers to put in place strategies to stop this prediction. He could not convince the government to help him so he formed several ANTI Immigration groups including FAIR, NumbersUSA, ProAmerica PAC, ProEnglish Group, You Dont Speak for Me and more. He and his teams developed politically correct talking points, created slanted reports and spoke before Congress to push their agenda. After 9/11, they capitalized on the wave of fear and paranoia encompassing the nation. They stepped up their rhetoric, bringing in local/national groups including the minutemen, AMShockJocks, politicians seeking election and various cable news networks. Their cause gained momentum after the 2006 Immigration marches. Perhaps their most significant accomplishment was gaining a group of well trained internet followers who badgered Congress with mass form letters, faxes, emails and phone calls. This small group of followers were masters at monopolizing the communication links into Congress and being at the beck and call of their leaders who drove their PC agenda.
The PRO Immigration Reformers were slow to enter the blogosphere. Even though millions marched, very few blogged. The ANTIs convinced the majority of Americans that the marchers were all "illegal aliens." It was not until 2007 that a significant number of PRO supporters entered the blogosphere. We are still trying to catch-up, but the massive increase of Pro Bloggers in 2008/2009 has been amazing. It has only been since 2008 that Pro Bloggers began joining forces to communicate our same message to all of our millions of supporters.
Now that we do have a significant presence on the internet, what is important for all PRO Immigration Reformers to remember is, we cannot be fooled by the ANTIs politically correct (PC) talking points. As I previously reported, the Heritage Foundation recently published their updated recommendations. While very PC, the devil is in the details. Their recommendations speak to the ANTI Core Agenda.
If the ANTI Immigration Reformers had their WISH, here is what they want:
1. Mass Deportation of the 12M people they term illegal aliens. Their plan is to make their lives so miserable, they will leave on their own or they will get caught up in ICE Raids/Detention Centers or Neighborhood Sweeps (ala Arpaio). They want these raids stepped up so they leave within the next 4 years. The problem is, the 287(g) sweeps lead to Racial Profiling (ala Arpaio) and all of this hate mongering has led to the increase in Hate Crimes against Latinos, as reported by the FBI. The ANTIs, however, could care less how all of this Racial Profiling or Hate Crimes impact the American Latinos and we already know they treat the workers like vermin.
2. Limit Future Immigration to only Educated Europeans. (see Heritage Foundation recommendations)
3. End Jus Soli - Birthright Citizenship (14th Ammendment), what they term, Anchor Babies.
4. Continue Guest Worker Programs but put some type of device on the workers so they can be monitored and told to leave when work is done. And take their babies with them. (read my biometric data blog)
5. ProEnglish legislation and Stop anyone from Speaking Spanish. (read my Pro English Violence blog, especially comments)
If they do get their wish, their Core Agenda will be realized. They will stop or at least delay the Census bureau's majority minority predictions. As you read through the comments of most articles about these issues, the ANTI core agenda becomes abundantly clear. If you analyze their core agenda, it is obvious, this is a racist agenda. Regardless of how they bluster and complain about the racist term, once you discuss this with them, the racist core agenda becomes obvious. It is as clear as the "punch in the nose for speaking spanish" on your face.
For the PROs, our mission is clear. We need to stay involved, stay linked together, engage in discussion forums with ANTIs in newspaper comment sections across the country and communicate our message and our knowledge of their core agenda. We must stay civil, open and honest. Afterall, we do have Truth, Justice and the American Way on our side. We are evolving into a beautiful, multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-cultural society.
Now for my opinion about PRO actionable items for this year. Our President has a lot on his plate. He has to deal with the Economy, the War and getting his Administration in order. Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) is the elephant in the room. There are far too many well trained ANTI fighters for us to expect to obtain CIR this year. But there are three things we can ask for and our President can provide this year.
They are:

1. Stop/Reduce ALL Hate Crimes: Ask President Obama to state he is against All Hate Crimes. Acknowledge the increase in Hate Crimes particularly against Latinos (as the FBI reported), Blacks and Lesbian/Gays. These groups have the highest incidents of occurence. Ask for his public repudiation of Hate Crimes and Ask for his support in ensuring those guilty of these crimes are charged to the fullest extent of the law. This includes the Hate Crimes committed in Patchogue, NY and Pottsville, PA.
2. Stop/Reduce Racial Profiling: All Racial Profiling is wrong. We have seen a significant amount of racial profiling occur in Maricopa County by Sheriff Arpaio under the 287(g) provisions. Several Mayors in Arizona, including the Mayors of Phoenix, Mesa and Guadalupe have written Federal Authorities and requested an investigation. We should ask President Obama to put a hault to the 287(g) provisions and ask Eric Holder to conduct a Federal Investigation on the Mayors charges.
3. Stop the Inhumane Treatment occurring in ICE Raids and Detention Centers: Postville, with their CattleBarn injustice, was a prime example of what can go wrong during an ICE Raid. Ask President Obama to put a halt to these inhumane raids. Additionally ask President Obama to investigate the inhumane treatment in Detention Centers, particularly the Hutto Family Detention center where entire families are jailed.

Each of these three items are Humane, they can be completed without legislation and they can be accomplished this year. If he does them, this will serve as a significant message to all of his Latino and Humanitarian supporters that he supports our message and his Latino supporters.
God Bless America
God Bless our President

References:
In a Generation, Minorities May Be the U.S. Majority

Hate Crimes: Caucasian Crew Charged with Year Long "Beaner Stompings" Rampage!

The Patchogue Caucasian Crew has finally been Charged with their Year Long"Beaner Stompings" Rampage. The crew took delight in beating, kicking, robbing, stomping, harassing and murdering Latinos in the town of Patchogue, NY.
As I previously reported, many in their school and in their neighborhood knew about the "Beaner Stompings" but viewed these attacks as "Sport" or "Fun" and said, "Well they only did this every now and then, perhaps once a week."
What is curious is why these crimes were allowed to go on for so long. Their classmates and some parents knew about the assaults. Many of these assaults were previously reported to the police. We can only hope that now, with the Crew being charged for all the crimes they committed, these types of crimes will be viewed as unacceptable and will never be happen again!

Newsday Reports: Patchogue teens charged in 8 more bias assaults

The seven Patchogue (NY)-Medford High School students (Caucasian Crew) accused of taking part in a racially motivated, fatal attack on an Ecuadorean immigrant, attacked (Beaner Stomping) eight other Hispanics in a pattern going on for over a year before the death of Marcelo Lucero, according to an indictment unsealed in Riverhead Wednesday.

The two new indictments unsealed by State Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle contained charges of assault, attempted gang assault, attempted robberies and hate crimes committed against eight victims, whom prosecutors said were singled out because of their race.

"All of the defendants participated in what we consider to be a violent and racially-driven pastime," Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota said outside court. "Some of theses victims were attacked by these individuals multiple times and on different dates."

The seven teens were initially charged for what prosecutors described as making a sport of singling out Hispanics for beatings. On Nov. 8, prosecutors said, they surrounded and pummeled Lucero, 37, a dry cleaner's employee on his way home in Patchogue, before one of the students -- Jeffrey Conroy, 17, of Medford -- stabbed him fatally.

The attacks listed in the new indictment begin Sept. 23, 2007, when prosecutors said Kevin Shea, 17, of Medford, and other unnamed attackers hit Luis Pina Tigre in the head, kicked him and taunted him with racial slurs. The next attack came Dec. 2, 2007, when prosecutors said Jordan Dasch, 17, of Medford, and Jose Pacheco, 17, of East Patchogue surrounded a man named Jose Hernandez, pushed him off his bike and attempted to rob him.

One week later, Pacheco -- along with Conroy and Anthony Hartford, 17, of Medford -- attacked Hernandez again, pushing him from his bicycle, attempting to rob him and later confronting him at a laundromat, yelling racial slurs, prosecutors said.

On March 17, 2008, prosecutors said Hartford and other unnamed attackers hit a man named Javier Monrov in the head and stole his wallet.

Three months later, on June 24, 2008, prosecutors said Conroy and other unidentified attackers kicked Robert Zumba off his bike, pinning the man's arms behind his back and pummeling him. Prosecutors said Conroy lunged at the man with a knife, cutting his belt, pants and skin.

On July 14, 2008, prosecutors said Pacheco, Conroy and other unnamed attackers accosted Carlos Orellana, punching him in the face until he blacked out, then stole the man's money and shoes.

On Oct. 8, 2008, prosecutors said Conroy and Christopher Overton, 16, of East Patchogue, punched a man named Joaquin Gutierrez until he fell to the ground, then kicked him while taunting him with racial slurs.

On Nov. 3, 2008, prosecutors said Conroy, Pacheco, Shea and Hartford attacked a man named Octavio Cordovo in a park in Medford.

The final attack charged in the new indictment came on the day Lucero was killed, Nov. 8.

At some point that same night, prosecutors said Hartford, Hausch and Dasch chased down Petronila Fuentes Diaz as he rode his bicycle along Route 112 in Medford, following him into a parking lot and assaulting him there.

"During each of the alleged crimes in this indictment," Spota said, "the defendants called their victims such things as beaners and wetbacks."

HATE CRIME: Punched in Face for Speaking Spanish! Why "Official English" Laws will Increase Hate Crimes Against Latinos!

Breaking News:

A 53-year-old San Jose man was having a personal conversation on his cell phone, speaking in Spanish, minding his own business, when he was suddenly attacked, punched in the face, as the racist suspect, Scott Pontzious, 28, of San Jose, screamed "Speak English!!"

Imagine, walking down the street, having a private conversation with your friend on a cell phone, then, out of the blue, some young maniac comes up to you and punches you in the face and runs away!

Of course this is not surprising news, given the rhetoric going on daily on any ANTI Immigration Reform website or newspaper comment section discussing "Official English."

A recent article in "The Oklahoman" is a perfect example. The article titled "Bills to make English the official language in Oklahoma trouble Oklahoma Capitol panel" provides both the for/against arguments. Yet the comments by the ANTI Immigration Reform zealots go to the extreme. Comments include:

. Richard: "who really cares what the hispanics want as they are mostly (by statistic standards) mainly illegals (criminals). put the thing to a vote and let's see how it comes out."

. Charles: "The "outstanding amigo award" should be renamed traitor of the year.The pockmarked slime--Chad Smith and roof pimp HarryTturnCoates qualify as dual slime of the year.Multicuturalist,gaseous,stooges--that aptly describes the Chadster and the pimp."

. Jim: "Speak American."

Or Consider the ANTI Immigration Reform website Alipac, discussing "Nasville votes against English only." (Ironically misspelling the word Nashville). Here are some of their comments:

. dman1200: "Dumbarse morons, have fun having your city overrun by a bunch of illegal alien degenerate thug gangbanger types. Have any of you morons seen or been to LA or CA in general lately? Well enjoy because that is your future. Hope you morons brushed up on your Espanol if you actually hope to compete with these family value loving job thieves in the not so distant future. That is if you can tolerate having your neighborhoods turned into a war zone."

