Bush opposes English as national language: Gonzales (AG says Bush supports 'English-Plus' concept)

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 5/19/06 | Dan Whitcomb

[Types_with_Fist]

Point out the trolls to us.

Troll here! At least I suppose I am since, as a conservative, I oppose Bush's non-conservative policies. Yes... lately that makes me a "troll."

[Lemondropkid31]

Actually, he did not sing the national anthem in spanish. He can barely talk it, how can he sing it? sure he took spanish in college, but you don't learn it THAT well. I took it in high school and only learned a few words.

[FastCoyote]

"My post was not to be the spelling police but to make sure that someone who wanted to claim the President Bush is "mentally challenged" is in an actual position to make that diagnosis. BTW, they weren't!"

Since I myself am mentally challenged, perhaps I could make the diagnosis.

[BnBlFlag]

"Why can't we survive Spanish?
Because ther're so many of 'em here and on the way that we're being overun.

[dayglored]

> So did you hear about the Iranian terrorists that came across the mexican border to the US. They were sitting at a cafe in California and one said to the other, "Try not to look suspicious--speak only in Spanish."

Good joke. Heh-heh-heh. But actually, that's not funny.

Iran has announced their intention to declare open war on America unless GWB converts to Islam (ummm, not likely). I think we all ought to expect some attempts at another 9/11. And why bother entering the country the hard way on the East or West Coasts, when you can enter through Mexico?

Question: Maybe Iran hasn't got a nuclear bomb YET. But have they got enough radioactive gunk to make a dirty bomb? Nobody wants to answer THAT question...

[Cowboy Bob]

I think someone should introduce a bill in the Senate to make Spanish the official language. It would be interesting to see who would vote for it (I'm sure there will be some).

[tobyhill]

LOL, that would depend on what your condition is?

[WalterSkinner]

..was listening to Mr. Harper up in Canada addressing Parliament--sliding back and forth from English to French.

It feels Schizophrenic to listen to.

Perhaps many in our government would like the same structure--only with English and Spanish...

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Bush is not running for office again. If anyone takes us to the point you suggest, it will be those who abandon the party, take their toys and go home.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

You admit that Ronald Reagan wasn't perfect and that his amnesty was a disaster, but you do not condemn him. Bush is not perfect either, his proposal is not nearly as egregious, yet you and the borderbots pummel him. A bit inconsistent, don'tcha think?

[Torie]

I will ask again, what is the practical significance of making English the "official" or "national" language? Is it anything more than just a feel good resolution? Has this thread just been one big spinning of wheels about nothing of any practical public policy significance?

[Revel]

Pretty soon we should have a spanish option on the spell checker here at FR.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

You suggest that I'm pompous. That's cute. Spunky was pompous to suggest that the POTUS put his foot in his mouth for singing in Spanish. Then the Spunkster failed to construct a grammatically correct English sentence. My 11 year old daughter could have done a better job. I might add that the use of incorrect verb tenses would not qualify as a colloquialism.

[pissant]

you commented to me first, buckwheat, so quit whining

[azhenfud]

Bush opposes English as national language

WTF?

---

He wants the national language to be Bull$hit.

[ViLaLuz]

"Bush needs to git a grip. He refuses to listen to the American public. Is he that blind and deaf, or is it he simply doesn't give a rat's @$$?"

I believe Bush is a globalist who's looking ahead to his position in the global government, just like the Clintons are and most in government now. It's not the United States they care about at all. It's their global position and personal pocketbooks.

The current government is preparing us for Hillary or some other globalist as president.

[NormsRevenge]

Time to inject a booster.. :)

---

Bush Wants Newcomers to Learn English

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060520/ap_on_go_pr_wh/immigration_english

SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer




WASHINGTON - The White House took both sides in a dispute over English being the national language Friday as a broad immigration bill moved toward a final Senate vote next week with one conservative predicting it will never become law.

Bush's support for the dueling sides doesn't stray from his long-held view on learning English, said White House press secretary Tony Snow.

"What the president has said all along is that he wants to make sure that people who become American citizens have a command of the English language," Snow said. "It's as simple as that."

The Senate on Thursday approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (news, bio, voting record), R-Okla., that would declare English the national language. But it also approved an alternative proposal sponsored by Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., designating English the nation's "common and unifying language." Before the vote on the alternative, Inhofe warned his colleagues, "You can't have it both ways."

The White House seemed to. "We have supported both of these," Snow said of the two amendments.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, speaking Friday in Houston, added to the confusion.

"The president has never supported making English the national language," Gonzales said, adding, "I don't see the need to have legislation or a law that says English is going to be the national language."

As governor of Texas and a presidential candidate in 2000, Bush supported bilingual education programs. He sprinkles Spanish into his presidential speeches and has released political commercials in Spanish. But he also has said the national anthem should be sung in English.

The president plans to address immigration reform in his weekly radio address Saturday. He has generally favored a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and a guest worker program that would bring more foreigners to the U.S. to fill jobs. Both are central elements of the bill before the Senate.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (news, bio, voting record), R-Ala., an ardent opponent of the bill conceded Friday it is likely to pass next week. "The Senate should be ashamed of itself," he said. But he also predicted to reporters that it won't become law unless House and Senate negotiators rewrite it.

The adoption of Inhofe's amendment drew a heated protest Friday from Latinos.

John Trasvina, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the amendment could be misinterpreted and lead to a cutback in services for those not proficient in English.

"Latinos don't need a law passed to say we ought to learn English. There are long waiting lists for adult English classes," Trasvina said. "It's false patriotism to pass an amendment to say you ought to learn English and not fulfill your responsibility of providing the opportunities."

New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici (news, bio, voting record), the only Republican to reject the Inhofe proposal, said the country should "move beyond the notion that English, and English only, will ensure the future of the United States."

[defenderSD]

I've heard a lot of complaints, many of which are unfounded or based on a lack of knoweldge or lack of research. I do not recall anyone else using the word "disgrace" in reference to GOP leadership, so I'm wondering if you know of something specific and new that is a disgrace in your view. In all seriousness, I'm interested in your reply and whether you actually have a reply. Please enlighten all of us "Bushbots."

[Torie]

said the amendment could be misinterpreted and lead to a cutback in services for those not proficient in English.

Silly season paranoia and posturing is a sin of both sides in this debate about a great big, meaningless, nothing.