Posted on 06/23/2007 3:39:30 PM PDT by Baladas
Washington, D.C. (AHN)-President George Bush called on Congress to muster the "political courage" to pass an immigration overhaul that has foundered for weeks in the U.S. Senate.
"We have an obligation to solve problems that have been piling up for decades," President Bush said in his weekly radio address. "The status quo is unacceptable."
The proposed legislation, drafted by a small group of senators and White House negotiators, would create a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million immigrants in the United States illegally.
The proposal has been derided by opponents as an amnesty program. Among the sticking points is a provision that would allow illegal immigrants who entered the country before Jan. 1 to apply for Z visas, which would enable them to live and work in the United States legally.
Critics have also charged that the bill does not do enough to secure the nation's borders.
"I understand that many Americans have concerns about immigration reform - especially about the federal government's ability to secure the border," President Bush said. "So this bill puts the enforcement tools in place first."
On June 26, to move the bill forward, 60 senators will have to vote to resume debate on the politically contentious issue.
To attract the 15 additional votes needed to advance the bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has suggested that the Democratic and Republican caucuses would each be able to put forth 12 amendments.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, speaking to Bloomberg Television on Friday, said Republican support of the proposal is waning, despite it being one of the President's top domestic priorities.
"We're beginning to see some of the people that would have ordinarily voted to proceed with the bill to say, `hey, this process is not fair, it's not transparent,''' Senator Cornyn said.
Among those Republicans who Senator Cornyn cited: Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
No but they are ducks, and ducks float.
Hey Dubya—we don’t want this country to merge with Mehico—got it? Move there if you love it so much...
“W” has lost his mind....Courage??..To pass this?
Easy for him to say, he'll never stand for re-election again and will make millions in future speaking engagements and stints on the Carlyle Group board of directors. All the while having taxpayer-funded SS protection so he never has to deal with the impact of the shamnesty he and his corporate boosters want so badly.
More like "Follow me to political suicide."
W needs to muster the courage to do what we hired him to do:Enforce the laws of these United States and deport these invading criminals.
He seems to be enabling crime and murder of these Illegal Aliens.
W seems to be to the left of IKE.
Has anyone offered a rational excuse for not following existing laws?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“...Bush called on Congress to muster the “political courage”...
Oh,oh. Bush just called Congress a bunch of pendejos (meaning cowards, fools).
Of course, they are pendejos, and crooks too, but George shouldn’t have called them that since he needs their help.
It’s actually depressing how much I’m beginning to loathe the President and his intransigence on this issue.
The key members of the Federal Government Party will all be reelected, regardless of what happens with this bill. And they know it.
Oh, I thought you heard. “They are too hard too enforce” so we need new ones.
When I retire,I’m going to have to count on the Social Security I’ve been paying for ALL my working life. You know the same program these illegals are going to be collecting off of. I wonder if GW is going to be collecting off of it when he retires ???
Marcus Tullius Cicero
No way Bush and Senators. No amnesty period. Build the fence and deport the illegals.
Keep having this nagging feeling that Hill and Bill are involved. Wonder how?
Courage is what they need in the face of their enemy: The American Voter.
“Sir,...no, sir. You can go to hell, sir. It’s the best I can do for you, sir.”
Apologies to Jack London
“I wonder if GW is going to be collecting off of it when he retires ???”
You’re kidding, right?
I do think they need it from time to time.
Maybe he’s off the wagon?
Yeah, I’m kidding !!!
Ramirez is the best.
I don’t know about a law suit,but I’m thinking an article of impeachment might be do-able !!!
Thank God there's less than two years left of this nightmare of a presidency, though even that seems too much to bear.
Two reasons this bother me. One, the taxpayers are going to have to pay more in taxes to provide benefits, and two, the amount of benefits, especially the payout of social security for those who have contributed all their lives, when they become retirement eligible, will be less.
We have been hearing all these warnings for years from people like Bush, that the Social Security system has to be changed because it is going broke. How does adding all these people help shore up that system?
And another thing, after these people become legal residents, in 3 years these people can become US citizens. There are no restrictions on them bringing their relatives here to live as legal immigrants after that happens. Who is going to pay for them and the benefits they demand?
I really think Bush has lost his mind on this issue?
This clown is starting to make me miss President Clinton.
Come Sept - the funding for Iraq will be reconsidered and the President will need A LOT of support from the base for that. Some will support him because they support the war. But a big chunk of the base will be gone forever for this President - as he, essentially, spits in their face on immigration.
I was thinking earlier that “someone” could make some serious polical hay taking up this cause. Wondering why “someone” isn’t jumping on the bandwagon.
That's a really bad idea, cause it ain't gonna be there no matter what happens to this immigration bill.
Depending on your age, you probably have a better chance of being visited by aliens from outer space than you have of being able to live on your social security.
What's next? Calling the Senate a bunch of chickens and quadruple dog daring them to pass the amnesty bill?
More like follow me into the Red Sea!
I’ve never seen a person try so hard to unseat Jimmy Carter off the “Worst In History” throne. Even though it seems impossible, even for W, it’s the only thing he’s making an effort at nowadays.
“What’s next? Calling the Senate a bunch of chickens and quadruple dog daring them to pass the amnesty bill?”
Nothing would surprise me at this point!
Aliens? Ahhhhh! Build a wall around the earth! Ship them back to Mars!
Sorry, sorry, I'm just a little twitchy on the issue.
I think this is the REAl Jorge El Segundo - internationalist and slave trafficer for globalist corporations under the guise of “Guest Workers:.
Instead we hear the crooks in D.C. telling us the funds has been "over promised" and that we may not get what they told us we would.
These azzholes need to have their feet held to the fire on this stuff. To quote Owl Gore--They betrayed us...!
Got to be the expense. A stitch in time saves nine and the seam is already ripped out of this.
You don't need a bill Mr. President, all you have to do is use existing laws.
This administration has gone off the deep end.
Isn't there some way we could do like they do in the sporting world and maybe buy out his contract?
Sorry Mr. President...the REAL courage is to NOT pass it. The people don’t want it. How many times do you have to be told the people do not want it and have voiced their opinions over and over to their reps saying just that. Have you NOT been listening??????????????????
“Got to be the expense”
Right, it’s “cheaper” to grant amnesty, and all the freebies along with it, to 20+ million illegal criminals.
Here's some of what El Presidente is asking the Senators to prostitute themselves for:
Legal status for all illegals in 24hrs even without a complete background check
American taxpayers will pay for all lawyers needed by the illegal aliens
Temporary visas are really permanent
Amnesty for gang members (lowball est. is 33,000)
We help pay for Mexicans to stay in Mexico
No back taxes need be paid by illegals
Fast track for SPP/NAU (de facto erasure of U.S. borders and sovereignty)
No priority for border security
Amnesty prevails throughout the bill
Tuition for illegal aliens
Cut ahead in citizenship line
Amnesty for previously deported aliens
Court shutdown as necessary for priority handling of alien issues
English not required
Earned income tax credit for illegal aliens (but no taxes need be paid)
THIS is what Bush is pimping to the Senators? Each Senator should ask just one question: do I want to vote YES on this and forever after be labeled a traitor?
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