Posted on 09/03/2005 4:08:28 PM PDT by Constitution Restoration Act
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., dismissed the suggestion of prominent columnists to introduce a bill of impeachment against President Bush for lack of border enforcement, saying his immigration reform bill will do what is necessary to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the U.S.
This week, WND columnists Patrick Buchanan and Joseph Farah called for legislation to begin the impeachment process due to, as Buchanan wrote, Bush's "conscious refusal to uphold his oath and defend the states of the Union against 'invasion.'"
Wrote Farah: "President Bush has had nearly five years in office to honor his oath of office and enforce immigration laws in this country.
"He has not only failed, he has intentionally neglected this sworn duty, instead claiming he prefers to promote a vague immigration 'reform' plan that involved a 'guest worker' program that has served as an encouragement to the most massive influx of illegal immigration this country has ever seen. "
Despite Tancredo's consistent criticism of the president's record on border enforcement, he says a better solution is to pass legislation instituting more stringent regulations on employers of illegal aliens and thus reduce the demand for illegal workers.
"The best thing to do is to see what we can accomplish," Tancredo told WND in a telephone press conference. "There are great many factors playing on our side," stressing the pendulum is swinging toward those who seek definitive action to deal with the nation's porous borders.
Said the congressman: "Right now, I'm kind of hopeful. Things are moving our way, and I don't think anything like [an impeachment bill] is necessary to keep this momentum going."
Tancredo says if Congress passes stringent legislation, the pressure will be on the president to enforce it.
The Colorado lawmaker told reporters Republican leadership in the House has indicated an immigration bill will be considered this year. The question is what form it will take.
Long an outspoken leader on the issue of illegal immigration, Tancredo is offering his own bill, H.R. 3333, the REAL GUEST Act of 2005. Besides stepping up enforcement at the border, the congressman's bill includes a provision requiring employers to use a now-voluntary "insta-check" program to verify the legal status of potential employees. A bill by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., also makes the program mandatory, but, unlike Tancredo's measure, only for those newly hired.
Besides Tancredo's legislation, there are two prominent reform bills in the Senate – Kyl's and the McCain/Kennedy bill – and Bush has indicated he will have a detailed plan ready for consideration at the end of this month. The president has focused on a guest-worker program that critics say amounts to amnesty for illegals.
"My bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that takes into consideration the needs of labor by creating a guest-worker program," Tancredo explained, "but that program can only go into effect once certain requirements are met in terms of securing our border and reducing the number of people in the country who are here illegally."
Tancredo says the key to solving the problem is cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens.
Explained Tancredo: "If we can stop the employment of people who are here illegally, a huge part of this problem goes away."
The congressman says his approach will remove concern about the high cost of rounding up and deporting those illegals currently in the U.S.
"You will find people by the millions, frankly, will return to their countries of origin," Tancredo said. "If they do not have a job and do not have access to social-service benefits, there really aren't any option."
Tancredo noted the issue of illegal immigration "is reaching critical mass in this country. Something will happen … to force this nation to come to grips with this problem."
Referring to Bush as having an "open borders" approach, Tancredo decried the fact that current immigration laws regarding employment are not being enforced by the executive branch.
"The laws are on the books," he said. "Is there anyone out there that believes there are no aliens in this country working illegally?"
He says the laws not being enforced should either be repealed, or the government should "actually enforce them."
Related stories:
Tancredo backing off presidential candidacy
Tancredo visits with sympathetic Muslims
Tancredo talk too offensive? Too bad, says congressman
CAIR to GOP: Repudiate Tancredo
Tancredo clarifies 'ultimate response'
Tancredo talking White House bid
White House covered up immigration study?
Employers shun service to weed out illegal hires
Tancredo asks for border official's head
Rep. Tancredo considers White House bid
Absolutely not! The point I tried to make is that Buchanan has become a total critic of the administration and primarily the President. I certainly do not agree with the President's "amnesty" programs for illegals! The borders should be closed, period! If by means of the Natioanl Guard, then so be it. The President doesn't need to stand up and say "hey i"ve made mistakes"! That is only more ammunition for the left. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. I am all for Tancredo's legislation, as well as those of the states of AZ, NM, CA, TX! The point is, we do have to secure our borders.
As far as the President looking foolish during the debates, at times he was. He ultimately was foolish or crazy like a fox. But, he never speak down to people.
Lastly, my apolgies for comparing you to a liberal!!! My fingers were angry!
Immigration policy has nothing to do with temporary redeployment of 100 agents in a time of national crisis.
Do not even try to sucker me into your issue.
