The Democrats and their media propagandists have turned too many Americans into self-righteous, masochistic, hypocritical babbling idiots on the subject of immigration. Take Marianne Partridge, who spews venom in her paper (laughably called The Independent) at anyone who wants a sensible immigration policy. And yet, there she sits on her 18,000 acre land grant ranch that she inherited, without having to deal with any consequences of what she preaches. The other day here, a commenter wrote about Trump's immigration policies “It’s going after brown people to get them out of the faces of white people.” Personally I don't like anyone of any color getting in my face, and I seriously doubt this woman does, either. But I've also never had a “brown” person get in my face, so what planet is she writing this from? I have no idea what color she identifies with and don't care, but like many people of the liberal persuasion, she has worked herself into what she thinks is moral outrage at those of us who say what she can't be honest enough to say herself: it's great to have immigrants in this country who will become valuable citizens and it's stupid to allow immigrants into this country who are criminals. Period. And if the Biden administration hadn't committed treason by creating an invasion of this country, we would be able to have a sensible immigration policy discussion rather than fighting the Democratic Party invasion in their attempt to take over this country.
Pol - you are so right with this observation . . ." And if the Biden administration hadn't committed treason . . ." That ridiculous fool damn near destroyed our beautiful country. _Absolutely_ THE worst president ever!
Self-righteous, masochistic, hypocritical babbling of idiots is a beautiful description of Democrat party blather on so many topics including climate charge and LGBTQ2+LOL.
Immigration continues to be an emotional, complicated discussion. The solution should be an easy fix, but it’s not. Simply allow those with a clean record to work in our communities so long as they are documented, pay their taxes and obey the laws, but only for a defined amount of time, and not to include family members. The issue often becomes not the immigrant workers themselves, but when family members are included as well, requiring enrollment in local schools, admissions to hospitals or issues with our criminal justice system.
We need a robust, documented and legal guest worker program.
Lastly, there must be an honest discussion about the status of Mexico as a failing state, stricken by poverty, violence and corruption, all while being controlled by a shadowy drug cartel.
You are right, a robust guest worker program would fix many problems. I would support a guest worker path to citizenship on a protracted time scale (compared to the legal path) with certain assimilation requirements such as English proficiency.
Wow! Supporting citizenship for lawbreakers, Jeff! You must be someone who cuts in line; thinks it’s OK to break laws because rules are only for the few beneath you. And I bet you are someone who thinks Democrats are to blame for existing immigration problems. Why reward law breaking by others? Why favor only humans in close proximity to US, who don’t need to wait years or cross oceans to arrive on our shores?
There can be no assimilation from those who can easily and affordable go back and forth to their home country, with dual citizenship with dual voting rights and the reward of citizenship. Be careful what you wish for… the consequences.
You posted: “I would support a guest worker path to citizenship on a protracted time scale (compared to the legal path) …”. It is ill-advised for any guest worker program to lead to a path for citizenship. Study this topic. Center for Immigration Studies is a good source. Moreover, your ‘bizarre’ accusation is rude, unnecessary and has no basis. No need to indulge in slander Jeff. It’s best to stick to the topic.
A person in a guest worker program is not a lawbreaker, where did I say a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants? I did not. I never cut in line. Have you been drinking again? Your post is bizarre.
Mexico is no longer a failed state. Much of it today is solid middle class with a robust tourism industry and large ex-pat retirement communities. We must also own up to our US role in the vicious drug trade. We remain the willing buyers for their violent cartel sellers. Wasted money on both sides on alll counts.
“Transnational criminal organizations … create an environment that is not conducive to raising a family [or] for economic success and we see that happening right on our border, in Mexico,” he said.
“My concern with that is the instability it creates, the opportunity it creates, for actors such as China, Russia and others who might have nefarious activities on their mind to seek access and influence in … [the United States] from a national security perspective,” the general said.
“There are actors who are very aggressive and active all across the North Command area of responsibility … [including] the Bahamas and Mexico,” he added.
Current protests against American now living in Mexico. Complaints they are raising housing prices, gentrifying neighborhoods, don’t speak Spanish, and do not share Mexican cultural values. Graffiti photographed in upscale Mexico City neighborhoods say “Kill a gringo.” What goes around, comes around.
Bring back shop and homemaking classes in junior high. Just don’t attach the gender stereotyping to them, like in the past. Home repair, nutrition household budgeting are all valuable. La Cumbre Jr High already has excellent facilities and a history of good prior programs. Make domestic skills for all great again.
It was a standard wedding gift 60 years ago to get Joy of Cooking and Better Homes and Garden Home Repair and Maintenance how to books, for both bride and groom. And a set of tools and a box of cleaning rags as wedding shower gifts. Not cappuccino makers.
I agree about junior high classes. And this morning I noticed the PE building at City College has scaffolding around it in it's future demolition. What a colossal waste of money to spend $100 million on a PE building when it could have been spent creating vocational classes and schools.
The Marty Blum led 2010 take-over SBCC plays out its final hand. With no small part of internecine turf wars also getting settled, in the ensuing leadership vacuum since that radical shift in the previously non-partisan SBCC board of trustees. If this was their intent all along, why were they so coy about this one single expensive project in their daily inundation of campaign mailers.
Has the state really come up with the matching funds as promised? The state has reneged on prior matching fund promises before, as recently as the last 2008 SBCC bond issue, that was abruptly cut in half after its successful passage.
It's larger than voters with amnesty, at least in the near term.
The U.S. Census doesn’t count citizens. It counts people. That means every undocumented immigrant, every visa overstay, and every illegal border crosser still contributes to congressional district lines and Electoral College votes. So even without amnesty, millions of undocumented individuals become a silent force in redistricting and representation.
Take California’s 22nd Congressional District (Valadao - Tulare). It’s drawn for 750,000 people—but has only about 170,000 voters. Where are the rest? Many are non-citizens or undocumented.
California already lost a congressional seat and an electoral vote after the 2020 Census. If this population outflow and citizen attrition continue, it’s poised to lose more in 2030 — unless offset by a massive influx of non-citizens, counted regardless of legal status.
Yes, some Democrats may be thinking long-term about amnesty and future voters, but the more immediate scheme is holding onto power through inflated population counts. The real incentive is anchoring representation in urban centers, where the undocumented population is densest, not in agricultural zones or border towns. And it’s working. If you subtract either SLO City, SB City, or Ventura City from the 24th District, one party no longer has an overwhelming majority.
