64 Responses to:
KUHL IS WRONG ON ILLEGALS

# 1. 1/29/07 12:15 AM by Stinky, Stupid, but Honest
You wanted him. And there it is. Another politician's betrayal of his constituents in order to foster a hidden agenda. Another political Judas. Problem is, you and I don't have a lobbyist. But those who support the "agenda" do. It's no different than the big oil lobby. And the Halliburton lobby. The politicians are all laughing at us. dummies who elected them. After all, what's another pissant promise broken? Now we gotta wait years to get rid of the bums. By then we will both be old men. I think you are right about the guns. Maybe we do need bullets instead of ballots. Time is running out. We both believe that we need to carry guns. We just disagree on whom to use them on.

# 2. 1/29/07 12:19 AM by Che
Hey Gringo. Time for a Revolution, eh? Time to set the politicians on something rigid and spin them mercilessly!

# 3. 1/29/07 3:41 AM by Paul - Rochester, NY
Keep dreaming, Bob. Randy Kuhl is just another in a long line of political hacks, in lock step with the President regardless of how clearly wrong he is on this issue. Partisan politics at it's best, and the taxpayers/voters be damned. We should have thrown him out with the rest. Maybe next time.

# 4. 1/29/07 4:34 AM by Dave - Scottsville, NY
you have it right Bob

# 5. 1/29/07 5:56 AM by John - Roch[the war zone] ny
Why wont the politicians do what the majority wants? How I long to live in a Democracy

# 6. 1/29/07 6:53 AM by Susan - Rochester
Bob is right on target with the duffy mayor. He wants to revitalize high falls in spite of repeated failures and wants to bring back the downtown of his youth. Yeah I loved going downtown to the big city when I was a girl but that was decades ago. First of all there are NO JOBS to support apartments or people living in the city. Look at Ithica, it tried to revitalize down town with apartments and no one was renting so now you can't give the apartment rentals away. But who knows maybe we can subsidize the apartments for illegal aliens. Duffy is everywhere. I am so glad Spitzer is putting an end to this politician (duffy) not using public service announcements to advertise his alleged greatness. I could not even go to the art gallery and see my favorite American painter, Georgia O'Keefe without first having to hear about how Duffy single handedly brought this exhibition to Rochester. Duffy has illusions of grandeur of the most dangerous kind.

Editor's Note: it's "delusions" of grandeur and didn't georgia o'keefe paint a lot of pictures of, uh, lady's private parts? a lot of those rosebuds look like, uh, rosebuds.

# 7. 1/29/07 7:02 AM by Dave H - Rochester, NY
Bob: Searching for employment late this summer, I noticed only one ad posted by a farmer-an apple grower in Orleans County. All other ads were for other employment in other fields, so to speak.Farmers are actually no different from any other employer-if you believe what they say. And they say it is difficult to find workers.Ag. skills amongst our fellow citizens are as rare now as hens teeth, and most people in the greater Rochester area, especially young people,are as ignorant of agriculture as they are the space program. The Mexicans, many of whom come from ag. and rural areas, are avid gardeners, and ag. workers, out of necessity.That is why they have these skills.Farmers employ them because they are eager to work, and available.Our educational system and popular culture demean honest work in the field, and government interference makes it practically undesirable for most Americans of any racial or economic background "to do the jobs that most Americans wont do". Makes me wonder if the Amish and Mennonites hav'nt had it right all along.As regards Randy Kuhl-his campaign ads were blatantly oriented towards the procurement of pork-"and theres more where that came from"-so what did we expect? We get the government we deserve, and the society that we desire.Dave

# 8. 1/29/07 7:05 AM
Too bad we didn't flush him away with the rest of the so-called Republicans. Next time he's gone.

# 9. 1/29/07 7:10 AM by Paul Martin - Rochester, New York
Illegals are illegals! If a person breaks the law they should go to jail. If a person enters our country illegally, they should be arrested and departed. They have no rights, they should not be "hugged" and greeted with open arms. They should be removed from the country. If they enter legally, welcome with open arms. If any politicians speaks otherwise, they should be removed from office by the voters and if they are seeking office, they again should not be placed in office by the voters.

