Bush immigration speech: Key quotes

bbc ^ | 5/16/06 | bbc

[wotan]

The following are key excerpts from President George W Bush's televised speech on immigration:

"We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border, and millions have stayed... Yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life, but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law."

[Rokke]

"but DOES NOT require a defense."

I guess in your mind we don't have a defense unless we are lobbing artillery rounds into our own backyard. The BEST defense is a good offense, and that is why we are winning the war on terror. We took the fight to the enemy. And we are defeating him on his turf. Sleep well tonight. Brave Americans are fighting far away from you to ensure your safety.

[SealSeven]

Imo, we were hit prior to 911.. we will be hit again. I would dare say that we have many terrorists in this country now of which are waiting for the ok to unleash whatever they have.
Our southern border is porous to say the least. After 911, the path with the least resistance for terrorists is our southern border. There could be terrorists in many cities at this time waiting to unload their arsenal, whatever it may be.
Which means it could be much worse than 911.
Call me crazy but, If I had said prior to 911 that there was a real chance of terrorists hijacking planes, crashing into the WTC, Pentagon and WH, I would have been laughed at.
The chance is huge, especially in light of our weak border security (and here we are 4.5 years after 911 yet it is still, if not more-so, the path with least resistance).
What Bush wants to do on the border equates to putting a band aid on a shotgun wound, its just not enough, IMO.
I am American (Hispanic born((Not of Mexican descent)), American by the grace of God)
who loathes illegal immigration and the rewarding thereof.
JMO

[Darkwolf377]

I see. It's the James Bond tactics that have kept us safe while ignoring the most obvious security measure...

Another poster who can't argue with what's been actually said so simply invents something to argue against.

Simply cut and paste where I said anything about James Bond tactics, or anything approaching that. You can't, because I didn't.

There is no need for a WOT if there is no need to control the borders, so what are we spending all the money on?

That's right, we have nothing on the borders, haven't spent a dime on them, and as a result we have all these horrible suicide bombers and terrorists flowing over the border since that nasty Bush came into power, and there hasn't been a day we've been free of homeland attacks by those nasty terrorist infiltrators who've come swarming into our country over the Mexican border.

Hey, this is fun! Now I see why you simply make stuff up and pretend I posted it!

[Darkwolf377]

Shows what you know. You may not be terrified, but there is a small and very vocal cabal of disgruntled Buchanan supporters on this site that are nearly scared to death. They've become convinced America has been destroyed. They've surrendered to this insidious threat and decided they won't even leave their houses to vote this year. Not only have the terrorists struck, but they've actually defeated a core group of third party voters. In fact, you might even notice that some of them have started posting in Spanish. (Funny thing is, the only people who same able to read their Spanish are other members of their new surrender party.) So don't kid yourself. Those sneaky terrorists are succeeding alright. They're picking off the sick and the weak all around you.

I have to admit, you got me on this one. Elsewhere on this thread one of them seems to be suffering from some Al Qaeda hallucinogen that makes him see things like "James Bond tactics" or even anything vaguelly like that in my posts. Must be in the water.

I do find it hilarious that the only people on these immigration threads posting in Spanish are the ones who CLAIM they're the most conservative.

Fifth columnists, all of them. You've convinced me of your facts: To them I say "Stay home in November, just stop telling us about it like we're supposed to pander to you and beg for your vote." I suspect those posting such sentiments aren't even registered, anyway.

[Rokke]

The path of least resistance before 9/11 was our southern border. But there is no such thing as "sealing" a border. Especially not a 1700 mile long border. And even if you could, then you'd have to seal our northern border. Then you'd have to seal our coastlines, and the Alaskan borders and Hawaii. I'll repeat, you CANNOT seal our borders. The reason we haven't suffered a terrorist attack since 9/11 is a combination of hitting them first where they live, and monitoring their actions within our borders to limit their ability to operate. And our efforts have been 100% successful despite not sealing our borders.

[RodgerD]

The President and Senate's amnesty and open labor market schemes will drastically increase foreign influx into this country. The overwhelming majority of that influx will be from the third world.

As a result, the spread of third world societal norms (chaos, corruption, Islam, etc) here will accelerate.

[DustyMoment]

Bush's speech was nothing more than the same old, same old. 6,000 NG troops on the border is a bone he is tossing to his critics (us) in order to pave the way for his guest worker/amnesty plan. IMO, either of those are deal breakers.

I won't be bought off with 6,000 NG troops who (it was revealed this morning) will have absolutely NOTHING to do with stopping the illegal invasion.

As I suspected, it's all smoke and mirrors.

[Kimberly GG]

Exactly! I really admire Tancredo. I posted the following after the speech last night. Later I caught a re-run of an interview with Tancredo and was surprised to hear him point out, after listening to the speech, exactly what I did, the mother of all spin,.......

