Savage: Impeach Bush over immigration plan

WND ^ | 1-12-04 | N/A

[JustPiper]

Conservative talk-radio star, author says amnesty is betrayal of country

In the latest indication President Bush is having problems with his conservative core political constituency, Michael Savage, one of talk radio's biggest stars, tonight called for the impeachment of President Bush over his plans to legalize millions of illegal aliens.

"This is the worst betrayal of our country in my lifetime," said Savage, whose program is heard on more than 350 stations with an audience reaching some 6 million. His book, "The Savage Nation," last year was No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller's list for five weeks. His follow-up, "The Enemy Within," out just one week, is already No. 8 on the list. Both were published by WND Books.

President Bush

Tonight Savage called Bush a liberal and described him as part of the "enemy within" that is destroying the nation.

Savage created the phrase "compassionate conservative" in 1994, a term picked up by Bush during his presidential campaign – a campaign supported by Savage.

"This is much more serious than dropping your pants for an intern," said Savage. "This is a policy that represents a danger to national security."

Savage is hardly alone in his strong feelings of opposition to Bush's proposal to offer legal status to illegal immigrants. A new ABC News poll finds 52 percent of the nation opposes an amnesty program for illegal immigrants from Mexico, while 57 percent oppose one for illegal immigrants from other countries. Both results are roughly the same as when the administration floated the idea two-and-a-half years ago.

But today in Monterrey, Mexico, Bush reaffirmed his support of the proposal, despite its unpopularity at home. He said it could help illegal immigrants "leave the shadows and have an identity."

At a joint press conference with Mexican President Vicente Fox, Bush warned that his government will not allow the existence in the United States of an underclass of illegal immigrants, but claimed again his proposal is not an amnesty. Amnesty, he said, would only promote the violation of the law and perpetuate illegal immigration.

Bush said his immigration proposal would benefit both the United States and Mexico as it recognizes the contribution of thousands of honest Mexicans who work in the United States.

For his part, Fox embraced Bush's proposal.

"What else can we wish?" Fox said at the news conference with the president.

In the U.S., the latest poll on the controversy shows at least twice as many Americans "strongly" oppose the proposal as strongly support it.

Opposition peaks in Bush's own party: Fifty-eight percent of Republicans oppose his immigration proposal for Mexicans, compared with 50 percent of Democrats. For illegal immigrants other than Mexicans, 63 percent of Republicans are opposed.

Bush reportedly will disclose more details of the plan in his State of the Union address Jan. 20.

Meanwhile, the National Border Patrol Council, which represents all 9,000 of the Border Patrol's non-supervisory agents, has told its members to challenge President Bush´s proposed guest-worker program, calling it a "slap in the face to anyone who has ever tried to enforce the immigration laws of the United States," the Washington Times reported today.

The agents were told in a letter from Vice President John Frecker that the proposal offered last week during a White House press conference "implies that the country really wasn't serious about" immigration enforcement in the first place.

"Hey, you know all those illegal aliens you risked 'life and limb' to apprehend? FAH-GED-ABOWD-IT," said Frecker, a veteran Border Patrol agent. "President Bush has solved the problem. Don't be confused and call this an 'amnesty,' even though those who are here illegally will suddenly become legal and will be allowed to stay here. The president assures us that it's not an amnesty," he said.

Last week Bush proposed the sweeping immigration changes that would allow the 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens thought to be in the United States to remain in the country if they have a job and apply for a guest-worker card. The immigrants could stay for renewable three-year periods, after which they could apply for permanent legal residence.

Savage cited a new report published in the City Journal by the Manhattan Institute suggesting there is a major crime wave in the U.S. caused by illegal immigration.

"Some of the most violent criminals at large today are illegal aliens," the report charges. "Yet in cities where the crime these aliens commit is highest, the police cannot use the most obvious tool to apprehend them: their immigration status. In Los Angeles, for example, dozens of members of a ruthless Salvadoran prison gang have sneaked back into town after having been deported for such crimes as murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and drug trafficking. Police officers know who they are and know that their mere presence in the country is a felony. Yet should a cop arrest an illegal gang-banger for felonious reentry, it is he who will be treated as a criminal, for violating the LAPD’s rule against enforcing immigration law."

The situation is similar, the report says in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Houston. These "sanctuary policies" generally prohibit city employees, including the cops, from reporting immigration violations to federal authorities, says the report.

"These people are destroying America," said Savage. "That's all I have to say on the subject. But you can talk about it. Talk about it while you can – while America is still a free country, because it's not going to last."

[looscnnn]

Won't happen. Unfortunately, Bush is to involved in getting elected to care about that. I got into my car and Hannity was on the radio and commented about the news that Bush was engrosed in the campaign for reelection, he said that is good and that Bush should be. I disagree, he should be engrosed in the job of being President and let his campaign people be engrossed in the reelection. Especially considering they don't know who is going to be the competition.

[jim35]

"...<>..." And just how is a POTUS supposed to correct this problem? GW isn't responsible for LAPD's policies. Also, I'm pretty sure his program doesn't include this category of criminal being made legal here. Michael Savage can be a real idiot sometimes. I do often agree with him, but in this case, he's using pure demogoguery.

