Who's misleading Bush?

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Sunday, January 18, 2004 | Dateline D.C.

[Willie Green]

Some of those who live along the Potomac River have grown sleek in the belief that they know many of Washington's secrets. Maybe they do. But if so, no one is sharing reports or even rumors on who is keeping President George Bush away from the facts on immigration, the problems of Mexico and guest-worker programs.

[Thorin]

Expecting the American President to address Americans in English is neither "xenophobic" or "silly." In fact, it is a gross dereliction of duty for Bush to regularly speak Spanish to Americans, or to have an extensive Spanish section of the White House web page. (I do not object to his speaking Spanish to foreigners when he is abroad). The English language helps to hold America together, and regularly addressing Americans in a language other than English sends the signal that 1) English is not the national langauge and 2) learning the English language is not important.

The assimilation of the last great wave of immigrants was aided by the fact that they came to a self-confident America, which expected the immigrants to learn English and made no effort to coddle them. There was no talk of bilingual education then, and any American President who made a point of addressing the newcomers in a language other than English would have been ridiculed. Of course, precisely the opposite is occurring now.

[Thorin]

Thanks for the great TR quote! Of course, he is also the President who warned us about the danger posed to America by unlimited immigration--the danger of us becoming nothing more than a "polyglot boarding house of nations." It seems, though, that that is precisely what Bush wants.

[sinkspur]

In fact, it is a gross dereliction of duty for Bush to regularly speak Spanish to Americans, or to have an extensive Spanish section of the White House web page.

Pure silliness. I happen to think it's no big deal. And so do most other Americans, if you asked them.

We've had bilingual stuff here in Texas for 15 years, so I guess I'm used to it. There's no evidence Texans aren't together, including the Mexicans. We voted for Bush to the tune of 70% in 2000, and 40% of the Mexicans voted for him.

I admire anyone who can speak two languages or more, and any Mexican who wants to make something of himself knows he and his family have to learn English. Most do.

[Thorin]

Bilingualism has done oh so much for Canada and wherever else it has been tried. But I gather we shouldn't worry about it because you think it's just spiffy? After all, as long as we are all united in our support for El Jefe Bush, what more unity do we need?

This has nothing to do with being able to speak more than one langauge. The issue is whether those born in America should have to learn Spanish in order to assimilate to the immigrants, rather than the immigrants assimilating to us by learning English. Apparently, you think this is no big problem. Most others do, which is why--as demographer William Frey of the University of Michigan has demonstrated--native-born Americans tend to leave any area that becomes inundated with immigrants.

Under the Bush plan, though, we won't have any place left to go, because every portion of the country will be inundated by all the new immigrants: the Bush plan imposes NO numerical limits on the number of new immigrants who can come here.

[sinkspur]

Immigrant children have to learn English in Texas; I don't know how you'd force a Hispanic adult who speaks only Spanish to learn English.

Most others do, which is why--as demographer William Frey of the University of Michigan has demonstrated--native-born Americans tend to leave any area that becomes inundated with immigrants.

Kinda like when all the Italians moved into New York a hundred years ago.

It is as it has always been. People like to live with people like them.

[hedgetrimmer]

Immigrant children have to learn English in Texas

In California, they don't. In our school district that have a dual immersion spanish language school and the kids coming out of it do not learn English. In our high schools,we have bilingual classes because the kids were never taught english in the elementary schools.

[TheDon]

Somewhat of a non-sequitur. But a moot point in opinion.

[Joe Hadenuf]

We know that we will get nothing but trouble. Some of us remember that as long ago as 1982, the Raza Unity Party was meeting with the PLO and just five days after the Sept. 11 attack on America, there was a conference on a Hispanic homeland at the University of New Mexico, at which the PLO's finance minister was a keynote speaker.

That's a comforting image......

[Joe Hadenuf]

My thoughts....

[BlkConserv]

We DO that by making a REAL committment to a systematic plan which will require ALL undocumented aliens to register OR face immediate deportation when caught without proper validation. AND we impose severe penalties upon employers who hire indocumented aliens.

Uh, that's exactly the heart of Bush's plan.

[BlkConserv]

Apparently, you haven't heard of Eisenhower's successful Operation Wetback.

Different times back in the 50s.

[Texasforever]

It didn't work anyway.

[BlkConserv]

You're missing something. Illegals come here to work and that they can do without signing up for a worker's program.

Then blame the employers for breaking the law.

They fear the government knowing where they are and what they are doing and that is precisely why this proposal won't do a thing.

They're already in fear of being deported. Besides, illegals aren't going to sit around and rationally discuss Bush's plan. They'll be so happy to get their foot inbounds here in the U.S. they'd sign any document even if it was created in crayon.

All Bush's proposal will do is create more illegals.

Illegal immigration will decline significantly once illegals realize that they'll be able to work here temporarily if they obey the rules and wait in line like everyone else.

[BlkConserv]

How about a $5000.00 fine for each illegal employed. Take the profit out regardless if it's illegals, drugs or whatever and you wouldn't have the mess we've got now.

Sounds good on paper but it'll be a doozy to enforce. You'd have to hire more Labor Dept. flunkies to process the paperwork.

Plus companies are scared of being sued for discrimination.

[janetgreen]

Many posters don't want to count the dollars that illegal aliens cost the states. In California alone illegal immigration costs BILLIONS each year. They're all heavy users of social services, medical care, schools, they get everything free. We end up with a state that is going bankrupt.

It is against California law to question citizenship before handing out the goodies, so what is to stop millions more third worlders to come and use up even more of our tax dollars? How is this magically going to change under Bush's proposal? It isn't - it will only get worse. He has no intention of closing the borders. Is Bush going to send the bills to Vicente Fox? Of course he won't. We will continue to pay in larger numbers while we watch our communities turn into Mexico. It has already begun in many areas here, and it ain't pretty.

[m18436572]

BTTT!

[Zipporah]

"It is against California law to question citizenship before handing out the goodies".. this is outrageous!

I know it has to be maddening.. it is for me and I live far from the border. I am going to San Diego in Feb. it'll be interesting to see what is happening now.

The whole country will be bankrupt if this goes forward as planned. Those that refuse to see this is beyond my comprehension. None of those in power have any intention of closing the borders! Today I took my daughter-in-law to lunch and of course the illegals were everywhere. We aren't overrun YET as California is.. they are brazen.. shameless law breakers and whose to blame? Our president.. it's sick.

[FairOpinion]

"This is a case of political pandering to the Hispanic community. "

===

Says the guy who was rooting for Bustamante, and Aztlan supporter for governor of CA, vs. Arnold.

[F16Fighter]

"We DO that by making a REAL committment to a systematic plan which will require ALL undocumented aliens to register OR face immediate deportation when caught without proper validation. AND we impose severe penalties upon employers who hire indocumented aliens."

"Uh, that's exactly the heart of Bush's plan."

Uh, call me cynical, but the key word there was "REAL."

But BTW, the actual "heart" of the plan is Amnesty for Illegal Invaders.

[Zipporah]

I was trying to access the live stream of the Terry Anderson show but was unable to do so, in perusing his site I came upon this!! Good heavens! The list of those who support illegals!!!! It basically is a list of every group that has worked to undermine America.. I wonder what the dollar amount is that these traitors have given to the illegal cause

Supporters of the Freedom Ride (Illegal immigration supporters)