Posted on 11/29/2004 9:14:20 PM PST by Cableguy
Back in 2001, George W. Bush, a newly elected president from a border state, had immigration on his mind. Within weeks of his inauguration, Bush vowed to extend a hand to Mexico, making an ambitious guest-worker proposal a hallmark of his administration. The president's dream was dashed by 9/11; tightening border controls, not loosening them, became the priority. He must have been serious, though, because just weeks after winning a second term, Bush has embraced the guest-worker proposal anew. Secretary of State Colin Powell and White House counselor Karl Rove have called the initiative a high priority. And Bush pledged to renew his push for the legislation in a talk with Mexican President Vicente Fox at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference. advertisement
But Bush faces opposition in his own party--from border-state voters and House Republicans. In late November, conservatives derailed intelligence-reform legislation in part by refusing to get behind a bill that did not include strict immigration proposals. The president has made much of his willingness to spend political capital, but this issue may prove prohibitively expensive.
The introduction of the president's guest-worker idea dates back to January 2004, when Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida were swing states and wooing their Hispanic populations seemed a must. The president's proposal would allow the 8 million to 10 million illegal aliens in the United States to apply for temporary worker permits, three-year documents that could be renewed at least once. (After that, the workers could petition for permanent legal status.) Immigrants would also have access to a database of jobs that could not be filled by American citizens, and they could cross the border legally once they secured work.
The proposal ignited criticism. Democrats said Bush's plan would create a class of indentured servants, while Republicans felt it rewarded illegal behavior. One of the harshest critics was Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, a group that advocates a partial moratorium on immigration and the denial of citizenship to American-born children of illegal aliens. Tancredo argued that the president's bill would increase illegal immigration and open the border to terrorists. "Bush tried to send us a pig with lipstick," Tancredo says. "We told him it would be dead on arrival in the House."
Bush faces an even tougher crowd in the next Congress. Seven new con-servatives will join the Senate, and in the House, Tancredo's group will be 75 members strong. In mid-November, 22 House Republicans, led by California's Elton Gallegly, signed a letter urging the administration to give up the guest-worker proposal. On the intelligence reform bill, the House Republican leaders refused to back down until the 11th hour on proposals that would have made it easier to deport aliens and deny them driver's licenses. "These people looked the administration in the eye and said, 'Drop dead,' " says Mark Krikorian, who runs a conservative immigration reform group.
Crackdown. What's more, the conservatives appear to have the momentum. In Arizona, where residents feel under siege from illegal immigration, voters just passed Proposition 200, which effectively denies government benefits to illegal aliens. "I could take you on a tour of my neighborhood and show you houses where smugglers tortured immigrants and ruined buildings by veering off the road," says an angry Keith Koller, 36, a south Phoenix resident who voted for Bush. Conservatives are hoping to put initiatives similar to Proposition 200 on the ballot in Colorado, Georgia, and California.
Administration officials say Bush really believes in the guest-worker idea, and there is speculation that he wants to reward the estimated 34 to 44 percent of Hispanic voters who supported him. His ability to bring home a win may depend on how much he's ready to risk. Gallegly says he respects the president but adds that if Bush insists on peeving House Republicans early in his term, he could put his entire agenda at risk. "Washington," says Gallegly, " is a land of grudges."
"Democrats said Bush's plan would create a class of indentured servants, while Republicans felt it rewarded illegal behavior."
Now I call that common ground, a bi-partisan consensus I can support. Bush better get over this nonsense, it might have been a plan when he first ran for President, but 9/11 changed everything and if it didn't change our tolerence of illegals it changed nothing.
Hey, Mr. President, Mo Atta and his 18 (19?) accomplices were ALL ILLEGAL ENTRANTS! Here's $1.00, buy a freaking clue.
Bush don't have enough Capital to spend on this Problem. The AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THEIR BORDERS CONTROLLED--- REMEMBER WE ARE AT WAR!!!
Bush needs to get over the idea that Americans want to have their jobs taken by illegals.
Bush needs to get over the idea that Americans like paying taxes to cover Social Security for illegals.
Bush needs to get over the idea that America's foremost job is economically compensating for Mexico's corrupt government.
Most of all, Bush needs to get over the idea that open borders are advisable in a post-9/11 world.
Bush also belived in the campaign finance reform (CFR) bill. Look what a mess that is. We even had agencies from the UN monitoring our elections.
We don't need any more Bush screw-ups.
Bush/Rove keeps pushing this.
Congress keeps derailing it.
The vast majority of citizens don't want it.
The vast majority of LEGAL immigrants don't want it.
Is Bush/Rove deaf or just stupid?
Don't blame me... I voted for Peroutka!
SUCKERS!!!!
Thanks to Tancredo and those who said "drop dead" to Bush's CINO/RINO immigration crap, there is still hope for the Republican party. If they don't hold the line against the anti-US proposals [and others like the "New Freedom Initiative"], the R party will in fact LOSE in '08. [Prediction IMO]
Tancredo argued that the president's bill would increase illegal immigration and open the border to terrorists. "Bush tried to send us a pig with lipstick
Increase the Mexican and coastal border patrol six fold and then maybe we can start talking about worker amnesty programs.
Tancredo acts like he was elected President. Probably thinks he was. Suprise Surpise I'm for the guest worker program. I like workers who want to work. I don't see a down side to this plan and I think it will make it easier to capture illegals who are not registered to work.
Forget it, Jorge. Apparently you worry about a few Hispanic votes with the flawed assumption that they want to be overrun. YOu're wrong. Most vote against illegal aliens. They lose their jobs too. They have their taxes raised thru the roof too. They have their neighborhoods overrun too. He knows this. The question we should be asking is why then does he want it? Why do they all want it? Bible prophecy and one world government coming true before our eyes. No Christian would be caught dead abetting the End Times NWO.
Ridiculous! Tom Tancredo supported PresBush`s reelection. Tancredo also believes in protecting America from illegal immigration.
Bottomline. Bush`s guest worker proposal is an effort in futility.
Three things need to happen that will help to solve America's illegal immigration problem. First, the feds have to make an honest effort at sealing the borders shut, once and for all. Second. There must be full enforcement of existing laws that punish employers for hiring illegals. And finally, the feds must end any and all government welfare funding to illegals.
I like complete Republican control of government, tax cuts, military victories, and abortion restriction. I'm willing to cut Dubya some lack on CFR. He wouldn't have signed it if Republicans in the Congress had not let it out of committee. Lastly, I like the guest worker program. Dubya Rocks!
I doubt it, but if that is the case we are doomed to do nothing about the illegal immigration problem.
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