Biden has got to go.

[Dutch Uncle]

I believe in stopping the flow of immigrants with nothing more than the ragged clothes they have on. Who supports them? This while professionals with a PhD wait in line to come here legally. That's bullshit.
I believe in this country becoming self sufficient. Allow American oil companies to explore and drill. I believe more gun control laws won't change things. I believe in a powerful and efficient military..I believe that being the most powerful nation on the planet gives you the right to walk out on a peace agreement if your conditions aren't met, to name a few. No doubt, Trump has his flaws, he's an idiot at times, but there were no countries invaded while he was president and things were running smoothly until the Chinese Disease screwed everything up. So there's that.

Agreed on stopping illegal immigration.

The illegal immigration problem has been around since I was in grade school. In 1966 the Paul Newman movie “Harper” had illegal immigration as a key plot point.

There have been a few Republican Presidents and Congresses since then. Anyone claiming this is a recent or a “Democratic Party” problem needs to catch up on facts.

IMO, neither party wants it solved because of the money involved..money belonging to major campaign contributors. “The Wall” is a smokescreen. A fake resolution for the real problem: business owners who are raking in cash using the modern equivalent of indentured servitude.

When Congress starts suggesting arresting business owners for supporting illegal immigration by enticing illegals to stay and work, including renting or selling them housing, THEN I’ll start believing they are serious about solving the problem.

Until, only idiots and extremists believe their party, or Congress, is taking the problem seriously.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

I dont know, it would be fairly meaningless by then, buy maybe.

They’ve already stated it as a goal. Including pardons…again. LOL

 

[Dutch Uncle]

High gas prices, record inflation with no end in sight. He must be a one term president.

Indeed.

Anyone who didn’t know Biden was a one-term President as soon as he got the DNC nomination is not thinking clearly. He was too old in 2020 but the best the Democrats had.

July 2020:

While I'll always agree that having one party in full control of two or more branches of government is bad, their dominance, at best, will be marginal.

If Biden wins, he's virtually guaranteed to be a one-term President (and maybe not even that long); on the path to becoming a lame duck the moment he takes the oath. You and I have both been through at least six two-term Presidents. Despite any controversies during their terms, there's only so much they can do even if their party controls the Senate and House. Within two years, Congress will be facing elections. The midterms are notorious for going against the party in the WH. Any Senator or Congressional rep who marginally won election/reelection is going to be nervous about controversial legislation.

IMO, the Founders were a lot wiser than both present parties put together. They wanted change to be slow, to be thoughtful. Unless there was wide majority agreement by all branches, change doesn't happen.

Consider Obamacare; it was rammed down the throats of Republicans but Republicans had multiple opportunities over the past 10+ years to repeal it or, more likely, to change it. They haven't. Why? Because they have nothing better to offer despite all of their bitching. Like Social Security, actually repealing Obamacare without a viable plan to immediately replace it is a third rail of politics.

I'm not voting for Biden or any other Democrat offered, but Trump isn't the answer. If he wins, I think he won't finish his second term. He's running a campaign like Nixon's and, IMO, he'll end up like Nixon....except without all the prestige Nixon had in his post-Presidential years.

 

[Earl]

The best that the far left, radical Democrat Socialists have/had is inadequate, which is the understatement of the century.

 

[BartenderElite]

Trump really left a total mess.

Inflation was inevitable - but literally every other metric has improved since he took office. Dems will lose the midterms (obviously), but Biden still has plenty of time to right the ship before '24. I don't think he's going to run again, but the '24 election won't be a shoe-in for the GOP.

Republicans always wreck the economy, and Dems always lead recoveries. Democrats should keep messaging that; it has been decades of the same pattern at this point.

 

[RB 60]

Agreed on stopping illegal immigration.

The illegal immigration problem has been around since I was in grade school. In 1966 the Paul Newman movie “Harper” had illegal immigration as a key plot point.

There have been a few Republican Presidents and Congresses since then. Anyone claiming this is a recent or a “Democratic Party” problem needs to catch up on facts.

IMO, neither party wants it solved because of the money involved..money belonging to major campaign contributors. “The Wall” is a smokescreen. A fake resolution for the real problem: business owners who are raking in cash using the modern equivalent of indentured servitude.

When Congress starts suggesting arresting business owners for supporting illegal immigration by enticing illegals to stay and work, including renting or selling them housing, THEN I’ll start believing they are serious about solving the problem.

Until, only idiots and extremists believe their party, or Congress, is taking the problem seriously.

Yes. It's been a problem for many years. Say what you will, but even the border patrol would welcome Trump's wall, it would be less ground to cover. I've said many times those who hire/house/support illegals should pay a stiff penalty, they are not helping this country in any way. I've said this long before Trump or Biden.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Yes. It's been a problem for many years. Say what you will, but even the border patrol would welcome Trump's wall, it would be less ground to cover. I've said many times those who hire/house/support illegals should pay a stiff penalty, they are not helping this country in any way. I've said this long before Trump or Biden.

