Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Republicans Not Buying Bush Amnesty
Human Events Online ^ | 06/15/2007 | Mike Franc

Posted on 06/16/2007 6:40:40 AM PDT by kellynla

During a speech last month to Georgia law enforcement officials, President Bush opined that opponents of the stalled immigration reform bill “don’t want to do what’s right for America.” If they only understood the bill’s provisions, he implied, they would see the light. But, alas, they hadn’t “read the bill” and could only “speculate” about its complex provisions. He warned them to stop trying “to frighten people.”

These unscripted remarks unleashed a torrent of criticism from the president’s political base. Conservative talk-show hosts, pundits, bloggers and grassroots activists seized on the criticism as an opportunity to educate Americans on the bill’s many flaws. Constituent mail and phone calls poured in. Ultimately, a hardy band of conservatives forced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pull the bill after two weeks of angry debate.

Last week, the president ventured to Capitol Hill to dine with Republican senators in a high-profile attempt to revive the bill. But he converted no one. With congressional leaders scheduled to consider other legislation guaranteed to further annoy and divide the president’s supporters (e.g., reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act and approving the sovereignty-stripping Law of the Sea Treaty), the question arises as to whether the president’s immigration dilemma -- having to thread the needle between openly hostile conservatives and the usual assortment of Bush-haters on the Left -- will be the norm for his remaining 18 months in office.

Several recent polls underscore the extent of his challenge.

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, the president’s overall approval rating fell six points between April and June (from 35% to 29%). But the drop was most intense among Republicans (from 77% to 65%), including conservative Republicans (from 86% to 74%), and Independents (from 34% to 22%).

Another poll, conducted by Gallup after Bush’s Georgia speech, found a similar drop in his standing among GOP loyalists, where his positive rating hit a near-record low of 70% (alarms sound whenever a politician scores below 80% with his core supporters). According to Gallup, the only other time Bush’s GOP approval rating was so low was about a year ago when -- you guessed it -- the Senate was angrily debating comprehensive immigration reform. Hmmm.

“It was the debate over immigration,” pollster Scott Rasmussen confirmed last week, “that cost the president support among his base and pushed his approval ratings to new lows.”

Political operatives are well aware that the disenchantment over immigration has settled primarily on Bush and those lawmakers who have led the charge in the Senate. Sen. Reid’s approval rating sunk 7 points in a month, to a microscopic 19%. John McCain (R-Ariz.) fell in many presidential polls. Yet the national GOP emerged unscathed, and may even have benefited, from the turmoil.

A month ago, Rasmussen reports, Democrats enjoyed a 14-point advantage (47% to 33%) as the party best able to handle immigration. Following the Senate debate, however, the Democrats’ advantage shrunk to only five points (40% to 35%). “Immigration,” he concludes, “is now tied with taxes as the GOP’s strongest issue” and is “the only issue on which unaffiliated voters trust Republicans more than Democrats.”

What explains the intensity so many Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents bring to this issue? My guess is that this is yet another manifestation of the ideological divide that separates Red from Blue America. Because Republicans are more reflexively pro-American than their Democratic colleagues, they place a much higher value on U.S. citizenship and therefore are more likely to vigorously oppose policies they perceive as granting citizenship too freely, especially to lawbreakers.

For example, polls demonstrate that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they are “very patriotic” and more likely to see America as a place where “most people living in other countries would like to live.” Also, by a 2-to-1 margin, Republicans believe “we should be willing to fight for our country … right or wrong.” A majority of Democrats disagree. Finally, Republicans attach more importance to the rule of law than Democrats do. Republicans are much more likely to want to penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and banks that offer them credit cards.

The disenchantment with Bush can be summed up in an L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll, which asked Republican primary voters whether they want the next Republican nominee for president to continue Bush’s policies or move the country in a new direction.

They opted for a new direction by the overwhelming margin of 65% to 27%.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; blowbackfordubya; deathofthegop; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; noamnestyforillegals; sellouts; vampirebill
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-190 next last
Comment #141 Removed by Moderator

To: WOSG

“U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC: $413,298
(For work in MD, DE, PA and NJ)

U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC: $372,237
(For work in OR)

Refugee Women’s Network, Inc.: $311,708
(For work in GA)”

Which use taxpayer money to turn around and lobby to undermine our immigration law further.

