Tom Tancredo's idea for Obama's public-works project

Tom Tancredo may be near the end of his service as a U.S. Representative from Colorado, but he's still making wacky public pronouncements -- and thank goodness. Today's example? According to the Denver Post, he suggests that some of the money proposed by president-elect Barack Obama for an enormous public-works project be used to build a 700-mile fence along America's border with Mexico, which was approved back in 2006. "We must use this new 'new deal' to secure our borders, help preserve American jobs and create a stronger economy for America's working families," he said.

As a bonus, we could probably get some cheap Mexican labor to put the thing up. Oh, wait a minute: That would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? -- Michael Roberts