Illegal Immigration is a Pain to Spain. But is it also making Spain the Gateway to Europe?

Spain granted an amnesty to almost a million illegals three years ago, the largest amnesty in Spain's history. Today, they now have another million illegals, along with a soring crime rate and growing unemployment.

Recently Spain has been attacking Italy's new government, which has been cracking down on illegal immigrants in Italy. More from Soeren Kern at the Brussels Journal:

Why Spain Lectures Other Countries on Immigration

Italian voters in April returned Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to a third term in office. The center-right leader was given a strong mandate to crack down on runaway immigration and spiraling street crime, two hot-button issues that are intrinsically linked, not just in the minds of Italians, but in those of many other Europeans too, especially in Spain.

As a result, Spanish Socialists are (rightly) worried that Berlusconi’s get-tough approach will jeopardize their own fantastical vision of turning Europe into a post-modern multicultural utopia.

[...]

Since Spanish Socialists (more often than not) have trouble winning arguments on their own merit, the preferred tactic is to demonize their opponents instead. And so De la Vega’s comments were echoed by the new Spanish Minister for Labor and Immigration, Celestino Corbacho, who felt obliged to accuse Berlusconi of wanting “to criminalize those who are different.”

[...]

Apart from the strategic threat that Italy’s immigration crackdown poses to the post-nationalist multicultural vision that Spanish Socialists have for Europe, there are two more practical (and inter-related) reasons why the Socialist Party has latched onto the immigration issue: Domestic politics and fear that the immigrants expelled from Italy will come to Spain instead.

During the recent general election campaign in Spain, survey after survey showed that Spanish voters perceived the center-right Popular Party to be far better equipped than the Socialist Party to tackle the issues of immigration and crime.

[...]

As a result, the Socialists are now trying to make these issues their own. But they are doing so by reframing the question of immigration through the use of post-modern word games that give the appearance that they have a more benevolent approach.

[...]

By rewarding illegal immigrants with Spanish (and thus European) documentation, Zapatero has unleashed what is known as the “call effect” to people as far away as Kashmir who now believe that Spain is an easy gateway into Europe. [...]

It's quite a dance Spain is doing. The article goes on to give more details of Spain's predicament, and how it fits into immigration in Europe as a whole. The socialists in Spain have been using every trick in the book to vilify their opponents, but it's wearing thin as reality sets in and grates away at the Spanish Public. Their current government sounds like the city council of Berkeley, CA. Strident and hysterical, posturing while lacking real content or ability to accomplish or solve anything.

Lots of high drama in this story, with accusations being hurled. But as the pressure builds, it looks to me like... somethings gotta give. I'll be watching.
     

Obama visits San Francisco for donations

Obama visits the Getty's home in San Francisco's wealthiest neighborhood. The city's wealthy flock there to meet him and donate money. Here is the Getty's home, before people began to arrive:



Here are two links from Zombie Time of the event in San Francisco. His reports include lots of photos:

Obama Visits Billionaires Row

Here is one of the views residents of that neighborhood enjoy:



Seven Things About Obama I Never Knew Before

As is always the case with Zombie's photos and reporting of San Francisco events, it makes me feel like I'M THERE. I lived in San Francisco for 23 years. I've been down Billionaire's Row many times, I recognize the houses. I recognize the people. Limousine Liberals. Have a look at who owns Obama.

I wish I could convey why this is important. No doubt some people will say "So what, ALL politicians accept money from rich people". And yes, that's true. But the Obama campaign has been selling him as different, someone who doesn't take money from the rich, who gets his support primarily from "the little guy". The reality is, Obama isn't any different from his other Democrat predecessors. He still till serves the same Masters.

I doubt that any of this will matter to his supporters. As Zombie points out in his report, people, including the millionaires, are more interested in the IDEA of Obama than the reality.

I'm more interested in the reality, which is the problem I have always had with these folks. I'm not envious of rich people. I'm not bothered by their wealth, but I am bothered by what THESE people do with THEIR wealth, and WHY.

Most of them inherited their money, and didn't earn it. They are often completely out of touch with everyday reality, because they live in a world of IDEAS, fantasies, about the way the world SHOULD work, according to their feelings. Don't try and confuse them with the facts, they aren't interested in how reality actually works. They don't care, because they don't have to.

They are all for redistributing wealth, because they have so much of it that they know that not enough of THEIRS will ever be taken away to adversely affect them. So they easily make decisions that redistribute the wealth of other WORKING people, without feeling any consequences to themselves.

As Zombie points out when the crowd gathers, it's the millionaires that have to wait outside on the sidewalk. It's the Billionaires, the real movers and shakers, who are already inside. But they are all part of the Ruling Class of San Francisco, and they are high up in the Democrat party.

San Francisco is famous for it's hippies, protesters, nuts and crazy people. Many of Zombies reports feature the antics of such people, but the crazies themselves are not the ones who make things happen, they are just the SIDE EFFECT. Follow the links and see the real people who make it all possible. Visit Zombie's links and get a taste of this genuine San Francisco treat.

I got these links from Pat's post on this topic:

Obama's "secret" visit to San Francisco

He gives a synopsis and his own commentary. Loved the comment about Diane Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi being the chambermaids of these folks... yes the shoe fits. If you think Obama gets most of his money and support from the average guy on the street, think again. He also serves the same Masters.