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John - I always change that to ......Ata wage American's wont' do it at. And in some cases I have no issues- we have a guest worker program in place in this country - and if we need to expand that number - then we should - . My issue is that we don't have 12 million migrant farm workers picking strawberries. 

These illegals are taking construction jobs - service jobs - factory jobs - the list goes on. And to say American's wont' do them at any wage is just wrong. +/- 20% of construction jobs go to illegals - if that's a job American's won't do - where does the other 80% of the workforce come from??????  

Part of this bill wanted to set up a system like you sugest Peter although I doubt it is a well thought out as yours. 

There is a difference between jobs Americans won't do and can't do.  I know lots of Americans who would pick fruit if you paid them what they thought they deserved to pick fruit.  But then grapes would cost 20 dollars per pound. 

I've heard the mantra over and over and over and over - Illegals are doing jobs American's won't ... now here we have a  young man - attending college and tending bar. Now - I don't know about you - but waiting tables and tending bar are darn good jobs for college students. And I know plenty of people who have raised kids on that money.

I'm not past compromise -  I even feel for this Franz - he was a child when he was brough here - and I am glad he is bettering himself - but what about the job he took from someone who is legally authorized to work - and the one he will take.  We aren't talking about picking fruits and vegetables - we are talking about our children's future.

John Conner, I think you have a good idea there.  I see no reason why we cannot go after illegal employers.  I would add to your idea that we should implement a systems that makes it easy for employers to check the validity of employee documents.  I don't know if such a system exists today, but it ought to, and I don't see why it would not be doable to provide cross reference information on the SSN that the employee provides.  I want no excuses for the employers, and no employers caught up in the system who may really be acting in good faith.  Then I would implement a whistleblower reward system, essentially placing a bounty on illegal employers.  And more than just fines for repeat offenders - 2nd or 3rd offense means you lose your business license.

Good point Damon.  there are lots of people who are in the legalization process right now but have been stuck in it for many years.  I think those people who have been in it for more than 2 years should be allowed to stay.  If you are like Frantz and have been living here without even trying for so many years then maybe you should go back and start at the end of the line.

"Frantz, a 24-year-old Haitian immigrant who has been living in the United States illegally since he was 9, sends his grandparents $200 a month from his bartending job in Miami. He is one year away from finishing a degree in business administration and hotel management and is afraid returning to Haiti’s political turmoil to await his turn in the long legalization line will derail his career and hurt his grandparents."

He is afraid to return to Haiti, but didn't do anything toward naturalization in 15 years?!  I'll be understanding and say that he didn't even know that he was breaking the law until he was about 16, but that still means that for the past eight years he hasn't done anything to impact whether or not he would have to be deported.  As far as I'm concerned, the guy should be made a citizen immediately and given an award for becoming a perfect piece of our society by doing nothing about his situation and still expecting someone else to fix it for him! 

I'm not saying that I have all the answers, but I sure expect my elected leaders to address problems.  Not just bring legislation that everyone knows will either die in the Senate or the House, and continuing to force the country's population to bear the brunt of their inefficiency.

I read the high points of the bill and here is what I don't get.  They increase the penalties for employers who hire illegals.  I think the fines are high now they are just uninforced.  So how do we get them inforced.  This is where reality and passion meet.  Can we realistically go after employers?  Yes,  Here is the way it works.  Illegals go to thier boss with a fake SS# and claim all the dependents they can so that hardly any taxes are taken out.  I mean what do they care they aren't going to file with the IRS.  So here is how we do it.  It seems the IRS can create a database of all the individuals who claim lots of dependents and pay no tax and fail to file a return.  They have to issue a W-4 and W-9 so they have the info.  They can then look into thos individuals and the siutation in which the employer hired them.  Then if guilty fine those employers.  This seems a better idea than random raids and would probably cost less as it is info we already have.  The agents who investigate could probably be funded from the fines.  But it won't make news and is reasonable so it will never work in our system. 

Like Elizabeth Renant was saying on another thread....this bill is in trouble.  Right now some in the Senate are saying the bill is dead.  Once again our pathetic legislators are failing to come to effective grips with one of the most compelling issues of our times...

On paper it sounds good but from what little I know those with advanced degrees don't usually get jobs those degrees afford and thus this would totally unfair.  I have heard of lots of illegals from eastern Europe who are doctors and engineers who come here and are handymen and house cleaners.  If they still can only get those jobs shouldn't they be treated the same as a handyman from Guatamal who has no degree? 

I see about 15 different camps on immigration ranging from the let everyone free and in to keep everyone out and send them back.  to be honest I have seen lots of commprimise on the issue over the past few years.  What I have yet to see is any compromise based on reality rather than feelings.  Our lawmakers need to sit down and first say what can we do realistically with out resources and our economy then compromise over the rest of the details.  Until then we are just sticking finger in a leaky dam.

