BUSH'S IMMIGRATION PET PHRASES

michellemalkin.com ^ | 12/20/2004 | Michelle Malkin

[nanak]

After the White House news conference this morning, Bill Kristol on Fox News praised President Bush's remarks about "immigration reform" as "eloquent." Beg to differ. The president's open-borders statements were empty, garish platitudes strung together sloppily like cheap Christmas lights:

Illegal aliens "do the job Americans won't do." President Bush used that dog-tired phrase about a half-dozen times during today's press conference as he defended his impending illegal alien amnesty plan. Mark Krikorian effectively puts this mindless rhetoric to rest here.

"Family values don't stop at the Rio Grande." Uh huh. Well, terrorists and gang members and drunken murderers and cop-killers don't stop there either. And based on past and recent experience, granting amnesty to 13 million law-breakers will only result in more illegal immigration, not less.

We need immigration reform that "recognizes reality." Rank-and-file immigration enforcement officials give a real reality check on the amnesty debacle here, here, and here.

As immigration enforcement veteran/former U.S. prosecutor Peter Nunez put it:

[W]e need to stop the talk of a coming amnesty, or of a guest worker program, both of which, by themselves, serve to encourage additional illegal immigration. What kind of message are we sending when we dangle that possibility before people desperate enough to put their lives at risk? Doesn’t this kind of talk also indicate that we really don’t care much about law breaking, that we don’t really care that much about the rule of law, that these immigration laws exist only as a token objection to the violation of our sovereignty? Now, that is eloquent.

[Tribune7]

If it weren't for the brown skin I'd figure them for frat brothers at a state college.

[untrained skeptic]

"Note that I did not advocate that. I think the key is simple. Step up enforcement efforts, along with publicizing that anyone caught loses eligibilty for the new program. Combine punishment for those who knowlingly employ illegals and application for the program in their home country and many would choose to leave. They break our immigration laws because it is profitable and no risk. Change that equation. We don't have to deport 12 million. We have to set the conditions where it makes sense for them to leave. Ineligibility for the program combined with efforts like that one 'rogue' unit that did interior enforcement and rounded up a couple of hundred illegals in a weekend is all it would probably take."

I'd also add cutting off illegal immigrants from programs such as welfare and such.

If they can't support themselves, deport them.

If they need emergency medical help, and they don't have insurance to cover it. Provide the medical assistance, and as soon as they are able to travel, deport them.

A guest worker program must be approached from the point of view that we are doing it to provide benefits to our country.

We need to provide all people working in the US humane working conditions. However, we don't need to provide social services to guest workers.

"The $1000 monthly fee is to discourage use of the program...it gives citizens a leg up against immigrants. When it really makes sense to hire foreigners to do work, employers have access to the program. If immigrants are willing to do work for $12k a year less than any Americans, than it makes sense to bring in a foreign worker."

Some level of discouragement, as well as having the fee directly offset the costs of the program seems like a good idea. Maybe instead of a onetime $1000 fee they could have a monthly or quarterly fee.

A one time fee discourages employers from reporting problems with workers, or firing bad employees, because they'd have to pay $1000 to replace them with another worker.

"The change in citizenship for children would indeed require a Constitutional Amendment. We can do it. As the leftists are fond of saying, the Constitution is a living breathing document...and the living and breathing is the Amendment process, not the courts."

When the leftists are saying that the Constitution is a living document, they are saying that the liberal judges can simply reinterpret it whenever they like. They don't actually change the Constitution, they just ignore it's intent when it doesn't suit their aims.

Actually changing the constitution is intentionally very difficult. In this case, I think it's reasonable because our country's immigration needs have changed over the years, and I don't think that citizenship simply based on being born on US soil makes sense for our country anymore.

I think the people would support changing it, I just don't have the same faith in the US Senate.

"I want the GWP strictly limited in duration. 5 years is plenty...not continuously reapplications. After 5 years, they can hire a different Guest Worker. I don't want people who come here and stay and become second class citizens. They are guest workers...they should come, work and promptly leave. I don't want anything like what happened in Germany with the Turks."

I would do this differently. I would do 3 year periods with one chance to renew.

That gives industrious people six years to make something of themselves and show if they deserve to apply for permanent residence or citizenship.

I would not expect that even one percent of those coming to the country under the guest worker program would show that they have unique skills and ambition so that we would want to have them permanently join our society, but being able to work your way up and improve your status in life is an important aspect of America that we don't want to change.

Even if the standards are high, the opportunity should still exist.

However, I do agree with you that we don't want this to become a permanent peasant worker class in the US.

[UseYourHead]

But we're not talking about the President's plan. I'm talking about the wishful thinking I read that suggests we not sell our yard sale items to illegal aliens. You can criticize the Pres. all you want - BUT - until you can formulate a real plan that will actually work rather than the fluff I read from all corners, it's just criticism.

[UseYourHead]

I agree with you - we just need to find a way to achieve more widespread agreement among a significant portion of America in order to get it done, before martial law has to do it.

[untrained skeptic]

"The point is, in this 'global market' it is possible to expect protection of laws which might also have the effect of keeping prices higher than they would be if we simply allowed for competitive advantage.

Isn't US labor entitled to some protection from those breaking the law?"

Copyright laws exist to give content creators enough protections to be able to sell their creations for a reasonable fee. It only restricts competition in that you can't sell someone else's creation without properly compensating them.

It's done to encourage creation and innovation to the betterment of our economy.

"Isn't US labor entitled to some protection from those breaking the law?"

Sure. As long as the methods actually achieve that goal and help the economy.

The problem comes when the protections you put in place cause the price of labor to rise above what companies can afford to pay and stay competitive with competitors from outside our country.

