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Dobbs: illegals’ left turn
CNN’s Lou Dobbs offers a concern that the illegal immigrant
demonstrations have allowed the leftists to become ensconced in the
movement:
Some illegal immigration and open borders activists in the Hispanic
community are deeply concerned about the involvement of the left-wing
radical group. But others, like Juan Jose Gutierrez, whom I've interviewed a
number of times over the past several months, manages to be both director of
Latino Movement USA and a representative of ANSWER.
As Gutierrez told us on my show, "The time has come...where we need to stand
up and make a statement. We need to do what the American people did when
they pulled away from the British crown. And I am sure that back in those
days many people were concerned that was radical action."
Just how significant is the impact of leftists within the illegal
immigration movement? It is no accident that they chose May 1 as their day
of demonstration and boycott. It is the worldwide day of commemorative
demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and even anarchic
organizations.
Social Security’s demise
Unlike the boy who cried wolf one too many times, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
would rather not alarm the public to even more bad news for the nation’s two
largest entitlement programs. After learning from the trustees that Social
Security and Medicare are going to run out sooner than expected, Reid said
things are fine.
Reid said the trustees' report "confirms that, despite White House scare
tactics, Social Security remains sound for decades to come."
The report said that Medicare's trust fund will be exhausted in 12 years,
two years sooner than an earlier forecast projected; and Social Security's
trust fund will dry up in 34 years, one year sooner than projected.
Giuliani in Iowa
New York's former mayor Rudy Guiliani came to Iowa and showed some interest
in the state’s Republican nominating presidential role.
"I am interested in public service again," he said. "My effort this year
will be to help Republicans get elected and, quite honestly, a part of it
also is saying to myself 'Does it look like I have a chance in 2008?"'
The former U.S. Attorney also said that he thought that arresting illegal
immigrants was not the solution, "That would be very dangerous," he said at
a Des Moines news conference. "You'd drive them further underground, you'd
push them more toward criminal activities, you would lose complete control"
of identifying and monitoring them.
He went on to say, "If you were to deal with it through either extreme" -
wide-open borders or large-scale arrests - "I think you'd make a terrible
mistake."
While in Des Moines, Giuliani met with Dave Roederer, who was an aide to
former Governor Terry Branstad and headed up President Bush's 2004 campaign
in Iowa.
Giuliani's raised $40,000 for Lamberti's bid to oust Democratic Rep. Leonard
Boswell in Des Moines, and raised $25,000 for Rep. Jim Nussle, who is
running for governor, in Davenport.
McCain’s endorsement
The
Lincoln Journal reports on the scheduled endorsement of Rep. Tom Osborn
(R-NE), who is running for governor, by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):
The red-hot Republican gubernatorial battle between Gov. Dave Heineman and
Rep. Tom Osborne will add an intriguing new element Tuesday.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona will endorse Osborne’s candidacy and join him in
a telephone news conference with Nebraska news media.
McCain is expected to "discuss the congressman’s leadership on issues such
as veterans affairs, immigration and campaign finance reform," according to
the Osborne campaign.
Brownback’s friend?
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told ABC News' Dianne Sawyer
that the left and right need to find ways to come together in the United
States, and then went on to praise the humanitarian work of Sen. Sam
Brownback (R-KS) on Good Morning America.
Abramoff’s contacts
U.S. District Judge John Garrett Penn has approved the release by the Secret
Service to Judicial Watch, a public interest group, that required the agency
to produce records of lobbyists Jack Abramoff's visits to the White House
from Jan. 1, 2001, to the present.
Judicial Watch filed suit in February after the Secret Service failed to
respond to its request under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Poll watching
A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday found Bush's
approval rating at 34%, two points under his previous low. He also received
the lowest ratings of his presidency on his handling of the economy, energy
and foreign affairs. He tied his previous low on Iraq: 32%.
The poll showed Democrats leading 54%-39% among registered voters who were
asked which party they would prefer in a congressional race.
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