Comments for Oh!pinion

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by S.W. Anderson

S.W. Anderson — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:56:10 +0000

Jack and Snave, unfortunately this is going on now, long after Bush and his accomplices moved on. Apparently, the Obama administration is either OK with current practices or hasn't paid close enough attention to notice and deal with those that are abusive. Either way, this is a very troubling situation that needs to be corrected.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Snave

Snave — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:20:45 +0000

Jack, I think you’re right.. along with a couple of the guys he added to the Supreme Court, this mass national paranoia may be one of Dubya’s “greatest legacies”.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Jack Jodell

Jack Jodell — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:25:36 +0000

It is shameful to see how paranoid neocons like W, Cheney, and Rumsfeld have adversely affected this country and the world by trampling all over our basic human rights. I am thoroughly disgusted.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by S.W. Anderson

S.W. Anderson — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:36:48 +0000

Shaw, that’s amazing. It’s also very troubling. One thing that jumped out at me in Miller’s story is the need for a safe list, especially for people who travel back and forth regularly. Once on the safe list, people should no longer be subjected to handcuffs, extended detainment and questioning unless they say or do something to provoke that kind of treatment. What’s being done now to people like Miller’s example is abusive and a waste of time and effort.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Shaw Kenawe

Shaw Kenawe — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:21:55 +0000

A close friend’s son is routinely stopped and questioned whenever he travels by plane. He is half Irish, half Italian heritage, but favors his Italian side of his genes. He has black hair, is NOT fair skinned, and wears a beard. So the officials see him as an Arab. Happens to him all the time.

Just yesterday a male relative traveled to Canada. He’s 100% Italian heritage–dark complexion, black hair, ethnic features. I wonder what will happen to him when he re-enters the US.

This is nuts.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Dave Dubya

Dave Dubya — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:48:51 +0000

Molson Export can be confusing. They keep the best “Export” and send us the green bottles more prone to light and and other freshness spoilers. And I think theirs has a little higher alcohol content.

Can’t blame them for keeping the better stuff. Of course, thanks to the boom in microbrews we have much better beer over here now.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by S.W. Anderson

S.W. Anderson — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:26:37 +0000

Bill, I’m surprised that raising hell about them has much effect. When they go past reasonable measures people should raise hell. Still, I don’t want those guarding our borders to become so tame, or so alienated by criticism, that they don’t do an effective job. I think the case Miller detailed in his story is a perfect example of going too far and being unreasonable.

Dave, it’s sad 9-11 had to come along and change everything. But it did, showing us we had been courting disaster all along. Somewhere between the extremes of being loose and lackadaisical and behaving like some 1940′s middle European dictatorship, we’ve got to find a sensible balance.

Re: Canadian beer. I’m trying to process your thing about Molson Export being better if imported.

Tom, you raise a good question. Four seems skimpy, but 40 sounds a bit much. Probably great for stoking the black-helicopters paranoia of some of our less well-balanced citizens, though.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Tom Harper

Tom Harper — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:51:36 +0000

Over-the-top border security is a big issue here in Port Angeles. An actual terrorist, from Algeria, was captured here in 1999 before he could carry out his plans. At the time, Port Angeles had four Border Patrol agents stationed here. That number has been expanding exponentially since then, and we’ll soon have forty Border Patrol agents here, plus a smaller contingent of ICE agents.

Nobody seems to know or explain why we were able to thwart a terrorist bombing plot with four Border Patrol agents, but now we need ten times that many agents.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Dave Dubya

Dave Dubya — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:34:50 +0000

“Papers, please” America is here. It’s just now a matter of degree.

I’ve never had any issues at the border returning from Canada. Of course I would always have a case or two of some good Canadian beer with me. Usually the official would wave me through without a formal declaration.

But those were the old days.

Now I’n thirsty for some Brador, Carlsberg Gold, and Molson Export. Yes their Export is better if you import it.

Comment on Enhanced border security that crosses the line by Bill Cook

Bill Cook — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:09:24 +0000

They built a big new border patrol station here, we raise enough hell about them that they try to keep a low profile.