Bush Pulls Off Shrewd Stroke (Immigration strategery is a coup de main)

The United Press International ^ | January 8, 2004 | Martin Sieff

[quidnunc]

President George W. Bush's proposed immigration reform plan may prove to be a masterstroke from a maestro political strategist playing at the top of his game. It may backfire on him, but it probably won't.

The reform plan has already provoked strong attacks from Democrats and Latino activists who say it does not go far enough and the critical voices have been particularly loud in crucial California. It will also increase strains the president's policies have already generated in the Rocky Mountain libertarian West, his archrival John McCain's stronghold in the 2000 Republican primary race.

But at the end of the day, unless the two huge decisive issues of the economy and national security turn catastrophically sour on the president, these critiques will probably bounce off him like any criticism off the Teflon back of Ronald Reagan.

-snip-

[JackelopeBreeder]

Fitz, all I know is that the Mexican population on my chunk of the border is laughing at this proposal on a number of points.

Paco on the street is saying "Huh? Register and pay taxes and get kicked out in three years? Yeah, right. I only got to worry about a handful of INS guys in the whole country."

Paco is right. Let's face it, Mexicans have to evade their entire corrupt government to survive. We are not exactly a great challenge.

[SerpentDove]

I agree 100%.

:-)

Take care.

SD

[Joe Hadenuf]

I might believe that if he sold us out to a foreign leader before. So far, he has shown himself as a world leader who puts America first

Huh?

Instead of landing on the carrier, Bush should have landed on the border in a blackhawk in his first day of office.

That photo op would have been very meaningful and justified and at least sent the message that he was going to protect our borders and secure our sovereignty. Instead, he stands in Washington making amnesty plans for millions, as hundreds of thousands more continue to pour into our country. This is *not* putting America first.

[garandgal]

buy a sense of humor, please!

Ah, yes..."compassionate" conservatism for illegals...but not-so-compassionate conservatism for the mentally retarded. I have a fine sense of humor...but it generally doesn't involve using the handicapped as the butt of my jokes.

[Jodi]

I think a pro-enforcement immigration policy polls very well, and so I am surprised Bush wont go that route.I'm not. Does anyone in this country (think Elian) want to see people deported via BATF? Look, I read your profile and I think it's cool, I just think it's unrealistic for a president. Working hard for one's family is a conservative value, a value that is synonymous with hispanic-americans. Is this pandering to votes? Hell, yes! Votes are what put politicians in office, right?

[JackelopeBreeder]

Sorry, Travis.

Put it in German, Russian, Korean, Japanese, or Tagalog. My best Spanish is only good for getting my face slapped into the next time zone.

[Travis McGee]

Learn Spanish today, avoid the rush tomorrow. You'll need to be bilingual to even have a chance in most cities in 15 years. The battle is lost, the leaders have surrendered. The floodgates are open, say hello to Amexica. You can't stop a rising tide, if your own government is blowing up the dikes. Might as well learn Spanish, and get used to paying bribes as a means of survival.

[RLK]

this kind of talk is embarrassing to anybody who claims themselves as conservative. knock it off, please.

---------------------------

You knock it off.

Why is it embarrassing? Look at a map of mexico. There are entire areas the size of Rhode Island with no roads. There are no roads because the areas are uninhabited and uninhabitable. Only one third of the country is inhabitable. That area is overpopulated with little farm land and little industrialized economy. In 1997 the population was 97,000,000 people with insufficient room for them. As of now, it's 105,000,000 and growing at a rate of 1.7% a year in spite of a massive migration into the United States. Fox needs to export 2,500,000 people per year into this country just to maintain Mexico's present level of poverty. Mexico needs to annex, and intends to annex, the lebensraum and economies of several American states. It is doing so financed by our system of social services.

[Jodi]

well. I guess you better vote for the dem candidate then (we all know they DO NOT have a sense of humor). lol, puhleeeze!

[RLK]

I've only been here for 3 years, but I know this, Free Republic is not a joke, and if we apply some common sense to our debates and organize around a common cause, 135,000 members strong is nothing to sneeze at.

----------------------

Most of those members have not been here for years.

[MattAMiller]

Why capitulate to massive lawbreaking and set America up for even more waves of illegal immigration?

I don't see why people think this will cause more illegal immigration. Either it will change things and people will get in line for the legal revolving door or they won't and things will stay the same.

[Squantos]

I know ya don't HAVE to but can ya either direct me to a source where I can weigh this issue for myself with facts vs the pro or anti only slant.....or take just a second to tell me why I should support this move .

Currently my singular problem with this is what appears to be renaming illegals....immigrants ?!?!

Thanks for your time.......Stay Safe !

[MJY1288]

Joe, you are way too emotional for a rational debate, I do all I can to avoid you because it's useless to debate someone who makes absurd reponses like.....

"Instead of landing on the carrier, Bush should have landed on the border in a blackhawk in his first day of office.

So the only place the thread will end up is the Smokey Back Room, and little in the way of progress comes out of there.

No Offense Joe, I just have to avoid responding to you

[des]

California and Florida...he needs them.

[Jodi]

"lebensraum"

didn't Hitler say something like that? what the hell are you inferring? should we wipe out mexicans so we have have "elbow room"?

[JackelopeBreeder]

You're right. Five foreign languages is no longer sufficient. I find it ironic that I also wrote the Army's Skill Qualification Tests in Polish, Czech, Chinese, and Arabic and still can't muster enough motivation to learn more than gutter Spanish while living on the border.

Oh well, Fitz keeps dumping Spanish articles on me, so maybe one of these days when I'm not busy...

On the other hand, I still remember Otto von Bismarck's take on it:

"A talent for foreign languages is quite handy if you're a headwaiter."

[Travis McGee]

You will need spanish to survive in 15 years: literally. Once we reach a certain point, if you cannot talk your way out of some situations, it could go very bad for you amigo, I think...

[JackelopeBreeder]

Kindly point out where the term "Lebensraum" appeared in any context. In fact, in any context in this entire thread.

[FITZ]

I imagine that's pretty much how many of the illegals will see this --- and of course their illegal employers too --- why pay more in benefits PLUS admit you've been breaking several laws when you can just continue on as you have done business all along and bring in illegals who'll do the hard work for low wages that Americans, legal immigrants, and blue card guest workers won't do.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Thank you, Quicksdraw...s'all right. :)