Bush’s U-Turn On Immigration
Bush’s U-Turn On Immigration
Beginning today, in a series of speeches along the Mexican border, Bush will call for “a series of border-security measures that will make his guest-worker plan look like an afterthought in his immigration policy.†The right-wing has demanded more concessions from a politically weak President and Bush has complied with a dramatic change in rhetoric on the issue since his first year in office.
Here he is during a 2001 appearance with Vincente Fox of Mexico. Then, undocumented immigrants were “hard-working citizens” looking for a job:
We share values with Mexico. They’re common values — values that unite people, whether they live in the United States or whether they live in Mexico. And what are those values? … The willingness to work hard. America is known for our ability to work hard. Think about the Mexican worker who walks 500 miles across a desert to find work. Those are hard-working citizens. We share that very important value of people willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard. [White House, 9/6/01]
Now undocumented immigrants are “terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals“:
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. [White House, 10/22/05]
Expect more of the later this afternoon at 4.
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Is it possible that he was right both times?
November 28th, 2005 at 3:50 pmThat’s not a strategy, that’s a goal. A strategy would be a series of steps designed to achieve the goal.
November 28th, 2005 at 3:50 pmFlip. Flop.
Someone needs to show Bush the door. Please.
November 28th, 2005 at 3:51 pmThe RepubliCONS were FOR this stuff before, now they’re AGAINST it. Oh man, 2008 can’t come fast enough. Thanks Unca Karl, for all the kewl campaign strategery…
November 28th, 2005 at 4:06 pm#2 — no, a series of steps would be the tactics employed in support of the strategy in order to reach the goal.
Goal: Prevent terrorists, drug dealers and criminals from entering this country.
Strategy: Secure the Mexican border.
Tactics: Increase border patrols, etc.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:15 pmhttp://www.debatecomics.org/BushFamilyFortune/
Hitler and Bush
November 28th, 2005 at 4:17 pm“Strategy: Secure the Mexican border.”
SiliconeBoob
That’s not a strategy, that’s a goal. No wonder brown is a republican, you guys are not only inept, you don’t understand what english words mean. Is there a dictionary for the retarded republican misuse of the english language? You guys are so consistently incompetent, there must be a ‘mistraining’ to teach you to be this stupid – it can’t be an accident.
And WHY is there so much illegal immigration? Ask Halliburton. They just sent TONS of illegals to work in New Orleans for sub-standard wages. Ask all of those big republican ‘agribusiness’ companies who they hire. Ask walmart who their contractors are. If republicans actually wanted to stop illegals, they’d stop hiring them – but it isn’t gonna happen.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:19 pmRemember the famous quote: “I want adults to smoke!” by the cigarette rep.?
“I only want workin’ meskins to sneak in!”
November 28th, 2005 at 4:27 pmBush feels strongly both ways. GWB’s just trying to change the subject again, he’s his own worst troll.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:27 pmonly due dilligance will keep our borders safe, and this administration has already shown that is not their strongest suit
November 28th, 2005 at 4:32 pmAlthough I agree that securing the border is [part of] the goal and not a strategy, I think is far more important to point out that Pres. Bush was for illegal immigration before he was against it.
Or something like that.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:35 pmit seems that now he has no need for the hispanic voter-bloc so he is ready to turn his back on them.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:37 pmI suspect Bush used to be FOR illegal immigration because he thought the Repugs were making inroads into the Hispanic vote. Because, after all, el hablas espanol, es verdad?
November 28th, 2005 at 4:38 pmI disagree with Payson, but only as a matter of degree. I believe that Bush is going to pay lip-service to the idea of making the border more secure, and there may well be some token movements in that direction, which will get played up to big fanfare.
But for the most part, he’ll continue to push his amnesty program. Big business is too much in love with being able to use the labor of illegal aliens and paying them a pittance. And its not just wages. Health care, unemployment insurance, Social security “co-payments”, all that can be avoided using illegal immigrants.
I want secure borders. We need to increase the border patrol by an order of magnitude, and crack down on employers who use illegals. We also need to streamline and simplify paperwork to allow legal immigration, and not just for high tech jobs, but day laborers as well.
