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.
Aliens? Ahhhhh! Build a wall around the earth! Ship them back to Mars!
Sorry, sorry, I'm just a little twitchy on the issue.
I think this is the REAl Jorge El Segundo - internationalist and slave trafficer for globalist corporations under the guise of “Guest Workers:.
Instead we hear the crooks in D.C. telling us the funds has been "over promised" and that we may not get what they told us we would.
These azzholes need to have their feet held to the fire on this stuff. To quote Owl Gore--They betrayed us...!
Got to be the expense. A stitch in time saves nine and the seam is already ripped out of this.
You don't need a bill Mr. President, all you have to do is use existing laws.
This administration has gone off the deep end.
Isn't there some way we could do like they do in the sporting world and maybe buy out his contract?
Sorry Mr. President...the REAL courage is to NOT pass it. The people don’t want it. How many times do you have to be told the people do not want it and have voiced their opinions over and over to their reps saying just that. Have you NOT been listening??????????????????
“Got to be the expense”
Right, it’s “cheaper” to grant amnesty, and all the freebies along with it, to 20+ million illegal criminals.
Here's some of what El Presidente is asking the Senators to prostitute themselves for:
Legal status for all illegals in 24hrs even without a complete background check
American taxpayers will pay for all lawyers needed by the illegal aliens
Temporary visas are really permanent
Amnesty for gang members (lowball est. is 33,000)
We help pay for Mexicans to stay in Mexico
No back taxes need be paid by illegals
Fast track for SPP/NAU (de facto erasure of U.S. borders and sovereignty)
No priority for border security
Amnesty prevails throughout the bill
Tuition for illegal aliens
Cut ahead in citizenship line
Amnesty for previously deported aliens
Court shutdown as necessary for priority handling of alien issues
English not required
Earned income tax credit for illegal aliens (but no taxes need be paid)
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?
Good point. If he won't stick up for us there is no way I am going to stick up for him.
“Have you NOT been listening??????????????????”
Bush: (fingers in ears) la,la,la,la,la
Excellent, and thank you— I’ll borrow that, it’s so good.
The courage he is asking them for is the courage to stand AGAINST US!
Kind regards to you, M’am.
The few big raids they have lately gets them off the hook...
Token enforcement.
Yes, that's right. Try enforcing the laws.
“But a big chunk of the base will be gone forever for this President - as he, essentially, spits in their face on immigration.”
Why he would do this - alienate his base - in a time of War is beyond reckless.
As in 90%.
And that will truly take us out in Texas, as well as other States that are on the edge.
IMO
I have to wonder how thoughtless the administration is right now. Surely it is obvious that if you PO the base - they will respond in kind. I mean human nature is at play here. Maybe it's not right - but some folks are really angry - REALLY angry over this - and I don't believe for one second that the administration wasn't aware of how millions of us feel about securing the border first.
So, just what did they think the based would do - once they essentially told us to go screw ourselves? Surely - they knew there would be repercussions come Sept???
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