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BUSH"S guest worker program IS amnesty, period!

Show me in Bush's plan where it would allow illegal immigrants currently in the US to apply.

His original plan was too vague to specify that very important part.

He's now saying no amnesty, but not clearly specifying his plan.

Skepticism is justified.

Saying that Bush's plan IS amnesty is bull.

Everthing Bush has said and done has encouraged illegal immigration. If you are unable to see this, there is nothing for me to say.

A big issue is immigration. It's important for us to get this issue solved so that we can be competitive as we go out into the 21st century. First of all, the obligation of the federal government is to enforce our borders, is to make sure that -- (applause.) And I want to thank Leader Frist for passing a strong appropriations bill to provide resources necessary for more Border Patrol technology along the border. Listen, the border is long, and it's not easy to enforce. But with proper use of technology, some physical barriers, I think we'll be able to do a much better job.

The second issue along the border, by the way, is that when we catch somebody sneaking into our country illegally, we just can't release them out into the system. We've got to have more detention space -- (applause) -- we've got to have more detention space so that -- it used to be they'd catch them, a lot of the folks, they'd say, all right, check back in with your immigration judge here in 45 days. And the guy would say, yes, you bet. (Laughter.) See you later. So we're changing that along the border.

I do want to talk about the worker issue. A lot of people here in America have come to do jobs Americans won't do. And they're here because they can make money for their families. I used to tell people in Texas that family values didn't stop at the Rio Grande River. If you're a mother or a dad and you want to put food on the table for your children, and you had the choice between $5 and $50, you'd head for $50 if you could.

I believe a very significant part of enforcing our border, make it easier for our Border Patrol to do the job, is to end this system that encourages smuggling and pressure on the border by people sneaking across, and saying if there is somebody that's willing to do a job an American won't do, let's give him a fool-proof pass so they can be here on a temporary basis.

Now, I'm against amnesty, and the reason I am is I believe if you grant amnesty to people that are here, it will cause another wave of people to want to come. (Applause.) But I am for recognizing reality and saying that if you're doing a job, if you're an employer and you're looking for somebody to do a job an American won't do, then here is a card for a temporary worker. That's a humane way to treat the issue. I can't stand a system that has caused people to get stuffed in the back of 18-wheelers and they're driving across the desert. We have -- because of our policy, we have caused there to be a whole smuggling industry, and a forgery industry. If you're out there working and somebody shows up and you can't find somebody to find work, and they show up and you say, show me your card -- you don't know whether it's real or not real. There are people forging cards in order to help these people find work.

The above is from a speech that the President gave today in Nashville as a followup to last night's State of the Union speech.

Note the first sentence of the last paragraph. He says he is against amnesty. Now note the second paragraph of the last paragraph. He proposes giving illegals a temporary worker card. He says he is against amnesty and then in the very next sentence he proposes it. To say his plan is NOT amnesty is bull. He does not even go as far as McCainneddy. At least they propose a fine as part of their Shamnesty. Bush just rewards the lawbreaking with legal status and no punishment what so ever. That IS AMNESTY! He has used this same formulation in numerous speeches on this topic. He proposes amnesty but thinks he can fool us by calling it something different. His contempt for our intelligence is stunning.

Saying that Bush's plan IS amnesty is bull.

It would be great if you were right. But I stopped believing in the Easter Bunny and Superman long, long ago. In the real world, amnesty by any other name ("guest worker") is still as ugly. And yes, stephenjohnbanker is right.

BUSH"S guest worker program IS amnesty, period!