Full Text, Bush Speech.

Instapundit ^ | May 15, 2006 | GWB

[WestSylvanian]

I totally agree with you about Gingrich. He's articulate, extremely well-informed, tough-minded, and has strong leadership qualities. He has ideas that he has been thinking carefully about. I was impressed with him on Russert.

[SouthTexas]

He could have done more and he could have done what the last six Presidents have done which was nothing.

[Uncle Hal]

What incentive is there for the illegals to sign up to be legal citizens. If we do not put a certain date on them to sign up, are we going to deport them? Are we just going to let them run around the country with no enforcement or consequences. This whole amnesty thing raises more questions than it solves. What a mess. Things are going to get very ugly very soon. A real fence is the only answer.

[slowhand520]

Failed according to who? Good riddance. I guarantee if Bush begins to rebound you will be all gung-ho. You are typical. You don't mean what you say and it is evident. You are fooling nobody.

[PghBaldy]

Yep. This speech was called after that story broke. I believe the article did it.

[justche]

Shamnesty is more like it.

Bush is nothing but a globalist sell-out. He can kiss my a$$.
__________________________

You don't have to agree with the man on everything - but he's the President. That office and the man that lead us through 9-11 and the following 5 years without another attack deserves respectful disagreement.

[VOA]

"Just my opinion, but I bet the Border Patrol story about them leaking
Minuteman and other border watch group location and numbers to
the Mexican Consulate is what made Bush have to get serious about
this. He’s been in trouble about the border for a long time, but I
think that might have pushed it over the edge."

That surely set off alarm bells in The Oval Office.
But, IMHO...
I suspect Tom Osburne's primary loss in Nebraska last Tuesday may have
been the "tipping point" wake-up call for Dubya:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1632158/posts

If supporting goodies for illegals gets Tom Osborne a smack-down
in Nebraska...that's a storm warning sign for other Republicans.

[hinckley buzzard]

what makes anyone think that if they take part in a work program and the end date arrives, that they'll show up (for a bus ride home)?

The constantly unanswered question is, "Why should any of these interlopers bother to jump through hoops for citizenship, or other legal status, when they have everything they want with the current status quo?"

[teg_76]

I won't vote for anybody who doesn't support strong border security...i.e. a wall....

I'll be home on election day....

[calex59]

It is not a terrible situation except for the fact our government has made it that way. We can send the 11 to 20 million home. Enforce the existing laws and fine and jail employers, they will stop hiring, the ILLEGALS will go home, for the most part on their own, the rest we can round up and deport.

This crap about not being able to send them back is BS of the highest order and deserves nothing but ridicule whenever it is encountered. Only an idiot would believe amenesty could be good for the country, it wasn't in 86 and it isn't now. Unfortunately we have plenty of those idiots on FR.

[digger48]

It's kinda how things used to be done to get the tomatoes planted and picked.

They came, did the work, went home til next season.

But we knew who, and where they were. Or supposed to be.

[Pa' fuera]

What??? Somebody explain this one to me, please. I don't get it.

He wants to funnel much of the current illegal traffic through the guest worker program so that workers will apply, have background checks done, and cross the border at established checkpoints. The problem is that the government is already doing this with tourist visa applicants and the process that is used is broken and no measures are being taken to remedy it. To the contrary, the Bush adm is looking to expand it.

[mtbopfuyn]

So, once all the illegals have learned English and been made legitimate... who will fill that pool of people that will do "Jobs That Americans Won't Do"? Hmmm...I guess that's when we'll be doing the next amnesty package. Another 20 years from now.

Bingo!

[I'll be your Huckleberry]

Well homeboy, I am a betting man by trade and if you like Houston now and you think this speech is aimed at making Harris county a more American city - then perhaps you might like to make a gentleman's wager on that huge increase in Presidential popularity?

Huck

[Paladin2]

I agree with you in general, but it would be good to send 20,000 to hold the border initially and back off from that when technology is properly developed AND proven(physical obstruction of some type in most places).

[Shermy]

"In the end he is giving amnesty, nothing to really secure the border, just great new ways to watch them pass by with all the new technical gadgets."

Someone pointed out this will be more expensive than a fence. For one, illegals will cross the border and still have to be processed.

[Disgusted in Texas]

I voted for this man!!!!!!!!WHY!!!!!!!!!!

[hinckley buzzard]

Why would he expect any of these interlopers to jump through hoops for citizenship or other legal status when they have everything they want now, with the status quo? What possible "incentive" could he offer someone to leave a possibly good job and settled life here and go home to mexico?

As always, there is no stick, and no carrot. Just talk.

[Shermy]

"We are a Nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a Nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals – America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time."

True they are not contradictory. We welcome a million legally by our laws every year.

Bush is using shame and guilt again.

[Constantine XIII]

Well, so will we. :P