. GA Patriot: "Tennessee is no where near a border state. The fact that they even brought up such an initiative as English only is astounding and an example of how pervasive the illegal population has infiltrated every part of our country. Legal immigrants speak English - period. "

. miguelina:Is it true that only 10% of Nashville voters turned out for this? Wonder how many were illegal aliens. This is a disgraceful slap in the face for unity!"

What is clear is, the ANTI Immigration Reformers equate the sound of the Spanish language to illegal immigration. To them, "Official English" is not about stopping the printing of government forms in Spanish. It is about STOPPING THE USE OF ANYONE, Citizen or Not, From Ever Uttering one word in Spanish in the USA again. Or Else!!

It is clear that if a National "Official English" bill passes, the ANTI Immigration Reformer extremists, like Pontzious, will declare OPEN SEASON to ASSAULT anyone speaking Spanish in public again! These laws should NOT be passed!

Hate Crimes like this are reprehensible and Pontzious should be charged to the FULLEST Extent of the Law!!

References:

Hispanic Man Assaulted In San Jose For Speaking Spanish

San Jose police: Man punched stranger for speaking Spanish on cell phone

Bills to make English the official language in Oklahoma trouble Oklahoma Capitol panel

Alipac Forum: Nasville votes against English-only

RNC Chairman's Lead Candidate has Racist Past! Limbaugh Ranting over Obama comment! Republicans Don't Want to Change Their Ways!

Even after their huge loss in November, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has no plans for changing their ways or being more inclusive now or in the near future.
Here are the signs:

1. The RNC is selecting a new National Chairman next Friday. Who is their Lead Candidate? Is it a candidate known for extending their hand across the aisle? Or known for welcoming minorities? No. Their Lead Candidate is Katon Dawson. Dawson is the chairman of the very strictly conservative South Carolina Republican Party. How does he score on diversity? For the last 12 years, he was a member of a "White's Only" Country Club. So much for respecting diversity.

2. Last week, Rush Limbaugh said he wanted Obama to Fail. Leading Conservatives chastised Limbaugh for his remarks. Even Bill Bennett said he was wrong. The President met with Republican Senators calling for unity, "You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done. There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats, we shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done." Now Limbaugh and his minions are on the attack on several websites across the net. He is calling for the Republicans to take a stand now against our President. He is using disrespectful language in his attack. Some Republicans are listening.

It appears many from the core republican base are not on the road to Unity. Many are saying they will go back to pandering to their core conservative/right agenda and distancing themselves from minorities, women's rights and human rights. Apparently they have learned nothing from the American people in the last election. We want change. We want diplomacy. We want an improved economy. We want Unity. We want all people to be treated equally and respectfully.

"Ask A Mexican" Issues a Challenge to ALL ANTIs!

Our Friend and my idol, Gustavo Arellano, the author of "Ask a Mexican", is issuing the ANTIs a challenge.
"Who amongst you can truly say they hate the illegal Mexican but not the legal one? Who amongst you doesn’t care about culture but everything about the law?"
He will award a prize/recognition to the Top 3 responders. I invite ALL of my Readers to provide their responses here and to send Gustavo your answers. Here is his email address and his column. themexican@askamexican.net
From Ask a Mexican website:
Dear Mexican: I am a naturalized (legal) hispano in the U.S. and I just realized what the “illegal” craze is about. What immigrant-bashing citizens are trying to protect here are people like…me. Consider what this concerned a woman said to John McCain during a public meeting in New Hampshire last year. “I just think it’s not fair to all the people who came here legally and went through the process and now all the illegals, you’re just gonna give ‘em citizenship?” she said. “That’s not fair.” I have to say, I was moved. I came here legally, I went through the process and, you know what, I never cared whether the neighbor I buy my tamales from has his papers in order or not. Now I see why this woman wants to deport millions of people just like me. Because not doing so would be “unfair” for me. See, Mexican (I would say, Chicano), this concerns you, too. Anti-immigrant campaigns are made so people like you—rigorously legal immigrants—are treated fairly. Any words of gratitude? Carajo
Dear Coño: You honestly think “anti-immigrant campaigns” (your words, not mine) arise to protect legal immigrants? And they say it’s Mexicans who never bother to learn American civics and history! Where did you naturalize—outside a 7-Eleven? How do you account for Chinese getting lynched out of California’s Gold Rush during the 1850s, Japanese internment during World War II, the constant railings by Know Nothings about foreign cultures invading our shores without care for legal status, the centuries-long obsession with who’s white and who’s not right? The Mexican can’t help but to grin extra-grande when he hears people profess to love legal immigrants and hate the illegal ones. History just doesn’t prove it. If this were truly the case, anti-immigrant loons wouldn’t get their chonis in a bunch about language, ethnic makeup, and culture like they always do. They wouldn’t care about the rise of Univisión, chickens in the backyard, billions of dollars in remittances to the motherland—and yet they do. So, a challenge: who amongst you can truly say they hate the illegal Mexican but not the legal one? Who amongst you doesn’t care about culture but everything about the law? The best three responders (keep answers under 100 words) get a Border Patrol hat or a copy of my ¡Ask a Mexican! book—their choice!

What Is Your Hope for America with Obama as President?

Amazing things are happening in America!

Every day people believe Change is coming and there is Hope for America after all!

Under the previous administration, every day Americans lost hope. They lived in fear of what would happen next.

Now, today, people are coming out of the shadows and saying, "Perhaps there is Hope for a Better Day!"

CNN asked people at the Sundance film festival, "What is Your Hope for America now that Obama is President?"

Click on this link and you will hear their answers.

Now I ask you, my friendly readers.

What is YOUR HOPE for America now that Barack Obama is President?

I believe there is Hope at last for positive change as long as each of us does our part!

