Grijalva Should Apologize For Nothing

My ears perked up when I read this over at Arizona Congress Watch

Until now, members have not revealed earmark requests, usually waiting until funding was approved to disclose “winning” projects. Before the July 4 recess, Grijalva told Giffords and other Arizona colleagues that he had no plans to change that.

But on July 5, Grijalva released his complete list. On his Web site, he posted a list of 42 projects for which he is seeking $327 million.

Giffords immediately was asked for her list, and she demurred. After a spate of negative newspaper articles and accusations of secrecy, she posted her list on her Web site a week later. The impression was that she was forced to do something she didn’t want to do.

Grijalva said he made a mistake. He didn’t intend to release his earmark requests, but was repeatedly asked about them during meetings around his district. So “I changed my mind,” he said this week.

Grijalva said Giffords told him she wished she had known he was going to release his list. “I apologized to her,” Grijalva said. “I accept that. I got criticism from all my Democratic colleagues.”

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Why is Raúl apologizing to a novice on the Hill for something that, I’m sure, has widespread support among the people? Earmarks, while sometimes ridiculous, can be extremely beneficial methods of support that remind districts that the federal government is still concerned with the machinations of local communities. But, really, that’s beside the point. Here’s the real one:

Taxpayers fund the government.

I know that’s a shocking revelation. I’ll give you a few seconds to allow you to catch your breath (especially if any Congressional staffers happen to stumble into this online cantina). Bottom line is: It is our right to know how the government spends or wastes the revenue that is collected from our pockets everyday.

I find it highly amusing that Grijalva, who decided to release his list of earmarks after speaking to constituents, took flak from within his own Majority party for forcing their hand on transparency. It is one of those rare moments of public nudity where the populace can gawk in horror at the exposure of the entire political system that flaunts itself on the stage due to the pimping efforts of the Corporate Bosses.

Republicans and Democrats look the same when they’re in the buff, that’s why legislation to make the system more transparent and therefore, accountable to public scrutiny, have been thwarted or slowed-down since the mantle of power (supposedly) switched hands last November.

Gabrielle Giffords has only been a Congresswoman for a few months – it’s unsettling that she is learning the ropes that would better serve this country if they were bisected with a machete. She should be gladly receiving advice from Raúl, not apologies.

 

"She Had It Comin"

Last week, the trolls over at the TucsonCitizen message board were feeling particularly fiesty; especially with respect to the human rights crisis that exists along la frontera. Regarding a Guatemalteca woman’s body being recovered from the blistering, arid desert, one such troll spat forth:

She had it comin’. Not only for violating out soverignty but for irresponsibly endangering the life of a 10-year-old child she deserved to die. Good riddance.

Comments such as these play well to a populace that lives their lives in search of a target on the lower rungs of society. It is a fear and loathing that is nothing new for the United States.

This particular strain is nasty, though, because instead of the scary hordes of invaders being Catholic Irish, German, etc etc etc that at least had the decency to cross an ocean to get here, these modern day economic refugees are lazily trotting across 120 degree waterless wastelands. It makes them more dangerous (supposedly) because they are violating the Good Neighbor Rule.

Imagine the outrage if I were to suggest that these people had it coming too

Worse yet was the knowledge that at any moment disaster could strike in the form of fire, shipwreck or epidemic. On a wooden ship, lighted candles and open cooking fires were a constant hazard. It was not unusual for more than 100 people to die of shipboard fires in a single year. Shipwrecks, too, took their toll. In the terrible winter of 1853-54, 200 German immigrants drowned when their ship was driven onto the New Jersey shore, and 480 emigrants and their ship out of Glasgow disappeared altogether.

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or, perhaps, that these victims of human trafficking networks had/have zero sympathy from me, a law abiding citizen?

Another large but unknown number arrived in Liverpool with their tickets or their fares only and were completely unprepared for even slight setbacks. The routine delays in sailing dates were especially dangerous for these and accounted for the thousands caught in the gauntlet of official and criminal coercion from which few emerged unscathed and many totally penniless. Many were also vulnerable to the devious practices of the freelance banditti who infested the lower levels of the emigrant trade, being as unused to complicated transactions as they were to schedules or lodging houses. These easily fell afoul of money changers, offering to “dollar” their English coin into American currency of less or no value, or of lodging-house keepers who might keep a family “on the cuff” for food and shelter and strip them bare when payment came due, by force if threats failed.

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Coyotes of the past – and they say prostitution is the oldest profession…

So what can be done in this modern day age of digital databases and unmanned drones patrolling our borders to avoid the exploitation of new arrivals? Well, for starters, let’s ditch any idiotic ideas to launch telephone hotlines

Since it began Friday, the hotline has received about 300 messages, which include tips about family and friends, employment, day laborers, drop houses and crank calls. Officials are analyzing the tips, Arpaio said, and officials have not acted on any of the calls.

