Laura Bush confident in Mexico-U.S. immigration agreement

The News - Mexico City ^ | 9/26/02 | N/A

[Tancredo Fan]

Laura Bush confident in Mexico-U.S. immigration agreement

EFE - 9/26/2002

U.S. First Lady Laura Bush said she was convinced an immigration agreement could be reached between Mexico and the United States, because their leaders want it.

Mrs. Bush, who participated in the 11th Conference of the Wives of Heads of State and Government in Mexico City on Wednesday, said, "I do see a solution to this problem."

In statements to the Mexican press made in Washington and published Wednesday in Reforma daily, Laura Bush explained she and her husband had lived in Texas for many years and have a special sensitivity for the problems of the U.S. Hispanic community.

"There are so many stories about immigrants and the children of immigrants in the United States. Our whole country is made up of immigrants who were able to overcome poverty and obtain good jobs. There are many examples in my husband's administration," the first lady noted.

Mrs. Bush acknowledged that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks had set back the agenda between Mexico and the United States, but insisted that Presidents Bush and Fox "are going to meet again to try to revitalize and refocus the issue of immigration."

The first lady said she felt "a special bond with Mexico" and recalled the couple had spent their honeymoon in Mexico City and the Caribbean resort of Cozumel. The first lady is expected to focus on childhood poverty as she participates in this summit.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

The vets in the past 30 years have been largely ignored it seems. I am hoping to see that change. We once took care of those who answered the call of duty to protect our country.

Just so you know, there have been a TON of things done by THIS ADMINISTRATION to address active duty and retired Veterans. Active duty pay raises, housing improvements, and some understanding for what they REALLY give when they serve. Retired or disabled Vets are seeing more help in the VA departments. This administration has opened NEW offices to get caught up on the backlog of disabled claims. I know this first hand.

This is the most caring and compassionate administration the soldier has seen in a long time. This administration seems to understand the awesome responsiblity it has to those who serve. The soldier be they active duty or disabled or retired, is not being forgotten by this administration. The military was "hated" by Clinton/s. They are LOVED by this administration. Do you ever remember seeing Sec. of Def. Bill Cohen visiting the troops the way Sec. of Def. Rummy does?

There is only one item being "debated" right now, that I'm not sure where the President Stands with certainty on. That is the "concurrent reciept" issue. But I'm not sure he will veto it either. I'm hoping he won't, but it that STILL wouldn't take away from all the "GOOD" that he has done for the military.

[sweetliberty]

"This is the most caring and compassionate administration the soldier has seen in a long time."

I do believe that. In fact, it is in this administration that I see a lot of hope for turning that trend around. And it is quite obvious that he is highly respected by the military.

[dixie sass]

Well, duh, yeah...
To clarify - go back to the late 1700's and early 1800's. Try looking for the Alien and Sedition act. We have always had illegals and quota's

[nanny]

"If Tancredo got a great PR campaign, and dedicated himself to fight this madness, including wide-open borders, illegal immigration, NAFTA, GATT, as well as other pro-global/anti-sovereignty issues, I think that he could do rather well against Bush, perhaps garnering as big a vote as Bush."

I think you might be right. He would have to have very good PR people and never loose sight of the fact that the Republicans, Democrats and the news media are all out to cut his legs out from under him.

He would have to go armed with irrutable facts and figures and outsmart the press.

Are there really Tancredo bumper stickers?

[nanny]

"It doesn't bode well for us young adults."

Do you know I realize our generation owes yours an apology. I believe every generation should leave this country, and world as far as possible, in better condition then they inherited it, at least as far as possible. We have certainly not done so.

[Risa]

"How sad. I don't recall having voted for this person."

My sentiments exactly. Who elected this genius?

[Risa]

Tancredo Fan...

I would be grateful if you might tell me where you got the Tancredo for President pic?

[Risa]

>>On the one hand we want cheap labor and no responsibility to the labor force and on the other we don't want the very people who give us the cheap labor. If Americans were willing to work for less than minimum wage and follow the crops or work in the sweat shops for less than minimum wages, we might see a change. Though I doubt it. <<

As I understand the problem, it is the flood of unskilled mexican and asian immigrants which drive down wages and drive americans out of what were once good paying jobs.

It's happened in the fish processing industries, and the meat butchering and processing industries. In fact, the meat industries travel to Mexico to import illegal aliens, and have been known to dump them on the doorstep of the local welfare offices when they get them here. (see Schlosser, Eric. "Fast Food Nation-The Dark side of the All American Meal" NY:HarperCollins 2001.)

We can make a difference by boycotting those industries who employ illegals. For example, I refuse to eat beef not produced by a local farmer, and I won't eat at any fast food places, nor do I go out to eat at all anymore, since the National Restaurant Association supports swelling our population with more cheap labor--if everyone did this, we could make a difference, to a degree, I think.
risa

[Risa]

So one might stop eating any chicken produced by these companies. I buy chicken from the local free-range farmers. They're expensive, but American's work the farms, not illegals, I am helping support the local economy, and the meat isn't filled with all those antibiotics and hormones required when you're growing 5,000 chickens together in a tiny space ( enormously stressful to their immune systems, which is why they need antibiotics)

[dixie sass]

Oh, you're going to boycott every employer who does this? Well think again, 'cause it won't happened unless you intend to starve to death or give up wearing clothes or how about items that you "just can't do without"?

How about the daycare for you children and the after school activities. Grow up! As long as you want something cheap, you are going to have to put up with EVERY manufacturer in this country, no matter the product, using CHEAP labor. It is the only way that industry is staying in this country.

Whether it is the farmer or the clothing industry, they will continue to utilize the cheapest labor they can - period.

Every person who has need of a cleaning woman, housekeeper or nanny or after school worker is using the cheapest labor available.

[dixie sass]

Think of it this way, Risa - You have a business and you have to pay rent, utilities, business insurance, health insurance, purchase raw materials, etc, etc. Now you have to make a profit don't you because you have two children and a wife, a new car in the garage, rent, food, clothing, etc. - you know - what it takes to run a family.

Of course you do! So you advertise (another expense) In come three people applying for the same job - skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled (but eager to learn).

The first person, an American, college graduate will work for you for Twenty dollars and hour. The next person will do the same job for fifteen and the third will work for either minimum wage or lower just so that they can have a job.

Well, thinking about the bottom and all of the expenditures you have to meet and the fact that you would like to take something home yourself, who are you going to hire - cheap labor. The Americans have priced themselves and their industries either out of the country or to remain in the country they are having to hire cheap labor, move to states where there is a "Right to Work" law or just go out of business.

[dixie sass]

Your word picture is so vivid, yet so many people won't see that we are as much a part of the problem if not the biggest. Until American companies and business and individuals stop hiring this cheap labor that comes across the border, we will continue to see the same thing generation after generation.