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.

[MissAmericanPie]

W's plan will not work and he knows it will not work. The reason our laws on the books have not worked is because polticians have put pressure on the INS not to do it's job.

We need boots on the border, an investigation into corruption in the INS, root out the congressmen putting pressure on the INS not to do it's job and impeach them right out of office. Then we need the laws on the books to be enforced along with laws deporting those with no income other than welfare and jobs that pay them under the table.

[Tempest]

Alright here's my point. Earlier you proclaimed to me that there was already a guest worker program for farm workers I pointed out that this is true. It's known as the H-2A migrant farm workers act.

Now here's my point. The H-2A migrant farm workers act is not good for business and does not make farm work better or more appealing to American citizens. Although it does cost farmers alot and it wondeful for migrant farm workers. Why?? Well because H-2A requires the employer to file large amounts of documentation and pay large fees in order to use migrant farm workers every time planting and then picking season comes around. The farmer is also required to pay the immigrant minimum wage or above minus taxes which are automatically deducted. Then on top of that he has to provide direct transportation for them from the border directly to the work site along with room and board during the time in which they are working with the farmer and then the farmer also has to drive them back across the border.

All this usually leaves the farmer ending up on the short end of the stick or barely breaking even. Under Bush's proposal immigrants are required to recieve legal work status on their own and provide the documents to the farmer. This isn't a major benefit I understand. But here comes the good part. Under a broad guest worker program where the immigrants can maintain there stay here legally. The farmer saves money by not having to pay for room and board. Yet he'll lose money due to the increased wages in which he'll surely have to pay from farm workers who suddenly feel entitled to a wage increase simply because they do not have to fear the threat of deportation from their employer. This in turn will make farming jobs more competative and in relation with Bush's proposal citizens would be eligible for the jobs before illegal immigrants. (not that you'll find many citizen interested int he job right now anyways, so I'm not sure why they're complaining?!? But I digress)

Anyways this proposal will most likely extend to other fields in which an illegal immigrant workforce is already prevelant in. Such as maids, dishwashers, and other service areas which are typically low paying but will now be more competative.

Of course that's just one scenario which I've ran through, there are many more some which could be more positive or less.

As for this comment:

"I for one do not want to see kids in this country, who are not college material, condemned to a life of minimum wage. Which will be the result of 40 million people coming into this country."

I'm not quite sure what you were alluding too? Are you saying that an influx of illegal immigrants would cause established citizens to wind up with minimum wage jobs??? So are you under the assumption that legal guest workers would undercut many low skill moderate pay jobs?!?!? Perhaps, but not likely. I'm not quite sure patrons would take to kindly to the fact that their waiter or grocery checker doesn't speak english and most likely stole "Jack's" job due to undercutting. Perhaps you could elaborate on your perspective.

[onedoug]

I'll sure lobby my Congressional Marxists from California to exercize some similar derrier shifting on this issue.

I hope you will too.

Meanwhile, W has beaten Congress to it by being the only President to have actually finally done something outside the decades old box.

(Not to mention having pulled the rug out from under the so-called democrats on one of their supposedly proprietary issues, again.)

[Stallone]

You are most welcome!

[MissAmericanPie]

Yes he has done something, he has made trip after trip to Mexico to insure Fox that he will get him what he wants at all costs. Then he has come home and tried to sneak an amnesty through twice, the only thing that stopped it where freepers and other conservative sites calling in and demanding it not pass.

Now he has this unworkable, unfair, dangerous, unenforcable, no control at the border plan, to reward millions of more gate crashers. He has the IMF suggesting that no one loan us any more money for our national debt because it is too out of hand and the dollar is falling.

Wonder what he will do for fun in his next term? I already know, he will sign us over lock, stock, and barrel to the FTA treaty, placing us under international law, and ending our status as a sovereign nation altogether. No thanks, I feel like I have been suicidal enough in spending decades voting for Republicans to represent me and spending decades watching them not only not represent me, but actually doing as much damage to me and the nation as they can manage.

They have blown their last chance with me if this amnesty passes. I will know for sure the congress cannot be counted on to protect us from the FTA treaty or anything else.

[Stallone]

The 55 mph speed limit was ignored by the vast majority of Americans. All were BREAKING THE LAW. It was a stupid and unworkable law.

The newly-revised speed limit acknowledges something else - REALITY.

For decades, illegal aliens have entered America and lawmakers looked the other way. Americans have embraced them, hired them and protected them. Without their support, they would have withered on the vine.

Now Bush alone did not cause this. YOUR MANY FELLOW AMERICANS DID.

