Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bush, Mexican leader pledge to work together
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | November 10, 2006 | associated press

Posted on 11/10/2006 8:23:08 AM PST by Graybeard58

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon pledged Thursday to work closely on pressing bilateral issues ranging from trade and border security to migration, which Bush said remains a top priority for his administration.

After their meeting -- the first between the two -- Bush told reporters, " I assured the president-elect that the words I said . . . about a comprehensive immigration vision are words that I still believe strongly."

Calderon added, "We both understand that the only solution to many of the problems that we have is to create well-paid jobs in Mexico."

He described the meeting as "very cordial, respectful, frank and very constructive."

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza predicted that the two leaders "will enjoy a positive and constructive relationship based not only on the obvious chemistry . . . but more importantly on their commitment to shared values like democracy, creating economic opportunity, reducing poverty, and the safety and security of our two countries."

Still, while the two leaders appeared upbeat, privately some observers said the men are far from becoming two amigos, a phrase coined to describe the friendship between Bush and outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox.

The meeting comes at a vulnerable time for the two men, both of whom face pressing domestic issues. Washington's political landscape shifted after Tuesday's election, meaning that Bush must work with a Congress led by Democrats. And in Mexico, Calderon must deal with several important issues, including a smoldering crisis in the southern state of Oaxaca and violence from the country's growing drug war, which has left more than 1,800 people dead this year.

Three bombs exploded this week in Mexico City, and on Thursday, Mexican authorities discovered bomb-making material in the central state of Guanajuato.

Additionally, Calderon's presidential challenger, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, far from conceding defeat, will proclaim himself president on Nov. 20th and is expected to name a cabinet on Saturday. More than a dozen Lopez Obrador supporters heckled Calderon throughout his visit to Washington.

Calderon's trip was marked by muted optimism that with Democrats in charge, an immigration accord is possible.

"I was strongly struck by President Bush's comments where he said that the new Congress could open new possibilities of understanding," Calderon said, adding, "This is a very interesting moment" for both countries to pursue the issue of comprehensive migration.

But while a Democrat-led Congress is likely to be more sympathetic to a guest-worker program that Bush favors, pushing for legalization for immigrants will still prove a tough sell, analysts said Thursday.

"These are moderate Democrats who ran in Republican districts and won," said Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates restrictions on immigration. "Asking these guys to go back to their districts and tell their constituents that they favor amnesty (for immigrants) will be tough."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Mexico
KEYWORDS: aliens
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 11/10/2006 8:23:09 AM PST by Graybeard58
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Sorry Mr. President, but this time I don't believe you'll do a damn thing about illegal immigration.


2 posted on 11/10/2006 8:24:34 AM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

We don't need no stinkin' fences!


3 posted on 11/10/2006 8:24:53 AM PST by mtairycitizen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
comprehensive migration

Ok... I'm game. What's their definition of "comprehensive"?
4 posted on 11/10/2006 8:25:52 AM PST by RedCell ("...thou shalt kill thine enemy before he killeth you by any means available" - Dick Marcinko)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: theDentist
Sorry Mr. President, but this time I don't believe you'll do a damn thing about illegal immigration.

Yes, he will. He'll give them all amnesty and invite more in with a "guest-worker program".

5 posted on 11/10/2006 8:26:03 AM PST by The Blitherer (In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Mexico needs to clean up Mexico.


6 posted on 11/10/2006 8:26:26 AM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
After their meeting -- the first between the two -- Bush told reporters, " I assured the president-elect that the words I said . . . about a comprehensive immigration vision are words that I still believe strongly."

Is it any wonder that many Conservatives either didn't vote or voted for third parties?
7 posted on 11/10/2006 8:28:29 AM PST by af_vet_rr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
We both understand that the only solution to many of the problems that we have is to create well-paid jobs in Mexico.

Sorry Mr. President, Labor costs will close your factories. See our country.

8 posted on 11/10/2006 8:29:16 AM PST by rocksblues (Do unto others as they do unto you!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

They are agreeing on where to put the unlocked gates in the new border fence.


9 posted on 11/10/2006 8:30:06 AM PST by TommyDale (Iran President Ahmadinejad is shorter than Tom Daschle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

"Comprehensive immigration vision" = picture *everyone* in Mexico moving here :-D.


10 posted on 11/10/2006 8:30:17 AM PST by tvdog12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Mr. Bush why dont you splain "comprehensive "to that Mom who got hammered then hung in a shower until dead.


11 posted on 11/10/2006 8:30:39 AM PST by claptrap (optional tag-line under reconsideration)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
Tin Foil Hat On.

It took about fifty years after the (not)Federal (not)Reserve Bank to turn our real money into fiat money.

Will another fifty years to turn the USA into a possible socialist North America Union?
12 posted on 11/10/2006 8:31:59 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

With the President-Elect paying homage to America's first female president-to-be...


13 posted on 11/10/2006 8:32:32 AM PST by 100-Fold_Return (In Prisons Tattletales Are the Same as Child-Molesters...hmm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

The problem is that the American jobs transferred to Mexico under NAFTA didn't stay there, but kept on going to China.


14 posted on 11/10/2006 8:33:58 AM PST by tvdog12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: Graybeard58

Well thank god we showed the republicans who is boss and booted out the one body that was attempting to stop this BS...


16 posted on 11/10/2006 8:40:58 AM PST by FreedomNeocon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvdog12345

The border was my hot button issue in this election...which the administration did absolutely nothing about...fences notwithstanding!! GWB had an agreement with outgoing FOX on the border thing and probably will with the new guy too. We don't know what it is and probably never will...but the GOP's lock out on the issue says everything...and the President as much as said so in his statement after the election...look out Mexico...open borders!! Come on up...free jobs, high minimum wages, free housing, free health care, free social security, free everything...just ask when you go to the grocery store!!


17 posted on 11/10/2006 8:44:53 AM PST by cousair
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

If I hear or read the phrase "doing the jobs Americans won't do" one more time......


18 posted on 11/10/2006 8:47:35 AM PST by NRA1995 (Clinton "tried", 3000 died)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreedomNeocon

"Well thank god we showed the republicans who is boss and booted out the one body that was attempting to stop this BS... "

They did not stop squat...they just slowed it down.


19 posted on 11/10/2006 8:49:56 AM PST by DonaldC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: NRA1995
If I hear or read the phrase "doing the jobs Americans won't do" one more time......

Well...keep us posted because Bush, among others, can't stop saying it.

20 posted on 11/10/2006 9:03:13 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson