Posted on 05/29/2007 10:15:03 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
GLYNCO, Ga. (AP) - President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,” Bush said against a backdrop of a huge American flag.
He described his proposal—which has been agreed to by a bipartisan group of senators—as one that “makes it more likely we can enforce our border—and at the same time uphold the great immigrant tradition of the United States of America.”
Bush spoke at the nation’s largest training center for law enforcement.
He chose the get-tough setting as conservative critics blast a Senate proposal as being soft on people who break the law. Hoping to blunt that message, Bush emphasized that any new options for immigrants and foreign workers would not start until tougher security is in place.
The presidential stop came during a congressional recess, with senators back home and facing pressure from the left and right on the immigration plan. Bush’s aim is to build momentum for the legislation, perhaps his best chance for a signature victory in his second term. The Senate expects to resume debate on it next week.
“A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform, primarily because they don’t think the government can fix the problems,” Bush said.
“And my answer to the skeptics is: give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don’t try to kill this bill before it gets moving,” Bush told students and instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Bush repeatedly cast the matter as one of political courage.
“Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don’t like,” the president said. “If you want to kill the bill, if you don’t want to do what’s right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it.
“You can use it to frighten people,” Bush said. “Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all.”
The bill would give temporary legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, provided they came forward, paid a fine and underwent criminal background checks. To apply for a green card, they would have to pay another fine, learn English, return to their home country and wait in line.
The plan also would create a guest worker program. It would allow foreign laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints, yet with no guarantee they can eventually gain citizenship.
Both the new visa plan and the temporary worker program are contingent on other steps coming first. Those include fencing and barriers along the Mexico border, the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and the completion of an identification system to verify employees’ legal status.
The legislation would also reshape future immigration decisions. A new point system would prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate.
Georgia’s senators both played leading roles in producing Bush’s deal with the Senate. Yet they have also said they may not support the final bill, depending upon how it is amended.
Bush chastised those who say the proposal offers amnesty to illegal immigrants. He called it empty political rhetoric.
The federal government has gone from “troublesome servant” straight to “fearsome master”.
I wonder if the Founders, knowing how it would all end, would have bothered.
Tony Snow was for ‘comprehensive’ immigration reform even back when he had his radio show.
This is not surprising at all.
Wait. I’m confused. I thought they “solved this problem once and for all” in 1986.
Fool me once...
Again, the ghost of 1986 rears it’s ugly head.
Of course, it's become obvious that he's not making any decisions himself. He's a bought man.
Exactly. The left wing nutjobs say Bush just wanted revenge on Saddam for his daddy.
It’s obvious he really wanted revenge on conservatives for 1992.
GW’s goal is the destruction of the GOP to put them back into the Rockefeller Republican Minority where they can be controlled by his fellow elitist.
I’ll bet that after he leaves office GW will be the fastest ex-President to get seriously wealthy. The Saudi money alone will dwarf BillGates/WalMart territory.
He’s worse than incompetent which proves he’s perfect for the federal bureauucracy. Rove will make a fortune selling tickets into the system to Yale and Harvard grads as a “lobbyists”.
Game, set, match. Real conservatives go back into the silent majority and will again just take it up the you-know-what.
Great profile. You have had fun at those rallies! And you look like you could single-handidly kick the crap out of the rest of us on the planet!
Glad you’re on our side! lol
A few different reasons, the most basic is that he grew up with a probable illegal as a house servant and he sees them as great ones to have around. Other reasons others listed, lower paid workers and a way to prop up a foundering social security after at least 20 million aborted income tax payers who would be working by now. One other reason is that he somehow thinks these peoples’ votes would break for his side.
The only problem is, he thinks he’s on our side.
Bush has changed my whole attitude on life in general regarding this illegal thing. The area I live in is heavy with illegals. I see them at the grocery store with their WIC couponsand food stamps, I see them in the hospitals with no insurance. They are everywhere.
Yesterday my daughter who is due to deliver her baby this coming weekend asked me to go to the Urgent Care with her. One of our local hospitals has an urgent care and an ER. Both waiting rooms there was about 75% full of Spanish speaking people. You can always tell because the clerks either speak Spanish to them or call over an interpreter.
After looking around I told my daughter this.....give them your real name, reverse your ss# and phone number and give them my address. If they can pay for the illegals they can pay for an American citizen. She did what I said as she currently has no insurance and is on disability while awaiting delivery.
Thanks George Bush!
-—makes it more likely we can enforce our border—-—
Like buying lottery tickets, the more you buy the greater the chances of winning. The more illegals we allow to loiter on our streets, the better the chances the government will enforce the law?
He is out of his mind!
Sounds like someone needs to dust off that plan and give it a whirl...
But...But...We have to find a way to treat people humanely...(Barf /sarcasm)
This is a lie. It has already been exposed that Johnny Isakson's "triggers" are a sham.
How about treating me with "decency and respect", Mr. President. My parents let Kennedy screw with our immigration laws that brought millions of cesspool people in. Then, it was Charter and his 65 thousand Cubans, many from jails and insane asylums. I, gave Reagan "a chance to fix this problem" with his "one time amnesty", now you and your pro-illegal friends want to turn him into a liar. If we legalize those here now, twenty years from now my grand children will be asked to legalize fifty million, that will in truth be 100 million. No, Mr. Bush. The K-Y has ran out and I'm tired of not being kissed. Round'em up, send'em home.
-—President Bush attacked opponents of an immigration deal Tuesday, suggesting they “don’t want to do what’s right for America.”-—
I am at a new peak of anger over this whole affair. The question for me is becoming, “Do I ever want to vote for a Republican again?”
-—Of course, it’s become obvious that he’s not making any decisions himself. He’s a bought man.-—
Bought and well paid for, the whole lot of them! There’s no way they’d have the nuts for this thing otherwise. The country club set get’s the Republican Party back and the Dims will simply be bought off.
“GIVE US A CHANCE”?????????
I thought that was what the 1986 bill was about?
[“don’t want to do what’s right for America.”
“The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place,”]
Jorge Bush, you elitist snob, how dare you insult the normal people who have to deal with the immigration crap day after day.
I’ll never forget his “new world order”!
I think I may choke saying it but he’s beginning to make Bill Clinton look palatable.
me: Like I said earlier, I believe President Bush to be a good man.
Theodore: One of the most deceitful views in U.S. history.
me: No intention to deceive. Only my opinion - President Bush is a good man. He is what he is. He ran as a big government open borders kind of guy, and that is the way he's governed. I didn't vote for him during the 2000 primary (at first I was going to vote for Keyes, but he dropped out -- so I ended up voting for pitchfork Pat), but I gladly voted for President Bush in the Presidential election and I thank God that he won over the other fellow.
Theodore: Doesn't he have a temper that he uses only for his misguided supporters?
me: I wouldn't know.
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