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Briefing 03.06.08 From the Desk of Steve Elliott Illegal Alien Crisis Crippling Border Counties A study by an organization representing border counties is estimating that the unreimbursed cost to border counties of incarcerating illegal aliens totals $200 million per year. See the press release . Lou Dobbs' show reported that counties receive less than 5 cents on the dollar of such costs. By the way, Dobbs just launched a new daily talk radio show . McCain not attracting evangelicals Exit polling from Tuesday's primaries reveals that John McCain is still not attracting evangelicals. In fact, evangelicals were the only group that did not go for McCain. In Texas , McCain lost to Huck 49-42 among evangelicals. In Ohio , McCain lost 48-45. This shows that McCain still has quite a bit of work to do to get the base behind him. One pro-family leader warns that values voters "are not mobilized right now." And isn't it interesting that ithe evangelicals --who received the most criticism from Rush et. al. during the primaries -- are the last group to hold out against McCain. (By the way, the best resource I've found for primary and exit polling results is at MSNBC . ...

Briefing 03.06.08 From the Desk of Steve Elliott Illegal Alien Crisis Crippling Border Counties A study by an organization representing border counties is estimating that the unreimbursed cost to border counties of incarcerating illegal aliens totals $200 million per year. See the press release . Lou Dobbs' show reported that counties receive less than 5 cents on the dollar of such costs. By the way, Dobbs just launched a new daily talk radio show . McCain not attracting evangelicals Exit polling from Tuesday's primaries reveals that John McCain is still not attracting evangelicals. In fact, evangelicals were the only group that did not go for McCain. In Texas , McCain lost to Huck 49-42 among evangelicals. In Ohio , McCain lost 48-45. This shows that McCain still has quite a bit of work to do to get the base behind him. One pro-family leader warns that values voters "are not mobilized right now." And isn't it interesting that ithe evangelicals --who received the most criticism from Rush et. al. during the primaries -- are the last group to hold out against McCain. (By the way, the best resource I've found for primary and exit polling results is at MSNBC . ...

Briefing 03.05.08 From the Desk of STeve Elliot Senate Announcing Bills To Secure Border, Stop Illegal Immigration Yesterday, one of our contacts on Capitol Hill gave us a heads-up that a group of senators led by Sen. Sessions is holding a press conference today to announce a package of bills designed to curb illegal immigration. These Senators are rolling out 11 bills under the banner "Immigration Enforcement and Assimilation." The provisions include: --mandatory minimum jail time for illegals entering the U.S. --allowing DHS to use SSN "no match" letters as evidence --worksite enforcement act of 2008 --Complete the Fence Act (see Grassfire's petition which just crossed 100,000 signers) --No COPS funding for sanctuary cities --National Language Act: makes English national language and eliminates entitlement of getting govt. docs printed in other languages --extending role of National Guard at the border --discourage and penalize states that still make it easy for illegals to get driver's licenses. Grassfire is working with our contacts on the Hill on pushing these measures. Read our more detailed briefing here and be watching for more on this from our research team. Hillary Wins, But Where's the "Big Mo" If Barack Obama had swept Ohio, Texas, and ...

Briefing 03.05.08 From the Desk of STeve Elliot Senate Announcing Bills To Secure Border, Stop Illegal Immigration Yesterday, one of our contacts on Capitol Hill gave us a heads-up that a group of senators led by Sen. Sessions is holding a press conference today to announce a package of bills designed to curb illegal immigration. These Senators are rolling out 11 bills under the banner "Immigration Enforcement and Assimilation." The provisions include: --mandatory minimum jail time for illegals entering the U.S. --allowing DHS to use SSN "no match" letters as evidence --worksite enforcement act of 2008 --Complete the Fence Act (see Grassfire's petition which just crossed 100,000 signers) --No COPS funding for sanctuary cities --National Language Act: makes English national language and eliminates entitlement of getting govt. docs printed in other languages --extending role of National Guard at the border --discourage and penalize states that still make it easy for illegals to get driver's licenses. Grassfire is working with our contacts on the Hill on pushing these measures. Read our more detailed briefing here and be watching for more on this from our research team. Hillary Wins, But Where's the "Big Mo" If Barack Obama had swept Ohio, Texas, and ...

03.04.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott If so many Republicans oppose illegal immigration, why is McCain the nominee? The NYTimes' "Week in Review" features a lengthy article by David Leonhardt entitled " The Border and the Ballot Box " which tries to make sense of the recent grassroots uprising against illegal immigration juxtaposed against McCain's surprising success -- all on a backdrop of America's history of immigration. With the strong possibility that McCain will formally wrap up the nomination tonight, perhaps it is a good time to stop and consider what just happened and what it means. The thesis of the article is captured in a quote from a UC Davis historian: “While immigration has always roiled large sections of the electorate,” said Eric Rauchway, a historian at the University of California, Davis, “it has never been the basis for a national election, one way or the other.” As Newsbusters pointed out today, the article has the very typical NYTimes slant against those who oppose illegal immigration. Recognizing this bias, the article still offers some interesting answers to the puzzle of McCain's success. Here's Leonhardt's assessment of the current politial landscape in relation to immigration: So, eight months ...

