Posted on 05/13/2002 1:41:59 PM PDT by KantianBurke
Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., renewed his fight with President Bush over immigration laws Monday, mixing his pointed criticisms of the president's policies with lavish praise for Bush's leadership. It wasn't enough, however, to win over the president's aides. Tancredo said he got a second call in four days from the White House, this one complaining about the tone of a letter he sent the president offering "some political advice."
"I want to be polite. I really like the president. I really like him a lot," the Colorado lawmaker said shortly after he was berated by Ken Mehlman, White House director of political affairs.
The president's senior political adviser, Karl Rove, upbraided the two-term conservative Friday over statements he made attacking Bush in a Washington Times interview.
"The president is not on our side," Tancredo told the paper, complaining that Bush supports an "open door" border policy that could lead to another terrorist attack. "Then the blood of the people killed will be on this administration and this Congress."
Tancredo didn't dispute any of the quotations. He was just surprised, he said, that the White House took so much offense at them.
Tancredo, who heads the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, long has been an outspoken critic of Bush's immigration policies. Earlier this year, he came within one vote of blocking House passage of a Bush-supported bill to allow individuals who are in the country illegally to become legal residents.
None of Tancredo's previous comments stirred the White House to action as much as his interview with the Times, a conservative newspaper with a strong following among the president's senior advisers. In a luncheon meeting with the paper's editors and reporters Thursday, Tancredo argued that the president's policies are a threat to national security.
Hoping he could open discussions between the president and members of his caucus over the issues, Tancredo on Monday sent the president a letter restating his "strong opposition" to open borders. It didn't mention the flap over his Times comments.
"I, like most Americans, am immensely thankful that our nation has the great fortune of having you at the helm of the ship of state to guide us through this difficult time in history," Tancredo wrote. "Your courage and determination have been inspirational, and I will do all I can to support your efforts to destroy every vestige of those organizations that pose a threat to our way of life."
That was neither a retreat nor an apology, Tancredo said. "What I hoped was we could have some sort of dialogue on this."
At the very least, Tancredo said, he hoped it would prompt Bush to issue a statement backing the reorganization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In the letter, Tancredo also noted that Rove had not met with him or the caucus over the issue despite repeated invitations.
Tancredo said he has never been involved in so public a dispute with someone he admires.
"This is not pleasant for me. If the issue didn't demand it, I wouldn't do it. This one happens to be enormously important."
I don't think they have enough cash bonus money.
The only conclusion I can come to is that he just doesn't care, his agenda with Mexico is more important to him than preserving America. He and the other elites can always live behind their gates and ignore the mess, we have to witness our towns and our country disintegrating.
As to what's in Bush's heart on Illegals, who knows...
But surely you're aware that Americans have always opposed Illegal Immigration, in large numbers?
Even Bush is aware, that's why he so carefully dances around the Amnesty issue, using such doublespeak as "making their work legal," "normalization," "regularization," "family reunification," anbd the like.
Bush knows Americans despise the concept of Amnesty, and that we want the Illegals out.
And making a comment like that does not help.
And let me be the first to congratulate you on being able to type so clearly with President Bush's/Moderate RINO Republican mule in your mouth.
When you put down the Rah-Rah pom-poms and learn how to catch a clue as they wiz by your ears, then you can try to formulate a cogent opinion again.
In the meantime, Tancredo's take is 100% valid. W's "open border" policy with Fox in Mexico will be the death of this country if not stopped!
Given your statement, you must be one of the head knuckles?
So you got your way. What exactly is better now. Were the alien workers sent back? Or are they still here? If they're still here, what was all the fuss over?
You understand that the "zero effect" wasn't what Bush wanted, don't you?
So if his proposal would've passed, how would things be worse now in your eyes. It seems to me that the proposals defeat has had 0 effect on the alien worker problem. I mean, you got your way, so things must be going the way you want, eh?
BTW, your first comment "So if Bush hadn't proposed that alien workers be legalized, they would all be in their former country by now?" sort of deliberately and disingenuously misses the point...
My point is that there was a lot of fuss over what amounts to paperwork. I see no big numbers of alien workers going home, nor are they going to go home. No government is going to create an exodus situation. The Hebrews had manna from heaven, and a fire by night, a cloud by day. Are we going to take a chance that millions of aliens forced back over the border at gunpoint are going to get those gifts? :^) What's your answer? Lincoln tried it with the freed slaves, they couldn't adjust. A large number of people used to life in one country can't suddenly pick up in another country. What exactly were you complaing so hard about?
The purpose of stopping Bush's Section 245(i) mini-Amnesty wasn't that the Illegals would then leave, it was to uphold the law, our sovereignty, and to prevent more foreigners from being encouraged to become the next wave of Illegals.
So it was just paperwork. It meant that much to you. Illegals have never been encouraged to come and they keep coming so your argument doesn't have basis in reality.
Stopping Bush on this was a small battle in the war against Illegals.
A battle won by the libs. It will help libs get elected, and there will be more open borders.
So you got your way. What exactly is better now. Were the alien workers sent back? Or are they still here? If they're still here, what was all the fuss over?
You understand that the "zero effect" wasn't what Bush wanted, don't you?
So if his proposal would've passed, how would things be worse now in your eyes. It seems to me that the proposals defeat has had 0 effect on the alien worker problem. I mean, you got your way, so things must be going the way you want, eh?
