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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On the Net:
U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
I don't believe I stuttered.
"I live in a small farm town in Nelson County, Virginia, and will retire from the Virginia Army National Guard in April 2006, after 22 years. I have spent almost one half of my adult life preparing myself and my soldiers for a time, such as now, that our country might successfully face our enemies, foreign and domestic.
Looking at your webpage this morning and seeing the pictures of the high school students raising a Mexican national flag over an upside down American flag saddened me terribly, insofar as there are American soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen currently putting their lives in danger in order to provide these "citizens" the comfort of knowing that their protests will not result in being lined up against a wall and executed for their behavior, as they might in other countries around the world.
What would be interesting to know is if these young men and women are enjoying their educations on the back of the American taxpayer at a public school, while denigrating the country that provides these benefits to them, and so blatantly desecrating the flag that serves as a beacon to draw them to America in the first place."
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004869.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1605381/posts?page=1853#1853
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1605381/posts?page=1876#1876
America had no choice. Mr. Bush will be the FIRST American President who has not only allowed an invasion by a third world country, but actively encouraged it, against the will of the people he is supposed to be representing.
I believe that he, along with his RINO OBL cronies, are destroying what's left of the once-proud Republican Party.
The mass importation of poverty, ignorance, disease and dependence from the third world, and setting up Americans to pay for it, will be his finest legacy.
If that were true then black unemployment numbers would be at 2% - which they are not.
George Noory is a loon. Thanks for telling me your source. Don't EVER post that again. That's an order.
Better to vote 3rd party and have a term under a deadlocked socialist government than to live under a capitalist system WITHOUT a country.
Our country is being sold out and it's NOT the democrats who control all 3 branches of government.
Once English is no longer our national language.
yes
Ah...
Although President Bush’s approval ratings continue to slide in national polls, his support among Republican voters remains strong, with 80% of Republican voters approving of his job performance, and 84% expressing a strongly or somewhat favorable opinion of him. Evangelicals report an 85% approval rating of Bush, and 89% have a favorable opinion of the president.
Sure you did. But keep telling yourself you owned up to your snarky insinuation.
And voting for a party that stands for increased entitlements, supports affirmative action, and amnesty isn't against principle?
The impeachment process is an abused process. Just take a look at the current Democrat climate, and you'll realize they are a party longing to be in power after being embarrassed by their own motives for the last 60 years. Bush is going to be impeached for following the law.
Is consensus at FR so important that we shouldn't question Bush's positions on Meiers, Dubai & immigration?
I'm all for a guest worker program - I don't even think illegals have to return back home first. But I do draw the line on amnesty/citizenship. There should be no linkage between guest workers and citizenship unless the latter qualifies for the former during the interim period.
If Bush continues to push for rewarding illegal behaviour, then I, like many others, will stay home, watch the Dems take Congress, and begin impeachment proceedings next year.
Before this amnesty/illegal alien issue, Spanish was to be the primary spoken language in the US by 2010. Right now Congress may be making decisions that will move that date a bit closer. :)
Unlike you, I do care what people think about me, although some people are nasty enough that their enmity makes me proud. If a person I admire were to attack me it would bother me tho.
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