Posted on 05/22/2006 4:45:56 PM PDT by Reagan Man
If President George W. Bush had given his May 15 speech calling for immigration reform five years earlier, we would have believed him. Now, after five years of doing nothing to protect our borders, he is not credible.
The problems he eloquently expressed didn't just emerge this year. They existed when he took office and throughout the last five years when he did nothing to correct them.
These problems include:
* The pitiful number Border Patrol agents.
* The millions of illegal immigrants smuggled into the United States across the desert or in crowded 18-wheelers.
* The dangerous policy called catch-and-release, which Bush piously labels "not acceptable."
* The employers permitted to hire illegal immigrants with forged documents.
* The unconscionable cost of illegal immigrant in schools, hospitals and social agencies borne by taxpayers.
* The crime associated with illegal immigration and an uncontrolled border.
For five years, Bush and the Republican Party establishment have treated U.S. citizens who demanded action with stony, indeed, arrogant disdain. So why should we believe the president now when he suddenly pretends to discover what we have been telling him for five years?
The president's speech repeatedly demanded a "comprehensive" immigration bill. He made clear that "comprehensive" includes legalization and the path to citizenship for the 12 million immigrants residing illegally in the United States, plus allowing employers to import an unlimited number of "willing foreign workers" whom he describes as "temporary." The American people are smart enough to know that the former is amnesty, and the latter is a fiction. There is no such thing as "temporary" guest workers; history proves they never go home. Bush seems to think that we will be comforted by 6,000 National Guardsmen sent to the U.S.-Mexico border for one year -- not to guard the border, but merely to "assist" our Border Patrol. This has the ring of a political photo op.
We currently have 37,000 troops guarding the 151-mile border between North Korea and South Korea, but we have fewer than 12,000 agents to monitor 2,000 miles of the U.S./Mexico border.
In 1986, Congress passed comprehensive immigration reform: amnesty for 3 million, promises for border security and sanctions on employers who hired illegal immigrants. If we couldn't trust President Ronald Reagan to see that the law was faithfully executed, we surely are not going to trust Bush's promises. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
In his speech, Bush bragged, "We have apprehended and sent home about 6 million people entering America illegally." However, he didn't say how many of those 6 million were repeats. Maybe a truthful figure would be 1 million people deported six times. After all, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States increased by 5 million since Bush became president.
In November 2005, authorities accused an illegal immigrant identified as Jorge Hernandez of driving at more than 100 mph on the wrong side of Interstate 485 and causing an accident that killed University of North Carolina freshman Min Soon Chang. Hernandez had been returned to Mexico 17 times, authorities say. Did Bush count him 17 times in his 6 million figure?
Bush's choice of verbs shows that his promises of border barriers, technology and more agents are nothing but pie in the sky. All the good stuff that he proposed was prefaced by the words "we will"; he never said "we are" doing these things.
Bush said, "To secure the border effectively we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across." That's impossible. The Pew Hispanic Center reports that 46 percent of the population of Mexico would like to live in the United States, and 20 percent would come illegally if they could.
Bush said, "Businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees." On the contrary, the technology is already in place for employers to verify the legality of Social Security numbers, but only a tiny percentage of employers voluntarily do this, and Bush didn't say anything about making this practice mandatory.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the only U.S. senator in touch with reality on this issue, says the 614-page so-called "compromise" Senate bill is "breathtakingly unsatisfactory." The new Heritage Foundation study reports that it would import 103 million legal immigrants over the next 20 years, which would be one-third of our current population.
All Senate bills would vastly increase our tax burden for entitlements. Half of all adult illegal aliens in the United States have less than a high school education, have high levels of out-of-wedlock births, and are heavy users of taxpayer-paid social benefits.
Bush wants to give U.S. jobs to foreigners so they can rise "from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own." He shows no compassion for the millions of American high school dropouts who need entry-level jobs so they can start building a life.
Bush was correct when he said this is the "time of decision." Republicans who want to be elected this November should pass the Sensenbrenner House border-security-only bill without any Bush plans to import more foreigners to take jobs from Americans.
President Bush is as blind about Criminals who overstay their visas and those that just Invade as ex (thank God)President Carter is about Islam and other thug controlled countries.
Very well done to her. Too bad there are still too many that live with their heads, well you know where, and they cannot see or hear the truth about what is going on even though their President laid it out very clearly in his speech, plus his following appearances. It should now be a no-brainer for even the most naive and ignorant in our society.
She sure does, and within minutes you'll see people who don't.
Minutes? Never takes that long, D1. ;^)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/May%20Dailies/Immigration%20May%2016b.htm
55% Say Immigration "Very Important" Voting Issue Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
May 16, 2006
Immigration in Terms of Voting
Very Important 55% Somewhat Important 29% Not Very Important 12% Not at All Important 3% RasmussenReports.com
May 17, 2006--Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans say that the immigration issue is "very important" in terms of how they will vote this November. Another 29% say it is somewhat important.
The Rasmussen Reports national opinion survey taken the night after the President's nationally televised address also highlighted a common misconception about the immigration debate.
