Posted on 11/30/2005 3:00:33 AM PST by dennisw
The late Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan called it "boob bait for bubba" — tough-sounding rhetoric designed to placate conservative voters. Moynihan applied the phrase to Bill Clinton's 1992 pledge to "end welfare as we know it," which it later became clear that he had no intention of following through on when he became president (eventually, Republicans pressured him into it). President Bush is offering his own "boob bait" in the form of speechifying at the border about a crackdown on illegal immigration.
It's not that Bush doesn't intend to use better technology to police the border and end the "catch and release" policy that waves illegals into the country, as he is now saying. But these steps are primarily meant to diminish opposition to a new guest-worker program and what would effectively be an amnesty for illegal aliens. It's a crackdown as prelude to a letup; in other words, Rove bait for red-staters.
A Republican close to the White House has told Time how Bush wants to lull his conservative supporters into swallowing some sort of amnesty and a guest-worker program, i.e., a "comprehensive" approach: "Bush decided to give these guys their rhetorical pound of flesh. In return, he wants a comprehensive bill, which is what he has always wanted. He's just going to lead with a lot of noise about border security."
The idea is that the House, where conservatives have the most sway, will pass a bill with new enforcement measures, only to see the Senate pass a different bill with an amnesty and guest-worker program, which will be shoved down the throats of the House on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Supporters of tougher enforcement will have gotten their "noise," and Bush and the business lobby will have gotten their policy. Unfortunately for this strategy, conservatives aren't nearly as stupid as the White House political shop apparently thinks they are.
If the policy debate plays out the way the White House wants, we will have another iteration of a bizarre dynamic of American politics. Every time there is agitation about out-of-control levels of immigration, Washington acts — to preserve or increase current levels of immigration. As Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies notes, this is what happened in 1986, 1990, and 1996. The White House and the Senate want 2006 to be Act IV in the farce. Senator Arlen Specter's version of "reform" doubles legal immigration.
The enforcement measures Bush is advocating are welcome and he finally seems to get the public's dismay about the lawlessness of our immigration system. But the border itself is in some ways beside the point. We can put as many agents as the Minutemen could possibly want on the border and still have an illegal-immigration problem. Forty percent of illegals overstay their visas, meaning the border isn't an issue for them. Bush and fellow supporters of a guest-worker program are right about one thing: As long as there are jobs here for illegals, they will come.
The only way to address that is through interior enforcement, which Bush made a nod toward yesterday. The natural place to start is enforcing laws already on the books. Rosemary Jenks of the group NumbersUSA has compiled a partial list of currently unenforced laws that runs to four pages. The Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service have it within their power to inform employers when they have hired illegal workers, but don't. In 2002, the Social Security Administration sent out roughly a million "no match" letters to employers telling them workers had bogus or duplicate Social Security numbers, but business groups complained and the practice stopped.
Supporters of amnesty always ask the rhetorical question: "What are you going to do with the 11 million illegal immigrants already here — deport them all?" That is obviously impractical, but requiring employers to verify that their workers are legal would prompt many illegals to leave voluntarily and staunch the flow of new arrivals. Only after our immigration system is under better control should we discuss Bush's proposed guest-worker program and any kind of amnesty for those illegals who are entrenched in our society. Until then, don't take Bush's bait.
Bush has no intention of stopping the flow of illegal aliens, because he is using it to boost the economy.
I have been a multiple lines insurance agent for 36 years, and I know how the Patels are starting business like convience stores, gas stations, etc. The are coming with large amounts of money. You can get an immigrants visa to enter the country if you have a large amount of money ($1,000,000) to invest, and you use it to create jobs. I know of no way immigrants can avoid paying taxes for 7 years.
I guess the "w" word is considered a four letter word by this admin.
I know this is going to get me flamed, but have you guys seen the WAY the Mexicans work? Generally, from my observation, they have a work ethic that is unimpeachable. I think it's still possible for a hard working teen to get a job in fast food, etc., but as soon as he starts complaining about coming in early or needing time off to go to Spring Break, Pedro, with his 4 kids to feed, will be right there. Everyday. All day.
Look, I don't have a solution. But we have to face the fact that the values of some American workers add to this perfect storm of cheap labor, Mexican poverty, and porous borders.
Amen brother's! Now why can't House, Senate, and our President see this?
We can't fight them and they will win and get their way and we tax payers will have to pay and pay and pay, while the politicians enjoy their salaries and their benefits etc. and the illegals enjoy the "American dream".
You shouldn't have trouble finding a loan if you have enough collateral to put down to start your business. Remember, very few new business are successful, and the banks are well aware of that. If you are trying to borrow 90 or 100% of needed capital you will be searching for the next 50 years.
Tammy Bruce had a great line, "Bush's plan is the Harriet Miers Immigration policy and we have to correct him on this, too."
I am certainly not hoping for one; only warning what would happen if one happened.
As far as the Canadian border goes, if Ottawa refuses to tighten security up there, then we should treat that border no different than the one with Mexico.
It should be noted however, that the 911 hijackers all entered this country legally and then disappeared. This underscores the fact that an effective immigration policy must deal with the "backfield" as well as the front line.
Some of us don't need an anonymous source to tell us what is obvious to anyone with half a brain.
Last I knew a person could emigrate from America, but I suppose in the globalist radical's limited imagination that is a scenarion best not thought of.
That's what the Minute Men are doing and they're catching a lot of grief for it.
Insincerity in the President's position, if indeed he is trying to placate his base rather than close the borders will result in him ending up right where the Dimocrats want him.
It does us NO good when our side spends all it's time doing the Democrat Party's PR work for them. QUIT whining. Frankly the "Conservative" pundits seem stuck on stupid. They are so busy acting as the Dinasour Media's echo chamber that they no longer are on our side. Nice work guys. Way to gut any hope of getting ANY thing done.
Yes. Their quality doesn't come close to lazy-ass white boys. I hired a crew of them from an employment agency - I had to watch them like a hawk. They are there ready to work right on time and ready to leave right on time, too. They also don't like to take time off on silly holidays like July fourth.
I've also been in two-bedroom apartments that they've divided with make-shift walls, built bunk beds and sleep in the living room housing 6-8 people. That is how they are able to take jobs that "Americans won't do." Illegals are lowering our standard of living, corrupting our political system, corrupting our culture, destroying our healthcare system, and milking the welfare state.
Americans have proved that if we were the ones who had to sneak into a country to provide for our families we would've had a revolution a long time ago.
Illegals would rather sneak than fight for economic justice.
I bet you defended the Harriet Miers nomination, too.
So by your last terms, "milking the welfare state" means, I surmise, you are for the welfare state.
BTW, how come no mention of the people really messing up the American healthcare system, the trial lawyers.
at the expense of the middle class taxpayer.
Exactly, Bush makes a start in driving the debate to finally to get this mess under control, which includes no amnesty(amnesty would be full citizenship) and some on FR just complain.
Senators Kyl and Cornyn(two good conservative Senators) have proposed a good reform, but some on FR just seem stuck on that it's all a globalist conspiracy.
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