God Bless America!!

Let the Healing Begin: Compean and Ramos Sentences Commuted

I have not written about the Ramos and Compean case for several reasons. Now that their sentences have been commuted, I've decided to write one post about it, just one, then I will not mention it again.
I do not have a problem with the commutation of the sentences of Ramos and Compean. They were charged for a crime they committed. A jury of their peers found them guilty. The judge imposed the mandatory sentence he was required by law to impose. I agree the mandatory sentence was too long. The sentence was commuted by President Bush, not overturned. Justice has been served.
I do believe these 2 Latino Border Patrol agents were USED by the ANTI Immigration Reform zealots, especially Dobbs and Hannity (to build their ratings), the Border Patrol and by the Administration.
I doubt Compean, Ramos and their families know it and blame the PRO Immigration Reformers for their plight, even though most of us have not even mentioned it.
The trial testimony is clear. Both Compean and Ramos abused their power, shot an unarmed suspect, then tried to cover up their crime. Even the more sane of the ANTIs agree (see ANTI Ultima's blog about this story). A jury of their peers found them guilty. Because they would not plea and admit their wrongdoings, most likely due to the cheering-on by the ANTI advocates, the judge was forced to impose the mandatory sentences applicable for this crime. All of the ANTI rhetoric about the suspect being a drug dealer is a moot point since it was not until after the BPs shot at the unarmed suspect and after the coverup, that it was found there were drugs (marijuana) in the car.
What bothers me is, what kind of trained BP agent shoots at an unarmed suspect when they have no probable cause? (the suspect had their hands up and was trying to give up) What kind of trained BP agents are taught they can get away with a coverup? Is this behavior condoned? Are these the type of behaviors that are status quo and covered up? They shouldn't be. This clearly is a training and process issue for the BP and ICE. It reminds me of the Rodney King incident or the crimes in NY where the police used their batons to sexually abuse suspects. Or what happened in Abu Ghraib. It is clear the BP has to change their ways.
What bothers me most of all is the right wing, shock jock media, including and especially Dobbs, Limbaugh and Hannity. They truly exploited the Compean and Ramos families. Were the agents convinced by the shock jocks that they should NOT Accept a plea bargain? This could have been done and over long ago!
I recall seeing on the alipac website, the link to the Compean family's website. They begged that donations go right to the family's bank account because those sent to the MM accounts never reached their account.
I cry for the Campeon and Ramos families and their children. Their families, their children, do not deserve this mess. They were put on the front burners by the Right Wing Shock Jock zealots, by the media and by the BP leaders (Administration)! They made them their cause celibre. Now, I predict, they will abandon them!
I am glad this over over, the sentences commuted and the fathers' at home.
Perhaps now, the healing for their families can begin.

Traitor Limbaugh says he want Obama to Fail!

Pompous, Traitorous and Racist Rush Limbaugh, in an interview with the blow-hard Shawn Hannity, says he wants our esteemed President Obama to FAIL! He traitorously rants in this interview that if Obama keeps his campaign promises of Universal Healthcare, which he calls Socialism, he wants President Obama to fail.

Throughout this interview, the jackals Limbaugh and Hannity hoot and howl making snide and crude insults toward our new President, cackling at their own buffoonish jokes. It is reprehensible!

Limbaugh and Hannity are both traitors! They should be taken OFF THE AIR for inciting HATE!

From FoxNews (excerpts. click here for entire script and video)

LIMBAUGH: So I shamelessly say.. I want him to fail, if his agenda is a far- left collectivism, some people say socialism, as a conservative heartfelt, deeply, why would I want socialism to succeed?

HANNITY: You want your country to succeed, and you believe that his views implemented represent failure, predictable failure, and conservatism would — represent predictable success...
LIMBAUGH: The new deal didn't work. You know, Hoover was president through the depression for one year. FDR prolonged the new deal for seven or eight years, and yet he's given credit for ending the depression. Didn't happen. World War II ended it. The new deal didn't work. This is new, new deal. It doesn't work. If it works, it will be the first time that it works, but it never has, and I don't think this is going to be the record breaker.
HANNITY: So I'm guessing you didn't get your Obama commemorative dinner plates, Rush.

(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: It's gotten so bad. Did you notice they had the commemorative Obama thong? I mean — what do you make of the — you talk about a cult-like personality or you use the term messiah, the anointed one, he descended from the heavens at Invesco Field. What do you make of this Obama worship syndrome, Obama-mania?
LIMBAUGH: Well, I don't — I — you know, it is cult like depending on the people you're talking about, but let's examine the drive-bye. The media.
HANNITY: You've got to explain drive-by. Maybe one or two people didn't — have not heard it.
LIMBAUGH: Drive-by media, it's a (INAUDIBLE) drive by shooter except the microphones are the guns.
(LAUGHTER)
LIMBAUGH: And they're driving the groups of people they report a bunch of totally wrong libelous stuff about people, they create a giant mess, sometimes people get really harmed, they go out and try to destroy people's career. Then they get in the convertible, head on down the road, and do it all over again while people like you and me are left to clean up the mess with the truth.
So I call them the drive-by media.

HANNITY: Right.
LIMBAUGH: While they are praising Obama at that — at that Grant Park acceptance night, they're out in Denver when he accepted the nomination. I've got — I listened to Jon Meacham and somebody else at "Newsweek" say, you know, this is creepy. It's creepy. It's like he ascends after the speech and watches us.
(LAUGHTER)
LIMBAUGH: ..It defined who they are. They've trained the young drive-bys to look at events through the same prism. You know racism in this country is the exclusive problems of the left. We're witnessing racism all this week that led up to the inauguration. We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles, bend over forward, backward, whichever, because his father was black, because this is the first black president.
We — we've got to accept this. The racism that — everybody thinks exists on our side of the aisle has been on full display throughout their primary campaign. So I think they've done a great job, the media has, of covering up his deficiencies. They — he's too big to fail, and so whatever goes wrong, blame it on Bush, blame it on — I mean MSNBC's new life will be criticizing you and me because they can't criticize him.