[Mr. K]

Go into business for yourself- I have seen so many bad contractors out there I thought I would be grateful for one honest man- I thought I might start a new business doing that myself- I figure if these kinds of people were in business I could make a fortune just by showing up and doing a good job.

[NYC Republican]

President Bush's Amnesty should be defeated the old fashioned ways: by moral suasion and smart counter-politics

I meant to say, exactly.

[AbsoluteJustice]

"Savage is an egomaniac moron. Period, end of story"

If you say so that is fine. So I guess that Rush and Hannity are not as well? I hear them plug themselves more than anyone on radio and TV and you say Savage is an "egomaniac?" Please.

[texastoo]

Good article, Piper.

I don't get the oportunity to listen to Savage, but I do know alot of people are upset about this.

[NYC Republican]

I just wish she'd stop promoting her book too!

I find that annoying as well, Sean's also guilty of it, but Savage is the worst -he's SHAMELESS. Every time a caller calls with a question, he prmotes his book (let me give you a copy of my new book, called...).

[looscnnn]

How do you know that he/she is a single issue voter. Could be that there are a bunch of single issues that combine to become a bunch of issues that this person is against. Just because this person posts "No Bush in 2004" in a thread about a single issue does not mean squat. Could be that the person is a Dem in disguise, etc.

[jim35]

"...I think a lot of us question the ties between Bush and Fox and why Fox seems to have so much power here..."

I have a theory; maybe GW is doing what he thinks is the right thing for our country. I know it's a radical departure for a politician, but hey, it's just a theory. I once heard of a man who acted out of actual belief, rather than political expediency, but maybe it was just a rumor.

[beachn4fun]

Sounds like Savage must have been bought by the DemoRats.

[Capt.YankeeMike]

You have just received my nomination for INS director...although you have to give me de-crim on pot use...
LOL
The Capt.

[gitmogrunt]

Uh oh the boot lickin' republicans and CINO's on FR ain't gonna like this.(LOL)

[B4Ranch]

Accepted and you have been so designated.

Scan the whole page for good reading!
Conservative Debate Handbook

[MissAmericanPie]

"President Bush's Amnesty should be defeated the old fashioned ways: by moral suasion and smart counter-politics.."

I'm just curious as to when the last time was that something was defeated by this method and what it was that was defeated.

Personally, I think the whole lot in D.C. deserves impeachment for CFR alone, as well as the flaunting of our immigration laws.

It certainly can't hurt for Savage to point out that there is growing anger in the base. I am sure Bush has some bones to throw his base right before the election, I'm curious as to what they might be. It will certainly not bode well if no bones are toss'ed.

[m1-lightning]

Since when does a trial balloon become an impeachable offense? When you're employee comes up with a wacko idea, you don't fire (him), you correct him with the 'proper' idea. Michael Savage is just another libertarian blabbermouth who has no 'proper' idea.

[Sabertooth]

I'm just curious as to when the last time was that something was defeated by this method and what it was that was defeated.

Gray Davis.

It certainly can't hurt for Savage to point out that there is growing anger in the base.

Yeah, it can, if he foams at the mouth when he does it.

The only possible good that could come of this is if the Democrats in Congress become sufficiently emboldened to oppose Bush's Amnesty, because it is "not enough," in coalition with Republicans who recognize it for the unmitigated disaster that it is.

[jim35]

"According to a RoperASW poll from last year, 83 percent of Americans support mandatory detention and forfeiture of property for illegal immigrants, followed by deportation."

It's a pipe dream, it'll never happen. We don't really know that this is a cheaper idea, and from your proposals, it sounds pretty dang expensive to me, not to mention that it would take just about every LEO in the whole country to do it, not to mention about 3/4 of the military. And I guarentee you'll never get illegals to turn each other in. Also, the minute you start telling the courts to "back off," you are inviting totalitarianism into the executive branch. Wanna give that power to the next democrat POTUS?
As for fining employers for hiring illegals, that's already the law. Isn't it working great?
Now, I'm picturing these massive sweeps through our streets to root out the illegals. How're you gonna perfect that? Door to door searches? Shall we have gun-toting agents busting down doors randomly? The whole problem is, there is no easy solution to the problem of illegal aliens. Doing the same thing we're doing sure isn't working, and maybe (or maybe not) giving those who are here now some sort of legal identity will separate the wheat from the criminal chaff. I personally am against this, but not rabidly so, like many others. My problem is that these people are here ILLEGALLY, thus are breaking the law, but IMHO, I think some of these people might make better Americans than some of our own home-grown liberals.

[Tamzee]

Savage proved he was a moron long ago... this is just one more example. He does for the right what Michael Moore does for the left.

[sinkspur]

Oy vey. Savage is such an idiot.

Yep. Crazy as a bedbug.

[Final Authority]

Please explain to me how you come to the conclusion that Savage is an idiot. If in your overview of Savage the facts show that he is indeed an idiot then you may get me on your side but just saying so is quite meaningless. You are entitled to your opinion however and opinions are like, you know, everyone has one and most of them stink.

BTW, Jay Severin, the number one talk host in the evening drive time in Boston called for his impeachment relative to CFR and again over the criminal alien amnesty plan. I think NH will not put GWB on the top of the vote count this time. He only won over Gore by about a couple thousand votes and I like many conservatives will take a "walk" this election. Many are saying, Go Pat Go.