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DUMPING CONSERVATIVES AT THE BORDER
Laura's Weekly E-Blast ^ | 1/8/2004 | LAURA INGRAHAM

Posted on 01/08/2004 3:34:13 PM PST by kellynla

I am beginning to think John McCain actually won the presidency in 2000.

Conservatives were relieved when the Straight Talk Express petered out during the 2000 primary season. John McCain, although tough on national security and runaway spending, was hardly a conservative on major issues such as campaign finance, healthcare reform and immigration.

Yet this is exactly where we find President Bush today (except unlike McCain, Bush doesn’t seem to have much of a problem with runaway spending). Last year President George Bush signed the McCain-Feingold bill into law, which is one of the worst assaults on political speech this country has ever seen. When conservatives (and many liberals) howled, the President’s advisers whispered that they believed the Supreme Court would “clean up” the more onerous parts of the bill which dictates the types of political ads that can air before a general election or primary contest. Of course the Supreme Court rubber stamped the entire thing and so the result is less, not more political speech in the U.S.

And now President Bush charges across the landscape to rescue us from our “unfair” and “broken” immigration system by rewarding people who came here illegally with the promise of legal status. This proposal essentially mirrors the immigration legislation sponsored by—you got it—Sen. McCain. Under the Bush/McCain plan, anyone outside the U.S. who wants to come into the country would only need to show proof of a “job offer” in order to get an initial three-year work permit that would be renewable for an unspecified period. Such temporary workers could also bring family members here. What prevents these people from staying on beyond their time premitted for "temporary" work? As it stands now, there seems to be no limit on the immigration —temporary or permanent— allowed under this plan. And as for the claim that this would be a big boon to the American economy? Illegal immigration costs taxpayers $20 billion each year, in extra education, healthcare, welfare, and prison costs. Today thirty-four percent of Mexicans legally in the U.S., and 25 percent of Mexicans illegally here are welfare.

How are those costs diminished under the Bush plan?

Most bewildering is the Administration idea that this plan is necessary for homeland security reasons. On the contrary, it would not be surprising if some would-be terrorists are among the millions of illegals who will become “documented” under the Bush plan. As Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) charged, "Guest worker programs and gradual amnesty provide cover for terrorists."

It’s easy to understand why Vicente Fox, McCain, big business, and La Raza are happy this week—but what’s in this new proposal for working class American families? How about those immigrants who a lot of time and money to comply with our immigration laws?

The real answer is absolutely nothing. The only reasonable prediction is that wages for a wide range of jobs will be kept artificially depressed by outside workers—now with “legal status” will work for peanuts. “I have worked construction for 30 years as a truck driver (18-wheeler),” wrote one of my listeners, “And every year my pay has gone down because Mexicans are flooding the trucking industry…."

When Bill Clinton says we live in an “increasingly borderless world,” we’re not surprised. It’s the usual globaloney blather. But when a Republican president advocates a policy that will make our borders effectively meaningless, we should be outraged.

With his approval numbers high, President Bush has made a devil’s bargain with business and Hispanic groups. Elites from both parties are ignoring the view of a strong majority of Americans that we need to stop illegal immigration, not high-five it.

Another listener wonders: “What happened to the ‘party of principle’? More like the party of pandering. Considering the massive numbers involved, this amnesty being floated really is Pandora's Box, once opened cannot be closed.”

President Bush has now done the equivalent of posting a sign at the border: “Help Wanted for $5.15/hour.”

Conservatives are right to be disappointed in President Bush. We are right to ignore the Administration’s promise that this time, non-amnesty amnesty will be good for the American people. Our citizenship and legal residence should be reserved for people who love this country enough that breaking her laws—whether at the border or on the street—is out of the question. The next time I hear from his Administration that it is doing all it can to protect our homeland, secure our borders, and increase our standard of living, I will laugh.

Now I know the definition of “compassionate conservative:” a person who campaigns as a conservative, then sells out key conservative principles.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amateurtalker; biggovernment; culturewar; gop; illegal; illegalimmigration; immigration; invasion; lauraingraham; rushwannabe; thenannystate; thewelfarestate; toonspardonuscrooks; w2; welfarestate
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To: kevao
I have seen no polls on this, so I don't know. But if you'll allow me to extrapolate from the polls showing 65-85% of Americans being against unfettered illegal immigration, I suspect there would indeed be a great deal of support for beefing up the manpower on our borders.

