Posted on 03/30/2006 6:00:20 PM PST by 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
This from a dimwit who can't seem to get it through his head that anybody who is born on American soil is an American citizen.
Sure. (sarcasm off)
To use Bush's logic -- if Americans refuse to fight the war on terrorism, the Mexican's will?
They are just turning people off, trying to drive their agenda at the expense of everybody else's.
Let's face it: no matter WHAT the Congress or Bush does, it will never be enough for these people; never.
They want them gone, period. Drug across the border.
And it's not going to happen.
So now they'll "really" have an issue.
And calling for impeachment will solve this problem???
Go for it sweet heart ... and see how fast people turn on y'all
Michael Savage just said on his show (and I think I have this correct)that our President, George W. Bush, said today in Mexico, “Nationalism is a dangerous thing.”
What could he have meant by that bizarre statement?
I would like to think it would have been a response to the protests in Los Angeles and the upsidedown American flags under the mexican flags, BUT... then I have to come down to reality.
He's talking about us
Of far more importance than any of this stuff, alert: US casualties in Iraq plummeted in the month of March.
We need to change that with a constitutional amendment. That's one of the incentives that are drawing them across the border. We need to neutralize the "anchor baby" ploy.
Michael Savage also trashed the Catholic Church today.
Are you a Savage disciple?
They're both important. Suggesting that one one can be important at a time is faulty logic.
More irony from the fraud.
"...unless the child of an ambassador or other diplomatic agent of a foreign state, or of an alien enemy in hostile occupation of the place where the child was born."U.S. v. WONG KIM ARK, 169 U.S. 649 (1898)
Oh and while I'm on my little rant
Tom Tancredo can kiss my ***
I hope you've got a thick skin, buster.
I'm going to be in your ugly face from now on.
If you want to support Democrats, you're on the wrong website.
Calm down.
People cannot seem to wrap their mind around a fact.
The phrase "Illegals do the job that other Americans won't" is not false for the reason they think.
The correct phrase is "There are too few working age Americans to do the work Illegals are doing".
Something has to be done in general, but you must not find yourself spiraling into mathematical denial. The most important force in America is Demographics. The ageing of the population is what it is. There Are Not Enough Working Age Americans To Do All The Work That Needs Doing.
But . . . something needs to be done. Do a better job of border control. Bush has increased the numbers in the Border Patrol. If the border is secure, that stops the influx. Lots of good things come from that. Those already in the US can't go home to visit if their parents die and there is a funeral. Things like that are powerful.
Those who have been in the US for 25 yrs and have 3 kids aged 14, 17 and 22 who are all US citizens with the oldest a West Point grad . . . you can't toss that guy. He's made a solid contribution.
Let's worry about those in the country later. Secure the border. Bush has improved over his predecessors in that. He can improve further.
If they do, they will lose my vote. Better to live one term under a dead-locked socialist government than live under a capitalist system WITHOUT a country!
To: usnavy45
Back him? No, not on this although his position has not changed and has been clear since he ran in 2000.
But call him a traitor?
NO WAY.
Are you calling him a traitor?
322 posted on 03/30/2006 9:58:44 PM CST by onyx (Elections are in November, 06 ---- 08 can wait!)
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Wrong.
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