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
It's not about numbers, it's about skill sets.
What skills do Border Patrol agents have for a situation like this that regular forces don't? I'm sorry if I come across as stubbornly argumentative, but this just isn't adding up for me.
Honestly, I don't work in Chertoff's office, so I couldn't tell you why certain agencies are chosen for personnel and others may not. I only know that within my agency, people who volunteer are being screened for certain skills that are needed on the ground right now.
I've volunteered if people are still needed after mid-September, but who knows if I'll go? They may not need a five-foot, hundred pound female with no discernible law enforcement skills other than being a really good target shooter. :-)
You seem to have a personal beef with ATF, as many people do. I just don't see the relevance of it right now, so please forgive me if I duck out of the argument.
Actually I've never had any direct encounter with them. They're just the first federal agency that comes to my mind when thinking of who has the greatest number of law-enforcement personnel who aren't doing anything particularly useful with their time and can be spared for New Orleans.
LMAO!
Farah hits an important point.
"I am convinced there are international agreements behind this. I am persuaded the systematic destruction of the American way of life through uncontrolled and illegal immigration is part of a master plan for merger and global consolidation first with our neighbors in this hemisphere and later worldwide."
We already know Bush is purshing for a North American Alliance amongst Mexico, US, and Canada. One of the provisions is unrestricted flow of citizens between the three countries. It all boils down to a lower standard of living and the erosion of our country as we know it.
Buchanan's point on NAFTA is right on target. Half of Mexico wants to flow across the borders today. The new trade agreement with central America is a joke.
Bush has 2 1/2 more years to screw this country concerning illegal immigration. Send him a message. Get the hook.
Vote Tancredo or the Constitution party before it is to late.
If Rep. Tancredo somehow wins the GOP nomination in '08, I'd be more than happy to support him. But vote CP?
Fuhgedaboudit.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
I was referring to the last election in which President Bush won! If the voters of the US thought the President wasn't fulfulling his job, I'm sure they would have thrown him out of office. Being as they gave him four more years, I think the chance of impeachment on the charges PB and JF suggest are quite unlikely.
Rather than attacking the President, PB and FJ would find it much more conducive of their goals to convince the public. Of course, that would be a more difficult task, and wouldn't keep their names in the press. But, then again, it would actually do something productive.
And put Kerry in instead? You might want to rethink that little theory.
Rather than attacking the President, PB and FJ would find it much more conducive of their goals to convince the public. Of course, that would be a more difficult task, and wouldn't keep their names in the press.
Those sentences are a bit contradictory, don't you think? If they're going to convince the public of anything, they have to make themselves known to the public. Getting their names in the press would be somewhat conducive to that goal.
Well, I guess we have a new link to post every time swampy goes into his "That's Just The Typical Hate Speech We've Come To Expect From The Tancredo/Buchanan Crowd" shtick.
Which reminds me...seems the swampster is going quiet again. No posts since Friday morning. Dang, I hate when that happens. I'm not being sarcastic, either - he really livens things up around here, it's not just the same without his pearls of wisdom enriching our lives. Without him, I have to turn to Kim for my daily laughs...I mean, dayree raffs...
The odds are quite high that if Bush is in favor of something, Cheney's in favor of it as well, because I think Cheney is the brains of the outfit.
President Bush doesn't care, and an impeachment bill isn't going to bring about some kind of Saul of Tarsus conversion in him. He is committed to open borders.
True, but what it would do is bring the issue to the attention of the public. Still, I agree that that's not the best way to do that, so I don't advocate it. I just wanted to point out that it isn't a completely wacky idea.
At least we agree that PB and FJ are attacking the President for publicity. However, I'm guessing we part ways about why they want the publicity.
Bookmark
Yet it sure seems to get the attention of you and others regardless of what happens.
In any event, I wouldn't bet on it, as the entire country is now affected by this invasion, and only a small portion of it was affected by this storm.
Hey, are you "stalking" him again? And not pinging him either! How insensitive! This is just what we've come to expect from the racist, Bush-hating, Buchan- *SMACK!*
sorry...
Tancredo is about the ONLY guy I'd vote for in the primary now - or for President.
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