McJerk and the Cisco Kid
McJerk and the Cisco Kid
Date: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 3:02 PM
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1615 -- 1/02/2007 >>>>>
Well it's a New Year -- whoopie!
One of my New Year's resolutions was to have a more positive outlook on the
world. That resolution lasted about a day. I blame my bad attitude on the
person who sent me a link to a new interview with U.S. Sen. John McCain and
Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO John Chambers. I'm in a rotten mood so
please allow me to indulge in some character assassination.
I have lived in Arizona for 26 years but don't blame me for Sen. McIdiot. I
refuse to vote for him but most people in this state feel otherwise. It
never ceases to amaze me that so many people in Arizona that support groups
like the Minutemen and who are very serious about cracking down on illegal
immigration will blindly vote for McCain because he is supposedly a Vietnam
War hero.
In May of 2006 a group of local activists and I went to McCain's Phoenix
office to complain about his support for the SKIL bill. One of the first
things you notice upon entering his office is that there are two walls
covered with pictures of McCain. The pictures are usually from the covers
of magazines like the U.S. News and World Report or Newsweek. The only
thing missing from the shrine was a prayer mat so that his groupies can
kneel in front of the picture while worshipping his holiness.
The receptionist was a snoot and treated us to rolling eyes and sneers.
That wasn't the case for a Hispanic looking guy who was trying to get his
visa expedited -- he got the red carpet treatment and was promptly ushered
into the back offices. Apparently they wanted to get him away from us ASAP.
We talked to McCain's office manager. Her job seemed to be to defend
McCain's support of H-1B and of everything else he says. She got very
flustered by all of us, mainly because all her attempts to do a snow job
failed. The crowd I was with knew the subject and none of them were in the
mood to accept McCain's justifications for betraying American workers.
As you can see in the interview below, everything we tried to tell McCain
fell on deaf ears. Oh well.....
I don't want to come across as being crass about cancer because my beloved
mother died of the disease. When it comes to McCain though, I think it's
fair game! McCain has had malignant melanomas that were removed from his
lymph nodes, neck, and a portion of his salivary gland. Sometimes it seems
to flare up and one side of his face gets swollen. Lately I think that
cancer has moved to his brain, and it's affecting his logical reasoning
processes. McCain's only option might be to get a lobotomy!
McCain immediately went on the attack in the interview by portraying those
of us that want to put some sanity back into trade and immigration polices
as protectionists.
We do have some things to worry about, including the rising tide
of protectionism here in the United States, particularly in the
Congress.
McCain is very concerned about young people getting good educations. Pay
close attention to this one, because he isn't talking about American kids
gettin educations -- he wants more foreign kids in our schools.
... young people are not able to come and get an education in this
country, as they were before Sept. 11. Part of that is
understandable. But as you know, one of our greatest sources of
talent and brains in this nation came from people from all over
the world, who studied here, and decided that they wanted to stay
and work here. That's being cut off. They're now going to school
in India. They're going to school in Europe, etc.
[snipped] we also have to fix this H-1B problem, and we have
to make it a lot easier for students from all over the world
to come and study at the finest institutions in the world.
McCain's plan to fix the H-1B problem is to hand out more visas for
high-tech workers and cabbage pickers. For those that invade our country
illegally he wants to grant amnesty.
McCain: we also need to have a comprehensive solution to it,
[immigration] and part of that is temporary workers, which applies
to agriculture as well as it does to high tech, and it also means
we do something with the 12 million people who are already here as
the result of failed federal policies.
During the same interview, the Cisco Kid threatens to move more jobs
offshore if he can't get more H-1B visas.
Chambers: We do not want to export jobs; but if we can't really
train in this country, and attract the best talent here, you will
see high tech export more and more. So I think it is of
fundamental importance to get this turned around.
Got to hand it to Chambers, his solution to our economic woes will sure
help his bottom line. He wants every American to have broadband, and of
course a Cisco router that was made in China. Pay close attention to this
one because the Cisco Kid pulls a fast one -- he thinks broadband is needed
so that expensive things like medical services can be offshored, like for
instance X-Ray analysis in emergency rooms. Outsourcing medical services
will probably save him a lot on employment health insurance which will
probably earn him another big chunk of cash for his golden parachute.