There are some businesses that US companies just aren't going to be able to compete in.

There are some businesses where we can use tariffs and other barriers to protect our domestic companies, at least for the time being.

There are other companies where if we protect our domestic labor market those companies will fail. When they fail, not only those low paying jobs are lost, but the higher level management positions, as well as all the money coming into our domestic economy by the money those workers spend.

We can still have some restrictions to protect American workers even with a guest worker program.

One wise suggestion was to have a fee for employers using the program so that they had to pay more for a guest worker than a American worker if paying both the same wage.

[untrained skeptic]

The real problem isn't the mini amnesties, it's the lack of enforcement of immigration laws after they go into effect.

Such programs only work if you grant forgiveness for past transgressions, while aggressively going after any new transgressors.

We definitely don't need a guest worker program without a clear plan to dramatically increase immigration law enforcement.

However, the guest worker plan is attractive to Bush's administration, some supporters of immigrants rights, and Mexico. It should be used as a tool to get concessions from those groups toward much better enforcement.

Mexico should be told that if they want us to have a Guest Worker Program, they need to police their border better, provide the infrastructure to provide better background checks on potential workers, and even improve the rights on Americans living in Mexico.

If Bush wants this program to fly, then he needs to do more toward getting the department of homeland security doing it's job on immigration law enforcement. He also needs to push for programs to get the states involved in enforcing immigration laws. Illegal immigrants are bleeding the states dry through social programs, it's in the States' best interests to help enforce immigration laws.

We need true immigration reform. A guest worker program alone is pretty much a useless approach. I think the guest worker program is a good idea when it's done at the same time as serious, aggressive reform on how we enforce immigration law.

We just need to make sure we don't get the guest worker program without getting what we really need.

[Fishrrman]

sinkspur writes:
If illegal immigration was a hot issue, somebody would run on it. Nobody does.

She will. In 2008. And if things keep going as they are now - the status quo, with millions upon millions more illegals entering yearly between now and then - she stands a pretty good chance of _winning_ with the issue.

Cheers!
- John

[sinkspur]

Only idiots will believe "her."

That's likely to include some FReepers, however.

[jpsb]

Michelle Malkin is wonderful, she and Laura Imgram are becoming my favorite conservative babes. Right up there with Ann.

[Poohbah]

The general rule as I see it is the employers "cop a plea" and fines or payoffs are made. Very few juries see these cases.

Employers view the fines as a cost of business. Increase them sharply, and the cases will go to the juries...and the juries will usually not convict.

It sounds to me like the US Attorneys have the same mentality as the federal airport workers. It looks like they all like to harass grandmothers instead of doing their job.

Did you read the second clause of the sentence you bolded, or do you no habla Ingles?

If they thought they could get a conviction on ANYBODY, they'd indict in a heartbeat.

[Travis McGee]

Just keep this in mind:

Guest worker program translates as "AMNISTIA" in Mexico.

[Travis McGee]

Old German saying:

"There is nothing in the world as permanent as a 'temporary' guest worker."

[KC_Conspirator]

I just saw Fred Barnes say that the GOP should speak up about immigration issues last night on FNC? He said the same thing last week.

[KC_Conspirator]

"do the job Americans won't do."

This is untrue. This is a way for businesses to avoid the market and flout the law of supply and demand. If they can't find Americans to do the job, then the wages will have to come up to entice people to come and do the work.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Just be glad our immigrants are from a basically Christian country, and they don't come here with orders from God to kill us all.

You should try getting out more Nick. Lots going on. Did you know for instance that Texas has one of the fastest growing Muslim population in the country? Something like 100,000 and counting have poured into the Houston area alone.

Wasn't it Bush that said Islam is a religion of peace ?

Check this Bush quote out Nick.

America treasures the relationship we have with our many Muslim friends, and we respect the vibrant faith of Islam which inspires countless individuals to lead lives of honesty, integrity, and morality. This year, may Eid also be a time in which we recognize the values of progress, pluralism, and acceptance that bind us together as a Nation and a global community. By working together to advance mutual understanding, we point the way to a brighter future for all."

President Bush December 5, 2002

[Joe Hadenuf]

Remember Nick. Texas now has one of the fastest growing muslim populations in the country.

President Bush said:

"Islam brings hope and comfort to millions of people in my country, and to more than a billion people worldwide. Ramadan is also an occasion to remember that Islam gave birth to a rich civilization of learning that has benefited mankind."

President Bush. Eid al-Fitr Greeting to Muslims around the World December 4, 2002

[F16Fighter]

"I briefly dated the young lady who told me this story. It was 10 years ago, but her recounting the case made quite an impression on me--mostly because she was absolutely livid--to the point where I broke up with her because I didn't want to be involved with anyone that went that crazy over things they could not control."

I don't know pal -- sounds as though maybe the reason you broke up was your inability to handle an overly passionate woman? ;-)

[Poohbah]

I don't know pal -- sounds as though maybe the reason you broke up was your inability to handle an overly passionate woman? ;-)

Nope. The Fetching Mrs. Poohbah is quite passionate, but she also has an understanding of what she can and can't change.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Just be glad our immigrants are from a basically Christian country, and they don't come here with orders from God to kill us all.

Remember Nick. Texas now has one of the fastest growing muslim populations in the country.

Here's another Bush quote.

"Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It inspires them to lead lives based on honesty, and justice, and compassion."

Remarks by President George W. Bush on U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan

President Bush, Dwight David Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. October 11, 2002

[F16Fighter]

"The Fetching Mrs. Poohbah is quite passionate, but she also has an understanding of what she can and can't change."

Hear ya...(IOW, that toilet seat is staying up, the master bedroom will NOT be painted mauve, and no, I will NOT "watch Oprah" with you....)