Posted on 01/08/2004 3:34:13 PM PST by kellynla
I am beginning to think John McCain actually won the presidency in 2000.
Conservatives were relieved when the Straight Talk Express petered out during the 2000 primary season. John McCain, although tough on national security and runaway spending, was hardly a conservative on major issues such as campaign finance, healthcare reform and immigration.
Yet this is exactly where we find President Bush today (except unlike McCain, Bush doesn’t seem to have much of a problem with runaway spending). Last year President George Bush signed the McCain-Feingold bill into law, which is one of the worst assaults on political speech this country has ever seen. When conservatives (and many liberals) howled, the President’s advisers whispered that they believed the Supreme Court would “clean up” the more onerous parts of the bill which dictates the types of political ads that can air before a general election or primary contest. Of course the Supreme Court rubber stamped the entire thing and so the result is less, not more political speech in the U.S.
And now President Bush charges across the landscape to rescue us from our “unfair” and “broken” immigration system by rewarding people who came here illegally with the promise of legal status. This proposal essentially mirrors the immigration legislation sponsored by—you got it—Sen. McCain. Under the Bush/McCain plan, anyone outside the U.S. who wants to come into the country would only need to show proof of a “job offer” in order to get an initial three-year work permit that would be renewable for an unspecified period. Such temporary workers could also bring family members here. What prevents these people from staying on beyond their time premitted for "temporary" work? As it stands now, there seems to be no limit on the immigration —temporary or permanent— allowed under this plan. And as for the claim that this would be a big boon to the American economy? Illegal immigration costs taxpayers $20 billion each year, in extra education, healthcare, welfare, and prison costs. Today thirty-four percent of Mexicans legally in the U.S., and 25 percent of Mexicans illegally here are welfare.
How are those costs diminished under the Bush plan?
Most bewildering is the Administration idea that this plan is necessary for homeland security reasons. On the contrary, it would not be surprising if some would-be terrorists are among the millions of illegals who will become “documented” under the Bush plan. As Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) charged, "Guest worker programs and gradual amnesty provide cover for terrorists."
It’s easy to understand why Vicente Fox, McCain, big business, and La Raza are happy this week—but what’s in this new proposal for working class American families? How about those immigrants who a lot of time and money to comply with our immigration laws?
The real answer is absolutely nothing. The only reasonable prediction is that wages for a wide range of jobs will be kept artificially depressed by outside workers—now with “legal status” will work for peanuts. “I have worked construction for 30 years as a truck driver (18-wheeler),” wrote one of my listeners, “And every year my pay has gone down because Mexicans are flooding the trucking industry…."
When Bill Clinton says we live in an “increasingly borderless world,” we’re not surprised. It’s the usual globaloney blather. But when a Republican president advocates a policy that will make our borders effectively meaningless, we should be outraged.
With his approval numbers high, President Bush has made a devil’s bargain with business and Hispanic groups. Elites from both parties are ignoring the view of a strong majority of Americans that we need to stop illegal immigration, not high-five it.
Another listener wonders: “What happened to the ‘party of principle’? More like the party of pandering. Considering the massive numbers involved, this amnesty being floated really is Pandora's Box, once opened cannot be closed.”
President Bush has now done the equivalent of posting a sign at the border: “Help Wanted for $5.15/hour.”
Conservatives are right to be disappointed in President Bush. We are right to ignore the Administration’s promise that this time, non-amnesty amnesty will be good for the American people. Our citizenship and legal residence should be reserved for people who love this country enough that breaking her laws—whether at the border or on the street—is out of the question. The next time I hear from his Administration that it is doing all it can to protect our homeland, secure our borders, and increase our standard of living, I will laugh.
Now I know the definition of “compassionate conservative:” a person who campaigns as a conservative, then sells out key conservative principles.
Oh my.... I completely forgot about that! Even more ironic ;-)
And there is no END of this illegal invasion.
We should also bring back the Bracero program, it's a win-win.
But your Falling Sky crap is "Cute" I suppose? Don't like it when someone fights back, huh?
Get a grip, catch a clue, and stop whining when you get beeyotch slapped...besides, I can list chapter and verse on your "Bile and rhetoric"...
These guys actually believe most of us have no idea of their posting history for years around here. If those on this board that proclaim their vote for Bush in 2000 but never again had actually voted for him in 2000 he would have won in a landslide. "Base" my butt.
AHHHH a tough guy.
I keep reading about all sorts of polls detailing the negative reactions to Bush's proposal, but I can't find one outside FR.
All I found, are polls talking about Bush's 60% approval rating.
You misinterpreted... my point was exactly the opposite. We aren't afraid to voice and defend a stance that may be unpopular on the right at first. And generally right-wingers don't automatically spew poison at someone who honestly and sincerely debates an important issue... which is why I'm so shocked to see the toxic reaction to anyone here who wants to point out there are (as always) pros AND cons to this plan.
I expect intellectual honesty from conservatives... and we aint seeing much today.
Good night and sleep well.
Can I be truthful here?
Come election time, if another viable conservative candidate wasn't running against President Bush, I would have more than likely supported and voted for him.
However, after watching his amnesty speech the other night, President Bush will never receive another vote from me, regardless who is running.
I'll just sit it out if there is no other real conservative choice as I refuse to support, or be be part of this plan.
Even the mere suggestion of this plan should be enough to wake up others that were on the fence.
Those left that are putting party before country, will live to regret it.
All that sky is falling crap no longer has any punch.
They seem to be Spinning like Tops here trying to Defend the Indefensible. And I don’t think it’s Selling like it used to.
A lot of Conservatives have “hadenuf” with this Compassionate Conservative. The Compassionate part has been shown time and again to apply to everyone in this World that is NOT an American Citizen.
No you haven't but that has never stopped you before. List some of these "strong" supporters of Bush that consider this a deal breaker with them. Put-up or shut up
Pssst...Refer to my posts (FR Archives) from the Summer of 2000 through year-end...then call me a Liar.
Were you even around then?
Same here. Not a one.
I share your confusion. But point of fact: the libertarians (prior to 9/11) supported open borders after abolishing the welfare state. Of course, anyone with a brain realizes that open borders are not a post-war position.
To be honest I don't see this immigration announcement as a big deal. It'll get trounced in Congress and won't make it to Bush's desk before the election. If anything it's a trojan that might have a chance but I doubt that most savvy illegals will comply and I don't blame them.
Why should they prop up a ponzi scheme like SS any more than the rest of us? The solution is always simple, reduce the federal governments funding to its constitutional bounds and let the people keep their money. Either it goes to Mexico or to the corner store as long as it's spent on something worthwhile.
I've cleaned toilets up to my elbow (no gloves), and suicide messes to boot for ServiceMaster. Your problem, like the beltway gang that spews this elitist sh!t, is that you've never done it. And you simply can't imagine an anglo sinking so low.
Your fantastic assumption that toilet duty is fit work for illegals betrays how you feel about that crowd.
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