Something's missing for Bush's "comprehensive" immigration reform (Krauthammer)

Townhall.com ^ | 5-19-06 | Charles Krauthammer

[ovrtaxt]

WASHINGTON -- I do not doubt the president's sincerity in wanting to humanize and regularize the lives of America's 11 million illegal aliens. But good intentions are not enough. For decades, the well-traveled road from the Mexican border to the barrios of Los Angeles has been paved with such intentions. They begat the misguided immigration policy that created the crisis that necessitated the speech that purports to offer, finally, the ``comprehensive'' solution.

Hardly. The critical element -- border enforcement -- is farcical. President Bush promises to increase the number of border agents. That was promised in the Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty legislation in 1986. The result was 11 million new illegals.

The president himself boasted about having already increased the number of border guards by one-third under his administration. Yet he acknowledges in the same speech that we do not have the border under control -- "full control,'' as he comically put it. The president's new solution? Increase the number of border guards again, by half this time. Everyone knows that anything short of enough border guards to do Hands Across America from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean won't do a thing to eliminate illegal immigration.

The only thing that might work is a physical barrier. The president offhandedly dismisses a wall as something that could never stop the "enormous pressure on our border.''

[Marine Inspector]

Something's missing for Bush's "comprehensive" immigration reform

Yes, and it's called common sense!

[MNJohnnie]

Whaa! You aren't doing only what I want. Whaa.

New day same gutless whining from the so called "Conservative pundits". Gee gutless ones. Suppose you could attack the Democrats on ANYTHING ever? Suppose you could speak truth to whiner instead of just validating their emotional hysteria? Leaders lead, Media whores read their emails to find out what to write.

But that right, attack Dems get hate mail. So much easier to shoot at your own side and be a "hero" to the Perpetually Pissed

[ovrtaxt]

If ovrtaxt were President:

1 end the anchor baby policy
2 end welfare benefits for non-citizens
3 end subsidized health care for non-citizens
4 swift and harsh jailtime for employers of illegals
5 build a 1951 mile wall from the Pacific to the Gulf
6 allow non-citizens to cross into Mexico with impunity
7 Pass the FairTax
8 overthrow the current Mexican regime and install a non-corrupt, capitalistic government

Someone corrected me earlier, said I should call them 'illegal aliens', not 'non citizens'. I think this criteria should apply to those here visiting legally too. Maybe a slightly less restricitive list should apply to those on the legal citizenship waiting list.

[snowrip]

Actually, it's several things... common sense, guts, logic, sacrifice... and actual reform.

[edcoil]

I'll agree with a "virtual fence" when they put one around the "peoples house", the white house and we'll see how that works out.

[Rakkasan1]

Fence 1st: amnesty (or whatever they're calling it this week) can be worked out later. Laws are subject to the changing whims of whatever particilar administration is in power and whatever enticement they're using to pander to whatever group that has it's hand out at that particular moment. Fences don't care. If we can build the interstate highway system, the Hoover Dam, put men on the moon, split the atom, and shoot down missles I'm pretty sure we can build a damn fine fence, it's just that our masters tell us "no". A nation without borders is not a nation.

[Mr. Mojo]

The president offhandedly dismisses a wall as something that could never stop the "enormous pressure on our border.''

A wall/barrier is a good - a great - start, but only just a start. We have to address the incentives for them wanting to come here in the first place, and that can only be done by heavily fining employers who hire them, repealing the anchor baby laws, and cutting off their welfare freebies. Combine all that with an effective border barrier and we'd finally be getting somewhere.

[Mr. Mojo]

....but none of that will happen, of course, because our bought and paid for elected officials don't want to solve the problem.

[Puppage]

Something's missing for Bush's "comprehensive" immigration reform

Yes, it's called having We The People VOTE ON IT!!

[hosepipe]

[ Something's missing for Bush's "comprehensive" immigration reform / Yes, and it's called common sense! ]

Unless Bush is very logical performing exactly what he wants to perform.. Which is induct 20+ million democrats into the democrat party.. because thats EXACTLY what WILL happen with his proposed program.. and he does know that, you know..

