Jeb Bush Calls Tone of Immigration Debate `Hurtful' (Official "Bush Picks At Toe Jam" th

LA Times ^ | 4/5/06 | Peter Wallsten

[zook]

WASHINGTON — Accusing politicians of "pounding their chests" on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been "hurtful" to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.

Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own Republican Party, calling it "just plain wrong" to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed by the Republican-led House would do. He also opposed "penalizing the children of illegal immigrants" by denying them U.S. citizenship, an idea backed by some conservatives but not included in the legislation.

"My wife came here legally, but it hurts her just as it hurts me when people give the perception that all immigrants are bad," the Florida governor wrote in an e-mail exchange with The Times.

[clawrence3]

700,000 to 900,000 is not 1 million or more. Last I checked. Again, I only do "fuzzy math" so I could be wrong about that.

[Dante3]

We do not need all these people, especially not people who just want to smooch off our welfare, consider the sight of our flag repulsive, and refuse to learn English, even demanding translators. There are already too many people in this country.

[clawrence3]

300,000,000 are NOT "already too many people in this country."

[clawrence3]

How do you feel about abortion too? We got rid of 40,000,000+ there!

[Dante3]

Of course they are too many people. No questions about it. And the numbers keep growing. Look at all the traffic jams. Many of our scenic areas and historic battlefields have been destroyed for tacky housing projects and urban sprawl. Gorgeous old homes, the likes of which most of us can no longer afford, have been torn down for parking lots and ugly apartment houses. Sure there is empty land, but most of it does not have the water supply to support a community.

The scenes of the illegal aliens marching with foreign flags while American flags are being banned in scores of school - this at a time when our soldiers are dying overseas - sends quite a message.

[samcgwire]

It's like a cottage industry.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Because you used the word "traitor" and I always seek to not cloud the issues.

Really?! I don't think so.

In my post #393 to MineralMan (My first on this thread), I wrote:

So, to paraphrase Voltaire, even though you may not agree with someone's opinion, you will defend to the death your right not to see it?

How unAmerican is that?

I think you're confusing me with someone else, are you not?

[brytlea]

I still don't see the connection with what we're talking about. Are you just trying to prove I'm bad at math? That's not much of a challenge! ;)
susie

[Bikers4Bush]

Oh I don't know murderers, rapists, pedophiles, thieves, freeloaders, etc.

I prefer the cream of the crop as opposed to the dregs of society.

[brytlea]

I wasn't commenting on your tagline (it just reminds me to pray for you!). You said:

If you consider having a tagline aggressive, then I don't know what to say.

I simply wanted to know if you really didn't think any tagline could be aggressive.

susie

[Bikers4Bush]

It's an insignificant number, far outnumbered by the dems among them is my point.

[russesjunjee]

Bush is knowingly, against the will of people, and against the laws of our land allowing an invasion force of millions to pour across our borders, and he is doing so to further his own personal agenda....yes, he is committing treason every single day that he allows the borders to stay open.

We are in a time of war and this scum bag is purposefully forcing our borders to be insecure...definitely the actions of a traitor.

I voted for Bush, but he and the GOP have done to me what traitors do best...they betrayed...and I through with the GOP forever.

[MineralMan]

"especially not people who just want to smooch off our welfare"

---

You mean like this?

[kabar]

Obviously, the number varies because of annual changes. Here is a link on the history of immigration as well as some data on numbers.

During the 1990s, an average of more than 1.3 million immigrants — legal and illegal — settled in the United States each year. Between January 2000 and March 2002, 3.3 million additional immigrants have arrived. In less than 50 years, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that immigration will cause the population of the United States to increase from its present 288 million to more than 400 million.

The foreign-born population of the United States is currently 33.1 million, equal to 11.5 percent of the U.S. population. Of this total, the Census Bureau estimates 8-9 million are illegal immigrants. Other estimates indicate a considerably higher number of illegal immigrants.

Approximately 1 million people receive permanent residency annually. In addition, the Census Bureau estimates a net increase of 500,000 illegal immigrants annually.

Current Numbers

[JustPiper]

[Flavius Josephus]

Jeb is the father of George and Barbara's grandchildren, whom #41 referred to as "the little brown ones",

Like this one, possible the next Pres. George Bush:

[dagnabbit]

Bush is knowingly, against the will of people, and against the laws of our land allowing an invasion force of millions to pour across our borders, and he is doing so to further his own personal agenda....yes, he is committing treason every

We are in a time of war and this scum bag is purposefully forcing our borders to be insecure...definitely the actions of a traitor.

Perhaps, but he has a nice new tie and his wife has a smart new dress!

/DayInTheLifeThread&KnittingCirclePsychosis

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Sure, do you feel better for chastising me? After sanctimoniously accusing me of feeling better for chastising Jeb Boy.

[DCPatriot]

... 20 million potential voters ... versus a large part of the current GOP base. That should be a no-brainer, especially since not passing amnesty would prevent those 20 million from voting in the future.

How long do you think not passing amnesty by the GOP would hold? Until 2008? 2012?

Look at how much our own Freepers are deserting President Bush and the Republican Party. This is a very bad situation.

[RMDupree]

hehehehe....a wee bit defensive, aren't we? ;-)

You weren't chastising Jeb. You were dragging his daughter's drug addiction into a debate on illegal immigration.

I called you on a cheap shot worthy of DU.

So yes, I do feel good about calling you on it. Thanks!