‘Criminal aliens’

By Jennifer J. Foster

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is kicking off her department’s first major crime-fighting initiative. From The Arizona Republic::

If you’re a criminal and you’re not entitled to be in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants you out of the country.

Napolitano wants what she calls “criminal aliens” off American streets. She is looking at existing immigration enforcement programs to see if taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck.

“That sounds very simple, but it’s historically not been done,“ Napolitano said, speaking to reporters and senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday.

Hmm.

Memo to Secretary Napolitano from the Department of Redundancies Department: Aliens ARE criminals.

But wait! There’s more!

Napolitano, whose job includes overseeing immigration laws, says she also will go after criminal fugitives who are in the country illegally.

Good to know.

Napolitano’s aim is a laudable one: According to the Republic, jails in only 26 counties across the whole country have computer systems that are capable of communicating directly with federal immigration authorities about inmates’ citizenship status, and she wants to improve that.

But the Republic quotes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency as estimating that there are now as many as 450,000 criminals in federal, state and local detention centers who are in the country illegally, and 113,000 criminals who were in the U.S. illegally were deported last year.

This story begs two questions: One, what is DHS’s crime threshold? In other words, how “bad” does the crime have to be for DHS to pursue those perpetrators? Napolitano doesn’t acknowledge such a threshold, but we can assume that there is one; otherwise, since every “alien” who has entered the U.S. illegally has already committed at least one crime, she’d be chasing them all.

Two, if the immigration laws of the United States were properly enforced across the board, how many fewer folks would Napolitano have to spend her department’s resources pursuing?

New RNC chairman, but party split remains

By Jennifer J. Foster

A wild day of politicking and dealmaking Friday led to the election of the Republican National Committee’s first African-American chairman (story here.)

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a fixture on cable news networks, defeated South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson 91-77 on the sixth ballot.

Yes, the sixth ballot.

There’s no shortage of information about Steele all over the internet. If his is a new name to you, start with his bio here. You can also watch Steele’s first post-win interview here (sorry, I can’t help that it was with Sean Hannity).

But more interesting to me than the result of the race is how it went down. 

After the second electoral disaster for the GOP in as many election cycles, everyone knew the RNC chairmanship would be hotly contested. Six candidates entered the race.

One, Chip Saltsman (of “Barack the Magic Negro” fame), dropped out without explanation on the even of the vote. He declined to endorse anyone.

That left five candidates to court voters Friday.

Stay with me here.

Outgoing RNC chairman Mike Duncan, who was seeking re-election, dropped out after the third ballot after losing support in the second and third rounds. He also declined to endorse a candidate, saying in remarks to members, “Obviously, the winds of change are blowing here at the RNC.“

That left four.

On the fourth ballot, with Duncan’s members up for grabs, Dawson took a two-vote lead over Steele, 62-60.

Then former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, the other African-American candidate seeking the chairmanship, dropped out. He, however, did endorse ... Mike Duncan.

???

Blackwell was either in the bathroom when Duncan dropped out or he really, really didn’t want any of the other guys to win.

After the fifth round, Steele led Duncan by 10.

Then Saul Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan GOP, dropped out, though his support had peaked at 31 votes. He did not endorse a candidate.

Steele won on the sixth ballot, 91-77.

Let’s analyze.

Dawson’s supporters (which included Alabama GOP chairman Mike Hubbard, by the way) were wary of Steele throughout the race:

For the duration of his campaign, Steele fought suspicions that he was too moderate to lead the party because of his blue state roots and his former membership in the Republican Leadership Council, a group that sought to curb the influence of social conservatives in the party.

Steele fought back, telling CNN earlier this month, “I’m proud to say I’m a conservative, have been, always will be. So this notion that I’m a moderate is slightly overblown and, quite frankly, a lie.“

But it isn’t any coincidence that Steele’s election—and Dawson’s defeat—was sealed by supporters of Blackwell and Anuzis, of Ohio and Michigan, respectively.

Reacting to Steele’s election, Hubbard released this statement: “Michael Steele brings a much needed breath of fresh air and innovative ideas to the RNC.  I’m excited about the opportunity to work with him to help change the direction of the national Party.”

OK. But make no mistake: There is a geographic and ideological split in the GOP, and it was on display on Friday.

Meanwhile, Steele offered these words in his victory speech:

We’re going to say to friend and foe alike, we want you to be a part of us. And to those of you who will obstruct, get ready to get knocked over.

I’ll have more later on the new pairing of party chiefs: Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine of the DNC and Steele for the Republicans.

Dear Mahmoud

By Jennifer J. Foster

The (U.K.) Guardian told us last week about ongoing efforts in the State Department to craft a letter to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

SIDEBAR: I can’t believe it, but I just spelled his name correctly without looking. I think I’m ready for “Jeopardy!“ END SIDEBAR

Anyway, the “track changes” feature has apparently been in overdrive at State:

State department officials have composed at least three drafts of the letter, which gives assurances that Washington does not want to overthrow the Islamic regime, but merely seeks a change in its behaviour. The letter would be addressed to the Iranian people and sent directly to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or released as an open letter.

One draft proposal suggests that Iran should compare its relatively low standard of living with that of some of its more prosperous neighbours, and contemplate the benefits of losing its pariah status in the west. Although the tone is conciliatory, it also calls on Iran to end what the US calls state sponsorship of terrorism.

Observers consider the letter the first steps in paving the way toward direct diplomacy with Iran, something Obama talked about frequently on the campaign trail and has incorporated into his presidential agenda:

Barack Obama supports tough and direct diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to use the power of American diplomacy to pressure Iran to stop their illicit nuclear program, support for terrorism, and threats toward Israel. Obama and Biden will offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. In carrying out this diplomacy, we will coordinate closely with our allies and proceed with careful preparation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.

Compare that to what former (and probably future) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to say about the prospect of Iran getting nukes:

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s leading candidate for prime minister, said Saturday that Iran “will not be armed with a nuclear weapon.“

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 TV, Netanyahu said if elected prime minister his first mission will be to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the hardline Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity.

When asked if stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions included a military strike, he replied: “It includes everything that is necessary to make this statement come true.“

See, Netanyahu is a first-draft kind of guy.

UPDATE: I guess Obama’s letter is just for the benefit of us little people. According to this report published Saturday, Obama’s emissaries have made “several ‘very, very high-level’ contacts” with Iran and Syria on nukes and the Middle East peace process—and he began sending them even before he won the presidency.

‘A Wonderful Day’

By Jennifer J. Foster

As a wrap-up to my weekend column on the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Act, I want to post the link to the White House web page where you can get more information.

You can watch video from the signing ceremony, see an interview with Lilly Ledbetter herself and read the terrific remarks President Obama delivered before he signed the bill.

Also, you can read some interesting comments following my post on this issue over on Politics4All.