The Geno's story I posted last night brought some interesting comments, and frankly I just cannot let them go.

I have posted three blogs on the subject, and the same person left a comment on two.  The fact is the comments went from liberal dogma to racism and insult, so I think it only fair to respond in full.  I responded to the first one personally as well as on the blog, but Shelli posted additional comments after the fact.  So, in order of appearance, here is Shelli, with my rebuttal.

Odd however that Shelli is apparently Canadian (Ontario).  So her outrage is totally bogus on a national level.

Shelli's first comment was on my initial story from Jun 2006. 

Many of these posts are filled with ignorance and bigotry. I can’t help but laugh at the comment about assymilating into “our” culture. First of all, America is diverse with numerous cultures - so which culture, do you propose we all assymilate into?

Believe it or not, while sub cultures exist, there really is a wider broad culture in America that everyone, in my opinion, needs to tie into at least marginally.  it is that culture that contains the Constitution and our freedom that so many in the world yearn for.

Also, if assymilation is what you are after, why did you not “assymilate” into the culture of America’s original people - the aboriginals?

Liberals love throwing the Indians in our face. 

Yes, it is America - Joseph Vento needs to respect the myriad of cultures and languages that make up America. If he can’t do that, he has no business operating a business in America. The sign is nothing more than a bigot’s method to discriminate against people who happen to speak a different language or those who come from other countries.

There is no discrimination is everyone has to speak the same.  And since Joe and his staff take a great delight in teaching people how to order in English, all I see is this being a great learning experience for anyone who wants a Cheese Steak Sandwich.

An end to the saga of Geno's in Philedelphia that I blogged on back in 2006.

'Speak English' Signs OK at Philly Shop

The owner of a famous cheesesteak shop did not discriminate when he posted signs asking customers to speak English, a city panel ruled Wednesday.

In a 2-1 vote, a Commission on Human Relations panel found that two signs at Geno's Steaks telling customers, "This is America: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH,'" do not violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance.

...

Commissioners Roxanne E. Covington and Burt Siegel voted to dismiss the complaint, finding that the sign does not communicate that business will be "refused, withheld or denied."

In a dissenting opinion, Commissioner Joseph J. Centeno said he thought the signs did discourage some customers.

Score one for common sense.   Congrats to Joe.  Now, hopefully, some nutbag doesn't file a civil suit for getting his feelings bruised.

Previously:

• Support Geno’s and a small business owner’s rights
• Geno’s under civil rights probe

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Via The Corner:

On the Internet as of sometime this afternoon, Fred Thompson’s closing argument to the people of Iowa.

Whereas Romney is saturating the airwaves with attack ads, Thompson pays the voters the courtesy of speaking calmly, and in detail—the video runs to just over 15 minutes. Why should the good Republicans of Iowa support Thompson? Because, the candidate argues, he can win.

YouTube video below:

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More at Memeorandum.

I posted an article a few days ago about Manuel Jesus Cordova, and how his decision to take the moral high road and save the life of a kid cost him his bid to come here illegally.

It mentioned in passing that he was coming here to work to support 2 families, which I gather was two women and the children he fathered by each.  Admirable on its face, but why come here? 

Well, simply put, he can make enough money here to do it.  The question is, how?  And the answer is that he lives small and works hard. 

This brings us into the whole jobs we won't do argument, that illegals are harder working and more willing to work low paying menial jobs, to the extent that they will come here illegally to do so.

A friend, Connie, sent me this link to a blog by a radio host, who takes exception to that premise:

http://760kfmb.com/rick_blog/?p=15

FAT LAZY AMERICAN -VS- HARD WORKING ILLEGALS

CBS has done a poll on the problem of illegal immigration in the United States.

Most of the results are reflective of what you hear in The Court of Public Opinion… except for one.

We self-deprecating Americans believe that immigrants work harder than people born in the U.S. .

