Race Relations Improve Under Obama!

 As the recent race riots in Ferguson confirm, Obama has served as a magical bridge who would promote mutual understanding between whites and blacks.

??? 

SUNDAY RESPITE-Great is Thy Faithfulness-Chris Rice

Passenger Tries to Break Up American Airlines

So on an American Airlines flight a man has to be removed because he started having apoplexy over someone wishing him a Merry Christmas.

Well, if he doesn't like Christmas, maybe they should have offered him a Grinch filled Christmas or a really lousy Christmas.

Come on, you fake freedom of speech liberals, get a life! You and your ilk are bent on taking away from conservatives everything you possibly can...even Christmas.

Yuck all over you.

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The events recorded in Luke's gospel are impossible. They violate all of the laws of physics, biology, anatomy and science as we know it. They are astonishing and are outside of the experience of men. They could not have happened.

But they did.

That's why we call them miracles.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WDYWDCWDWWTN!

What do you want?

Dead Cops!

When do you want them?

Now!

OK.

There were two cops killed in NYC.

In Tarpon Springs, Florida, another one was gunned down.

Are we even yet?

You mindless, pitiful, pieces of pond sludge who shouted those "slogans" have gotten your way, now get off the streets of my country!

I don't care whether you play "professional" football or not. You are a piece of scum if you fell for the ploy of the provokers of these incidents.

"Hands up! Don't shoot!" was not your war cry. It was a demonstration of how stupid, arrogant, mindless and hate-filled you are.

Yes, I said get out of MY COUNTRY!

I am a citizen of The United States of America. You are a bunch of anarchists who hate liberty and justice for all.

When justice runs its course, you run in to the streets and "demonstrate."

"Demonstrate." That's your euphemism for looting, rioting and otherwise causing mayhem.

You pedantic cowards are only "brave" when you are surrounded by more of your own jackals.

I have an idea. Move to Cuba. I hear we're going to treat that bastion of Communism nice, now. You'll fit right in.

Proposed New Federal Guidelines for Police

1.  Decide whether and which laws to enforce.

2.  If the perp is black, proceed with extreme restraint, or turn and walk away.

3.  If the perp is black and much bigger than you, back off and don't arrest him.

4.  If the perp is black and resists arrest, just say, "O...OK, just go your way."

5.  If the perp lunges for your gun, let him have it, so as not to incite the city to violence.

6.  Before arresting a perp, do a medical exam to determine whether he has asthma, breathing difficulties or heart issues.

7.  If you tell the perp to get on the ground and he does not comply, turn and walk away. We don't want any instances.

8.  If you are a black policeman and the perp is white, don't worry about shooting him, there will be no consequences...especially in the fair and balanced media.

9.  If the town erupts in violence, back off and let them destroy the ethnic neighborhood of their choice.

10. If the town is destroyed, don't arrest any looters, brick throwers or car turn overers. And, please, don't call any firemen to put out the fires.

What additional guidelines would you propose?

Sorry for What I Did

Look at the size of this guy
compared to the cops!

I want to apologize. I'm sorry. I'll never do it again.

In 1964 I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Augustine, Florida to call for an end to racial discrimination in the nation's oldest city and in the United States. I participated in restaurant sit-downs, was almost arrested and was accosted by three really big white guys who threatened to take me behind the building and paint me black with shoe polish. I'm certain that's not all they would have done. I was saved when a sheriff's unit pulled up beside us and the two men walked away.

Today I am embarrassed to have done those things because everything I thought I was working for has disappeared and racism has raised its ugly head once again, only this time by the very people I was standing up for. Now I consider them a disgrace.

There is an old saying for identifying coral snakes: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, you're alright, Jack." A variation of this saying could be used to describe the interaction of police with citizens: "Black on white, it's all right. White on black, catch much flack."

A white officer shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Blacks in the city got even by burning, looting and destroying black businesses. Explain to me the logic in that.