Later,
November 28th, 2005 at 4:40 pmJust like how Dick Cheney says people are trying to rewrite the history of why we went to war with Iraq…by quoting what he said when he was trying to justify going to war in Iraq.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:41 pmit seems that now he has no need for the hispanic voter-bloc so he is ready to turn his back on them.
Comment by Chris in AZ — November 28, 2005 @ 4:37 pm
I disagree: He might still need the Latino vote, but he needs his core supporters even more.
IMHO, his reversal signals a retreat from a politically weak position into safer ground. He can hardly afford to lose his “base” -specially with the 2006 elections right around the corner.
Which also explains the sudden talk of a withdrawal from Iraq.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:45 pmRyan, There IS a GOD, And I Know it from personnal Experience!
November 28th, 2005 at 4:48 pmThe Problem is, God Never Sat Anyone in the World Free.
People sat People free.
People chased God away with thier wanting to Be Free!!
And Thats a Fact!
But, Ryan, In Time, Our Freedoms WILL END!
November 28th, 2005 at 4:49 pmHe’s flip flopping more than a Mexican jumping bean.
George W. Bush is clearly melting like the cake in MacArthur Park.
-GSD
November 28th, 2005 at 4:52 pmThat’s the new GOP plan, same as the old GOP plan.
November 28th, 2005 at 4:55 pmBash gays. Bash Hispanics. Bash blacks. It’s all they’ve got left and their base demands it!
Im telling you, Its The Rich that want to be Free so they Dont have to Share!
November 28th, 2005 at 5:10 pmThey are the ones wanting to be Free!Free from Poverty!
Even if it means Killing off Poverty!
#5
November 28th, 2005 at 5:18 pmNo, No! A “series of steps” would be the actions taken to secure the tactics employed in support of the strategy utilized to attain the goal.
Illegal immigrants are actually costing us billions of dollars in health care. They are able to receive health care in any non-profit, government funded hospital; the same expensive services American’s receive and don’t pay a dime for it. After they are discharged they are unable to be found to pay.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:20 pmGeorge Any-way-the-wind-blows Bush AKA Cameleon
November 28th, 2005 at 5:21 pmSeems odd that this speech and these programs are devised by the US government without mentioning what it is that,say, Mexico, is doing. Would it make sense for the President to use,oh, what’s the word….diplomacy to make V. Fox a partner in this? Let’s be frank here, Bush isn’t asking for Congress to stem the tide of illegal Canadians is he?
November 28th, 2005 at 5:23 pmWouldn’t a series of programs that made it less lucrative to the Mexican economy for a large % of illegals to repatriate $s make more sense. Last I looked, there was another country on the other side of that border.
“But, Ryan, In Time, Our Freedoms WILL END!
Comment by freedom is not free ”
There’s an old yachting express “look where you steer”. If you believe something negative will happen, you end up supporting that negative event unintentionally. Your postings are a good example of that. They don’t ‘help’ progressive causes, they just make you look like a stupid whacko. You’re muddied, unclear, unfocused and frankly annoying. You’re an unintentional(?) sympathy troll who merely disrupts and interferes – you don’t help.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:24 pmAs to #s17,18 and 21, can somebody call Snow White and tell her that dopey’s using her computer again?
November 28th, 2005 at 5:24 pmim4mary,
Yes, but those medical costs don’t cost the agri-business, halliburton or other companies that illegally employ them. And the question I have to ask, is are you the sort of heartless and cruel person who’d let americans (legal or illegal) die just because they don’t have a visa or money to pay? If you are, then I don’t recognize you as an american.
What this begs to is the need for nationalized health care and day care to deal with the social problems, it doesn’t say we should cut off care.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:26 pmAnd FINF, your ‘god theory’ is just retarded, like most things you say. Get a grip you loser.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:27 pm#26 — Ryan, I hear ya. Most of the time I can get a good laugh out of the rants I read here, but this guy is so far out there it’s a little scary.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:30 pm#38 — Ryan, I can’t speak for im4mary but I don’t think the argument is whether to treat sick people or not (of course the only human thing to do is to treat them); the argument is about how to slow down illegal immigration so it doesn’t cause our social support systems to collapse.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:33 pmFINF, you really need to refill your meds your doctor gave you, you are sounding like a total nutcase.