No shit. Anything is better than nothing as you should know. Of course they'd welcome Trump's Wall because fucking Congress isn't doing anything else. Agreed on making the people who entice and support illegal with jobs and housing should be penalized. All that happens now is that ICE removes them and the renters collect new rent from illegals until they are deported. It's a win for them.

Heck, God bless the 10th Amendment, but the purpose of a Federal Congress is to solve Federal problems with the Preamble setting the priorities.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of

IMHO, our Congress is fucking up each and every one of those by failing to address the illegal immigration problem. Neither side is offering a workable solution with the result that nothing is being done...except for the fucking cosmetic line along 1900 miles of our southern border. A wall that can be defeated by low tech things like tunnels, ladders and boats. Not to mention the high number of illegals who come to the US legally. What's the plan for that fucking issue? I'd seriously like to see some answers since, whatever solution people are proposing should be started ASAP. All I've seen are jokes and no solutions...or the bullshit about Trump's wall.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-ta...anging-u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population/
A rising share of U.S. unauthorized immigrants apparently arrived in the country legally but overstayed their visas. Nearly all people apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally at the U.S.-Mexico border are from either Mexico or Central America. This stands in contrast to the origins of visa overstays.

In recent years, immigrants from countries outside of Mexico and Central America accounted for almost 90% of overstays, and in 2017, there were more than 30 overstays for every border apprehension for these countries. Although the Census Bureau data Pew Research Center uses to estimate the size of the unauthorized immigrant population does not indicate directly whether someone arrived with legal status, the origin countries of immigrants in these sources provide indirect evidence. From 2007 to 2017, the share of newly arrived unauthorized immigrants (those in the U.S. five years or less) from regions other than Central America and Mexico – the vast majority of whom are overstays – increased from 37% to 63%. At the same time, the share of new unauthorized immigrants from Mexico fell from 52% to 20%.

 

[RB 60]

No shit. Anything is better than nothing as you should know. Of course they'd welcome Trump's Wall because fucking Congress isn't doing anything else. Agreed on making the people who entice and support illegal with jobs and housing should be penalized. All that happens now is that ICE removes them and the renters collect new rent from illegals until they are deported. It's a win for them.

Heck, God bless the 10th Amendment, but the purpose of a Federal Congress is to solve Federal problems with the Preamble setting the priorities.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of

IMHO, our Congress is fucking up each and every one of those by failing to address the illegal immigration problem. Neither side is offering a workable solution with the result that nothing is being done...except for the fucking cosmetic line along 1900 miles of our southern border. A wall that can be defeated by low tech things like tunnels, ladders and boats. Not to mention the high number of illegals who come to the US legally. What's the plan for that fucking issue? I'd seriously like to see some answers since, whatever solution people are proposing should be started ASAP. All I've seen are jokes and no solutions...or the bullshit about Trump's wall.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-ta...anging-u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population/
A rising share of U.S. unauthorized immigrants apparently arrived in the country legally but overstayed their visas. Nearly all people apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally at the U.S.-Mexico border are from either Mexico or Central America. This stands in contrast to the origins of visa overstays.

In recent years, immigrants from countries outside of Mexico and Central America accounted for almost 90% of overstays, and in 2017, there were more than 30 overstays for every border apprehension for these countries. Although the Census Bureau data Pew Research Center uses to estimate the size of the unauthorized immigrant population does not indicate directly whether someone arrived with legal status, the origin countries of immigrants in these sources provide indirect evidence. From 2007 to 2017, the share of newly arrived unauthorized immigrants (those in the U.S. five years or less) from regions other than Central America and Mexico – the vast majority of whom are overstays – increased from 37% to 63%. At the same time, the share of new unauthorized immigrants from Mexico fell from 52% to 20%.

Well, since you must use silly images, let me use one too. You want a solution? Here it is

The above really isn't so silly, it would be rather effective after a few well placed rounds.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Well, since you must use silly images, let me use one too. You want a solution? Here it is

http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1461619/another-example-containerised-weapon-system.jpg

The above really isn't so silly, it would be rather effective after a few well placed rounds.

Great idea. First, what's the cost of put a guard tower manned with two guards 24/7 every 300 yards(?) across 1900 miles? What does blowing the head off a mother with a suckling baby going to do about stopping tunnels, ladders and boats? Not to mention overstays.

<MEME OF MEXICAN MOTHER DECAPITATED BY US SNIPER DELETED>

Second, walls don't work.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Well, since you must use silly images, let me use one too. You want a solution? Here it is

The above really isn't so silly, it would be rather effective after a few well placed rounds.

