FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog

Protesters hold up signs in Spanish calling for legal status for all and an end to immigrant raids and deportations.

Immigration rally turnout lower than ‘06

Immigration rallies held nationwide Tuesday produced only a fraction of the million-plus protesters who turned out last year, as fear about raids and frustration that the marches haven’t pushed Congress to pass reform kept many people at home.

n Los Angeles, where several hundred thousand turned out last year, about 25,000 attended a downtown rally, said police Capt. Andrew Smith, an incident commander. In Chicago, where more than 400,000 swarmed the streets a year earlier, police officials put initial estimates at about 150,000.

Organizers said those who did march felt a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.

“There’s no reason a pro-immigration bill can’t be passed. That’s one of the messages being sent today,” said Chicago protester Shaun Harkin, 34, of Northern Ireland, who has lived in the United States as a legal resident for 15 years.

Melissa Woo, a 22-year-old American citizen who immigrated from
South Korea, carried a Korean flag over her shoulder in Chicago as she criticized politicians for “buckling at the knees.”

“Us immigrants aren’t pieces of trash, we’re human beings,” she said. “To be treated as less than human is a travesty.”

Organizers had long predicted lower turnouts for this year’s marches, saying an increase in immigration raids in recent months have left many immigrants afraid to speak out in public. That’s a change since rallies in 2006, when some illegal immigrants wore T-shirts saying “I’m illegal. So what?”

Others believe that the marches have not pushed Congress to pass immigration legislation, and many groups are now focusing on citizenship and voter registration drives instead of street demonstrations.

Whatever……the pro-illegal immigration folks did NOT turn out.

Did they finally figure out that the LEFTY organizers might be using them?

More photos from today’s LA action:

From MAcArthur Park Rally

Students climb the fence at Hollenbeck Middle School to join Roosevelt High School students marching to the immigration rally during the Great American Boycott 2007.

And lastly a photo which is sadly ironic:

Mothers and their babies march down Broadway for a May Day rally at Los Angeles City Hall.

As Flap said last year, illegal immigration will be an issue in the Presidential campaign of 2008 but it will be the next President and Congress who will finally deal with the problem.

Mayor Sam notes that Hispanic Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was no where to be seen today.

Why?

Mayor Villaraigosa to Visit Mexico, El Salvador

Stay tuned…….

Previous:

Illegal Immigration Watch: Great American Boycott 2006 Mid-Day Round-Up

Illegal Immigration Watch: Pajamas Media Update From Los Angeles Protests

Illegal Immigration Watch: Great American Boycott 2006 - Los Angeles Getting Ready for Protests

Illegal Immigration Watch: Immigration Roundup Fear Spreads

Illegal Immigration Watch: May 1 Protest to “CLOSE DOWN” American Cities - Redux

Illegal Immigration Watch: California State Senate Supports Mexican “NOTHING GRINGO” DAY

Illegal Immigration Watch: May 1 Protest to “CLOSE DOWN” American Cities

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks at the Latino Coalition 2007 Small Business Economic Summit, Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Washington.

Giuliani assails Venezuela’s Chavez

Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that the socialist Venezuelan president is dangerous to U.S. interests.

In a speech to Hispanic small business leaders, the Republican brought up Chavez while discussing ways the United States could become free from its reliance on foreign oil.

The Quotes:

“Isn’t it annoying, upsetting and even in some cases a matter of national security that we have to send money to our enemies?” Giuliani asked. “We need a president who knows how to get things done so we don’t have to be sending money to Chavez.

“Who would listen to Chavez if he didn’t have all this oil money? Nobody would listen to him,” Giuliani said.

“I feel perfect freedom to point out that Hugo Chavez is a person who’s acting against the interests of the United States. He’s someone where we’d be in a much better position if we could cut him off. If we could say we don’t want or need Venezuelan oil,” Giuliani told reporters after the speech. “I don’t think there’s anyone that’s more outspoken about how dangerous I think he is.

Well said by the Mayor. But, now America and the American people need to get serious about oil conservation, more oil exploration and alternative fuels and technologies.