Back on the subject, yeah this is a total flip flop for Bush, who has been a flip flopper and a liar all along. I don’t see him following through, or if he does, he will totally screw it up, like he has everything he has touched.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:34 pmThe right has been casting about for an issue about which they haven’t completely lost their credibility and Karl Rove or the New Rove (whoever that may be) has decided that this particular item plays well with the base and so they’ve all decided to go for it.
It will blow up in their face. Mark my words, America! Nobody but NOBODY except maybe Ann Coulter believes there is a shred of sincerity to this new “crisis.” And many of us remember Bush offering an olive branch of sorts to undocumented Mexican workers way back when.
Also if the President wants to rid the country of Mexican criminals, why not start with the ones in his own family? Deport them to Kennebunkport!
November 28th, 2005 at 5:42 pmLou Dobbs just vomited on stage.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:44 pmBushie is flip flopping because the headlines have been filled with STATES deporting illegals.
In Illinois, Republican candidate for Governor Jim Oberwiese was caught hiring illegal aliens to clean his ice cream shops. He paid them $3 an hour. The illegals decided to rat him out and for that we are grateful. Oberwiese can forget about winning the 06 election.
Even though we are grateful for those who spoke up, we deported them.
I’ve heard many stories recently where STATES are deporting illegals, something nobody has done in awhile.
Bushie knows that STATES have a clue and he better get one too.
Impeach Bush and Cheney.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:47 pmGeorge W. Bush, “I’m a uniter not a divider”.
“You know I can’t divide, or er multiply, er…”
November 28th, 2005 at 5:50 pmCynicon Implant,
Your statement was conscienteous and reasonable, so my response will be the same.
Actually illegal immigration is a real problem, but it’s a problem that stems from the ‘free range’ capitalism of this country. The focus on ‘cost’ and ‘profit’ in the most simplest of forms causes companies to try and bend the rules to cut costs. Sometimes they outsource, but agri-business, construction, etc. can’t do this. So to ‘cheat’, they hire illegals. They’re the corporate equivalent of the druggie/drug dealer who’s hooked on an illegal substance (in this case labor) and can’t get off of it.
The problem with the ‘tightening the border’ approach is that it won’t stop the influx, because the demand is too high. What it will do is create an organized and increasingly dangerous criminal element just as prohibition and illegal drugs created the mob and ‘gangstas’. This ‘prohibition’ approach is constantly ‘retried’ by republicans/conservatives, and it never works, but it does create very well trained and dangerous criminals…
November 28th, 2005 at 5:51 pmThis issue is just like any other issue that the shrub has tried to sink his teeth into.
This one will come back to bite him in the form of the agricorporations, Walfart, and others who depend and rely on low wage mexican workers.
Remember NOLA? Bush made 7-8 photo op trips down there but now it is the farthes thing from his mind.
The man needs to be sent back to Crawford where he can drive his pickup truck up and down the dirt roads with his plastic Jesus firmly secured on the dashboard, with a beer in his hand, singing
I dont care if it rains or freezes,
November 28th, 2005 at 5:54 pmLong as I have my plastic Jesus.
Cynicon Implant,
That was my assessment of why that approach won’t work. What SHOULD happen is that employers should be REQUIRED to pay a living wage (none of this by the piece crap), and if the business does not pay it, they are SEVERLY fined and prosecuted.
The problem isn’t the supplier, it’s that the ‘buyer’ is hooked and must be managed. If we force the illegals to be paid the same as locals would be hired for, then not only would it decrease the demand for illegals, but it might provide americans with high enough paying jobs to support themselves.
