Any discussion of Republican immigration policy ought to include acnowledgment of the factual unreliability of Republican claims about this (and every other) subject, and especially Republican claims about the Biden (or any Democratic) administration. You cite the Heritage Foundation's claim pf 6.7 illegal aliens admitted during the Biden and J.D. Vance's claim that 20 million were admitted -- a claim that appears to have as much grounding in reality as his claim that Haitian immigrants were eating their neighbors' cats and dogs. Here is a nonpartisan assessment: https://www.factcheck.org/2024/02/breaking-down-the-immigration-figures/.
In my opinion, Mike, and with sincere respect for what you write (I paid for a year's subscription), I think in this post your level of writing goes beyond the intellectual level and the attention span of most Americans, including those who are university graduates. Your forum is called the Wisdom of Crowds. I realize we do not live in Kipling's India in 1910 when Kipling wrote the poem "If," but there is one line that I think pertains to your particular post:
"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue or walk with kings nor lose the common touch,"
In my opinion, in this post, you have lost the common touch.
But I opine that you are not alone, so has the mainstream media missed the underlying cause of death. What in the world am I talking about?
I am a physician, and I specialize in medical oncology. I have seen many people die, and prior to focusing on prostate cancer, I practiced general oncology, where death from lung, breast, and colon cancer occurs far more often. As the responsible physician, I have to complete the death certificate, which lists the immediate cause, contributory cause, and underlying cause of death.
An example will clarify this. A man dies, and the immediate cause of death is listed as "cardio-respiratory death," and this is quite often the case. It is written on the certificate that this came about from heart failure, which is also common. Finally, the underlying cause is shown as coronary artery disease. All of this is "true," yet if we honed in on etiology (cause) it would have been hyperlipidemia, diabetes, both due to obesity, due to a sedentary lifestyle, and an excessive intake of high glycemic (sugar) foods and beverages.
Where we are with Mr. Garcia's deportation, and apparently many other "Venezuelans" to an El Salvadorian prison a la Trump, Bondi, Rubio et al is similar to the issues with the death certificate.
The Trump Administration has violated two United States Constitutional Amendments: the 5th and the 14th Amendment.
5th Amendment: Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process to the federal government.
14th Amendment: Ensures that states cannot deprive individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) response:
A senior DHS official told NBC News the department has been sending notices to individuals who do not have "lawful status to continue to live in America."
He asserted that for such individuals, being in the United States is a "privilege and not a right."
So, Mike, others considered political pundits, mainstream media: call a spade a spade and stop dancing around what is before us.
The Trump Administration is a Fascist Regime. The violation of DUE PROCESS is a hallmark of Fascism. If we do not stop what is before us, we can kiss American Democracy goodbye and say "Hello Fascism, come on in, the door's open."
It only took 41 years for Eric Arthur Blair's forecast of 1984 to come true. His first book, Animal Farm, depicting an Authoritarian rule, which we have now in America, was written in 1943-44, while 1984 was written between 1946-49.
I'll end my comments with two versions of "First They Came" because this is where we are. This is the harsh reality that must be openly talked about and acted upon.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)
My Updated Version
First, they came for immigrants of color
And I did not speak out
Because I am white.
Then they came for the FBI
And I did not speak out
Because I am not an agent.
Then they came for the Department of Education
And I did not speak out
Because I am not a member of that department.
Then they came for the Judges of the Supreme Court
Great, fair summary. Thx
Any discussion of Republican immigration policy ought to include acnowledgment of the factual unreliability of Republican claims about this (and every other) subject, and especially Republican claims about the Biden (or any Democratic) administration. You cite the Heritage Foundation's claim pf 6.7 illegal aliens admitted during the Biden and J.D. Vance's claim that 20 million were admitted -- a claim that appears to have as much grounding in reality as his claim that Haitian immigrants were eating their neighbors' cats and dogs. Here is a nonpartisan assessment: https://www.factcheck.org/2024/02/breaking-down-the-immigration-figures/.
In my opinion, Mike, and with sincere respect for what you write (I paid for a year's subscription), I think in this post your level of writing goes beyond the intellectual level and the attention span of most Americans, including those who are university graduates. Your forum is called the Wisdom of Crowds. I realize we do not live in Kipling's India in 1910 when Kipling wrote the poem "If," but there is one line that I think pertains to your particular post:
"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue or walk with kings nor lose the common touch,"
In my opinion, in this post, you have lost the common touch.
But I opine that you are not alone, so has the mainstream media missed the underlying cause of death. What in the world am I talking about?
I am a physician, and I specialize in medical oncology. I have seen many people die, and prior to focusing on prostate cancer, I practiced general oncology, where death from lung, breast, and colon cancer occurs far more often. As the responsible physician, I have to complete the death certificate, which lists the immediate cause, contributory cause, and underlying cause of death.
An example will clarify this. A man dies, and the immediate cause of death is listed as "cardio-respiratory death," and this is quite often the case. It is written on the certificate that this came about from heart failure, which is also common. Finally, the underlying cause is shown as coronary artery disease. All of this is "true," yet if we honed in on etiology (cause) it would have been hyperlipidemia, diabetes, both due to obesity, due to a sedentary lifestyle, and an excessive intake of high glycemic (sugar) foods and beverages.
Where we are with Mr. Garcia's deportation, and apparently many other "Venezuelans" to an El Salvadorian prison a la Trump, Bondi, Rubio et al is similar to the issues with the death certificate.
The Trump Administration has violated two United States Constitutional Amendments: the 5th and the 14th Amendment.
5th Amendment: Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process to the federal government.
14th Amendment: Ensures that states cannot deprive individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
Three days ago, 4/18/2025, An American physician, Lisa Anderson, received an email from the Department of Homeland Security ordering her to leave the country immediately." On the same date, an immigration attorney in Boston, Nicole Micheroni, received the same message from the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). Both emails demanded "leave the country immediately." Source: The Times of India (4/18/2025). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/language-seemed-threatening-us-doctor-says-received-email-from-dhs-asking-her-to-leave-country-immediately/articleshow/120385201.cms
The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) response:
A senior DHS official told NBC News the department has been sending notices to individuals who do not have "lawful status to continue to live in America."
He asserted that for such individuals, being in the United States is a "privilege and not a right."
So, Mike, others considered political pundits, mainstream media: call a spade a spade and stop dancing around what is before us.
The Trump Administration is a Fascist Regime. The violation of DUE PROCESS is a hallmark of Fascism. If we do not stop what is before us, we can kiss American Democracy goodbye and say "Hello Fascism, come on in, the door's open."
It only took 41 years for Eric Arthur Blair's forecast of 1984 to come true. His first book, Animal Farm, depicting an Authoritarian rule, which we have now in America, was written in 1943-44, while 1984 was written between 1946-49.
I'll end my comments with two versions of "First They Came" because this is where we are. This is the harsh reality that must be openly talked about and acted upon.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)
My Updated Version
First, they came for immigrants of color
And I did not speak out
Because I am white.
Then they came for the FBI
And I did not speak out
Because I am not an agent.
Then they came for the Department of Education
And I did not speak out
Because I am not a member of that department.
Then they came for the Judges of the Supreme Court
And I did not speak out
Because I am not a Justice.
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me….
Stephen B. Strum (1942-202?)
With apologies to Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)