A white officer took down a huge black tax evader in New York and more protests erupted. That in spite of the fact that Eric Garner refused to allow officers to detain him for black market selling and, according to the video, flailed his arms menacingly. That also in spite of the fact that it was not the imagined choke hold that killed Garner, it was a heart attack. That ALSO in spite of the FACT that the supervising officer on the scene, watching the whole event did nothing to keep the officer from taking Garner down the way he did, even though SHE WAS BLACK!

When it's a black officer shooting a white criminal it's a whole different story.

Police in Salt Lake City are continuing their probe into an Aug. 11 shooting outside a 7-Eleven convenience store, when a black police officer, whom local media are referring to as “not white,” shot and killed 20-year-old Dillon Taylor, who was unarmed at the time, according to his supporters.

Police Chief Chris Burbank said the entire incident was captured on the body camera of the officer who shot Taylor.

“You will see on camera … the actions of everyone involved, including up to the point where our officer utilizes deadly force and his response thereafter,” Burbank told reporters.

He said the video, along with the officer’s identity, will be released at the “appropriate” time, adding it could be days, weeks or months.

So, where are the riots and protests?

See the full story HERE.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to end discrimination in America. Today's black "leaders" (think Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Barack Obama and others) prefer to stir up racism. They feed on emphasizing the inequities that truly DO occur, instead of offering peaceful alternatives. They pompously offer justification for black riots, destroying property and burning things as though those things are CAUSED by some imagined discrimination. They are not.

Looting, burning and destroying property are the acts of uncivilized hood-mongers for their own amusement and material benefit. They do NOTHING to remedy or help remedy the imagined discrimination. They only serve to further divide the nation along racial lines.

They are stupid, mindless, reprobates with mo morals. I am very sorry I ever stood up for them. They have betrayed my trust in them. They have committed treason against all I, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders in the 1960s did to establish equal opportunity for people of color...any color. 

Please accept my apologies.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Hallelujah-Leonard Cohen

Sorry I Did What I Did

Look at the size of this guy
compared to the cops!

I want to apologize. I'm sorry. I'll never do it again.

In 1964 I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Augustine, Florida to call for an end to racial discrimination in the nation's oldest city and in the United States. I participated in restaurant sit-downs, was almost arrested and was accosted by three really big white guys who threatened to take me behind the building and paint me black with shoe polish. I'm certain that's not all they would have done. I was saved when a sheriff's unit pulled up beside us and the two men walked away.

Today I am embarrassed to have done those things because everything I thought I was working for has disappeared and racism has raised its ugly head once again, only this time by the very people I was standing up for. Now I consider them a disgrace.

There is an old saying for identifying coral snakes: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, you're alright, Jack." A variation of this saying could be used to describe the interaction of police with citizens: "Black on white, it's all right. White on black, catch much flack."

A white officer shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Blacks in the city got even by burning, looting and destroying black businesses. Explain to me the logic in that.

A white officer took down a huge black tax evader in New York and more protests erupted. That in spite of the fact that Eric Garner refused to allow officers to detain him for black market selling and, according to the video, flailed his arms menacingly. That also in spite of the fact that it was not the imagined choke hold that killed Garner, it was a heart attack. That ALSO in spite of the FACT that the supervising officer on the scene, watching the whole event did nothing to keep the officer from taking Garner down the way he did, even though SHE WAS BLACK!

When it's a black officer shooting a white criminal it's a whole different story.

Police in Salt Lake City are continuing their probe into an Aug. 11 shooting outside a 7-Eleven convenience store, when a black police officer, whom local media are referring to as “not white,” shot and killed 20-year-old Dillon Taylor, who was unarmed at the time, according to his supporters.

Police Chief Chris Burbank said the entire incident was captured on the body camera of the officer who shot Taylor.

“You will see on camera … the actions of everyone involved, including up to the point where our officer utilizes deadly force and his response thereafter,” Burbank told reporters.

He said the video, along with the officer’s identity, will be released at the “appropriate” time, adding it could be days, weeks or months.

So, where are the riots and protests?

See the full story HERE.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to end discrimination in America. Today's black "leaders" (think Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Barack Obama and others) prefer to stir up racism. They feed on emphasizing the inequities that truly DO occur, instead of offering peaceful alternatives. They pompously offer justification for black riots, destroying property and burning things as though those things are CAUSED by some imagined discrimination. They are not.

Looting, burning and destroying property are the acts of uncivilized hood-mongers for their own amusement and material benefit. They do NOTHING to remedy or help remedy the imagined discrimination. They only serve to further divide the nation along racial lines.

They are stupid, mindless, reprobates with mo morals. I am very sorry I ever stood up for them. They have betrayed my trust in them. They have committed treason against all I, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders in the 1960s did to establish equal opportunity for people of color...any color. 

Please accept my apologies.

Democrat Policy: Never answer a question directly.

Heavy work schedule. Back Thursday.

SUNDAY RESPITE-O Come, O Come Emmanuel-Piano Guys and Selah

Get It?

Why Does Cornell Brooks "Lead" Blacks via NAACP?

On Tuesday night, Cornell Brooks, president of the NAACP, appeared on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront and said this:

"The fact of the matter is, a single act of violence set this tragic set of consequences into motion. That being the shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. That's what, in fact, caused all of this. And one of the ways that we can respond to this tragedy is to focus anger and turn anger into action and reform the criminal justice system. We can do no less… Think about it this way. Michael Brown’s mother lost her son. Her use of an obscenity should not be a reason for us to condemn her humanity in her grief."


What?

Shooting Michael Brown cause someone to set fire to a building? Shooting Michael Brown caused someone to burn a car? Shooting Michael Brown caused someone to smash the window of a shop that had nothing to do with the incident. Is that what he really thinks? Does he mean that whenever a police officer shoots a black person a town must be destroyed?


No reasonable, logical, civilized person would think that way. Therefore, Cornell Brooks is unreasonable, illogical and uncivilized. If he represents Black Americans, then Blacks ARE what they have been stereotyped to be.

I don't thing they are...do you?

It's Thanksgiving Day

Can the President Just Change the Law? He says he did.

Ferguson's Four Year Old Temper Tantrum

The rioting citizens of Ferguson, Missouri are demonstrating the same attitude as that of a four year old who does not get his way. Their solution to perceived injustice is to stomp their feet, pout, rant, rave and break things...any things, relevant to their cause or not.

Childish.

Is there some citizen of Ferguson who thinks burning down a business shows how mature and adult they are? Is there some citizen of Ferguson who thinks breaking car windows shows how mature and adult they are? Is there someone who thinks looting is a sign of maturity?

No, the rioting citizens of Ferguson didn't get their way and they are bent on revenge and nothing less. Revenge is the prevailing attitude of our country today. It is seen in communities like Ferguson, in politics and in almost every other aspect of life.

"Well that's just human nature," you say. And to I say, "You are quite correct." The typical liberal will assert the human nature argument out of the same mouth they use to tell us that humanity is basically good. It is not.

From the moment of their birth, humans have to be taught to do right, because they will quite naturally do wrong. Very young humans want what they want, when they want it, the way they want it, wherever they want it, and if they don't get what they want they throw a temper tantrum. If they are expected to do otherwise, they'll have to be taught.

There might possible be one or two light grey areas of morality, but the vast majority of morality is very clear and can be learned. The same can be said of behavior. Good behavior can be taught. But we will not acquiesce to teaching it because of the requirements of the task.

How did we get to this point in our country? Where did we get the idea that not getting one's own way is justification for disrespecting the rights and property of others?

In modern times it found its genesis in the establishment of a warped, convoluted welfare system that encourages people to depend on the government (using other people's money) for their well being, whether they are able-bodied or not. It proceeded to the removal of cultural/religious behaviors from the public arena, first the classroom, then the school, then public buildings and now public areas. (The exception regards Islam, whose prayers, leaflets and Koran studies are encouraged on cultural grounds, as inconsistent as that seems).

Fatherless homes, working mothers, keyhole kids and the social teachings of the government school systems also lead to the idea of self-satisfaction under all circumstances.

Liberals disagree with that assessment. That's alright. This is America and they still have the right to be wrong.

