Posted on 08/29/2005 1:49:54 PM PDT by FeeinTennessee
President Bush Vows to Help With Border Problems NewsMax.com Wires Monday, Aug. 29, 2005
EL MIRAGE, Ariz. -- President Bush said Monday he will work with Gov. Janet Napolitano and other border governors to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, where political leaders have been calling for help to deal with waves of illegal immigrants.
Bush told a crowd in this retirement community that he understands the federal government's obligation to enforce the border.
"It's important for the people of this state to understand, your voices are being heard in Washington, D.C.," he said.
Making reference to Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican who introduced Bush here, the president said, "This senator and this Congress are going to work closely with the administration to make sure we have the resources necessary to do our responsibility, which is to enforce this border. And we'll do so."
Bush made the trip west from his Texas ranch to lend a hand to the administration's effort to sell older Americans on the value of a prescription drug benefit that begins next year for Medicare patients.
Trying to combat confusion about and criticism of the new government drug plan, Bush was making appearances in both Arizona and California Monday to talk it up.
After spending the night in San Diego, he speaks on Tuesday at the Naval Air Station North Island there to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. His remarks focus on fighting terrorists and the ongoing campaign in Iraq. They recall the Aug. 14, 1945, Japanese surrender that came just days after the United States incinerated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs.
There has been indications that efforts to build support for the Medicare drug benefit - including a few other appearances around the country by Bush - are paying off. Congress allocated about $300 million to an awareness campaign.
A recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found for the first time that people were as likely to have a favorable view of the plan as to have an unfavorable view. Still, the survey found that more people do not plan to enroll than do.
The prescription drug benefit kicks in Jan. 1. About 43 million beneficiaries will be able to choose from two or more private plans that offer drug coverage.
Enrollees will pay a monthly premium averaging about $32, but the amount will vary among regions, and millions of poor people will pay nothing. Beneficiaries will also have a $250 deductible, meaning they will have to pay that amount for their prescriptions before the drug plan covers expenses. Again, millions of poor beneficiaries will not have any deductible.
After spending more than four weeks operating from his Texas ranch, Bush returns to Washington on Friday. © 2005 The Associated Press
We keep the pressure on. Let them know we mean business.
Oh, I know. No matter which bill passes (if one does pass,) we're going to get a McCain-Kennedy style amnesty. Bush wouldn't have it any other way.
Close them Mr. President. There is NO down side, our "neighbors" to the south and the north hate us already. Any country that speaks against us will be old America haters anyway. Do it now!
Doesn't that say it all? And this from the Secretary of Homeland Security no less.
Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!
I disagree. The Hispanic vote moves towards those who enable hispanic immigration. Be it legal or illegal.
I do find it funny that where people used to be called "tinfoil hatters" for mentioning your second point they are now called "commies" or "protectionists". Cant deny something when people can see it happening I guess. I will probably be hated for this but I would probably support more open borders in the hemisphere if permanent residency and new citizenship in the US were radically reduced. Since just the opposite will be true they lose my support.
There are only 3 reform bills in Congress.
Psssst, don't tell the freepers but no one has bothered to introduce a bill that reflects their views.
Even Tancredo supports guesr workers and his bill says nothing about deportations or fences. Tancredo is OBL.
It should also be noted that Bush will probably pimp "10,000 new border patrol agents" when/if he is pushing Cornyn-Kyl. Don't be fooled. The intelligence overhaul bill that passed in December of 2004 promised the exact same thing, 10,000 more border patrol agents, 2,000 a year for five years. What happened? Bush didn't fund 2,000 new border patrol agents like the bill said he could and that he said he would, instead he funded only 210, barely 10% of what was promised for the first year. Will he do this next year and the year after? Who knows. But it's all doubletalk smoke and mirrors.
Don't let the promise of 10,000 new border patrol agents fool you into supporting the Cornyn-Kyl amnesty, you'll only end up get about 1,000.
Most of our elected WashDC politicos ignore the people on this issue. Cong Tom Tancredo's Immigration Reform Caucus is the one faction in the HoR that means business. Here are the names of those US Congressmen who want serious immigration reform for the USA. 79 Republicans and 3 Democrats believe Tancredo's 4-Point Plan and his recent guest worker plan are whats needed to resolve this critical issue.
Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK) Congressman Richard Baker (R-LA) Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) Congressman Ric Keller (R-FL) Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) Congressman Steve King (R-IA) Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) Congressman John Kline (R-MN) Congressman John Boozman (R-AR) Congressman John R. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL) Congressman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH) Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-TX) Congressman Henry Brown (R-SC) Congressman Michael T. McCaul (R-TX) Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC) Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX) Congressman Gary Miller (R-CA) Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL) Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) Congressman John Carter (R-TX) Congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA) Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC) Congressman Butch Otter (R-ID) Congresswoman Barbara Cubin (R-WY) Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS) Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) Congresswoman JoAnn Davis (R-VA) Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN) Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA) Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ) Congressman Charles Dent (R-PA) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA) Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA) Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) Congressman John Duncan (R-TN) Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) Congressman Michael Simpson (R-ID) Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) Congressman Scott Garrett (R-NJ) Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK) Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) Congressman John E. Sweeney (R-NY) Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA) Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) Congressman Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) Congressman Robin Hayes (R-NC) Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) Congressman Joel Hefley (R-CO) Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL) Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) Congressman Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)
Polls from Hispanic voters have shown that the majority of them prefer better enforcement of our immigration laws.
I will probably be hated for this but I would probably support more open borders in the hemisphere if permanent residency and new citizenship in the US were radically reduced.
Above all (for me, anyway), the border needs to be closed to certain characters, such as gangs, terrorists, etc. That means we need effective border security, even with a loose immigration policy.
If the cost is presently too high to send them back what's it going to be 3 or 6 years from now when their guest worker visa runs out and they refuse to go home?
That statement by Chertoff proves the games they're playing with this issue. They have no intention of ever enforcing the laws, period.
BINGO!
All I'm saying is that I think the Dems, media, and ethnic interest groups will portray the provision not allowing 'guests' to bring their families as some sort of nazi policy. The specific matter of the cost associated with bringing family members, as well as the more general principle that the program should exist to serve the interests of Americans and not foreigners, will be lost amid one media sob story after another about 'the family left behind.'
I can imagine the House standing firm, but not the Senate. I also have a hard time believing that Mr "family values don't stop at the Rio Grande" will go along either. Afterall, that wouldn't be 'compassionate conservatism.'
"Build the fence, concrete not chain-link, under a works program like the TVA."
Dontcha know, these days they would hire illegal immigrants for the construction?
The federal government would let a contracts, with a private company. The contracts would have a clause forbidding hiring illegals.
The government would take no action to enforce that clause.
The contractor would fill his files with the fraudulent documents provided by the workers, and everybody would be set.
BAU. no problema
This system is acceptable with the workers, the employers, the federal government, the Republican party, the democrat party.
Tancredo's bill does not cut any slack to illegals whatsoever. It doesn't make them eligible for guest worker status, nor does it give any kind of tacit approval of their presence here.
Most freepers are opposed to guest workers.
The impression I've gotten is that there are a few FReepers who have always disliked GWBush and are simply using this issue on which to attack him.
If it wasn't this issue it would be another one.
Sorry, but if you want to defend Bush's actions, you're going to have to actually defend them, instead of hiding behind Bush's name.
You pretty well nailed it in #34.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.