Tea at Trianon: Biden's Visit: Too Little, Too Late

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Biden's Visit: Too Little, Too Late

From MxM News:

President Joe Biden's planned visit to the border city of Brownsville, Texas, has sparked a wave of frustration among local residents, who believe his response comes too late. In a recent discussion, community members voiced their discontent, with one resident stating, "He should have been here last year, the same time you were here when there was a big surge and where we were having to makeshift these processing centers."

The contrast between the current situation and last year's challenges at the border is stark. Residents acknowledge that the situation has improved significantly, attributing much of the progress to the efforts of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his interventions. This acknowledgment highlights a sense of community resilience and the effectiveness of local governance in managing border issues.

Furthermore, locals perceive President Biden's visit as a strategic move influenced by the changing political landscape in Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley. With a noted shift towards conservative voting patterns in the region, residents speculate that Biden's visit is an attempt to address this political change. A community member pointedly remarked, "I think President Biden sees that there's a shift in Cameron County and the Valley when it comes to border issues and that the conservative vote is high. And so he knows he needs to make a stop here."

This sentiment reflects a broader skepticism about the timing and motivation behind the president's visit. It underscores the community's desire for timely and effective action on border issues, rather than perceived political maneuvering. The residents of Brownsville are calling for more than just a presidential visit; they seek genuine engagement and sustainable solutions to the challenges they face at the border. (Read more.)

The Border Patrol is more and more frustrated. Understandably. Also from MxM News:

The recent visit of President Joe Biden to Brownsville, Texas, has drawn criticism from Brandon Judd, president of the Border Patrol Union. Judd articulated the frustrations of many border patrol agents, who are at the forefront of the nation's ongoing illegal immigration crisis. In a candid response, Judd expressed disappointment in the choice of Brownsville for the president's visit, stating, "He's not going to any location where he's going to be able to evaluate what he needs to do."

Judd suggested that other locations like San Diego, Tucson, or Eagle Pass, which are more significantly impacted by illegal immigration, would have provided the President with a clearer picture of the situation. He stressed that only by visiting these "trouble locations" could the president "evaluate the situation to come up with" effective solutions. (Read more.)

Meanwhile, a federal judge blocks law that would help Texas defend itself during migrant crisis. Also from MxM News:

The law was introduced by Gov. Abbott, who has taken a hardline stance on immigration. Abbott has sent busloads of migrants to Democrat-controlled cities, installled a floating barrier in the Rio Grande, and stretched razor wire across the US-Mexico border. The SB4 law was seen as a further measure to deter illegal immigration.

However, the law has been met with fierce opposition from civil rights groups and the Department of Justice, who argue that it infringes on federal jurisdiction over immigration matters. In his ruling, Judge Ezra agreed, stating that the law would interfere with the federal government's powers to enforce immigration laws and the ability of migrants to apply for asylum.

Gov. Abbott has vowed to fight the ruling, arguing that Texas has the constitutional right to defend itself due to the Biden administration's failure to enforce federal immigration laws. He has also accused the administration of failing in its duty to protect states, citing the case of a Venezuelan migrant accused of murder who had entered the US illegally and was not properly detained due to overcrowding at Border Patrol facilities.

The battle over the law has escalated tensions between Texas and the Biden administration over the border crisis. Despite the legal setback, Gov. Abbott has vowed to continue his efforts to secure the border and deter illegal immigration.

The ruling comes as the crisis at the southern border shows no signs of abating, with the Border Patrol reporting more than 890,000 apprehensions of suspected illegal migrants between October 2023 and February. An additional 120,000 people were able to successfully sneak into the US during the same time period, according to Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens. (Read more.)