An Immigration Bill fails again!

It seems that Bush will not have a legacy on immigration at all. Today, the Senate rejected the Comprehensive immigration bill or the so-called “Grand Compromise” after it failed to adjourn the debate.

I’m glad that this occurred.  Clearly, the Senate, especially those who voted against it know that this bill is impossible to make it happened. The bill has too many loopholes. There’s no way for the Senate to bring it up again for a long time.

Filed under: American Politics, Blogging, Immigration

History of Illegal Immigration by Glenn Beck

Check this out video by Gleen Beck. I find it interesting.

Let me know what you think

This proves the country has been struggling to deal with illegal immigration for a long time. I agree with other bloggers that it is time to deal with this issue. However, it doesn’t take one week to solve. Congress should have more time to look over this topic seriously. The Grand Compromise bill that it is now in discussion doesn’t solve the problem, period. It has too many loopholes and has left many unanswered questions (click here to find out why).

It is time for the Congress to do something about it.

Filed under: American Politics, Blogging, Immigration, Politics

Chris Benoit Died

One of my favorite wrestlers has passed away. Chris Benoit was found dead at his Georgia, USA home along side with his wife and his son. The authorities are still investigating the cause of their deaths.

Since 5 years old, I followed Benoit from his early wrestling career, WCW (World Championship Wrestling) to WWE. I have to say that he is one of the greatest wrestlers I have ever seen. Benoit was never afraid to show his passion for wrestling when he performed. I am going to miss him, for sure.

The WWE has cancelled its WWE Raw live event due to the tradegy of Benoit family.

*Update* According to the Seattlepi. com, Police believe the death of the Benoit family could be a double murder suicide, however, this theory couldn’t be confirm until the result was examine. Investigators think that Benoit killed his son and his wife first then himself.

Filed under: Blogging, Entertainment, News

Senate, Please don’t pass the immigration bill…not just yet

As early as tomorrow, the Senate will be discussing the immigration bill or the “Grand Compromise” that was turned down few weeks ago. For those who just started to follow this news, I would like to explain reasons why you don’t want this bill to go through.

Before I get into the details, I want you to know that as an immigrant myself, I do support immigrant rights. I believe that everyone including legal (including the dependents who are the spouse or children of a visa holder) and illegal immigrants should be able to work in the United States. However, this so-called “Grand Compromise” Bill gives false hope to everyone including immigrants and the United States citizens. Therefore, I don’t support the bill.

Why should you not support the bill?

First, the bill is more than 300 pages long. According to the White House, no other provisions in the bill will be implemented unless the border is secure.

Under The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill, Temporary Worker And Z Visas Will Not Be Issued Until Border Security Benchmarks Are Met.  These triggers include:

• Increasing border fencing.
• Increasing vehicle barriers at the Southern border.
• Increasing the size of the Border Patrol.
• Installing ground-based radar and camera towers along the Southern border.
• Ensuring resources are available to maintain the effective end of “Catch and Release” for every non-Mexican apprehended at the borders.

Source: Whitehouse.gov

This provision of the bill alone has made me go crazy. If the Congress is going to legalize illegal immigrants, then it has to be in a separate bill, not including border security. If the Congress is going to pass a bill that would beef up the border security, then it should not mention legalization of illegal immigration at all. Also, how would you, as in those who support this bill and the Congress define secured-border? When is the border going to be secure? How is it going to take?

Clearly, this bill gives false hopes to illegal immigrants. They’re not going to get legal status because no one knows when the border is going to be “secured” and ‘illegal immigrant” free.

Secondly, what about those legal immigrants who are in the U.S legally? Some legal immigrants are the follower of their spouse or parents can not obtain work because their visa doesn’t allow them to work. How about those people? If the Congress is going to allow illegal immigrants to work, it must allow dependent immigrants to work as well.

Thirdly, the USCIS is not ready to deal with 12 million or so petitions for Z visa, period. If it can’t issue U.S citizens passport on time, then what make you think it’s going to be able to handle the Z visa petitions?

