Subject: Re: Bashing Numbers USA or Seeking Truth?

As Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?" Well, no. We must police each other, mustn't we? We must question the questionable, follow the money. If not you, who?
Many of the people on our email distribution list are considered experts, "opinion leaders" in the field of immigration moratorium and ending spending on legal immigrants and illegal aliens. People ask us whom to support. WE are the ones that know who succeeds, who talks and doesn't walk, whose actions have resulted in losses and zilch. Are we going to keep it to ourselves because we want everyone to like everyone else? Just what the opposition wants!
Citizens coming to the immigration movement hear about a few big groups, and are convinced that sending money to these groups helps. What are the results? Tens of millions of dollars have been spent, and our borders are more open than ever. The DREAM Act is becoming reality. And "leaders" are told, "don't worry, we'll win in court challenges."
Here in Colorado, 2003 saw a terrible bill promoted by the "highest levels" of so-called immigration reform groups on our side, that literally made it LEGAL for police and virtually any governmental entity to accept the Mexican ID (and other foreign ID cards)! Cash in on Colorado! Commit crimes, we'll never know who you are and you will not be deported! (It had started as a great bill that would have banned any acceptance of these cards) And this Act is now Colorado law, called the Secure and Verifiable ID Act, where it is just the opposite! The major Colorado group called it a victory. And I know for a fact that "our" side locally and nationally tout this law a victory for OUR side! The man who gutted the good bill and coverted it to the worthless rag it now is, Colo Senate President John Andrews (R) has been touted by "our side" as a national speaker on how this Act blocks illegals from getting benefits, but that is a lie! Outrageous, but true. And I have been brow-beaten by "leaders" here for trying to reveal that this law does quite the opposite of these claims.
80% of the American population agrees with those of us who want the borders closed and immigration stopped or severely limited, yet we keep losing every single cause (Witness Colorado's HB 1271, which didn't even make it out of committee two weeks ago). I can see ONE big win, AZ Prop. 200. Yet someone took over the bank accounts of that group, and was posing as ??, well, I cannot figure it out. There are many, many moles within our "groups". Handlers. Agent provocateurs.
Money is spent foolishly and on molehills vs. mountains every single day. Last year, I spent weeks on the streets of Denver metro trying to gather signatures to stop the State of Colorado from outsourcing State jobs. The leaders of this truly grassroots groups told me that FAIR was considering helping to pay to gather signatures. We didn't need many signatures. NOT ONE DOLLAR. No precedent set, no win.
Many have come to the conclusion that local groups, independent of "the powers that be" can do far more, but these groups lack money. Other "local" groups turn out to be fronts that suck dollars out of potentially critical grassroots efforts, which fail.
Let's not be Pollyannas. Look at RESULTS. Don't throw good money after bad. Roy Beck -- I have known you for years. DO YOU OPPOSE MASSIVE DEPORTATIONS? Do you think attrition will rid us of the 20 million or so illegals here, popping out Citizen babies? If so, I cannot support you a minute longer. And why move your entire operation to DC? I have taken that subway ride from Arlington to DC. It is a piece of cake.
I sat here watching Gov. Lamm say deportations were unrealistic and that Bush's amnesty plans would likely be implemented (no problema). And Gov. Lamm is one of us? Let's wake up and smell the salsa. This is NOT a kumbaya party. This is a movement. We must forever be vigilant, and put our time and money in places that work, and cut off the dead branches, and plastic poseurs.
Cull the herd
Terry Graham

