Posted on 04/05/2006 5:50:41 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
From the official INS (now USCIS) 2004 Yearbook:
In 2001 and 2002, there were over a million legal immigrants (aproximately, 1, 060,000 each year) In 2003, there were 706,000 and in 2004, it was 946,000. The number of legal immigrants from Mexico has increased each decade. Between 1971-1980 there were 640,000; 1981-90 = 1,656,000; and 1991-2000 = 2,250,000.
This shows the impact that having legal family members in the US can have on immigration numbers. Approximately 25% of the legal immigrants today come from Mexico.
You are confusing cause and effect. The reason that freepers are deserting Bush over this matter is because he is pushing what amounts to amnesty.
I think people will be willing to discuss what to do with the illegals already here once we have made considerable progress in securing the border. Until then, any amnesty or guest worker program will just accellerate the rate of illegal immigration.
And that is what is killing Bush here - his unwillingness to secure the borders first and foremost.
I charge myself by contributing hundreds of dollars over a calendar year...you're welcome, btw.
I think that you are like the liberal that is yet to be mugged so may a "demonstration" occur in your neighbor hood, better yet right in front of your house, some time soon. I bet it will change your perspective.
I have personal contact with illegals on a regular basis in my career. They're wonderful...and hard working people...who understand the meaning of mama and papa and family.
Since I am very close to 60 years of age, I recall my grandparents who were Italian immigrants from Sicily. My grandfather couldn't speak much English...therefore I am not going to be a poster boy for libeling Hispanics who want to escape a very poor standard of living to come here and realize what we all know...that the USA is the last hope for the future of the free world.
Shame on you...and God Bless President Bush and our troops.
That's right - I want it consistently over 1 million and growing every year - perhaps you don't understand the words "between 1 million and 1 billion"?
okay, not as many are opposed to legal immigration as are opposed to illegal immigration. how's that?
Cheers.
I'll give you hurtful...
It is hurtful when President Bush calls me and my friends who formed a neighborhood watch on the border such names as "vigilantes" and wants us to go away.
It is hurtful when those of us who are for border security and against illegal immigration, and who are for a sane immigration policy, are smeared as "anti-immigrant" and insinuations are made that we are racist or xenophobic.
It was hurtful with an illegal alien smuggler driving a pickup truck full of illegal aliens eluded police and crashed into a line of vehicles waiting to make a left hand turn outside the East Gate of Fort Huachuca, killing 3 residents of the town I live in.
It was hurtful when illegal aliens jumped and beat a mother and her 14 year old daughter while trying to steal the truck that was idling in the driveway as the family was preparing to take the daughter to school in the town where I live.
It was hurtful when a friend of mine had a car that was overheating and he pulled into the parking lot of the elementary school my children attend to get water from a faucet and 4 illegal aliens jumped him, one tried to kill him, and they stole his car.
It was hurtful when human traffickers waiting to pick up their load of illegal aliens 1/4th of a mile from my house were angered when I burned their pickup point by calling them into the Border Patrol and they chased my up and down the highway yelling, "We're going to kill you, MotherF*****!" while swerving to run me off the road and pulling their truck sideways in front of my vehicle to try to stop me and kill me.
It is hurtful that illegal aliens are responsible for more deaths per year than 9/11, the Iraq War, and Pearl Harbor combined in a form of slow-motion terrorism.
It is hurtful that our President says out of one side of his mouth that the attacks of 9/11 requires the utmost vigilance and national security protection while out of the other side he says he doesn't want to actually defend our borders or our besieged citizens in the border areas.
On one hand, he probably has a better perspective on the the situation than most of us. On the other, he should know that we look to him to be a bit more conservative than most politicians. On this issue I believe he is wrong, at least the way he has protrayed it.
My thoughts exactly...Jeb doesn't run Florida. A judge from Pinellas County is in charge.
Put a sock in it Jeb...no one cares what you think.
When did President Bush calls you or friends "vigilantes" (I assume you don't break any laws, right?). I don't mean to "smear" anyone, but you are aware that some people are against LEGAL immigration because they are racist or xenophobic, right? I will agree with you that murderers and robbers should not be allowed to immigrate, legally or illegally - that doesn't make me racist though.
Gov. Bush should take a long hard look at what depopulation is doing to Mexico. Not to mention what the invasion of twenty plus millions of Spanish speaking individuals is doing to the US. They're needy people...they need welfare, education, medical care, jobs, etc.. All of which their own country should provide. Too many all at once. We're not in save every country in the hemisphere business...at the expense of losing our own identity. But Jeb Bush thinks this is small potatoes.
Hispanic "illegal" painters that I know personally, earn $15 per hour.
I use quotation marks in their description because they produce social security numbers, which are used to withhold FICA and federal taxes.
This is FREE MONEY to the federal coffer.
Comprende??
Clawrence3, I am joshing you a little but you forgot to give Spiff a link to your pseudo-scientific poll thread ;)
Just after 9/11, the President asked all Americans to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity that they observed. In April of last year, a neighborhood watch-like group was formed along our southern border to do just that. To watch the border areas and neighborhoods and to report any suspicious activities along the border such as groups of illegal border crossers. This group was and is called the Minuteman Project and armed with binoculars, lawnchairs, and cell phones that is exactly what they've done. On 24 March 2005, in response to our planned efforts to do what he called on all U.S. citizens to do (be vigilant and report suspicious activity), the President, while standing next to Mexican President Vincente Fox, denounced us as "vigilantes".
I'm also aware that some of the people who support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan do so because they are racist and xenophobic and hate all arabs in general and like the fact that we're killing so many of them over there. So what? Does that detract at all from the effort we are making there and its real purpose?
I believe it already is a felony to aid and abet illegals.
The law isn't enforced. Our lawmakers never intended to enforce it. Same thing's going to happen this time. The amnesty will be enforced, but any other laws they finally decide on will not. Same ol' sh!t, different day. JMHO of course.
Nope. That's my point - now can you answer the rest of my questions.
And you don't report them to ICE? Are you enabling criminal activity?
I have reported every person that I've determined was an illegal alien. Immediately. Why haven't you? What other laws do you believe can be broken with impunity? What other lawbreaking do you excuse?
Sorry - I missed your first post - the President has never denounced the Minuteman Project.
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