# 10. 1/29/07 7:21 AM
In this morning's paper is an article about a bunch of pastors calling for an end to poverty. On 20/20 last Friday, Diane Sawyer did an hour-long piece on poor children in Camden, New Jersey. I guess I just don't understand the American economy. People are poor and children are hungry in this nation -- and yet we need to legalize illegal workers so we have someone to work at the jobs that are available?

Does this make any sense?

# 11. 1/29/07 7:25 AM by Chuck - Penfield
Bob,

So many good points. I agree that using illegals for farm labor is equivalent to moving a plant south of the border (or India or China). The problem is the average American doesn't care. I used to believe they didn't know, but know I realize they just don't care.

I used to think that maybe people don't look for the "made in America" tag like I do. But know when I drive to and from work and see fifty percent of the vehicles are made by foreign owned companies I realize they just don't care. Those that do care probably don't realize The rest of the vehicles are made by American companies with manufacturing in Mexico.

This all makes me think back to my history classes. What we need is a revolution...run by a visionary. M. Gandhi saw these same problems in India many years ago under the thumb of the English. He realized that India was a country that at one time was self sufficient and that they had reached a point where Indians couldn't make their own clothes. We are the same way. We can't make are own clothes, electronics, automobiles and yes harvest our own crops.

We need change! We need to turn the ship around before we run aground. I can't put my faith in politicians, they ALWAYS fail us. Randy will be here today and gone tomorrow and the next leech we put into office will be the same way. politicians are the same as people on welfare. They do very little good if any and they do it on my dime.

The problems are easy to see...the solutions are far more difficult to find.

# 12. 1/29/07 7:28 AM by Donald - Gates NY
Unlike Bob, I live and vote in his district. Voted for him first time; held my nose and voted for the Democrat second term. Most puzzling is the fact that most harvesting is done by machine,the illegals are employed in the processing plants. Actually they are not illegal, most of them from Puerto Rico, a possession of the United States. Kuhl is not favoring "foreigners" in this instance. However he is bought and paid for by the farm lobby which speks mor loudly than our puny vote. I blame the gerrymandering of the district to get Mrs. Slaughter in again. Kuhl does not speak for the west surburban Rochester residents of his district.

Editor's Note: you don't know politics or farming. no illegals are employed by processing plants in our region, but most of our cows are milked by them, virtually all our grapes are pruned by them, and most of our apples are picked by them. put another way, you're an idiot.

# 13. 1/29/07 7:35 AM by Brian
Evidently, Randy thinks he owes his ascension to office more to farmers and other employers of illegals than he does to us.

That leaves us screwed.

When each party puts up candidates who refuse to do what the people want, you have to take a good look at those running the show down at party headquarters. These "kingmakers" are really ticking me off.

# 14. 1/29/07 7:35 AM by Lorette
Once again, I'm with you on this one, Bob. Since when to we, as a country and through policy, award criminals? The key work is "illegal". That means a crime has been committed, folks! The argument has been made that there are anywhere from 8 to 11 million illegals in this country and deporting them would take too much administrative paperwork blah, blah, blah. How much or our tax money will be used to initiate an amnesty program? I would think that would be fairly labor intensive too. It's all a bunch of crap. I picked strawberries as a teenager whenever I wanted something that wasn't a necessity. My parents and I along with a couple cousins or Aunts would go out to Sodus and surrounding area and pick fruit all day. It taught me a lot. My parents never made me feel that I was doing anything "below" me. This is one more instance of our "representative" and I use the term loosely, failing those who pay their salary. They only represent themselves and the Bush agenda, in this case. Makes me sick.

# 15. 1/29/07 7:54 AM by Dominic - Spencerport, NY
Agree on your comments.

What I don't know is whether or not Kuhl had this position before the election. If he switched policy, he needs to answer why. If his constituents and the media failed get this information, shame on them.

