It's Not "Papers, Please," But It's Still "Citizenship, Please" in Upstate New York

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday August 26, 2012 · 10:24 AM PDT

2012/08/26 · 10:24

As I write this, I am riding a Trailways bus heading from Rochester, New York, back to my home city. My home city is within the continental United States. At no point during the course of my trip into Rochester did I leave the United States or cross any international border, and I will not be doing so on my trip out. (The bus is ultimately destined for Toronto, but it will stop in Buffalo first to pick up more passengers, and passengers to Toronto will have to disembark, present proof of citizenship and answer customs and immigration questions posed by Canadian border agents when it reaches the U.S.-Canada border crossing at Fort Erie, Ontario. I will not be on it by then, because I will have changed buses to reach my U.S. destination.) Yet, once again, it happened.

What happened? U.S. immigration agents boarded my bus before it left Rochester and asked every passenger on the bus to state his or her citizenship before the bus was permitted to leave the gate. They did not ask for proof of citizenship; they took people's word for it. But they did ask.

For more, follow me below the magic orange curlicue...

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday October 08, 2009 · 8:07 AM PDT

2009/10/08 · 08:07

By now, no doubt many Kossacks have either watched Keith Olbermann's hour-long Special Comment on health care reform live on MSNBC or seen it on DailyKosTV. But what many of you may not realize is that the Republican Party, having received advance word of Keith's plan to devote his entire hour of Countdown to the Comment, decided that just as when the Democratic President Obama took to the airwaves to make his case for health care, they could not let Olbermann's editorial go without rebuttal.

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 30, 2009 · 9:44 PM PDT

2009/09/30 · 21:44

It's October, and that means it's time again for that annual holiday in which Americans look forward to the opportunity to enjoy a harmless little scare while at the same time indulging in cute decorations, brightly colored outfits, and the opportunity to feel virtuous while gorging on candy. Of course, I'm talking about Breast Cancer Awareness Month—which proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. From the pink ribbons to the pink T-shirts to the pink M&M's, it's a time for celebration and scary, spooky fun for all!

To tell the truth, though, I don't think of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I mean, aren't we all pretty damn aware of breast cancer by now? Are we nearly as aware of other cancers as we now are of breast cancer (and isn't there something wrong with that)? Do we really need more "awareness" of breast cancer at this point? Is more "awareness" truly going to result in that many more women saved from death or disfigurement? I don't think so.

No, I don't think of this as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think of it, rather, as "Let's Celebrate the Continued Existence of Breast Cancer Month."

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday May 03, 2008 · 9:03 PM PDT

2008/05/03 · 21:03

If you—or your son in college, or your 80-year-old grandmother—are planning a bus or train trip within New York State (yes, I said WITHIN New York State), you had best be prepared with proof of citizenship. Riders who lack it may be detained as possible illegal immigrants or terrorists.

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday April 18, 2008 · 9:07 PM PDT

2008/04/18 · 21:07

Some backers believe she's losing her quest for the White House because of sexism. But Hillary Clinton has made a highly sexist claim herself, repeatedly, to support her own campaign.

Poll

170 votes Show Results

Do you think women are naturally better at cleaning than men?

170 votes Vote Now!

Do you think women are naturally better at cleaning than men?

Yes, I'm a man, and every woman I know cleans better than I do

12 votes

Yes, I'm a woman, and I clean better than any man I know

14 votes

No, I'm a man, but I know of/have known women who were slobs

61 votes

No, I'm a woman and I hate to clean

83 votes

Cuyahoga County Voting: Better, But Still Needs Improvement

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday March 09, 2008 · 7:16 AM PDT

2008/03/09 · 07:16

In this most electorially messed-up of counties in the most electorially messed-up of states, getting rid of the voting machines was a good first step. But the job isn't yet complete—and the human factor also needs fixing.

Poll

32 votes Show Results

If you vote in Ohio, are you more confident now in your state's election system?

32 votes Vote Now!

If you vote in Ohio, are you more confident now in your state's election system?

Yes

19 votes

13 votes

It's OK, He's Bill O'Reilly

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday February 24, 2008 · 6:59 AM PST

2008/02/24 · 06:59

Basically decent on-air personalities who say something really stupid get punished for it—while the biggest troublemakers usually escape with insincere apologies. Why? Follow the money.

TribeApologist

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 26, 2008 · 8:03 AM PST

2008/01/26 · 08:03

To be a deserving "First Woman President," Hillary must do it on her own.

RSS

It's Not "Papers, Please," But It's Still "Citizenship, Please" in Upstate New York

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment: The Republican Response

Happy "Continued Existence of Breast Cancer" Month!

Going from Buffalo to Rochester? Passports, Please!

Attention, Hillary Clinton Supporters: THIS Is Sexism

Cuyahoga County Voting: Better, But Still Needs Improvement

It's OK, He's Bill O'Reilly

Time for "helicopter husband" Bill Clinton to go back to the pad