Triskaedekaphobia

Tales from the Blancasphere

Like any good Republican, I never let reason or logic get in the way of a good irrational fear. Lately we all have been feeling those feelings of trepidation as the Congress and our fearless Commander Guy have debated the horrible subject of Immigration.

As I have said before, I have nothing against immigrants, as long as they know their place. Consuela can clean my toilet, Wing Wang can iron my shirts, and Apu can serve me my morning coffee. But I'll be damned if I am going to give them amnesty to do it.

Let them hide in the shadows, keeping one step ahead of la migra.

It keeps them in line and prevents us from having to deal with uppity people who think they have rights or something.

Having thought long and hard on this problem, and having listened to the defeatocrats trying to legislate amnesty, I have come up with a modest proposal, which I think will once and for all take care of not only the immigration problem, but also a host of other issues stifling our country.



It's time to repeal the thirteenth amendment.

This simple act will cure all of our society's problems.

Health care for the poor will no longer be an issue. Can't afford a doctor for your children? Send your kid off to "summer camp" and make a little money to boot.

Lost your good-paying union job to a Chinese sweat shop? No sweat! Get off unemployment and get some good exercise in the fields.

Lost your house to foreclosure after all the good jobs in your town went the way of the Wal-Mart Supercenter? No problem! Enjoy free room and board at any one of a number of exciting locations scattered all over the sunny south!

Won't you join me in helping to bring this to reality? If every American petitions his favorite Republican candidate on this issue, we can all party like it's 1699!

by Blanca DeBree
[images: pbskids; blancasphere]
Source: Triskaedekaphobia

[EDITOR'S NOTE: For the constitutionally-challenged, here's what Wikipedia has to say about the 13th Amendment.

And no, it's not the one that says you can't drink booze.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery, plus (with limited exceptions, such as those convicted of a crime) prohibits involuntary servitude.

Prior to its ratification, slavery remained legal only in Delaware and Kentucky; everywhere else in the USA slaves had been freed by state action and the federal government's Emancipation Proclamation.

Abraham Lincoln (who had issued the Emancipation Proclamation) and others were concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure, and so, besides freeing slaves in those two states where slavery was still legal, they supported the Amendment as a means to guarantee the permanent abolition of slavery.

"Triskaedekaphobia" was originally posted on July 13, 2007 in the Blancasphere. Other July Blanca posts you may enjoy. * KOS, I Hate You * Indiana

Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Pakistan State of Emergency a Coup? Sources Unclear Who's in Charge

State of Emergency a coup? The Constitution is now suspended: is this an Army take-over? Though the Washington Post and others are saying President Musharraf is declaring a state of emergency, other sources are saying that Musharraf is not fully in charge here. It's the Chief of Army Staff who declared the State of Emergency, not President Musharraf.

UPDATE at 15:43 GMT from the BBC:

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has declared emergency rule and suspended the country's constitution.

Troops have been deployed inside state-run TV and radio stations, while independent channels have gone off air.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who condemned the moves, has reportedly been sacked and is being confined to the Supreme Court with 10 other judges.

It comes as the court was due to rule on the legality of Gen Musharraf's re-election victory in October.

The Court was to decide whether Gen Musharraf was eligible to run for election last month while remaining army chief.

So apparently at this moment, it was President Musharraf who's in charge and declaring the state of emergency. Events are moving fast in Pakistan. First it was the Red Mosque; last month it was an attempt on the life of candidate Bhutto. Now it's a state of emergency has been declared.

Now comes news from Noblesse Oblige that the state of emergency is coming from the Chief of Army Staff. Coup-time anyone?

UPDATE: The Chief of Army Staff declared the state of emergency, not President Musharraf — this could be a Coup in the shaping; or it could be a ploy to get the court to finish the deliberations on the challenges prior to the November 15th date when Musharraf’s holding of two offices definitely becomes unconstitutional.

The Washington Post is reporting that Musharraf is still in charge and has declared the state of emergency, but other sources dispute this. From the Washington Post:

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule Saturday, suspending the constitution amid a heavy security presence including armored personnel carriers on the streets of the capital.

Musharraf, who instituted a provisional constitution, was expected to address the nation later and cite continuing fighting in the turbulent Swat Valley as his reason.

We'll let the sources sort themselves out over the day. Major news channels are off the air, at last report, so news may be slow coming.

by Mondoreb




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