Posted on 01/07/2004 4:48:31 PM PST by sarcasm
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:45:24 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Wednesday he was confident U.S. President George W. Bush's immigration reform legislation would be approved by Congress.
Bush called for a major overhaul of America's immigration system Wednesday. The proposal would grant temporary legal status to millions of undocumented workers in the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Market forces prove the fact that Mexican labor is needed. Otherwise it wouldn't occur.
What we need to do is to control it. Make sure it's not displacing Americans. Remove the incentives to hire illegals.
Why is that bad?
Strike one, signed the no child left behind act.
Strike two, signed the zillion dollar drugs for old folks scam.
Strike three, Calls my great great grandaddy and idiot for coming to this country by playing by the rules.
The thing that saves Bush in my mind is the ban on partial birth abortion and tax cuts.
But, if a true conservative like Zell ran agasint him i would cross party lines so fast your head would spin.
Don't you mean "illegal aliens"? Or are you just being PC with us?
After reading the speech, I have come to the conclusion that Bush's proposed immigration reform is another brilliant masterstroke of strategery. Every interest gets something:
1) foreign nationals get:
(a) to stay for a reasonable amount of time, on reasonable terms;
(b) a way to keep their Social Security investment;
(c) some financial security for their work investment; and
(d) to live inside the law
2) US citizens concerned about the erosion of their citizenship are guaranteed two important points:
(a) the visas are temporary;
(b) border security (although we may very well get stiffed on this one, if history is any guide);
(c) a strong financial incentive for aliens to go home after they are done working in the US; and
(d) a major decrease in the level of lawlessness
3) US employers get:
(a) off the hook for breaking the law; and
(b) a way to maintain their workers
4) Politicians, especially the GOP, get to have an actual accomplishment to point to with regards to the immigration problem. It also is insurance just in case we get another 9/11 from people being smuggled through the southern border.
In conclusion, this is another piece of brilliant Bush strategery (which I have not yet decided I like, but nevertheless recognize that) that cuts a broad middle ground between the combatants in the political sphere. I am reminded much of the attempt to get UN support for the war in Iraq - it offers a deal that, while not perfect, it would be good faith to offer, and unreasonable to refuse. (On the other hand, it also gives nobody everything they want.)
I don't see how anybody in the legislature can oppose this. The Democrats might oppose it solely on the ground that it would be a Bush accomplishment and helps him in the 2004 election - that's not beyond the depths they have long since plumbed - but they could not win.
I really don't see how conservatives could oppose it, either. If you do want to get rid of as many aliens as possible, as soon as possible, this is the best thing you have seen yet. How many aliens would we have leave, otherwise, by the end of three years? The policy is very discriminatory against indigents as well, which any conservative has to agree with.(Agreed, we may have an issue with temporary workers coming for the purpose of having US citizen children here being protected by the Constitution.)
1,264 posted on 01/07/2004 5:42:38 PM CST by thoughtomator ("I will do whatever the Americans want because I saw what happened in Iraq, and I was afraid"-Qadafi)
I am in complete agreement with you.
Sure he is! All the Mexies move up here so we can retire down there on the coast. Easy!
Folks, after looking at the reactions to this proposal, I'm wondering if it isn't simply another case of strategery. Propose something so sweeping that even members of your own party hate it??? And people on the other side of the isle don't like it either??? Looks like, in the end, Bush can say, 'hey, I gave 'em a proposal and they failed the American people' when in fact, the point WAS to fail. Bush can say, 'I tried.' And his sweeping immigration reform in its current state is swept under the rug.
It also opens up a lot of room for a first time veto. If Bush doesn't get what he wants, would he veto it? We've wondered about this before, especially with CFR and Medicare. Perhaps this will be the moment the bucks do stops here- right on the President's desk- to the delight of Americans- voting Americans, mind you, and to the dismay of Democrats.
Of course, I could have had too much kool-aid.
Yes, I guess. I am telling you that GWB/GHWB/Dole are not candidates that I will support.
End of story.
Seriously.
I will sit on my ass and watch Seinfield and drink beer unless you give me a reason to vote for you (GWB).
I have no reason to vote for you (GWB) now.
I *had* no reason, but held my nose and took a chance. I got what I deserved.
I learned something - again. So will you (GWB), IMO. People think it's something to fight over. It isn't. Just watch the results
GWB needs *every vote* he got last time and *more*.
He does *not* have them as of *now*.
The rest isn't worth arguing about... IMO.
Let's just sit back and watch. I'm willing...
Try here:
Bush immigration "principles" mirror Cornyn bill (Tom Delay Has "Severe Reservations" About Plan)
I just don't see how getting a handle on who is here, and getting them part of the system is a setback.
The main question I have is whether we'll really have the guts to enforce it.
Strict mandatory prison sentences for employers of illegals.
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