Lastly, the Congress needs more time to discuss this issue. The reason that Bush wants this pass is because he wants to save his butt from “The U.S President Hall of Shame.” If the Congress truely cares about the immigration issue, it neeeds more time to talk about it, period.

Filed under: American Politics, Blogging, Immigration, Politics, Thoughts

Dear Man City Fans, Don’t Listen to Thaksin…that much

Ousted Prime Minister and the owner of Manchester City Thaksin Shinawatra assured the fans of Man City about the money that he used to purchase the team. According to the Nation’s report (read the story click here), Shinawatra said that he took the money out of Thailand long time ago, long before the coup and with the permission. Shinawatra who has asked Man City fans to called him “Mr.Sinatra” insisted his innocence on the corruption charges.

Thaksin said:

Please tell the fans that the events in Thailand are not happening in a democratic way. I was a democratically elected leader ousted by a military dictator. Now everything in Thailand is under a military dictatorship. It will be back to normal when democracy returns to Thailand in December. I hope that justice will prevail after that, but everything they do is politically motivated.

I don’t know why Shinawatra or Mr.Sinatra kept insisting that he was elected through a process of democracy when he paid people to vote for him. It seems to me that Man City’s Mr. Sinatra knows what he is doing. He is making himself look more like a victim when he is the one taking away Thai’s money. Long before the coup occurred, Shinawatra was accused on corruption. I watched one of his speeches he made in 2005 on ASTV, Thai news channel.  He said to the people of Thailand that he would never leave the country no matter what happen because “I didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no point of running away when I didn’t do anything wrong.” 

Well, look at Thaksin now, he is running away, living in England. Mr.Sinatra should go back to Thailand, face the charges and stop telling the British that he is innocent. Also, one last thing I’d like to point out, Thailand does not run by military dictatorship. It runs by an intrim government. So guys, don’t listen to Thaksin…that much.

Filed under: Blogging, Politics, Thailand, Thoughts

Talbot & Potts: Life after Britain’s Got Talent

It’s good to be Paul Potts and Connie Talbot.

36 year-old cell phone salesman, Potts is now famous after his victory on the first season of Britain’s Got Talent. Many people did not think he was going to win because a stunning performance of 6 year-old Talbot that made one of the judges and a whole bunch of Youtube viewers cried. Now, Potts is in studio, recording his first album. According to various news sources, his album may come out as early as the end of this year. Potts is also planning to spend the money he won from the show on dental care. During his child years, he was teased by his peers because of his teeth. Aside from spending the money and recording his first album, Potts has already landed his first post Britain’s Got Talent with Welsh diva Katherine Jenkins, Herald Sun reports. Wow huh?

What else is go great about Potts? He is planning to work as a cell phone salesman again when the “fun” time is over, what a humble guy.

What about Connie?

After the show, Talbot has become the star of her school. All her friends are asking for her signature. Birmingham Mail reports that the 6 year-old has landed on a million pounds record deal. However, Simon Cowell and the Talbot family have not yet confirmed the report. Many news critics are expressing concerns that Talbot may be the next Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. She’s too young to be the star and her parents may exploit her for money. If you get a chance to read Talbots family story (click here,) her mother is sort of motivating Connie to be a star. After Connie’s grandmother’s death, Mrs. Talbot, her mom became depressed and had nothing to live for until she discovered Connie’s talent. Since then, she has been, pretty much, pushed her daughter to her fullest potential.

There is also a rumor that Connie may have her first album or single release by either this July or December. Again, this report has not been confirmed.

My hopes for Connie are that she doesn’t become one of those stars I mentioned above including Drew Barrymore. Hopefully her parents, especially her mom does not push Connie too far. She is only six years old. Let her grow. If Simon were to sign Connie, he must be very carefully and have a serious talk with the six-year old.

Filed under: Blogging, Entertainment, Thoughts

Hillary & Soprano: Hillary Knows how to have fun

What a great move by Hillary Clinton!

