Bizarro GOP, Ridge Offer Pass to Illegal Aliens

Rush Limbaugh ^ | December 11, 2003

[yonif]

Tom Ridge, who is charged with securing our borders as the Secretary of Homeland Security, took it upon himself recently to solve our huge illegal alien problem - by suggesting we "legalize" eight-to- twelve million lawbreakers. Did Ridge not take an oath to defend the laws of the United States? Why are immigration laws, the lax enforcement of which was key the 9/11 attacks, somehow meaningless? Then there's this from the Arizona Republic:

"U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing an agreement that would allow millions of Mexicans to go home and still collect U.S. Social Security checks." Does this not sound like we're throwing up our arms and caving in? This is admitting that we're not going to enforce our immigration laws! Why? Because some idiots who don't know or pretend not to know the meaning of the word call it "xenophobic." We spend a little over $15 billion a year in foreign aid, and now we're going to pay people who come here and break the law though Social Security checks.

Where are the screams that this will suck money out of the (nonexistent) Social Security trust find, you liberals? This just doesn’t make sense. The Bush administration actually backs this idea "as a way to improve U.S.-Mexican relations." Need more proof that "compassionate conservative" has nothing to do with conservatism? The very same Bush administration just sided with the brutal Chinese communists and against our democratic allies in Taiwan on independence. It's The BIG Theory: Karl Rove's scheme to destroy the Democrat Party by picking off handfuls of their voters.

Everyone keeps trying to be the smartest guy in the room, "Once we get 60 senators, we'll clean up this mess..." It'll never happen. Even if we won the seats, they will have come at too high a price. Besides, we don't need to have conservative judges on the bench to stop these bad laws. GOP legislators shouldn't have voted for them in the first place, and our GOP president shouldn't have signed them. The idea that we pass bad laws to get judges who'll overturn them confirmed is as harebrained as the 1992 mantra, "Let Clinton win, so everyone can see how bad things get." That worked out great, huh?

Michael Barone, postulated in U.S. News & World Reports that George Bush is "redefining conservatism." Many GOP congressmen (See Rush's comments on John Boehner of Ohio) have said that the 1994 Contract with America was cool and all, but now they're in power and they have to do what the people want so they can stay there. With that, they abdicate their responsibility to teach people that government can't answer all their prayers and accept big government and less freedom is facts of life. I disagree with Barone on this. Conservatism isn't capable of being "redefined," and that's not what the Bushies are trying to do anyway. They're just trying to get votes by advancing the liberal agenda.

[yonif]

Ping.

[yonif]

Ping.

[gubamyster]

ping

[lainde]

pong~

[Reactionary]

ping.

[Brimack34]

This is what happens when you have no Primary. No one to move President Bush back to the right.

[WackyKat]

I'm sure the same Bots who defended Bush signing the CFR will defend this outrage, too.

[m18436572]

Can't believe it took until after 11:00PM to see this on FR.

[texastoo]

I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh but quit when he refused to confront the issue of illegal immigration. I will be turning him back on now.

Individually, more and more people are talking about how disgusted they are with illegal immigration. Most polls show approximately 70% of the American people disagree with illegal immigration. If the subject of illegal immigration gets going on national radio, Bush will be a one termer for sure.

Rush has made some good points about elected Republicans who don't uphold our laws now.

[jagrmeister]

It's all Bush's fault. My grass has weeds. Blame Bush! You sound like a Democratic Underground mole. So a cabinet member made a dumb suggestion. Guess what? It's not going anywhere. It's not policy. It doesn't reflect Bush's point of view. People like you will never be satisfied. Because ultimately, you're in your element when you're complaining about something.

[ImpBill]

Rush better be careful. He might get banned from FR.

It won't be long before the usual suspects arrive to explain how we all just don't get it. We just have to have faith that "our guys" are only feinting to the left in order to set the Democrats up for the big return to Constitutional conservatism that is coming just as soon as we control 90% of both houses and still have the WH.

[the_Watchman]

Strictly from a security viewpoint, amnesty actually makes sense. Consider that Ridge knows that due to lax borders he is faced with upwards of 12 million illegals. He doesn't know who or where they are. If he did, he still wouldn't have any idea of who was potentially involved in terrorism. [MOST illegals are not involved in terrorism!]

Now, if amnesty is extended we divide the 12 million into two groups [again, consider only the security aspects]: (1) those who provide their identification and (2) those who do not register.

We would presume that the first group is the far larger. There will still be potential terrorists in this group, but at least we have identification information on them. Therefore, they can be profiled and tracked.

The second group, those who do not register, will be much smaller. We still will not know who they are or where they are, but we now are on a different footing. If a person from this group is encountered then there is prima facie evidence that they deserve attention from a security viewpoint.

Thus, the job of internal security is an order of magnitude easier.

Finally, I point out that I am NOT in favor of amnesty for the same reasons cited by Rush. However, I just wanted to point out that it might make good sense from Ridge's viewpoint.