Again, you're trying to take support for a goal--ending illegal immigration, somehow, some way, in a manner that doesn't personally inconvenience the pollee or cost them more money--and trying to translate it into support for something that will cost them money.

You're dealing with a problem we have in America--people aren't willing to actually do the work. Why do you think lotteries sell so many tickets? Because people want to get rich, but they don't want to do the hard work necessary to get rich. Why do you think people want electrical power to be cheap and readily available, but don't want an icky power plant built where it would "spoil nature?" Because they want BOTH goods--they want electricity, but they don't want to deal with the messiness of generating it.

Unfortunately, no politician in either party, except Tancredo, is even proposing this.

The fact that border-state politicians aren't supporting it should tell you something--they aren't willing to waste their time.

521 posted on 01/09/2004 6:53:30 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Happy2BMe
Nope, very much pro-life. Just pointing out reality. So, you willing to draft all women of child-bearing age into the Maternity Corps and make 'em produce a litter apiece?
522 posted on 01/09/2004 6:54:23 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Poohbah
That means the INS has no frickin' business wandering into my place of business without a warrant.

If you work in your home, then I agree. But if you are wal-mark or a construction site or a factory then yes, NIS can come by any time they think they should. And if your illegal is in public view, like painting your house then you can be busted at home too.

523 posted on 01/09/2004 6:55:40 PM PST by jpsb
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To: kevao
I'm not sold on the idea that only the illegals can save us from a population decline.

Right now, it's a fact. End illegal immigration, and our population starts declining--and it will get worse in the out years, because America as a whole is aging (and thus passing into demographics with higher mortality rates AND lower fertility rates, a double hit on population figures).

There are millions of people around the world who have applied for U.S. citizenship. We should bring these people in faster

Unfortunately, you now have to deal with "friendly fire." Many who favor greater stringency against ILLEGAL immigration also want LEGAL immigration sharply curtailed or ended.

524 posted on 01/09/2004 6:57:18 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Poohbah
Ah, the big lie

You're dealing with a problem we have in America--people aren't willing to actually do the work

The truth is that American are willing to do the work, they just want to get paid a descent wage for doing it.

525 posted on 01/09/2004 6:58:45 PM PST by jpsb
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To: Poohbah
You're dealing with a problem we have in America--people aren't willing to actually do the work. Why do you think lotteries sell so many tickets? Because people want to get rich, but they don't want to do the hard work necessary to get rich. Why do you think people want electrical power to be cheap and readily available, but don't want an icky power plant built where it would "spoil nature?" Because they want BOTH goods--they want electricity, but they don't want to deal with the messiness of generating it.

By God, Poohbah, for the first time today I can actually say I agree with a whole entire paragraph you've written!

But, as I said before, there are plenty of foreigners who have applied legally for entry into the U.S. to fill ALL the jobs that Americans are too lazy to do. We do not have to grant amnestry to millions of criminals who have shown nothing but contempt for our laws.

526 posted on 01/09/2004 6:58:53 PM PST by kevao
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To: kevao
I wasn't speaking of not willing to do work as in a job--although that is a piece of it.

I'm talking about the work of making a tradeoff.

"Delayed gratification? Whatever it is, I want it now."
527 posted on 01/09/2004 7:00:14 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Poohbah
Unfortunately, you now have to deal with "friendly fire." Many who favor greater stringency against ILLEGAL immigration also want LEGAL immigration sharply curtailed or ended.

Quite possibly, that is a misperception on your part. All week long, I've been accused of being "anti-immigration" simply because of my anti-ILLEGAL-immigration stance. Loads of Freepers are confusing these two positions.

528 posted on 01/09/2004 7:01:15 PM PST by kevao
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To: jpsb
Sorry, I'm afraid I'll have to take Poohbah's side on this one. To return to the restaurant again, I mean, no one has been getting sick from the food there. So where is the probable cause for the health inspector to be coming around the place?

</SARCASM>
529 posted on 01/09/2004 7:07:58 PM PST by kevao
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To: Happy2BMe; Poohbah
Is Poohbah pro-abortion?

