Backers say Bush plan goes beyond immigration

Washington Times ^ | 1-15-04 | Bill Sammon

[JustPiper]

President Bush's political strategists, taking note of the unpopularity of his immigration initiative as reflected in public-opinion polls, expressed confidence yesterday that the proposal will gain support as it is recast as an economic and homeland security issue.

"Once people have had a chance to educate themselves about the proposal and what it does, support for it will grow," said Christine Iverson, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

[BlackbirdSST]

Oh come on. Look at the FR poll. This is the first time I have seen a clear majority of the FR membership against a Bush proposal. Those that focus on illegal immigration had most of the forum including most of the "bushbots" on their side. What did they do? They did what they always do they overplayed their hand. Instead of mobilizing whatever clout Freerepublic has to influence the decision they immediately turned it into a "dump Bush" movement. They called for his impeachment, they called for electing a democrat to teach the GOP a lesson, they called for "bounties" on the heads of illegal aliens, they called for treason charges and those were the milder demands. Now, what is the agenda? Is it to do something about illegal immigration or is illegal immigration just the stalking horse to dump Bush and the GOP? To me it is clear that, to a large extent it is the latter. You yourself have stated that you prefer "divided" government to what we have now and you have glommed onto this issue as your justification. It is fine to want to dump Bush, that is anyone’s right, however to use a forum that is mostly supportive of the GOP and Bush in particular to hide your opposition to both and then hiding behind an issue that the clear majority of the forum agrees with is dishonest.

Dishonest? Coming from you? Spare me your rant tex. I don't hide behind squat. Let me clarify this for you. I despise a Socialist Liberal. I make no distinction of the "Party" and make no excuses for it either. The only thing I despise more than a Socialist Liberal, is a "Party" shill, and again I make no distinction of the "Party". Do I prefer divided gubermint? Absolutely. It's the only chance the Republic has to survive. Country before Party, a concept you can't grasp. Blackbird.

[txdoda]

I think it is really a draft registration proposal.

After a sufficient number sign up the heading at the top of the page will be changed from "Immigration" to "Draft" Registration.>>>>>>>>


LOL.....Nope, gov't *already* covered this angle clearly, & without many the *usual* loopholes.....

"Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens (legal & ILLEGAL) living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service".


So are illegals obeying THIS federal law ??? (I doubt it)........Is our gov't ENFORCING this law against illegals ??? (LOL...I doubt that, TOO !!)

[Penny]

I agree. The administration merely has to give a one-year grace period to all employers and to all illegal aliens. At the end of the year, all illegal aliens who haven't wrapped up their business and gathered their goods and headed south (or wherever) will be arrested and never allowed to enter the U.S. legally--and employers would pay those $10,000 fines. Whew! I get tired of hearing the naysayers tell how "impossible" it is so that they rationalize keeping 10-14 MILLION illegal aliens here forever!

Regards . . . Penny

[chatham]

This is the perfect example where 100 attaboys are wiped out with ONE Aw Sh*t.
Some one better get to Jorge on this before he is no longer "EL PRESIDENTE".
As far as a Homeland Security issue we cannot allow an open Border wothout destroying the Country.
These wetbacks intend to annex the Southwest of the United States for Mexico and they openly say so.

[chatham]

I think the wrong end of the COW is putting out your thoughts on this one.

[texastoo]

I thought Bush didn't believe in polls. Didn't he say something to the effect that he wouldn't govern by the polls? Now, we have an internal poll by the Republican party that disagrees with the Bush stance. I wonder why the Repubicans are polling now?

[kittymyrib]

And someone ought to check on what happened on election day in 2000 in New Mexico before trotting this narrow loss out as evidence for the amnesty bill. That day, 8-12" of snow fell in eastern NM keeping the conservative rural voters who vote Republican from the ballot boxes. That left the kooky Santa Fe left, the Indian reservations, and the illegal aliens to swing the state by a few hundred votes to Gore. This bad proposal certainly will do nothing to appeal to the conservative eastern NM voters who have seen their state elect Bill Richardson (yes, Monica's mentor) as governor in the meantime.

[FLAUSA]

Bush proposes plan for illegal immigration.