03.04.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott If so many Republicans oppose illegal immigration, why is McCain the nominee? The NYTimes' "Week in Review" features a lengthy article by David Leonhardt entitled " The Border and the Ballot Box " which tries to make sense of the recent grassroots uprising against illegal immigration juxtaposed against McCain's surprising success -- all on a backdrop of America's history of immigration. With the strong possibility that McCain will formally wrap up the nomination tonight, perhaps it is a good time to stop and consider what just happened and what it means. The thesis of the article is captured in a quote from a UC Davis historian: “While immigration has always roiled large sections of the electorate,” said Eric Rauchway, a historian at the University of California, Davis, “it has never been the basis for a national election, one way or the other.” As Newsbusters pointed out today, the article has the very typical NYTimes slant against those who oppose illegal immigration. Recognizing this bias, the article still offers some interesting answers to the puzzle of McCain's success. Here's Leonhardt's assessment of the current politial landscape in relation to immigration: So, eight months ...

03.03.09 Briefing From the Desk of STeve Elliott Obama Fully Out Of The Closet On Homosexual Rights Over the past few days, Barack Obama has come out very strongly in favor of homosexual rights, even using a reference to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as justification for his position. He most clearly articulated the position last Thursday in an open letter on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual) equality. You can read that here . Interestingly, he only used the abbreviation LGBT and never in the letter articulates those "bisexual" or "transsexual." In the letter, he states his strong support of LGBT rights, including urging states "to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws." He endorses civil unions and pledges to use the "bully pulpit" to push for these changes Obama tries to draw a bright line distinction between "homosexual marriage" (which he says he doesn't "believe in") and "civil unions" (which he heartily endorses. It is a distinction without a difference since Obama's civil unions would convey all the rights and privileges of marriage -- including full adoption rights. It sounds entirely Clintonesque to me (Bill Clinton, that is). On Sunday Obama used the Bible ...

03.03.09 Briefing From the Desk of STeve Elliott Obama Fully Out Of The Closet On Homosexual Rights Over the past few days, Barack Obama has come out very strongly in favor of homosexual rights, even using a reference to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as justification for his position. He most clearly articulated the position last Thursday in an open letter on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual) equality. You can read that here . Interestingly, he only used the abbreviation LGBT and never in the letter articulates those "bisexual" or "transsexual." In the letter, he states his strong support of LGBT rights, including urging states "to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws." He endorses civil unions and pledges to use the "bully pulpit" to push for these changes Obama tries to draw a bright line distinction between "homosexual marriage" (which he says he doesn't "believe in") and "civil unions" (which he heartily endorses. It is a distinction without a difference since Obama's civil unions would convey all the rights and privileges of marriage -- including full adoption rights. It sounds entirely Clintonesque to me (Bill Clinton, that is). On Sunday Obama used the Bible ...

02.28.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott (revised 12:24p) (Not-So) Shocking Development: Virtual Border Fence Fails! Washington Post is reporting that the 28-mile stretch of virtual fence (that Chertoff just trumpeted as a success last week ) is an abject failure. As a result, the project has been delayed at least three years and it is now unclear if any virtual fencing will actually ever work on the border. Plus, the cost numbers are making the test virtual fence just as if not more expensive than the double-layer fencing that Bush and DHS refuse to build! Time for a Full-Court Press It's time for a full-court press on the border fence. First, we must insist that the original mandates of the Secure Fence Act be restored. Grassfire has a new petition that supports two bills in the House that will do just that (over 76,000 signers in less a week). Second, we need to expose the double-talk, lies and deception coming out of the Administration on the fence. Get this -- DHS is claliming it will have completed some 670 miles of what it calls "fencing" or "vehicle barriers" by the end of this year. This is from the ...

02.28.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott (revised 12:24p) (Not-So) Shocking Development: Virtual Border Fence Fails! Washington Post is reporting that the 28-mile stretch of virtual fence (that Chertoff just trumpeted as a success last week ) is an abject failure. As a result, the project has been delayed at least three years and it is now unclear if any virtual fencing will actually ever work on the border. Plus, the cost numbers are making the test virtual fence just as if not more expensive than the double-layer fencing that Bush and DHS refuse to build! Time for a Full-Court Press It's time for a full-court press on the border fence. First, we must insist that the original mandates of the Secure Fence Act be restored. Grassfire has a new petition that supports two bills in the House that will do just that (over 76,000 signers in less a week). Second, we need to expose the double-talk, lies and deception coming out of the Administration on the fence. Get this -- DHS is claliming it will have completed some 670 miles of what it calls "fencing" or "vehicle barriers" by the end of this year. This is from the ...

