Bush Shuns Republicans' Stand to Return Illegals(W still doesn't get it!)

The Washington Times ^ | June 2, 2006 | Stephen Dinan

[kellynla]

President Bush yesterday rejected House Republicans' stance that illegal aliens must return home, calling it "wrong and unrealistic" and saying many will have to be allowed to stay.

Speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a block from the White House, Mr. Bush also directly challenged businesses to hire only legal workers, and said those that don't should be prepared to face increased fines. In addition, he said both the House and Senate will have to compromise, but said voters expect a bill and he said that bill should tackle both enforcement and a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.

"The difficulty of this task is no excuse for avoiding it," he said.

Mr. Bush was making his first in-depth comments since the Senate passed its broad immigration bill last week, setting up a showdown over immigration policy with the House, which passed an enforcement bill in December.

Last Friday, and again on Sunday, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he cannot accept any approach that allows illegal aliens to stay in the country with the government's approval.

"The words 'path to citizenship' is a buzzword for amnesty. We ought to be honest -- it is amnesty," Mr. Sensenbrenner, a key House negotiator, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program. He contends that more enforcement against employers would make it hard for illegal aliens to get jobs, encouraging them to go home. But Mr. Bush dismissed that argument.

"Listen, I appreciate the members are acting on deeply felt principles. I understand that. Yet I also believe that the approach they suggest is wrong and unrealistic," he said.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I like W too... but he's 'gonna eat this idiocy.

I'm having a hard time recognizing the George Bush in this term. He abandoned Social Security reform, he abandoned the comprehensive energy bill he proposed in his first term and replaced it with an idiotic "we're addicted to oil" philosophy. And, he has turned his own party into his enemy over "immigration".

I miss the George W. Bush I voted for, worked for, and contributed to---twice.

[curiosity]

There is no popular demand for this. Totally the opposite. Yet he goes off, raving madly that we must do this NOW! or else the sky will fall, instead of spearheading initiatives the people who elected him really want.

I think he actually believes in what he's doing. I can't fathom how or why, but that's the best explanation for his behavior.

[LachlanMinnesota]

But he did not meet with Generalissimo Vinny Fox until 2005, and the CFR did not publish its policy directive for opening the borders until 2005. Had this happened in his first term, the election results would have been completely different, IMHO.

Many issues are mentioned, but if they are not meant to be a driving force to put in a new policy, they are not the reason people will vote. I think not emphasizing a policy of such huge impact during an election, even if the statements were not false, is a form of dishonesty. TO imply that you feel that way but that you do not think it important enough to act is not a fair to the voters.

All I remember is that he said on at least one occasion that the borders should be protected (in connection with the WOT).

[curiosity]

I miss the George W. Bush I voted for, worked for, and contributed to---twice.

Join the club. Let's resolve not to get fooled by yet another member of the perfidious Bush clan.

[TomGuy]

I would think even you agree with that.

Then you think wrongly. No, I don't agree.

And your attempted defense is just another form of nuancing and parsing.

[curiosity]

Bush made his position pretty clear in 2000, but you're right, he really downplayed it and focused on other things.

Unfortunately, none of his primary opponents were willing to exploit the issue. It's too bad, because I think at least 2 of the other candudates could have bumped him off had they run with it.

[TomGuy]

"I am against vigilantes in the united States of America," Bush said at a joint press conference.

Thank you, BW2221, for that article.

[curiosity]

Question: How will the US determine how long the aliens have resided in the US. How and who will deport these individuals?

Excellent question. The document fraud industry is about to boom.

[stands2reason]

See post 67 for an interesting theory.

[Right_in_Virginia]

This nation has endured far higher waves of immigration.

This is not about "immigration". This is about assimilation.

My ancestors came here from other shores, but did so legally, and they came here to become Americans.

They learned the language, they educated themselves and their children in American history and gave it value, and they did not take to the streets carrying the flag of their birth demanding rights they did not earn.

This "wave" is unlike any other in American history.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Count on it.

[kellynla]

well as I have repeatedly told you WITH LINKS, it is costing the Border States of CA,NM,AZ,TX ALONE a NET 15 BILLION A YEAR to allow illegals to stay here.

TWO WALLS, ONE ON EACH BORDER can be built for that!

[Soul Seeker]

President Bush yesterday rejected House Republicans' stance that illegal aliens must return home, calling it "wrong and unrealistic" and saying many will have to be allowed to stay.

Says who? You? Are you stating, Mr. President, you will continue to NOT enforce the law re: illegal aliens unless they are allowed to stay? And if we grant your demand, aren't we in effect granting you the right to continue ignoring our laws re: illegal aliens at your will?

Forget it.

I certainly can't VETO legislation, but I can VETO politicians that still have to run for office. I cannot make you enforce the laws, but I can make damn sure who succeeds you will do just that OR not lift a finger to work for that Republican and let it fall to the opposing party.

BTW, where are all the folks that state the President doesn't endorse the Senate's plan? That he endorses the House plan? Why is it he's only attacking the House?

There is a certain issue of credibility. Anyone still defending the administration's integrity on this issue has a problem with theirs.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Why has he (GWB) divided -- radically -- his own party?

This is a question for the ages.

[RodgerD]

I do not agree with the wall builders and anti-amnesty crowd.

I want the USA to remain a country. You want it to merge with Mexico.

[Soul Seeker]

As well as against American soveriegnty, U.S. Law, conservatism, Jeff Sessions, J.D. Hayworth, Heritage and so forth....

Yes, quite an achievement to be against all of the above and side with Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Vicente Fox, people who break our laws and chant down with Gringos while they set about to retake "their" land.

I wouldn't be able to sleep at night, but that's just me.

[curiosity]

This is not about "immigration". This is about assimilation.

It's about both. Excessive immigration levels inhibit assimilation.

A lot of people have romantic delusions about the 19th century wave (not necessarily you, BTW), but it took a long time and a lot of pain pain to assimilate all the Italian, Irish, German, Polish and other immigrants from that wave.

At the turn of the 20th century, cities like New York and Chicago were a mess. They all had massive ethnic ghettos where you could only hear German or Italian or Polish or Yiddish, and they were affilicted with violent ethnic gangs and immigrant-driven machine politics. It took the 1924 shut-down in immigration, plus the experience of two world-wars to effect the assimilation of the 1890-1914 wave.

Even without a massive welfare state like we have today, assimilation proved impossible without having a "time out" to immigration from 1924-1965. IMHO, we need another time out today.

[LachlanMinnesota]

I like the provision that says it is a felony to use false information in connection with an adjustment of status, but if you use wrong information, that is a defense! To prove a crime the state must prove it was done with intent:

`(f) Penalties for False Statements in Applications-
`(1) CRIMINAL PENALTY-
`(A) VIOLATION- It shall be unlawful for any person to--
`(i) file or assist in filing an application for adjustment of status under this section and knowingly and willfully falsify, conceal, or cover up a material fact or make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations, or make or use any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; or
`(ii) create or supply a false writing or document for use in making such an application.
`(B) PENALTY- Any person who violates subparagraph (A) shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
`(2) INADMISSIBILITY- An alien who is convicted of a crime under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be inadmissible to the United States.
`(3) EXCEPTION- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), any alien or other entity (including an employer or union) that submits an employment record that contains incorrect data that the alien used in order to obtain such employment, shall not have violated this subsection.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Even without a massive welfare state like we have today, assimilation proved impossible without having a "time out" to immigration from 1924-1965. IMHO, we need another time out today.

Excellent point.