Tancredo, you've just made me vomit in my own mouth.

As a present Coloradan, I'm just going to throw in an apology that our representative to the presidential race is so crazy. Thankfully, I don't live in his district (I live in Boulder, to fulfill the compulsion of all those who live here to point that out with pride).

I wonder about Tancredo sometimes... Does he really believe what he's spouting or is he spouting it because he thinks it's the best way to instrument a power grab? Neither show any sign of intelligence, it's just a question of the level of delusion he embodies.

In your guts,
you know he's nuts
Originally applied to Goldwater in '64, fits Tancredo today.

Well, Jake D, our one-man truth squad, speaking your truth to liberals, we're all eyes. Tell us how YOU would defend a country.

Ah, the irony, jeffgee (see Ad, Daisy, above ; )

You tell 'em JakeD!! These people don't know how to defend a country like Tom does. Why, when it comes to defending this country, I'm sure Tom's military record says it all!

So if "Islalmic terrorist now freely" roam all over our country, why hasn't anyone attacked yet? Because they're afraid of Bush and Tancredo? Sure.

Open borders isn't our problem. Wingnuts in high positions in the government is our problem.

I tried to find the link on youtube and could not...could anyone post it?
I want to link it as one of the resident moonbats on such open minded places ... as wizbang...

Feed the Frenzy!

Jon Stewart said it best last week: "Live free or do whatever it takes to make sure I don't die!"

Which is basically a satirical restating of the quote attributed to Ben Franklin: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

I like to say that Republicans are like 10-year-olds at a sleepover telling stories about the boogeyman. The more frightening the boogeyman - the sharper his fangs, the more evil his plots - the more memorable the experience. And of course the fiend grows more frightening with each retelling, as each 10-year-old tries to top the others.

It really pisses them off when Mom comes downstairs and turns on the lights. It ruins their fun.

Oh Lordy they done gone and blown up the Wal Mart! Somebody call Jack Bauer or Walker Texas Ranger or something!

Tancredo tells us that AS WE SPEAK we are being overrun by Islamofascist terrorists. In other words: he thinks Bush, Negroponte, and the rest of the present Republican regime have failed to defend America?

I happen to agree, though I worry more about the lack of port security, failure to regulate and safeguard toxic chemicals, than I do about the guys at the car wash.

All the same, I'm glad Tancredo's on board pointing out the incompetence of the Bush administration on this critical issue.

I hope someone presses Bush to respond

When you're campaign in in doubt, pull the fear card out!

Larry Geater:

Our southern border is 3,141 km
long -- divided by every available Army, Marine, National Guard, and militia unit -- would have done it just fine, while NATO and our own Air Force / Navy was providing recon and cover.

JohnW1141:

Please see my 5:25 PM post.

If we know, as Tom Tacredo apparently does, that there are thousands of evil jihadists roaming free where seldom is heard a discouraging word, why don't we just go and corral the varmints?

Please you can't compare Tommy the Tank with LBJ. At least LBJ would drown his sorrows in Bourbon and Branch Water while Tommy the Tank would simiply drown you. No waterboarding for him, just the deep six if you don't have a card. What the hell is this country coming to. And I'm a vet.

You misspelled Tancredo's name. I think it has 3 "k"s in it.

1. Where is that mall? Oklahoma City, perhaps? How does he intend to protect us from White Nationalists in hoodies?

2. Has Tancredo missed all the news stories about places being evacuated because of suspicious packages, or swarthy individuals detained for looking funny? It's not like people aren't looking out for such things. Terrorists are roaming freely mostly in his imagination.

Damn, there I go again, reacting to right-wing craziness as if they were actually trying to make sense. I should know better by now.

Let's see, what's a suitable response to "Illegal immigrant terrorists are gonna blow you up at the mall!!!"? How about "What kind of a name is Tancredo, anyway? Sounds foreign to me. Suspicious. Mexican, maybe. What's he doing at the mall anyway? Is he hanging around the men's bathroom?"

Anonymous:

I can't possibly take someone afraid of posting their real name here seriously either -- come back when you grow sone actual balls -- until then, have a nice life.

How long before this imaginary attack shows up in the other Republican campaign ads? How long before the Bush administration refers to it as a reason for doing something 'deciderly?'

Er, didn't all the 9/11 hijackers enter the US legally, on visas? Mr Jake D -- do you mean close the borders, as let no one in or out? Do you realize how insane that idea is? Do you need that spelled out for you?

Ah yes, more fear-mongering & racism.

I thought the days of people maxing their educations at the 7th grade in one-room school houses was over. Thanks for showing us otherwise Tom.

Whether it's the racists lie "they're coming to take our jobs" or the fear fanatic lie "they're on our soil now" this entire thing makes me sick.