This is a scam and it ends up in one way ... THEY ALL GET TO STAY IN THE US EVEN IF THEY CAME HERE ILLEGALLY.


These are lobbies for Human Trafficking victims not illegal alien border crossers.

http://www.humantrafficking.org/organizations/320

>>>MEANWHILE, A BORDER FENCE THAT WOULD CUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING SIGNIFICANTLY IS NOT GETTING BUILT BECAUSE BUSH WANTS IT AS A BARGAINING CHIP FOR AMNESTY.<<<<

President Bush signed it into homeland security. The money is being held up in congress.


142 posted on 06/16/2007 2:18:00 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: WOSG

>>>>Bush says a lot of things. On immigration, his words are about as honest as Bill Clinton.
YES, AMNESTY IS FOR ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS BECAUSE THEY INTEND TO DEPORT APPROXIMATELY ZERO ILLEGAL ALIENS.<<<<

Link to where he said that?


143 posted on 06/16/2007 2:19:45 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]

To: nwrep
So there need to be new laws to break the logjam.

The logjam has been created by politicians who have failed to ensure the current immigration laws are strictly enforced. Creating more laws is a cop out.

"All current laws work" is an indefensible position, taken by head-in-the-sand die hards.

The current laws have not worked precisely because those who are responsible in applying those laws have buried their heads in the sand either by incompetence or by design. Their failure to enforce laws that could resolve the illegal immigration problem is indefensible.
144 posted on 06/16/2007 2:23:53 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: Doofer
With all dude respect, Bush has lost his mind.......

I'm thinking that the administration probably stumbled across some forgotten crack stash from the previous administration.

Or did they bring their own?

145 posted on 06/16/2007 2:51:21 PM PDT by AFreeBird (Will NOT vote for Rudy. <--- notice the period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Calpernia

“Link to where he said that?”

Duh, of course he doesnt admit that, but the Senate immigration bill does exactly that.

Look at Senator Sessions’ list of 20 loopholes in the sham-nesty and tell me why child predators, absconders, and people with misdemeanors on their record shuold get amnesty:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849800/posts

Tell me why all of 12 million PLUS another 20 million of their families should get to stay in American, even if they have been here only since January.

Tell me you actually think this wont be a repeat of 1986 anmensty. When the bill is set up exactly the same.


146 posted on 06/16/2007 2:52:39 PM PDT by WOSG (Stop Z-visa amnesty!! 202-224-3121.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
No Mr. President, you and your shamnesty at all cost enablers are the ones that do not want to do what is right for America.
147 posted on 06/16/2007 2:54:01 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (Kalifornia, DUNCAN or THOMPSON 08, ELECTION 2008, MOST IMPORTANT OF MY LIFE TIME)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Calpernia

“These are lobbies for Human Trafficking victims”

Silly person. Catholic Bishops have been promoting amnesty for illegal aliens for years.

Your naivety is refreshing, but this is about giving payoffs to politically motivated groups. There are more payoffs in the immigration sham-nesty bill, btw, including PAYOFFS TO LA RAZA AND MEXICAN ORGANIZATIONS AND INSITUTIONS.

Government has no business doing this, period.


148 posted on 06/16/2007 2:55:07 PM PDT by WOSG (Stop Z-visa amnesty!! 202-224-3121.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: WOSG

>>>Duh, of course he doesnt admit that, but the Senate immigration bill does exactly that.

That isn’t President Bush’s immigration bill. It is McCain and Kennedy You are attributing propaganda created from Kennedy to Bush.

The human trafficking victims will be able to testify against their customers and bosses once they have citizenship.

I support the victims being given citizenship. Their families need it too because they have been threatened and harmed as leverage against the victims that have been forced into labor and prostitution.

I’ve had this debate before and it can be read on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1837121/posts
Last Stand for American Sovereignty

If you are truely curious about the human trafficking issue, you can read all the links on that thread.


149 posted on 06/16/2007 2:59:14 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Man50D; nwrep

“So there need to be new laws to break the logjam.”

