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Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship (for Illegals)
AP ^ | April 26, 2006 | DAVID ESPO

Posted on 04/26/2006 5:20:12 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

President Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans, according to senators who attended a recent White House meeting.

Several officials familiar with the meeting also said Democrats protested radio commercials that blamed them for Republican-written legislation that passed the House and would make illegal immigrants vulnerable to felony charges.

Bush said he was unfamiliar with the ads, which were financed by the Republican National Committee, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

At another point, Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other members of his party pressed the president about their concern that any Senate-passed bill would be made unpalatable in final talks with the House.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, said the lawmaker who would lead House negotiators, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, had been "intractable" in negotiations on other high-profile bills in the past. Bush did not directly respond to the remark, officials said.

The Republican and Democratic officials who described the conversation did so Wednesday on condition of anonymity, saying they had not been authorized to disclose details.

Bush convened the session to give momentum to the drive for election-year immigration legislation, a contentious issue that has triggered large street demonstrations and produced divisions in both political parties. Senators of both parties emerged from the session praising the president's involvement and said the timetable was achievable.

"Yes, he thinks people should be given a path to citizenship," said Sen. Mel Martinez., R-Fla., a leading supporter of immigration legislation in the Senate.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; bordersecurity; bush; bushamnesty; bushhaters; citzenship; illegalaliens; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; invasionusa; openborders; sellout
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To: FastCoyote
Since you think Bush doesn't care and isn't doing anything, do you believe he should disband the Border and Customs Officers for money savings reason? With the border out of control, do you believe the Border and Customs Officers should be disband for dereliction of duty?
221 posted on 04/26/2006 7:06:35 PM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: ruschpa
"Lou Dobbs is the most anti-Bush commentator on tv/radio. I would challenge anyone on FR to name one single issue that he has actually agreed with Bush on."

And where was Lou Dobbs before?

222 posted on 04/26/2006 7:06:49 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Zrob
Call me all the names you want to.

Make all of the really juvenile and stupid posts, which you imagine are "clever", that you care to.

When all is said and done, it is the facts which matter and you have none.

223 posted on 04/26/2006 7:06:58 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: EternalVigilance
There are those brave few who go inside the Beltway who never go "inside the Beltway".

Let me guess. You think Tancredo is one of those inside the Beltway types who is actually outside the Beltway.

But, Tancredo wanted to be inside the Beltway so much that he broke his own pledge to only serve three terms.

Does he want to be inside or outside the Beltway because term limits promises mean nothing to him, and he wants to serve like a Pope?

224 posted on 04/26/2006 7:08:10 PM PDT by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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To: sinkspur

You assume, incorrectly, that I want Tom Tancredo in the Oval Office.

He's a one issue zealot.

I may wish him well. But, "President Tancredo" is not on my wish list.


225 posted on 04/26/2006 7:08:23 PM PDT by Right_in_Virginia
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To: nopardons

So, what you're saying is that it's not plausible that Bush could believe that they should become citizens?

Out of the realm of possibility?

No way no how Bush could believe that?


226 posted on 04/26/2006 7:08:42 PM PDT by Sometimes A River (Bush stifles speech to appease Chinese butchers)
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To: Right_in_Virginia

Remember, Clinton and Carter were also from outside the beltway.


227 posted on 04/26/2006 7:09:33 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Right_in_Virginia
Yet, in spite of this he has promoted an agenda seeped in: -- a confidence that the American people are better able to use their money than the government; --- a philosophy that life in all its stages matters more than political spin; --- our military men and women are honorable and deserve our spiritual and financial support; and ---a belief that freedom and democracy are not only God's gift to humanity, but the most tangible way of peace on this earth.

This was very nice. Thank you for posting it.

228 posted on 04/26/2006 7:10:22 PM PDT by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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To: Howlin
Sounds to me like you are saying that conservatives who are adamant about enforcing our immigration laws are right wing whackos.

Anyhow, that's how you come across.