"Among other things, the bill would make it harder for immigrants to bring over family members. Instead, the government would rely on a point system that rewards job skills and education when deciding who should be allowed to enter."

What, you mean like every other Western country? Nah, say it isn't so!

Maybe it's just me, and every other Western country, but it seems to me that, if we're thinking about the future of our country, job skills and education are more important than family ties. But I know that will fly like a lead balloon with many immigration activists.

The readers and commenters on this e-newspaper are way too cool to do anything like that.

Says a lot about the collective voice of Los Angeles.

Thanks for the video, especially for the ones of us who couldn't be there.

Touché!

Another story that has been - for security reasons - almost completely surpressed is the threat to blow up Ken and Barbie's house unless all dolls for sale in Muslim countries are taken out of their boxes immediately - on the grounds that most were boxed without any evidence whatever that anyone would buy them.

In related news: The Marionnettes have offered peace terms...but there are strings attached...

Ok, Steve, think I had better take that Gorge jump first....or shall I just...er...leave the country now?

It's too late, the chemicals have already taken effect. Must... stay... awake... Sorry I gotta go, me and the Knievel stunt cycle have a date with the Taos Gorge.

STEVEN!!!!

GET THAT GI JOE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH RIGHT NOW!!!!! I MEAN IT!!!!

It's been done trust me. My parents never got us new toys again. It wasn't so much the fire crackers as it was the hundred-year ant hill we regularly drenched with Coleman lantern fluid that did many of our toys in including the old metal Tonka trucks (the wheels). You know that ones that did draw blood when your brother pushed it into you bare foot. (The red flatbed was the worst.) I think that that one lasted at least thoughout three of our playhoods, a good 8-10 years.

Trying to saw off GI Joe's head is about as impossible as pulling off one of Super Stretch's arms. How can such materials not be toxic?

Do any of you have any idea how much effort it takes to saw the head off of a GI Joe doll???

Obviously, this particular insurgent group is extremely dedicated!

Funny pics indeed. If you look closely at the "rifle" being pointed at the "soldier" in the first pic, you will see that it's the same rifle included in the package with the action figure. This is one for the scap book.

here are two photos.. the first was an amazing pic. the second is of our kidnapped soldier in his packaging. i still say drop the g.i. joes...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050202/photos_pl_afp/050202021716_igsaqeza_photo0

and

http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/39295.htm

ooooohhh...

awesome post steve...

was this a team effort?

LOL

If you go into MSNBC Home, look under News, then click on "Iraq Votes", you'll find it under "More News From Iraq". It's been there at least since this morning. And it really does look like the doll. What's next, Barbie?

Agreed Kaaren. However, I don't think OBL needs any additional motivation to pull off another big gesture. With or without Iraqi elections, if/when he can do it he will. We have been very fortunate the last 3+ years.

And like the energizer bunny equip them to move around forever and with a band playing hail to the chief. lol

I think we should let them carry out their threat... behead the little doll! Then as retaliation, we can drop millions and millions and millions of little g.i. joes and g.i. janes.. all carrying little guns while wearing little parachutes dropped from little airplanes. They won't be able to walk the street without stepping on them. At night time, little "ka-thunk ka-thunk ka-thunks" will be heard landing on their roofs.. we'll wake their dogs.. their camels.. their mother in laws. They'll land in their bowls of soup.. their water supplies.. That'll show em we can't be messed with! And if they don't surrender? We'll get really serious. We'll send in the little tanks...

Steve - devoutly hope you are right, and also hope the rebuff to the terrorists won't push OBL into another big gesture.

Sounds like somebody's getting desperate.

Yes, it's a cut and paste photo of a toy military doll. Saw it on MSNBC news last night. Too bad the photo wasn't posted, it's good for a laugh.

This is a fake! G.I. JOE: MILITANTS TAKE 'TOY' HOSTAGE; IRAQI WEBSITE WAS CLIP ART... This was know yesterday afternoon. Why is this here?

JC: Look past the right and the left. What he's doing is good for our vets. That's the problem with Dems today. They are too busy fighting with the republicans about every issue, that they forget the important things. Like protecting those who protect you. Give it up Dems, if you really care about the people, then show it. Not by fighting just because of their party. Gov. Bill is doing good for the people of New Mexico. And from I could see is that you're feeding your ego by cutting down Gov. Bill. Remember you're fortunate enough to talk bad about him. In Cuba, you'd be shot. Think of that when you try to take away from those who protect your loud mouth.