I don't believe a public official is supposed to be a mirror of public opinion. I don't believe the President should manage by the latest USA Today poll but follow the direction of his moral & political compass.

# 16. 1/29/07 8:01 AM
I don't know why we don't just make welfare recipients who are able-bodied work on the farms to earn their keep. We have a whole slew of potential employees right there. We do not need illegal immigrants to do the job of harvesting crops. That's baloney.

The whole welfare program needs serious revamping. For too long it has been a hand-OUT, not a hand UP as it was originally intended to be. Put them to work, and we solve the problem of finding workers for jobs "Americans won't do".

Illegal immigrants need to be shipped right back to where they came from.

# 17. 1/29/07 8:03 AM by Doug
You are 100% correct. We had two local farmers come speak to your group and tell us that they knew the people they had were illegal and they didn't care one bit. They said they were covered because they got the right paperwork filled out even though they knew it was false. When we told them that was wrong they seemed surprised we would think that. I guess they have been dishonest with themselves and the laws of their country so long they thought every one was that way.

# 18. 1/29/07 8:08 AM by Mario - Brockport
We need Conservative alternatives. I am tired of voting for Republicans who act like Democrats.

Editor's Note: real republicans running for congress. google them and visit their sites: duncan hunter, sam brownback, mike huckabee.

# 19. 1/29/07 8:09 AM by Dan - Gates
Now lets see who endorsed Randy Kuhl over Mark Assini ... hmmmmm

Editor's Note: guilty as charged. it was a gamble that has since proven to be wrong. i liked mark's conservativism -- it is real -- but i was nervous of his ambition. i thought him too young to give a job he'd probably keep for life. i liked the fact kuhl was from the southern tier -- we steuben county boys stick together. i also liked the fact that he is older, and time-limited by mother nature. assini would be a great congressman, and i call him this region's congressman-in-waiting. if the decision were before us today -- and a primary could put it there -- i would pick assini. my thinking now is that the most important thing is what you believe and what you'll stand up for. i have complete confidence in the fact mark assini really believes in conservative issues and will stand up for them. and i think his rough treatment by the republican party will break him of the old habit he had of sometimes being too quick to follow the lead of headquarters.

# 20. 1/29/07 8:18 AM
What is wrong with our politicians? Who or what is buying them? Why aren't they doing what we want? I don't understand. The clear majority want this situation controlled and they want illegals sent away. They can come back legally, if they chose, but they must GO now. Is there ANY politician that is saying this right? I don't understand!

# 21. 1/29/07 8:19 AM by GO
I am pretty sure it is anemia, and you pushed hard for him to be reelected...Maybe Massa would have been a better choice.

Editor's Note: no. massa would have been a disaster. kuhl, no matter what, is better than massa or any other pelosi democrat. the question might be, though, can we find a better republican than kuhl.

# 22. 1/29/07 8:22 AM by Liberty Tom - Rochester, NY
Right on Bob - I held my nose and voted for Reynolds. I know this isn't the topic of your column, but......when are Kuhl and Reynolds going to get on board with Congressional immunity to the two border agents now in prison? All the benefits of society seem to be going to the illegals amoung us while two guys who tried to do a job now sit in prison. And guys like Kuhl and Reynolds do nothing since there's no money in it for them.

# 23. 1/29/07 8:29 AM by John[I want to hear more ads] - Roch NY
By the way what ever happened to welfare reform? The contract with America? Politicians with backbone?

# 24. 1/29/07 8:31 AM by Pete
Bob,

What is so difficult and why is it so hard to understand?

If we had 11 million migrants from Mexico and they came here legally, then that is fine. If they did not come here legally then ship them back and make them do it the right way..!!!!

But, we all know, it is not the illegals. It is the corrupt Mexican Government, the liberals and the turn coat conservatives that are at fault. This should have been stopped a long time ago but the more the Liberals gain power the worse the situation is going to get. How much more can America absorb before it explodes?

