Bush Pushes Congress to OK Immigrants

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/30/06 | Nedra Pickler - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.

"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."

The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.

Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.

But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States — about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.

Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.

The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.

Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.

"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."

But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.

"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."

Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."

The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.

After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.

There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.

The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.

"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."

In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.

"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."

But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."

___

On the Net:

U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

[beyond the sea]

"Yeah, I want thoughtful, intelligent hysteria!" --

LOL ..............

[Coop]

You have some nerve getting a good night's sleep!

Hey, I'm already managing Hysteria Thread #1. This one's all yours, baby!

[Spacetrucker]

"It's great that Mexico has a President that represents that nation's interests. It's great that Canada has a Prime Minister that represents Canada's interests. Beyond that, I'd best not say."

---

Then I shall save you the agony of uttering the painful truth - "It truly pains me that we have a president that represents the interests of the other two" p.s. I am so angry over this issue that I have broken my month-long (sort of) lurking binge. I truly believe that if our Congress does not remove the amnesty provision that the President is so set on, our nation will begin a VERY rapid disintegration.

[stevio]

I would vote Conservative Party before McCain.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

As wonderful as RR was, he approved a bill legalizing abortion in California and approved the amnesty for illegals.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Was Ronald Reagan disloyal to our nation when he signed a blanket amnesty of illegals?

The language in these threads has gone over the top. First, before blowing a gasket, remember that ANYTHING that gets out of the Senate has to go to conference. The Senate knows that. Be concerned but hang loose.

We will know more of where we're going with this next week.

[G.Mason]

Thanks for the ping.

If nationalism is a dangerous thing, then I am a felon.

Being a nationalist is simply feeling the same way about your country as you do about your house.

As one would protect and care for their home, so should one care for and protect their country.

The problem that has arisen here in the United States is that there are far too many squatters and renters. It's not their home, and they could care less.

To top that off there are millions of us who have succumned to the propaganda that nationalizm is to be avoided at all costs. It breeds mistrust and wars.

To those I say mistrust is simply a natural feeling that aids in ones self preservation, and war is as necessary to life as fire is to a healthy forest.

Here's to nationalizm, and screw those who aren't.

[eazdzit]

FYIHowlin; BigSkyFreeper, Junior_G; JeffAtlanta; rolling_stone; onyx. See post #1438

Cboldt Thank you. You posted: :"The Administration strongly urges the House to pass this important legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress to ensure that certain provisions of the bill do not inadvertently affect operations designed to gain control of the border"

Cboldt your comment:"So, it's accurate to say "the administration supports H.R.4437" - but that statement, without more, misrepresents President Bush's position."

My comments: I see a veiled statement with regard to support of the bill and an urgent desire to get the bill out of the House and into the Senate. You are right it is misleading and requires analysis to fully comprehend.

It appears to be intentionally misleading and causes or allows posters to make false but effective claims about Bushes position.

I wonder why they would want to do that. ???

:) Easy Does It :)

[curiosity]

Was Ronald Reagan disloyal to our nation when he signed a blanket amnesty of illegals?

Yes.

[Howlin]

Isn't that EXACTLY what this document says?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/109-1/hr4437sap-h.pdf

[Howlin]

If none of the candidates comes close to either, then sitting at home is a reasonable, though decidedly unpatriotic, option.

What it is is putting your one agenda before what's best for the country; myself, I think turning the country over to the liberals is not an option; your mileage may vary.

[Cboldt]

It appears to be intentionally misleading and causes or allows posters to make false but effective claims about Bushes position.

I'm certain it is intentional. If the point is important, one should look farther than what is posted, because OFTEN, what is posted is either outright false, or intentionally misleading. All sides engage in those cheap debate tactics - that's what makes FR a fun place ;-)

[Cboldt]

Isn't that EXACTLY what this document says?

I specifically CITED that document as the source. In other words, my post asserts that the language in blockquote is verbatim from that document. Did you miss where I cited and linked to it?

So yes, thoes words are EXACTLY what http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/109-1/hr4437sap-h.pdf says, but do not recite ALL of what that document says.

[houeto]

Bump...not that this thread needs a bump, but here's one anyway.

[napscoordinator]

Howlin right again!!!! Sorry I have not been around lately too much. Mostly lurking...

[evad]

Really?!?! So far, all the terrorist attacks or attempts we have suffered have involved the Canadian border in some way. To my knowledge, none have come up from Mexico

You're missing the weaponized virus that came up from Mexico and eventually killed off the head of CTU. I think that was season 2..or maybe 3.

There is no war or problem that we didn't win or make serious progress in as long as there is "motivation" to do so. We don't make serious progress in the illegal entry problem for the same reason we don't make progress in the illegal drug problem, we're simply not sufficiently motivated to do so. If we were so motivated, we have enough laws on the books right now to facilitate and solve our problem.

[xzins]

Pros
WOT
SCOTUS nominees 2/3


Cons
Economy on the brink of failure (you'll see lemmings)
Refusal to close the border
Patronizing everyone except middle America

1. I liked all 3 Scotus nominees, so I think the President's fine.
2. This economy is not on the brink of failure, and it's a ridiculous claim. It's growing, inflation is under control, and there's a lot of underlying strength.
3. I'm one of the few who do not think that closing the border is the solution to the problem. There is a multi-pronged solution to the problem, imho:

a. Firm criminal penalties against ANY (zero exceptions for any reason) employer hiring an illegal alien.
b. Control of the exploding Mexican birth rate...by 2050 they'll have 250 million people in that little bit of not-so-agricultural land.
c. Bringing Mexico & Canada into some kind of confederation with the US. Ultimately, I'd like to see each of the states of Mexico and provinces of Canada become states of the U.S.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

CONGRESS holds the purse strings. But you know that.

You are wrong. Bush proposed new programs and stratospheric expansion of other programs before Congress "even tugged at the purse strings".

You just live to bash POTUS.

You are wrong. I not only voted for him, I campaigned for him for two months at my own cost. You just live to defend socialism and rah rah a party label.

If you read Free Republic's home page, you will see that fighting socialism is one of our key missions. It also says we are a conservative site for conservatives.

Bush has been a fiscal liberal and very socialist--even die hard party loyalists would have to admit that, IF...that is IF they were honest, since this is not opinion,but hard facts, courtesy of the Office of Management and Budget.

Your defense of socialism hurts the conservative cause and goes against the core principles of what Free Republic is all about--fighting socialism, turning back "government largesse, and being pro-conservative.

Just because the RATs are total scum does not make defending socialism (defending Bush) right.

You are a good person because you fight RATs. Your efforts are misplaced because you defend socialism in the name of "party loyalty".

Had Gore become president and all the SAME socialist spending programs occurred and new programs started, and had Gore allowed the destruction of our national sovereignty by allowing the invasion of our borders, you would be so outraged you would be tearing down the iron fence surrounding the White House.

As it is, Bush has done that and you defend it. That defense of a party label is beyond horrible--you HURT the conservative cause.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

See post #1458.

You are wrong. Bush proposed new programs and stratospheric expansion of wasteful socialist programs before Congress even got involved.

You forgot--Bush submits the budget, not Congress.

Read all of #1458--same applies to you.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Was he a psychopath as some have suggested of Pres. Bush?