Posted on 01/12/2004 9:37:51 AM PST by Happy2BMe
The President's Speech on Immigration Reform given on January 7th, 2004 has many far reaching proposals which if enacted into law, will shape the future of America for generations to come.
It is the first such immigration reform initiative by any president since Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to illegal immigrants living in the United States in 1986.
President Bush's immigration reform initiative would provide immediate and significant legal protections and rights for any illegal immigrants now living in the United States providing they inform the government of their presence here by legally registering it with the .
Significant benefits and privileges, including an opportunity for U.S. citizenship, would be granted to these immigrants as a result of their cooperation.
Since at least ten million illegal immigrants already living in the United States are eligible for the president's proposal, and since deporting that large of a population back to their home countries is largely considered physically impractical, this solution is seen as the "best-case" solution to the immigration problem by many Americans.
Also embedded into the president's proposal are far reaching changes that are considered by many Americans to be "giving away the farm." The cost of absorbing millions of illegal immigrants all at once and the impact and precedent it could create for future illegal immigrations are believed by many other Americans to far outweigh the benefits of legitimizing these millions of immigrants.
The political, economic, and social impact of President Bush's initiatives will affect the United States for at least the remainder of the 21st Century.
The crisis of illegal immigration affects each and every American, and the longer the crisis goes unanswered, the worse it will become.
It is for this reason that the nation must now put their differences aside and work together for the combined good of all Americans, from all walks of life, and from all political and economic persuasions.
Current FR link reference on President Bush's Immigration Reform Initiative will be update on a regular basis.
President George W. Bush's speech on immigration delivered on Jan. 7, 2004 follows:
And as also stated, for coming forth with an initiative to change the status quo and end the crisis, something no predecessor has done sine 1986 is commendable
But something has gone terribly wrong and critical errorss in the terminology of the plan have now brought illegal immigration reform up to being an issue of equal, if not greater priority than even gettng out of Iraq.
"Out of sight out of mind," they say. But the illegal immigrant invasion of Anytown, USA can no longer be swept under the rug - put on the "back burner." The issue closest to home is what is heaviest on people's mind.
The instant Bush opened his mouth with the idea of a "National Job Locator" - a government operated, sponsored and driven system to find jobs that no American would want, in a split second managed to lose him 10% of his staunchest support base.
Don't mess with Texas has worked great for Texas. Dubya's style is written all over it and many people all over the country have looked to the ahievements Dubya did while gubner and said, "Hey - I kinda like that. Maybe he can do that for the whole country."
But a great political machine is a fickle thing that if you "mess" with it too much, can crackle and almost instantly fall to pieces right before your very eyes.
Don't mess with America is now on the mind and lips of millions of life-long Republicans who felt they were holding onto a 220V livewire standing in six inches of water when they heard Dubya's ideas on how to "fix" the immigration crisis.
And these are not RINOs - these are CORE REPUBLICANS Bush cannot afford to Disenfranchise.
The sting has been stung and the bite has been done. It may not heal for many on the relieving end in the nine months between January and the November elections.
And for those banking on these early bird polls believing Bush can ride the tailwinds of our military's great achievements into the White House in 2004, all they have to do is turn a page in time back to November, 1992.
The president is a good fence mender. This may be the hardest fence he has ever mended. And he'll have to do it in record time - the cows are getting out all over the field and it's getting close milking time.
FReepers are pretty a pretty savvy bunch when it comes to protecting our nation, its borders, its economy, its heritage, and its workers.
Can over 1,900 FReepers be wrong?
Question ...
After hearing President Bush's speech, do you approve of his immigration reform plan?
Yes
602 votes - 21%
No
1,914 votes - 67%
Undecided
323 votes - 11%
2,839 votes total; you voted "No"
The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave
Clear Law Enforcement For Criminal Alien Removal Act Of 2003 (Clear Act) Bush Immigration Plan a Bad Idea - David Limbaugh
Plan For Immigration Reform Dismays Many Conservatives
Immigration and the Constitution Party
The Organization of American States
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.