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President Asks Senators To Muster 'Political Courage' To Pass Stalled Immigration Bill
AHN ^ | June 23, 2007 | Christopher Rizo

Posted on 06/23/2007 3:39:30 PM PDT by Baladas

Washington, D.C. (AHN)-President George Bush called on Congress to muster the "political courage" to pass an immigration overhaul that has foundered for weeks in the U.S. Senate.

"We have an obligation to solve problems that have been piling up for decades," President Bush said in his weekly radio address. "The status quo is unacceptable."

The proposed legislation, drafted by a small group of senators and White House negotiators, would create a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million immigrants in the United States illegally.

The proposal has been derided by opponents as an amnesty program. Among the sticking points is a provision that would allow illegal immigrants who entered the country before Jan. 1 to apply for Z visas, which would enable them to live and work in the United States legally.

Critics have also charged that the bill does not do enough to secure the nation's borders.

"I understand that many Americans have concerns about immigration reform - especially about the federal government's ability to secure the border," President Bush said. "So this bill puts the enforcement tools in place first."

On June 26, to move the bill forward, 60 senators will have to vote to resume debate on the politically contentious issue.

To attract the 15 additional votes needed to advance the bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has suggested that the Democratic and Republican caucuses would each be able to put forth 12 amendments.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, speaking to Bloomberg Television on Friday, said Republican support of the proposal is waning, despite it being one of the President's top domestic priorities.

"We're beginning to see some of the people that would have ordinarily voted to proceed with the bill to say, `hey, this process is not fair, it's not transparent,''' Senator Cornyn said.

Among those Republicans who Senator Cornyn cited: Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; bush; bushkennedymccain; bushmustresign; ilegalaliens; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigrantlist; jorgebush; vampirebill
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To: mewzilla
They ALL said the following:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I about to enter. So help me God."!!!

101 posted on 06/23/2007 5:21:00 PM PDT by danamco (Now, I would LOVE to hear your solution as to how to remove 12 to 30 million people from this countr)
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To: Sunsong; Baladas

I think he is pulling a macchiavelian maneuver by coming out for this. He’s with the dems and most of the country is against it. He’s not running again and the republican candidates are all against this.

He is paving the way for another Republican presidency.

As for the funding for Iraq - dems not passing it would be political suicide.


102 posted on 06/23/2007 5:21:32 PM PDT by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
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To: Baladas

I wish the political class would show more courage in securing our borders. If this had been done, as it was suppose to have been done as a result of the Simpson-Mazzolli 1986 Immigration Bill, we wouldn’t have up to 15 million illegals demanding legal status or US citizenship.


103 posted on 06/23/2007 5:24:04 PM PDT by AdvisorB ("A Hillary Clinton presidency will result in a weaker economy and a weaker America" Dick Morris)
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To: backhoe

Excellent!

Exactly what I’m thinking except I do believe that Bush is deliberately setting this up...I can hear it in his voice.


104 posted on 06/23/2007 5:25:10 PM PDT by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
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To: oldtimer
It is hard for me to defend the POTUS at this point, but all I can say is that if the so called Republican party including the rinos rigorously fought this illegal thing, then the Mexicans would become a block of voters like the blacks. As in 90%.

I disagree with you. I have a mezkin in my family (an old coot in Texas) who listens to Rush Limbaugh and whose family has been in Texas forever. Doesn't like illegals. Doesn't want them. I have a Haitian co-worker, legal citizen, married, grows pot in her back yard, real feminist type, not conservative at all, who doesn't want illegals or immigrants because she knows them and is afraid for her child. You assume that they don't know the score. They do. They are Americans too. I'm not saying it's a majority of the latin and carribean vote, but this won't change it much, pass or fail, imho. In fact, I think since the bill will hurt assimilation, if it passes we lose a bigger % of the latin/carribean vote than if it fails.

105 posted on 06/23/2007 5:26:45 PM PDT by Greg F (<><)
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To: sonic109

I think you are correct. A lady I know that works for a congressman on the judicial committee has told me that they calculate that, if this bill passes, we will add 50-100 million people from the Third World to our country by 2030 or so.

At that point, we will have lost any grip we may have had on our own future as there will be many other “Americans” who would see no reason to ever secure the borders and enforce our laws.


