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.
All you have done is whine about Bush for 3 years. Don't give me that crap.
After hearing President Bush's speech, do you approve of his immigration reform plan?
Yes
313 votes - 21%
No
959 votes - 65%
Undecided
194 votes - 13%
Good post. Worth repeating.
Look around the landscape of this forum. I'll let them speak for themselves.
It's my opinion that the the majority of folks left that continue to support President Bush after this "plan" was revealed, are simple putting their party or candidate before country.
That mindset is very destructive and will only delay putting a *real* conservative in office. As these types of actions continue, it's going to happen sooner or later. The people are reaching their limit, and eventually will say enough!
Just ask Gray Davis about ignoring the will of the people.
I stated the truth. Believe me or not.
Same here. Not a one.
Not a one huh?
LOL! It's no secret that the overall majority of American's are totally against this.
I just took several seconds and found one out of Salt Lake City where it's *74%* are against Bush's plan to 26% for.
LOL!
It's like this all over the country. But of course, you guys can't find this secret information.
Besides, what the American people want really doesn't matter anymore.
Here's the link that took me five or six seconds to find. There are more.
http://dougwright.ksl.com/show_9858.php
Ah, come on Joe, say it ain't so, cause it isn't.
That can start a revolution faster than anything else.
Man the Barricades! Can I leave to take my grandson to baseball pracitce twice a week?
Your analogy is comparing a speed limit law to *millions* entering our country illegally?
Hehehe....
Oh really? It took me five second to show you that a poll in Salt Lake City that indicated that 75 percent of the people were against this plan, and there are many more polls from all over the country.
Care to show me polls where the overwhelming majority are for this plan? Even the poll here on FR indicates the same thing.
I'd like to see these polls you speak of.
Do you have something constuctive to say? Posting just witty comebacks is cliche.
That's the plan - wholesale replacement of the American workforce. It's already happening where I live.
To: MadIvan
I wouldn't mind a Gore victory. A Republican victory will mean only that we forestall the Democrat program for a few years, if that. We need a revolution, not more defeatist Republican whining. If Gore wins, then I say fine. Worse is better. When things get bad enough, maybe our sheeple will finally put down the Schlitz and turn off the NBA game long enough to take notice. Maybe they'll even remember who our Fathers were. Maybe they'll realize killing babies is a sin. Maybe God will replace their hearts of stone with ones of flesh.
Better to stand for what's right and die with your boots on, than backing up some weak sell-out comprimise. I'm voting for Pat. Choose the Crusade!
Walter Yannis
45 Posted on 08/21/2000 03:39:16 PDT by Walter Yannis
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You can't hold a candle to the unappeasables in 2000 and guess what Bush won without them. Guess what.. Bush will win without them again.
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