[upcountryhorseman]

The Feds can't even enforce the present immigration laws.
How are they supposed to enforce this complex mess?

[thebaron512]

I have not problem with LEGAL immigration, but illegals should get last in line, wait several years, pay for background checks, and pay fines/taxes that they owe for past time they worked in the USA.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

"Look, if you're one of these types of people that basically say, you know, throw them out, then you just use the word 'amnesty,' just toss it around," Bush said. "In order to frighten people, you just say 'amnesty.' "

Sad. The President has been reduced to making pathetic strawman arguments. I'd expect a Democrat to be saying this.

[expatpat]

IMO:
- We should close the borders immediately, and punish employers of illegals, in order to stop the problem from getting worse.
- We should develop a guest-worker program to support agriculture and other areas where Mexican workers are needed.
- The only path to citizenship should be the same path every other immigrant has to take -- no special treatment, get in line with everyone else.

[BIGZ]

TORO CACA.

[Rick_Michael]

This is just one issue I'll never see eye to eye on (with Bush).

[gubamyster]

ping

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Isn't that swell! Well maybe Bush will even help Mr. PESO build his 600 mile oasis for the border-jumpers to rest and recoup before descending upon TEXAS. Oh, Bush's ranch is there. My, oh, my. Maybe he'll invite them for tea...

[RJL]

Bush told Border Patrol agents in Artesia, N.M. "Yet there's a growing consensus ... that fundamental reforms are needed."

We've known for 40 years that the borders aren't secure, I guess that's a "growing consensus".

If we don't demonstrably control the border before giving amnesty, almost overnight we will have 20 million illegal Mexicans instead of 12 million.

[dalereed]

To hell with Bush, no citizenship for any illegal ever!!!!

[Soul Seeker]

Look at the Cali race Mr. President.

The Republican won solely on a campaign embracing the House approach, and his only real fright was that an even tougher enforcement individual took some votes.

We don't want what you are pushing, so stop it already.

[SwinneySwitch]

Border Ping!

[SwinneySwitch]

Illegals are not all MEXICANS, Presidente Bush!

[dennisw]

The hacks who infest DC can take their "path to citizenship" and stick it where the sun don't shine. These jerk offs are obsessed with cheapening American citizenship. Not to mention cheapening green cards which grant legal residence here. Immigrants wait years for them and the plan from the traitorous Senate is to shower them like confetti on 20 million illegal alien invaders.

Reward illegal activity and you will get more of it. Word is out through Latin America what saps and pussies we are.

[Dat Mon]

PRESIDENT SAYS..."Look, if you're one of these types of people that basically say, you know, throw them out, then you just use the word 'amnesty,' just toss it around," Bush said. "In order to frighten people, you just say 'amnesty.' "

I'm getting the impression that these kind of statements are not being put out for the public consumption of most informed, reasonable, conservatives and libertarians, like many of the people on this site. They must know (via polling and focus groups), that most are not being fooled by the misdirection discussions of what is amnesty...and what is not amnesty, in regards to the illegals themselves.

Rather, these talking points seem to me to be offered up for consumption by other, less informed, demographic groups.

Immigration IMO, is a huge weapon which Republicans could use to help fracture the Democratic base, peel off some of their key groups, and pick up millions of votes.

Two of the targeted demographic groups for this latest spin are, IMO, blacks and native born Latinos, who dont read FR and listen to talk radio, and which, ironically, are key Democratic demographic groups.

Not only will the WH and the RNC leadership not go after Kennedy and company...the President here seems to be offering an explanation, or a rationale to the Democrats and Rinos in the Senate who voted for the Ted Kennedy monstrosity bill.

Bush is providing, in effect, political cover for these pols. No wonder people are frustrated!

Draw your own conclusions folks...I think each day, the agenda, and its goals and motivating factors becomes clearer.

[djreece]

Such encounters, carefully planned but unannounced, are part of a larger White House strategy to remind Americans why they once liked him so much and use his personal popularity to help sell a controversial immigration program.

He is only succeeding in increasingly irritating this American. This strategy also shows that the White House has no clue as to WHY Americans once liked Bush so much. We love him when he speaks from his heart and defends American interests and values.

[wolfcreek]

they don't want to see Minutemen."

If not for the MM and concerned border citizens, We would have to leave it up to the Lib politicos at the border to tell us what's really going on. It's pretty clear that there's a lot collusion among the illegals and their counterparts on this side of the border.

[engrpat]

"The failures of the 1986 amnesty live on today, and we will need to work very hard to avoid a repeat of those mistakes,"

The failure is the failure to enforce the laws that were part of the 1986 legislation, specifically the one about going after the employers of illegals. This reminds me of the Clinton's when they would get caught doing something illegal they would say, "you know you are right, there should be a law." Why should I believe that the new law will be enforced? The part will be the amnesty and forgiveness of back taxes and any crimes committed. No thank you.

[SeaBiscuit]

Hope they had plenty of these to hand out after his speech.

[mickie]

I just don't get it.

What makes Bush so in love with anything Mexican?