There is, unfortunately some truth to it.  The fact is that immigrants will take any job they can, leaving them open to the unskilled and low skilled jobs that many Americans shun, not necessarily because they are menial, but because they don't pay well.

Another factor is the wage gap between the 'skilled' jobs and the unskilled, a gap driven in some small measure by the unions.  Why work at a hotel as a maid for 20k when you can work at a factory making 50k?

And that is not entirely greed, it is often survival, because the reality is that few people can live on minimum wage jobs.

I was reading up on Ken Schram's commentaries and I ran across two he did about Manuel Jesus Cordova.  In them, he detailed the story of this guys deportation and how the conservatives were essentially cold hearted bastards.

While his comments are grossly over generalized, he is essentially correct.  It is the anti illegal immigration people, which is not exclusively conservatives who are being a bit short sighted, but besides that, though it galls me, I agree with him.

The story starts in Mexico where Manual began his trek to enter the USA illegally.  After walking for two days he came across a 9 year old boy.  The boy, Christopher Buztheitner, had been in a car accident where his mother was killed.  Stranded, he was wandering looking for help when it found him, in the form of Manuel.

Manuel had a choice.  He was a relatively short walk to freedom, and he could have left the boy, who could have died.

He chose a higher path.  He stayed, gave the boy his sweater and fed him, then built a campfire, and as the boy slept, kept watch over him throughout the night.  They were found there by hunters late the next day.

The boy was taken to a hospital and Cordova was sent back to Mexico.  Read more here.

Those are the basic facts in the case.  Ken noted that the conservatives gloated that Manuel should have been deported, as that is the law, and I might normally agree as I am pro enforcement of immigration law.

But I have to say that I think if anyone deserved a chance to stay, he was a prime candidate. 

Look at it this way:  he had a choice and chose humanity.  As he put it:

"I am a father of four children. For that, I stayed. I never could have left him. Never."

He didn't make a calculated choice hoping for reward, he knew his choice would doom him to likely deportation.  He did it anyway because he know it was the right choice.

One area of assured controversy between liberals and conservatives is on Flag Burning.  Your average progressive liberal defends it as free speech while most conservatives find it offensive and many want to ban it.

So when says he is going to burn a flag on the steps of the Capital in Olympia, you would expect many on the left to support his free speech.  But since this is a Mexican flag, the criticism are many.

Permit unlikely for flag burning

Tacoma man wants to burn a Mexican flag on the steps of the state Capitol in Olympia — a move sure to spark controversy and maybe a sanction for polluting.

Yep.  In Olympia, the primary reason they are denying his permit is because of pollution.  I personally wonder if they would care if it was a US flag.

Nick Bradford said he's upset with the failure of the federal government to secure the borders against illegal crossings and wants the state to do more to crack down on illegal immigrants. He wants to stage a rally at the Capitol in January, when lawmakers return for session.

"Obviously, the protest is intended to get the attention of the public, but also the politicians here, in Washington," Bradford said. "We can't always bark at the other Washington and George Bush. We can do things locally here."

Free speech at its finest.  But Carlos Aguilera does not agree.

'A hate message'

Carlos , director of the Hispanic outreach group CIELO in Olympia, said burning a flag is hurtful.

"To me, it's like it's a hate message against Hispanics, just by the fact that if you took the flag of any nationality, you invite the press, burn it — that certainly sends a negative message about that nationality," Aguilera said.

So wait, is this an offense against nationality or race?  Pick one.  I think Carlos protests too much.

Via Hot Air:

Smells like … victory.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has decided to abandon a plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, officials familiar with the decision told The Associated Press Tuesday night…

The governor’s office signaled to New York lawmakers Tuesday that Spitzer will say at the meeting that he is shelving the plan and that immigration is a federal issue to be handled by Washington, according to congressional aides who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made.

..

About 70 percent of New Yorkers oppose the license plan, according to a Siena College poll of 625 registered state voters released Tuesday. The poll, conducted Nov. 5-8, had a sampling margin of 3.9 percentage points.