Bad bill is far worse than no bill.

“The logjam has been created by politicians who have failed to ensure the current immigration laws are strictly enforced. Creating more laws is a cop out. “

Correct.

The Senate bill is opposed strongly because pretends to uphold one thing (border security
and enforcing the law), but it actually undermines them completely with another
thing (the Z visa amnesty/legalization program) and with hidden ‘gotchas’.

This amnesty repeats the mistakes of 1986 on a grand scale, as Senators Cornyn and Hutchison have warned.
It undermines rule of law in immigration, invites huge fraud in amnesty applications and further illegal
immigration via weak document requirements and a mere 24-hour turnaround on provisional acceptance,
crowds out higher-skill legal immigrants, creates a massive increased burden on taxpayers
($2.5 Trillion estimate from Heritage) and huge unfunded mandates on states and local Governments.
And for what, exactly? CBO has indicated that illegal immigration in the next 10 years
will still be significant with this bill, reduced only 25% - a huge amnesty, but more illegal immigration. Pathetic!

The Z visa amnesty program is a slap in the face to legal immigrants, taxpayers,
and anyone who cares about the rule of law.

The pro-amnesty supporters ask “What else would you do?” The public knows and supports the right answer:
1. Secure the border by completing the border fence.
2. Enforce immigration law by sharing information between local, state and Federal law enforcement,
enforcing immigration law in the workplace, and vigorously deporting criminal aliens.
3. Pass NO OTHER LAWS until #1 and #2 are done completely and REALLY WORK.
And then, fix the legal immigration system with employer-based immigration, not with amnesty.


150 posted on 06/16/2007 3:04:10 PM PDT by WOSG (Stop Z-visa amnesty!! 202-224-3121.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: WOSG
Make a call to their office and use these loopholes as talking points about why the Bill should not be passed.

20 Loopholes in the Senate Immigration Bill

Loophole 1 – Legal Status Before Enforcement:

Amnesty benefits do not wait for the “enforcement trigger.” After filing an application and waiting 24 hours, illegal aliens will receive full “probationary benefits,” complete with the ability to legally live and work in the U.S., travel outside of the U.S. and return, and their own social security card. Astonishingly, if the trigger is never met and amnesty applications are therefore never “approved,” the probationary benefits granted to the illegal alien population never expire, and the new social security cards issued to the illegal alien population are not revoked. [See pp. 1, 290-291, & 315].

Loophole 2 – U.S. VISIT Exit Not In Trigger:

The “enforcement trigger,” required to be met before the new temporary worker program begins, does not require that the exit portion of U.S. VISIT system – the biometric border check-in/check-out system first required by Congress in 1996 that is already well past its already postponed 2005 implementation due date – to be in place before new worker or amnesty programs begin. Without the U.S. VISIT exit portion, the U.S. has no method to ensure that workers (or their visiting families) do not overstay their visas. Our current illegal population contains 4 to 5.5 million visa overstays, therefore, we know that the U.S. VISIT exit component is key to a successful new temporary worker program. [See pp. 1-2].

Loophole 3 – Trigger Requires No More Agents, Beds, or Fencing Than Current Law:

The “enforcement trigger” does not require the Department of Homeland Security to have detention space sufficient to end “catch and release” at the border and in the interior. Even after the adoption of amendment 1172, the trigger merely requires the addition of 4,000 detention beds, bringing DHS to a 31,500 bed capacity. This is far short of the 43,000 beds required under current law to be in place by the end of 2007, or the additional 20,000 beds required later in the bill. Additionally, the bill establishes a “catch, pay, and release” program. This policy will benefit illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico that are caught at the border, then can post a $5,000 bond, be released and never show up for deportation hearings. Annual failure to appear rates for 2005 and 2006, caused in part by lack of detention space, doubled the 2004 rate (106,000 – 110,000 compared with 54,000). Claims that the bill “expands fencing” are inaccurate. The bill only requires 370 miles of fencing to be completed, while current law already mandates that more than 700 miles be constructed [See pp. 1-2, & 10-11, and EOIR’s FY2006 Statistical Yearbook, p. H2, and The Secure Fence Act of 2004].