Chambers: If I were to ask for one thing, it would be broadband.
Our global competitors are breaking away from us. It enables new
forms of health care. It enables new forms of innovation. It
allows us to balance our personal lives with our business lives,
with our families, and we are not keeping up as a country.
McCain will probably get a hefty campaign donation for being such a toady.
He sucks up to the Cisco Kid big time here.
McCain: He's [Chambers] right. Broadband access needs to be
a top priority.
Following the MercuryNews article is a letter that the local activists sent
to McCain's office after our visit. Just thought you should know that not
every Arizonan is a brain-dead supporter of the McCain dynasty.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/16365361.htm
Posted on Tue, Jan. 02, 2007
McCain: Solving immigration a top priority
U.S. Sen. John McCain and Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO John Chambers were
the featured speakers on ``Improving America's Business Climate and
Economic Competitiveness'' during the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's
2006 Annual Public Policy Luncheon in November. They answered questions on
a broad range of questions. And McCain talked about his presidential
ambitions. The discussion was moderated by Mercury News Editorial Pages
Editor and Vice President Stephen E. Wright. Here is an edited transcript.
Wright: We all know the challenges of global competitiveness. What are some
of the things that America is doing right?
Chambers: If you look at the future of a country, it's built around four
pillars. First is the education system. Second is the infrastructure. Third
is the environment for innovation. And fourth is supportive government. And
I think, for many of us in this room, learning how important that fourth
one is, is an ongoing process. But it doesn't matter if you're in Eastern
Europe, Romania or Turkey, or if you're in the Middle East, or Saudi
Arabia, or Dubai, or India, or China, or Hong Kong -- they look both to
America and Silicon Valley as having gotten it right. The unique
environment that we've created in America and Silicon Valley is still the
best in the world. Our fifth strength is our ability to criticize
ourselves. So I'm really the optimist about our country's future, and
especially about Silicon Valley.
McCain: I agree with everything John said, and he said it in a far more
concise and articulate fashion than I would. I travel a lot around the
world and I see a big problem with anti-Americanism. But the respect, and
almost reverence, with which Silicon Valley is held, is literally
throughout the world. We do have some things to worry about, including the
rising tide of protectionism here in the United States, particularly in the
Congress. And, second, young people are not able to come and get an
education in this country, as they were before Sept. 11. Part of that is
understandable. But as you know, one of our greatest sources of talent and
brains in this nation came from people from all over the world, who studied
here, and decided that they wanted to stay and work here. That's being cut
off. They're now going to school in India. They're going to school in
Europe, etc. Everybody knows that, but we've got to fix the immigration
problem overall, and we also have to fix this H-1B problem, and we have to
make it a lot easier for students from all over the world to come and study
at the finest institutions in the world.
Wright: Surprise! I have a question about H-1B visas. Obviously, it is
critical to Silicon Valley, and to innovation. John Chambers, what's the
impact of the H-1B visa limit on the country's competitiveness? And what's
the impact on Cisco?
Chambers: If you look at Silicon Valley, as an example, over 60 percent of
our engineers are first- or second-generation Asian-Americans, and our
ability to attract the best and brightest from all over the world to our
country, whether you're in Boston or Texas or North Carolina or Silicon
Valley, is so key to our future. Combining that with our local talent has
made our country very, very strong. Without realizing it, we have hung up a
``not welcome'' mat, and we've got to change that. Many companies are
already moving the majority of their growth overseas in terms of engineers,
for a combination of reasons, especially the number of engineers that are
being generated out of China and India, and that number is either 5 or
10:1, depending on whose numbers you want to use. But if we keep that
welcome mat open, and attract the best and brightest here, they'll generate
a lot of jobs for many of us who are already here, and I think it's the
example of what has made us. We do not want to export jobs; but if we can't
really train in this country, and attract the best talent here, you will
see high tech export more and more. So I think it is of fundamental
importance to get this turned around.
McCain: The H-1B problem is caught up in this larger, emotional, traumatic
national debate we've been having on immigration. Just listen to the talk
shows. It's an incredibly emotional issue. I understand why people are
upset. We have to secure our border. That's the obligation that every
nation in the world has, but we also need to have a comprehensive solution
to it, and part of that is temporary workers, which applies to agriculture
as well as it does to high tech, and it also means we do something with the
12 million people who are already here as the result of failed federal
policies. The great strength of America is because we've had a fresh
infusion of new blood and vitality generation after generation, and that
goes on today, and for us to somehow turn against that, I think, would be a
disaster.