The immigrants are here but "jobs are up" (if you believe the president and the administration). So what jobs are they taking exactly? You'd think they'd be going down with all those immigrants taking them right? The terrorists are here but not attacking. How in the hell do you brag that there's been no new attacks (beats on chest and grunts) while simultaneously crying about how they're everywhere. Oh, they're probably just waiting for some more Democrats to get elected before blowing stuff up right? But I've got to admit that if more Democrats get elected (as they were in the last election) then maybe there will only BE Democrats in office if/when another attack occurs.

I'm more than happy to risk THAT, tyvm.

It would not have been "insane" that day, until everything had been sorted out -- you guys are under the mistaken impression that I think everything Bush does is golden -- I wouldn't have let Saudi Arabian citizens out of the country unless they were fully interviewed by the FBI either.

jeffgee
Tell us how Tancredo will protect us...
This bit of campaign trash does nothing express any policy or means to combat th' turrists'

Jake D, do me a favor, step over all those empty pizza boxes, move over to the window, lift up the tattered blanket and take a look at your neighbors houses.

Can they see your scared, wizened little face peering out the basement windows at them?

The troll-poking here nearly ruins this board.

Apparently the moderators disagree, but it's really unfortunate that nearly every thread at TPM is all about one individual.

Well, I'm sure we're all surprised that Tommy "Torpedo" Tancredo has released such an advertisement.

I mean, the Republicans have never engaged in the political use of fear before. They've never attempted to manipulate the electoral process by, say, raising the Terror Alert Level or releasing information to Fox of "concerns" about "chatter".

Have They?

Coward.

Tancredo shows himself to be not just a coward, but the same kind that's in the White House now.

It turns one's stomach.

Be afraid. Buy this. Be afraid. Vote for me. Be afraid. Tell your representatives to cede all their power to the executive. Be afraid.

Well, I for one have had it with this shit. I like Cenk Uygur's approach. I'm not afraid of "Islamofascism" because I'm not a f***ing coward. And anyone who would trade our Constitution for the illusion of safety is exactly that.

Tancredo is a cartoon. But there are plenty of politicians who appear rational, but are working from the same handbook.

Reject them all.

Jake D. - I have never seen such a sissy pants coward in all my life. Is there no far fetched plot that would not make you crap your pant?

You are exactly the kind of idiot with paranoid delusions that terrorists hope to reach.

Close down the whole boarder by bringing out every military division, reserve unit and guard unit. Using NATO and US Air Forces to fly recon WHAT A CHILDISH FOOL. WHAT THREAT FROM ACROSS THE BOARDER THAT WOULD HAVE JUSTIFIED THAT KIND OF REACTION. WE CERTAINLY HAVE NOT BEEN ATTACKED SINCE 9/11 SINCE WE HAVE FAILED TO FOLLOW YOUR SAGE ADVICE. PLEASE SEE A SHRINK. GET ON MEDICATIONS. YOUR COME ACROSS AS A FOOLISH BUFFOON. I LAUGH AT YOU AND YOUR TRULY PATHETIC MIND.

This is par for the course from Tancredo, who has always been one of the nuttiest of the wingnuts.

At a guess, I'd say the rest of them keep him around to say crap like this so they don't have to. Watch to see how many Republican presidential candidates fail to disavow this ad in all its racist, fearmongering glory and then you'll know how many of them agree with everything he said.

There is a simple response to "JakeD" and it fits on a license plate: "Live Free or Die". "JakeD" doesn't want to live free, he wants to live in a police state in order to be sure he won't die in a terrorist attack.

Being a liberal means being willing to take risks in order to "live free." No doubt whatever, the "JakeD" class of citizen would rather live on his knees than die on his feet.

Phht!

Thanks.

mp

I've read all of the posts, with the one above calling Jake a "childish fool" being pretty typical. What's interesting to me is that Jake offers a different policy perspective and people respond with "idiot" "buffoon", etc. And yet he remains quite civil and focused on policy while his detractors froth and foam and generally embarrass themselves (except they don't embarrass themselves because this is all electronic and we can, in six posts or less, start shouting "Nazi Nazi" at anyone we disagree with and what's the consequence?) Tom Tancredo isn't my candidate, not by a long shot. But I would agree with Jake that the attack depicted in the ad is more likely to happen than not and that, with this in mind, border security is worth being very serious about. But if you'd rather call other people names because it makes you feel less than utterly powerless, well, I guess you'll go right ahead. In the meantime, I will keep thinking through the difficult balance between liberty and security. Thanks, Jake D, for acknowledging and maintaining that there is a debate worth having here.

My post at 9:08 PM should read "that doesn't mean we should not be prepared though" -- if there's any confusion about a double negative, please let me know.