Legal and illegal immigrants pose a two fold problem, not only do they absorb our resources they also want to change this country into their own.

This is the most sinister problem in my opinion. You want to live in America then become a true American and leave your crappy religions and traditions in the country you came from!

# 25. 1/29/07 8:36 AM by Boomer - Scottsville nr
#1 has it right first its your pal (Duffy) betraying you and now Kuhl , hang on to your guns no more is it you might need them its we will need them. Keep supporting these idiots and your creditability will be gone.

# 26. 1/29/07 8:40 AM by A Patriot - Lockport, NY
Bob, we need more articles like this closer to election day.

# 27. 1/29/07 8:41 AM
Bob - do you mean to say that "Citizen Kane" was really a porno movie? Did Orson put one over on us? Rosebud...rosebud...rosebud...

Editor's Note: exactly

# 28. 1/29/07 8:43 AM
Here's what we all knew before the election:

1. Bush's views on illegal immigration are out of step with Conservative ideology (though less so with big-business Republicans, who crave cheap labor). 2. Randy Kuhl, always a questionable choice for federal office, defined his first term by blindly following everything Bush said or did.

And yet he was re-elected by people like you, Bob, who now complain about his positions that anyone with a brain saw coming a mile away.

One definition of insanity is repeating the same actions while expecting a different result. Anyone who voted for Kuhl three months ago must have been nuts.

Editor's Note: no. kuhl was the choice versus massa. the quest was to preserve the majority and keep from empowering massa, who was a nut.

# 29. 1/29/07 8:47 AM by steve
"Randy Kuhl says the economy of rural upstate New York needs these workers or it will collapse"

Collapse, hasn't it already?

My brother has written to this loser in the past, don't worry if you write to him on this issue he wont write back.

Why doesn't anyone care about America anymore? Are all politicians that greedy? Huh Randy? When the demographic changes who's going to vote for you sell out politicians?

# 30. 1/29/07 8:47 AM by h - brockport
No brainer- people who are pro-illegal immigration for WHATEVER REASON are either evil, or really, really stupid.

What was it about 9/11 did they not understand?

Now, now quit picking on Georgia O'Keefe! Sometines a rosebud IS just a rosebud.

Or a sled.

# 31. 1/29/07 8:56 AM
There are three main reasons why I don't go around doing illegal things. One, most things illegal are also morally wrong. Two, it is not legal to do them, and I respect the law. Three, I am in fear of being caught and being punished. What part of this equation do farmers and other people who hire illegal aliens not understand? Why are these so-called "leaders" of the business and agricultural community so cynical?

# 32. 1/29/07 8:57 AM
(Sorry Bob, couldn't resist making the additional Dreamgirl comment....H)

# 33. 1/29/07 9:12 AM by Steven Anderson - The Place, Utah
This may be easy for me to say over here in:

"Who care's what's going on waaaay over there in Utah" but...

You all should have kept the water & thrown out the Baby!

# 34. 1/29/07 9:18 AM
Okay, if the illegals must go then sending jobs overseas must be reversed. It must be made just as criminal as illegals coming into America.

It'll never happen, anymore than the illegals will be deported. Business runs America now, not the voters. Business makes huge profit off cheap labor. That is why unions were created. But you hated unions because it was so unfair to employers and it ran prices of products up. Funny how you have changed your tune about prices being run up by making farmers pay a decent wage and dumping illegals.

You helped take away collective bargaining for American workers and look what you got for it.

# 35. 1/29/07 9:26 AM
Hey Bob, you owe Georgia O'Keefe an apology. She has said for years that her paintings were never painted to represent female genitalia. That impression of her work came from others assuming that is what she was painting. She swears she never intended for any of her work to be suggestive of female gentalia. She takes it as an insult.

Editor's Note: i'm not buying it. it's too much of an over and over and over coincidence.