Chambers: Senator, two real quick comments. The first is, I just happened
to note a story today that said if an election were held, and you would be
kind enough to run, you would win by almost 10 points vs. the most likely
opponent on the other side. Can you be nudged a little bit to talk about
that?
McCain: Well, I'd like to ask your sympathy for the families of Arizona,
because Barry Goldwater from Arizona ran for president, and Morris Udall
from Arizona ran for president, and Bruce Babbitt from Arizona ran for
president, and I, from Arizona, ran for president. Arizona may be the only
state in America where mothers don't tell their children that some day they
can grow up and be president.
Wright: You're a good politician, but let's go back to H-1B, though. Do you
see any kind of change in the number granted?
McCain: Yes, but because we're hung up on the whole immigration issue, we
haven't moved forward on the H-1B, as we should have. Every time they say
``H-1B,'' somebody says, ``OK, then I'm going to attach building a wall
under it,'' or ``I'm going to say they can't collect food stamps.'' Look,
the approval rating of Congress, I saw recently, was 16 percent. The lesson
from the election will be that voters expect us to go back and work on
these issues, and get something done, rather than get in this partisan
bickering and fighting, which, frankly, isn't why they send us to
Washington.
Wright: That's a beautiful segue to my next question. President Bush
outlined several initiatives for innovation and competitiveness in his
State of the Union. The Democrats have developed a plan to also address
many of these same issues, but nothing got done. So I'd like to ask each of
you to name the No. 1 competitiveness issue that you think Congress should
tackle in 2007.
McCain: Immigration reform has to get done. If we really want to be
competitive, we need to extend the R&D tax credit. We need to do a lot of
those things which would spur competitiveness. But I would think right off
the top of my head, for a whole lot of reasons, immigration reform is
something we should get resolved.
Wright: What's it going to take to get traction on that issue?
McCain: It's going to require the American people to demand that we act in
their interest and stop fighting amongst ourselves. Reward people who reach
across the aisle and work on a bipartisan basis. I've been around a long
time. I have not seen more bitterness and more partisanship in Washington,
nor nastier political campaigning than this one. Something's got to change,
or we're going to have trouble motivating young people to serve in public
office.
Chambers: If I were to ask for one thing, it would be broadband. Our global
competitors are breaking away from us. It enables new forms of health care.
It enables new forms of innovation. It allows us to balance our personal
lives with our business lives, with our families, and we are not keeping up
as a country.
Wright: What can we do to get affordable broadband throughout the country?
Chambers: It starts with an agreement to make it a top agenda item for our
country. We need to create a reasonable amount of competitiveness, and then
holding those people accountable for it, and allow a reasonable return on
it. I don't think this is rocket science.
McCain: He's right. Broadband access needs to be a top priority.
Wright: We need a skilled workforce here in America. A key ingredient is
improving our K through 12 education system, and ensuring that more
students really understand math and science. What more can the federal
government be doing? And what should the private sector be doing?
McCain: Well, the No Child Left Behind Act is up for re-authorization.
Unlike some, I believe it was a great beginning. I think that No Child Left
Behind was the first time I can compare my children's performance with that
of people in another state. It set standards in a lot of ways. So I believe
that when we re-authorize it, we can fine-tune it, and, obviously, put more
emphasis on math and the sciences. And one area we're not as appreciative
of as we should be is junior colleges. People want job security and we've
got to tell these people, ``If you do lose your job because of
globalization, we're going to provide you with an opportunity to get the
education and training so that you're not permanently out of the job
market.''
Chambers: Many people in this room were involved in the school-bond issues,
and others. John Doerr and Reed Hastings are constantly leading for us on
that. But I think we've got to think even more aggressively. Using Cisco as
an example, we're in partnership with the state government in Louisiana and
Mississippi. In partnership with the boards of education. We'll put in $40
million, redo the curriculum, eliminate the digital divide in the cities,
putting in wireless capabilities. Make the teachers and the administrators
the engineers of the programs, and really build a system that doesn't just
catch us up, but starts to lead again.