02.26.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Hillary Desperate? It seems HIllary Clinton has reached a point of desperation. National polls are showing her falling farther and farther behind Barack Obama. Her credibility as a candidate could come down to winning Texas and Ohio one week from today. The Dem's process greatly complicates matters. Since no states are winner-take-all -- along with the superdelegates -- means Obama will not get enough delegates pre-convention. But the pressure on Hillary to withdraw will be overwhelming if she loses Texas and Ohio. It's do or die. McCain On Border Fence Despite his reputation as a leader in the push for amnesty, John McCain seems to be trying to carve out a distinction between his position on border security and that of Obama and Clinton. Here are some comments from an interview with a San Antonio radio station: "The border fence is not going to go away. It's going to have to be built. And in parts of our border... it's more effective to use vehicle barriers, sensors, cameras... but the fact is the border walls have to be built in urban areas because that's the only way you're going to stop illegal ...

02.26.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Hillary Desperate? It seems HIllary Clinton has reached a point of desperation. National polls are showing her falling farther and farther behind Barack Obama. Her credibility as a candidate could come down to winning Texas and Ohio one week from today. The Dem's process greatly complicates matters. Since no states are winner-take-all -- along with the superdelegates -- means Obama will not get enough delegates pre-convention. But the pressure on Hillary to withdraw will be overwhelming if she loses Texas and Ohio. It's do or die. McCain On Border Fence Despite his reputation as a leader in the push for amnesty, John McCain seems to be trying to carve out a distinction between his position on border security and that of Obama and Clinton. Here are some comments from an interview with a San Antonio radio station: "The border fence is not going to go away. It's going to have to be built. And in parts of our border... it's more effective to use vehicle barriers, sensors, cameras... but the fact is the border walls have to be built in urban areas because that's the only way you're going to stop illegal ...

02.23.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Clarly State Opposition To Border Fence As Chertoff Touts "Virtual" Progress "Virtually" a Border Fence On Friday, Secretary Chertoff was out trumpeting the success of the 28-mile test zone of virtual fencing. The virtual fence comes in about eight months late and at the expense of the double-layer Secure Fence Act fence which Chertoff, President Bush and this Congress apparently have no intention of building.  Also I reported on Friday , both Clinton and Obama flatly rejected the double-layer fence. Go here for video. With these two news items as a backdrop, Grassfire launched a petition to restore the full doulble-layer fence mandate of the Secure Fence Act. In just a few days, we are already over 35,000 signers.  Obama Global Tax Bill Put On Hold CNSNews.com is reporting that two conservative Senators have put a hold on Barack Obama's Global Poverty Bill --what we have called the Global Poverty Tax. The Obama bill was getting a big push through Congress, it seems, as a way to give Obama something of a legislative accomplishment to trumpet on the campaign trail. Obama has almost no legislative accomplishments, which is his biggest ...

02.23.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Clarly State Opposition To Border Fence As Chertoff Touts "Virtual" Progress "Virtually" a Border Fence On Friday, Secretary Chertoff was out trumpeting the success of the 28-mile test zone of virtual fencing. The virtual fence comes in about eight months late and at the expense of the double-layer Secure Fence Act fence which Chertoff, President Bush and this Congress apparently have no intention of building.  Also I reported on Friday , both Clinton and Obama flatly rejected the double-layer fence. Go here for video. With these two news items as a backdrop, Grassfire launched a petition to restore the full doulble-layer fence mandate of the Secure Fence Act. In just a few days, we are already over 35,000 signers.  Obama Global Tax Bill Put On Hold CNSNews.com is reporting that two conservative Senators have put a hold on Barack Obama's Global Poverty Bill --what we have called the Global Poverty Tax. The Obama bill was getting a big push through Congress, it seems, as a way to give Obama something of a legislative accomplishment to trumpet on the campaign trail. Obama has almost no legislative accomplishments, which is his biggest ...

02.25.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Chertoff's "Virtual" Progress Another Sign That Real Fence Not In Government's Plans "Virtually" a Border Fence On Friday, Secretary Chertoff was out trumpeting the success of the 28-mile test zone of virtual fencing. The virtual fence comes in about eight months late and at the expense of the double-layer Secure Fence Act fence which Chertoff, President Bush and this Congress apparently have no intention of building. Also I reported on Friday , both Clinton and Obama flatly rejected the double-layer fence. Go here for video. With these two news items as a backdrop, Grassfire launched a petition to restore the full double-layer fence mandate of the Secure Fence Act. In just a few days, we are already over 35,000 signers. Huckabee on Sat Night Live Once again, Mike Huckabee proved to be the funniest of the presidential candidates this weekend. You can view the clip on SNL's site here . Obama Global Tax Bill Put On Hold CNSNews.com is reporting that two conservative Senators have put a hold on Barack Obama's Global Poverty Bill --what we have called the Global Poverty Tax. The Obama bill was getting a big push through Congress, ...