106 posted on 06/23/2007 5:28:55 PM PDT by HighFlier
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To: Loud Mime

It’s not even about illegal aliens anymore. It’s about the relationship between the government and the people.

It’s about who wears the pants in the family.

And right now, the president and a whole bunch of others are confused about that. See, they think they’re in charge. They think it’s their country.

They think they’re going to tell us what to do.

Well, they’ve got another think coming. This time they’ve got a fight on their hands.

The background is illegal immigration and the years of treasonously incompetent government which have allowed it to turn into the biggest threat to our country and its future. It takes some doing for an issue to rival militant Islam as a danger to the United States, but illegal immigration does.

And that is completely the fault of the federal government. Stretching back to the late 1980s, and accelerating to light speed under George W. Bush and the Republican Congress, government negligence turned a blind eye to border security and the flood of illegal aliens into the country. Instead of dealing with the problem, the government facilitated it. Instead of being rounded up and deported, illegal aliens were guaranteed an ever-larger pool of government services.

The United States became Mexico’s welfare and medical system and the federal government did absolutely nothing to protect the interests or territorial integrity of the nation. As cultural dilution and antagonism became rampant, the government was uncaring and impotent. It was national suicide by governmental neglect.

American wages were suppressed, American taxes were raided, American communities were endangered, American values were suppressed, American culture was spat upon. Entire communities were lost to illegal newcomers who were invaders, not immigrants. A centuries-old American model of immigration was thrown out for a divisive new pattern which has already effectively lost the United States sovereignty over portions of its own territory.

We face cultural and financial bankruptcy because the president and Congress failed to uphold their oaths of office. They have ignored the rule of law by refusing to enforce the written law. We have a border, we have immigration laws, and the federal government has ignored them both.

And only after years of complaint and rising public upset did the government begin to do anything. But even then it was mostly manipulation for political gain. It has been a scripted dance in which the people have demanded and the politicians have manipulated and in the end they get our dollars and our votes and we get the back of their hand. And the illegal immigration problem festers into malignancy while they twiddle their thumbs.

Now there is a bill.

Now, they tell us, is the time to act. And their bill is the only thing that can be acted upon. Negotiated in secret, amended in secret, demanded in public. Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up. It’s time to pull the wool over our eyes and they’re impatient, afraid that delay will lead to scrutiny and defeat.

In the name of helping us, they are about to kill us.

And a tiny group of senators, in league with the president, have agreed to ramrod this through. And to defuse the nation’s roaring disapproval they are taking a tone of authority and power their offices do not provide them.

The president who is sure one more of his stammering speeches will convince the nation to change its mind. The Democrat senator who is essentially calling the American people racists. The Republican senator who is going to “do something” about talk radio, the only place political correctness and government intimidation have not yet completely choked out the voice of the people. All are miffed that the people have not rolled over and obediently accepted the superior enlightenment of the Washington fat cats.

And that’s what brings us to today’s fight. Not just to stop an immigration bill that is poison to our national interests, but to knock down the politicians whose arrogance has presumed they could cram down the throats of average Americans a piece of legislation that every measurement of public sentiment shows they don’t want.

They said “Yes,” we said “No,” now they have raised their voices and furrowed their brows and pointed their fingers and said “Yes” again. It’s as if they are the masters and we are the servants and they have reminded us to know our place.

Well, the fact is we do know our place.

We are at the top of the political food chain. We are the people the Preamble is talking about. We are the United States of America – they aren’t. It is supposed to be government for, of and by the people, not imposed on the people.

The job of every member of Congress is to represent the wishes of the people of his state or district. Period. It is not to impose a will, or coerce an opinion, it is to do what the people want.

And the people don’t want this immigration bill.

Not by a damn sight.

And the president and Congress who do not honor that wish have don’t need a lesson just in immigration policy, they need a lesson in American democracy.

And they are about to get it.

Secure the border. Make it impenetrable. Shut off the influx of illegal aliens. Begin cleaning up the mess in our schools, jails, hospitals and streets caused by illegal aliens. Actively seek and deport illegal aliens and their families, particularly those involved with welfare and crime. Change the 14th Amendment to get rid of anchor babies. Passionately promote a national program of culture and language education and assimilation.

Then, after a couple of years, talk about legalization and pathways.

But secure the border first and foremost.

