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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."
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It's a CONSERVATIVE site (Founding Father's intentions, etc.), not suppose to be merely Republican, I don't believe.
But some sure act like it's "agree with Bush or leave" type thinking. They have good intentions for they understand the Democrat alternative........ which is NO alternative at all.
Bring it on. The more you say, the clearer it is just who you are.
I don't know how many legal immigrants we have in this country as opposed to the 14-15M illegal immigrants that I have seen estimated. The point is, I believe right now that are vastly fewer numbers of legal immigrants versus 14-15M illegal immigrants. I don't have a problem with legal immigration (hopefully somewhat controlled) because as least they are following the rules by applying to get in.
The illegal immigrants are where I am adament about... they need to be deported en masse, and then apply to enter the country which is what they should have done in the first place.
Unfortunately all the pro-illegal, pro-amnesty zealots (led by George Bush) ALWAYS seem to lump both legal & illegal immigrants into one phrase called immigrants. What bozos these leaders are! I believe that most Americans support LEGAL IMMIGRATION and are opposed to ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. By the way, if Bush had any spine & was not a globalist hack, he should feel the same way.
Inasmuch as that is very likely a job no American will do, maybe Fox can send an illegal across the border to do it. $15 an hour is probably sufficient.
Yes I know .. it's the same BS as always
Bet you dollars to donuts that poster didn't vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004. Don't let some ignorant troll dictate what you should do with your money. It is your money.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to change your mind, but apparently some worthless Bush-hating troll has evidently swayed you.
Everyone here has some beef with the President, but he has never shown a tendency to be arrogant, much less possessed psychopathic tendencies. He don't own me, he doesn't force me to kiss a ring, and I don't offer up prayers to him in times of need.
Sounds like an argument against law and order to me. Our laws force people underground? What people, lawbreakers? Our laws force people into the shadows of society? So we should dispense with our laws, rather than the lawbreakers?
And what madness is this? Our system "causes people to have to sneak!" "Causes people to risk their life." We have laws against burglary that cause people to sneak and risk their life---if they choose to burglarize houses.
And if the system---i.e., the laws---force people into the shadows and cause them to sneak, etc., etc., we should toss out all the drug laws for the very same reasons. All the nation's addicts and crack whores can come out of the shadows too!
Yes, sir, laws are bad. Without them we wouldn't have lawbreakers, right?
And tomorrow, Mrs. Bush will say we're all racists. We were sexists about Harriet Miers and this is a thousand times worse.
I woke up to his ranting, I dont remember much about what he said but I do remember a bit of it. I think he was blaming the catholics for this whole immigration situation. He was over the top, for sure. I mean, nobody should let our government off the hook in a time they are debating. The buck stops in Washington, not in Rome.
true
bug off
I am so sick of this phrase. Like before the massive influx of illegals, no hotels got cleaned, no yards got landscaped, no produce got harvested, and no construction was done. Gimme a break.
Not really. Sinkspur was just repeating a falsehood.
If Congress as part of its war on terrorism would require all aliens in the country to turn themselves in and deem any that refused hostiles, any anchor babies they subsequently bore would not be citizens. Been that way since 1868.
Precisely the kind of judicial tyranny which Thomas Jefferson warned of when he described federal judges as those who would be “constantly working underground to undermine the foundations of our confederated fabric.”
To: yarddog
Im not suprised that there are bushbots out there (here) who will back the president no matter what he does. Just like with Clinton, the majority of dems could not (and still can't) find any faults with the guy. It happens on both sides.
311 posted on 03/30/2006 9:54:27 PM CST by usnavy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 299 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
I am not a BRO, bro.
You want to agree with yarddog? He called POTUS a traitor.
I asked yo.... Are you calling him a traitor?
Don't flatter yourself. I was just pointing out your utter stupidity.
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They'll tell you all day that they don't support unfettered illegal immigration. They'll tell you they're more conservative than you could ever be.
But at the same time, they will do everything they can to viciously tear down conservatives.
Something seriously wrong with this picture, which most thinking people manage to see pretty quickly.
These have been their tactics on this site for the six years I've been here.
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