Well, this "imbecile" is going to call it a day -- see you all tomorrow.

My question to Jake concerns the Canadian border. Specifically--since it is not about racism or even the perception thereof--how would you apportion our military response on both the southern and northern borders? In addition, how would you take preventive steps in all coastal cities with regard to shipping containers? Recalling that many experts have clearly stated that uninspected containers represent as much as or more than the present southern border potential, I would be interested in how you would provide for that patrol? Also: In any response, please indicate whether the troop levels presently in Iraq and Afghanistan would have to be altered? How would we augment any necessary troop levels? Are we looking at mandatory conscription? Yes, I am writing with a degree of sarcasm. I say that because it really is important to consider the numbers ramifications of any strategy. Otherwise, don't we just engage in pipedreams??? Chris

Jake you've brought up ways that you would protect the country. They include deployment of the military and National Guard on our southern borders as well as a lot of personnel from the FBI to document foreign individuals entering this country either temporarily or on extended work visas.

How do you propose to pay for this? Where are you going to get the military and NG personnel when a significant number of those individuals are in Iraq or Afghanistan. When the military and NG is having extreme difficulty meeting recruiting goals that they significantly reduced the standards of individuals they will accept. How much money to hire extra FBI personnel to run these document centers not to mention travel to verify applications and the physical plants (office space, computers, etc.)needed for these activities.

All of these would cost a huge amount of money at a time when our budget deficit is astronomical. How do you deploy that many people along the border without building bases all along the border at another outlay of tax dollars?

All of these are just off the top of my head and if I sat down I'd probably think of a lot more scenarios that makes securing our borders difficult. Then have your thought about the ocean going freight that comes in to our country unchecked? How many people can you fit in one of those ocean going containers?

I'm just trying to say that it's very easy to mention that you want to secure the borders and throw out some easy solutions. The problem though is in the execution of those seemingly simple solutions.

Spot on Mr. Steele, nothing more need be said.

One more thing, the entire strategy of the repugnants, restricting our freedom (i.e. making us less American), is this the price we want to pay to be more safe (not that this is a given)?
bush likes to throw out one-liners so here's one for him to chew on:
the terrorists don't win when they bomb us, they win when we react the way we have since 9/11.

Has anyone asked JakeD how he has so much time to blog from Iraq?

The thing to remember when someone says that "all foreigners have to be able to prove they are here legally" is that it also means you have to be able to prove that you aren't a foreigner.

"Show me your papers please"

Good lord, are people really so stupid that they don't understand that they are heading willingly towards internal passports?

For some time after 9/11 they DID do security lines and mandatory backpack checks at malls here.

There's somthing about being a completely implausible target that allows people to dissolve in self-righteous vapors at the slightest provocation.

Tom Tancredo knows his audience.

Jake D.

I've certainly seen the Daisy Ad--it's legendary!

However, just because it's been done before, it doesn't make it right. It certainly doesn't make the scenario anymore valid.

The debate is not about whether-or-not America should defend its borders--everyone's in favor of that!

The debate is about how to do so in a *rational, cerebral, and pragmatic* way, rather than in a fantastical and paranoid way.

So, have you seen any gangs of Islamic radicals roaming around your neighborhood?

Those would be the guys with scary bloodshot eyes, big noses, wearing dresses and turbans, and hauling sacks of plastic explosives along with their RPGs and AK 47s. If you see these miscreants, please call Tommy "The Crusading Jihadist" Tancredo down in Washington. He'll come right to your neighborhood and start blowing them away.

I watched the Tancredo spot; what can we learn? It is clear that Representative Tancredo wants some nutcake to blow up a mall someplace.

border with mexico 1969 miles
border with canada 3830
shoreline border 12,383

18,182 miles of border to guard.
96,000,960 feet

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0502/p01s04-ussc.html
source: "The current Border Patrol with one guy covering five miles doesn't cut it. We need static observation posts 40 yards apart, with technology and sensors and we need obvious manpower on the border."

96,000,960 feet to the border, a guard tower every 120 feet

800,008 guard towers.

who can do this?
The total numbers of the military branches used in this strategy of Jake's:
519,471 Army
346,288 ARNG
180,000 Marines
1,045,759 total soldiers.

Jake is right, there's more than enough i just those branches. All we need is 800k, and he's allocated 1M.

The remaining troops can cover international airports and major seaports; searching anyone coming from a foreign country and searching all package containers.

We have more than enough troops to initiate a complete and utter lockdown of the Continent.

If we bring all of the Navy and Coast Guard stateside, sink the ships (lest they fall into Mexico's hands), we've bought 380,000 MORE soldiers to patrol the streets of American cities and shopping malls.

They should be allowed to detain anyone suspected of terrorism.

Jake for President.