HUH? What planet are you living on? "Dubya" has adopted almost every liberal position possible since he took office. He's no conservative.
Ohh, where were the likes of you 09/10/01?
All are always looking for a "Karnack" Saviour however most realize that he doesn't exist.
You my FRiend appear to be a dissident who would be suicidal if Dubya were not the sitting POTUS presently.
Your superfluous/ via lack of reality posts will get you nowhere at FR.
Have you tried DU?
This statement is utterly false.
"Every President before Bush had open borders. Every President after bush will have open borders."
In fact, the US did enforce immigration laws strictly from the 20s to the late 60s, and even as recently in the early 90s, many employers had to think twice before hireing illegal immigrant labor because there were over 10,000 work place raids a year back then.
All I can say about your post is reality goes beyond symbols and slogans.
The people on FR who wanted the President impeached are simply the loud mouth remnant of the Buchanan brigades who have and always will hate any Republican that isn't in lockstep with Pat Buchanan.
There are people who hate any and all immigration, even the legal ones. They see them as an invading army out to destroy our culture. In their minds only Pat Buchanan and Tom Tancredo can save the United States by getting rid of the inferior peoples.
Yours are some of the most idiotic comments that I've ever seen posted on Free Republic.
No, that's what you hope will happen. Unfortunately for you, the political tide is turning the other way on that subject.
Interesting tagline, by the way. In your view, a "fan" of Bush is someone who considers John Kerry to be worse. You have a much higher opinion of Kerry than I do, apparently.
I'm not trying to "get anywhere" at FR. Is that what you're trying to do? Most people here know that I'm an old-fashioned conservative, no longer a Republican because of GWBush.
IMO you're the one who is unfortunately suffering from delusions if you truly believe that GWBush is a conservative who has faithfully honored his oath of office. He isn't, and he hasn't.
Hmm, seems pretty confident that a nuclear attack's going to happen here soon, doesn't he? He sure likes to bring it up in his posts. Maybe toy soldier is praying for one himself so GW won't be scrapin' butt in the polls the rest of his term.
I take WND to task for this headline. It's deliberately misleading in a way deigned to be provocative. I hate it when the mainstream media does this and WND should be ashamed of themselves.
Just out of curiosity, would you happen to know how many ATF agents were redeployed to New Orleans?
I think he prides himself on it.
ATF? No, sorry. We're sending 2000 from CBP, but I haven't heard anything about ATF.
Can you say "dereliction of duty"?
To me, it's simple: people who believe the US should have "open borders" also accept the invasion and colonization of the US by Mexico. People who accept the invasion and colonization of our country by ANY other country on the face of the earth---white, yellow, black or brown---are TRAITORS. It doesn't matter to me WHO they are, or WHERE they are, that's ALL they are.
Hmm... I don't agree at all with that assessment. Now with "second and third" sets of eyes viewing "newcomers".. could be quite interesting.
Okay! now we're on common ground. And the only difference is indicated by your remark,.. ""hey i"ve made mistakes"!
Actually, on that one you took me too much at face value. Of course, I didn't mean he would have to blurt it out that way. Possibly..'I've reconsidered the matter of...' or some other indirect approach. Just so he digs himself out of the quicksand bogs he gets into. That's all I meant. This border thing though is a mess and he's put himself in a terrible position and I just wish he'd issue an executive order to close the borders indefinitely and that would be that. For some reason he can't see that.
As to the debates I was so uncomfortable for him, because I could see what was coming from Lurch and was yellin' at the screen in frustration. He allowed Lurch to keep him on the defensive too much, but on the other hand most people, despite that, saw him as one of them.
It's really funny just how at ease he is face-to-face with 'the people', but he can't translate that same casual commonality via the boob tube. In person , he bonds with the 'folks' very easily and it's not an affected thing, but get the cameras on, in a more formatted appearance, and he comes off as trying too hard to appear relaxed. Hard to describe, but it's there.
With this mess from the hurricane I saw shots of him on the ground with 'the folks' and he would walk and chat and hold them and hug them and look 'em straight in the eye and talk and you just know when he left those people had been changed forever in whatever their attitude towards him had been. He was also noticeably great with the kids. And the thing is, and I said it before, it doesn't come off looking affected or phoney. It was much the same up here in NY after 9/11 going through the ruins.
Judge and Jury, methinks you're wasting your time with a dolt who doesn't know up from down. The assertions and positions taken are too absurd to rationally waste time debating.
It's one thing to state a position and then validate it and make your case, which is what a good, intelligent interchange is about. This one is a just a bomb thrower and will get ignored, in the main, on this site.
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