Ecuardorian Family of Hate Crime Victim to Attend the Trial of the "Patchogue Caucasian Crew"

The Mother/family of Marcelo Lucero have been granted a visa to attend the trials of the "Caucasian Crew" that are charged with murdering her son. The mom has been heart-sick with worry over the safety of Marcelo's younger brother. Plus her family will be in the courtroom to ensure justice is served.

Family of slain Ecuadorean man to attend trials

The family of Marcelo Lucero said Wednesday they have been granted visas to travel from their native Ecuador to Long Island to attend the trials of seven teenagers accused in the killing of the Ecuadorean immigrant in what Suffolk police called a hate crime. Isabel Lucero, Marcelo's sister, said in a telephone interview from Gualaceo, Ecuador, that she and her mother, Rosario, received the one-year visas on Tuesday from the U.S. Consulate in the capital of Quito.

They plan to travel in mid-February so they can attend a court date scheduled for Feb. 18. If they make it, they will be reunited with Marcelo's brother Joselo, whom they have not seen in 14 years, since he left his hometown for the United States."We are happy that we will be able to see the place where my brother lived," Isabel said.

Happy Inauguration Day!

This is the first year anyone has said "Happy Inauguration Day" to me. Several people have emailed me, called me, asked me if I was watching the events. This is remarkable. So many people are filled with a sense of Hope and Joy at the possibility of better days ahead.
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's rule. The word comes from consecration, installment under good omens," from inaugurare "take omens from the flight of birds, consecrate or install when such omens are favorable."
Several Presidents have been inaugurated in my lifetime. The first I remember was John F. Kennedy. We had studied each candidate's backgrounds and issues they supported in 6th grade and my sister and I saw candidate Kennedy when he visited our state capital. He even sent me an autographed picture of himself. I was thrilled. But inauguration day, even for JFK, was not as anticipated or celebrated as was President Obama's. In fact, I don't remember the events for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, or Bush I. I do remember Clinton's and do not remember Bush II's.
So far, today's events have been remarkable. It is estimated over 2 million people are in Washington observing/attending today's events. In addition to the millions watching the events in D.C., many millions are gathered in other locations across the country and the world, including New York's Times Square, Dallas, and movie theatres across the nation and the world to watch the address on jumbo screens. In fact, there is a massive flurry of activity across the blogosphere!
Today's Events include:
Invocation: Rick Warren: Calling America a "land of unequaled possibility," Warren's prayer invoked the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and asked that Americans "remember they are united by a commitment to freedom and justice for all." and "When we fail to give the respect to all humans that they deserve, forgive us."
Song: Aretha Franklin: "America the Beautiful."
Musical Quartet: Isaac Perlman, Jo-Jo Ma, Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (I remembered this song from my church Choir - Very Beautiful)
President Obama's Inauguration Speech: (excerpts; read entire speech here)
On the steps of the nation's Capitol, just a short distance from where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, using the same bible Abraham Lincoln did for his inauguration. He spoke of challenges looming over the country — the economy, the current wars — while also invoking the legacy of King.
"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights...On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord..reaffirm our enduring spirit; ..to carry forward that precious gift, the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Economy:..and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
World Peace: to all other peoples and governments who are watching today..know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more...We can meet .. new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," Obama said. "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
HUMANITY: To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
AMERICA, OUR PLEDGE: ..we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains...For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate..
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance (as Patriots said) "Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Let's all wish President Obama and each of ourselves a Happy Inauguration Day, a Better day tomorrow and over the next 8 years. God Bless America!!

Inaugural Poem - by Elizabeth Alexander
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names
of the dead
who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the
bridges, picked the
cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the
glittering edifices they would
then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise
song for struggle; praise song for
the day. Praise song for every
hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at
kitchen tables.
Some live by
"Love thy neighbor as thy self."
Others by
first do no harm, or take no
more than you need.
What if the mightiest word
is love, love beyond
marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool
of light. Love
with no need to preempt grievance.
In today's sharp sparkle,
this winter
air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on
the brim,
on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

Late Breaking News: During today's inaugural lunch, Senator Kennedy (76) and Senator Byrd (91) have both suffered some types of attacks at lunch (due to age and illnesses) and have been transported to Hospitals.

Devil is in the Details: Heritage Foundation's Immigration Recommendation

Dear President Obama,

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank based in DC. They promote conservative public policy. They became influential in the Reagan years. They view themselves as traditional conservatives and they proudly display the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity on their home pages.
On January 13, 2009, they came out with their official Immigration policy statement. In reviewing their policy, their recommendations are consistent with past Conservative/ANTI policy.

Here are their recommendations in their entirety. (view Heritage Foundation link)

I know you read and listen to all perspectives, but as you review their views, please keep in mind the PRO Immigration Reform perspective. I’ve listed the Heritage Foundation Views (in black) vs the PRO views (in red) as follows:
1. Secure Borders via Walls, more BP and partnering with States and Local Govt for added security. PRO: We DO agree with Secure Borders, there are issues with the Wall, particularly for those who live on the border and go to school on the border. Discussions need to be held on this.
2. Sanctions Against Employers via fines. Enforcing via Immigration Raids. PRO: We agree with employer sanctions, but the raids in Postville, Massachusetts and other locations were inhumane! The value of ICE Raids should be re-evaluated.
3. Mass Deportation of the 12M here through strict enforcement of existing laws, workplace raids, 287(g) programs promoting Racial Profiling. PRO: We adamently oppose Mass Deportations, inhumane ICE Raids, Detention Centers, Racial Profiling!

