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President gets tepid welcome on GOP turf -- Immigration policies vigorously opposed
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/25/6 | Carla Marinucci

Posted on 04/25/2006 5:51:39 AM PDT by SmithL

Irvine -- President Bush, aiming to shore up sagging support in a Republican bastion, came for a heart-to-heart talk on immigration Monday, acknowledging that some were puzzled by his choice of Orange County -- the heart of an area opposed to his immigration policies.

"That's what a leader does," Bush told a crowd of 450 business leaders at the Hyatt Regency Irvine as he roamed the room with a microphone during an hourlong town hall-style meeting.

The president, before a phalanx of signs decorated with flags and eagles proclaiming "Securing the American Dream," emphasized securing the borders, dealing with the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants and passing immigration reform in Congress.

Talking to a skeptical audience, Bush said the heated rhetoric surrounding immigration must be cooled. Conduct the debate, he said, "in a respectful way that recognizes we are a nation of immigrants, that we have had a grand tradition in this country of welcoming people into our society."

"It's an emotional debate, but one thing we cannot lose sight of is that we're talking about human beings, decent human beings," he said. "Massive deportation of the people here is unrealistic. It's just not going to work."

But even as he spoke, the breadth of the president's political problems on immigration was evident in Orange County -- a longtime GOP stronghold that is being transformed by a vast influx of immigrant laborers, mostly from Mexico. From Republican-dominated Newport Beach to Democratic-leaning Santa Ana, interviews found few supporters for Bush's positions.

The president's conservative base is angry with his support for a guest-worker program,

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bordersecurity; bushamnesty; calvisit; illegalaliens; illegals; invasionusa; openborders; presidentbush
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1 posted on 04/25/2006 5:51:41 AM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
Leaders also represent the people who elected them. You would think he would catch on to the fact that most people want the immigration problem dealt with, and with no amnesty.
2 posted on 04/25/2006 5:55:22 AM PDT by Racer1
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To: Racer1

Wonder if our dear leader has figured out yet that mass deportations are possible if we first acquire an adjacent Mexican state for use as a staging ground ~ maybe even set it up as an independent country for them.


3 posted on 04/25/2006 5:58:52 AM PDT by muawiyah (-)
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To: SmithL
Most people I spoke with were underwhelmed by W's speech yesterday. Particularly galling were the multiple references to 'jobs Americans won't do'. They're missing the bigger picture in the West Wing. The base is becoming very disenchanted.



4 posted on 04/25/2006 6:01:05 AM PDT by x1stcav (Illegals go home! I'll mow the damned lawn myself!)
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To: SmithL

If anyone, regardless of party membership, wants to be the next president of the United States, then promise and honestly keep that promise, that all illegal immigrants will be kicked out and gasoline prices are more acceptable.

So there!!!


5 posted on 04/25/2006 6:02:31 AM PDT by GOPologist (When one lowers himself to argue with a fool, then you don't know which one is the fool.)
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To: Racer1

bttt


6 posted on 04/25/2006 6:02:48 AM PDT by Guenevere
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To: SmithL
Conduct the debate, he said, "in a respectful way that recognizes we are a nation of immigrants, that we have had a grand tradition in this country of welcoming people into our society."

Bush is hopelessly lost on this. I just don't see any way he'll change his stance on illegal immigration, period.

Leaders lead, but Bush has made a mockery of this statement.
7 posted on 04/25/2006 6:08:36 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Someday we'll look back on all this and plow into a parked car)
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To: reagan_fanatic
I posted this vanity a few days ago. I correctected the dates of the election, otherwise, here it is:

It’s Bush's Fault

This time it really is Bush's fault and it's not funny anymore.

The Republican Party is peering into the abyss and it's Bush's fault. The party will be lucky to salvage control of one house out of the wreckage of November's election. The damage will not be contained in 2006 and a Democrat victory is virtually assured for the White House in 2008. To the degree that one can see over the political horizon, the Republicans will be out of power for at least one generation and perhaps two as the decisive Hispanic vote swings against us.