70 percent in a state bluer than the oceans. I can’t wait to see what this chastening does to the Democrats’ plank on amnesty during the campaign. Thanks, Spitz!

And now, Hillary, who waffled three ways from Tuesday on this issue, is making a stand:

On the day after Spitzer pulls the plug and the day before the next Democratic debate. Tough, strong, smart:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday came out against granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, after weeks of pressure in the presidential race to take a position on a now-failed ID plan from her home state governor…

“I support Governor Spitzer’s decision today to withdraw his proposal,” Clinton said in a statement. “As president, I will not support driver’s licenses for undocumented people and will press for comprehensive immigration reform that deals with all of the issues around illegal immigration including border security and fixing our broken system.”

She has had a rough week I would say.  She imploded into mediocrity in the debate a few nights ago when she clearly would not take a consistent position on Illegal Immigrants and drivers licenses.  In the first video, presidential long shot John Edwards uses footage from the debate to show her inconsistency.

In the second, SNL, who will lampoon anyone, has a good time with her at a halloween party, with some good digs by special guest Obama.

Enjoy.

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Seems an incredible slap in the face, but its true.  8 of the 19 Hijackers had used phoney documents or loopholes in the state law to obtain drivers licenses, and under the Motor Voter act had also been allowed to register to vote.

Makes you feel real secure in our system, doesn't it?  Because nowit is easier then ever before to do both.

Eight 9-11 Hijaacckers Were Registereed to Vote: Will MSM 'Drive' Story?

The fact has been out there for some time, but never garnered much media attention. Now, in the context of the current debate over the granting of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, will there be renewed focus on this chilling reality? Could this be the factoid that changes a presidential election? As John Fund wrote in his Wall Street Journal column today and discussed during his "Morning Joe" appearance:

After 9/11, the Justice Department found that eight of the 19 hijackers were registered to vote.

View video of Fund's "Morning Joe" appearance here.

And what made it so simple for them to register? As Fund explains:

[T]he National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as "Motor Voter," that President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1993. It required all states to offer voter registration to anyone getting a driver's license. One simply fills out a form and checks a box stating he is a citizen; he is then registered and in most states does not have to show any ID to vote.

The Fund column contains other mind-boggling details of the extent to which Eliot Spitzer, the New York governor whose drivers license plan Hillary Clinton supports, wanted to go:

Despite a tactical retreat this week--he says he will only give illegal immigrants a license that isn't valid for airplane travel and entering federal buildings--Mr. Spitzer has taken active steps to obliterate any distinctions between licenses given to citizens and non-citizens.

The rumors and misinformation about the wildfires is spreading as fast as the fires themselves.

The basic truth is that a kid with matches started at least one:

Officials: Boy With Matches Started Fire

Officials blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they would ask a prosecutor to consider the case.

The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said Tuesday. Ferocious winds helped it quickly spread.

"He admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire," Hecht said in a statement.

The boy was released to his parents, and the case will be presented to the district attorney's office, Hecht said. It was not clear if he had been arrested or cited by detectives.

The others will likely be found to have a been either accidents or similar negligence.

But the rumour mill really loves to make hay out of this stuff. 

One email I got claimed that the fires were the work of an Anti American Illegal Immigrant rights group.  This is now being reported as a hoax, but in a area where tensions already run hi, I am not surprised to see some reactionaries on the Anti-Immigration side seize the story as a way to make their case even harsher. 

While I admit the stories that also surfaced about illegals stealing supplies from Qualcom stadium are concerning, I cannot with any degree of honesty expect that lawful citizens were all behaving perfectly, so making the case against illegal immigrants in that just proves that the Immigrants are greedy and or desperate, just like the residents. 

Personal I think the case against illegals is well made without resorting to sensationalism.

OF course in the Senate, a different theory emerged.

According To Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the culprit is (you guessed it) GLOBAL WARMING!

Wildfires get personal for lawmakers