Posted on 08/22/2002 7:04:53 AM PDT by Sabertooth
This is a vanity post, let's get that straight from the start.
Perhaps the most vain aspect of it is the conceit that it might stay on topic, but I'm going to give it a whirl.
One of the more contentious species of threads encountered on Free Republic are those dealing with the subject of America's immigration policy, particularly with regard to the Illegal Aliens currently in our country. According a range of reasonable sources, the estimates of their numbers here currently here range from six to thirteen million. Whatever the actual count, there are quite a few people now in violation of American immigration law.
One subtopic that inevitably arises is the question of Amnesty:
Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?
That's the question I'd like to put forward to the members of Free Republic.
Almost as inevitably on threads dealing with this subject, flame wars erupt. It's not my purpose to instigate another round of that, they're rather predictable. So I'd like to ask that your comments, if you're inclined to share them, focus on the big picture of American immigration policy, with particular attention to the subject of Amnesty. I'm not interested in the stock and gratuitous divisiveness of race-baiting or referring to the President as "Jorge," or anything of that nature from any quarter. It achieves nothing, it's sulphurous methane heat with no light shed.
I'd also like to avoid ad hominem ambushes. I'm genuinely interested in learning the collective feelings of Free Republic members on this subject. If you're gonna post, I'd like to ask that you ante up with your opinion on the question at hand before engaging the discussion with others. No taking potshots from the obscurity of the sidelines. I'll post my opinion below at #1.
Fair enough?
So, once again, here's the question:
Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?
no... i wish i had...
Your smugness that few voters will make immigration a hot button issue is right in line with the GOP's arrogance on this. We will see HC. That Bush took pains to hide his open borders agenda on the campaign trail should tell you something. In my opinion, as the immigration crisis worsens in America, Bush and the GOP will pay an ever-higher price for their support of policies that encourage more illegal immigration, not to mention their negligence in even bothering with simple constitutional matters like defending our borders and preserving our sovereignty.
Like I said before, the conservative backlash against Bush you see on FR for his pro-Amnesty stand is only a microcosm of what is going on with his nationwide support. Listen to the Sunday C-Span talk shows sometime to get a feel on how other republicans feel about this issue. The anger throughout the country on illegal immigration IS REAL.
If Bush signs the 245(i) Amnesty Bill he immediately jeopardizes his chances on re-election. I'd think that the closeness of 2000 election would have driven home the point that neither Bush or the GOP can ill afford to lose much of their support from their conservative constituents. But go ahead and play with fire. Only in defeat will you and others in the GOP get the message.
The union line is, what jobs are not sold overseas, are being taken by illegals. I personally don't believe that, a vast majority of unionites do.
My sources are this: my brother is UAW in Bay City, Mi, my sister is pres of her local in Flint, Mi, I am a member ofUAW 113 in Muskegon, Mi.
I believe most members in Mi are of this mindset.
Don't you think that is a bit of a stretch? Show me one thing that sabertooth has said that is even remotely vindictive. He asked at the beginning that we all try to be civil and non-inflammatory and I think we have done that remarkably well. The only posts I have seen that have been out of line with that request are yours and VA Alvogado. I thought your remarks were uncalled for.
LOL! I thought it followed him everywhere he went.
Nice to know where American Citizens stand visa-vi Illegal Aliens with this administration. Quite an admission by the Bush Administration that they have NO INTENTIONS of doing anything but encouraging more illegal immigration. I guess they view the Citizen Taxpayer who collectively pays billions of dollars of their hard-earned money every year to cover the welfare expenses of illegal aliens as SAPS that need no representation.
Listening to this administration I get the feeling that they are ready to challenge Vicente Fox for the Presidency of Mexico.
I am discovering that some people on FR just can't bear to see a civil discussion taking place without them so they have the need to try and change the tone. The same thing happens on the southern threads. I guess it's the old "misery loves company" principle at work.
Just out of criosity, do you intend to do anything with the results you come up with on your poll?
Wait till Amnesty is a done deal. Did you know that Bush Senior had poll numbers during the Gulf War that were even higher than the highest numbers that Bush Junior ever got? The only numbers that count are on election day. And the way I see it, Bush Jr. is tracking his dad's political fortunes quite closely.
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