If you think that's not happening, look at this district between Fareed's first race, to Andy's, to today. It has been remapped three times in just that period. Fareed's numbers are no longer even worth looking at.
This is profoundly undemocratic. When non-voters are used to build districts, the voting power of legal citizens is diluted. It's almost like modern day 3/5 law, but 5/5.
We need to stop pretending this is about compassion. This is about control. And it’s time to call it what it is: population-based political manipulation, not immigration policy.
I think there was something on Breitbart News this weekend saying that without California's ability to count illegal immigrants in the next census - and add that to the white middle class flight to AZ, NV, UT and ID - CA may lose four congressional seats for the 2032 elections. It's for sure it will shrink by at least two seats!
Democrats learned how to game these population based voting districts, so I suspect most of these now legal rotten-boroughs remain solid guaranteed Democrat wins. Where only a few hundred legal votes are needed to win, compared to the thousands needed to win districts that have much higher numbers of legal registered voters.
Open borders is a godsend for population based voting districts, along with the CVRA, which requires a minimum number of majority- minority voting districts also be created. Approx 20,000 residents, legal or not, make up a full city voting district. We are required to have two of these minority-majority districts in Santa Barbara. Eastside and Westside. Two seats and two votes on our seven person city council, won by only a few hundred legal voters in those mandated CVRA districts. How fair is that?
This Democrat “election reform” scam needs to be tracked, identified and busted wide open. Thank you for your clear explanation why population based voting districts have been one more of the recent Democrat party dirty little secrets. GOP needs to identify and concentrate on them too, now that they have been exposed as little Democrat satraps.
Find candidates you like in both the Eastside (current SEIU operative Wendy Santa Maria) and Westside (current Cathy Murillo protege Oscar Gutierrez) and the low voter turnout downtown district (current biker lobby darling Megan Harmon) as well. Fund, support, walk precincts and get out the vote on Election Day. These three districts continue to win by only a few hundred votes. Three low voter turnout districts that can be changed with just a little extra effort.
District Four must do far better than let a Kristen Sneddon to ever represent this district as well. But this is the plum district for the highly paid city administrators to keep harvesting for themselves and their ruinous “housing crisis” schemes. (Mission Canyon and St Francis high rise housing, anyone?)
So District Four may well have become a hereditary Democrat machine seat to ensure we keep paying city employees with enough of our tax dollars, so they can continue to afford live in this prime residential district. (Riviera, Upper East, San Roque)
Mr. Caldwell wants readers to believe he's a compassionate moderate along the legal/illegal immigration spectrum. Open Borders leftists and Trump Closed Borders rightists are the extremists in this argument/debate. Without much saying so, Mr. Caldwell is parroting U.S. Chamber of Commerce talking points. Oftentimes, the Truth does occupy ground near the fulcrum of a political spectrum. Not so much with Open Borders/Closed Borders. I place the point of Truth far to the right of the center/fulcrum point. I find much of his strawman-setup for ultimately looking the other way in the face of millions of "immigrants" here illegally and over a long period of time as really distasteful. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. "My grand kids won't pick strawberries even for Zohran Mamdani's $30/hour minimum wage. Thus, we must overlook all these lawbreakers, effectively giving them amnesty". He's assuming all these illegal immigrants are worth more to the U.S.A. than giving them a $1,000 voucher and a free airplane ride home. I think we should let the U.S.A. decide that according to laws and rules on the books for decades. Don't like some of the rules in play right now? Go through Congress and change them. Catering to "illegals" for years under Democrat rule has been the tail wagging the dog. You'd be surprised how quickly the dog behaves differently, and better, once the poison of "illegal immigration" has been drained from the body politic. Then we wouldn't be burdened with some of Mr. Caldwell's nonsensical assumptions!
Ceteris paribus, relatively low citizen birth rates are *caused by* mass legal and illegal immigration, not the other way around.
Immigration-driven population growth jacks up the cost of land, space & living, while crushing the real wages & quality of life which make people able and willing to *have* kids. It jacks up the cost of childrearing while crushing the citizen's desire and ability to pay for it.
For half a century, the special interests he represents have whined about a shortage of "cheap labor" (the most expensive kind). So they pushed Reagan's & subsequent amnesties & looked the other way as we were invaded by tens of millions in addition. And they brought in 50m *legally* since then. Population grew 100m or more, all from immigration and the children those immigrants had. Yet somehow there's still a "labor shortage"!
And they blame the victims. It's all OUR fault because we refuse to do the "patriotic" thing and breed enough "cheap labor" for business.
The article dished out a hefty helping of the "false-middle" technique ("argument to moderation"; argumentum ad temperantiam). Big whiff of special-interest-lobbyist, population-collapse hysteria, and victim-blaming, with a hefty dash of probably well-meaning but misguided "libertarianism". And that's the tip of the iceberg of fatal flaws in his argument. One more before margarita time:
He has to know there can be no such thing as a guest worker program unless & until "birthright citizenship" for the children of non-citizens is abolished. Until then, the "guests" can simply drop anchor and steal citizenship for their children and ultimately themselves.
I remember fondly as a child collecting glass "soda pop" bottles in neighborhoods to return for the deposit. People would stand the bottles out on the curb for the neighborhood kids to scoop up, and the deal was any place that sold the drinks took them back to be washed and reused. When we had enough we traded them in for one new Coke, and the taste of that first sip on a hot day was a grand reward. We were the youngest members of the recycle/reuse system, and happily so. Probably my first "job" and taught me effort = reward.
We even had a little red wagon that we would drag through the neighborhood for that coveted two cents a bottle reward. We were early conservationists. Recycle, reuse, repurpose.
An illegal immigrant seeking amnesty should find refuge in the nearest country that is safe. Are they truly seeking refuge or shopping for the most generous handouts? An asylum claim from an immigrant who has traveled half way around the world through friendly countries should be rejected immediately. This describes the majority of illegal entrants under Biden. Deport them all without process.
Thank you, Andy for another thought-provoking essay with some interesting facts. For the record my two Gen Z (now young adult) children were taught to perform basic chores and worked part time (at least in summer) while going to school, shocking to read how that group is so unprepared.
What I have trouble with is my observation that many immigrants fail to assimilate to the culture of the United States. I believe they should speak our language and adapt to our traditions. My Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts all immigrated from Italy and did that, while still holding onto traditions from the country they came from--they were all proud to fly the flag, serve in the military and learn (to teach us) the history of their "new" country. In my opinion if the growing immigrant population does not accept, adapt and uphold the traditions of the United States, then they will eventually be diluted and lost.