Media commentaries often suggest that support for an enforcement first policy is an option supported primarily by conservatives. In fact, 67% of political moderates support such an approach. That's virtually indistinguishable from the 66% of conservatives who support for enforcement-first approach. Fifty-two percent (52%) of self-identified liberals also hold this view. p> Most voters who hold an enforcement-first perspective also favor a national policy that welcomes all immigrants (except national security threats, criminals, and welfare seekers).
Those results are consistent with earlier research that show most Americans recognize our nation as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.
Fifty-three percent (53%) believe that strict enforcement of immigration laws and control of the border would help the economy. Just 21% believe strict enforcement would hurt the economy while 14% say it would have no impact.
Data released separately shows that just 39% of Americans agree with President Bush's approach on the immigration issue. An equal number disagree.
Other data from the survey shows that Democrats now enjoy a 15-point advantage on the Generic Congressional Ballot. That's up from a 10-point lead two weeks ago.
These results are generally similar to earlier surveys on the immigration issue. A separate survey conducted the night of President Bush's speech found that just 27% of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction.
A look at all of our research on this topic makes it clear that neither political party has yet developed policy or rhetoric that reflect an understanding of the nuances of the immigration debate. We have recently released immigration related polling data on May 3, April 26, April 11, April 7, and April 1.
Earlier surveys on immigration have found support for building a barrier along the Mexican border and positive attitudes towards citizen patrols along the border. Another survey found that most Americans consider current immigration laws a threat to both national security and the economy. Three-fourths of all Americans believe it is too easy for people from other countries to enter the United States.
Attitudes towards immigration do not fall neatly along typical partisan, demographic, or ideological lines. For this reason, among others, the immigration issue ultimately has the potential to shake up the current partisan alignment in the nation.
However, the impact of the issue varies widely by region. In several southwestern states, the issue is considered more important than the situation in Iraq by roughly half of all voters.
If Phyllis would watch the Senate right now, she would know that had he asked for it sooner, he would have been laughed out of Capitol Hill...
The Senate is getting ready to pass a bill giving MORE benefits to illegals...and I KNOW that is not what President Bush wants..
"Phyllis Schlafly knows how to speak conservative truth."
Absolutely. Schlafly was literally the first person I ever saw make a case against illegal immigration.
I was born and raised a Liberal and gradually migrated to conservativism over the course of lifetime. In 2004, I reached the point of working very hard to re-elect George Bush. in February 2005, I attended CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Committee in DC.
Schlafly was there, speaking and leading a panel discussion on illegal immigration. It is hard to believe, but even at this relatively late date, the Conservatives in the audience (everybody in the audience was a conservative) were split about this issue. I myself had never even been exposed to the issue before, and Schlafly's statements seemed outlandish to me. But even in the course of that panel discussion, my attitudes started to change.
I'm sure my experiences have been different from most freepers in this regard. But I do think the they can still be instructive in a way. For most Americans, the illegal immigration issue is really a pretty new one. I believe that, over time, this will be a very big win for conservatives.
I believe a very large number of Democrats---particularly the less affluent ones who are nonetheless working---will join us on this issue. The fact is, there are more low-wage Democrats than Republicans, and the illegal immigration issue directly impacts Democrats as a group more strongly than Republicans.
This is an issue that has so many angles, nearly every one of them supporting our side, that we can't help but win over time.
That is the key factor---time. That is why our goal at this time must be---NO LEGISLATION---none at all. This whole legislative process is turning into a disaster. Yes, the situation seemed bad before, but really, we can live with it a little while longer. We need to completely defeat any legislation coming out of this session---because it is bound to be horrible.
What we need to do, is continue to kick butt over time on Republican legislatures who betray us on this issue, and just stay the course. While many rank-and-file Democrats may be embarrassed to show they support us openly---I believe we will have their support in the voting booth as well.
Good post. Thanks.
Exactly, that's why Bush has done so much to protect the borders since 9/11 ... virtually nothing.
{quote}These problems include:
* The pitiful number Border Patrol agents.
* The millions of illegal immigrants smuggled into the United States across the desert or in crowded 18-wheelers.
* The dangerous policy called catch-and-release, which Bush piously labels "not acceptable."
* The employers permitted to hire illegal immigrants with forged documents.
* The unconscionable cost of illegal immigrant in schools, hospitals and social agencies borne by taxpayers.
* The crime associated with illegal immigration and an uncontrolled border. {unquote}
God save the GOP from such actions as these!
Thanks for all the good information.
"Attitudes towards immigration do not fall neatly along typical partisan, demographic, or ideological lines. For this reason, among others, the immigration issue ultimately has the potential to shake up the current partisan alignment in the nation."
I was listening to a Liberal talk radio host today (I'm pretty sure he was Liberal, not sure who he was) who is strongly anti- illegal immigration. A union boss called him up and said he and his union had the same stand. The two of them were talking about the issue as if the only "pro illegal immigrant" force was Big Business (leaving out the role of the Left.) Quite interesting (see my post #11)
Mrs. Schlafly is a true conservative patriot. Unlike many of the traiterous RINOs inhabiting the Senate.
I believe nothing the man says about improving the immigration situation.
Yep. BTTT
That she is.
"Good post. Thanks."
You're quite welcome.
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