Loophole 4 — Three Additional Years Worth of Illegal Aliens Granted Status, Treated Preferentially To Legal Filers:

Aliens who broke into the country illegally a mere 5 months ago, are treated better than foreign nationals who legally applied to come to the U.S. more than two years ago. Aliens who can prove they were illegally in the U.S. on January 1, 2007, are immediately eligible to apply from inside the U.S. for amnesty benefits, while foreign nationals that filed applications to come to the U.S. after May 1, 2005 must start the application process over again from their home countries. Last year’s bill required illegal aliens to have been here before January 7, 2004 to qualify for permanent legal status. [See pp. 263, 282, & 306].

Loophole 5 – Completion of Background Checks Not Required For Probationary Legal Status:

Legal status must be granted to illegal aliens 24 hours after they file an application, even if the aliens have not yet “passed all appropriate background checks.” (Last year’s bill gave DHS 90 days to check an alien’s background before any status was granted). No legal status should be given to any illegal alien until all appropriate background checks are complete. [See pp. 290].

Loophole 6 – Some Child Molesters Are Still Eligible:

Some aggravated felons – those who have sexually abused a minor – are eligible for amnesty. A child molester who committed the crime before the bill is enacted is not barred from getting amnesty if their conviction document omitted the age of the victim. The bill corrects this loophole for future child molesters, but does not close the loophole for current or past convictions. [See p. 47: 30-33, & p. 48: 1-2]

Loophole 7 – Terrorism Connections Allowed, Good Moral Character Not Required:

Illegal aliens with terrorism connections are not barred from getting amnesty. An illegal alien seeking most immigration benefits must show “good moral character.” Last year’s bill specifically barred aliens with terrorism connections from having “good moral character” and being eligible for amnesty. This year’s bill does neither. Additionally, bill drafters ignored the Administration’s request that changes be made to the asylum, cancellation of removal, and withholding of removal statutes in order to prevent aliens with terrorist connections from receiving relief. [Compare §204 in S. 2611 from the 109th Congress with missing §204 on p. 48 of S.A. 1150, & see missing subsection (5) on p. 287 of S.A. 1150].

Loophole 8 – Gang Members Are Eligible:

Instead of ensuring that members of violent gangs such as MS 13 are deported after coming out of the shadows to apply for amnesty, the bill will allow violent gang members to get amnesty as long as they “renounce” their gang membership on their application. [See p. 289: 34-36].

Loophole 9 – Absconders Are Eligible:

Aliens who have already had their day in court – those subject to final orders of removal, voluntary departure orders, or reinstatement of their final orders of removal – are eligible for amnesty under the bill. The same is true for aliens who have made a false claim to citizenship or engaged in document fraud. More than 636,000 alien fugitives could be covered by this loophole. [See p. 285:19-22 which waives the following inadmissibility grounds: failure to attend a removal proceeding; final orders of removal for alien smuggling; aliens unlawfully present after previous immigration violations or deportation orders; and aliens previously removed. This appears to conflict with language on p. 283:40-41. When a direct conflict appears in a statute, the statue is interpreted by the courts to the benefit of the alien.].

Loophole 10 – Learning English Not Required For A Decade:

Illegal aliens are not required to demonstrate any proficiency in English for more than a decade after they are granted amnesty. Learning English is not required for an illegal alien to receive probationary benefits, the first 4-year Z visa, or the second 4-year Z visa. The first Z visa renewal (the second 4-year Z visa) requires only that the alien demonstrate an “attempt” to learn English by being “on a waiting list for English classes.” Passing a basic English test is required only for a second Z visa renewal (the third 4-year Z visa), and even then the alien only has to pass the test “prior to the expiration of the second extension of Z status” (12 years down the road). [See pp. 295-296].