There are new additions to their recommendation:
1. Developing NEW Temporary Worker Programs that are truly temporary.: They go into extreme detail on this. NEW Temporary Workers. Not those here. Put them to work. Make sure they know where the door is. PRO: This is suspicious to me. Why does the Heritage Foundation support a NEW Temporary worker program. Sounds almost like support for Big Business having Slave Labor. They advocate None of the 12M here may participate in this program. Additionally they advocate changing the Jus Soli (birthright citizenship) constitution requirements. This needs more investigation and as it stands is unacceptable!
2. Promoting economic development in Latin America:. PRO: Also supports economic develop in Latin America. We would like to see the underlying details to their proposals.
3. Reform immigration services. PRO: Also supports Reforming immigration services. We would like to see the underlying details to their proposals.
4. Improving Legal avenues for immigrants. PRO: Also supports improving legal avenues for immigrants. We do not want it to serve as a restrictionist means to allow only White, Educated, Wealthy immigrants into our country. We would like to see the underlying details to their proposals.

President Obama, their recommendations truly illustrate the old axiom, “the devil is in the details!” Look for the underlying meaning in what they are requesting and you will see their true motivation.

Additionally, I see nothing in their policy that discusses the War on Drugs, the USA being the number 1 illegal drug abusing country in the world, the USA sending Mexico 2,000 illegal weapons a day or our partnership to help Mexico in their and our War on Drugs. This should be included in any policy.

I know, President Obama, that you and your advisors will support a sound and comprehensive immigration reform policy. Thank you for your dedication to an improved America!

Sincerely,
Your dedicated supporter,

Dee

Breaking News: Defunct Minuteman Group Leader Claims She Was Shot This Morning!

Shawna Ford who says she is the "National Director of the Minutemen American Defense" group, claims she was shot last night. News reports say "Police were called just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday to an alley .. to reports of someone screaming and the sound of a single gunshot, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. A woman in the alley had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the arm. She told them she was walking alone when shot."

This is the third report of violence connected to Shawna Forde in Everett since Dec. 22. That's when her estranged husband was shot at his home. Forde reported being beaten and raped there a week later by intruders. She has suggested the violence was somehow connected to her activism fighting crime, drugs and illegal immigration, but offered scant details.

Forde last week met with detectives to be interviewed on the sexual assault report. They asked her back to talk about her husband's shooting. Forde indicated she would talk to them, but had to reschedule and the meeting is pending. Everett Police this afternoon released a sketch of the suspect (appears to be a white male) provided by the victim. Investigators plan to interview her again Tuesday, Goetz said.

Forde and her husband moved into separate homes in July. In October, he filed for divorce. Forde's rape report triggered a blogosphere backlash, with speculation that the attack could be a hoax.Forde has dismissed questions as "politics," and labeled as "ridiculous" any suggestion that she may have somehow simulated her injuries reported in the Dec. 29 incident.

Reference:

Minutemen group leader reports being shot

Defunct Minuteman Groups Are Crying for Attention!

Open Letter to Janet Napolitano from American Latina: Stop Drug Cartels, Leave Innocent Workers Alone!!

An Open Letter to Janet Napolitano,

I am an American Latina.

We know and understand the history of Immigration into our country over the last 100 years.

I strongly support you protecting our border. However, please target your resources. Please utilize them to:

. stop the drug cartels from bringing drugs into our country

. stop the drug cartel violence in all Border Towns.

. stop allowing 2000 weapons from flowing back into Mexico each day

We are not worried about AgWorkers or grandmothers on sewing machines, so please stop wasting your resources by racial profiling all Latinos as is often done during the ICE Raids in workplaces or by the 287(g) raids by people like Sheriff Arpaio.

Stop wasting money imprisoning children and families in heinous Detention Centers.

In short, please target the felonious criminals and stop chasing the workers.

We also advocate that you clear the current Immigration backlog which has resulted in increasing the rate of illegal immigrants, particularly those in pending status.

Sincerely,

Dee Perez Scott

A Concerned Citizen

Napolitano Says Fixing Immigration System a Priority
By Jeff Bliss and Nadine Elsibai
Janet Napolitano, President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for homeland security secretary, told a congressional panel this morning that fixing the “broken” U.S. immigration system would be a priority. As governor of Arizona, a border state, Napolitano called for the National Guard to help secure the Mexican border and she billed the federal government for state services used by illegal immigrants.
“I have walked, flown over, and ridden horseback along our southwest border,” Napolitano told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s hearing on her nomination. “I appreciate its vastness, as well as the grave consequences of our broken system,” she said. Napolitano, 51, would be integral in pushing legislation Obama supports to boost enforcement as well as opportunities for foreign workers.

Violence Skyrockets in Border Towns and U.S. Joint Forces Command says Mexico Faces Collapse!