What is the "culture of the United States?" Why is it something worth adopting? In what way is "American culture" in line with Christian and traditionalist beliefs? Why should immigrants speak English? Why do you perceive American culture as something worh preserving - is it just for its own sake, what are the supposed merits?
Great article Andy, fair and thoughtful. I also believe that we should welcome those people who enter legally and contribute to our society and get rid of the rest. I love Tom Homan, I just hope he can take out the Biden trash!
I don't disagree with much of what Andy is saying but I think in the interest of full disclosure it would be nice to know how many of his financial contributors are in the agricultural and hospitality industries.
Great question Lou! I’ve noticed Andy’s noteworthy change on immigration policy after Trump was elected to enforce existing immigration laws. I’m a regular listener to his show.
Someone recently told me illegal ag workers make $30/hour. $30/ hour is a lot of money. So why are we spending $30 Billion of CA tax payer dollars on these people making $30/ hour?
Because most illegals do not make $30/hour. Most make less than $15/hour except those who get paid by the pound and who hustle.
Then the illegals send $65 Billion each year back to Mexico. The money doesn’t stay here to benefit the US.
Caesar Chavez knew illegal labor stole jobs from those here legally, he knew it lowered the wages as illegals work for less money. Bill Clinton created the fast deportation laws and deported 12 million, Obama removed over 5 million illegals. Our economy dud just fine.
It appears the Ag industry is the biggest supporter of illegals. We hear it from Crockett, Pelosi and the media and North County. We need illegals to pick our crops. It’s the new cotton plantation argument. They need cheap labor who won’t complain to increase profits. I hear it from ag clients. They love illegal labor.
CA Ag profits from cheap illegal labor while passing on costs of $30 Billion each year to tax payers so they can maximize their profits at the cost of not only money, but our children’s education. 3,000 foreign children who are not here legally are in our schools and they demand education in their language and culture.
44,000 illegal aliens taking up housing in SB while we have a housing shortage.
All so Agriculture can profit? Or have maids, gardeners, bus boys, etc…. Right, see the theme here. In high school & college we used to work these jobs, but in CA illegals do it for less money.
This is what Caesar Chavez said, mirrored by Bill Clinton when he enacted the expedited deportation acts he removed 12 million illegals aliens and did not hurt our economy.
Justification and Treating symptoms and not the root cause.
1. “immigrants who broke the law did so out of desperation and aspiration.” They came here first a better paying job. That’s not “asylum” seeking. It’s economic. They came here first a better paying job then send the money bs k to mexico. They’ve been doing this since the gold rush days when they came here after America created jobs. Over 2/3 of the world lives below Mexicos financial status. This is a poor excuse. This statement says that it is ok to steal from retail because the poor need the money more than Target, Macys, RiteAide. And look at all those businesses closing shop bec they can’t afford to be here. But the messaging is it’s ok to steal if you are poor.
2. “America losing population if not for immigrants coming here” (illegally). We have plenty of people who come jere legally, why do we need illegals? But the decline of American birthrate has been coordinated over decades. I’ll start with one, why was every citizen & legal immigrant forced to get the Covid jab while illegals were not. Bec the jab decreases fertilization among other side effects. Abortion clinics run rampant funded by the government. Government runs ads stating children are expensive, after they cause the dollar to devalue.
3. The arguement that they do the jobs citizens refuse to do. Again look at education, look at what values are being pushed. Blue collar jobs have been demeaned while white collar jobs are promoted. College is pushed upon every kid bec it’s a business taking money from children. School districts no longer offer shop class or occupation training. Government, schools have pushed values to drive kids out of knowing what a wrench is. They have turned this nation into a user market not a manufacturing economy.
Bottom line most conservatives say obey the laws or change them.
No one has changed the laws.
So why is it ok to purposely ignore the laws and fund the law breakers to the tune of $30 Billion each year.
Honestly, if you don’t like the law change them and Stop funding illegal aliens.
Stop defending those who choose to break our laws and be productive in changing the law.
Never overlook the value of open borders to the California K-12 teachers unions. High birth rate illegals continue to fill our state’s failing classrooms.
The teachers unions need new student cohorts every single year, just to replace those “graduating” out of our Prop 98 free K-12 system. But “graduating” too many students now, both legal and illegal, with increasingly deficient basic skills in reading, writing, math and mastery of the English language.
Talk about a self-serving need for continued open borders, never overlook our state’s 100% irresponsible teachers unions. Blindly Prop 98 now throws 50% of the state’s general funds to the teachers unions to help carve up these generous automatic tax dollars among themselves. With no accountability for work product.
2030 Census and redistricting. Two critical changes are required. (1) Citizenship question must be asked. (2) Prohibit all current population-only based voting districts made up of both legal and illegal residents, like we have today.
Even better, voting districts created based only upon numbers of registered voters. Those who chose to not exercise their legal right and duty to vote, should not be given a virtual role by default.
We are now a country of citizens, not an all-comers nation. We voted to prioritize our freedom, our independence from our expanding, reckless, big government, and for citizen rights. Over 6 Billion humans seek a better life Andy, opportunities which are gifted to every American at birth. You are totally off base Andy lacking knowledge or respect for the millions waiting patiently to enter American legally, jumping over multiple hurdles to finally get here. What about them?
An estimated 21M entered during Biden years. Prior to 2020, CA already had an estimated 8-10M undocumented residents within our state at a huge cost to every citizen.
We voters have NOT failed to be informed and respectful of the life realities of the world’s billions: you have! Re-think your absurd position: “failing to respect the fact that some of the immigrants who broke the law did so out of desperation and aspiration. That is, they were living in a hell-hole country, and they wanted the American dream for themselves and their children.” America can NOT save the world of “hell-hole” countries. However, we can work to not become one starting by restoring our largest cities.
Next, look in the mirror Andy. Responsible Americans are saving our country for future generations , by limiting family size and immigration; while other egocentrics or religious indoctrinated breed 3 to 8 or more children. We are a post-industrial economy Andy, down-sizing. There are plenty of people in the world.
The 2 Million immigrants we admit legally is plenty. Annual, renewable work permits (simplified H2B Visas) to sponsoring employers incurring full fiscal and legal liability for their ‘essential’ workers for those back-breaking jobs. Concurrently, it’s time to relocate unemployed inner-city ghetto residents to pay them $30-35/hour to help ag and hospitality industry employers. Solutions are in progress by 4 Congressional leaders.