The ‘risk’ in this, is that food, yard services and construction costs would increase. That would affect the competitiveness of agribusiness internationally, but frankly the only reason they’re competitive now is that society is SUBSIDIZING their workers through healthcare, education and other government offerings, while they continue to cheat the workers in money that’s due to them for their efforts.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:56 pmRyan, thanks for the thoughtful response.
I don’t think ‘prohibition’ will work either. But we can probably have more control over the situation than we do now. There is demand from companies, farmers, etc. for the workers and the workers want to come here. Why can’t we just keep track of it better?
Also, there should be an effort to make employers offer health care insurance. Right now they are getting ‘free’ healthcare (emergency rooms), so the low wages look better to them. If they had to pay for healthcare like the rest of us then that might slow down the demand for the jobs a little.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:04 pmAs a resident of Chicago I have seen a flood of illegal Polish & Romanians immigrating here– particularly in the past two years. Why is it always the Mexican’s we worry about. I prefer 100 Mexican’s to every Polish person. It is a big and impossible job to guard the border but they must be flying the illegal Europeans in on purpose.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:08 pmIt is just one more example of our countrie’s rascism to focus on the Mexican’s and not the white skinned illegals that get a free pass!
BTW I am a caucasian.
Wendy, I too am a Chicago native. The amount of illegal aliens here proves that Homeland Security is a farce and a failure.
Impeach Bush and Cheney for making America less safe.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:13 pmRYAN NEAT
You wont like your proposal at all, when, if implemented, you go to the super market and pay 2 bucks for a head of lettuce and the price of all canned fruits and vegetables double.
I dont know what the answer is, but the above is very, very inflationary.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:13 pmGood point Wendy, we should hate them all equally.(Ryan, that’s a joke!)
November 28th, 2005 at 6:16 pm#43
“I dont know what the answer is, but the above is very, very inflationary.”
We coul dstart by getting rid of farm subsidies. I coul dnever figure out why the government pays people to not grow things. It is said to keep the cost of certain fruits and vegatables up. If you got rid of the subsidies, the cost of the fruit/veggie would go down, then paying works more money woul dbring it back in line with where it should be.
Simple.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:21 pmI totally agree Spudge. The govt. should stop farm subsidies and corporate welfare of all kinds.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:25 pmI watched a whole show devoted to farming subsidies. I think it was 60 minutes. I wanted to throw up. There was this farmer that got 2 million dollars a year for farming corn. This guy was just like some of our champion trolls here. He thought he deserved the $2 million because he was from a farming family and that family never had a chance to be stock brokers or something else. The guy doing the interviewed asked him “Why don’t you take the $2 million dollars and get yourself and your kids a college education?” the guy replied back with “Well, then we wouldn’t be a farming family anymore.”
So, the US taxpayers are paying this guy to keep his family stupid.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:34 pmjohn deaux, the only action I’m demanding is impeachment.
Impeachment solves everything.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:36 pmSure, there are illegals from many countries – we haven’t mentioned Ireland…. but I saw first hand the effects.
I actually lived in San Antonio for a short time. (A blue going to deep red was not pretty!)
I couldn’t get a decent job, nor my SO, because there were so many illegals willing to work for crap pay.
It was just awful.
Maybe an amnesty like they did in the late 80’s(?) with Irish immigrants would be helpful?
November 28th, 2005 at 6:36 pmGet the border under control, and make the illegals already here taxpayers. Seems that would benefit everyone.
Just a thought.
The only way to fight illegal immigration is to fine businesses that hire them.
If a business is caught more than once, they lose their business license.
It’s not rocket science, its common sense.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:50 pmSorry if this duplicates an earlier comment.
Obviously another GOP appeal to the worst in us. And another use of the slight of hand. The Republicans in Congress just inserted provisons in a bill for a significant increase in the number of green cards.
Sort of a twofer. Encourage immigration to suppress wages and weaken unions (like the last decades of the 19th century)and convince xenophobes that they’re trying to stem the tide of immigration.