Mexico is in trouble! Border Town murders are escalating. In 2008, 1,600 were slain in just one town, Juarez. During the first 12 days of 2009, more than 35 were murdered in Juarez, all due to drug trafficking. As I previously reported, the U.S. continues to lead the world in illegal drug use and also sends 2,000 illegal weapons to Mexico each day. Mexico is sending 2000 fresh troops to Juarez to help quell the violence. Now, the U.S. Joint Forces Command says Mexico is on the verge of collapse due to these drug cartels.
President Obama met with Mexico's President on Monday and plans a second meeting later this month. Two topics include the U.S. helping Mexico with the Border Drug War and stopping the illegal weapons flow back into Mexico. It is clear a joint plan needs to be put in place to resolve these issues.
The El Paso Times reports:
U.S. military report warns 'sudden collapse' of Mexico is possible
EL PASO - Mexico is one of two countries that "bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse," according to a report by the U.S. Joint Forces Command on worldwide security threats. The command's "Joint Operating Environment (JOE 2008)" report, which contains projections of global threats and potential next wars, puts Pakistan on the same level as Mexico. "In terms of worse-case scenarios for the Joint Force and indeed the world, two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico. The Mexican possibility may seem less likely, but the government, its politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under sustained assault and press by criminal gangs and drug cartels. How that internal conflict turns out over the next several years will have a major impact on the stability of the Mexican state. Any descent by Mexico into chaos would demand an American response based on the serious implications for homeland security alone."
The report is one in a series focusing on Mexico's internal security problems, mostly stemming from drug violence and drug corruption. In recent weeks, the Department of Homeland Security and former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey issued similar alerts about Mexico.
Despite such reports, El Pasoan Veronica Callaghan, a border business leader, said she keeps running into people in the region who "are in denial about what is happening in Mexico." Last week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon instructed his embassy and consular officials to promote a positive image of Mexico.

2,000 fresh troops sent to Juárez as violence continues
The Mexican army has sent an estimated 2,000 troops to Juárez as part of a rotation even as the death toll surpassed 35 so far this year. Two men were killed Tuesday evening, shot multiple times in separate attacks in which nearly 70 rounds were fired. About 5 p.m., Hector Ramiro Guardado Pereira, 34, was slain in colonia Infonavit Tecnologico, said Chihuahua state police. Investigators counted 40 casings of three calibers.
About 10 minutes later, Agapito Aguirre Leyva, 36, was shot in the 1500 block of Acuario, where 29 casings of three calibers were found, police said. Tuesday morning, Guillermo Pizarro Marceleño, 35, died at a hospital after being shot inside El Trebol restaurant on Avenida 16 de Septiembre, police said.
Three unidentified men were killed Monday. In one case, a man, who had a gag on his mouth and an electrical cord tied to a wrist and who might have been stabbed, shot and run over by a vehicle, was found at about 9:30 p.m. on Viaducto Diaz Ordaz road west of downtown, police said. The other two slayings were a man with a plastic bag taped over his head found in a vacant lot in the Parajes del Sur area and a blindfolded man with several stab wounds to his torso found in a ditch in colonia Insurgentes, police said. Soldiers who arrived in Juárez on Monday are part of a regular rotation of troops sent to different parts of Mexico, the Norte newspaper reported. Last year, more 1,600 people were slain in Juárez.

Henry Kissinger Lusts for a New World Order!

Henry Kissinger has been an integral figure in U.S. foreign policy for decades. He is a German-born American. He served as Secretary of State in the Nixon administration and maintained powerful positions under the Ford and Reagan Administrations. He has also served as an unofficial political advisor for both Presidents Bush (H and W).

In 1994 Kissinger was quoted as saying: "The New World Order cannot happen without U.S. participation, as we are the most significant single component. Yes, there will be a New World Order, and it will force the United States to change its perceptions." (1994 World Affairs Council Press Conference)

Kissinger, a globalist, said last year in an interview with Charlie Rose (PBS), "There is a need for a New World Order. I think that at the end of this administration, with all its turmoil, and at the beginning of the next, we might actually witness the creation of a new order – because people looking in the abyss, even in the Islamic world, have to conclude that at some point, ordered expectations must return under a different system." So it was not a surprise when last week, Kissinger said during an interview on CNBC, "The president-elect (Obama) is coming into office at a moment when there is upheaval in many parts of the world simultaneously. You have India, Pakistan; you have the jihadist movement. So he can't really say there is one problem, that it's the most important one. But he can give new impetus to American foreign policy partly because the reception of him is so extraordinary around the world. His task will be to develop an overall strategy for America in this period when, really, a new world order can be created. It's a great opportunity, it isn't just a crisis."

In this last statement and in the youtube video, you can almost see Kissinger salivating at the thought! Especially when he says, "This is a great opportunity!"

Yesterday (1/13/09), Kissinger wrote this article to detail the premise he is clearly and adamantly advocating: The New World Order.

The Chance for a New World Order By Henry Kissinger (summary)