This politician knows how to have fun with her campaign. First, she announced on Youtube, asking Youtubers to help find her a campaign theme song. People find it stupid while I think it’s funny. It’s rare for politicians to do something that engage voters and supporters to do something fun besides talking about serious issues.

 Many politicians want to look serious and passionate in what they do. Oh please, what about those earmarks, huh?  Anyway, Clinton and her campaign strategists know that the Presidential Election is a more than a year away. Why not “pimp” it up a little bit? It is boring and tiresome for all Presidential candidates to look serious all the time from now until 2008, don’t you think?

Clinton knows how to have fun.

The way Clinton announced the winning theme song was incredible and hilarious.

Take a look:

 

I know it’s not original. She copied it from the Soprano. Still, Clinton shows that she is just like every ordinary citizen. She shows her serious side and her soft side. Overall, the search for campaign song and the Hillary Soprano scene are terrific. Great campaigning strategy!!

I wonder if Obama, McCain can do that!!

Filed under: American Politics, Blogging, Election, Politics, Thoughts

Bloomberg is now an Independent!

A lot of people scratched their heads when billionaire Mike Bloomberg, a Democrat registered as a Republican when he ran for the New York City Mayor 5 years ago. Today, his mind has changed. He has switched his party affiliation from Republican to unaffiliated. Many news networks believe his stunning move will add to a speculation that he may run for President in 2008. However, his plan for the future, which is to finish his term as the NYC mayor, still hasn’t changed.  

As a New York City resident, I don’t think Bloomberg is a Republican. From the beginning, he doesn’t really fit in with the party.  He is not Conservative enough. He supports Gay marriage, cleaner environment, anti-gun movement, etc. Bloomberg is not a big fan of the Republican President Bush and the party platform. I’m a glad that he quits GOP and becomes an independent.

Bloomberg has always been a Democratic Party suppoter and often times identified himself more like a Democrat than a Republican. Therefore, I don’t think he will run for President because, like other Democrat supporters, he is satisfied with the Democratic Presidential candidates. Plus, if he ran for President, he would be the next Ralph Nader who stole votes from the Democrat in 2000.

Filed under: American Politics, Blogging, News, Politics, Thoughts

Paul Potts Won Britain’s Got Talent

It was a heartbreaking moment for all Connie Talbot fans, including me when the host announced Paul Potts as the winner to this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. In my last blog, I predicted that either Talbot or Potts was going to win. Potts deserved to win because of his talent and incredible final performance. As much as I would want and love to see Talbot won because she had no singing experience prior to the show, however, I am happy to see Potts won also. This guy went through so many obstacles in his life from a victim of bullying (according to the show, people were making fun of his teeth and his appearance) to now a Britain’s Got Talent winner (click here to read his story). It is his time to shine and show the world that his true talent.

 I could only wish that Potts and Talbot can perform the Queen’s Royal Variety Show. 

Here is Paul Potts’ final performance

Here is Connie Talbot’s final performance

Filed under: Blogging, Entertainment, News

Britain’s Got Talent Tops America’s

If you have seen clips from the Britain’s Got Talent on Youtube, you can pretty much agree with me that this talent show is much better than America’s Got talent.

America’s Got Talent focused way too much on musical performances. Last year’s final, the majority of the acts is musical performance. I did not find them entertaining to watch and I will not watch it again this season. It was boring and had many similar performances. On the other hand, Britain’s Got Talent’s contestants have wowed me so many times. I wish I was in England so that I could watch the show. There are many interesting, entertaining variety performances such as Crew 82, Free Runner, Jake the 10 year old comedian, Connie Talbot, Paul Potts, Kombat Breakers and many more. I believe that all of the 26 semi-finals performances should be in the finals. However, only 6 can make it through.

So what’s my prediction for Britain’s Got Talent?

I think either Connie Talbot or Paul Potts will win the competition. I personally am cheering for Connie. When I first heard her sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” I was in tears. Well, I guess, I have to wait until Monday to find out who will be crowned as the Britain’s Got Talent winner or wait until someone post up clips from the show on Youtube.

Filed under: Blogging, Entertainment, News, Random, Thoughts