What exactly has Bush done? Has he passed a law allowing amnesty? No, any immigration law will be passed by congress, as it should be. All Bush has done is open a debate about what should be done about illegal immigration. Is there anyone out there who does not think we need to do something about illegal immigration? Speak up now! Who are you?

I thought so!

So, we need to do something about illegal immigration and now just about everyone in the country is talking about it. Good! We can't change the situation untill a lot of people are involved. Not just folks in states who are directly affected by illegal workers, although that is quickly becoming all states, but folks all over this country. Well, that's happening now.

Is now a good time? Yes! When do congressmen and senetors actually listen to people? Why, at election time, of course! That's now! Now, tell them what you think! How do you think this illegal immigration problem can be solved? If enough of you agree on some points, then your representative will probably take that position. Notice I didn't memtion whether he/she was Republican or Democrat. It doesn't matter, they all want to be re-elected. Sure, compromises will be made. You won't get everything you want. But, hopefully, congress will address the problem and improve the situation, if we yell loud enough and long enough. Bush's proposal has caused us to yell pretty loud but it remains to be seen how long we will yell.

Oh ya, what has Bush done? He has stimulated debate on a crucial problem facing America which has been on the back burner too long. Good job George!

[Dane]

There are more people on drugs than illegal immigrants in this country. Why doesn't Bush show a little compassion towards dope-heads and legalize drugs? Also, if we will legalize illegal immigrants, can we at least get rid of Border Patrol?

Because there is a big difference between a person cleaning your office toilet and a crack head on welfare and are not morally equivalent.

[Howlin]

I was making a joke about this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1058236/posts

[FirstPrinciple]

I have met perfectly good crack-heads, like Larry Kudlow. So, no compassion for drug addicts. Actually, never mind. I don't want to give any more suggestions to Bush for more govt spending.

[Dane]

I have met perfectly good crack-heads, like Larry Kudlow

Larry Kudlow wasn't a crack head but a cocaine addict. Anyway it almost ruined his life.

You guys are so funny when you tie yourselves up into pretzels.

[Brian Allen]

<< .... Hilarious.

This is all spin; the Bush Amnesty is a debacle.

If the President's polls showed support for the Bush Amnesty, his decision wouldn't have been difficult.

If it's really "the right thing to do," the President's decision wouldn't have been difficult.

President Bush has always wanted Amnesty for Illegal Aliens. Always. >>

A member of the Republican Party from before I became an American and a fiercely loyal Republican supporter and voter ever since, I have stayed with President Bush ever since he became the 2000-election candidate and notwithstanding my initial disquiet and subesquent anger as he became les and less Republican through Trillions of Dollars worth of tarrif taxes, farm-welfare and fogies-pharmaceuticals etceteras.

But he has lost me with his amnesty and as long as it is on the table I will no longer support the party nor vote for any feral Republican who supports this bloody insult to every American and especially to me and mine -- who are, every last one of US -- fiercely loyal foreign born AMERICAN-Americans!

With just my family and immediate circle of friends and aquaintances President Bush has lost 18 previously dependable voters -- Tom Tancredo has won 18 write-ins -- and the evil Dems have to find 19 fewer dead folks and criminal aliens.

[junta]

Yeah its an "economic" issue, like flooding this country with folks who while driving down wages add their names to the entitlement lists. So we'll have workers making less working than retirees sucking up SS and Mediwaste.

[Solson]

Hey, don't try and bring practicality and reality into the discussion about illegal aliens on FR!

< / sarcasm >

[Solson]

Everyone coveniently forgets about pulling 14 million out of the low wage workforce. American workers DO NOT do those jobs. PERIOD!

[FITZ]

American workers DO NOT do those jobs. PERIOD!

Speak for yourself!! Maybe your parents handed you a hefty allowance and paid your way through college --- every one of my siblings and myself, many of my cousins picked fruit before age 12 for spending money, baled hay, waited tables to pay their way through college. It is not unusual even still in some areas of the country to find middle class kids who actually work.

[Solson]

They won't self deport.

[FITZ]

And 2 out of 3 total of my college roommates had also done menial labor type jobs while in college. I would do those jobs again over collecting welfare if I ever had to.

Only SOME Americans consider themselves above certain kind of work.