# 36. 1/29/07 9:30 AM by Local Take - Canandaigua,NY
I'm a life-long Republican but in this last election I voted for more Dems than Repubs for the first time in my life (I DID vote against our incumbent US Senator--character counts!).

Build the fence, secure the borders, language and culture, then talk to us about guest workers.

One nearby dairy farmer pays his employees $40,000 a year! He hires Mexicans because our American kids won't do that work. Mexicans are here, they contribute and we should move it above board to get this money into Social Security. Give them a limited SS benefit and this will prevent Hugo Chavez from spreading Communism northward.

We already have 10% of all Mexicans working here. Mexico may soon have 10% of Americans retiring there. I'm not sure who gets the better part of that deal.

# 37. 1/29/07 9:41 AM by Tom Hughes - Williamson,NY
I agree with your comments Bob. Kuhl is just one of many that seem to overlook what the people want. More and more the areas of Wayne county are catering to the immigrants. illegal or not. During the harvest season I observe pregnant women visit a local med center specifically designated to assist immigrants. I believe most of them are in their final term. I observe many immigrants sending a large portion of their paychecks out of this country. I observe the local grocers being overwhelmed by immigrants on payday, cashing their checks to send home. Most of the local citizens have chosen to travel out of town instead of supporting their local grocer. They find it easier than waiting in line for someone to translate or ask for proper ID for check cashing. A few years ago I observed a U.S. Border Patrol Agent checking ID at a local grocer. He did this every Sunday. I shook his hand. He disappeared after about a month, Someone complained. Most of the fruit farmers now go through a labor hall to get the immigrants they need to work. This is operated by a local farmer. I observe people adapting not enforcing. I like many vent my frustration over illegals with a group of friends or by writing a comment to Lonsberry. I feel that laws need to be established to enable the American citizen to vote a person out as simple as they were voted in. The question is,who do we turn to? My thoughts are this, God is welcomed and Jesus better be here legally.

# 38. 1/29/07 9:49 AM by AC
Politics aside I just can't understand how we have such a large supply of able bodied folks with no job and a dependence on social programs and at the same time have such a need for labor in agriculture. Instead of somehow trying to marry the two we look the other way as illegals sneak in and gladly take these positions while allowing those on welfare to continue collecting.

# 39. 1/29/07 9:49 AM by Mark - Rochester
What is wrong with our politicians that they just don't get it??

Reagan's amnesty plan backfired and so will this one.

Illegal activity should not be rewarded. Ship them home at their expense!

Guess we will have to vote out the current bunch of thick heads next election.

# 40. 1/29/07 10:10 AM by Biermeister
I always thought O'Keefe was a beer or an ale. Maybe they were hops buds that she painted. THEY definitely look like genitalia.

# 41. 1/29/07 10:16 AM by Bill - SLC UT
Your column is well said. I admire you for trying to get something done. I think our political situation is so far gone that it is not remediable. I know this is sad. I gave up on writing Hatch and Bennett. All I ever got back from them were platitudes and evasive verbage. (jibrish in other words) America is aflicted with the disease of professional politicians. I don't see any way out for us. I predict that things will gradually worsen for our country. Iraq has now taken on the profile of Vietnam.

# 42. 1/29/07 10:31 AM by George - Provo, Ut.
People use the @#* &^%$ spell check!!!!!

# 43. 1/29/07 10:42 AM
Looks like O'Keefe painted with a broad brush. Do us all a favor and don't let Lorette know. We will never hear the end of it! She is right, though. There is dignity in all honest work. It is hard to believe that high school age kids would not want to work in the fields in the summer, and that someone who is currently unemployed would be fussy about what they did when their benefits run out. We need workfare not welfare. It's the politicians again who are screwing things up.

# 44. 1/29/07 10:51 AM
To #42 Jorge: We don't need no stinkin' spell check. We get all our checks from social services. Money for nothin' and our MTV!