“There’s nothing unconstitutional about putting up a hotline,” Arpaio said, pointing out that U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have similar hotlines.

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Sheriff Joe “My Pink Boxers are Secksy” Arpaio is correct that it’s constitutional – but does it foster true justice? Racial profiling is rampant in this country, just look at prison statistics or the latest rundown of ethnicities of workers rounded up by ICE. These hardliners like to pretend that “things are different now” and not comparable to prior waves of immigration. True to form, however, they inadvertently fall into the same role as inquisitors past.

The 1882 exclusion act also placed new requirements on Chinese who had already entered the country. If they left the United States, they had to obtain certifications to re-enter. Congress, moreover, refused State and Federal courts the right to grant citizenship to Chinese resident aliens, although these courts could still deport them.

When the exclusion act expired in 1892, Congress extended it for 10 years in the form of the Geary Act. This extension, made permanent in 1902, added restrictions by requiring each Chinese resident to register and obtain a certificate of residence. Without a certificate, she or he faced deportation.

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“She had it comin'” – the sentiment echoed through the ages that have been aimed at the ears of every group of Other imaginable. It was inhumane then, and it remains so today.

Stop the hate

Crossposted at Booman Tribune

 

Bush Lackeys Held In Contempt

Here’s some forward movement on accountability.

The House Judiciary Committee voted contempt of Congress citations Wednesday against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and President Bush’s former legal counselor, Harriet Miers.

The 22-17 vote — which would sanction for pair for failure to comply with subpoenas on the firings of several federal prosecutors — advanced the citation to the full House.

A senior Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the House itself likely would take up the citations after Congress’ August recess. The official declined to speak on the record because no date had been set for the House vote.

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As you will note in the last paragraph, this is only a baby step. I don’t understand why Congress will now wait until after their August vacation recess to push forward with something actionable. It’s not as if the White House will suddenly have an avalanche of remorse for using the Constitution as toilet paper. They have become quite the experts at defying democratic precedents.

BushCo is going to run out the clock unless things start moving more quickly up on the Hill. Comity be damned – the only way the checks and balances will be restored is if Congress exerts its Constitutionally mandated powers con ganas.

Excuse me while I go on about my day instead of holding my breath.

 

A Body A Day…

Today is July 24th. That is the same number of bodies that have been found in Southern Arizona. A body for every day.

Think about that.

The Border Patrol has recovered at least 24 bodies in the Tucson Sector in July, bringing its fiscal-year total to at least 140.

From Oct. 1 through June, the agency had reported 116 border deaths in the Tucson Sector, down slightly from the 119 at the same time the year before. The sector runs from New Mexico to the Yuma County line.

The number of border deaths is higher, according to records kept by the Pima and Cochise counties’ medical examiners. Combined, those agencies had handled 184 bodies of illegal border crossers from Oct. 1 through July 23.

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While the primary campaign for the 2008 Presidential Election rages on, Senators Biden, Brownback, Clinton, Dodd, McCain, and Obama are too busy campaigning and raising obscene amounts of money instead of working to formulate some type of resolution to their failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform (not to mention Iraq, universal health care, global climate change, disaster preparedness, you get the point).

How do any of these people sleep at night?

 

Friday Bud Blogging

I told him not to watch that videotape…

This has been a rough week, to say the least. The news is horrifying to me on many levels. Macro-wise, the Iraq All-Nighter was a (expected) disappointment. It seems like there’s a lot of talk and no action when it comes to stopping the warmongering in the Middle East. What’s it going to take to see meaningful change? I wish I knew.

On the micro-level, the daily drumbeat of announcements regarding border deaths has sent my nerves into a horrified state of shock. It’s easy to dismiss the loss by blaming the victim, “no one forced them to come here”, but takes a true act of humanity to mourn and take action that will hopefully stop future fatalities in the desert. Acts that are done in a humane way* Unfortunately, these types of musings do not bode well for my sleep reservoirs.

So how have I been avoiding dealing? Well, one evening I spent making tortilla-flavored snacks. The intention was to make proper tortillas, but they did not even begin to resemble them so I stole a term from an old friend and declared them “tortilla-flavored snacks” (at least they taste good!).

Another tactic was to totally disrupt my status quo of information input and trot off to the local theatre that features indy films. Caught a showing last night of La Vie en Rose. Believe it or not, it was my first proper French film and, although a depressing storyline, was a welcomed addition to my routine. Even more welcomed, was the realization that the monsoon was dumping buckets of rain while the story of Edith Piaf played out before me on the big screen. The scent of a desert deluge is something that never gets old.

I’ve been enjoying the conversation that has played out amongst blog friends at a myriad of sites. The neighborhood is growing (check the blogroll to the right for additions) and each place has its own character that is borne out of its host’s or hostess’ personality. I love it and appreciate the ability to stay connected to friends.