"Next, look in the mirror Andy. Responsible Americans are saving our country for future generations , by limiting family size and immigration; while other egocentrics or religious indoctrinated breed 3 to 8 or more children. We are a post-industrial economy Andy, down-sizing. There are plenty of people in the world."
"Plenty of people in the world? What does that even mean, or rather, what are you implying, that it's a bad thing, you seem to think "downsizing" is a good, but, that would refer to people with souls being reduced in number, as though life itself can be dismissed when we reach some arbitrary quota.
"Religious indoctrinated" - Indoctriniation is literally education, being formed, here you frame religious beliefs as though they are some movie type cult with deviant practices, how charitable.
Brian, I'd encourage you to say something productive, because all I've seen from you is petty and dismissive posts. If you had some to argue do it, because you always seem to flee when I engage you while you engage others who disagree with you.
Sure Theo, let’s go ahead and say I “flee”. Not just get bored arguing about reality and whatever it is that you have swimming around in that score full of mush of yours
You keep proving my point. You couldn't argue with what I said, so all you have is mockery. That's what one might call, *intelllectual bankruptcy*. Besides. You Blasphemed against the Mother of God, call her a "muckraker". Not a good look bro.
Why don't you show a picture of a butter churn or weaving loom and see who can identify and use those.
And can you provide some background on the bipartisan border security and immigration bill negotiated in early 2024? The one that got poop canned in February 2024, as the bill was moving toward a vote in the Senate when Trump publicly urged Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill?
I am so sick of the idea that a bill is required to control the border. The border is now closed and no bill was required. The bipartisan border bill was only intended to facilitate the efficient transfer of future Democrat voters into America at the taxpayers expense. Trump was exactly right, the “bipartisan” bill should have been killed.
I do agree with you about the part that there were obviously other ways to close the border. But that bill also had sweeping changes to the crappy asylum process we have now.
Not complicated! Asylum is sought in the nearest friendly country. Traveling half way around the world to seek asylum is a lie. It is country shopping and it is legal through the legal immigration process not through a fraudulent asylum claim. I am not sick of everything. I love Donald J Trump.
Not a bad idea of 'nearest friendly country'. But that still leaves the door open for Hati and Cuba. And probably 1/2 open for most of Central America.....
Aside from the politics involved, which I'll give you. It didn't adequately address asylum, the millions already here, or the broken legal process associated with both. So it would have been broken from the start without addressing the never ending loopholes.
Asylum's purpose is political persecution, not "my country is worse than the U.S." which means 6 billion people objectively would have a claim to be here. Asylum is intended for things like Jews being persecuted in WW2 Europe, South Vietnamese after our withdrawal, Iranians after the Shah's deposal, or Afghan interpreters after our withdrawal. There are Iranians and South Vietnamese who waited in refugee camps abroad for years to get their asylum approval. Meanwhile, MS-13 members can dip a toe in CA and they are loopholed in forever.
The court system for the 3 million asylum claims is backlogged by over 4 years, creating a never-ending loophole for individuals to stay in the country, which is then determined by a judge with limited knowledge of the geopolitical issues surrounding the claim.
The simple solution is that the State Department determines where asylum claims can come from, and they are processed through embassies. This removes situations like Maryland Man, who's a gang member who killed rival gang's family members in El Salvador. Of course, he doesn't want to go back. So he gets a legal loophole to stay here forever, because you can't send him anywhere else.
And thankfully Trump did what he did in that regard. Are you suggesting you now support Republican lawmakers...at least those that support a quasi-open border? Have you read the details in the 2024 bill? Turncoat cheap labor advocate Republican Sen. Langford from Oklahoma has been rightfully vilified for his advocacy of that attempted sellout legislation. There is a reason Trump won...including the largest number of legal Hispanic voters who are necessarily looking out for themselves was well as the nation as whole.
I don't support lawmakers based on the color or their seats - but on the how they vote on issues. This BS of my team vs. their team is turning the legislature into a Super Bowl match and is ruining America.
And yes, Trump is doing better with Hispanic voters than probably expected. But what is that approval rating? 30% or so? Nothing I'd call a mandate.
While you may not support law makers based on the "color of their seats"…in reality is there is usually/often a distinct difference between the parties and how they vote on specific issues... particularly the topic at hand… Immigration...legal and illegal. FYI...I'm not a member of either party and usually identify with Constitutional and/or issues supported by conservatives. Today's political parties have more in common with the world's oldest profession than law or principles.
In the most recent legislation, Democrats (color: Blue) were able to keep in place a policy that gives illegal aliens an enormous amount of taxpayers dollars, a position akin to its advocacy for open borders and a pro-illegal agenda.Most Conservatives (color: Red) and most voters do not believe that is fair to American taxpayers. Democrats were uniformly supportive of continuing handing out tax dollars to illegal aliens...and they largely prevailed....re: Salud Carbajal (Very Blue). So in many ways it is a team sport.
Data Fact check: Trump's (Red) 2024 Hispanic support was 46%...not a "poll" 30%...a 27% increase from four years earlier...resulting in the Dems (Blue) decline of 18%...at a time Trump (Red) heavily campaigned for secure borders including deporting illegal aliens. Polling is all over the place...one can go poll shopping...not unlike judge shopping. The good news is that...in theory..."law"...is not a function of the polls.
Correct...you did reference approval rating...why I delineated between "fuzzy" (hear hear!) poll numbers and the data set I referenced. Little something for everyone....Thanks...TVW
The Democrats and their media propagandists have turned too many Americans into self-righteous, masochistic, hypocritical babbling idiots on the subject of immigration. Take Marianne Partridge, who spews venom in her paper (laughably called The Independent) at anyone who wants a sensible immigration policy. And yet, there she sits on her 18,000 acre land grant ranch that she inherited, without having to deal with any consequences of what she preaches. The other day here, a commenter wrote about Trump's immigration policies “It’s going after brown people to get them out of the faces of white people.” Personally I don't like anyone of any color getting in my face, and I seriously doubt this woman does, either. But I've also never had a “brown” person get in my face, so what planet is she writing this from? I have no idea what color she identifies with and don't care, but like many people of the liberal persuasion, she has worked herself into what she thinks is moral outrage at those of us who say what she can't be honest enough to say herself: it's great to have immigrants in this country who will become valuable citizens and it's stupid to allow immigrants into this country who are criminals. Period. And if the Biden administration hadn't committed treason by creating an invasion of this country, we would be able to have a sensible immigration policy discussion rather than fighting the Democratic Party invasion in their attempt to take over this country.
