Bush decries border project

Washington Times ^ | March 24, 2005 | James G. Lakely

[mikemikemikecubed]

WACO, Texas -- President Bush yesterday said he opposes a civilian project to monitor illegal aliens crossing the border, characterizing them as "vigilantes." He said he would pressure Congress to further loosen immigration law. More than 1,000 people -- including 30 pilots and their private planes -- have volunteered for the Minuteman Project, beginning next month along the Arizona-Mexico border. Civilians will monitor the movement of illegal aliens for the month of April and report them to the Border Patrol. Mr. Bush said after yesterday's continental summit, with Mexican President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin at Baylor University, that he finds such actions unacceptable. "I'm against vigilantes in the United States of America," Mr. Bush said at a joint press conference. "I'm for enforcing the law in a rational way." The Minuteman Project was born out of a long-held perception among many residents that more Border Patrol agents are needed to handle the flow of illegal immigrants. Mr. Bush was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats earlier this month for failing to add 2,000 agents to the Border Patrol, as set out in the intelligence overhaul legislation he signed in December. The president's 2006 budget allows enough money to add only 210 agents for the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. Mr. Bush said he will "continue to push for reasonable, common-sense immigration policy." He has proposed legislation to grant guest-worker status to millions of illegal aliens already in the United States. The legislation has attracted scant support in Congress, where it is widely regarded as another amnesty that will encourage even more illegal immigration.

[Stu Cohen]

We are being a bit myopic here. While I do not support how Bush is mishandling this issue, I do feel that a Kerry Presidency would have been disasterous.

While I am nowhere near a Kerry fan, I wouldn't say "disastrous". We all survived 8 years of Clinton without much real fanfare other than some BJ's and lies about stupid stuff. In our day-to-day lives, not much was different. Actually, taxes were slightly higher under Clinton but the IRS was rebuked into given the taxpayers the benefit of the doubt (that is gone now). Abortion was legal then, it's legal now. Not a whole heck of a lot has changed.

Oh, Janet Jackson can't show here boob on TV anymore. I guess that's a good thing.

What would be the state of the War on Terror?

I don't know. Clinton was bombing aspirin factories in Sudan to divert attention from his under-desk BJ's. Those dudes will bomb when it is politically advantageous.

What would be the state of the economy with the tax cuts that would have quickly come about under Kerry.

I think you mean tax increases. And Bush outspent Clinton by magnitudes, so get ready to reach in your wallet. While taxes went down a fraction, state taxes increased, personal property taxes increased, healthcare costs skyrocketed, gas prices went up, wages stagnated a bit, bankruptcies are about to become history ... etc, etc. So net profit to a family at the end of the year is really more or less the same if you were to crunch the numbers of the average families.

Tax cuts always balance out with higher fees elsewhere. It's called "status-quo economics". If they don't get you up-front, the get you on the back end. It's more or less a wash.

The entire Middle East would be in a state of jihad.

Oh yeah, the middle east is real peaceful.

I am not willing to toss the baby out with the bathwater over one issue I may disagree with the President on.

That's like saying "He's a really nice guy other than being a serial killer". The issue of treasonous behavior is far too big to overlook because your taxes were cut and you can't show your privates on network TV anymore.

[kingattax]

Bush signed a bill in December that required the government to add 2000 border patrol agents,last i heard only about 200 have been added.

I thought that Bush was was out of line calling the Minutemen Project "vigilantes". They are UNARMED American citizens trying to do what the government either can't or won't do about a literal invasion from mexico. Bush appears far too chummy with vicente fox to suit me.

[ozarkgirl]

""Indeed, government seems to be infested with greedy parasites who intend to profit from the destruction of America and all thoughts of personal liberty.""

I've been reading this thread for over an hour, I have to say, that's one of the most profound statements I've read. "Profiting from the destruction of America".

[Czar]

My oh my. And here I am with a brand new RNC funds solicitation letter on my desk.