Why? 2008 and Hillary... Wonder what Hillary has on Bush, his Dad or brothers.. or all of them.. Course he could merely be a RINO and is doing what RINOs do, act like democrats..

[lemura]

If ovrtaxt were President:

None of these correctives will ever be implemented. Has anyone noticed that the debate isn't over expulsion, but amnesty? By way of example, control of Hawaii determined whether WWII would be fought in the West or East Pacific. If we're already on the defensive with respect to deportation in 2006, what will happen another generation down the line?

The only conclusion one can draw from demographics/politics/economics/history is that the US has already passed the tipping point. It's tough to accept defeat - when did the German high command know it was all over?

It's come to the point where I don't even think I want to admit being a conservative - it carries such a stigma of defeat with it. Our opposition is smiling because they are winning. I want to be with the winners and ride this game till the end.

While I still have some sentimental thoughts, the true pros are complete mercenaries. They're the ones that aren't fooled for an instant what this portends. They know there's big money to made during the transition and have their off-shore accounts and change of citizenship papers all prepared.

[Shermy]

"Hardly. The critical element -- border enforcement -- is farcical. President Bush promises to increase the number of border agents. That was promised in the Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty legislation in 1986. The result was 11 million new illegals. "

That was promised last year too. Bush tricked Congress then and underfunded it.

Bush budget scraps 9,790 border patrol agents - President uses law's escape clause to drop funding for new homeland security force

"Comprehensive" is a gimick. Nothing forbade security first, or even amnesty first. Bush kicked the can on border security for years to pose the false dilemma that we can have security only if we have mass amnesty, new mass immigration, and wage depression for his Corporate benefactors. False dilemma, manufactured heightened crisis.

There is some comedic relief. Bush's and others attempts to call this not an amnesty. During this speech he didn't even flinch when telling this lie.

Back in 1986 when Reagan was president, and amnesty was an amnesty and they used that term. But Bush has got the MSM imbibing this lie, so no mass discussion.

[cake_crumb]

"The president offhandedly dismisses a wall as something that could never stop the 'enormous pressure on our border.' "

With respect to Dr. Krauthammer, who's opinions I respect and who's editorials I read regularly, the reason for this may be because the president has a degree in history and economics, rather than psychiatry and sociology. However, I admit the president has no degree in political science.

[Paperdoll]

>...our bought and paid for elected officials don't want to solve the problem.<

I am afraid that even if they WANTED to, they would not be ALLOWED to.

[Clique]

(OK, let's try this thread again)

Ovrtaxt says: build a 1951 mile wall from the Pacific to the Gulf

I'd like to know if this is actually feasible. In other words...
1. How many years would it take...
2. How much would it cost...
...to build --not a chainlink fence-- but an actual wall, like Israel is building.

Have any Freepers seen a reliable estimate on whether this could even be done or not?

[PghBaldy]

Yep. I don't understand any other explanation for their behavior. Thank you Mr Krauthammer for telling the truth.

[cake_crumb]

1 end the anchor baby policy
2 end welfare benefits for non-citizens
3 end subsidized health care for non-citizens
4 swift and harsh jailtime for employers of illegals
5 build a 1951 mile wall from the Pacific to the Gulf
6 allow non-citizens to cross into Mexico with impunity
7 Pass the FairTax
8 overthrow the current Mexican regime and install a non-corrupt, capitalistic government

If by "Fair Tax" you mean a flat tax I'm with you on all but 5 because a wall is moronic, and 8 invading Mexico because we already have California to deal with, why the heck should we want to add the contents of whole tiolet to our plate? Not to mention higly illegal. Also, considering most of the Bushbats are antiwar Justin Whateverhisnameis fans to begin with, hypocritical.

[ImpBill]

"Serious border enforcement is what's missing in the president's "comprehensive'' program."

And he just doesn't get it. Never has ... unfortunately never will. Tis the last straw for this old soldier.