Pol - you are so right with this observation . . ." And if the Biden administration hadn't committed treason . . ." That ridiculous fool damn near destroyed our beautiful country. _Absolutely_ THE worst president ever!
All you have to do is substitute Biden with taco and your statement is perfect.
Self-righteous, masochistic, hypocritical babbling of idiots is a beautiful description of Democrat party blather on so many topics including climate charge and LGBTQ2+LOL.
Throughout the word Democrats insert Republicans and you have the perfect description of them.
Immigration continues to be an emotional, complicated discussion. The solution should be an easy fix, but it’s not. Simply allow those with a clean record to work in our communities so long as they are documented, pay their taxes and obey the laws, but only for a defined amount of time, and not to include family members. The issue often becomes not the immigrant workers themselves, but when family members are included as well, requiring enrollment in local schools, admissions to hospitals or issues with our criminal justice system.
We need a robust, documented and legal guest worker program.
Lastly, there must be an honest discussion about the status of Mexico as a failing state, stricken by poverty, violence and corruption, all while being controlled by a shadowy drug cartel.
You are right, a robust guest worker program would fix many problems. I would support a guest worker path to citizenship on a protracted time scale (compared to the legal path) with certain assimilation requirements such as English proficiency.
How very white of you.
Wow! Supporting citizenship for lawbreakers, Jeff! You must be someone who cuts in line; thinks it’s OK to break laws because rules are only for the few beneath you. And I bet you are someone who thinks Democrats are to blame for existing immigration problems. Why reward law breaking by others? Why favor only humans in close proximity to US, who don’t need to wait years or cross oceans to arrive on our shores?
There can be no assimilation from those who can easily and affordable go back and forth to their home country, with dual citizenship with dual voting rights and the reward of citizenship. Be careful what you wish for… the consequences.
You posted: “I would support a guest worker path to citizenship on a protracted time scale (compared to the legal path) …”. It is ill-advised for any guest worker program to lead to a path for citizenship. Study this topic. Center for Immigration Studies is a good source. Moreover, your ‘bizarre’ accusation is rude, unnecessary and has no basis. No need to indulge in slander Jeff. It’s best to stick to the topic.
A person in a guest worker program is not a lawbreaker, where did I say a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants? I did not. I never cut in line. Have you been drinking again? Your post is bizarre.
LT the entire Immigration System has to many problems to add to it another
program that foreigners can game. The smallest Government is the Best Government.
Mexico is no longer a failed state. Much of it today is solid middle class with a robust tourism industry and large ex-pat retirement communities. We must also own up to our US role in the vicious drug trade. We remain the willing buyers for their violent cartel sellers. Wasted money on both sides on alll counts.
Hello J. Livingston, let me give you another side of Mexico you may not know
besides being the back door to the ruthless drug trade. Mexico City is also
known as an Intelligence Hub for North American and also South America
especially for China and for Russia. Why is this important? It is another way
for Russia to mess with the US close to our border by influence, coercion and crimes.
Happy Reading>
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/more-russian-spies-mexico-us/
https://www.latintimes.com/russia-drastically-increases-diplomatic-staff-mexico-us-suspects-many-them-are-spies-560132
https://theyucatantimes.com/2022/01/according-to-interpol-and-dea-mafias-from-12-countries-operate-in-quintana-roo/
https://www.newsweek.com/mexican-drug-cartels-asked-russia-arms-dealers-help-shooting-down-us-1234167
SP1 - Quote from the first weblink>
“Transnational criminal organizations … create an environment that is not conducive to raising a family [or] for economic success and we see that happening right on our border, in Mexico,” he said.
“My concern with that is the instability it creates, the opportunity it creates, for actors such as China, Russia and others who might have nefarious activities on their mind to seek access and influence in … [the United States] from a national security perspective,” the general said.
“There are actors who are very aggressive and active all across the North Command area of responsibility … [including] the Bahamas and Mexico,” he added.
Current protests against American now living in Mexico. Complaints they are raising housing prices, gentrifying neighborhoods, don’t speak Spanish, and do not share Mexican cultural values. Graffiti photographed in upscale Mexico City neighborhoods say “Kill a gringo.” What goes around, comes around.
Bring back shop and homemaking classes in junior high. Just don’t attach the gender stereotyping to them, like in the past. Home repair, nutrition household budgeting are all valuable. La Cumbre Jr High already has excellent facilities and a history of good prior programs. Make domestic skills for all great again.
It was a standard wedding gift 60 years ago to get Joy of Cooking and Better Homes and Garden Home Repair and Maintenance how to books, for both bride and groom. And a set of tools and a box of cleaning rags as wedding shower gifts. Not cappuccino makers.
I agree about junior high classes. And this morning I noticed the PE building at City College has scaffolding around it in it's future demolition. What a colossal waste of money to spend $100 million on a PE building when it could have been spent creating vocational classes and schools.
The Marty Blum led 2010 take-over SBCC plays out its final hand. With no small part of internecine turf wars also getting settled, in the ensuing leadership vacuum since that radical shift in the previously non-partisan SBCC board of trustees. If this was their intent all along, why were they so coy about this one single expensive project in their daily inundation of campaign mailers.
Has the state really come up with the matching funds as promised? The state has reneged on prior matching fund promises before, as recently as the last 2008 SBCC bond issue, that was abruptly cut in half after its successful passage.
It's larger than voters with amnesty, at least in the near term.
The U.S. Census doesn’t count citizens. It counts people. That means every undocumented immigrant, every visa overstay, and every illegal border crosser still contributes to congressional district lines and Electoral College votes. So even without amnesty, millions of undocumented individuals become a silent force in redistricting and representation.
Take California’s 22nd Congressional District (Valadao - Tulare). It’s drawn for 750,000 people—but has only about 170,000 voters. Where are the rest? Many are non-citizens or undocumented.
California already lost a congressional seat and an electoral vote after the 2020 Census. If this population outflow and citizen attrition continue, it’s poised to lose more in 2030 — unless offset by a massive influx of non-citizens, counted regardless of legal status.
Yes, some Democrats may be thinking long-term about amnesty and future voters, but the more immediate scheme is holding onto power through inflated population counts. The real incentive is anchoring representation in urban centers, where the undocumented population is densest, not in agricultural zones or border towns. And it’s working. If you subtract either SLO City, SB City, or Ventura City from the 24th District, one party no longer has an overwhelming majority.
