Bush, Fox plan talks in Texas

Dallas Morning News ^ | 7/30/01 | ALFREDO CORCHADO

[Tancredo Fan]

Bush, Fox plan talks in Texas

Pair will refocus on immigration, economic agenda stalled by 9-11

07/30/2002

By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON ­ President Bush plans to meet with his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox, next month at Mr. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Mexican officials confirmed Monday.

The meeting, which would take place during Mr. Fox's Aug. 26-28 swing through Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, is one of several high-profile efforts planned by both administrations to restart a once-ambitious agenda highlighted by a proposed immigration pact that was derailed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

After the meeting in Crawford, first lady Laura Bush is planning to travel to Mexico City in September to attend a meeting of first ladies of the Americas hosted by Mexican first lady Marta Sahagun de Fox.

A White House official declined to comment on either event, saying, "At this point, nothing is official."

But Mexican officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed both events. One source said the meeting at the Crawford ranch "is likely to take place on Aug. 26."

National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack would say only, "The president very much values his friendship and working relationship with President Fox and also the progress they have made together in strengthening and deepening United States-Mexico relations, deepening an already strong bond between the two countries."

The meeting between the presidents would come about a week before the expected Senate confirmation hearing of Texas Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza, the White House nominee for U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Congressional sources said that Mr. Garza is expected to breeze through the hearing.

The ranch visit echoes the two men's first meeting as heads of state at Mr. Fox's Guanajuato's ranch in February 2000, when the two leaders embarked on an ambitious agenda of immigration reform, economic development and bilateral trade.

The United States, Mr. Bush once said, "Had no more important friend than Mexico," and he referred to the friendship between both countries as "a special relationship."

But much has changed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks raised new concerns about border security. Once a top priority within the administration, Mexico and its immigration agenda are "on hold for now," as one congressional source put it.

But Mexico is too important to ignore, given the potent Mexican-American electorate in the Southwest, analysts said. It's no coincidence, analysts said, that the meeting between the two presidents comes just as the gubernatorial race between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic challenger, Tony Sanchez, heats up before Labor Day weekend.

Before traveling to Crawford, Mr. Fox and Mr. Perry will meet in Austin, Mexican officials said.

"The visit is really an attempt to put the agenda back on track," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, director of the Mexico Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's an attempt to pick up where both presidents left off on Sept. 10."

[Tancredo Fan]

I smell a sellout. Ridiculous.

[Tancredo Fan]

Bad news alert!

[EBUCK]

I'm surprised you can smell anything anymore, what with all the stink emenating from dubyas office.

EBUCK

[Bikers4Bush]

This is BS and it'll only get worse.

[Sabertooth]

The meeting, which would take place during Mr. Fox's Aug. 26-28 swing through Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, is one of several high-profile efforts planned by both administrations to restart a once-ambitious agenda highlighted by a proposed immigration pact that was derailed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

After the meeting in Crawford, first lady Laura Bush is planning to travel to Mexico City in September to attend a meeting of first ladies of the Americas hosted by Mexican first lady Marta Sahagun de Fox.

A White House official declined to comment on either event, saying, "At this point, nothing is official."

But Mexican officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed both events. One source said the meeting at the Crawford ranch "is likely to take place on Aug. 26."

Mark it down, and let's see who is the more reliable source, Mexican officials, or the White House.

Mexican officals have been talking about a renewed effort to "normalize" (Amnesty) Illegals sometime next year. The White House has charted a course of shoulder-shrugging and plausible deniability.

I'm reminded of the moth and flame.

[Sabertooth]

Yet again...

[4Freedom]

..."a special relationship."

Yeah, they think our pockets are full of money, so they pick them.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The Fox is back in the henhouse.

[Tuco-bad]

Bad news alert!

If GWB gives amnesty to illegals, it's the end of America.

BTW - The only reason Bush is doing it, is because Fox said nice things about Bush.

[MeekOneGOP]

But Mexico is too important to ignore, given the potent Mexican-American electorate in the Southwest, analysts said. It's no coincidence, analysts said, that the meeting between the two presidents comes just as the gubernatorial race between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic challenger, Tony Sanchez, heats up before Labor Day weekend.

It's heating up already this week!

Gubernatorial race heats up in TV spots - Perry
links rival to drug dealers; Sanchez disputes it all

[PBRSTREETGANG]

But Mexico is too important to ignore, given the potent Mexican-American electorate in the Southwest, analysts said.There's a difference between ignoring Mexico and granting amnesty to illegal aliens.

If Bush so much as mentions the phrase "undocumented workers" during these meetings he will lose my vote.

[sarcasm]

He lost mine a long time ago due to his pandering to illegal aliens.

[gubamyster]

ping

[american spirit]

Mexico seems to have an inordinate amount of influence on the Bush White House. Makes you kinda wonder what kind of cards El Foxy has up his sleeve to play against Jorge if need be?

[MissAmericanPie]

Given the amount of damage he has leveled against the sheep of this nation in under two years, I'm real eager to see him get the boot in 2004. I don't know of anyone in my personal life, at work, acquaintances, friends, that plans on voting for him again. He disgusts me.

[ohioWfan]

You know, Sabertooth, I appreciate your pinging me to these threads because of the information in them, but I have a hard time dealing with the kind of folks you hang around with.

As I read down the posts, I see the names of people who jump from thread to thread to spread their venom and misery, and I don't care to be tainted by it.

Would you mind taking me off your ping list, and just giving me a synopsis of what's going on? I respect you, because you are a thinking man. And in some areas, as you know, I agree with you.

Your bashing 'buddies' here are a different story. I'll keep my eye on this story, but I'm outa here.