The problem I think you will have is that you aren't making rational arguments for your position but instead saying "if you don't like it, leave".

That is just squandering an opportunity for you to convince people to embrace your open border views. I'm willing to consider your open borders argument...let's hear it.
229 posted on 04/26/2006 7:10:43 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis
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To: Halgr

"And Bush wonders why his job approval ratings are headed toward the floor."

---
"Boy I think you are on to something here!!!!"

But the press and the punditry are attributing Bush's sinking numbers primarily to the price of gas and the war in Iraq rather than the issue of illegal immigration which comes in a distant third. Bush, the Rinos and the Rats are all jumping on "big oil" to change the subject. (Bush's reaction to the oil subject is another rant entirely what with his use of terms like "addicted" and "price gouging". Its disgusting.)
May 1st is Monday. I hope all our congress critters and senators will have heard from each of us by then. Conservatives be heard!


230 posted on 04/26/2006 7:11:24 PM PDT by ncphinsfan
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To: CWOJackson

An excellent point!


The same place some of these other people were?

NOWHERE.


231 posted on 04/26/2006 7:11:45 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: marron

If you can't secure the borders, nothing will work. All this talk of "policy" is moot.

Besides, we have laws now to deal with the problem and they are not being enforced. The executive branch of the federal government is not providing the resources to enforce current law. Which is its constitutional duty.

I see no reason to believe that that will change regardless of any law passed by congress.


232 posted on 04/26/2006 7:12:35 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s...you weren't really there.)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
"Yet, in spite of this he has promoted an agenda seeped in: -- a confidence that the American people are better able to use their money than the government;"

Thats 100% not true. Bush's answer for everything is a government program. Bush's proud achievements in spending; Medicare, Education, Highway, Energy, Africa, Katrina, Homeland takeover of the airport screeners.

Its true Bush cut taxes, but they aren't permanent and instead of cutting government spending he spent much more than Clinton could.
233 posted on 04/26/2006 7:12:35 PM PDT by RHINO369
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To: Conservative Actuary
These homes are selling for 350K plus.

That's right, the same price that they would sell for if American citizens were hired and paid a decent wage. They employ the illegals then pocket the extra cash. Despite the empty platitudes about jobs "no one wants to do" from politicians everyone knows what's going on.

234 posted on 04/26/2006 7:12:45 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Right_in_Virginia
Take a breath; and you may gain the perspective that GWB is changing the world for the better.

Not in our lifetime.

235 posted on 04/26/2006 7:13:22 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: EternalVigilance
"Inside the Beltway" is a state of mind.

No. It's a disease. Rare is the individual who lives here and works with sufficient antibodies.

236 posted on 04/26/2006 7:13:49 PM PDT by Right_in_Virginia
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To: Right_in_Virginia

Doesnt it seem like Bush 2 is gonna take a 3 year powder kind of like his father??

I mean ,I know its not all about me, what I want, the lowly arch-convervative..but I cant count on one hand what he's done for me in the last 3 years. In fact he's added anxiety to the base.

He may well go down as a fine placeholder president but to some conservatives he's become a bit of a disappointment.


237 posted on 04/26/2006 7:14:02 PM PDT by samadams2000 (Somebody important make The Call.....pitchforks and lanterns.!)
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To: Howlin
But posters on this forum will take this piece of crap report and run with it.

Many, but not all, of the Bush bashers signed up either recently, meaning just before the 2006 elections, or shortly before the 2004 elections. Coincidence?

238 posted on 04/26/2006 7:14:10 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: Mind-numbed Robot

Hey, don't dismiss the buchanan loyalists and lp'ers...they've been singing this song for years. They just found new members for their choir.


239 posted on 04/26/2006 7:15:16 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Howlin
..remember how excited everyone was, the night of the last State of the Union?

Boy, the wheels have come off since then...

240 posted on 04/26/2006 7:15:39 PM PDT by WalterSkinner ( ..when there is any conflict between God and Caesar -- guess who loses?)
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