If you think that's not happening, look at this district between Fareed's first race, to Andy's, to today. It has been remapped three times in just that period. Fareed's numbers are no longer even worth looking at.
This is profoundly undemocratic. When non-voters are used to build districts, the voting power of legal citizens is diluted. It's almost like modern day 3/5 law, but 5/5.
We need to stop pretending this is about compassion. This is about control. And it’s time to call it what it is: population-based political manipulation, not immigration policy.
I think there was something on Breitbart News this weekend saying that without California's ability to count illegal immigrants in the next census - and add that to the white middle class flight to AZ, NV, UT and ID - CA may lose four congressional seats for the 2032 elections. It's for sure it will shrink by at least two seats!
Democrats learned how to game these population based voting districts, so I suspect most of these now legal rotten-boroughs remain solid guaranteed Democrat wins. Where only a few hundred legal votes are needed to win, compared to the thousands needed to win districts that have much higher numbers of legal registered voters.
Open borders is a godsend for population based voting districts, along with the CVRA, which requires a minimum number of majority- minority voting districts also be created. Approx 20,000 residents, legal or not, make up a full city voting district. We are required to have two of these minority-majority districts in Santa Barbara. Eastside and Westside. Two seats and two votes on our seven person city council, won by only a few hundred legal voters in those mandated CVRA districts. How fair is that?
This Democrat “election reform” scam needs to be tracked, identified and busted wide open. Thank you for your clear explanation why population based voting districts have been one more of the recent Democrat party dirty little secrets. GOP needs to identify and concentrate on them too, now that they have been exposed as little Democrat satraps.
Right JL - " . . . GOP needs to identify and concentrate on them too, . . " We gotta get off our high-horses and get street smart!
Find candidates you like in both the Eastside (current SEIU operative Wendy Santa Maria) and Westside (current Cathy Murillo protege Oscar Gutierrez) and the low voter turnout downtown district (current biker lobby darling Megan Harmon) as well. Fund, support, walk precincts and get out the vote on Election Day. These three districts continue to win by only a few hundred votes. Three low voter turnout districts that can be changed with just a little extra effort.
District Four must do far better than let a Kristen Sneddon to ever represent this district as well. But this is the plum district for the highly paid city administrators to keep harvesting for themselves and their ruinous “housing crisis” schemes. (Mission Canyon and St Francis high rise housing, anyone?)
So District Four may well have become a hereditary Democrat machine seat to ensure we keep paying city employees with enough of our tax dollars, so they can continue to afford live in this prime residential district. (Riviera, Upper East, San Roque)
Mr. Caldwell wants readers to believe he's a compassionate moderate along the legal/illegal immigration spectrum. Open Borders leftists and Trump Closed Borders rightists are the extremists in this argument/debate. Without much saying so, Mr. Caldwell is parroting U.S. Chamber of Commerce talking points. Oftentimes, the Truth does occupy ground near the fulcrum of a political spectrum. Not so much with Open Borders/Closed Borders. I place the point of Truth far to the right of the center/fulcrum point. I find much of his strawman-setup for ultimately looking the other way in the face of millions of "immigrants" here illegally and over a long period of time as really distasteful. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. "My grand kids won't pick strawberries even for Zohran Mamdani's $30/hour minimum wage. Thus, we must overlook all these lawbreakers, effectively giving them amnesty". He's assuming all these illegal immigrants are worth more to the U.S.A. than giving them a $1,000 voucher and a free airplane ride home. I think we should let the U.S.A. decide that according to laws and rules on the books for decades. Don't like some of the rules in play right now? Go through Congress and change them. Catering to "illegals" for years under Democrat rule has been the tail wagging the dog. You'd be surprised how quickly the dog behaves differently, and better, once the poison of "illegal immigration" has been drained from the body politic. Then we wouldn't be burdened with some of Mr. Caldwell's nonsensical assumptions!
Andy Caldwell has it backwards:
Ceteris paribus, relatively low citizen birth rates are *caused by* mass legal and illegal immigration, not the other way around.
Immigration-driven population growth jacks up the cost of land, space & living, while crushing the real wages & quality of life which make people able and willing to *have* kids. It jacks up the cost of childrearing while crushing the citizen's desire and ability to pay for it.
For half a century, the special interests he represents have whined about a shortage of "cheap labor" (the most expensive kind). So they pushed Reagan's & subsequent amnesties & looked the other way as we were invaded by tens of millions in addition. And they brought in 50m *legally* since then. Population grew 100m or more, all from immigration and the children those immigrants had. Yet somehow there's still a "labor shortage"!
And they blame the victims. It's all OUR fault because we refuse to do the "patriotic" thing and breed enough "cheap labor" for business.
The article dished out a hefty helping of the "false-middle" technique ("argument to moderation"; argumentum ad temperantiam). Big whiff of special-interest-lobbyist, population-collapse hysteria, and victim-blaming, with a hefty dash of probably well-meaning but misguided "libertarianism". And that's the tip of the iceberg of fatal flaws in his argument. One more before margarita time:
He has to know there can be no such thing as a guest worker program unless & until "birthright citizenship" for the children of non-citizens is abolished. Until then, the "guests" can simply drop anchor and steal citizenship for their children and ultimately themselves.
I remember fondly as a child collecting glass "soda pop" bottles in neighborhoods to return for the deposit. People would stand the bottles out on the curb for the neighborhood kids to scoop up, and the deal was any place that sold the drinks took them back to be washed and reused. When we had enough we traded them in for one new Coke, and the taste of that first sip on a hot day was a grand reward. We were the youngest members of the recycle/reuse system, and happily so. Probably my first "job" and taught me effort = reward.
We even had a little red wagon that we would drag through the neighborhood for that coveted two cents a bottle reward. We were early conservationists. Recycle, reuse, repurpose.
When and how did we lose the former mutually beneficial “bracero” program? Imported short term and seasonal labor.
An illegal immigrant seeking amnesty should find refuge in the nearest country that is safe. Are they truly seeking refuge or shopping for the most generous handouts? An asylum claim from an immigrant who has traveled half way around the world through friendly countries should be rejected immediately. This describes the majority of illegal entrants under Biden. Deport them all without process.
Thank you, Andy for another thought-provoking essay with some interesting facts. For the record my two Gen Z (now young adult) children were taught to perform basic chores and worked part time (at least in summer) while going to school, shocking to read how that group is so unprepared.
