Tomorrow Is The Day!

Finally!  We’re on the cusp of yet another national election day.  I hope everyone does their civic duty tomorrow and votes!  I’ll be one of the few who will be in line bright and early in the morning.  As I’ve mentioned in a couple of my previous votes, I’m glad we’re at election day.  To cap this post all off, I’ve been reading an article on ABC news’ website regarding the final day of campaigning, and that can be seen here.

What I find interesting about this article is the fact that Senator Obama, after three debates, is finally saying that he may not be able to accomplish everything he would like in his first term, due to the economic downturn.  Can’t say I’m overly surprised by this revelation.  Obama has said quote:

changing the tax code, investing in clean energy, controlling health care costs and improving the education system remain his “core commitments.”  We will have progress on all front by the end of my first term.

Hmmm….  Interesting.  All of those “core commitments” may be more difficult to accomplish than he, and his democratic allies may think.  Obama has recently stated that he will bankrupt coal companies.  That’s definitely a good way to invest in clean energy.

Senator McCain, of course, is touting his underdog status and how much he relishes it.  His campaign’s own internal polling shows races tightening up in “key” battleground states.  After seeing poll after poll, I’m not so sure we can count on the accuracy of any polls going into tomorrow.  Who knows what people are going to do once they’re behind the curtain tomorrow.

One thing I do know for sure is that we are in for an excellent turnout and we are in for a historic election tomorrow no matter who wins.  And I, for one, am glad to be able to participate in such a historic election

2 Days and Counting…

So we now have two days until we all go out and vote.  I’m very happy that we’re just about ready for election day.  Between the daily polls that are released on the morning news and the predictions, we’ll finally have a decided winner.  This election is historic for many reasons, but the reason I would like to touch upon today, is the fact, that for the first time since JFK was elected in 1960, we will be electing a sitting senator to be president of the United States.

This fact got me to thinking about what type of relationship, no matter who wins, that either Senators McCain or Obama would have with Congress, in particular, with the Senate.  There’s a great article in today’s Washington Times about this very topic and it can be viewed here.

Since the Senate is made of only 100 members, there is more of a club feeling than you might find in the House.  If either were elected, I don’t foresee their former colleagues being overly cordial toward either a President McCain or Obama.

If Obama were to lose on Tuesday, I’m confident he’ll return to the Senate and be a strong presence in opposing any McCain administration policies and proposals.  He could ride this tide of opposition to a renewed White House bid in 2012.

However, if McCain were to lose, I’m not so sure he would return to the Senate, and if he were to return, what type of role would he play?  Would he be like Senator Kerry and just fade into the background for the remaining two years of his term, and quietly retire?  I don’t know for sure about that.

If Obama wins, will his Senate colleagues continue their cordial behavior toward him?  I question, beyond the election on Tuesday, just how united the Democratic party truly is.  True, Obama is one of the most liberal members of the Senate, but once he’s elected, will he become more centrist in order to generate more appeal toward the masses?  Plus, I already know that members of his own party are far more radical and liberal than Senator Obama is.  For example, Barney Frank in the House is in favor of decreasing military spending by 25%, before our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are completed!

True, you would figure that since it appears the Democrats are in store for a huge landslide victory on Tuesday, will unified government automatically mean progress?  I think an Obama presidency may be weakened simply due to internal party division, and because Obama will be so beholden to his massive donors and their particular policy stances.  I wouldn’t count on too many serious policy shattering changes during a unified democratic government.

If McCain were to win, I think we will see massive gridlock, and the continuance of gotcha politics that we’ve seen since 2006.  If the democrats gain as much as they’re projected in the house, and reach 60 in the senate, the democrats could, potentially, override any McCain vetoes and get their agenda passed regardless.

Either way, I think whoever is elected, I think we very well may be in store for a do nothing presidency simply because congress won’t be as cordial to either candidate, whoever wins.