This is another example of Republicans moving the goalposts.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:52 pmPut up enough barriers, fences, moats, and walls on our borders and we’ll enjoy our new security in a prison-state. The Berlin Wall also kept undesirables out…
November 28th, 2005 at 6:52 pmThe man needs to be sent back to Crawford where he can drive his pickup truck up and down the dirt roads with his plastic Jesus firmly secured on the dashboard, with a beer in his hand, singing
I dont care if it rains or freezes,
Long as I have my plastic Jesus.
Comment by Pablo in Mexico — November 28, 2005 @ 5:54 pm
Hey thanks Pablo, I needed a Laugh, gotta remember that one.
Anyhoo, I know that BUSH claims to be a Texan, living here in Dallas, PLEASE, PLEASE do not Consider him a Texan, Bush Is Eastern Establishment thru and thru and I cringe whenever I hear someone say hes from Texas and send him back to the Village Of idiots there. Well that Village isnt in Texas its up East.
When Bush puts on a Cowboy Hat and wears Boots its a Costume to be worn to the Local Rexall -Aj
Say That Gives me an Idea MUUHAHAA!
November 28th, 2005 at 7:03 pmIt would be sort of funny if the republicans, in their quest to crush the middle class, import cheap labor, and replace the present American ethnic demographic with one more servile, and comfortable with a corrupt ruling class, imports the seeds of their own destruction. With Venezuala’s hard left leanings, one could easily see such an idealogy spreading through the Americas, given the far rights vision of “ownership society” IE a small group of ruling families owning everything, and everyone else black, white, or hispanic,desperately poor. If they succeed, they will create a breeding ground for such a leftist worker oriented ideology to flourish. Within a few years, their “guest worker” population might prove to be one very hostile to the oligarchy they will be seen as the heads of. Finally a lot of the old racist hatreds might give way to hatred of a common enemy, the rich. People dont like to be slaves, and like even less to see their children suffer. It will be interesting to see in twenty years,what grows from the seeds the right wing is planting today. Just a thought.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:12 pmActually I would like to be able to purchase a head of lettuce for $2.00 and food has almost doubled in price over the last few years with or without illegal labor. Savings on wages does not necessarily translate into savings for consumers! When an illegal immigrants flips your omlette it still cost $7.50 at a moderately priced restaurants. Savings in wages go directly into the pockets of owners and corporations. Walmarts may be cheap but that is because they sell tawdry goods. Low quality goods have always been cheap whether they were imported or made in the U.S.A.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:24 pmWENDy
Susan
I totally agree.
Businesses that hire illegal imigrants are breaking the law. They should be fined, jailed if there are multiple infractions, any government contracts should be cancelled. The only way tomake them stop is to get them where it hurts, the wallet.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:25 pmPablo,
I don’t mind paying more for my food. Frankly food used to take a significantly higher portion of our salaries, and only since the advent of agribusiness, pesticides and illegal labor has the TRUE cost been removed. Frankly if food were priced according to its values, people might have a second thought about a 5000 SQFT mcmansion and a 9000 pound suv they DRIVE to the megamart.
The ‘artificial’ prices produced in our society make socially conscious choices more expensive, when in reality they should be less expensive. We need to stop subsidizing corporate interests at the expense of american health and welfare – because THAT is the root of the problem.
Just like we used to spend 200 billion a year of subsidizing the oil industry (it’s more now with iraq), we need to stop subsidizing the bad practices of agribusinesses and every other business.
There’s a book called ‘Natural Capitalism’ by Hawken that talks about how corporate pricing is out of sync with REAL costs and REAL capitalism. It’s worth a read, because the author talks about how this must be dealt with if we wish to sustain capitalism.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:33 pmLike the President’s position on Medicare reform, it sounds like the change of heart on immigration will have to be added to the Bush Top 10 Flip-Flop List.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:37 pmHere is another one for people to ponder.
If food was more expensive, would it cut down on obesity?
Would people eat less if a Big Mac was $8?
Would people eat until they were over stuffed if a Del Beef Burrito was $7?
Or, would people eat in moderation if they knew their meal was gonna cost $138?
I am just wondering.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:41 pm(…) the only reason [agribusiness are] competitive now is that society is SUBSIDIZING their workers through healthcare, education and other government offerings, while they continue to cheat the workers in money that’s due to them for their efforts.