You are asking George Bush to deport them all, right now. Or, just pass the buck and ignore it like everyone else. It is preposterous, but maybe you don't know it - yet.

This principled stand of suicide, the kind of tin-eared McClintock nonsense that put us into the margins for nearly a decade, is sheer political stupidity. Yeah, yeah, it is better to die than compromise...give it up.

Instead, Bush challenges the conventional thinking and saves the best of them, and loses the worst.

He has established a datum reference line, and can be hardcore on those that don't follow the rules from now on. Like raising the speed limit to a more workable level, Bush has accepted the reality that VOTING AMERICANS LIKE YOU hire these people. HE IS DEALING WITH THAT REALITY.

It is BRILLIANT, and GOP'ers failing to see this is not only expected, because most blind Conservatives could not understand the concept of an Arnold vs. the unelectable McClintock, but rather it is the ONLY likely initial response I would have expected.

I would be truly stunned if even 10% of Republicans understood the rationale now. That there is one other person on this board that 'gets it' absolutely astonishes me.

But I believe that in time this initiative will be seen as yet another stroke of bold strateregy by this remarkable President.

Thank God for President Bush.

[The_Eaglet]

A surprising threat to freedom-Campaign Finance Reform thread-day 29

[Blzbba]

"What's worse, we'll be in such a financial bind that we'll have difficulty even financing a war on terror. We'd better vanquish the Islamofascists real quick, before the world wises up and stops financing our debt."


damn good point, unfortunately!

[Delta-Tango]

<> Kind of like our schools, hospitals, emergency rooms, and infrastructure here in Southern California? <> The "best" are the ones who obeyed the law, played by the rules and became citizens LEGALLY. What was in Bush's plan for them? And those who are still in line? Other than making them feel like saps I really didn't see anything. God willing, when this abomination hits Congress it will be dead on arrival.

[onedoug]

Well, good luck then, with whomever else you'll vote for in November.

Best.

[DrDeb]

Thank God indeed!

[The_Eaglet]

"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"."

Stop right there...NUFF SAID!! "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"."

Stop right there...NUFF SAID!!

Ditto.

[singsong]

The government has no trouble enforcing so called laws against posting the Ten Commandments on government property. I'd like to see an illegal alien try that!

LOL... A good one.

[singsong]

Bear down HARD on the remaining illegals, and begin to treat them as that: ILLEGAL.

Like it is done... now! Wow, your' smart.

[Stallone]

Bush ain't appeasing anyone.

He is differentiating between the mess he inherited, and the future crackdown on illegals required to maintain a secure homeland.

By creating a new legal status, that of temporary worker, Bush can now properly catalogue their presence by self-identification. These workers, if they qualify, will then start contributing their fair-share of taxes, and similarly be protected by employment laws, eliminating the unfair advantage over American employees.

These semi-permanent residents who have been employed by American homes and companies for years will be allowed to apply to the new legal channel, and must agree to comply with the law.

And those that don't, can and will be dealt with harshly, with no media sympathy, because there no longer is a reason not to apply.

The benefits of such a program are orders of magnitude over the existing system.

Any other plan, including McNader round-ups, will NEVER happen as long as there is a 'Rat party.

Count your blessings - Bush has hit a home run.

THINK about it.

[BikerNYC]

Shall I go on?

I guess not. I'm convinced. He's a bum.

[freethistle]

I think the bigger businesses want it.They are in business to make a profit not to provide jobs and they have given Bush a lot of money.

But I've also been thinking that if people are registered they can be drafted--maybe that is also why Bush is presenting this.

[singsong]

You are living in the clouds. The amount of illegals will stay the same no matter how many are legalized. Don't you get it - it's the civil war issue all over again. Do we increase productivity by smart use of machines or do we reduce costs by importing slave labor? It can't be both. Those who can produce more with less people will live better. For the rest - there might be a natural reduction of their population. But what's happening is the exact opposite - explosive growth and demands for "redistricting". Accommodating such demands sets a totally unnatural chain of events - more and more flooding, less and less PROGRESS.

[Dante3]

Of course Hispanics will keep voting Democratic. Bush lost a great many votes. And for what? A payoff? Blackmail? Or is he on some kind of medication?

All illegals can be and should be rounded up and deported. Who cares what Fox says. Bush didn't care what other countries said when he attacked Iraq. Why care about the illegal aliens who pose a greater long term threat that Saddam?

[Stallone]

Listen up!

FACT: Illegal aliens who currently live and work here are required to self-identify and qualify for temporary worker status.

What part of this do you not understand?