02.25.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Chertoff's "Virtual" Progress Another Sign That Real Fence Not In Government's Plans "Virtually" a Border Fence On Friday, Secretary Chertoff was out trumpeting the success of the 28-mile test zone of virtual fencing. The virtual fence comes in about eight months late and at the expense of the double-layer Secure Fence Act fence which Chertoff, President Bush and this Congress apparently have no intention of building. Also I reported on Friday , both Clinton and Obama flatly rejected the double-layer fence. Go here for video. With these two news items as a backdrop, Grassfire launched a petition to restore the full double-layer fence mandate of the Secure Fence Act. In just a few days, we are already over 35,000 signers. Huckabee on Sat Night Live Once again, Mike Huckabee proved to be the funniest of the presidential candidates this weekend. You can view the clip on SNL's site here . Obama Global Tax Bill Put On Hold CNSNews.com is reporting that two conservative Senators have put a hold on Barack Obama's Global Poverty Bill --what we have called the Global Poverty Tax. The Obama bill was getting a big push through Congress, ...

02.22.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Reiterate Opposition To Secure Fence Act During last night's debate, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stated their clear opposition to the specific fence mandates of the Secure Fence Act.  Article here . If there was any doubt before last night, it is now entirely clear that under either Obama or Clinton, virtually no fence would be built and certainly the Secure Fence Act would be at best ignored altogether. Clinton: I think when both of us voted for this, we were voting for the possibility that where it was appropriate and made sense, it would be considered," said Clinton. "But as with so much, the Bush administration has gone off the deep end, and they are unfortunately coming up with a plan that I think is counterproductive. "So I would have a review," she said. "I would listen to the people who live along the border, who understand what it is we need to be doing to protect our country."   Obama: "Well, this is an area where Senator Clinton and I almost entirely agree," he said. "I think that the key is to consult with local communities, whether ...

02.22.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Reiterate Opposition To Secure Fence Act During last night's debate, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stated their clear opposition to the specific fence mandates of the Secure Fence Act.  Article here . If there was any doubt before last night, it is now entirely clear that under either Obama or Clinton, virtually no fence would be built and certainly the Secure Fence Act would be at best ignored altogether. Clinton: I think when both of us voted for this, we were voting for the possibility that where it was appropriate and made sense, it would be considered," said Clinton. "But as with so much, the Bush administration has gone off the deep end, and they are unfortunately coming up with a plan that I think is counterproductive. "So I would have a review," she said. "I would listen to the people who live along the border, who understand what it is we need to be doing to protect our country."   Obama: "Well, this is an area where Senator Clinton and I almost entirely agree," he said. "I think that the key is to consult with local communities, whether ...

02.22.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Reiterate Opposition To Secure Fence Act During last night's debate, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stated their clear opposition to the specific fence mandates of the Secure Fence Act. Article here . If there was any doubt before last night, it is now entirely clear that under either Obama or Clinton, virtually no fence would be built and certainly the Secure Fence Act would be at best ignored altogether. Clinton: I think when both of us voted for this, we were voting for the possibility that where it was appropriate and made sense, it would be considered," said Clinton. "But as with so much, the Bush administration has gone off the deep end, and they are unfortunately coming up with a plan that I think is counterproductive. "So I would have a review," she said. "I would listen to the people who live along the border, who understand what it is we need to be doing to protect our country." Obama: "Well, this is an area where Senator Clinton and I almost entirely agree," he said. "I think that the key is to consult with local communities, whether it's ...

02.22.08 Briefing From the Desk of Steve Elliott Clinton, Obama Reiterate Opposition To Secure Fence Act During last night's debate, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama stated their clear opposition to the specific fence mandates of the Secure Fence Act. Article here . If there was any doubt before last night, it is now entirely clear that under either Obama or Clinton, virtually no fence would be built and certainly the Secure Fence Act would be at best ignored altogether. Clinton: I think when both of us voted for this, we were voting for the possibility that where it was appropriate and made sense, it would be considered," said Clinton. "But as with so much, the Bush administration has gone off the deep end, and they are unfortunately coming up with a plan that I think is counterproductive. "So I would have a review," she said. "I would listen to the people who live along the border, who understand what it is we need to be doing to protect our country." Obama: "Well, this is an area where Senator Clinton and I almost entirely agree," he said. "I think that the key is to consult with local communities, whether it's ...