Tuesday, January 24, 2012

What the hell is self-deportation?

THERE ARE SAID to be 600,000 words in the English language. Today, there are 600,001, with Mitt Romney's addition of "self-deportation." That's how he chose to solve the problem of illegal immigrants. They must deport themselves.

Well, anything goes in politics, I guess, but I'm not sure how self-deporting works, or even can work. Totally unexplored ground in immigration policy until last night. Does deportation have some legal force behind it that can't be assumed by any individual who simply wants to go home? For the time being, I prefer the frustration of a person who commented on a national blog: Will Mitt next propose that we have self-detention centers?

Meanwhile, rising once again from the shambles of the presidential contenders, Newt Gingrich insists he will no longer debate if the audience can't participate. (It was asked to remain courteously quiet before Monday's debate.) Translation: He wants his very own cheering section for his golden utterances from the stage. How daring of him!

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