TOM

Thomas; JC probably would like to move to Canada, only problem is he just doesn't want to pay such a high income tax.

"Every day after serving in the Persian Gulf is a good Day...."

You're right I shouldn't tease the Gov about his weight. It's more of an allegory for power than his girth. He's heavy. Abu Ghriab was heavy. Torture is heavy. I have been a fan of Bill Richardson since he was "A Fighter for New Mexico" until he sold-out the Democrat Party. He has used his heavy weight influence to push Democrats hard right. This Idea of supporting the troops or leave the country is about as fascist as it gets. The Governor is doing this bill for his own ego. He is doing it because he knows he can, not because it's right.

What's wrong with you John? I guess you're one of the guys who would rather live in Canada. But doesn't have the courage to move there. Or better yet you want to live in China. Why is it that people are worried about the Gov's weight? Is that all you can tease him about. What I've seen from the Gov is great things. Oh wait I bet you want that drug legalizing hippy Gary Johnson. Don't cut us troops down ever again, unless you're willing to live in another country.

The comments by John Coventry are a disgrace! They should be printed in the main edition of the newspaper so readers can see the extremity of Bush haters.

As to the life insurance coverage, the military receives little enough in pay for the service they provide - whether in combat or not. It is a good idea to get them started with life insurance for their families. Some provision should allow them to increase their coverage over time as inflation progresses. WWII veterans were limited to $10,000 of insurance which could only be increased by adding dividends. This no longer has any semblance of the value it did in 1946. No amount of appeals to the VA or our Congressmen will get them to increase permissible coverage to a realistic amount or even the $50,000 maximum allowed for Gulf War veterans.

Let it be understood that in this issue as in others concerning veterans, our State Department of Veterans Affairs under John Garcia is utterly useless.

Hank Daneman

Only 10 per cent of guardsmen are in Iraq and they all get free insurance? I guess it's hard work torturing and learning how to torture. I wonder how much inocent Iraq families that have lost a father or mother because of these sick weekend killers, how much are they paid? Something is really fishy when a Democratic Governor become a public relations punk for a Republican President. Very publicly our CIA Governor honnors Bush's pro-military torture-happy policies. Rewarding the torturers and the killers of Iraqi babies just because Bill has sold out his own progressive Democratic ideals and his Party. Our Governor was in on the sell-out of the Dems right from the begining. When he was named Chairman of the convention, I knew the fix was in. The Democratic CIA had made a deal with the Republican CIA to throw the election, with Kerry and Richardson to never ever mention Abu Ghriab. Not only was our Governor suppose to deflect world criticism from Bush and this country's torture policies, but afterward he was to lead a pro-military reward the torturers campaign. Kill a Kid and get free insurance. Guardsmen who torture should be lifted in the eyes of the American public to a special place. Lofty special people honnored by a just and all-knowing citizens. Not really. They, the guardsmen, are just plan greedy people who go to Iraq to kill and torture and pretend they're doing good. And our Governor just keeps getting fatter living large by squatting behind Bush 'the Man who works the soft machine.'

Gloria:

Golf is the biggest loss leader in the resort business. It takes somewhere in the neighborhood of 10K round of golf for a course to break even. Multiply the number of courses in SF with all those non existent golfers and you really begin to see what a water waste golf is. Northern NM is not Scottsdale, or Tucson. The population, both tourist and local is simply not there to support golf. However, a properly drip irrigated course, recovers a vast majority of the water used to maintain it. If desert communities are going to golf, they should enact legislation that would require a desert scape course, much like the course at Desert Hills in Scottsdale.

Support aid if they don't have casinos and if they aren't using water to irrigate their greens on their golf courses.

I was seriously answering...silly.

Look who's talking.

I was seriously inquiring about that.

Danny T

heck no they don't. Stop being so silly.

Do the tribes share with each other the profits raised by these casinos?

You are right James.

The tribes in New Mexico need additional state aid for capital improvements. I support additional aid for education, health, and water projects.

Casinos are not exactly the cash cows they are percieved to be. Most casinos begin witha huge debt load and a large payroll. Very little is left over. maybe 20 years down the road Tribes will be fully self sufficient.

With most of the indian tribes in New Mexcico having casinos that bring millions of dollars, why do they need state aid? I think it's time to give the aid to the pueblos that DON'T have a casino. They are the one that need the aid. This is just another way for the pueblos with casinos to have their cake and eat it too.

And where were the checks and balances that would have prevented this type of fraud? Why weren't these purchases uncovered before $200,000 was wasted?

These employees and anyone else involved should be sentenced to the maximum time. They should not let off easy since they "breached their duties".

You, know David, you are right. I wonder what happened to Eric Scott? Maybe he went south for the winter or something.