Immigration: Strangely Absent From The Debate Part 2 of 2

This post is the second, and final post, in a two part series that I started yesterday on immigration.  Yesterday, I took a look at Barack Obama’s immigration stance, and today, I will look at John McCain’s.  I have taken the liberty of pulling, from John McCain’s website, the key points of his immigration plan below, which can be seen here:

• Secure our borders
• Prosecute “Bad-Actor” employers
• Meet America’s labor needs
• Address the undocumented
• Eliminate the family backlog

It is strangely interesting that both candidates have similar key points in their respective plans.

First, let’s look at securing our borders.  Both McCain and Obama are in favor of adding increased funds to assist in shoring up border security issues.  Definitely not a bad idea, and it’s good to see that both candidates have similar views on securing our borders; although, I can’t help but wonder if Senator Obama is against a physical fence along our borders.

Secondly, prosecute “bad-actor” employers.  Both candidates support ensuring that employers are hiring, and retaining, legal, documented workers.  However, I feel that Senator McCain has a more robust policy of prosecuting those firms that refuse to comply with immigration employment laws.  I don’t believe that Senator Obama will take the controversial steps, when employers don’t wish to comply, to raid work sites that are suspected of employing undocumented workers.  If deterrence will not work, than harsher measures should be taken to discourage the employment of undocumented illegal aliens.

Thirdly, meeting America’s labor needs.  I do believe, like Senator McCain, that we need a temporary worker program in place, that is monitored, so that temporary workers do not “slip” through the cracks and stay longer than their work visas permit them.  We should employ a simple tracking system, and then verify, that these temporary workers are indeed working where they say they’re working, and living where they say they’re living.  This no nonsense step, of course, will require additional manpower, but with immigration being such a serious national security issue, we should take these measures, to ensure these workers are not staying here beyond their legally devoted time.

Fourthly, addressing undocumented aliens.  Senator McCain is in favor of having undocumented immigrants enroll in a program.  This program will perform background checks on these individuals to determine if they should be deported or not.  Sorry, I don’t think we should be performing background checks, these people have already broken the law!  I do like the fact that these people, who came out of the shadows, as Barack Obama says, will not receive green cards prior to those who have followed the rules, but it sure does sound like some form of amnesty.  Also, McCain indicates a fine should be levied on these individuals as well, along with the payment of any background tests, and to take a citizenship test.  What will this fine be?  Does this stance also mean that we will consider illegal immigration some form of federal misdemeanor, instead of a felony?  I do agree with McCain that we do need to resolve the status of these individuals; however, off them a path to citizenship?  I’m not so sure I’m keen on that idea or not.  I will need to see what this final plan entails prior to making any final judgment.

Finally, eliminate the family backlog.  Senator McCain makes a very good point here.  There needs to be reform in this area if persons, who are legally attempting to receive green cards, shouldn’t have to wait for 20 years for their number to come up.  We need some serious specifications and procedures on how green cards should be acquired, and what these people, who are legally doing the right thing, can follow to expedite the process.

With the exception of the fines for being here illegally, I cannot find too much to disagree with on McCain’s immigration policy.  However, I can see that both candidates have similar viewpoints on this all important national security issue.  As I mentioned in my first post, I really am not in favor of a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but I do realize something needs to be done with the status of these people.  This policy should be fair, first off, to those who have followed all the rules and laws to come here legally.  We also shouldn’t be giving any sort of amnesty, because then that sets an equally bad precedent, that, in my point of view, just increases the odds that even more people will come here illegally, especially if they know they’re going to be forgiven of violating our immigration laws.

Immigration is definitely an issue that should be discussed in more detail.  It should be included in our national security, and homeland security debate.  We should come up with a robust policy, and reform an ancient system to suit the needs of the 21st century.  Until we can address this politically complex issue, who knows who exactly is coming across our borders.  For all we know, terrorists from Al Qaeda and other such organizations, could be illegally, and secretly, coming across our southern border.  The time to address this issue is here and now!