Loophole 11 – Earned Income Tax Credit Will Cost Taxpayers Billions In Just 10 Years:

Current illegal aliens and new guest workers will be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit designed to encourage American citizens and legal permanent residents to work. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this loophole will cost the U.S. taxpayer up to $20 billion dollars in just the first 10 years after the bill’s enactment. To be consistent with the intent of the 1996 welfare reforms – which limited new immigrants from receiving public benefits until they had been legal permanent residents for five years – the bill should withhold EITC eligibility from amnestied aliens until they become legal permanent residents. Closing this loophole will save the taxpayers billions of dollars. [See p. 293 after S.A. 1190 was adopted, p. 307, p. 315, §606. All that is required for EITC eligibility is a social security number and resident alien status. Nothing in the bill’s tax provisions limit EITC eligibility. The issuance of social security numbers to aliens as soon as they apply for amnesty will ensure they are able to qualify for the EITC.]

Loophole 12 – Affidavits From Friends Accepted As Evidence:

Records from day-labor centers, labor unions, and “sworn declarations” from any non-relative (acquaintances, friends, coworkers, etc) are to be accepted as evidence that the illegal alien has satisfied the bill’s amnesty requirements. This low burden of proof will invite fraud and more illegal immigration – even aliens who are not yet in the U.S. will likely meet this burden of proof. DHS will not have the resources to examine whether the claims contained in the “sworn declarations” of the alien’s friends (that the alien was here prior to January 1, 2007 and is currently employed) are actually valid. [See p. 293: 13-16].

Loophole 13 – Taxpayer Funded Legal Counsel and Arbitration:

Free legal counsel and the fees and expenses of arbitrators will be provided to aliens that have been working illegally in agriculture. The U.S. taxpayer will fund the attorneys that help these individuals fill out their amnesty applications. Additionally, if these individuals have a dispute with their employer over whether they were fired for “just cause,” DHS will “pay the fee and expenses of the arbitrator.” [See p. 339:37-41, & p. 332: 37-38.]

Loophole 14 – In-State Tuition and Student Loans:

In-state tuition and other higher education benefits, such as Stafford Loans, will be made available to current illegal aliens that are granted initial “probationary” status, even if the same in-state tuition rates are not offered to all U.S. citizens. This would normally violate current law (8 U.S.C. §1623) which mandates that educational institutions give citizens the same postsecondary education benefits they offer to illegal aliens. [See p. 321: 8-31].

Loophole 15 – Inadequacy of the Merit System:

The “merit system,” designed to shift the U.S. green card distribution system to attract higher skilled workers that benefit the national interest, is only a shell of what it should have been. Though the merit system begins immediately, it will not increase the percentage of high skilled immigrants coming to the United States until 2016, 8 years after enactment. Of the 247,000 green cards dedicated to the merit based system each year for the first 5 years, 100,000 green cards will be reserved for low-skilled guest workers (10,000) and for clearing the current employment based green card backlog (90,000). From 2013 to 2015, the number of merit based green cards drops to 140,000, and of that number, 100,000 green cards are still reserved each year for low-skilled guest workers (10,000) and for clearing the current employment based green card backlog (90,000). Even after 2015, when the merit system really begins (in 2016) by having 380,000 green cards annually, 10,00 green cards will be reserved specifically for low skilled workers, and points will be given for many characteristics that are not considered “high-skilled.” For example, 16 points will be given for aliens in “high demand occupations” which includes janitors, maids, food preparation workers, and groundskeepers. [See p.260: 25 – p. 261: 20, p. 262, & The Department of Labor’s list of “occupations with the largest job growth” available at www.bls.gov/emp/emptab3.htm].

Loophole 16 – Visas For Individuals That Plan To Overstay:

The new “parent” visa contained in the bill which allows parents of citizens, and the spouses and children of new temporary workers, to visit a worker in the United States is not only a misnomer, but also an invitation for high rates of visa overstays. This new visa specifically allows the spouse and children of new temporary workers who intend to abandon their residence in a foreign country, to qualify to come to the U.S. to “visit.” The visa requires only a $1,000 bond, which will be forfeited when, not if, family members of new temporary workers decide to overstay their 30 day visit. Workers should travel to their home countries to visit their families, not the other way around. [See p. 277:1 – 33, and p. 276: 38-43].

