Posted on 01/31/2005 5:17:39 PM PST by ovrtaxt
WASHINGTON – Rush Limbaugh, the radio talk-show giant with more than 20 million listeners, is poised to add his considerable voice to those calling on President Bush to heed popular opinion on issues of tightening border security and enforcing immigration laws, WorldNetDaily has learned.
"We cannot maintain our sovereignty without securing and protecting our borders in an era when terrorists around the world seek entry to this country," he said Friday in a private gathering in Florida.
Limbaugh has not been an outspoken critic of the president on this issue in the past. Neither has he focused much of his broadcast attention on the border and immigration issues during his nearly two-decade career as a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. Instead, Limbaugh is perceived as a champion of many Bush policies.
But, clearly, Limbaugh sees Bush as out of step with the public in his continued calls for implementation of a guest worker program that has been characterized by critics as an amnesty plan for as many as 20 million illegal aliens already in the country,
Limbaugh said he was particularly disturbed by statements Friday by Mexico's Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez threatening to appeal to international courts a new Arizona law barring illegal aliens from collecting some public benefits.
Proposition 200, approved overwhelmingly by voters in that state Nov. 2, has already survived critical legal tests in state and U.S. courts.
Bush already is facing mounting opposition to his guest worker plan in the House Republican caucus. A year ago, Rep. Tom Tancredo was a lonely voice of opposition to the plan. Today, he says, there are at least 180 Republican votes against the plan. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is on record as saying the plan will not move forward in the House without majority Republican support.
"Rush has 20 million listeners a week, so if he decides to attack President Bush's plan to regularize immigration flows through a guest-worker program, he could help kill the idea," said Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund.
In a White House news conference last week, Bush continued to promote his ideas about immigration reform: "I know there's a compassionate, humane way to deal with this issue. I want to remind people that family values do not stop at the Rio Grande River. People are coming to our country to do jobs that Americans won't do, to be able to feed their families. And I think there's a humane way to recognize that, at the same time protect our borders, and at the same way to make sure that we don't disadvantage those who have stood in line for years to become a legal citizen. And I'm looking forward to working with people of both parties on the issue."
Meanwhile, a leading member of his own party last week announced sweeping measures aimed at cracking down on the ability of terrorists to travel within the United States.
The Real ID Act, introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., looks to deny drivers licenses to illegal aliens, tighten the political asylum system abused by terrorists, plug a three-mile hole in the border fence between California and Mexico near San Diego, and strengthen deportation laws to more quickly oust foreign terrorists dwelling in the U.S.
"American citizens have the right to know who is in their country, that people are who they say they are, and that the name on a driver's license is the holder's real name, not some alias," said Sensenbrenner, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.
"The 9-11 hijackers could have used their passports to board the planes, but only one did. Why? Those murderers chose our driver's licenses and state IDs as their forms of identification because these documents allowed them to blend in and not raise suspicion or concern. Mohammed Atta received a six-month visa to stay in the U.S. yet received a Florida driver's license good for six years!"
He says the act, which has 115 cosponsors in the House, would establish a uniform rule that temporary driver's licenses for foreign visitors expire when their visa terms expire, and create tough rules for confirming identity before temporary driver's licenses are issued.
Earlier stories:
Battle over illegals: Bush vs. Congress
Mexico threatens Arizona over anti-illegals measure
Revolt begins for Bush push for illegals
I just took a cruise to Mexico. I was shocked and outraged at how unprotected I found our border.
There was no one to talk to about this issue, and I wouldn't know what to say if there was, but I can't stress enough just how unsafe we really are from anyone who wants to enter from Mexico.
To stress just how pathetic the border control was, There were liberals talking about it.
"Without a large supply of illegal (lacking legal status) workers, the farm economies of California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida and most of the Southeast would collapse."
How does Australia have a viable agricultural industry without being Mexico's neighbor?
I'd like to see Bush warned on GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
National debt due to hit 8 trillion soon...non defense spending up 12% annually over the past 4 years..
insane.
Where did you get that figure please? Here in Moorpark, they start at $10, you can haggle if there are bunch of "illegals" standing around.
"Hourly earnings of orange harvesters ranged from $4.50 to more than $11.00 per hour (Figure 1). Based on contracted piece rates and actual worker productivity, approximately 700, or six percent of harvest hours earned less than minimum wage, $5.15 per hour."
This from a University of Florida study. Cal is probably higher.
The Illegals I see are driving new pick-ups how do they do that on 2.00 per hr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1332946/posts Different source... same thought...
1. He acted as if this is new - I wrote my Sen & Rep in NY in 1994 and have written various "leaders" since then. Their answers (both R & D) about "illegals" - "We are a nation of immigrants..."
<2>Rush said the American public gets what it wants. We are a Democracy. He said "most" Americans were pro abortion and they got it through the courts. Later, he stated that the liberals get what they want even if it is through court imposed decisions....The man needs help.
I also noted that no one mentions that the AT LEAST 6 million illegals use goods and services, often generated from "off shore" and they also send money "home". Thus we not only support them with our taxes, but "illegals" add to the Balance of Payments Deficit!
Beats me. Maybe Australian consumers are willing to pay more for asparagus than we are. Maybe their government agriculture subsidies are bigger. Maybe Australians work cheap. But for the US, having Mexico as a neighbor is a two-edged proposition, especially post-NAFTA. US ag producers are now competing with corporate farms in Mexico, so labor costs are a more important factor than ever.
Garden variety mules hiding their stash of dope no doubt.
I dunno--every time I drive through California farm country I see fields full of people picking stuff. Market forces in the form of higher prices, maybe.
"The Illegals I see are driving new pick-ups how do they do that on 2.00 per hr"
How d'you know they're illegals? A funny thing--my wife's from LA. Her Dad's full-blooded Italian. He's a cardiologist, lives in a very fancy part of LA. He's a gardening nut--keeps an old Ford pickup to haul manure and stuff in. He's constantly getting pulled over by the cops and asked for his ID.
BUsh has been firm on this issue, lockstep with Schwartzneggar, since day one. Rush isnt going to change his mind. Its not like it would hurt Bush's re-election chances.
Well better a little late than never
Could have used this from him years ago
jails would be half empty...
L.A. schools would be empty...
emergency rooms would be almost empty...
courts, lawyers, and juries...
hit and run drunk drivers...
the FREEWAYS would be OPEN... gosh, so many little things...
I still waiting for an answer to that myself. Yes, California is higher. The healthcare,schooling,law enforcement and incarceration costs for illegals is staggering.
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