Wake up, America! Wake up, Ferguson! Mayhem and destruction will not fix injustice. Hard work and the right attitude will.

For the sake of discussion, let's say that Ferguson's Grand Jury was wrong (never mind that the actual evidence supports their decision). What should the community have done?

They should have gathered around the parents of  Michael Brown and Officer Darren Wilson's family to console them, encourage them and protect them. They should have retired to their homes and prayed for everybody involved. They should have gathered in their churches, synagogues and mosks (good luck with that one) to pray and meditate over the human condition. They should have begun to work to change what needs to be changed to right the process.

But they didn't. Instead, rioting citizens of Ferguson chose to act like four year olds having a temper tantrum. That's who they are.

He Just Can't Abide Any Form of Learning

President BO (the amateur president) has acted unilaterally on immigration "reform," choosing to ignore the Congress and the will of the American people. The ignoring of the citizens' will is the same tactic he used with ObamaCare. 

The result of his latest executive action will do as much damage to the economic well being to the United States as did ObamaCare.

You'd think he would have learned a lesson from all of this, but he didn't. He won't. He is too highly invested in himself and his own power to be taught anything. He already knows everything there is to know. He is certainly smarter than you are.

BY FRED BARNES, The Weekly Standard
The enduring unpopularity of Obamacare—indeed, the Republican commitment to repeal it—is an example of what can happen when bipartisanship is spurned. In this case, Obama and congressional Democrats made no effort to attract Republicans. 

Now they own Obamacare, including all its troubles. Republicans own none. And the health care law lacks full legitimacy. Four years after it was enacted, Democrats are still suffering politically. For them, Obamacare is a drag.

The same is likely to occur with Obama’s executive amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants. It is doubly doomed to be regarded as illegitimate—first, because it stretches presidential authority beyond the breaking point, and second, because it has no bipartisan backing. Obama’s action is supported by many (but not all) Democrats in Congress but zero Republicans.

Obama (doesn't) acknowledge that he repeatedly told supporters of immigration reform that he didn’t have the presidential authority to, in effect, legalize so-called undocumented immigrants.

Obama may think he’s acting in a noble cause. "...his immigration policy (is) polarizing and unacceptable to a majority of Americans. And he’s assured that it won’t go away any time soon.his immigration policy all the more polarizing and unacceptable to a majority of Americans. And he’s assured that it won’t go away any time soon.his immigration policy all the more polarizing and unacceptable to a majority of Americans. And he’s assured that it won’t go away any time soon.

In the end. President BO (the amateur president) simply does not care about America, Americans, what Americans think or how they are hurt. He does not subscribe to the tenants of the Constitution nor does he intend to follow them, as he has made very clear over the years. He cares only about his power and his ability to make The United States into what HE thinks it should be, apart from its historical and philosophical establishment.

SUNDAY RESPITE-Thank You-The Katinas

Jon Stewart on Jonathan Gruber

WARNING! Some Jon Stewartisms are heard in this video. That is a violation of rule 1 of this blog, but the need to see a liberal attack the administration's honesty is worth it.

"We are a nation of Immigrants."  This theme is repeated often in order to justify having people from south of the U.S. borders enter our country, enjoy its benefits, avail themselves of our education and to receive welfare from the legitimate citizens of this land.

First of all, this is grossly unfair to those who have come and are coming to this country by legal means. There is absolutely no argument sufficient to negate that truth. Why should ANYBODY go through the proper process if it is OK to just come to the U.S. to stay? Should we allow French, German, Iranians, Iraqis. Chinese, North Koreans and anyone else to come without going through the process of learning our history, pledging alliance to our country and/or learning the language?

Secondly, current illegal immigration practices place an unfair burden on citizen taxpayers. Although President BO (the amateur president) says that he will seek back taxes from illegals and will "require" them to pay taxes in order to stay in the U.S., he means to actually do nothing of the sort.

Thirdly, although other presidents have made ample use of the executive order, such orders in recent history have not written law or encouraged illegal behavior on either citizens or non-citizens. It is currently illegal for people to be "undocumented" in this country, as it should be. To suddenly allow a portion of those "undocumented" people to remain is just plain wrong.

