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."
ROLFLMAO! You're pretty funny.
I'll say it too ETERNAL WARMING sounds like a 'rat.
And you're still pretty pointless. However, that's par for the course from your side in this argument.
Then I'd suggest you look a little harder.
And another zinger. Whew, how can I argue with that kind of logic? Good one radical dude.
Truth be told, the vast majority of Americans disagree with you. Your logic and rationale is straight out of the Libertarian handbook. There are estimates of illegal aliens in the US that range from 10 million to 30 million. This is a serious problem and it must be solved. In order to solve the problem of foreigners entering the US illegally, borders must be sealed, laws must be enforced and welfare to illegals must be stopped. We don't want illegals in America breaking our laws and abusing our liberal welfare system. A cost analysis was done last year that placed the cost of sealing the border with Mexico at roughtly $5-billion a year. It can be done. America is a land of laws. Without laws, we'd have anarchy.
Guess you can't think of a downside either huh? Well I can understand. Thinking is hard, and it's kind of scary for those who ain't used to doing it. I'll let you know if I come up with one.
Obviously, you're not very bright.
I wrote that EW sounds like a rat because he is always attacking Dubya. I think you sound like a rat too, but it's because of the total lack of logic in your posts, an inability to comprehend the post of others, your failure to follow this thread, and because I don't like you.
ping
It doesn't require a lot of thought. It isn't that there is no downside; examine any area of illegal immigration, and it's tough to see anything but downside.
Wow,with eloquence like yours advocating for it, I can see why the amnesty bill is so popular among Americans.
I have read polls that show a majority favor restrictions on immigration. I think this support is a mile wide and an inch deep. It's like asking if there is too much violence on TV. A majority say yes but they continue to watch the violence, and they continue to buy cheap goods at WalMart.
Your logic and rationale is straight out of the Libertarian handbook.
I am less than enthralled with your debating techniques or your logic.
There are estimates of illegal aliens in the US that range from 10 million to 30 million. This is a serious problem and it must be solved.
Agreed.
In order to solve the problem of foreigners entering the US illegally, borders must be sealed, laws must be enforced and welfare to illegals must be stopped.
When Dubya's immigration reform is enacted and the working illegals become legal many of your allies in this argument will continue to to complain because even though the law has changed their motivations were never about law but race.
not responsive.
It is too late to apologize!!!
That is the million dollar question, isn't it.
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