Bush gets tough down Mexico way (Millions of Americans approve and applaud)

NY Daily News ^ | May 16, 2006 | Editorial

[IrishMike]

The President of the United States, having noticed that the illegal-immigrant issue has rent asunder both the nation at large and his own core constituency, proposes now to dispatch 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border, thereat to provide temporary backup to an overwhelmed Border Patrol in stanching the flow of interlopers currently interloping unchecked. Millions of Americans approve and applaud, as they surely will also cheer the rest of the border-tightening plans Bush outlined in prime time last night: a bigger civilian Border Patrol to allow the troops to resume other duties, security fences to seal the line, high-tech sensors and surveillance, a tamper-proof ID card for legal immigrants, assistance for local law enforcement in border states. Excellent ideas, and high time for a President to put them forth.

If such get-tough measures placate conservative fire-breathers who are demanding border security first and foremost into dropping their objections to Mr. Bush's guest worker plan - well, all the better. For the President made it clear that a congressional signoff on his guest worker program is exactly what he wants to see in an immigration reform bill - along with provisions that offer legalization opportunities to millions of illegals who are firmly planted here.

Plainly, he does not intend to sign the House bill that would summarily felonize illegal immigrants or call for deporting them by the millions. He's looking for a "comprehensive" bill similar to the compromise legislation hanging fire in the Senate: Pay a fine, pay your taxes, learn English, have a job and prove you've kept your nose clean, and you can get on line for legalization.

[IrishMike]

This is a fairly 'left' leaning daily newspaper.

[luvbach1]

Millions of Americans approve and applaud...

Oh?

[Kimberly GG]

"Bush gets tough down Mexico way (Millions of Americans approve and applaud)"

AS DID THE ILLEGALS!

MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF THEM!

SI SE PUEDE!

[Coldwater Creek]

You can count me in as one that mostly approves.

[luvbach1]

He's looking for a "comprehensive" bill similar to the compromise legislation hanging fire in the Senate: Pay a fine, pay your taxes, learn English, have a job and prove you've kept your nose clean, and you can get on line for legalization.

In case the POTUS hasn't noticed, while the pandering went on, emboldened illegal aliens and their supporters made it clear that they will have none of the above. Their demand is for immediate, unconditional amnesty and citizenship.

[luvbach1]

You can count me in as one that mostly approves.

Of precisely what?

[RodgerD]

Well the President gave them a nod in his speech, and went on to promise them amnesty with eventual citizenship to follow.

Looks like the illegals are going to score big with this Administration.

[listenhillary]

We've gone from "Don't bug me about the situation" to the President making a case for doing something to a national audience.

We're making progress. I think the RNC fundraisers have been getting an earful when they call.

Now they need to back it up with actions.

[hispanichoosier]

I think the plan is a good one. It is calculated to minimize any sort of political damage that this immigration distraction has caused within the hispanic community. I've said it before and will no doubt say it again, this whole debacle can cost us votes from hispanic US citizens who don't want their neighbors, friends, and family members deported or blackballed. I'm more than willing to tolerate illegal aliens if doing so helps us get rid of abortion and gay marriage.

[tuvals]

The simple solution to that is a one way bus to Mexico. We can send back the illegals and those that support amnesty. I am getting sick and tired of this entitlement attitude. I realize their not being able to speak nor read English makes it hard for them to know the true meaning of illegal! il·le·gal (ĭ-lç'gəl) adj. Prohibited by law. Prohibited by official rules: an illegal pass in football. Unacceptable to or not performable by a computer: an illegal operation. n. An illegal immigrant.

[prion]

I'm more than willing to tolerate illegal aliens if doing so helps us get rid of abortion and gay marriage.

I'm not.

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

"In case the POTUS hasn't noticed, while the pandering went on, emboldened illegal aliens and their supporters made it clear that they will have none of the above. Their demand is for immediate, unconditional amnesty and citizenship."

I voted for him....but to quote the liberals most cherished line..."it's time for him to go."

[livius]

Which he specifically told them they were not getting. The "immigrant" groups are sponsored by ANSWER and Code Pink and the Socialist Workers Party, whose names even appeared on some of the organizing material. These groups are part of the "anti-globalization" brownshirt wing of the left, and Bush told them clearly that they were not going to get what their puppet-masters are demanding.

[Jimmy Valentine]

You have that right. "Mealy-mouthed" is my description of the speech.

The Republicans would not have a chance for re-election in November if the damn DemocRATS were not so very much worse.

[IrishMike]

Bush cracks down on illegal immigration

US President George W Bush has unveiled a five point plan to for reforms on immigration. They include plans for an additional 6,000 guards to be stationed along the US border with Mexico, and the introduction of a temporary guest worker scheme: "We do not yet have full control of the border. And I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008 we will increase the number of border control officers by an additional 6,000.When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the border control during my presidency," Bush said.

The US President concedes that the reforms will meet with strong reactions. Analysts say Bush is trying to appease conservative Republicans ahead of November's mid-term elections, as well as the Hispanic community. It is estimated there are 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the US, around half of them of Mexican origin. "We must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are here already. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration." If ratified by Congress, the two year programme will cost just under 2 billion US dollars - 1.5 billion euros.

REPEAT:
They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully

[hispanichoosier]

I'm not.

Are you pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage or are your priorities (i.e. place of work/residence of an illegal alien versus the very existence of an innocent, unborn child) just screwed up?

[hispanichoosier]

This is amnesty and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully

By definition, it's not. They'd have to pay back taxes and wait behind those who applied for citizenship legally. Amnesty is an automatic normalization without any sort of penalties or requirements.

[kingu]

We're making progress. I think the RNC fundraisers have been getting an earful when they call.

Got a call today from them, actually, asking why I had cut back on my involvement, as well as a call from Drieir's office, asking for support. Both got the same message... 'If you think the future lays in the hands of illegals, ask them for money and help. Maybe they'll do the job that this American is pretty much refusing to do.' Neither found it very funny and both hung up in a huff. I guess this means I'm not getting another invitation to go to the next RNC function.

As to the President's plan - what is it, one person per mile of our borders, solely concentrating on the one to the south? Whee. Maybe his next speech will have him strongly suggesting that illegals stop coming across the border, and we'll hear about how tough talk is finally coming from the White House.

6,000 National Guard troops. That's telling 6,000 families that their fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters are going to go sit on their hands, giving up their normal job, to fulfill a function that the standing military is supposed to do. I deeply respect the military and the chain of command, but if I was given such an order, I'd resign instantly.

The Army can and should fulfill this duty, and it doesn't reflect well on the Commander in Chief that he's seeking to outsource this duty to the national guard.

[Labyrinthos]

Looks like the illegals are going to score big with this Administration.

And yet they will still vote Dem.