The Anglo-Saxon tradition for respect, no for veneration, of the rule of law is being perverted on the streets of America into a cynicism which has the potential to undermine the last best hope of democracy in the world. As surely as Rome fell from internal rot, America faces the utter disintegration of its institutions. Corruption, the handmaiden of cynicism, will surely seep across the land with this inflow of illegal immigrants as our politicians, led by our president, cravenly abandon our sovereignty.

And all this is George Bush's fault.

In January 2001, George Bush took an oath which required him to faithfully enforce the laws. No fair observer can conclude that he has even halfheartedly attempted faithfully to enforce our immigration laws and to see that our borders are secure. After five years of malignant neglect the situation has grown out of control and we are confronted with the specter of the illegal aliens in their hundreds of thousands brazenly insulting the flag on the streets of America. It was utterly within Bush's power during his tenure in office to have prevented all of this simply by enforcing existing laws, but he would not. Vigorous action along the southern frontier would have radically diminished the inflow of illegal aliens. Vigorous enforcement against employers who knowingly hired illegal aliens would have changed the culture to the point where the reward for crossing the border would have been greatly diminished. Instead of a vicious circle of tens of millions of immigrants flooding every uncrowded nook and cranny in the land, a virtuous circle draining away illegal immigrants would have been created. But Bush would not.

We did not need, and we do not need now, new laws to choke off this noxious inflow. We need the political will to enforce existing law and save our democracy.

Bush has not the will.


8 posted on 04/25/2006 6:14:03 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, Attack..... Bull Halsey)
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To: SmithL
"It's an emotional debate, but one thing we cannot lose sight of is that we're talking about human beings, decent human beings," he said. "Massive deportation of the people here is unrealistic. It's just not going to work."

(sigh)

And the politicians dance and spin, fervently praying that the American People never understand the law well enough to discover exactly how badly they've been screwed.

9 posted on 04/25/2006 6:15:32 AM PDT by MamaTexan (I will hold my government to the intent of the Founders...whether it likes it or not!)
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To: SmithL
"that recognizes we are a nation of immigrants"

This, Mr. President, is why people are p*ssed off. The issue is NOT over immigration or immigrants.

The issue is over ILLEGAL ALIENS being treated as full fledged American citizens when they have not earned that right. To be treated as total idiots like we can't tell the difference...THAT p*sses people off. Somebody is feeding you some real bad information.

The issue is security and after 911, you are NOT addressing it here at home. You haven't even demonstrated a willingness to try. And you have the audacity to tell us "Massive deportation of the people here is unrealistic. It's just not going to work."???? SHUT DOWN THE BORDER, Mr. President!!!!

DO NOT INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE, Mr. President. We the electorate will not tolerate amnesty or guest worker programs until you have SHUT DOWN THE *@%$#* BORDER!

10 posted on 04/25/2006 6:16:41 AM PDT by el_texicano (Liberals, Socialist, DemocRATS, all touchy, feely, mind numbed robots, useless idiots all)
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To: SmithL

"he said, "in a respectful way that recognizes we are a nation of immigrants"

Nope. We are a nation of the 1. descendents of 2. assimilated 3. LEGAL immigrants, unless a few illegals got through. That's three things you are wrong about, Mr. President.


11 posted on 04/25/2006 6:18:40 AM PDT by RoadTest (The wicked love darkness; but God's people love the Light!)
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To: nathanbedford

You wrote: "As surely as Rome fell from internal rot, America faces the utter disintegration of its institutions." This was all foreseen almost 200 years ago:

In 1838, a young Abraham Lincoln spoke thus:

"All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years."

"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."

Maybe 100 years from now the Latino States of America will look upon George Bush as their Simon Bolivar.


12 posted on 04/25/2006 6:24:33 AM PDT by oldbill
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To: SmithL

"Conduct the debate, he said, "in a respectful way that recognizes we are a nation of immigrants..."


Are we also a nation af lawbreakers and tax scofflaws?

Do we subscribe to selective law enforcement?


13 posted on 04/25/2006 6:28:07 AM PDT by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: nathanbedford
Well put.