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The Rudy Giuliani Files

Biden on Iraq bill: “We’re going to shove it down his throat.”

Blunt talk from Joe Biden, picked up by C-Span answering a man’s question at Jim Clyburn’s fish fry April 27 in Columbia, S.C.

Biden is asked what he’ll do when Bush, as is expected, vetoes the Iraq funding bill.

First, he talks about his son, and the equipment soldiers need — “The idea that we’re not building new Humvees with the V-shaped things is just crap. Kids are dying that don’t have to die.”

And: “Second thing is, we’re going to shove it down his throat.”

Slow Joe Biden placing the foot in his mouth again.

Hey Joe, if you know that military equipment is inferior how about legislating a change and voting for increased funding?

Oh yeah - you want to squeeze the President for partisan political gain.

Thanks for being so DISINGENUOUS.

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Michael Ramirez on Slow Joe Biden

Joe Biden Watch: Biden UNBRIDLED

Senator Joe Biden Watch: Biden Wows the GOP in South Carolina

Senator Joe Biden Watch: Biden Defends Remarks

Joe Biden Watch: Indian-American Slur Sinks Slow Joe

President 2008 Watch: Senator Joe Biden - “I’m IN”

President 2008 Watch: Senator Joe Biden - “I’d Rather be at Home Making Love To My Wife While My Children Are Asleep”

Bush Ready to Veto Democrat Iraq Bill

For President Bush, it’s not a question of whether he will veto a congressional measure calling for withdrawing troops from Iraq, but rather when he will do it. Democratic congressional aides said they anticipate that Bush will reject the Iraq funding bill Wednesday after receiving it from Capitol Hill on Tuesday. That would force the democratically controlled Congress to revisit the dilemma of how to give troops in the field the money they need while satisfying opponents of the war who want U.S. involvement ended.

The “SURRENDER MONKEY” Democrats could care less about Iraq’s progress towards democracy and a free society.

Political advantage is all they desire - and the White House in 2008.

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The Michael Ramirez Files

Rasmussen Reports: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

Giuliani 30% McCain 14% Thompson 14%

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani remains on top in the race for the GOP nomination and now enjoys support from 30% of Likely Voters. That’s more than twice the total of any other candidate. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and Arizona Senator John McCain are tied for second at 14%.

Thompson has been in the 12% to 14% range for each of the five surveys since his name was floated as a possible candidate.

McCain, once considered the dominant frontrunner, has struggled in recent months. His support among Likely GOP Primary voters has fallen eight percentage points since January. His numbers now are strongest among independents likely to vote in a Republican Primary. In Election 2000, McCain did best in open primaries that allowed independents to vote. Then Governor Bush did best in Primary states where only Republicans could vote.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remains the only other candidate in double digits. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich remains in fifth place with 8% support.

The GOP NUTS:

Rudy - 30%

Thompson - 14%

McCain - 14%

Romney - 11%

Gingrich - 8%

Analysis:

Rudy has consolidated and maintained his lead while his main competitor, John McCain has collapsed in the polls. His other competitor, Mitt Romney has languished around 10 per cent.

So, what does this mean?

Rudy’s fundraising should be enhanced with McCain’s collapse as he looks like an inevitable GOP winner. Fred Thompson’s candidacy is a wild card but it is very late in the game, particularly for organization and fundraising.

Mitt Romney will stay in the race and hold Thompson back as the only candidate that can beat Giuliani and will divide conservative votes and campaign dollars. Will Romney withdraw?

Doubtful - although Flap will be surprised if he will ever receive more than 15% of the vote.  He can always pray for a Rudy Gaffe or collapse.
With this poll, it appears that Thompson will get into the game - and why not?

Will McCain withdraw? and support Thompson?

Possible - especially if McCain’s fuindraising collapses.

But, for Thompson he will have to make up almost $40 million in fundraising that Rudy has in the bank.

The GOP debate in California should be a non-starter on Thursday with the second place candidate in the polls not having announced his candidacy.

Strange indeed……..

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The Rudy Giuliani Files

Day by Day by Chris Muir

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