Posted on 05/29/2007 10:15:03 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
GLYNCO, Ga. (AP) - President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,” Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag.
He described his proposalwhich has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senatorsas one that “makes it more likely we can enforce our borderand at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America.”
Bush spoke at the nation’s largest training center for law enforcement.
He chose the get-tough setting as conservative critics blast a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place.
The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from the left and right on the immigration plan. Bush’s aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week.
“A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform, primarily because they don’t think the government can fix the problems,” Bush said.
“And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don’t try to kill this bill before it gets moving,” Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage.
“Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don’t like,” the president said. “If you want to kill the bill, if you don’t want to do what’s right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it.
“You can use it to frighten people,” Bush said. “Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all.”
The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line.
The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints, yet with no guarantee they can eventually gain citizenship.
Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees’ legal status.
The legislation would also reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate.
Georgia’s senators both played leading roles in producing Bush’s deal with the Senate. Yet they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended.
Bush chastised those who say the proposal offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He called it empty political rhetoric.
WHAT!!?? ..."one little aspect"?... This turd of a Bill is pointed at both ends. What good is in there is overwhelmed by the permanent evil it will do to America.
I never, ever, thought I would ever, ever, say this...
...Scr*w you, George - you and your entire feckless Administration who are selling out this country to the enemy at home faster than you can hold off the enemy abroad! I expect this cr*p from Democrats and sorry ass "Republicans" like McInsane, Specter and Graham - but not you. You should know better.
...You have let us down, big time. We don't need your lecturing us how we "don't want to do what's right for America". I personally spent over 30 years serving this country, risking my life for it on many occasions. I don't need elitists like you sniffing down their nose at me or others who genuinely care about doing something other than buying political votes or getting cheap labor on the backs of American citizens.
...Get lost.
Bush has been derelict in his duty to enforce the laws of the land WRT immigration and border control for more than 6 years. In this failure, he has dishonored the office of President.
He no longer has my support for anything, including the WOT.
If this passes and becomes law I will (never say never) never vote GOP again. I’ll drink beer and chase skirts on election day instead. If local issues drive me to the polls I vode third party for all federal offices.
Amen and thank you for your service to our country.
Right again. Signing off on this bill will eventually hand over the country to Mexico. If we let 20 million in now they will drop another 60 to 100 million babies in no time and there goes the demographics and voting block.
They won't conform to our way of doing things infact they openly rebel against it -- they do it their way. If we go their way, this country will socialize and eventually resemble Mexico.
I’ll be happy to see Bush go. What a jerk.
Notice the new language propaganda point.
The spin of illegal alien then it was undocumented worker then it was illegal immigrant but that is out so now we have, “unlawful immigrant.”
They are NOT immigrants, they are looters.
No one should be surprised about this, though. From the moment he was elected anyone could tell that blanket amnesty was in the cards for illegal aliens. He was best bud's with Vicente Fox, and he was just waiting for the appropriate time (say, one year after he was in office) to grant amnesty.
But 9-11 happened, and this derailed his original plans - so now he's pulling out all the stops to make sure this happens before he leaves office.
As to the reasons why President Bush supports 'open borders' -- I don't know.
I presume he must think its the 'moral' thing to do.
I'd argue the 'moral' thing for him to do would be to uphold the law of the land. That was his job, and he can not reasonably argue that our immigration laws are contrary to the laws of God. By encouraging illegal entry, President Bush merely encouraged a host of people to join the ranks of other common lawbreakers. I can only conclude that President Bush just chose to disregard the enforcement of our immigration laws because he didn't agree with them.
I suppose IF this bill passes he'll now be upholding the law (which basically tears down the idea of protecting one's borders from invasions) - but with respect to upholding the existing laws regarding legal entry into our Country, he's been willfully negligent.
I have been looking for this cartoon for a long time. Thanks. Sums it all up.
Sadly I must begin to agree with your assessment.
Quoting the president:
"And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don't try to kill this bill before it gets moving," Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
To the president: GIVE US A CHANCE!?!?! YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE SO FAR?!?
Maybe paradox has an extra $5 trillion sitting around? Then he can set up a trust fund. ;-)
Sure, set up trust funds using those fake social security cards! Problemo solved!
What can we do when the United States’ Chief Law Enforcement officer is an anchor baby.
That’s right, Alberto Gonzales’ grandparents snuck across the Rio Grande to Texas and if it wasn’t for an untested section of the 14th amendment, he wouldn’t be a citizen.
The new talking point is that if you are against the amnesty, you are not a patriot and you hate America, and cannot be appeased. The 20 million+ invaders are the replacements.
“This morning on A.M. radio news, they were reporting that President Bush is trying to stress the border enforcement areas of this bill in an attempt to win over Conservative opponents”
As KoRn mentioned, Bush has enough votes in the Senate without “conservatives.” It’s the others he’s got to worry about, and defining the opposition as “conservative”, a bogey-word for many, herds them into supporting Bush.
MSM has not broken ranks, yet.
That is a very valid argument. And yes, ultimately, you are correct. I simply realize that there is going to have to be some kind of immigration reform in which we DON'T deport millions of people. Trust me, I'd like to do the "law and order" thing, but from a practical standpoint, its just not gonna happen. So what is the alternative? Something that is going to nevertheless piss off a whole lot of Conservatives. Me? I'd build a wall, round them up, and make em come back in the RIGHT way, if at all, but I know that is NEVER, EVER, going to happen. So the question is, how do you get some semblance of control over immigration?
I'm amenable to other ideas, of course, always have been, and the more conservative, the better in general. Always have been.
I agree with you Lexington Green.
President Bush has had over six (6) years to do something about securing this nation’s borders. He has been a total failure.
Since taking office, his goal has been to secure amnesty for millions of illegal aliens.
Cid,
I have to truly question if Bush thinks the immigration deal is truly the “moral” thing. After all, how many illegals do you see him inviting to take up residence on the Crawford ranch. Surely if it is immoral for our nation to not throw open its arms to illegals, it would be similarly sinful for him to keep his own property protected.
“Put some ice on that.” Then we will feel better.
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