NEWS RELEASE  and  NEWS CONFERENCE
Protect America NOW   Protect Arkansas NOW

Protect Arizona NOW (PAN) founder and Chairman, Kathy McKee, announces the formation of a new grassroots organization, Protect America NOW (PAN2). The purpose of PAN2 is to assist people/groups achieve success like PAN's in getting Proposition 200-type measures enacted in their states, as well as get anti-illegal-immigration laws enforced. In association with Protect America NOW, a press conference will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas (see below for details) this Friday, January 21, announcing the formation of Protect Arkansas NOW.
States McKee,"Getting Prop 200-type protections passed, either legislatively or through citizens' initiatives, is really tough. The only way victory against enormous odds (like we have) can be achieved in this area is for the right people to do the right things the right way . . . and do them NOW. Hopefully, others can learn from our success and not try to reinvent the wheel. Since neither PAN nor PAN2 has employee expenses or much overhead like current national groups' multimillion-dollar overheads, we hope to keep more funds in the state and local arenas. Over the past decade, entirely too much money has gone away from local efforts, going instead to Washington groups with huge overheads, for there to be meaningful success combatting illegal immigration. Goodness knows, Protect Arizona NOW's Prop 200 has been one of the 2-3 significant successes with this issue the past two decades, while I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a single major success that has come from the 'beltway fundraisers'."
In association with Protect America NOW, Protect Arkansas NOW (PAN3) is kicking off this week. PAN3 is being spearheaded by Fort Smith retired businessman, Joe McCutchen, who states, "For too long officials of this state have neglected their constitutional duties, and in fact have exacerbated the illegal alien invasion, placing huge economic burdens on the citizen taxpayers, while considerably diminishing our quality of life, particularly regarding education and healthcare. Fortunately, Senator Jim Holt (R, Springdale) has stepped up to the plate and offered to introduce appropriate legislation this session. He is busy lining up support in the Arkansas legislature." Sen. Holt reports his bill targets voter and welfare fraud like the successful Proposition 200 in Arizona.
Concludes McKee, "Our great challenge is to wake up America and educate Americans to what viable options they have to save our country from an unresponsive if not outright corrupt government that is allowing this massive invasion of our country. Then we'll help citizens do the right things the right way. Most Americans are on auto-pilot, unwilling to face the fact that they have to turn off their TVs, get off their comfy sofas, miss a few ballgames/ movies/shopping sprees, sacrifice time and money they'd rather play with and enjoy, and do everything they possibly can to save their state and this country. We are doing what we can to Protect Arizona NOW, while PAN2 and PAN3 are going to give it their all to get our democratic republic back. People in the other states absolutely must get busy doing the same thing. It's not fun by any means, but it's the only way to save America from the unbelievable invasion that "our" government is allowing. PAN2's website, while still in its infancy, is WWW.PAN2005.COM. As other state groups progress in formation, we'll link to them on this website."

ANNOUNCING PROTECT ARKANSAS NOW
WITH DETAILS OF SENATOR HOLT'S PROPOSITION 200-TYPE BILL

A press conference will be held at 12 noon Friday, January 21, 2005, on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol at the corner of Woodlane and Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. The purpose of the conference will be to announce the formation of Protect Arkansas NOW (PAN3). This is a grassroots effort patterned after the successful efforts of Protect Arizona NOW, which not only got Proposition 200 on the ballot and passed in Arizona, but also through its constitutional prowess was able to get at least the benefits portion implemented after only 45 days.
PAN3 chairman Joe McCutchen states, "People are so busy these days that I really did not want to have to call the citizens of this state into action, especially to get our laws enforced. However, for too long officials of this state have neglected their constitutional duties, and in fact have exacerbated the illegal alien invasion, placing huge economic burdens on the citizen taxpayers, while considerably diminishing our quality of life, particularly regarding education and healthcare. Fortunately, Senator Jim Holt (R, Springdale) has stepped up to the plate and offered to introduce appropriate legislation this session. He is busy lining up support in the Arkansas legislature. I urge all Arkansans to contact their state Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor Senator Holt's bill." E-mail Joe McCutchen
Sen. Holt, an Arkansas native, military veteran, and former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, is introducing his bill "to amend voter registration and benefit eligibility requirements to discourage illegal immigration." This bill will do three things: (1) Require proof of citizenship to register to vote; (2) strengthen identification requirements when registering to vote by mail; and (3) require proof of eligibility, including legal residency in Arkansas, for welfare applicants and recipients. Further, federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1357) requires states to report the presence of illegal aliens to the federal government at least four times a year. We need the compliance of welfare employees to adhere to this. Therefore, welfare workers will be required to report illegal aliens under potential penalty of being charged with a misdemeanor. This has already been upheld in Arizona." States the popular senator, "Certainly the overwhelming majority of Arkansans would agree that proof of citizenship to register to vote is vital to maintain the integrity of the election process of our state. And there is no doubt that easy and fraudulent access to welfare benefits is a large magnet that draws illegal aliens into our state. This bill aims to shrink that magnet and serve as a disincentive for illegal aliens to come to Arkansas. With the help of fraudulent I.D.'s illegal aliens have drained our social services, disproportionately populated our prisons at a per capita cost to taxpayers of over $20,000 per year, and have illegally collected welfare." Holt said.
"None of us should be angry at anyone except our government. They are the ones who have allowed this injustice to continue. People from all walks of life who want to see justice finally served will want this bill to become law, because it will protect the sanctity of citizens' votes. It will also help ensure that there are enough funds for eligible welfare recipients. Most Americans don't like Americans receiving welfare. But I know of no one with any sense of justice who wants to subsidize illegal aliens on welfare at taxpayers' expense.
Concludes Holt, " Friends, illegal immigration is well on its way to bankrupting every state in America including Arkansas, and it has to stop now. The federal government has sole statutory responsibility to secure America's borders, sanction employers, and deport people - all of which they're failing miserably to do. This leaves little that states can do to protect themselves against the horrific costs associated with illegal aliens. However, what the states can do, I intend to do, and this bill is just the first step."