I recently read a Readers Digest article about a person who stayed in the U.S. 15 years beyond the time allowed by his visa. His presence was unknown until he was stopped by police because of driving under the influence (a DUI). Although he had been a "Model Citizen" up to that point, he was deported, leaving his wife here in the U.S. Why should he have been deported when millions of others are not, even though they never even had a visa? Why should he have been deported just because he was here illegally and had received a DUI? The answer is: anyone who enters this country illegally or who out stays their visa should be sent back to where they came from. Then they should go through the visa or citizenship process to come to the U.S.

"What about children and those in school?" you may ask. Children who are brought here illegally by their parents are the responsibility of their parents (not the U.S. taxpayer). If a family is here illegally, it should deported. If the children come here alone, they should be reunited with their families back in their own country. Their parents are responsible for them. If they are students, they should be deported to finish school in their own country.

"But some immigrants come from such poor and/or drug oriented cultures!" you cry out. Well, they should change their society to be more like ours if they like our country better. Why, for instance, should Mexicans allow their president to make policies that result in their country remaining poor? Why do they allow their cities to be overrun with drug lords? Why do they allow their towns to be dirty?

"Well, their economic situation is so dire. What else can they do except flee their country?" They can do what the United States did: establish a doctrine of opportunity for all; make proper use of available resources; elect leaders who will lead them to become a country that enables them to emulate the U.S., if that's what they want.

In his address, President BO (the amateur president) said: "Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of a bill a simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law.  But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote." Maybe...but for two years his Party had control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they did not even take up the cause. He could have had his law if he had done anything at all to show it was on his "priority" list. It wasn't and he didn't. But now he blames Republicans.

He also said, "For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations.  It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial.  It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities – people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose."

He failed to point out that for the vast majority of of those 200 years immigration to this country was accomplished by legal means.

He told us: "Second, I will make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed. "

Actually, "...so many business leaders..." have NOT proposed such a thing. But because Obama said they did, the statement goes unchallenged.

One of his points was: "Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable – especially those who may be dangerous.  That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent."

Well, 80% of 10 undocumented workers is 8 undocumented workers. Without giving us the number for which the 80% is applied, the percentage is meaningless. 

He also said: "Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger – we were strangers once, too." That might be the dumbest thing he said. If you're going to make an attribution, Mr. President, at least use the attribution properly and in its intended context.

President BO (the amateur president) asserted: "But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants – in every state, of every race and nationality – will still live here illegally.  And let’s be honest – tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic.  Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you.  It’s also not who we are as Americans."

Let's be honest. We can do whatever we commit to do. Deporting those who are here illegally is neither unrealistic nor is it contrary to who we are as Americans. It is a matter of priorities. It is a matter of where we place our resources. It is a matter of legality.

In the end, President BO (the amateur president) does not give a whit about the Constitution (he has said that in the past). Nor does he care about what Congress does or does not do. He has decided to act unilaterally, ignoring the Congress and ignoring the will of the people, the overwhelming number of whom support deporting those who are here illegally.

I call on Republicans to take a firm, courageous, meaningful stand against this travesty of a president and reverse the damage he has done to this country in every venue. Otherwise, you are no better than he is.

If you are interested, here is the text of President BO (the amateur president)'s message:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
November 20, 2014

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Address to the Nation on Immigration
The White House
November 20, 2014
As Prepared for Delivery --

My fellow Americans, tonight, I’d like to talk with you about immigration.

For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations.  It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial.  It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities – people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose.

But today, our immigration system is broken, and everybody knows it. 

Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules.  Business owners who offer their workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less.  All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.  And undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but to remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart. 

It’s been this way for decades.  And for decades, we haven’t done much about it.

When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system.  And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders.  Today, we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history.  And over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half.  Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it’s been in nearly two years.  Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s.  Those are the facts.