Speaking of friends, this weekend I’m planning to head to Cochise County for some quality time with kindred spirits. I think the pensive, introverted persona within me has gotten quite enough attention to last a long while, so it will be good to shift gears and just be – only the be will include the me that is drawn out in the company of others who ‘get’ me. Needless to say, I can’t wait.

Have a great weekend, everyone. paz

*acts that don’t include guns, handcuffs or fortifications

 

Bodies – Bodies Everywhere

Keep stalling, Congress. You seem to have no problem having blood flow from the result of your inaction (see Iraq)

Officials discovered three bodies of illegal border crossers late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, including a 33-year-old woman whose 10-year-old son was with her.

With the latest three bodies found, the Border Patrol has recovered at least 16 bodies in the Tucson Sector in July, bringing its fiscal-year total to at least 132. From Oct. 1 through June, the agency had reported 116 border deaths in the Tucson Sector, down slightly from the 119 at the same time the year before.

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With everything in limbo, it appears that women and children are making the trek north in greater numbers to unify their families. My deepest condolences and prayers to those left behind that will suffer from the losses.

Please.
Please.
Please consider a monetary donation to No More Deaths and Humane Borders

 

Open Thread

Just ’cause

 

Smells like Hispanics?

Nope. Not racist at all.

Five women have sued the makers of the popular Fi-Bar and Tiger’s Milk energy bars, claiming they were singled out for racist abuse and fired for not speaking English.

[snip]

The lawsuit said problems began when the plaintiffs got a new supervisor who ordered them to pass an English proficiency exam as a condition of continued employment. According to the suit, the supervisor openly expressed his disdain for Latino workers through derogatory comments, such as “Spanish people stink,” and the work area “smelled like Hispanics.”

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The real question is: why does this modern-day slave owner hate America™? Cinnamon and freshly roasted chile are just as much a part of this society as anything else you’ll find wafting out of the windows of the gated communities.

Oh wait, he was being rude? I wonder why…

 

Iraqi All-Nighters

A flash of light. A violent twitch in my left leg. And I awoke.

That was how I spent most of my night yesterday. My thoughts kept floating to a dear friend of mine who is currently on his third tour in Iraq. A gentle soul with deep conflicts within him regarding this and all wars. He, like other soldiers I’ve heard say in various interviews, know not why they are there; only they feel an obligation to answer deployments because of their fellow military brothers and sisters.

“I can’t let them down. I took an oath.”

It’s very hard for me to remain calm when faced with words such as these. I disagree vehemently with the entire premise of the framing, yet what does one say to a loved one who is strapped firmly to a Battle Chess chessboard?

“Break the cycle of death altogether,” my heart says unsuccessfully to my lips.

“I’m here if you need to vent,” is about all I can muster audibly.

Realistically speaking, the conversation about warfare and militaristic foundations woven greedily into the fabric of the United States is far from reaching the point of acceptable discourse. At least, in the sense where someone like me who argues against it is not labeled a traitor or UnAmerican.

So how is this dilemna met? Time will tell. Sleepless nights will continue as I pray for some wellspring of peace within me and even but a drop for my friend who finds himself in a different desert, half a world away. Meanwhle, the elites will have to suffer* too.

Senate Democrats refused to flinch Tuesday as the chamber moved toward a rare, all-night session of debate on legislation to bring troops home this fall.

They called for sleeping cots to be rolled into a room off the Senate floor and told members to prepare for repeated votes throughout the evening. Senators even left open the possibility of dispatching the sergeant at arms to summon colleagues from their homes to the floor if lawmakers ignored the debate.

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*suffering, it is not; but hopefully it is a start to breaking the spell of war that has been cast upon these insulated powerbrokers

 

Who Am I?

I am…

…the scent of fresh bread in the breeze that dances its way through the barrio;
…shrill chattering of locusts in the mesquite tree;
…a rainbow of life that ignites like fire when the sun dips below the mountain giants to the west;
…chortles of laughter among a circle of friends, gathered at the table wielding quarters at shot glasses;
…a cumbia beat, summoning the crowd to their shared stage on the dance floor;
…smoke rising out of the conch shell, hoping to draw a sense of spirit out of those who slumber;
…a phone call out of the blue, prompted by a dream from the night before;
…fragranced tierra borne of the oils of nature and the stew of desert rain;
…the solemn tune rising out of wooden flutes;
…tales shared around the flickering warmth of campfire;
…a Wizard, a Hobbit, and Prophet;
…posole at the end of a long night;
…the frustration that rises when a puzzle piece remains elusive;
…change under the cushions, always willing to repay debts;
…that knot tied in the middle of a tug-of-war rope;
…gray mist rising out of the mind between Snooze buttons;
…a bark, a snuggle, a lick;
…cardboard and marker, walking shoes and bullhorn;
…the accent that disguises its origins;
…both life and vida.

I am me.

Who are you?