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Bush: 'Guest worker' plan will benefit U.S. employers
Houston Chronicle ^ | Augist 3, 2005 | Michael Hedges

Posted on 08/05/2005 1:04:32 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest

The president, in a wide-ranging talk, gives a hint at how he'll pitch reform measures

GRAPEVINE - President Bush told a crowd of state legislators Wednesday that he will push immigration reform as beneficial for U.S. employers as well as foreigners looking for work.

He also made an impassioned pitch for Americans to stay behind the war in Iraq.

"Immigration reform is going to be an interesting subject when we get back to Washington" in September, said Bush, who plans to spend this month at his Crawford ranch.

He argued that his proposal for a "guest worker" program is good for employers and illegal immigrants who want a mutually beneficial relationship.

"If you are a willing employer (and) you have somebody looking for work and you can't find an American, there ought to be a legal way for you to employ that person," he said. "We'd rather have people coming in with a card that said, 'I'm a legal worker,' than trying to sneak across the border."

The president has proposed a system under which immigrants would be granted worker temporary worker status, after which they would have to leave the United States. Critics have called it a thinly veiled amnesty program. Immigration reform plans have stalled in Congress so far this year, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist recently suggested a GOP push on the issue was more likely to happen next year.

Talking hours after the first reports that 14 U.S. Marines were killed in Iraq, Bush said, "The violence in recent days in Iraq is a grim reminder of the enemies we face. These terrorists and insurgents will use brutal tactics because they're trying to shake the will of the United States of America."

With polls showing that public support for continued military involvement in Iraq is eroding in the face of steady casualties, Bush relied on a familiar linkage of the war with the larger struggle against terrorism. He said Americans who died in Iraq and Afghanistan "lost their lives in a noble cause."

Speaking to 1,800 people at the American Legislative Exchange Council conference, Bush basked in recent legislative victories delivered by a GOP majority in Congress, including the Central American Free Trade Agreement and energy and highways legislation.

Bush said his priorities when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day will be immigration reform, making his tax cuts permanent, getting Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts confirmed and resurrecting his Social Security reform initiative.

Bush drew loud cheers by saying he strongly believed in private retirement accounts for workers under 55. "Now is the time to permanently fix Social Security," he said.

The event was held at a mammoth convention center where visiting legislators were introduced to Texas pride, including a large replica of the Alamo, a 10-foot-long space shuttle model and other state symbols.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 43move2mexico; aliens; armtheminutemen; bordersecurity; buhuck; bushamnesty; butbushisarepublican; idontwanttogo; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; invasionusa; mexicosucks; openborders; propaganda; shoot2kill; theregoesmyjob; werebeinginvaded; whatacrock; whatasuckingsound
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
The president has proposed a system under which immigrants would be granted worker temporary worker status, after which they would have to leave the United States.

Utter codswallop. When the female illegal pops out a kid right after crossing the border they all get a free card to stay here because the kid is born American. Stop the shell game Mr. Bush.

201 posted on 08/05/2005 3:28:48 PM PDT by Prince Charles
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To: Czar
To raise one's voice in FAVOR of illegal immigration in this land, is getting more and more difficult these days--as it should be. Just lookit' the FR polls on this topic.

The tide is turning. Nationwide.

The mainline GOP and The President had better see this and realize it.

The train is leaving the station.

They are about to be left behind.

We average folks/voters/flyover country-types have JUST ABOUT HAD IT.

202 posted on 08/05/2005 3:30:39 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (**AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NOT SO MUCH "WHO" WE STAND FOR, BUT RATHER "WHAT" WE STAND FOR**)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

Love the tagline. That's exactly right.


203 posted on 08/05/2005 3:31:49 PM PDT by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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To: Polybius

Thanks for the comments in your post #193. It looks like you've come up with a well thought out plan. Now we'll just have to wait and see if our federal government comes up with something similar.


204 posted on 08/05/2005 3:36:31 PM PDT by judgeandjury
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To: U.H. Conservative
Polybius, How does Australia have a thriving agricultural industry without Mexico next door?

By growing wheat. Wheat is Australia's most important grain crop.

For crops, such as wheat, that can be harvested by machinery, all you need is Dad and Junior and two big-assed combines.

For those crops must be picked by hand, the Aussies are hurting.

Australia Mulls Seasonal Migrant Labor Scheme


205 posted on 08/05/2005 3:44:13 PM PDT by Polybius
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To: JudgemAll
Not finding an American employees is the biggest lie ever.

I have to agree.

206 posted on 08/05/2005 3:44:37 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: TomasUSMC
Right - I wonder if any other country's freely elected leader has ever spit on his own workers like President Bush has?

Not likely. Other leaders must be shaking their heads.

207 posted on 08/05/2005 3:45:52 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: winker
This President knows this to be true yet he still to this late hour refuses to put this issue to rest.

Amazing, isn't it.

It's almost like what American's demand, no longer matters.

208 posted on 08/05/2005 3:47:31 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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The thing about Bushbots is that if Clinton proposed this disaster they would be screaming treason.


209 posted on 08/05/2005 3:49:21 PM PDT by chris1 ("Make the other guy die for his country" - George S. Patton, Jr.)
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To: Sam the Sham
Is he idiotic enough to be still pitching the 'jobs Americans won't do' line ?

Well, it appears someone is still pitching that line.

210 posted on 08/05/2005 3:49:37 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: Polybius
Yes. You hear about the inability to pick grapes. No such thing as Aussie wine. Too bad there's no mexico nearby.
211 posted on 08/05/2005 3:49:49 PM PDT by U.H. Conservative
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To: Black Tooth

Let's see if he is so quick to line up to work for $5/ hour working in a field for 10 hours a day.


212 posted on 08/05/2005 3:50:35 PM PDT by chris1 ("Make the other guy die for his country" - George S. Patton, Jr.)
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To: Types_with_Fist
Yes, cards would be nice if there was anything resembling border security involved. Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't heard Bush address this at all. The article and many others with Bush utterances say the same thing: he wants to give cards to immigrants and equates this with "taking the burden off of our border people," which I suppose is to make us believe "security" is a part. Obviously, if all illegals have cards they won't be illegal and this, of course, takes the burden off of our border people. The only catch I've ever noticed in all of this is that he's steadfastedly "against amnesty." So, he's not calling it that.

One big problem, thanks to media-speak, is the perversion of terms that has crept into our writings.

Even in your own post, you use the word "immigrant".

"Immigrant" used to mean someone who was admitted here legally with permission to stay forever. Now it can mean anything from that to an illegal alien to a guest worker.

Then there is the term "amnesty". Does that mean "We won't deport you if he become a legal temporary worker" or does it mean, "Thanks for sneaking across our border, Here is your Green Card"?

My solution was posted in Post 193.

213 posted on 08/05/2005 3:51:59 PM PDT by Polybius
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To: Black Tooth

Actually, KFI's John Zeigler mentioned that Bush said it again to a crowd this week. I suspect we'll hear it yet again.


214 posted on 08/05/2005 3:52:48 PM PDT by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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To: chris1
The thing about Bushbots is that if Clinton proposed this disaster they would be screaming treason.

Of course, and what you said is causing one that biggest problems, not to mention creating divisiveness and fragmentation. And it is happening. No doubt about it.

215 posted on 08/05/2005 3:53:15 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: Polybius
Even in your own post, you use the word "immigrant".

Wow. You're right. I didn't realize I did that. Obviously I meant "illegal." But your point is taken...:-)

216 posted on 08/05/2005 3:54:29 PM PDT by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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To: Black Tooth

In my mind wrong is wrong. This plan is just a sell out and undermines our own people. Rather than try to lift people up the right way in this country, I guess they feel it is better to import low skill low wage people who are content with nothing other than 16 to a room, a strip bar, and few beers at night.


217 posted on 08/05/2005 3:56:05 PM PDT by chris1 ("Make the other guy die for his country" - George S. Patton, Jr.)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

Oh yeah Mr President, US Employers and FOREIGN workers?

KMA Georgie

He needs to start worrying less about GD Foreign Workers and start worrying more about US!

Try Closing the Borders and then rounding up all of those here Illegally, going after those Employers who violate the Law by Hiring Illegal Aliens and shutting THEIR asses down.


218 posted on 08/05/2005 3:59:20 PM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (3-7-77 (No that's not a Date))
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To: Borax Queen

bumping your post, BQ....didn't know about this "plan". DISGUSTING....Americans have been betrayed.


219 posted on 08/05/2005 3:59:54 PM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: Die_Hard Conservative Lady
Are there any Mexicans left in Mexico?

Fear not! It is still growing by leaps and bounds. Their birthrate is falling but the phenomena of population momentum will keep it growing for at least 50 years. The US Census bureau expects it to grow from 100 million now to 150 million by 2050. We won't be running out of poor ignorant Mexican illegals anytime soon.

220 posted on 08/05/2005 4:01:24 PM PDT by jackbenimble (Import the third world, become the third world)
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