What I have trouble with is my observation that many immigrants fail to assimilate to the culture of the United States. I believe they should speak our language and adapt to our traditions. My Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts all immigrated from Italy and did that, while still holding onto traditions from the country they came from--they were all proud to fly the flag, serve in the military and learn (to teach us) the history of their "new" country. In my opinion if the growing immigrant population does not accept, adapt and uphold the traditions of the United States, then they will eventually be diluted and lost.
If it is possible to speak English and eat meatballs then, damnit, it should be possible to speak English and eat tacos.
What is the "culture of the United States?" Why is it something worth adopting? In what way is "American culture" in line with Christian and traditionalist beliefs? Why should immigrants speak English? Why do you perceive American culture as something worh preserving - is it just for its own sake, what are the supposed merits?
Great article Andy, fair and thoughtful. I also believe that we should welcome those people who enter legally and contribute to our society and get rid of the rest. I love Tom Homan, I just hope he can take out the Biden trash!
I don't disagree with much of what Andy is saying but I think in the interest of full disclosure it would be nice to know how many of his financial contributors are in the agricultural and hospitality industries.
All of them!
Great question Lou! I’ve noticed Andy’s noteworthy change on immigration policy after Trump was elected to enforce existing immigration laws. I’m a regular listener to his show.
Someone recently told me illegal ag workers make $30/hour. $30/ hour is a lot of money. So why are we spending $30 Billion of CA tax payer dollars on these people making $30/ hour?
Because most illegals do not make $30/hour. Most make less than $15/hour except those who get paid by the pound and who hustle.
Then the illegals send $65 Billion each year back to Mexico. The money doesn’t stay here to benefit the US.
Caesar Chavez knew illegal labor stole jobs from those here legally, he knew it lowered the wages as illegals work for less money. Bill Clinton created the fast deportation laws and deported 12 million, Obama removed over 5 million illegals. Our economy dud just fine.
It appears the Ag industry is the biggest supporter of illegals. We hear it from Crockett, Pelosi and the media and North County. We need illegals to pick our crops. It’s the new cotton plantation argument. They need cheap labor who won’t complain to increase profits. I hear it from ag clients. They love illegal labor.
CA Ag profits from cheap illegal labor while passing on costs of $30 Billion each year to tax payers so they can maximize their profits at the cost of not only money, but our children’s education. 3,000 foreign children who are not here legally are in our schools and they demand education in their language and culture.
44,000 illegal aliens taking up housing in SB while we have a housing shortage.
All so Agriculture can profit? Or have maids, gardeners, bus boys, etc…. Right, see the theme here. In high school & college we used to work these jobs, but in CA illegals do it for less money.
This is what Caesar Chavez said, mirrored by Bill Clinton when he enacted the expedited deportation acts he removed 12 million illegals aliens and did not hurt our economy.
Justification and Treating symptoms and not the root cause.
1. “immigrants who broke the law did so out of desperation and aspiration.” They came here first a better paying job. That’s not “asylum” seeking. It’s economic. They came here first a better paying job then send the money bs k to mexico. They’ve been doing this since the gold rush days when they came here after America created jobs. Over 2/3 of the world lives below Mexicos financial status. This is a poor excuse. This statement says that it is ok to steal from retail because the poor need the money more than Target, Macys, RiteAide. And look at all those businesses closing shop bec they can’t afford to be here. But the messaging is it’s ok to steal if you are poor.
2. “America losing population if not for immigrants coming here” (illegally). We have plenty of people who come jere legally, why do we need illegals? But the decline of American birthrate has been coordinated over decades. I’ll start with one, why was every citizen & legal immigrant forced to get the Covid jab while illegals were not. Bec the jab decreases fertilization among other side effects. Abortion clinics run rampant funded by the government. Government runs ads stating children are expensive, after they cause the dollar to devalue.
3. The arguement that they do the jobs citizens refuse to do. Again look at education, look at what values are being pushed. Blue collar jobs have been demeaned while white collar jobs are promoted. College is pushed upon every kid bec it’s a business taking money from children. School districts no longer offer shop class or occupation training. Government, schools have pushed values to drive kids out of knowing what a wrench is. They have turned this nation into a user market not a manufacturing economy.
Bottom line most conservatives say obey the laws or change them.
No one has changed the laws.
So why is it ok to purposely ignore the laws and fund the law breakers to the tune of $30 Billion each year.
Honestly, if you don’t like the law change them and Stop funding illegal aliens.
Stop defending those who choose to break our laws and be productive in changing the law.
Never overlook the value of open borders to the California K-12 teachers unions. High birth rate illegals continue to fill our state’s failing classrooms.
The teachers unions need new student cohorts every single year, just to replace those “graduating” out of our Prop 98 free K-12 system. But “graduating” too many students now, both legal and illegal, with increasingly deficient basic skills in reading, writing, math and mastery of the English language.
Talk about a self-serving need for continued open borders, never overlook our state’s 100% irresponsible teachers unions. Blindly Prop 98 now throws 50% of the state’s general funds to the teachers unions to help carve up these generous automatic tax dollars among themselves. With no accountability for work product.
2030 Census and redistricting. Two critical changes are required. (1) Citizenship question must be asked. (2) Prohibit all current population-only based voting districts made up of both legal and illegal residents, like we have today.
Even better, voting districts created based only upon numbers of registered voters. Those who chose to not exercise their legal right and duty to vote, should not be given a virtual role by default.
We are now a country of citizens, not an all-comers nation. We voted to prioritize our freedom, our independence from our expanding, reckless, big government, and for citizen rights. Over 6 Billion humans seek a better life Andy, opportunities which are gifted to every American at birth. You are totally off base Andy lacking knowledge or respect for the millions waiting patiently to enter American legally, jumping over multiple hurdles to finally get here. What about them?
An estimated 21M entered during Biden years. Prior to 2020, CA already had an estimated 8-10M undocumented residents within our state at a huge cost to every citizen.
We voters have NOT failed to be informed and respectful of the life realities of the world’s billions: you have! Re-think your absurd position: “failing to respect the fact that some of the immigrants who broke the law did so out of desperation and aspiration. That is, they were living in a hell-hole country, and they wanted the American dream for themselves and their children.” America can NOT save the world of “hell-hole” countries. However, we can work to not become one starting by restoring our largest cities.
Next, look in the mirror Andy. Responsible Americans are saving our country for future generations , by limiting family size and immigration; while other egocentrics or religious indoctrinated breed 3 to 8 or more children. We are a post-industrial economy Andy, down-sizing. There are plenty of people in the world.
