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Name: RodinTx
Location: Savannah, TX

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Georgia-Russia Conflict

Posted by RodinTx on Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:00:00 AM

From my email earlier:

I'm with Paul. Immigration is a boring subject. McCain and Obama are too similar to argue the details. I think McCain is finally taking a more American citizen viewpoint while Obama is taking a more "global" viewpoint, I'm guessing since he's running for President of the world.

Let's talk about the Russian-Georgian conflict.

What's Russia's intent? Is Georgia completely innocent in all of this? Does Russia have the right to protect it's interests (citizens) in Georgia with military attacks?

Or is Russia trying to gain control of the oil pipeline coming out of the Caspian region? I thought it was only evil, Republican Conservative Capitalists who were interested in oil.

Right now here is the pipeline coming from my project location:
http://www.cpc.ru/portal/alias!press/lang!en-us/tabID!3357/DesktopDefault.aspx

I know that in Kazakhstan I've seen a potential future project that shows a pipeline going south from where I'm at towards Aktau (coastal city along SE shore of Caspian Sea). I think all the oil producing companies in the RoK would be more than willing to avoid sending oil through the Caspian Pipeline which goes across Russia and go through the one from Aktau to Baku. But Russia and Iran are both against it: "A pipeline from Kashagan or Kuryk to Baku or a nearby terminal would run approximately 700 kilometers on the seabed. Russia (in tandem with Iran) has long opposed this or any trans-Caspian pipeline, ostensibly for environmental reasons, but in reality for preserving its quasi-monopoly on the transit of oil and gas from the eastern Caspian shore." The Caspian is bordered by Russia to the North and Iran on the South.

Is Russia flexing it's muscle so it can pretend to be a world power again? Do they want another Cold War? Is this "blood for oil"?

Ya'lls thoughts

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Immigration

Posted by RodinTx on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:00:00 AM

Okay, as requested, let's discuss immigration.

Where do they stand on the issue?

According to CNN:

McCain "Co-sponsored Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border."

Obama "Supported Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border."

Result: no difference here.

According to Fox News:

McCain "McCain wants a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would improve border surveillance and enforcement, strengthen penalties against those who hire illegal immigrants, and stop document fraud. He wants to develop a guest worker program that allows illegal immigrants to earn legitimate status. McCain sponsored the 2006 comprehensive immigration reform bill. Had it passed, it would have allowed some illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, paying fines and back taxes, and clearing a background check. McCain believes that securing the borders is one of the federal government's most important obligations."

Obama "Obama says it is vital to bring out of the shadows the 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S. by implementing a system through which illegals could earn citizenship by paying a fine, learning English, and waiting their turn behind legal immigrants. Obama says the U.S. needs a better employment verification system and more serious employer sanctions for those who hire illegal immigrants. He also voted for the 2006 Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill and is in favor of a border fence."

So, on the surface it looks they are somewhat similar.

Obama, McCain and Hillary all voted to give retroactive Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants who obtained their benefits via document fraud (stolen or fictitious SSN). This was back in 2006.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=24987

McCain has also been referred to as the "Amnesty Candidate". http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=24369

Since then though, McCain now admits to having learned his lesson about what the American people want in regards to immigration. http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/mccain_border_illegals/2007/11/04/46527.html

Obama wants to give healthcare to 47 million "American's who don't have it". http://www.newsmax.com/morris/obama_healthcare/2008/07/21/114994.html

Obama voted against making English our national language.

Insignificant?

Not to me.

It sounds to me like neither are still very strong on it but that McCain is the candidate most likely to provide a more secure country. Obama has given me even less of a secure feeling that he'll deal with the illegal immigration problem in a proper manner, with the exception of course to raise taxes to fund whatever program it is he comes up with.

Ya'lls thoughts?