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Bush pushes guest-worker plan ahead of key debate
Reuters ^
| 3/25/6
| Caren Bohan
Posted on 03/25/2006 12:28:47 PM PST by Crackingham
President George W. Bush tried to counter strong opposition among many Republicans to his guest-worker plan on Saturday, arguing that allowing immigrants to take jobs Americans don't want adds to "economic vitality."
Bush weighed in on the immigration issue in his weekly radio address as the Senate was days away from taking up debate on the subject. The president favors including a temporary work visa in broad legislation that would also bolster border enforcement. But some Republicans view the guest-worker plan as a back-door amnesty for illegal immigrants and prefer an approach that focuses solely on toughening border security and cracking down on illegal immigration.
Bush, who this week urged all sides to tone down their rhetoric in the emotional debate, said securing borders was a top priority of immigration reform but invoked the country's history as "a nation of immigrants" to argue for a balanced approach.
"Comprehensive immigration reform requires a temporary worker program that will relieve pressure on our borders," Bush said.
"As we debate the immigration issue, we must remember there are hardworking individuals, doing jobs that Americans will not do, who are contributing to the economic vitality of our country," he added.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: border; bordersecurity; highcrimes; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist; immigration; impeachableoffense; sellingouttheusa; treason
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To: Crackingham
The more Bush II speaks on this subject, the more he sounds like his failure father - a closet liberal.
41
posted on
03/25/2006 1:38:51 PM PST
by
ZULU
(Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
To: dirtboy
doing jobs at a rate of pay that Americans can't live on yet would do if it paid reasonably well.
42
posted on
03/25/2006 1:39:11 PM PST
by
the anti-liberal
(Hey, Al Qaeda: Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent)
To: Reaganwuzthebest
The GOP hasn't been that impressive with their leadership capabilities. Massive pork spending, etc.
I'm beginning to think the best we could hope for is for 'the other party' to take one of the Chambers and give us gridlock. Gridlock seems the best hope we have.
43
posted on
03/25/2006 1:40:04 PM PST
by
TomGuy
To: Crackingham
I pray that this idiot Bush's assault on American sovereignty will be somehow thwarted.
44
posted on
03/25/2006 1:40:21 PM PST
by
dagnabbit
(Pray for the defeat of Bush's dishonest amnesty schemes and Mexico-merger plans.)
To: John Filson; olezip; Extremely Extreme Extremist
Take a look at these links, and you will see why the current President, at least 1 past President, and just about all our elected officials are apparently quite all right with the border issue as it stands:
CFR's Plan to Integrate the U.S., Mexico and Canada [Bye Bye USA]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1444055/posts
The Definition of Treason: Why the US Government doesn't stop the illegal alien invasion.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453789/posts
~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 more years till there's anarchy or civil unrest? That's right about the time the above plan is to be implemented in 2010.
Well, if they can make sure to rein in the internet too, then we're really fixed.
To: TomGuy
Now that GW is not facing re-election, he is sending a clear message to his supporters who are against amnesty for illegals (under whatever name GW wants to call it). That clear message is: "Up your!"As Andy Card apparently said before the last election: "Who cares what conservatives think? They have nowhere else to go."
To: TomGuy
Gridlock seems the best hope we have.Exactly. I'd rather *no* party achieved their goal of spending us into the poorhouse.
47
posted on
03/25/2006 1:43:34 PM PST
by
Wormwood
(Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!)
To: Crackingham
We need to send a strong message to the president, congress, the republican party, main stream media, and the public at large...
There will be NO discussion of "Guest Worker" programs, or immigration reform until the Borders Are Secured..
Border Security is Priority #1....
Not "Economic Vitality"...
Not Immigration Reform...
It's National Security...
Deal with the immigration laws that presently exist and ENFORCE THEM...
National Security depends on Secure Borders..
48
posted on
03/25/2006 1:45:47 PM PST
by
Drammach
(In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king..)
To: dagnabbit
I pray that this idiot Bush's assault on American sovereignty will be somehow thwarted.
Do you recall how it was thwarted the last time it came close to passing? Just before 9-11, Congress was about the pass an amnesty for illegals bill. But, 9-11 happened and that put it on hold. Not quite....
Congress still tried to get it passed. Guess who stopped it. Ole Senator Sheets. That's right. Senator Byrd stopped it on a 'technicality'.
49
posted on
03/25/2006 1:46:03 PM PST
by
TomGuy
To: Crackingham
"Bush, who this week urged all sides to tone down their rhetoric in the emotional debate, said securing borders was a top priority of immigration reform but invoked the country's history as "a nation of legal immigrants " to argue for a balanced approach." There ....fixed it.