# 45. 1/29/07 10:58 AM by PATSY - Perinton
I was one of those voters in Slaughter's district. Then came redistricting or creating whatever the 29th district --not my choice. I must say Randy did help a friend of mine who had problems getting answers to a medical compensation dispute. Something that his predecessor Amo completely ignored. But in the case of these illegals he has kind of erased any positive feelings I had for him. I am the offspring of European immigrants who came here in early 1900's and couldn't wait to become U.S. citizens, volunteered for military service when the U.S. became involved, never missed a chance to vote in local and national elections, etc., so I don't have too much sympathy for the present day illegals, nor the elected politicians who don't seem to care about the legality or illegality of hiring these people to do work for a pittance as farm laborers.

# 46. 1/29/07 11:25 AM by BOB NEALE - SALT LAKE CITY UTAH
When will you learn that Republican politicians do not represent working people?

Editor's Note: no one represents working people. democrats represent people who leech of working people.

# 47. 1/29/07 11:32 AM by Wade - Sandy, UT
I'm really sick of farmers. What with farm subsidies and the "need" for illegal labor, farmers consistently put themselves before the country and think they're above the law because "the family farm is such an important American institution." If a farm can't make money without subsidies and without breaking the law, then it should go out of business.

I don't think it's practical to deport 12 million people, most of whom we can't even identify. The first thing we should do is secure the border and stop the flow of new illegals (and the back-and-forth traffic as well), so that the number stops growing. Then, deporting or legalizing the ones already here is going to have to be a looong process. We should definitely deport all those with felony convictions and any illegals who are on any kind of public assistance. The problem is going to be how to find them. The government doesn't have any record of who, where or even how many illegals there are. One possible way of finding illegals is to put the burden on businesses of proving that their employees have legal authorization to work. If we can just make it real hard for illegals to find jobs, and prevent them from receiving welfare, then hopefully a lot of them will leave on their own.

The US should make legal immigration attractive, but illegal immigration should be a miserable option. Currently, quite the opposite is true. Right now, illegal immigrants live and work as freely as US citizens, while legal immigrants constantly have to jump hoops of paperwork, fees, and long waits while BCIS processes requests...

When my wife got her green card, the letter said that she had to carry it on her person at all times; failure to do so could result in the revocation of her residency and deportation. But an illegal alien needs no ID, and law enforcement in most of the country is expressly prohibited from inquiring about immigration status. The laws seem tailor made to encourage illegal immigration and discourage legal immigration.

On this morning's subject of birth control, while I was on my mission to Brazil in the late 90s, the Church published new leadership manuals to replace those that had been in use for over a decade. I was able to see both the old and new manuals, and they both said the same thing regarding birth control: the Church has no policy regarding the use of birth control; the decisions regarding how many children to have when to have them is totally between the married couple and the Lord. The old manuals had been in use for quite a long time, so this has been the Church's policy (or lack thereof) at least since the mid-80s or so.

# 48. 1/29/07 11:48 AM by Tim - Rochester, NY
"It's called Medicaid, or just go to the emergency room and get what you need and walk out leaving it for others to pay."

Q: What's the difference between health care given to a Mexican and health care given to an American at any U.S. Hospital?

A: The bill collector will go after the American and completely ignore the Mexican.

# 49. 1/29/07 11:50 AM by Cyndy - Rochester, NY
Thanks Bob for the reality. I just learned my Health insurance has been cut again. The prescription drug part is gone and my deductible is now $1275.00 a year. Illegals get care for free. I will need a Passport to possibly buy my needs in Canada. Oh, and I still pay $100 a month for this "great" plan!!!

# 50. 1/29/07 12:51 PM by Wayne - Plattsburgh
Everyone has their hand out for a piece of the pie. Yesterday's D&C carried a picture of Bono going before Congress to try to wheedle an extra one billion dollars of aid to Africa. A) Doesn't this country need a billion dollars for its own citizens? and B) Who the hell is Bono (a foreigner) to have the cojones to ask the money?

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