As the new U.S. administration prepares to take office amid grave financial and international crises, it may seem counterintuitive to argue that the very unsettled nature of the international system generates a unique opportunity for creative diplomacy... An international order will emerge if a system of compatible priorities comes into being. It will fragment disastrously if the various priorities cannot be reconciled. The nadir of the existing international financial system coincides with simultaneous political crises around the globe. Never have so many transformations occurred at the same time in so many different parts of the world and been made globally accessible via instantaneous communication. The alternative to a new international order is chaos.
The financial and political crises are, in fact, closely related partly because, during the period of economic exuberance, a gap had opened up between the economic and the political organization of the world.
The economic world has been globalized. Its institutions have a global reach and have operated by maxims that assumed a self-regulating global market. The financial collapse exposed the mirage. It made evident the absence of global institutions to cushion the shock and to reverse the trend. Inevitably, when the affected publics turned to their national political institutions, these were driven principally by domestic politics, not considerations of world order...International order will not come about either in the political or economic field until there emerge general rules toward which countries can orient themselves.
In the end, the political and economic systems can be harmonized in only one of two ways: by creating an international political regulatory system with the same reach as that of the economic world; or by shrinking the economic units to a size manageable by existing political structures, which is likely to lead to a new mercantilism, perhaps of regional units. A new Bretton Woods-kind of global agreement is by far the preferable outcome. America's role in this enterprise will be decisive. ..Not since the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy half a century ago has a new administration come into office with such a reservoir of expectations. It is unprecedented that all the principal actors on the world stage are avowing their desire to undertake the transformations imposed on them by the world crisis in collaboration with the United States. The extraordinary impact of the president-elect on the imagination of humanity is an important element in shaping a new world order. But it defines an opportunity, not a policy. The ultimate challenge is to shape the common concern of most countries and all major ones regarding the economic crisis, together with a common fear of jihadist terrorism, into a common strategy reinforced by the realization that the new issues like proliferation, energy and climate change permit no national or regional solution...This generation of leaders has the opportunity to shape trans-Pacific relations into a design for a common destiny, much as was done with trans-Atlantic relations in the immediate postwar period - except that the challenges now are more political and economic than military...The complexity of the emerging world requires from America a more historical approach than the insistence that every problem has a final solution expressible in programs with specific time limits not infrequently geared to our political process... An international order can be permanent only if its participants have a share not only in building but also in securing it. In this manner, America and its potential partners have a unique opportunity to transform a moment of crisis into a vision of Hope.

=============================

The phrase 'New World Order' was used by previous Presidents including Woodrow Wilson when he established the League of Nations concept and by the first President Bush in a speech about Global Prosperity. The term became famous when H.G. Wells authored a book with this title. The book was about a socialist, unified, one-world government.

In 1975, Richard Falk (famed American Professor of Int'l law) said: "The existing (world) order is breaking down at a very rapid rate, and the main uncertainty is whether mankind can exert a positive role in shaping a new world order or is doomed to await collapse in a passive posture. We believe a new order will be born no later than early in the next century and that the death throes of the old and the birth pangs of the new will be a testing time for the human species."

Some extremists are nervous of the term, "New World Order." The blogosphere is loaded with conspiracy theories (e.g. Alex Jones) about one world government and the end of days prophesies. Some extremists interpret biblical prophecy to foretell the establishment of a one-world government as key to the rise of the Antichrist.

The Far Right Wing nuts are already using the NWO Conspiracy line of attack against Obama. This includes: Rush Limbaugh, Ron Paul, Hannity and others.

As our New Administration is about to embark on a new age of Diplomacy to resolve our Economic, Global and Domestic issues, it is clear there are many that will provide advice and provide criticism. Obama and his Administration have quite a job ahead of them!

President Obama's Official Presidential Portrait

Barack Obama's office has released the new official presidential portrait. The photograph was taken by new official White House photographer Pete Souza, and marks the first time a presidential portrait was taken with a digital camera. Conservatives, please take note. He is wearing a Flag pin.

Obama Pledges Long and Lasting Friendship with Mexico!

President Obama & President Calderon met yesterday. Obama said, “The friendship between the U.S. and Mexico has been strong. I believe it can be even stronger.”
After the meeting, an Obama spokesman said Obama pledged to find ways to work with Mexico to:
. Reduce drug-related violence
. Stop the flow of arms from the U.S. to Mexico
. Improve Immigration Issues
. Improve NAFTA
. Support stronger labor and environmental concerns.

Obama is making plans for a second visit with Calderon later this month to continue these conversations.

"Smart Power": Hillary Clinton Soon to be Secretary of State! Key Points from the Senate Hearings

Hillary Clinton, my first choice for President and candidate for Secretary of State, sat before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a question and answer hearing today. She was strong, intelligent, confident, respectful, forthright, empathetic and tough. Most believe she will be confirmed Secretary of State this week.

Hillary opened by saying “I am proud to be an American at the dawning of this new American moment.” She said she will help restore confidence in America with a "smart power," a combination of diplomacy and defense.

"America must build a world with more partners and fewer adversaries. We cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America," she said. "I believe American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted."
During the hearing, Hillary spoke at length about:

. Preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons, and not taking any options off the table in dealing with Iran.

. Ending North Korea's nuclear program,

. "Sounding the alarm" about Darfur, Sudan

. Special concerns for the rights of young women and girls around the world and stopping violence/atrocities against women. Hillary said about these atrocities, "“This is not culture, this is not custom, this is criminal."

. Extend the strategic arms reduction agreement with Russia.

. Work more closely with Canada, our largest trading partner, and Mexico, our third largest. Canada and Mexico are also our biggest suppliers of imported energy. More broadly, we must build a deeper partnership with Mexico to address the shared danger arising from drug-trafficking and the challenges of our border, an effort begun this week with a meeting between President-elect Obama and President Calderon.

. Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, Hillary said the situation in Gaza had left Americans "pained by the suffering of Palestinian and Israeli civilians." Some pundits are saying this is a clear sign by the new Administration that Israel will no longer have a free hand and instead, diplomacy will prevail.

. Improve relationship with China

. Questions were asked about disclosure of donations to the Clinton Foundation/library, requesting more transparency. The Clintons have forged an agreement that will allow for more public disclosure of donations and overseas work. This agreement sets a presidence, since no other president has ever been so open in disclosing their contributors. Of course the RNC sent philanderer/corrupt lame duck David Vitter to push to re-open the agreement with quarterly detailed reporting, all of which seemed ridiculous. It is no wonder they sent the likes of Vitter to do this scapegoating. He looked embarrassed and his performance was laughable.

As the Hearing continues, I will update this blog as appropriate.

Reference:

Live Blog - The Caucus Blog - NY Times

RAW DATA: Hillary Clinton's Statement at Senate Confirmation Hearing