Yes, the President said that.
But it is not TRUE.
If you are French, getting in line means sitting IN FRANCE while awaiting the right to enter the US. There's no right to come to the USA illegally, take a job and settle.
And if they catch you already in the US, they don't regularize you, and set up deportation hearings.
What Bush spoke of last night was a system whereby people who have illegally jumped the line and are already IN the US illegally, already working, DON'T get deported. So, they're at "the back of them line", just like the guy sitting in France waiting for his number to come up...but THEY get to live in the US, and work in the US, and do everything, really, but vote in the US.
Which is not really being "at the back of the line" at all.
Another case of doublespeak in Bush's speech was "no amnesty". He says he opposes amnesty. But what is a guest worker program without enforcement, and with a "back of the line" rule (that's not really the back of the line)? Amnesty. Amnesty with additional flows of labor, to set up the dynamic for millions to be here the NEXT amnesty.
Finally "enforce the border". The Border Conservatives wanted a FENCE, a solid barrier, a WALL, like Israel has.
That's low tech, and not very expensive, and very effective. Bush didn't give it to them. He talked of a "virtual fence". Which means "Not a fence". Limbaugh got it right when he said that nobody would accept a virtual fence around the White House. Motion detectors and cameras? Sure. We'll see people crossing the border...along with desert foxes, coyotes and tumbleweeds. They'll still be crossing it, because there won't be a barrier there.
If I were a Border Conservative, I would be livid at what the President did last night. He firmly, resolutely, and diplomatically gave them nothing they wanted.
You are the voice of reason on this thread.
There won't be a "next" amnesty.
Another case of doublespeak in Bush's speech was "no amnesty". He says he opposes amnesty. But what is a guest worker program without enforcement, and with a "back of the line" rule (that's not really the back of the line)? Amnesty. Amnesty with additional flows of labor, to set up the dynamic for millions to be here the NEXT amnesty.
When the ink is dry on this one, what we will have is an ongoing amnesty.