BTW, your first comment "So if Bush hadn't proposed that alien workers be legalized, they would all be in their former country by now?" sort of deliberately and disingenuously misses the point...
My point is that there was a lot of fuss over what amounts to paperwork. I see no big numbers of alien workers going home, nor are they going to go home. No government is going to create an exodus situation. The Hebrews had manna from heaven, and a fire by night, a cloud by day. Are we going to take a chance that millions of aliens forced back over the border at gunpoint are going to get those gifts? :^) What's your answer? Lincoln tried it with the freed slaves, they couldn't adjust. A large number of people used to life in one country can't suddenly pick up in another country. What exactly were you complaing so hard about?
The purpose of stopping Bush's Section 245(i) mini-Amnesty wasn't that the Illegals would then leave, it was to uphold the law, our sovereignty, and to prevent more foreigners from being encouraged to become the next wave of Illegals.
So it was just paperwork. It meant that much to you. Illegals have never been encouraged to come and they keep coming so your argument doesn't have basis in reality.
Stopping Bush on this was a small battle in the war against Illegals.
A battle won by the libs. It will help libs get elected, and there will be more open borders.
Well, let me see. If the President of a prosperous nation spent more time with The President of my third world country than he did his wife
If the same President of the prosperous country invited my President to speak to the congress so he could demand benefits for his illegal citizens already here in said prosperous county.
IF said prosperous country did not enforce laws regarding crossing the borders or paying taxes
If I knew said prosperous country would educate my children for free
If I knew said prosperous country would give me and mine food stamps, etc.
If I knew said prosperous country would give me and mine free medical care
If I knew said prosperous country would not enforce its laws pertaining to auto inspection, driver's license, insurance, banking etc. that they impose on their own citizens.
If all these and others things were known to be - I would certainly feel encouraged to 'immigrate' to that country - wouldn't you!
Denver Post Headline: Bush team strikes back against Tancredo
Texbob's judgement: "Bush team strikes back against Tancredo, but the Bush team never strikes back at Beady eyed Daschle, goes to show you Bush is a liberal and is openly anti conservative."
How can it be more open than it is?
Ask the Indians of the 14, 15, 1600s.
Not much, because Bush's inclination is still to pander to Latinos on the basis of coddling Illegal Immigration. But at least it's not worse.
OTH, It's better because Bush and the other pandering pols know that Americans are in no mood for their malfeasance on Illegals. Once in a while, they need to be reminded that they work for us, and serve at our pleasure.
So if his proposal would've passed, how would things be worse now in your eyes. It seems to me that the proposals defeat has had 0 effect on the alien worker problem. I mean, you got your way, so things must be going the way you want, eh?
I've explained it to you already... Amnesties encourage more Illegals.
Bush apparently wants to be part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. Therefore, thwarting his attempted surrenders is now a necessary part of the solution.
My point is that there was a lot of fuss over what amounts to paperwork. I see no big numbers of alien workers going home, nor are they going to go home. No government is going to create an exodus situation.
Certainly not one that you'd settle for. My point is that we can't continue to allow vast regions of our country to be overrun by Illegals.
Tell you what, though... Start a campaign to have your state of Illinois boost it's population by 1.5 million Illegals, so that your numbers are proportional to California's, and then I'll at least concede your intellectual consistency.
The Hebrews had manna from heaven, and a fire by night, a cloud by day. Are we going to take a chance that millions of aliens forced back over the border at gunpoint are going to get those gifts?
What happens to them across the border is Mexico's problem, not mine.But we don't need to force millions at gunpoint... With Total Asset Forfeiture, a few hundred thousand will do.
As for the rest...
They Will
Deport Themsleves
Click the link!
:^) What's your answer? Lincoln tried it with the freed slaves, they couldn't adjust.
Lincoln and the slaves? I fail to see your analogy.
Eisenhower booted 1.3 million Illegals during "Operation Wet-back" in the 50s... Was there a sudden upsurge in the need for therapy for maldjusted Mexicans?
A large number of people used to life in one country can't suddenly pick up in another country.
Didn't that same "large number of people" leave their countries and come here rather suddenly?
Think before you post.
What exactly were you complaing so hard about?
I'm disenchanted by the fact that my state is overrun with Illegals, while obtuse Americans living North of the Mason-Dixon and East of the Mississippi have their heads in a place that ostriches wouldn't venture, and they feel mighty smug about it.
There is bipartisan malfeasance on this issue, and you're comfortable with it because the crisis hasn't reached your state.
Illegals have never been encouraged to come and they keep coming so your argument doesn't have basis in reality.
Oh wow... Truly an Amnesty Deniers' HoF post!
#3Fan, Illegals are encouraged to come by the fact that we don't keep them out, we let them stay, and often pay them to do so.
I realize Illinois is relatively far-removed from the problem, but that's no excuse for spouting patent nonsense.
A battle won by the libs. It will help libs get elected, and there will be more open borders.
If so, that only illustrates the point that on this matter, Bush might as well be a lib, because he's done squat to protect our borders from Illegals.
You're OK with that, I'm not.
And the "Would you rather have Hillary?" retort is getting rather tired. I know the Democrats are corrupt on Illegals, I'm fighting against the GOP going down that road as well.
Are you prepared to give elections to the libs by pandering to Latinos on Illegal Immigration? Quit acting as if Bush and the rest ot our party have no choice... They do. The have it in their power to do the right thing.
But if Bush chooses surrender and pandering, my vote will be lost.
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