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 proposal—which has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senators—as one that “makes it more likely we can enforce our border—and 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.
In other news, defying the counsel of advisors concerned over the electoral future of the Republican Party---let alone the future of America---, President Bush again shot himself in the foot today on the immigration issue. "I'm a lame duck," the President explained, "and I aim to be the lamest duck in history." The President then chortled to a dwindling audience of supporters, "Get it? 'Aim.' I just made a funny...!"
What a fool we have elected as leader of our party and nation. Unbelievable!!!
Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America
Go to this link - notice that it is a “,gov” site! An official US Government site.
This is the start of the North American Union and it was signed in 2005 - two years ago. This isn’t conspiracy, this is fact. They really think we are so DUMB that we won't notice it
I believe their hope is that a huge bloc of illegals here can someday vote in politicians that will finish the USA as a sovereign nation, which is why it is being pushed so hard now.
We are being sold down the river, it is a fact. Our troops, God bless them, are fighting and dying on the other side of the world while our Nation is under attack at home from our own people. It just makes me sick to my stomach.
This CANNOT be allowed to stand!
Don’t know you, never met you, but have heard your name mentioned about a bazillion times, only in good ways, of course ;)
...welcome back.
One can only hope. /s
But if they're from Illinois or Florida...they'll still be able to vote.
“And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way...”
SORRY, NO CAN DO...BORDERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECURED ON 9/12 AND NO ONE’S BUYING INTO THE B.S. THAT YOU CAN’T SECURE THEM WITHOUT AMNESTY.
“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.”
Wasn’t there another thread posted earlier that states this is an OUTRIGHT LIE?
BARF alert please! He is lies. He is trying to turn the country into a third world hell. And why little bush haven’t you secured the border in all the years you have been pres? He’s a traitor!
First, he was "Not Al Gore". Then he was "Not John Kerry." That's my memory, anyway.
Thanks for that list, I’ve been faxing to all of them. Their lines are kinda busy.:<)
This is part of what I sent them.
Do you realize if this AMNESTY happens we are in effect creating the equivilent of adding over 17 more states to this country? And that’s not even considering the chain migration that is in the Senate bill.
Please look at what giving amnesty to as many as 20,000,000 illegal alien foreign nationals actually represents. More than the population of 16 states and DC!
According to the 2000 census, 18,785,867 is the total populations combined of Wyoming, Dist. of Columbia, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Montana, Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Idaho, Nebraska, West Virginia, New Mexico and Nevada.
THINK about that.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/population.shtml
You know all those jobs everyone keeps saying only aliens will do? We wouldn’t need to supply the JOBS if we didn’t have the ALIENS! It’s them we’re building schools, houses, clinics, Mosques, MEXICAN consulates on and on for. And there is about enough of them working agriculture to produce some of the food they eat.
Any one who says 20 plus million people is not a drain on your resources is hopelessly corrupt! But it won’t be only 20 million, it will result in 80 million if other amnesties show us anything.
Sincerely,
An Invisible American
Has Dumbya started drinking again? Or does the fool not understand the meaning of the word amnesty?
I have been on the phone this morning and will be emailing, again this afternoon. None stop!
Exactly. If any part of the bush amnesty makes it into law I'll never vote for the GOP again.
President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
***OMG, he sounds like a rudybot.
I have never heard of a Democrat president attacking a part of the Democrat base, but Republican presidents undermine and humiliate their base with regularity. Why is this? Even LBJ didn’t attack George Wallace: he just ignored him.
F you, Bush.
Welcome back, sir! :-)
We need to apologize to eyebrow-less Richard A. Gephardt. I guess he was right for all the wrong reasons when early in 2004 he pronounced GWB a “miserable failure”.
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