Loophole 17 – Chain Migration Tippled Before Being Eliminated:

Though the bill will eventually eliminate chain migration (relatives other than spouses and children of citizens and legal permanent residents), it will not have full effect until 2016. Until then, chain migration into the U.S. will actually triple, from approximately 138,000 chain migrants a year (equal to 14% of the 1 million green cards the U.S. currently distributes on an annual basis) to approximately 440,000 chain migrants a year (equal to 45% of the 1 million green cards the U.S. currently distributes on an annual basis). [See pp. 260:13, p. 270: 29 – pp. 271: 17]

Loophole 18 – Back Taxes Not Required:

Last year’s bill required illegal aliens to prove they had paid three of their last five years of taxes to get amnesty. This year, payment of back taxes is not required for amnesty. The bill requires taxes to be paid at the time of application for a green card, but at that time, only proof of payment of Federal taxes (not state and local) is required for the years the alien worked on a Z visa, not the years the alien has already worked illegally in the United States. Though Senator McCain’s S.A. 1190, adopted by voice vote, claimed to “require undocumented immigrants receiving legal status to pay owed back taxes,” the amendment actually only required proof of payment of taxes for “any year during the period of employment required by subparagraph (D)(i).” Since the bill does not contain a subparagraph (D)(i), nor require any past years of employment as a prerequisite for amnesty, the amendment essentially only requires proof of payment of taxes for future work in the U.S., not payment of “back taxes.” [See p. 307, and p. 293 as altered by S.A. 1190, amendment p. 2: 19-20.]

Loophole 19 – Social Security Credits Allowed For Some Illegal Work Histories:

Aliens who came to the U.S. on legal visas, but overstayed their visas and have been working in the U.S. for years, as well as illegal aliens who apply for Z visa status but do not qualify, will be able to collect social security credits for the years they worked illegally. Under the bill, if an alien was ever issued a social security account number – all work-authorized aliens who originally came on legal visas receive these – the alien will receive Social Security credits for any “quarters of coverage” the alien worked after receiving their social security account number. Because the bill requires social security account numbers to be issued “promptly” to illegal aliens as soon as they are granted “any probationary benefits based upon application [for Z status]” (these benefits are granted 24 hours after the application is filed), an illegal alien who is denied Z visa status but continues to work illegally in the U.S. will accumulate Social Security credits. [See pp. 316:8 – 16, and pp. 315: 32-39]

Loophole 20 – Criminal Fines Not Proportional To Conduct:

The criminal fines an illegal alien is required to pay to receive amnesty are less than the bill’s criminal fines for paperwork violations committed by U.S. citizens, and can be paid by installment. Under the bill, an illegal alien must pay a $1,000 criminal fine to apply for a Z visa, and a $4,000 fine to apply for a green card. Eighty percent of those fines can be paid on an installment plan. Under the bill’s confidentiality provisions, someone who improperly handles or uses information on an alien’s amnesty application can be fined $10,000. Administration officials suggest that the bill’s “criminal fines are proportionate to the criminal conduct.” Why, then, is the fine for illegally entering, using false documents to work, and live one-tenth the fine for a paperwork violation committed by a government official? [See p. 287: 34, p. 317: 9, p. 315:6-8, & remarks made by Secretary Gutierrez on Your World with Neil Cavuto, 4:00 May 31, 2007]

Senator Sessions Releases List of 20 Loopholes in the Senate Immigration

—GWB and DHS got $1.2 billion for a border fence,
—GWB authorized 6,000 National Guardsmen to the border in rolling deployments of 3 weeks

—In his 2006 budget, GWB’s budget showed that 216 BP officers would be hired, not the 2,000

U.S. Border Patrol Director David Aguilar said two weeks ago, “The United States will have “operational control” of its border with Mexico by 2013.”

151 posted on 06/16/2007 3:06:31 PM PDT by B4Ranch (DRIP = "Don't Return Incumbent Politicians," – two terms, and they're out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: snugs; Kozak

An insult from a certified Bushbot like “Snugs” is actually a compliment for the rest of us who use our brains.


152 posted on 06/16/2007 4:09:44 PM PDT by indcons (Linda and Hugo Chavez - same goals, different methods)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: WOSG; Man50D
Enforce immigration law by sharing information between local, state and Federal law enforcement,

You are contradicting yourself. What recourse do we have if local or state govts. refuse to comply with the Feds (or in some cases actually prohibit the Feds from carrying out their duty)? This, as you know, is happening. So what you need is a tool to punish these local/state govts. This is what the current immigration laws did not foresee, that is, rogue liberal activist local jurisdictions impeding enforcement. That is why you need some more laws, such as Tancredo's brave effort to punish these jurisdictions, don't you see?