And actively take down every candidate and party that pushes forward this asinine immigration bill.

Bob Lonsberry


107 posted on 06/23/2007 5:33:41 PM PDT by sheana
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To: Baladas

108 posted on 06/23/2007 5:39:04 PM PDT by Gritty (This [1986] amnesty will secure the borders. We will never again bring forth another-Teddy Kennedy)
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To: sonic109
I seriously see revolution if this bill ever passes. It’s do or die on this one folks or we can kiss the good old USA good by.

!

109 posted on 06/23/2007 5:41:54 PM PDT by Greg F (<><)
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To: Baladas

Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


110 posted on 06/23/2007 5:55:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008)
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To: Baladas
My immigration plan...

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

111 posted on 06/23/2007 5:58:31 PM PDT by Ros42
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To: Plains Drifter

Bush has been pushing illegals on us since day one!


112 posted on 06/23/2007 6:03:30 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: Czar

“THIS is what Bush is pimping to the Senators? Each Senator should ask just one question: do I want to vote YES on this and forever after be labeled a traitor?”

Excellent!


113 posted on 06/23/2007 6:05:22 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: HighFlier

In 2030, when those 50-100 mllion third world formerly illegal aliens are voters, what will be their top top top priority?

FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

That 50-100 million will double and triple, until the USA is just another third world hell hole like the ones they escaped.


114 posted on 06/23/2007 6:05:22 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Greg F

“I seriously see revolution if this bill ever passes. It’s do or die on this one folks or we can kiss the good old USA good by.

!”

!!!!!?


115 posted on 06/23/2007 6:08:07 PM PDT by FReepapalooza
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To: Travis McGee; B4Ranch; AuntB; All

“In 2030, when those 50-100 mllion third world formerly illegal aliens are voters, what will be their top top top priority?

FAMILY REUNIFICATION.

That 50-100 million will double and triple, until the USA is just another third world hell hole like the ones they escaped.”

This is INDEED what will happen


116 posted on 06/23/2007 6:10:39 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: HighFlier
At that point, we will have lost any grip we may have had on our own future as there will be many other “Americans” who would see no reason to ever secure the borders and enforce our laws.

Pass this on to everybody you know!

A very chilling video from Roy Beck that every decent American should see, including the President and pass it on further!!!:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4094926727128068265&pr=goog-sl

117 posted on 06/23/2007 6:16:05 PM PDT by danamco (Now, I would LOVE to hear your solution as to how to remove 12 to 30 million people from this countr)
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To: rawhide

It’s not just the federal benefits, but the state and local ones as well...schools, police, teachers, cops, EMT’s, non-profit hospitals, etc...which have been one of the causes of our property taxes going higher by the year. Now they want to bring in their millions in ‘extended’ families which will necessitate new schools, jails, teachers, cops, EMT’s etc. for us to pay even higher property taxes on. At the state level we will need new prisons and guards. 6-7% of a population ended up encarcerated.


118 posted on 06/23/2007 6:18:05 PM PDT by GailA (I'm a quilt-a-holic and proud of it. Run Fred Run!)
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To: Mr.Smorch

I live outside of a small town in Southern Indiana.

The place is crawling with illegal aliens!

About an hour ago I went into town and passed a wrecked car, but there were no other cars near it. The occupants were all pointing down the road and saying they went that way.

My first thought was “illegal alien” hit and run. Happens a lot around here. They can’t drive for $#@#!

Sure enough as I got further down the road, the cops had the guy up against the car and all of his hermanos were scattering across the fields trying to get away.

They might have made it if the front end of their car was still intact. LOL

Don’t forget this is INDIANA I’m talking about.


119 posted on 06/23/2007 6:20:05 PM PDT by EEDUDE (Thank God for the internet. Back room deals see the light of day!)
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To: Baladas

Is it January of 2009 yet? Has this fool been sent packing yet? I am totally sick and tired and fed up with GWB. He is a loser, a failure and a fake. He has lied to us regarding his stance on so much. He lied about being a conservative. He is a total waste of 8 years. He has done more damange to conservatism by himself than the Marxist’s dims have done. Time to GO RINO!!!


120 posted on 06/23/2007 6:21:26 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (Votes are IN!! It's Official. Bush is DECLARED A FULL BLOODED RINO!!!)
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