Bush's Ridiculous Speech About Immigration Reform

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[Happy2BMe]

Bush's Ridiculous Speech About Immigration Reform

I just want to comment on a few of the things that jumped out at me as I read the text of Bush's speech about the horrendous new immigration legislation he is going to propose.

To begin with, this line just chaps me...

"As a nation that values immigration and depends on immigration, we should have immigration laws that work and make us proud. Yet today we do not."

No, our immigration laws don't work or make us proud. You know why? Because we don't make an effort to enforce them. It's like telling your kid to clean his room, having him watch TV instead, and then having him look you in the eye and say, "you know the system we're using to get my room cleaned up just isn't working".

Here's more from Bush...

"Many undocumented workers have walked mile after mile, through the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Some have risked their lives in dangerous desert border crossings or entrusted their lives to the brutal rings of heartless human smugglers.

BUSH: Workers who seek only to earn a living end up in the shadows of American life, fearful, often abused and exploited.

When they're victimized by crimes they're afraid to call the police or seek recourse in the legal system. They are cut off from their families far away, fearing if they leave our country to visit relatives back home they might never be able to return to their jobs."

Yes, that's pretty much what happens to criminals everywhere isn't it? I mean even though a drug dealer works hard and does dangerous work, he can't very well call the police and tell them someone stole his crack can he? Of course, if he were in an honest profession or if the illegal aliens obeyed our laws, they wouldn't have this problem would they?

Then Bush tosses off this whopper about the border...

"First, America must control its borders. Following the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this duty of the federal government has become even more urgent, and we're fulfilling that duty."

No, the government isn't "fulfilling that duty". We still have illegals, drug dealers, and probably terrorists pouring across our border because the Bush administration even after 9/11, will not commit the necessary resources and manpower to get the job done.

Then this paragraph begs an obvious question...

"Employers must not hire undocumented aliens or temporary workers whose legal status has expired. They must report to the government the temporary workers they hire and who leave their employ so that we can keep track of people in the program and better enforce our immigration laws. There must be strong workplace enforcement with tough penalties for anyone -- for any employer violating these laws."

...and that question is, "why can't we go ahead and do that NOW"? If we did this today, most of the people who are here illegally would go home because they couldn't find jobs. So why do we have to wait until after we've made all these illegals who don't respect our laws into citizens to do this?

Then there's this...

"The citizenship line, however, is too long, and our current limits on legal immigration are too low.

My administration will work with the Congress to increase the annual number of green cards that can lead to citizenship."

Our population is growing as it is and isn't unemployment higher than we'd like as it is? So why do we want to INCREASE the number of people flooding into our country legally?

Last but not least, Bush hit this theme several times...

"Reform must begin by confronting a basic fact of life and economics: Some of the jobs being generated in America's growing economy are jobs American citizens are not filling."

As Mark Krikorian explained in yesterday's National Review, those jobs would be filled by Americans if the illegals weren't driving down wages.

Does that not make perfect sense? I mean people get all up in arms about companies going overseas to get cheap labor, but when the cheap labor COMES HERE, those same people just assume that Americans "won't do those jobs". Sure they will, just not at the same price.

I can only hope that Congress fights Bush all the way on this bill and stops it cold. Giving illegal aliens legal status is only going to cause even more of them to flood across our borders to fill up our prisons, our schools, and leech off of our social services. Our government should be doing everything in its power to stop them instead of rewarding them for breaking our laws.

[rwfromkansas]

Regardless of your feeelings about immigration (and the absurd claims of the Mexican haters that Americans are jumping at the chance to be picking crops in fields all day long; Mexicans came into those jobs because...even with higher wages, there were not enough WASPS to fill the jobs), there are several facts that the people attacking Bush are ignoring.

1. Contrary to the leaks prior to his speech, an employer must search for an American to fill the job, and can only fill the position with a foreigner if no American is found.
2. It is not a plan that will lead to citizenship, as the leaks made it out to be. In fact, Mexican groups are furious the plan does "too little." The program is only for three years. It is renewable, but only if the person keeps the job. Those already in the U.S. will have to pay a "fee".....really a fine....to join the program.
3. Again contrary to leaks, Bush made clear yesterday that these people will not be treated like citizens. They will not get social security as earlier claimed by the people hysterically attacking the program, but instead retirement funding from their home countries...as they will have to return home, not stay in the United States.

[MissAmericanPie]

But it's tenable that 35% of illegals are on welfare? The Fed toss'ed them out of their airport jobs, the applications to fill those jobs rose to 7,000 in a week.

They toss'ed them out of Walmart, they need to keep the ball rolling, obey the laws of the land, and do what's right by their fellow countryman.

The only people that will complain is left wing communists and as the last few elections indicate, it's not only safe to ignore them, it' paramount if you want to hold a government office.

[SerpentDove]

>>What does this mean? Is this another outcry at the horror of allowing a human born in the US to be a citizen, as opposed to undoing that law and managing the population on the basis of genetics?<<

What in the hell are you talking about? Genetics? Name one place where "race" as opposed to "nationality" has been addressed. Take your racist accusations somewhere else.

>>This would trash all respect for US territoriatlity.<<

Yeah, Mexicans really respect our borders now, right? Please, limit your points to relevant ones.

>>Humans born here are Americans. Shipping Americans south and condemning them to 3rd world care is as unAmerican a thing as can be imagined. <<

That is beyond ridiculous. Not worthy of a response.

[rwfromkansas]

As it was said after CFR, including me.

But guess what, even after he signed it, he retained immovable support in the GOP.

When it comes to election day, these disagreements do not result in significantly fewer votes. Yes, a vote or two here and there gone, but that's it. The votes picked up outweigh the ones lost.

[arm958]

"Pandering at the expense of security".

For all his egomania and bombast, Savage does have a way of getting to the core of an issue. I would also add "at the expense of America's blue-collar workers". As I've said before, no hard-working, self-respecting American worker can compete with laborers who live eight to a trailer and sleep on the floor in sleeping bags.

[rwfromkansas]

I was disappointed that Bush did not unveil a plan to use technology to monitor the borders though.

I think that ultimately those crying for "close the borders" are very short-sighted in thinking that somehow a fence will stop immigrants from coming here through the border. They will find a way in. But, I think that technology could be used to an extent to improve our ability to catch illegals coming across the border. This would make a lot more long-term sense than putting up some fence or deploying half the military to the borders.

I was hoping Bush would also propose something like that, but he didn't. Oh well I guess.

[Mr. Mojo]

The votes picked up outweigh the ones lost.

The votes picked up from where? All polls indicate that at least 70% of the electorate is against the President's plan. So he's not picking those new votes up from the center, which undoubtedly is included in that large percentage. He's certainly not picking up votes from the right or left either. So you must be referring to Hispanics. Well I got news for you: Hispanics will continue to vote 'Rat overwhelmingly regardless of how enthusiastically the Prez panders, and historically they vote in low #'s anyway.

[Tempest]

If you're refering to the H-2A guest worker program, the beauracracy currently involved with it and the qualifications neccessary for a farmer to be approved for it is very rather cost prohibitive and usually yields no benefit for the farmer or service provider in the end.

A broader guest worker program such as the one President Bush proposes would foreseeably cause market fluctuations initially but also at the same time force job markets such as service provision and farm work to be more competative and perhaps more appealing to the average citizen. Whom by default under the President's plan get to take precedent in the hiring process of such labor positions.

So how familiar are you with the H-2A guest worker program???

[Mr. Mojo]

thinking that somehow a fence will stop immigrants

Not a fence, but the National Guard .....and a lot of them. It certainly won't stop all of illegals, but it'll stop enough to make a big difference. And don't underestimate the deterrence factor.

I agree with you that high tech monitoring of the borders would be a good idea.

[Happy2BMe]

"The votes picked up outweigh the ones lost."

Can you be more specific?

[PuNcH]

1. Contrary to the leaks prior to his speech, an employer must search for an American to fill the job, and can only fill the position with a foreigner if no American is found.

Oh you were making 18 an hour? Well now were offering the job for 6. You cant afford to work for that little? Well I guess no Americans are willing to do this job...guest worker please.

2. It is not a plan that will lead to citizenship, as the leaks made it out to be. In fact, Mexican groups are furious the plan does "too little." The program is only for three years. It is renewable, but only if the person keeps the job. Those already in the U.S. will have to pay a "fee".....really a fine....to join the program.

They are not furious. They are bucking at the gate because if they can argue that they are treated as 2nd class, they know they can get more. You are arguing that they will not be treated as citizens but you want them to do the hard work that Americans wont do? Yah and the democrats and illegals are going to thank you for your wonderful charity.

3. Again contrary to leaks, Bush made clear yesterday that these people will not be treated like citizens. They will not get social security as earlier claimed by the people hysterically attacking the program, but instead retirement funding from their home countries...as they will have to return home, not stay in the United States.

Who is going to make them return home?

[Happy2BMe]

"Pandering at the expense of security".

-- Michael Savage

Did you catch M.S. on Bill O'Reilly this week?

Bill's head looked like one of those little fake mexican dogs you see in the rear window of a '57 Chevy crusing around Los Angeles - bobbing up and down and up and down in agreement with Micahel.

One of the strongest points against gradual illegal immigration amnesty M.S. pointed out was the one most people always overlook.

Namely: For every immigrant given amnesty, his or her spouse, parent(s), children, and immediate next of kin is right behind them in the pipe.

In essence, granting a blue - then green card for say 10 million (very conservative) illegal immigrants easily brings with it another 30 million immigrants.

Why is this so difficult to understand?

[onedoug]

Good points. Though these are jobs too, which are not usually considered as within the so-called "underground economy", and are in the thousands as opposed to the millions.

I certainly wouldn't claim W's plan is perfect. But I do think it may ultimately be more workable than the long line of American leaders having done nothing to this point.

[Toespi]

Finally, illegals will be forced to contribute their financial responsibility to this country via payroll deductions because hopefully, they will be receiving a check rather than cash under the table.

[DrDeb]

Just read your homepage where you indicate that Reagan was the last REPUBLICAN president.

Refresh my memory: Didn't Reagan sign a BLANKET AMNESTY bill, repeal tax cuts, advocate pro-abortion legislation, preside over the largest budget deficit (as a % of the GDP) in American history -- I could go on, but I'm sure you get my point! [NOTE: I'm not criticising Reagan -- he did what he felt he had to do at the time -- I'm simply providing you with some much needed perspective!]

[winker]

This is a classic example of mixing up the "PROBLEM" & "The SYMPTOM"! The problem is Employment. The symptom is the illegal aliens. Companies who knowingly hire un-documentable aliens create the problem by violating the rule and spirit of our laws. This stupid proposal rewards Criminals for doing so. Immigration is a natural desire we produce because of this nation's success and opportunity it creates. The symptomatic results of it all is that we make it so aluring to the have nots and then have no system to explain that it is a pay as you go program everyone must support openly and not from under the woodworks. Illegal aliens are takers not contributors and are content to remain so. Our system of rules must locate, identify and put them on the Tax Rolls and Social Security. This is how you control Immigration; it is a two way street not a black/brown hole!

[DrDeb]

CREATIVE EXPLANATION; BRILLIANT ANALOGIES -- I'm sure you noticed that both were completely ignored!!

[If you don't mind, I plan to repost your commentary on the DOSE tonight!]

[Ann Archy]

I asked you what you like about W,but you didn't answer my question. I'll ask again....what has he done that you like, because all I have seen from you are complaints.

[Richard-SIA]

Are you kidding?

I have tried to contact INS about illegals.
No one answers, you get Voice-mail®.

Press #1 to apply for a visa, even if you are already here,
Press #2 to apply for a visa extension, press 3 to apply for....

At no point will you be offered an option to report illegals or their employers!

[Ann Archy]

I asked you what you like about W,but you didn't answer my question. I'll ask again....what has he done that you like, because all I have seen from you are complaints.

I ALSO ASKED WHO YOU VOTED FOR IN 2000. Care to answer??