Again, the anchor babies is a back door, again an unforeseen situation. This also needs to be resolved. So yes, you need more laws, because the current laws have huge, gaping holes that are being exploited by the opposition. I hope you can see my point here.

153 posted on 06/16/2007 4:16:39 PM PDT by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
Yo, Bush, the problem is YOU haven’t read the bill and we also don’t want your amnesty.
154 posted on 06/16/2007 4:32:47 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nwrep
Listen to your own argument....

A) Jorge wants to ensure a class of low-wage earners for industry and to keep inflation low.

B) These illegals will be those low income workers.

C) Of course they won't stay that way, they will move up, this is just a temporary fix.

My questions...

1) Who will do the grunt work when these 12-20 million move up? (Answer...the next wave of illegals)

2) When did granting citizenship become temporary (especially to 12-20 million)?

Nope, your (and Jorge's) arguments do not wash.

155 posted on 06/16/2007 4:33:06 PM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get back down that hill?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: wtc911
Listen to your own argument....

Thanks for summarizing my argument (and Jorge's too). I don't see anything wrong with it.

1) Who will do the grunt work when these 12-20 million move up? (Answer...the next wave of illegals)

But see, you don't understand. Once the border is secured (which I am absolutely in favor of - I just don't know when it will be done) there will not be any more significant number of illegals. That is where a guest worker program kicks in, to allow the very poor to come and take the low wage jobs that Americans won't do. (For example, Americans don't want to pick strawberries for $4/hour. They apparently want more and would rather stay on welfare, never mind that a dumb job like picking strawberries is not worth more.)

2) When did granting citizenship become temporary (especially to 12-20 million)?

I don't think you understood me. I did not mean citizenship is temporary, I meant the low-class, low-wage existence is temporary (Point C above).

Cheers.

156 posted on 06/16/2007 4:45:16 PM PDT by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: nicmarlo
Speaking of Bush, right now I am watching a program on CBS, a "special" entitled "America's 400th Anniversary -- Ceremonies Honoring the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown". Bush, with Laura by his side, appeared and just gave a short speech about America's beginnings, etc., etc.

What a blithering hypocrite. I'm surprised he didn't choke on his words.

157 posted on 06/16/2007 4:56:20 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: nwrep
But see, you don't understand. Once the border is secured (which I am absolutely in favor of - I just don't know when it will be done) there will not be any more significant number of illegals.

________________________________________________

I understand very well thank you (and I'll wager that I've read more of this bill than you have). Your argument hinges on the closing of the border. Jorge has had six and a half years to do this and he hasn't come close. Hundreds of miles of fence appropriated by law - less than twenty miles of fence built. Jorge does not want to secure our border with Mexico.

Your argument's second naive assumption is that Mexicans will suddenly play by our rules and stop coming here or abusing any 'guest worker' program, and that our government will suddenly start to enforce our laws.. There is absolutely nothing in the history of Mexican illegal immigration that suggests that either of your assumption will prove right...the opposite is glaringly true.

In this bill there is a provision that states that illegals can apply for Z visas only in their own country. There is also a provision that says that the illegals can, with State department waiver, apply in any of their country's consulates around the world. Mexico has nearly thirty consulates scattered from Florida to Seattle just waiting for the flood.

This bill also states that its ultimate success relies upon the good will of both the public and private sectors within Mexico changing the pervasive culture of corruption.

Sorry, no sale.

158 posted on 06/16/2007 5:55:02 PM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get back down that hill?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: Czar
What a blithering hypocrite. I'm surprised he didn't choke on his words.

I'm more surprised you're watching it, and not gagging, lol!

159 posted on 06/16/2007 7:32:01 PM PDT by nicmarlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
'Nuff said. 11/2008 won't come soon enough for me.

You said it. At least in retirement, Bush will have more time to spend with his good friend Teddy Kennedy.

160 posted on 06/16/2007 7:34:48 PM PDT by stripes1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-190 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson