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 noticed you typed "spoken", not "written". What a tragedy we're visiting on our posterity.
Oh, all these people will be gone by then; we'll have fun!
Gee .. I heard that same line when Tom Tancredo interviewed on my local radio tonight
Bush's poll numbers among Republicans will continue to improve in the months ahead as more conservatives leave the party.
Bush called the Patriots "vigilantes"
I'm beginning to wonder about that. Will it possibly be yet another George who has absolutely no qualifications to be president of anything? For the first time in my long life, I'm afraid for America. Our votes don't count anymore.
Among the very many lessons taught by the last year has been the lesson that the effort to combine fealty to the flag of an immigrant's natal land with fealty to the flag of his adopted land, in practice means not merely disregard of, but hostility to, the flag of the United States. When two flags are hoisted on the same pole, one is always hoisted undermost. The hyphenated American always hoists the American flag undermost.
This is what President Bush said on March 25, 2006
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060325.html
"Comprehensive immigration reform begins with securing our borders."
"To keep the promise of America, we must enforce the laws of America."
"One thing the temporary worker program would not do is provide
amnesty to those who are in our country illegally."
Look for the Impeach Bush t-shirt in this post
by Ladycalif
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603387/posts?page=3#3
This sets the stage for the Dim's to be defeated in
even more 2006 and 2008 elections!
Any REAL Conservative knows the success
of the 2006 and 2008 elections
is electing those who secure our borders
and enforce the law of the land!
President Bush has set the example and
ensured a sweep in '06 and '08!
Only the looney left and the wrong rino's
would support illegal immigration
and amnesty for those who are in our country illegally!
Time for the real conservatives on FR,
be it Republicans, Independents or Democrats
(like Zell Miller and John O'Neill) to band together
and oust the looney left and RINO's
Agreed!
What good is your agenda when you have to lie to move it forward?
Democrat-Lite is what we have with about 35 Republican Senators and the President.
Arnold at least tries to do something contructive with the budget rather than just creating new entitlements that will never be rolled back.
Lots of cheap labor here in Montana. American citizens doing the job most effete and elite Americans don't want to do. Farming.
What? You weren;t insinuating and you weren;t stutterring, but you left your snarky sentence imcomplete.
Like your incomplete thoughts?
Are you trying to say that POTUS is a traitor?
Go ahead. I won't hit abuse and Jim might not be monitoring this thread.
Build an issue oriented "STEALTH Party" that crosses party lines. Pick a few issues and develop action plans. Then implement,using the internet, spread influence across the country like a chain letter.
Here is one for starters.
DOUG from Upland started it with this thread U.S. BORDER PATROL: Turn In Illegal Aliens (and employers, followed by this one U.S. BORDER CONTROL Turn in illegal aliens
Go to either thread for more details on what to do. The TOLL FREE number to report ILLEGAL aliens or those employing ILLEGAL aliens to ICE is: 866-347-2423
How it works:
You are not required to provide your identity to ICE. All that is necessary to request an investigation by ICE is mere suspicion of any activity by ILLEGAL aliens.
ICE and the IRS are especially interested in "visiting" those businesses that employ ILLEGALS "off the books" to avoid the payment of payroll taxes.
I suggest looking around and see if you might spot a suspect. At work, at school, at a job sight, Micky D's, Store etc.
On the day(current plan is May 1) of this march check to see if you can determine if someone took the day off. Confirming grounds for suspicion.
:) Easy Does It
She Actually said that? Did you get a name?
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