As for the "guest workers" take a look at how many "guest workers" now reside in Germany now.
50
posted on
03/25/2006 1:47:59 PM PST
by
spokeshave
(I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than drive over a bridge with Ted Kennedy)
To: Crackingham
If Americans won't do the jobs then that will promote innovation in technology and make the economy stronger.
A guest worker program will not help the illegal immigration problem - "Oh, they've got a guest worker program, so that means I'll decide not to sneak in now." It's nonsense.
To: TomGuy
I read somewhere that this time they will just use the Conference Committee to gut the House legislation and ram through whatever massive amnesty the Senate produces.
Of course Bush will eagerly sign whatever comes his way, while continuing to insult our intelligence with his nonsense about "not an amnesty" and "temporary".
52
posted on
03/25/2006 1:53:47 PM PST
by
dagnabbit
(Pray for the defeat of Bush's dishonest amnesty schemes and Mexico-merger plans.)
53
posted on
03/25/2006 1:54:02 PM PST
by
pdunkin
To: Crackingham
President Bush, I have respect for the office of the Presidency but may I say clearly.......NO guest worker program OR may I be a guest taxpayer? (heard that on a talking head show)
Pass the Bill Senate passed please!
Thank you, an American Taxpayer
54
posted on
03/25/2006 2:01:14 PM PST
by
stopem
(Socialists NOT welcome in MY Country ever, Get OUT and take your flag with you!)
To: TomGuy
Gridlock seems the best hope we have. Divided government worked very well as I recall between 1992 and 1994, Clinton got practically nothing through legislatively because the GOP acted like they were supposed to.
To: Republican Wildcat
A guest worker program will not help the illegal immigration problem - "Oh, they've got a guest worker program, so that means I'll decide not to sneak in now." It's nonsense. Correct..
It's got to be more like, " Ooops.. The Borders have been sealed, and I can't get in now.. And if I'm caught in-country illegally, I'm gonna spend 3 years at hard labor building roads and security fences at 16 cents a day.. and then be deported. Guess I better try Legal Immigration and obey the law.."
That's the best solution..
Control our borders..
Enforce immigration laws..
Promote Legal Immigration as the only route to economic oppurtunity and Citizenship..
National Security must be Priority #1..
Secure The Borders..
56
posted on
03/25/2006 2:02:38 PM PST
by
Drammach
(In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king..)
To: spokeshave
My daughter was hit broadside on her way home from a Hispanic friend's house a few nights ago by a drunk illegal Mexican alien driving his brother's car. He spoke no English so she had to call her Hispanic friend to interpret for her. He offered my daughter $500.00 to forget it happened, but she called the police who made a report and hauled him away and told my daughter to go on home as she had done the right thing. The brother supposedly had insurance on the car. Will have to wait and see what happens.
To: Crackingham
>>>> ... some Republicans view the guest-worker plan as a back-door amnesty for illegal immigrants and prefer an approach that focuses solely on toughening border security and cracking down on illegal immigration. Backdoor amnesty it is.
Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals
58
posted on
03/25/2006 2:32:41 PM PST
by
Reagan Man
(Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
To: Crackingham
A guest worker program amounts two things: a reward for those break the laws of our country and a benefit for big business whose costs have to borne by the rest of society. We have to ask ourselves if we want to reduce our standard of living, contribute to disappearance of our middle class and endanger our national sovereignty all to make the Chamber Of Commerce happy. Now, I'm in favor of the free market as much as conservatives do but when it comes to a guest worker proposal - which is really a form of amnesty for illegal aliens in disguise - for me national security trumps considerations of profitability. We impose costs on business for all kinds of extraneous reasons. And in my book, securing control over our borders is not one of them - its about the very survival of our nation. So for this one reason alone, I'm opposed to amnesty no matter what President Bush and the politicians decide to call it.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
59
posted on
03/25/2006 2:40:19 PM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
To: Crackingham
I am getting tired of Bush saying that the Mexicans are doing jobs that Americans don't want to do. I find his comment insulting. Who was building houses, doing landscaping, and other manual labor jobs not to many years ago? It was Americans. Unfortunatly most of the employers who hire them do not pass on their bottom line savings to the consumer. Where I live housing prices have sky rocketed and most of the laborers on the job site are Hispanic.
60
posted on
03/25/2006 2:40:32 PM PST
by
hodaka
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