Posted on 11/28/2005 7:42:50 AM PST by Reagan Man
President Bush will speak in Tucson, Arizona today and address some of the most pressing issues facing America, namely, border security and illegal immigration. With today’s speech, the president has the opportunity to build on the momentum generated among conservatives from his recent Supreme Court appointment and his strong stand against the Democrats regarding pre-war intelligence on Iraq.
What conservatives are looking for is a policy that carries forward the recent string of initiatives coming from the House and Senate which are now focusing more on the vital area of border security and less on so-called “guest worker” programs. Hopefully, the president will be on the same page as most of America and see that cheap labor runs a far distant second to protecting the American people.
In today’s Washington Times story, Bush plans anti-illegals campaign, reporter Bill Sammon notes that President Bush “will call for a crackdown on illegal immigration,” but will also “call for a program to allow Mexicans who have already entered the U.S. illegally to remain here for up to six years.” According to the Washington Times,
“This is going to be about comprehensive immigration reform,” a senior White House official said of today’s Arizona speech. “He’s going to talk about the three elements that comprise such reform — border security, interior enforcement and a temporary worker program.”
The political climate has definitely changed regarding immigration reform. In the past, only a handful of legislators such as Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) have been willing to take a strong public stand on protecting America’s borders. In our two-part interview (Part 1 | Part 2), Tancredo highlighted his current legislation and also noted the president’s new stronger tone regarding illegal immigration. In a recent radio address, President Bush said:
To defend this country, we have to enforce our borders. When our borders are not secure, terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals find it easier to sneak into America. My administration has a clear strategy for dealing with this problem: We want to stop people from crossing into America illegally, and to quickly return the illegal immigrants we catch back to their home countries.
The president added:
Our border patrol and immigration agents are doing a fine job, but we still have a problem. Too many illegal immigrants are coming in, and we’re capturing many more non-Mexican illegal immigrants than we can send home. And one of the biggest reasons we cannot send them back is that we lack space in our detention facilities to hold them until they are removed. When there’s no bed available, non-Mexicans who are caught entering our country illegally are given a slip that tells them to come back for a court appearance. Most never show up. And then they disappear back into the shadows of our communities. This is called “catch-and-release,” and it is unacceptable.
However, the president still used part of that address to highlight aspects of a “guest worker” program by citing the notion of a job that “no American is willing to take.” Continued emphasis on a guest worker program only muddies the waters and dramatically slows action on the more pressing issue of border security.
As Bill Sammon notes in today’s Washington Times story, President Bush will continue the same tact with his speech in Tucson: part will be aimed at continuing the conservative rally by talking tough on illegal immigration, but part will hit on the guest worker program. The president will be joined by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
If the president were to seize this opportunity to rally his Republican base around the issue of border security, he could use that momentum as we move toward the crucial 2006 elections. The president advisor’s would do well to note that continued emphasis on a guest worker program will only perpetuate the skepticism which exists among many in his base that economic relations with Mexico are being allowed to compete with the safety and well-being of American citizens. The choice is clear and easy: America comes first.
Yes, he CAN set a new tone-- but WILL he?
I fully expect this to be just more border BS.
What time the President will speak?
Amnesty. Their kids will be born here and they'll piggy-back it into green cards and citizenship.
No. After almost five years in office, PresBush has ignored the illegal immigration issue. He wants the borders kept open for two reasons. The Hispanic vote in 2006 and continued flow of cheap labor for big donor GOP businesses. Its baffling to see the President prosecute the WOT in Iraq with such determination, while he turns a blind eye to the issue of US border security. Just how does Bush believe he can dodge this issue before it bites him in the butt and more Americans are killed by terrorists. Support will collapse for the President if there is a terrorist attack that is linked to an illegal border crossing.
Third reason. Nephew George P. Bush (he's half-Mexican) is being groomed for office in Dallas. Expect him to run for Tex. AG, Tex. Gov. and then for national office.
But more in the tone of;
Dammit George, are you drinking again or something? *&%^$ ENOUGH within this BULL ___. Close the *^&%ing BORDER you &*^$% and deport every single %$#@ing ILLEGAL. They're killing the USA, literally.
And then comments from those other than in his immediate family will arrive.
It is a fallacy to think that action against illegals would appeal only to Bush's conservative "base." This issue resonates with Americans everywhere who do not want their country and culture swamped with illegals. Bush would get support from rank and file Democrats, and from people in the vast apolitical "middle."
Why do you think Hillary has come out against illegal immigration? She realizes that this issue resonates across the spectrum.
Americans are sick and tired of having illegals soaking up social services that we are all paying for, and keeping wages down, keeping citizens on the dole instead of working. You simply cannot have both a generous "social safety net," and uncontrolled inmigration.
Americans are also sick and tired of illegals turning parts of our country into unassimilated third-world enclaves.
Most of us would pay twice as much for fast food if it meant taking our country back.
To paraphrase Ronaldus Maximus, Jorge (Rockerfeller Republican) Arbusto put up a wall!!
No.
He's got a Socialist Community of North America to build.
Exactly. This is not just an issue that appeals to conservatives. Roughly 80% of Americans oppose any form of amnesty for illegals. A majority of Americans also want the borders secured, employees punished for hiring illegals and they want all welfare to illegals stopped.
> Why do you think Hillary has come out against illegal immigration? She realizes that this issue resonates across the spectrum.
We had better thank the lucky stars the rest of the Dims don't realize the opportunity they have to trump the Repubs here. Everyone wants secure borders except the cheap labor Republicans. If the Dims seize the opportunity you can kiss the majority goodbye. It's not too late for the GOP to recapture, but they need to act FAST.
I support Bush on many things, but on this issue he is a POS. I simply do not understand his so called BS immigration policy and any patience I had with him on it is long gone.
Put the spurs to him Tom Tancredo.
I agree with your sentiments...although I'd consider it nepotism instead of despotism.
I saw some of little Jorge's comments concerning the Border Patrol. If they are accurate, he can kiss off any conservative vote in the future.
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