Bush's Border Plan Draws Paise And Criticism (Snap Poll - Speech Swayed Voters!)

CNN ^ | 5/16/06

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's proposals on Monday night to overhaul immigration policy with tougher border enforcement, a guest worker program and a path toward legalization found favor with viewers, a CNN snap poll suggests.

Opinion of Bush's immigration policies among people who watched his speech jumped among Republicans, Democrats and independents, according to the survey taken immediately after the primetime televised address.

Bush's five-point plan calls for:

• secure borders

• a temporary worker program

• holding employers to account

• a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States

• Congressional passage of comprehensive immigration legislation

Bush detailed his proposal and called for the short-term deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops to serve in a supporting role along the U.S.-Mexico border. He said the number of Border Patrol agents should be increased from 12,000 to 18,000 by the end of 2008. ()

The president outlined a guest worker program that would "match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing," which he said was a necessary step to getting control of the border. Every legal foreign worker would get a tamper-proof, biometric identity card, which Bush said would make it easier for employers to determine an immigrant's legal status.

[areafiftyone]

In the snap poll of 461 people who watched Monday's speech, 42 percent said they had a positive opinion of the president's immigration policies before they heard him speak. Afterward, 67 percent said they had a positive view, a jump of 25 percentage points.

The polled audience was 41 percent Republican, 23 percent Democratic and 36 percent independent. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Let me tell you the Democrats are giddy as hell to see the Republicans divided - half hating Bush and half not. Shades of the Democrats in 2004. Not a good thing for us in 2008.

[Darkwolf377]

a jump of 25 percentage points.

Way, WAY too early to judge, but Bush may be about to save the Republicans from...the other Republicans. I think this is a great start, but the upcoming heating up of the La Raza protests will push the President RIGHTWARD on this issue, as the House bill looks more attractive.

Those who count this man down for the count do so at their peril.

[Mr. K]

"Every legal foreign worker would get a tamper-proof, biometric identity card..."

Kewl.. how long til we can ALL get one of those..?

or maybe just a mark on our hand (or forehead )

[Darkwolf377]

holding employers to account

Seeing how this is something both sides seem to agree on, I hope Bush really pushes hard on this as a way to appease the hard right. (Yes, I know that is a harsh word but I'm talking politicians here.) If it starts to work, then he can be pressured in other areas.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

He said the number of Border Patrol agents should be increased from 12,000 to 18,000 by the end of 2008.

How many years now has Bush promised to put more border agents on the southern border?


I'm not buying your BS and broken promises, Mr. President. Your word on this matter = pile of steaming bull maure.

[pillut48]

"Every legal foreign worker would get a tamper-proof, biometric identity card..."

Kewl.. how long til we can ALL get one of those..?

or maybe just a mark on our hand (or forehead )

---

6-6-06?

[pookie18]

The polled audience was 41 percent Republican, 23 percent Democratic and 36 percent independent. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Looks like they swapped the # of Republicans & Democrats from their typical job approval polls ;-)

[WayneM]

will push the President RIGHTWARD on this issue That is all MANY of us ask for.

[LS]

I think you're missing the point of this "division." VERY FEW here will seriously sit out an election that threatens, in any way, to put the Dems in power. I see a lot of selective punishment for Republicans who probably won't lose, but who can be scared to death.

I will not vote for DeWine, for ex., but if there was a real chance Brown could get elected, I'd hold my nose and vote for him.

My point is, this division is important, but it pretty much exists within the overall understanding that the Dems must never, ever again hold the power over national security.

[LS]

See, this is going to be the problem, because ANY fool-proof ID is going to have all sorts of "end times" people freaking out.

I'll take a card now, and worry about the Beast later.

[mlc9852]

Would it be better if we all hated him?

[slowhand520]

Let's not forget Bush is a big tent republican. If this poll is true and most people agree with it this may turn out to be a political victory (unfortunately while sacrificing conservatives) for the GOP. If some kind of comprehensive reform bill is passed it will be considered a win for the republicans and the democrats will be left with nothing. The problem with this is the conservative base. How will they react in the mid-term elections? Who knows.

[mlc9852]

I'm gonna invest in which ever company makes these biometric thingys!

[Kjobs]

See my tagline.

[tobyhill]

Did your 1st grade class let out early? Go cry to your mamma!

[ErieGeno]

Bush's five-point plan calls for: * secure borders * a temporary worker program * holding employers to account * a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States * Congressional passage of comprehensive immigration legislation

Point one: I hardly think that up to 6000 Guard troops will make a significant difference.

Point two: We already have a temporary guest worker program? Read 8 CFR 214.2(h)...

Point three and four: We are a nation of laws. Laws are being broken by both employers and illegal aliens. Ignoring the laws that are being broken by employers and rewarding the aliens for breaking the laws will not reverse the current problem....

[C210N]

WIth the help of Ahmadinejad, most pubs will rally around the GOP come election time. Probably, many democrats will too.

[Rhadaghast]

I hear that:
Say that again!

[LS]

Yah, I hope it doesn't come to that. Actually, I predicted a year ago that we would get hit again, and it would come from AQ crossing the border. Hope I'm not right in this one.

[Rhadaghast]

In regards to your signature line:
stay at home in November...

The right to vote seems to be disregarded by these republicans who wont guard our boarders.