 

[RB 60]

Great idea. First, what's the cost of put a guard tower manned with two guards 24/7 every 300 yards(?) across 1900 miles? What does blowing the head off a mother with a suckling baby going to do about stopping tunnels, ladders and boats? Not to mention overstays.

<MEME OF MEXICAN MOTHER DECAPITATED BY US SNIPER DELETED>

Second, walls don't work.

Every 300 yards? Hell, that's only a 150 yard shot maximum. 1000 yards apart would be nothing, a 500 yard shot at the most.

As for the aforementioned tunnels, what would stop those?

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Every 300 yards? Hell, that's only a 150 yard shot maximum. 1000 yards apart would be nothing, a 500 yard shot at the most.

As for the aforementioned tunnels, what would stop those?

Okay. How much would that cost? While there is some overlap of duties, there would still have to be shifts of BP to cover other duties rather than guard watch. A new agent makes an average of $70K/year. https://www.cbp.gov/careers/usbp-pay-and-benefits

Three shifts a day, 7 days a week with each guard having 2 days off and accounting for averages of sick leave, annual training, etc. According to this Quora link, it's 7 employees per slot with two slots per tower meaning 14.

The southern border is 1954 miles long (103,17,120 feet). Divided by 3000 feet means we'll need 3439.04 guard towers x 14 guards per tower x $70 = $3,370,259,200 added to the deficit. That's just for PAY, not the cost of the towers, the remainder of the wall and maintenance plus operating costs. You don't expect them to sit in 120 degree heat for 8 hours do you? The towers would need to be air conditioned for most of the length.

We, the People should be working smarter, not harder. We certainly shouldn't be constantly kicking the can down the road with the national debt to finance stupid projects.

 

[RB 60]

Okay. How much would that cost? While there is some overlap of duties, there would still have to be shifts of BP to cover other duties rather than guard watch. A new agent makes an average of $70K/year. https://www.cbp.gov/careers/usbp-pay-and-benefits

Three shifts a day, 7 days a week with each guard having 2 days off and accounting for averages of sick leave, annual training, etc. According to this Quora link, it's 7 employees per slot with two slots per tower meaning 14.

The southern border is 1954 miles long (103,17,120 feet). Divided by 3000 feet means we'll need 3439.04 guard towers x 14 guards per tower x $70 = $3,370,259,200 added to the deficit. That's just for PAY, not the cost of the towers, the remainder of the wall and maintenance plus operating costs. You don't expect them to sit in 120 degree heat for 8 hours do you? The towers would need to be air conditioned for most of the length.

We, the People should be working smarter, not harder. We certainly shouldn't be constantly kicking the can down the road with the national debt to finance stupid projects.

Towers wouldn't be needed near a wall and not every place is passable along the border. Be realistic.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Towers wouldn't be needed near a wall and not every place is passable along the border. Be realistic.

Okay. So you save some bucks by not having to maintain a steel wall in those areas. There's still the guard towers, operating expenses and pay for over 48,000 officers.

I am realistic, that's the point. Our tax dollars are better put to work by going after the assholes attracting the illegals or, more often, enticing them to stay past their visa.

 

[RB 60]

Okay. So you save some bucks by not having to maintain a steel wall in those areas. There's still the guard towers, operating expenses and pay for over 48,000 officers.

I am realistic, that's the point. Our tax dollars are better put to work by going after the assholes attracting the illegals or, more often, enticing them to stay past their visa.

Nope.

US Army tests remote controlled weapon towers

https://newatlas.com/us-army-tests-remote-controlled-weapon-towers/39670/

 

[T. A. Gardner]

I still advocate planting this natural fuck you everywhere on the border.

After all, the British used a hedge in India to accomplish the same thing, and it worked...

 

[RB 60]

I still advocate planting this natural fuck you everywhere on the border.

After all, the British used a hedge in India to accomplish the same thing, and it worked...

And plant this as underbrush

problem is, the time it would take to grow and the paths made through the young growth.. It wouldn't fix the problem now.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

Nope.

US Army tests remote controlled weapon towers

https://newatlas.com/us-army-tests-remote-controlled-weapon-towers/39670/

https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/d...mazonaws.com/archive/tower-hawk-system-12.jpg

Still waiting for the costs....including the lawsuits when one of your terminator towers kills some American kids lost while hiking.

 

[Dutch Uncle]

I still advocate planting this natural fuck you everywhere on the border.

After all, the British used a hedge in India to accomplish the same thing, and it worked...

Agreed it's a much better solution. OTOH, it still doesn't solve the overstays issue. While RB and I agreed that penalizing the businesses which entice illegals to illegally immigrate or to stay, the focus here is still on a single line of defense rather than a defense in depth.