Posted on 09/27/2004 11:40:43 PM PDT by Robert Lomax
The U.S. has no plans to deploy troops along the Mexican border to stanch the deluge of illegal aliens currently pouring into the country at the rate of 3 million per year, President Bush said in an interview broadcast on Monday.
"As the governor of Texas, I was very aware of this issue," Bush told Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly.
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"There is a long border, that makes it hard to control. We have beefed up places along the border to try to stop" the flow, he said. When told that his policy didn't seem to be working, Bush insisted, "It’s working a little better.
"They're doing a pretty good job down in Arizona, which is the main border crossing. ... I think there's a thousand more border patrol agents along the border. We’re modernizing border techniques, we’re using better surveillance methods to stop this crossing at the border."
The president contended, however, that illegal immigration was driven primarily by the economic realities of the region.
"If you can make 50 cents in the interior of Mexico and five bucks in the interior of the United States, you're coming for the five bucks," he explained.
"I happen to believe the best way to enhance the border is to have temporary-worker cards available for people," he said. "I think the long-term solution for this issue on our border is for Mexico to grow a middle class. That's why I believe in NAFTA."
When warned that "a lot of people are not going to like that answer," Bush told O'Reilly, "Well it’s a, a truthful answer."
I thought enforcing Federal Law was consitutional.
It's hard to know the actual number --- many come back and forth quite frequently --- they go home for a week or two to visit friends or family or to party in Mexico and come on back --- they aren't all new faces. Many of the apprehended come right on back also --- so apprehensions doesn't mean much. Most illegals were apprehended at least once ---- often several times until they got the hang of it.
Instead of going after the good citizen here, why don't you ask Bush why we doesn't secure our borders from the millions entering illegally? During war time yet.
Cool it joe. I'm no fan of the Bush regime.
-- But I see the problem much like JR does. Militarizing our borders is not the American way. We can find better methods, and a good start would be a Fair Tax scheme to eliminate some of the economical incentives.
See my post #486.
Yeah, even ultra-left California passed it until the SCOTUS overturned it.
I think he underestimates sentiment on this issue.
If the feds can pick and choose which laws to enforce, I sure as hell ought to be able to pick and choose which law I obey. I'd like to start with my taxes that pay the wages to these people that are suppose to represent us.
Which one would that be? Bush or Kerry? I can't seem to find such a candidate on the ballot.
It doesn't logically follow from what I posted that I was referring to the 2004 presidential election.
See, the 3rd Congressional District, Utah, the Republican primary, 2004.
Cannon beat Throckmorton, or don't you remember?
Why are they above the law? Which laws can I ignore?
Me too --- I think everyone should have as many kids as they can afford --- the more the merrier --- except when you see girls dropping out of high school because they've got 3 kids already and aren't 18 years old yet --- or some impoverished family unable to speak a word of English but with 7 or 8 kids and another on the way --- and the mother is pulling out her food stamps --- and the man with her is paying cash for the beer and cigarettes --- it does make you mad.
Are you out of it?
There is no death penalty for being an illegal alien. And the overwhelming majority of illegal immigrants only want a better life.
I'm not a no-borders guy, and I am also very strongly in favor of securing the border.
I am just saying that most clear thinking Americans don't favor militarization of the border - and engaging the runners with military force, and the fatalities and casualties that would create.
You are in a small, weak, and wonderfully ineffective minority. Congratulations, now find a free PC and play 'Global Thermonuclear War.'
Offer one. We all await.
I've been doing this for 7 years and have never seen an official report stating a 10% apprehension ratio.
Anti-immigration measures win ballot measures.
Okay, but ballot measures don't elect politicians.
Interesting comments -- but we are so far apart it's virtually pointless to discuss it.
To you, a wall or fence means a prison for all. Alter the terrain? OK, we can have a visually pleasing impediment, an electronic impediment. What's the effective difference?
I see it every day, I try to talk to the guy cutting the grass out back at the office. He can't talk back. The guy on the street sees me as one thing: a possible source of money: Can I fix that fender? Cut your grass? Clean your gutters? That's all right, sort of, but here we have thousands of guys standing around at convenience stores every day waiting for someone to offer them a few bucks for work: They don't have a job...but they're here anyway.
Look, pal, the situation is out of control, you go kill 'em with kindness, I'll move on and try to effect some sensible policy for my country.
You encourage Pedro to learn the language, I will listen to what he has to say then. Only then. Assimilation has been the norm for immigrants for hundreds of years.
Until CNN showed little Pablo's guts hanging out of his torso over morning breakfast...
536 posted on 09/28/2004 5:28:11 PM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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I take back everything bad I've said about you. Well, almost everything.
I know.. -- My hands are still unclean. I can't hep it. I can't stop stirring up some of the stuff on FR.
I don't have any major proposals at this time. Only know I don't like what I've seen so far. I'm not in favor of a federal ID card. Don't like the idea of expanding the use of the SS number. Don't like the sounds of raids on our employers or seizing their assets. Don't think it's a good idea to militarize the border. A wall around America is out of the question.
I do like the idea of eliminating the income tax and social security, medicare, and other socialist giveaway programs. I like the idea of beefing up the border patrol to catch more of the illegals as they attempt to cross over. I think more should be done in Mexico so their workers don't need to come to America to make a living.
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