The 2 Million immigrants we admit legally is plenty. Annual, renewable work permits (simplified H2B Visas) to sponsoring employers incurring full fiscal and legal liability for their ‘essential’ workers for those back-breaking jobs. Concurrently, it’s time to relocate unemployed inner-city ghetto residents to pay them $30-35/hour to help ag and hospitality industry employers. Solutions are in progress by 4 Congressional leaders.
"Next, look in the mirror Andy. Responsible Americans are saving our country for future generations , by limiting family size and immigration; while other egocentrics or religious indoctrinated breed 3 to 8 or more children. We are a post-industrial economy Andy, down-sizing. There are plenty of people in the world."
"Plenty of people in the world? What does that even mean, or rather, what are you implying, that it's a bad thing, you seem to think "downsizing" is a good, but, that would refer to people with souls being reduced in number, as though life itself can be dismissed when we reach some arbitrary quota.
"Religious indoctrinated" - Indoctriniation is literally education, being formed, here you frame religious beliefs as though they are some movie type cult with deviant practices, how charitable.
TheotokosMuckraker
Brian, I'd encourage you to say something productive, because all I've seen from you is petty and dismissive posts. If you had some to argue do it, because you always seem to flee when I engage you while you engage others who disagree with you.
Sure Theo, let’s go ahead and say I “flee”. Not just get bored arguing about reality and whatever it is that you have swimming around in that score full of mush of yours
You keep proving my point. You couldn't argue with what I said, so all you have is mockery. That's what one might call, *intelllectual bankruptcy*. Besides. You Blasphemed against the Mother of God, call her a "muckraker". Not a good look bro.
Excuse me, but you’re the one trying to hide behind her skirt
I agree 100% with Andy on this.There should be a work requirement to receive benefits.It would mirror those in the Big Beautiful Bill signed by Trump.
Another list of complaints....
Why don't you show a picture of a butter churn or weaving loom and see who can identify and use those.
And can you provide some background on the bipartisan border security and immigration bill negotiated in early 2024? The one that got poop canned in February 2024, as the bill was moving toward a vote in the Senate when Trump publicly urged Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill?
I am so sick of the idea that a bill is required to control the border. The border is now closed and no bill was required. The bipartisan border bill was only intended to facilitate the efficient transfer of future Democrat voters into America at the taxpayers expense. Trump was exactly right, the “bipartisan” bill should have been killed.
But you're sick and tired of everything.....
I do agree with you about the part that there were obviously other ways to close the border. But that bill also had sweeping changes to the crappy asylum process we have now.
Not complicated! Asylum is sought in the nearest friendly country. Traveling half way around the world to seek asylum is a lie. It is country shopping and it is legal through the legal immigration process not through a fraudulent asylum claim. I am not sick of everything. I love Donald J Trump.
Not a bad idea of 'nearest friendly country'. But that still leaves the door open for Hati and Cuba. And probably 1/2 open for most of Central America.....
Did you read the actual bipartisan border bill Jeff?
No. Did you support it? Please tell me what the positive features of the failed bill were.
Aside from the politics involved, which I'll give you. It didn't adequately address asylum, the millions already here, or the broken legal process associated with both. So it would have been broken from the start without addressing the never ending loopholes.
Asylum's purpose is political persecution, not "my country is worse than the U.S." which means 6 billion people objectively would have a claim to be here. Asylum is intended for things like Jews being persecuted in WW2 Europe, South Vietnamese after our withdrawal, Iranians after the Shah's deposal, or Afghan interpreters after our withdrawal. There are Iranians and South Vietnamese who waited in refugee camps abroad for years to get their asylum approval. Meanwhile, MS-13 members can dip a toe in CA and they are loopholed in forever.
The court system for the 3 million asylum claims is backlogged by over 4 years, creating a never-ending loophole for individuals to stay in the country, which is then determined by a judge with limited knowledge of the geopolitical issues surrounding the claim.
The simple solution is that the State Department determines where asylum claims can come from, and they are processed through embassies. This removes situations like Maryland Man, who's a gang member who killed rival gang's family members in El Salvador. Of course, he doesn't want to go back. So he gets a legal loophole to stay here forever, because you can't send him anywhere else.
And thankfully Trump did what he did in that regard. Are you suggesting you now support Republican lawmakers...at least those that support a quasi-open border? Have you read the details in the 2024 bill? Turncoat cheap labor advocate Republican Sen. Langford from Oklahoma has been rightfully vilified for his advocacy of that attempted sellout legislation. There is a reason Trump won...including the largest number of legal Hispanic voters who are necessarily looking out for themselves was well as the nation as whole.
I don't support lawmakers based on the color or their seats - but on the how they vote on issues. This BS of my team vs. their team is turning the legislature into a Super Bowl match and is ruining America.
And yes, Trump is doing better with Hispanic voters than probably expected. But what is that approval rating? 30% or so? Nothing I'd call a mandate.
While you may not support law makers based on the "color of their seats"…in reality is there is usually/often a distinct difference between the parties and how they vote on specific issues... particularly the topic at hand… Immigration...legal and illegal. FYI...I'm not a member of either party and usually identify with Constitutional and/or issues supported by conservatives. Today's political parties have more in common with the world's oldest profession than law or principles.
In the most recent legislation, Democrats (color: Blue) were able to keep in place a policy that gives illegal aliens an enormous amount of taxpayers dollars, a position akin to its advocacy for open borders and a pro-illegal agenda.Most Conservatives (color: Red) and most voters do not believe that is fair to American taxpayers. Democrats were uniformly supportive of continuing handing out tax dollars to illegal aliens...and they largely prevailed....re: Salud Carbajal (Very Blue). So in many ways it is a team sport.
Data Fact check: Trump's (Red) 2024 Hispanic support was 46%...not a "poll" 30%...a 27% increase from four years earlier...resulting in the Dems (Blue) decline of 18%...at a time Trump (Red) heavily campaigned for secure borders including deporting illegal aliens. Polling is all over the place...one can go poll shopping...not unlike judge shopping. The good news is that...in theory..."law"...is not a function of the polls.
Excellent review TVW - like to see more of you on this forum.
Yes! More TVW!
Thanks for help with the color chart.
Agree that poll numbers are all over the place. But the fuzzy number I mentioned was approval rating, not voting turn out.
Correct...you did reference approval rating...why I delineated between "fuzzy" (hear hear!) poll numbers and the data set I referenced. Little something for everyone....Thanks...TVW