I called Mike Retzer's office (RNC Treasurer) and chewed on them for 10 minutes, telling them there would be absolutely NO MORE MONEY from me until Bush changes course completely on his attitude toward illegal aliens ("guest workers" in PC-speak), and I see some very tough measures being taken to protect our borders, stop the flood of illegals and deal with the illegals already here and, by that, I do NOT mean converting all of them into "guest workers" via a sham amnesty.

[budwiesest]

The Congress shall have Power To:... provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;[article 1, section 8, clause 15 of the US constitution.]

No mention of vigilantes and it seems this is Congress's gig- not the president's. Yet, he could get on the bullhorn.

"YooHoo, congress!, cleanup on aisle 4 (southern border)."

[XBob]

I am not certain I heard properly, but I thought I heard, in a news snippet at about 3 AM, of Bush's speach, that he prefered an 'open borders' policy, where people can move back and forth freely, and work where they wish.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[Marine Inspector]

The issue of treasonous behavior is far too big to overlook because your taxes were cut and you can't show your privates on network TV anymore.

Agreed.

[Marine Inspector]

Apparently, you're a slow learner.

You can't teach a dead dog new tricks.

[Marine Inspector]

bttt

[ScudBud]

As I listened to the man (forgot his name) in charge of the minuteman project on the radio today, I felt such bitterness to Bush. Of all the issues facing Americans now, this has to be near the top of the list of importance. Now not only does he ignore or worse, increase the problem, but attacks a decorated veteran of this country. Vigilantes are lawbreakers who mete out their own brand of justice. What these Americans are doing is simply OBSERVING the migration of illegals over a one month period to then inform our government of what they saw. No one will be armed or approach anyone they are watching, according to the head of the project. This poor guy was nearly in tears talking about the term his president used to describe the volunteers. He had to hang up early on the host, and sounded shaken. He was going to take calls, but simply couldn't deal with it.

[Czar]

Well said, in all respects.

[inquest]

And that pretty succinctly explains why fake conservatives are more of a threat to America than hard leftists. If a Democrat president had made the vigilante remark, this man wouldn't have been the least bit shaken, but rather would have been more emboldened to push on. But it looks as though he had made the mistake of putting any kind of trust at all into Bush, and felt betrayed as a result.

Moral: Never give trust away to politicians, of whatever stripe. Make them earn it, every step of the way. (and no, putting an R next to one's name does not constitute "earning trust")

[spodefly]

I am not certain I heard properly, but I thought I heard, in a news snippet at about 3 AM, of Bush's speech, that he preferred an 'open borders' policy, where people can move back and forth freely, and work where they wish. Does anyone know anything about this?

That is what Vincente Fox and Bush want. Both have said it. I can understand Fox wanting that, but cannot understand Bush's stance on this. I suspect his daddy's comments (see post #418) are one explanation. The goal through the FTAA and the other behind-the-scenes shenanigans is to unite Mexico, the US, and Canada into an open borders, common currency EU-like monstrosity. There are some links earlier in this thread that go into this subject, and many posters here are more up to speed on it than I am. The goal of a one-world government can't be accomplished in one swoop, so they are doing it one region at a time, and Bush is a driver of this goal.

I made a simple decision. My ancestors, since the 1700's, have fought in practically every war this country has had, have served in its government, paid its taxes, and obeyed its laws. I have done so as well. But I have no obligation to be loyal to a 'North America', and I will not be loyal to it. If the borders and sovereignty of this country die at the hands of these globalists, then the United States dies, and I will go down with it. Fighting.

[cyborg]

You may have heard the story about Fox wanting to dissolve the border and make it 'North America' instead of 'United States of America'. It's a bananas idea.

[spodefly]

BUMP/ping

[Serenissima Venezia]

"The only reason I can figure is that we have killed so many people via abortion that would have become taxpayers Bush figures we need all the warm bodies we can get and eventually they can pay taxes."

But illegals are usually low wage earners, so they not only don't pay any net taxes but probably receive more taxpayer money in aid (foodstamps, free school lunches, free education for their children, free medical in our emergency rooms, etc) than they ever pay for. It's a big net loss for us legal citizens!

[chicagolady]

It's called LAWLESSNESS!!