[yonif]

Regarding the social security

The Bush administration supports such an accord as a way to improve U.S.-Mexican relations.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1038026/posts

[Fledermaus]

I'm sure the same Bots who defended Bush signing the CFR will defend this outrage, too.

Probably. The same wackos that ATTACKED my, and others, position on CFR and urged a veto kept saying, "oh, don't worry, there is no way the SCOTUS will uphold these clearly unconstitutional laws".

No argument would persuade them they were wrong. Instead I got attacked with invectives and was accused of Bush bashing.

So who's eating crow now?

[elli1]

Yes, it does make sense from a security standpoint. And, I'll add that it makes them easier to find if/ when they run afoul of the law. Those w/ a "legal" status won't have anything to fear from the law & will actually have a vested interest in seeing the lawbreakers rounded up.

[Sabertooth]

Did Ridge not take an oath to defend the laws of the United States?

Who thinks Tom Ridge gives a rip?

Social Security for Mexicans closer to reality (Millions of immigrants to collect benefits)
			Posted by VU4G10 On 12/11/2003 7:55:33 PM PST with 46 comments www.wnd.com ^ | December 11, 2003 | WorldNetDaily The prospect of millions of Mexicans receiving United States Social Security checks is moving closer to reality. The Gannett News Service reports U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing a "totalization" agreement that would transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in payments south of the border. The plan would allow documented and undocumented immigrants to return home but still collect U.S. benefits. WorldNetDaily reported the idea to merge both countries' Social Security systems was pushed late last year by Mexican President Vincente Fox as payback from President George W. Bush for failing to secure major new immigration reforms beneficial to Mexico...
Ridge rapped for immigration views
			Posted by kattracks On 12/10/2003 10:30:42 PM PST with 36 comments Washington Times ^ | 12/11/03 | Jerry Seper Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's suggestion that 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens now in the United States be "legalized" drew harsh criticism yesterday from congressional and other opponents of such legalization. ÊÊÊÊRep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, said Mr. Ridge should resign if he is unable or unwilling to enforce immigration laws enacted by Congress. ÊÊÊÊ"Mr. Ridge ought to read the laws he is charged with trying to enforce," Mr. Tancredo said in a telephone interview. "We have laws on the books that call for him to find and deport these...
Tom Ridge's Immigration Remarks Draw Fire
			Posted by VU4G10 On 12/11/2003 9:08:56 AM PST with 88 comments newsmax.com ^ | Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | NewsMax.com Wires Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's expression of support for giving legal status to immigrants drew congressional criticism Wednesday but heartened advocates. At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence." He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship. Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said Wednesday in Miami that Ridge's comments simply reflected the debate in Congress on immigration. "Secretary Ridge addressed it...
AMNESTY CRISIS: Fight Tom Ridge's new plan
			Posted by Klickitat On 12/10/2003 1:28:20 PM PST with 173 comments Numbers USA ^ | 12-10-03 | Roy Beck The country needs your faxes and phone calls immediately and steadily over the next few days. Tom Ridge, the head of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security, yesterday advocated legalizing (giving amnesty) to 8-12 million illegal aliens. Click here to read the story titled: "Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrants." "Click for article" This creates an immediate crisis that must be met with massive outcry -- like the outcry in August of 2001 that stopped Pres. Bush's July proposal for a massive amnesty for some 3.5 million illegal aliens from Mexico. The most important thing is shoot this...
Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrants
			Posted by patriotUSA On 12/10/2003 10:33:06 AM PST with 49 comments South Florida Sun-Sentinel | Posted December 10 2003 | Tanya Weinberg Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrantsHomeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told a Miami audience Tuesday that the country should legalize millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country. "The bottom line is, as a country we have to come to grips with the presence of 8 to 12 million illegals, afford them some kind of legal status some way, but also as a country decide what our immigration policy is and then enforce it," Ridge said at a town hall meeting at Miami-Dade Community College. The forum was the second in a national series organized by the nonprofit Council...
Ridge: Give illegal entrants 'status'
			Posted by Klickitat On 12/10/2003 5:18:44 AM PST with 103 comments The Miami Herald ^ | MICHAEL VASQUEZ Ridge: Give illegal entrants 'status' A top Bush administration official suggests at a town hall meeting in Miami that illegal immigrants should be granted limited legal status. BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ mrvasquez@herald.com Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday that he believes the vast majority of illegal immigrants in the United States are not a threat to national security and should be given ``some kind of legal status.'' Ridge's comments came during a town hall meeting at Miami Dade College in response to a question from the audience about whether offering amnesty to illegal immigrants might make them easier...

[org.whodat]

It's not going anywhere. It's not policy. It doesn't reflect Bush's point of view.

Could you please give me a link that has the proof for your statement. Such as Mr. Ridge you need to pack your bag's. Thank's

[calljack]

Trial balloon.

[jagrmeister]

No, yours is the burden of proof. The premise of the aforementioned whiner's complaint was that Bush was to blame for this. He needs to prove that Ridge's comments reflect Bush's policy. Bush hasn't even acted on the guest worker program, what makes you think he supports legalization? If you have the evidence, let's see it.