Sad that even with a large number of his own party coming down on him regarding this ongoing invasion of our Southern border, he still comforts himself with his grand delusions that there is no harm in close to 30 million illegals having violated this country's sovereignty since 1990.

I have been generally supportive of Bush (especially on the WOT) but his stance on illegal immigration has me madder than hell and spitting nails.

If he were able to run for a third term, I would not cast a vote for him. He's lost me for good.
14 posted on 04/25/2006 6:29:25 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Someday we'll look back on all this and plow into a parked car)
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To: x1stcav
"'jobs Americans won't do'"

That phrase pisses me off to no end every time I hear a politician say it. It seems to imply that American workers are lazy and feel they are too good for hard work. I'm sure some Americans are like that, but as a country it's not the case.

The fact is, there are jobs 'Americans won't do' for near slave wages.

15 posted on 04/25/2006 6:30:27 AM PDT by KoRn
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To: SmithL
In the county's Democratic stronghold of Santa Ana, the sentiments about Bush were even harsher. "The people here that already have their homes and property -- are they going to leave?" he said. "How are they going to get rid of 12 million people?"

Of course what this idiot doesn't realize is that the President agrees with him on deportation of 12 million.  This is a strange article. Not only does it contradict itself, but it sites evidence of this contradiction.  70% of Democrats agree with the President, yet they are even harsher?

70% of Democrats, most independents and 40% of Republicans agree with the man. If these statistics are correct, they clearly say that the President has captured the mood of the public, but being the San Francisco Chronicle they have to make it appear that the President is going against public opinion.

16 posted on 04/25/2006 6:33:00 AM PDT by HawaiianGecko (Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.)
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To: muawiyah

"Wonder if our dear leader has figured out yet that mass deportations are possible if we first acquire an adjacent Mexican state for use as a staging ground ~ maybe even set it up as an independent country for them."

That is an outstanding idea. Allow the rest of Mexico to rot in corruption. I'm sure the New Mexican Republic would not tolerate a mass invasion of Old Mexicans onto it's territory and with our support could it could serve as a buffer between the two countries.


17 posted on 04/25/2006 6:33:23 AM PDT by Rebelbase ("truth is not invalidated by suppression"--nicmarlo)
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To: oldbill
I cannot tell you how sad I am by the dreadful prospect in what is happening to my country.

Domestically, the specter of the loss of our sovereignty, our institutions, our democracy, and our culture is appalling. Internationally, we are increasingly isolated and, as unrestrained immigration leads to a Democrat majority at home, we will inevitably join the ranks of appeasers in a bootless effort to evade the wrath of islamo fascists.

When the terrorists detonate an atomic bomb in the heartland, where will the patriots be? We will have no sense of nation and will disintegrate into a tribal stew seeking accomodation at the expense of the rest.

Unrestrained immigration plays directly into the hands of those who would abolish the nation state. They see America as the greatest obstacle to that end. Unrestrained immigration is the end of sovereignty and the end of the American experiment.


18 posted on 04/25/2006 6:42:43 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, Attack..... Bull Halsey)
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To: KoRn
I've got a local contractor that used to be one of the biggest roofing contractors in Colorado Springs. I asked him why he got out of the busniness. He gave me a short reply. The Mexicans contractors with their cheap illegals drove the price down to the point it was no longer worth the headaches and risk.

I guess this is just another job Americans won't do.

Makes me want to hurl.



19 posted on 04/25/2006 6:45:10 AM PDT by x1stcav (Illegals go home! I'll mow the damned lawn myself!)
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To: SmithL
That's what a leader does," Bush told a crowd of 450 business leaders

The apple really doesen't fall far from the tree. He's as tone deaf and arrogant as his old man. The Reps will lose 30 in the House and he will be impeached. And, I , for one, STILL think he's going to puff around as if HE was the principled one! A suck up to business interests that could give a sh!t about the "common" guy, or even what country they originate from. What an unbelievable dumba$$.

20 posted on 04/25/2006 6:47:31 AM PDT by Nonstatist
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