Bush, Fox Discuss Mexico Border Security

Washington Post/AP ^ | February 20, 2006

[SwinneySwitch]

MILWAUKEE -- President Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico exchanged ideas Monday on how to stop violence and improve security along the two countries' mutual border, the White House said.

Press secretary Scott McClellan said that Bush telephoned Fox while traveling here to give a speech and said the pair "talked about working together" to improve conditions that have been a source of friction between the two countries.

McClellan told reporters that Bush has designated Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to talk to his counterpart in Mexico about the problem and said that Bush and Fox also talked about pending immigration legislation in Congress

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Anyone in this day and age who puts national security that far near the bottom of their "issues" is not, IMO, working with a full deck."

I think that we can agree, and as amply demonstrated by this very thread, that the idea of immigration control centers around controlling our southern borders; we are concerned with people from Mexico and points South entering the nation illegally...and we should be.

However, if national security in reference to border control were truly our concern, then I'll argue that we are concerned about the wrong border, and that our Northern border is a far greater concern for national security than our Southern border is.

Our border with Mexico commands over ninety percent of our border security resources, and that's no secret.

So, if you were a terrorist organization planning to enter the Country in order to do it harm, would you enter through the place where you know for a fact we have the Lion's share of our security concentrated, or would you come in through Canada?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Non-voters are still Americans, so go on sticking your head in the sand if you please, but it doesn't change the fact that immigration is not on the minds of the American people as a serious issue.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I get around quite a bit, and yes, I see that immigration has gonbe from 2% to 5% in the past three years or so.

The reason that the immigration issue is not being addressed to the degree that most in here would like to see it done, is because politicians know that there are other issues that Americans consider more important.

The moment that immigration hits double digits in a poll like this, you'll see action.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Moreover, public opinion polls taken over the last five years have consistently found that roughly 70 percent of Americans think the United States should not make it easier for illegal aliens to become citizens."

Different question altogether.

That could mean that people don't want the government to make it easy for illegal aliens to become citzens.

There's a whole lot of space left open by that statement, and nothing in it conflicts with the posted numbers.

[WatchingInAmazement]

You're wrong about how Americans view the importance of illegal immigration. There are many more polls, but you can find them as easily as we can.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1567369/posts


Almost two-thirds of Americans (63%) consider illegal immigration a “very serious” or “extremely serious” problem in the United States, according to a TIME Poll. The majority (74%) believes the U.S. is not doing enough to secure its borders. . . .

TIME’s Poll shows that half (50%) of Americans favor deporting all illegal immigrants back to their home countries (45% oppose). Three-in-four (76%) favor allowing illegal immigrants in the U.S. to earn citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes. . . . Meanwhile 700,000 undocumented immigrants from around the world continue to enter the U.S. each year, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.
_______________
Do you believe securing U.S. borders should be the first priority of homeland security?
Yes 96% 1895 votes
No 4% 89 votes
Total: 1984 votes

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/
___________________
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/
What do you believe should be the top priority for Congress this year?
Immigration reform 29%
Social Security reform 3%
Trade/outsourcing 37%
Federal deficit 30%
Total votes 2187
.
________________
When voters were asked to choose their highest, second and third priorities from the list of issues, and their top choices were combined, defense of U.S. borders was the clear winner at 77 percent."
http://resultsforamerica.org/survey.html

According to the poll, 43 percent of voters listed border defense and homeland security as their No. 1 choice when asked about the highest military or foreign priority of the federal government.

[Luis Gonzalez]

First, don't post polls that can be Freeped as proof of what the American people in general think, secondly, when I discuss immigration as an issue, don't then tell me I'm wrong by pointing to polls about illegal immigration (an oxymoron), they are not one and the same issue, and depending on who you talk to, the number of people entering the nation illegally is anywhere from 500,000 to 1,500,000 yearly.

The point remains that when asked what the top issues that the government should address, immigration never breaks double digits.

If you want a reason why politicians don't address the immigartion issue, there it is.

[IRtorqued]

all boybush has done is play champion to the demoncrat cause

[SealSeven]

First, don't post polls that can be Freeped as proof of what the American people in general think,

Thats right, Luis. We all know FReepers are not part of the general population (much less Americans) and therefore, their vote doesn't count. /sarc off

[texasbluebell]

Do a search yourself. That was only one aspect that I quoted.

The numbers range from in the 60s to the 90s.

No way is it 5%.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

You chose a truly great quote for your homepage.

Words to live by, if only we would.

Thanks. I added another.

I started voting my conscience a few years ago and haven't been sorry since.

[ohioWfan]

Great Scot! I have finally found someone around here that may be slightly to the right of me (not easily accomplished), and I defer to no one when it comes to who is more hard right rudder.

Oh.....now THIS is funny!

btw, do you mind if I call you Dave from now on? For some reason, you've begun to remind me of David Gregory......

......was that a whine I heard coming from you, davey??.......... :)

All in good fun, Czar..........all in good fun. Trying to toughen you up a bit here...... we conservatives have to be strong, you know?

[vrwc0915]

BTT

[Luis Gonzalez]

Don't be stupid.

It slants the numbers, that's why we "Freep" polls.

[Czar]

"There are many more polls, but you can find them as easily as we can."

I wonder if there are any recent polls conducted by people/organizations that would be generally recognized as valid polls using all of the generally accepted procedures.

[Czar]

"I added another."

The Jefferson quote is a keeper as well.

Here's another one you might like:

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. On the road to tyranny, we've gone so far that polite political action is about as useless as a miniskirt in a convent. But most people are still standing around numb and confused, knowing something's wrong with the country, but hoping it isn't quite as bad as they're beginning to suspect it is." - Claire Wolfe

[WatchingInAmazement]

generally recognized as valid polls using all of the generally accepted procedures.

It doesn't matter. The self proclaimed experts are only going to accept the one poll they can find, WSJ, that is slanted. There are plenty of legit polls on this and everyone knows it. NEVER has there been an issue that has been agreed to by this many Americans and that is what has the open border crowd in such a snit. They preferred it when we were the "silent" majority.

And that, my friend, is the name of that tune.

[mthom]

The same poll has terrorism in single digits. And any poll that has anything to do with illegal aliens that was paid for by the WSJ cannot be trusted.