Meanwhile, I worked with Congress on a comprehensive fix, and last year, 68 Democrats, Republicans, and Independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the Senate.  It wasn’t perfect.  It was a compromise, but it reflected common sense.  It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents, while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line.  And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits. 

Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of a bill a simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law.  But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.

Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law.  But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President – the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican Presidents before me – that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.

Tonight, I am announcing those actions.

First, we’ll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over.

Second, I will make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed. 

Third, we’ll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country.

I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy.  Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws.  Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable – especially those who may be dangerous.  That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent.  And that’s why we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security.  Felons, not families.  Criminals, not children.  Gang members, not a mother who’s working hard to provide for her kids.  We’ll prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day. 

But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants – in every state, of every race and nationality – will still live here illegally.  And let’s be honest – tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic.  Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you.  It’s also not who we are as Americans.  After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time.  They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs.  They support their families.  They worship at our churches.  Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes, dreams, and patriotism are just like ours. 

As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it:  “They are a part of American life.”

Now here’s the thing: we expect people who live in this country to play by the rules.  We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded.  So we’re going to offer the following deal:  If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes – you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily, without fear of deportation.  You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.

That’s what this deal is.  Now let’s be clear about what it isn’t.  This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently.  It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future.  It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive – only Congress can do that.  All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you. 

I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty.  Well, it’s not.  Amnesty is the immigration system we have today – millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules, while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time. 

That’s the real amnesty – leaving this broken system the way it is.  Mass amnesty would be unfair.  Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character.  What I’m describing is accountability – a commonsense, middle ground approach:  If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.  If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported.  If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.

The actions I’m taking are not only lawful, they’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century.  And to those Members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer:  Pass a bill.  I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution.  And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary.  Meanwhile, don’t let a disagreement over a single issue be a dealbreaker on every issue.  That’s not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn’t shut down our government again just because we disagree on this.  Americans are tired of gridlock.  What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose – a higher purpose.

Most Americans support the types of reforms I’ve talked about tonight.  But I understand the disagreements held by many of you at home.  Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country, with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens.  So we don’t like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship.  I know that some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are, or take our jobs, or stick it to middle-class families at a time when they already feel like they’ve gotten the raw end of the deal for over a decade.  I hear these concerns.  But that’s not what these steps would do.  Our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society.  And I believe it’s important that all of us have this debate without impugning each other’s character.

Because for all the back-and-forth of Washington, we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger.  It’s about who we are as a country, and who we want to be for future generations.

Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chance to get right with the law?  Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends, take responsibility, and give their kids a better future?

Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms?  Or are we a nation that values families, and works to keep them together?

Are we a nation that educates the world’s best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us?  Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs, businesses, and industries right here in America?

That’s what this debate is all about.  We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration; we need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears.

I know the politics of this issue are tough.  But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it.  Over the past few years, I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs, without taking a dime from the government, and at risk at any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids.  I’ve seen the heartbreak and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them just because they didn’t have the right papers.  I’ve seen the courage of students who, except for the circumstances of their birth, are as American as Malia or Sasha; students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in a country they love.  These people – our neighbors, our classmates, our friends – they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life.  They came to work, and study, and serve in our military, and above all, contribute to America’s success.

Tomorrow, I’ll travel to Las Vegas and meet with some of these students, including a young woman named Astrid Silva.  Astrid was brought to America when she was four years old.  Her only possessions were a cross, her doll, and the frilly dress she had on.  When she started school, she didn’t speak any English.  She caught up to the other kids by reading newspapers and watching PBS, and became a good student.  Her father worked in landscaping.  Her mother cleaned other people’s homes.  They wouldn’t let Astrid apply to a technology magnet school for fear the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant – so she applied behind their back and got in.  Still, she mostly lived in the shadows – until her grandmother, who visited every year from Mexico, passed away, and she couldn’t travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported.  It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today, Astrid Silva is a college student working on her third degree.

Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid – or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in?

Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger – we were strangers once, too.

My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants.  We were strangers once, too.  And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship.  What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal – that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.

That’s the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us.  That’s the tradition we must uphold.  That’s the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless this country we love.