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."
Bush signed CFR into law. He lied when he said he would veto it. This is what we are not supposed to mention.
He also snuck the illegal alien clause into the Medicare bill in the middle of the night. This is another thing we are not supposed to mention.
Tom Tancredo for President in '08!
No he acts like a man who see nothing wrong with thwarting the will of 280 million people outside of his district.
Democrats said Bush's plan would create a class of indentured servants
In a way it's a nice problem to have: people fleeing to your country because they know it is the very best. But let the death knell sound upon those who come here only to kill the oppurtunities that characterize the home of the free and the brave.
I'm sure you have a point. Get to it sometime.
"The question we should be asking is why then does he [Bush] want it?"
I don't think he thinks. Ergo, I don't think he knows.
The question above should be posed to the ones who pull his strings - ie, the neocons.
No doubt about it!
I just gave you three steps that will make a difference and go along way in solving America's illegal immigration problem. Installing a guest worker plan before implimenting those three steps is an effort in futility. Unless you close the borders shut and halt new illegals from entering the US, a guest worker plan will not work. That will only exacerbate a serious problem by allowing more and more illegal aliens into the US. At the same time, enforcing existing laws against employers who hire illegals and halting all welfare payments to illegals, will also go along way to solving America's illegal immigration problem.
"I like workers who want to work."
So do I, as long they don't come to America and steal Americans' jobs.
Our slowing economy will hopefully put a damper on illegals. I sure wish Bush would get the BIG HINT: Americans don't want illegals. We need LEGAL immigration. We need to choose. Not the other way round.
If he pushes his childish thinking on this through, no other "Bush" would be voted into any office in the U.S. on the Republican ticket.
Hoppy
Such are the core arguments against those opposed to the President’s “guest worker” plan.
From the WSJ to conservative talk radio the President's supporters dazzle opponents with their superior IQ, skill and cunning.
Here in Sacramento the morning guy (originally from Ohio) uses his contempt for Ohio's own "illegal immigrants," hillbillies, to show how he feeeeeeeeels about opponents. Opponents are like those stupid hillbillies as he quotes an opponent. "Put all ‘dem Mexicans in trucks ‘n haul ‘em back to whar’ de belong, y’all."
Could I (a hillbilly) favor the President's guest worker plan?
Yes. If..
* All the provisions will be enforced. Fat chance. See the 1986 immigration reform.
* If the applicability of the 14th Amendment is investigated. To wit, though we citizens cannot break immigration laws by simply being here WE DO GET NAILED FOR FRAUD. Are ILLEGAL aliens more equal than us? Therefore equal protection does not apply? Some citizen serving time or being prosecuted for ID fraud just might like to have equal protection under the law and get a pass also. Fat chance.
Your post sounds like something right out of DU! If you don't like this president, you're on the wrong website.DU is probably more to your liking.
Economy has little to do with illegals. Our economy may be slowing, but their economy slows even more. There was a study that came out a couple of weeks ago. If you do a search on FR, you should find it.
Another ridiculous statement. 80% of Americans opppose any kind of amnesty for illegal aliens and most Americans want the borders sealed shut. Also, Fox reported on a poll just released today by Ipsos-Public Affairs. It showed that 64% of Americans want illegals rounded up and deported, and 67% don't want illegals or their children receiving welfare benefits from the government.
I read your post I disagree. I think your plan would create a mass exodus of workers back to Mexico, and that would have massive repercussions for our economy. I do not believe we have the resources to stop the flow of illegals at the border, and punishing business for the governments schizo policy of looking the other way when illegals get here is just plain dumb.
I see nothing wrong with looking at the past work history of illegals and letting them qualify for a work permit. That is one less illegal that has to found and sent back to Mexico.
Pot meet Kettle.
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