McCain: Maybe you don't think charter schools are right for your community.
I know what they've done in Arizona, and many of them have failed, but
they've provided competition. It's not throwing money at the problem, it's
got to do with competition. Why not try vouchers? We ought to do everything
we can to instill competition.
Wright: A question from the audience: ``Will one of you please run for
president?''
McCain: I mentioned my friend, Morris Udall. He was a member of the House
of Representatives, and he ran in 1976. And he said, ``If you're a United
States senator, unless you're under indictment or detoxification, you
automatically consider yourself a candidate for president of the United
States.''
Chambers: Senator, what's the hardest part of your decision to run for
president?
McCain: Whether I want to subject my family to the very nasty campaign that
you know will ensue at one point or another. I'm not bitter or angry about
the last campaign, but I look at these campaigns, and I see these attacks,
just a constant stream of attacks, and it hurts your family a lot more than
it does you. And I guess the other, John, is that you have to make sure
that your qualifications and your background and your experience and your
talents are suited to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I believe
that it's very likely, but it's a process you have to go through, and we
haven't made that decision yet.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: Thursday, June 08, 2006 7:08 PM
Ms. Babs Donaldson
OFFICE OF SENATOR JOHN McCAIN
5353 North 16th Street, Suite 105
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Dear Ms. Donaldson,
When we visited your office on Tuesday the 22nd, the behavior of your
receptionist left much to be desired. Her job is to "receive" the public,
not to show her arrogance by rolling her eyes at citizens just because
she's dealing with citizens who disagree with her. Clearly she (and
perhaps others in your office) aren't prepared for activists against
illegal immigration. We've become knowledgable on the issue by
self-education; it's our only education available for those who aren't
taken in by the rhetoric of pro-illegal alien media and politicians.
We immediately reject the canned platitudes like "they only take jobs
Americans won't do," "undocumented workers contribute more than they take,"
"who would pick our food without undocumented workers," or "our economy
would collapse without undocumented immigrants."
Michelle made the mistake of disputing us, then "copping an attitude" when
we openly disproved her tired old rhetoric that she obviously learned from
Senator McCain or similarly-opined people.
Had Michelle limited herself to her job of receptionist (providing a
cordial "reception" for visitors), it probably wouldn't have been necessary
to call you to the lobby. On the other hand, she would probably have just
trashed the signed letter and none of us would have received a reply.
McCain staffers have the reputation of being as arrogant and condescending
as their boss; Michelle made it easy to see why. Nor is that limited to
anti-illegal immigration activists; I've heard the same feedback from
physicians contacted on the issue of health care, and it was my experience
during the summer of 2003 when I phoned your Phoenix office and tried to
arrange an appointment to address the Army Corps of Engineers' leasing of
federal land in Iowa to a group of local Muslims who wanted to build a
"Muslim Youth Camp" with donations from unknown sources in the Middle East.
The aide named "Dave" that I spoke with was flippant and condescending.
It's widely understood that John McCain cares nothing whatever about what
Arizonans think unless they agree with him. One of our group members left
with you a news article quoting McCain and his opinion of himself, and it's
quite widely accepted by Arizonans.
John McCain is quick to tout his 77% victory in 2004, but you may rest
assured that he won't get 77% vote from Americans when he runs for
President in 2008. He'll be well-known as "The Godfather of Amnesty," a
name he'll find it hard to shake. His past arrogant behavior will come
home to roost as well.
At the Sun Lakes Town Hall, he was quick to demand "respectful behavior"
from those in the audience, but of course doesn't demonstrate it in return.
He certainly doesn't demonstrate "respectful behavior when a citizen has
waited their turn in line for a chance at the mike, only to have McCain
interrrupt them with condescending comments in the hope of suppressing
anyone who disagrees. To paraphrase John McCain, if that's respectful, he
certainly reads a different dictionary than I do.
I realize you can't control John McCain, but clearly his arrogance and
dismissive attitude has "rubbed off" on staffers like Michelle. Those
practices will soon come home to roost, namely in 2008 when McCain hopes to
run for President.
Regards,
Robert Sanchez Richard Osiol
Sandra Miller Mary Ann Johnston
Doniella Logan Brenda Roberts
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