"Second, to secure our border, we MUST create a temporary worker program."

This is SOOO NOT TRUE and is the VERY CORE of the spin Bush is using to FORCE A CONNECTION of the two issues, making one dependent on the other. THIS is why border security and enforcement of immigration laws ALONE (without the 'guest worker program'/'earned amnesty) were not addressed.

HE IS NOT GOING TO SECURE THE BORDER WITHOUT A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM.

To say that border security REQUIRES a 'guest worker program' is ridiculous. The logic he is trying to convince us of says a 'temp worker prog' is necessary because the illegals will risk their lives to come here to work if we don't give them one? Then he goes on to say, "To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across. " and so a guest worker program is the answer. NO IT ISN"T. If the laws were ENFORCED and the employers were SEVERLY PENALIZED, there would be no one hiring illegals.

So.......WHAT this is about, for President Bush, is doing whatever it takes so he's NOT PENALIZING EMPLOYERS and NOT PENALIZING THE ILLEGALS. It's about AMNESTY for the EMPLOYER and AMNESTY for the ILLEGAL. And Bush's plan to achieve that......the moment that a guest worker program is installed, BOTH are off the hook !!

Border security is NOT dependent on the installation of a 'guest worker program'. In fact, SECURE THE BORDER and ENFORCE THE LAWS and there will be no need for a new guest worker program, the one we have will suffice.

[DCPatriot]

Our southern border is porous to say the least...

Obviously could be an understatment. But, what makes you think the northern border isn't?

Is it because Canada's economy is not as poor as Mexico? Because Canadians could just as easily navigate inside our borders as the Hispanic.

It's rhetotrical, btw.

[SealSeven]

Crossing into this country by sea is the path with most resistance. It is much easier to walk across a border than to paddle a boat (Not to mention your ability to hide is gone).
You are correct in that we cannot "seal" the border but, we could do much better than what is being done presently.
As of now, we have been 100% successful (nothing has happened)but, I can't attribute it to the great security on our borders.
Mexico is no friend to the US. Heck, their gov printed comic books telling its citizens how to illegally enter our country and get social services.
When the President says things like, "Mexico is our friend", I cringe... For obvious reasons.

[Darkwolf377]

Hey look, I've found the Kick Em Out In '06-ers plan for winning in '08!

http://pointfiveblog.com/index.php/2006/05/839

[DCPatriot]

so he's NOT PENALIZING EMPLOYERS and NOT PENALIZING THE ILLEGALS. It's about AMNESTY for the EMPLOYER and AMNESTY for the ILLEGAL. And Bush's plan to achieve that......the moment that a guest worker program is installed, BOTH are off the hook !!

Think of it as another form of a stimulating tax-cut.

[Rokke]

"It is much easier to walk across a border than to paddle a boat (Not to mention your ability to hide is gone)."

Have you seen our coastline lately? There is nothing easier in the world than dropping a rubber dinghy off a freighter and motoring into shore.

[papertyger]

What part of "ignoring the most obvious security measures" are you having trouble with?

All your rhetorical gesticulating doesn't fill that one glaring hole.

[Rokke]

Now that is funny. Even funnier is the fact that I had to look twice to verify it was a parody.

[SealSeven]

Obviously could be an understatment. But, what makes you think the northern border isn't? Is it because Canada's economy is not as poor as Mexico? Because Canadians could just as easily navigate inside our borders as the Hispanic.

I'm not saying we should not do something about the Canadian border (for the most part, Canadians aren't breaking our laws by entering illegally). Our southern border poses the greater risk because countries south of the border, for the most part, hate us (Hugo Chavez would love for this country to die. Vincent Fox openly advocates illegal immigration and, demands that we put up with it). Canada is the least of our problems. But, the Canadian border needs to be beefed up as well, its just not the biggest priority at this time.

[SealSeven]

Have you seen our coastline lately? There is nothing easier in the world than dropping a rubber dinghy off a freighter and motoring into shore.

That is possible.. Coyotes using freighters. Now there's an idea. But seriously, Its allot easier to spot a freighter (which I guess could carry hundreds of illegals) than many people spread out along the border hiding under brush. Just think, they sure as heck couldn't scatter and run in all directions now, could they? Gotta hit the hay.. Been a long night. You have a good day.

[Darkwolf377]

What part of "ignoring the most obvious security measures" are you having trouble with? All your rhetorical gesticulating doesn't fill that one glaring hole.

And your completely dodging my last post and trying to avoid your being caught BSing doesn't fill the glaring one where your explanation for just INVENTING things I supposedly said belongs. Fill it and you might get an answer, but you won't, so later.

[Darkwolf377]

I have a feeling some will post it as a serious strategery. :)

[papertyger]

Ah, the PeeWee Herman "I know you are but what am I" retort.

You sly dog, you.