Well, I have never been. However, after tonight's encounter with Poohbah, I'm reconsidering my position.

530 posted on 01/09/2004 7:10:28 PM PST by kevao
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To: Poohbah; kevao; jpsb
PoohBah to H2BMe: "So, you willing to draft all women of child-bearing age into the Maternity Corps and make 'em produce a litter apiece?"

H2BMe to PoohBah:

</>

531 posted on 01/09/2004 7:16:44 PM PST by Happy2BMe (r)
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To: jpsb; kevao
"The truth is that American are willing to do the work, they just want to get paid a descent wage for doing it."

Spoken like a man with real experience . .

Bush's Ridiculous Speech About Immigration Reform

DUMPING CONSERVATIVES AT THE BORDER

Jobs Americans Won't Do: Voodoo Economics from the White House.

532 posted on 01/09/2004 7:18:57 PM PST by Happy2BMe (r)
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To: txdoda
" Does this *sound* like ANYONE in DC cares about catching illegal employees or employers??"

Uh, no.
533 posted on 01/09/2004 7:22:17 PM PST by Beck_isright ("Deserving ain't got nothing to do with it" - William Money)
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To: kevao
The health department tries to prevent health problems before they happen. They will find bugs, rodents dropping, slime etc and tell you what you need to clean up. I am not a big fan of the health department but that's their job and most of the time they are reasonable and work with you to fix whatever they think the problem is.

The only way we are going to solve our illegal problem is with employer sanctions and removing illegal from public assitance. We have to put some teeth into the employer sanctions and that means emplyer inspections by NIS or some other agent. There is no other way so either deal with it or learn to live in Azland.

534 posted on 01/09/2004 7:22:48 PM PST by jpsb
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To: Happy2BMe
re "last republican president" on your home page.

Right On!

535 posted on 01/09/2004 7:28:51 PM PST by jpsb
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To: kevao
Quite possibly, that is a misperception on your part. All week long, I've been accused of being "anti-immigration" simply because of my anti-ILLEGAL-immigration stance. Loads of Freepers are confusing these two positions.

Nope. There are lots of FReepers, and those outside of FR, who want to restrict legal immigration. They tend to be Buchananite or other flavors of paleocon.

536 posted on 01/09/2004 8:20:05 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Happy2BMe
OK. So, in the absence of making sure there's another generation of youngsters to run up and down hills apprehending illegal aliens--demographics are NOT in your favor on this issue--what is your plan? Hire illegal aliens to guard the border?
537 posted on 01/09/2004 8:22:29 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Joe Hadenuf
Laughable Joe, because you post some "poll" from a local radio show in response to a question about how the people across the nation responded to the Bush proposal, a poll that was more than likely "FReeped".

The people of Salt Lake City who listen to a radio show with an agenda, are not representative of a national trend.

Nice try however.

By the way, about the whole "people like Loretta Sanchez" comment.

People like George W. Bush also support the President taking initiative where no other President has ever actually done so, many here do.

There are now two types of people...people who actually are trying to do something about the illegal immigrant issue, such as President Bush, and people who are doing nothing beyond whining, and bitching about it...that would be you and your compadres.

Don't aggrandize this issue, the long and the short of it is that it's only an issue to people who have...issues with our neighbors to the South, and Bush will be re-elected. Unlike your candidate, whoever that may be, who at best will declare moral victory if his or her percentage of support at the voting booth, actually manages to manifest itself to the left of the decimal point.

538 posted on 01/09/2004 8:23:10 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (The Gift Is To See The Trout.)
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To: Luis Gonzalez
There are now two types of people...people who actually are trying to do something about the illegal immigrant issue, such as President Bush

LOL!

Thanks louie!!

We have a room full of people here and when I clicked on your post, there was a sudden burst of laughter.

This just don't get any better!

539 posted on 01/09/2004 8:31:36 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: Joe Hadenuf
"We have a room full of people here and when I clicked on your post, there was a sudden burst of laughter."

If they're hanging out with you, it doesn't take much to amuse them.

540 posted on 01/09/2004 8:44:43 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (The Gift Is To See The Trout.)
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