Was this legislation really necessary? I got into an argument with another Republican yesterday evening, me saying that the SFA merely instructed the Executive to do a thing it could have done anyway, if it had chosen to. Everything provided for by the SFA was within ordinary executive powers, I said, and could have been done a year ago, or five years ago. My opponent challenged this. I’m pretty sure I’m right, but can anyone give me chapter and verse?

(An act of congress is, of course, needed to provide funds for executive action… but since the SFA doesn’t allocate any funds, this point is moot!)

Also on the border fence: I got much pleasure from watching Alan Colmes last night arguing that a fence would be ineffective, and that this was proved by the length of fence near San Diego, which was ineffective because illegal immigrants just go elsewhere to cross. In other words, the San Diego fence is ineffective because… it’s effective. Great logic there, Alan.