Comment by Ryan Neat — November 28, 2005 @ 5:56 pm
Yep, exactly true.
I dont know what the answer is, but the above is very, very inflationary.
Comment by Pablo in Mexico — November 28, 2005 @ 6:13 pm
Well, you are already paying for all the government services via taxes. The difference is that you don’t see the cost, because you don’t pay it at the cash register at the store.
Paying living wages to workers will increase prices, to be sure, but it would also reflect more accurately the cost of living.
November 28th, 2005 at 7:41 pmWell lets see…
November 28th, 2005 at 7:44 pmtarists and borders…Hmmm
Ya think maybe the misadministration might have some d o c u m e n t s that show Vincente Fox met secretly with Al Queda in the Bahamas. Is Mexico now part of the “Evil Axis”
Sh*t!! I really believed Iran would be next,but Mexico
If you examine the ratio of food prices to the prices of all other goods, then food prices have fallen by 12% between 1952 and 2003. And that does not even begin to include the time we now save from the convenient modern preparation (value add).
That’s just the last 50 or so years, and it’s even more significant if we go back further. In the 19th century the amount of money spent on housing versus food was basically swapped with modern times. Housing was the cheaper, and food was the more expensive item.
November 28th, 2005 at 8:17 pmPablo,
What do you find inflammatory – just out of curiosity?
November 28th, 2005 at 8:17 pmI am driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, “George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan”.
And I did.
And then God would tell me “George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq”.
And I did.
And now, again, I feel God’s words coming to me, “Go get Americans their security, get your borders sealed as terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals are sneaking into your country”.
And, by God, I’m gonna do it.
–George W Bush
P.S. Just having a little fun…
November 28th, 2005 at 8:40 pmThis whole “immigration reform” thing is just another in a continuing series of “Look over there!” distractions, whipped out by Bush and Co., when things get a little to hot. His corporate contributors will not allow such a plan to be implemented. Nothing is more important to them than the Almighty Dollar, and that will never change. Don’t let them distract you.
November 28th, 2005 at 8:59 pmI think Ryan’s comments are the ones I agree with too. Subsidies should be abolished. Businesses who hire the illegals should be punished. Years ago, the cost of food vs. income was much higher. (I would not refuse health care to a sick person, legal or illegal, that is immoral to me.) Unfortunately, the agri-business community, and other industries which have come to rely on cheap labor will never relinquish their golden goose.
November 28th, 2005 at 9:19 pm#54, the guy in Florida offers a thoughtful comment. The future does not look rosy if we continue as we are.
I take it then that Bushco will gp after those companies that hire illegals- you know,some of their political contributors.
November 28th, 2005 at 9:47 pmObviously, the author of this post doesn’t know what he’s talking about. For a minor example, one will note that Bush’s remarks are misinterpreted.
For the more important example: Bush continues to do exactly what he’s done for the past five years: support massive immigration in order to provide cheap labor for contributors to the GOP. This speech is just the latest attempt to get support for Bracero 2005.
Click my link and look through my archives if you want to find out the truth about this subject.
November 28th, 2005 at 10:26 pmSo whatever did happen to all the funds we have been putting into “Homeeland Security”….
November 28th, 2005 at 10:55 pmI SERIOUSLY SAY AND THINK HARD ABOUT THIS,IF WE ARE FIGHTING A LEGITIMATE WAR ON TERROR WHERE TAXPAYERS ARE BEING SEARCHED AT AIRPORTS,ETC. BUT OUR BORDERS ARE WIDE OPEN AND PEDRO CAN WALK INTO THE SOUTHERN STATES WITH PICNIC BASKET IN HAND WITHOUT GETTING SEARCHED,I SAY HOW IS THE LYING BUSH ADMINISTRATION FIGHTING THIS WAR ON TERROR.WAKE UP PEOPLE AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID…THE PATRIOT ACT WAS DESIGNED TO STRIP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF MORE RIGHTS NOT SUPPOSED TERRORISTS AND REMOVE ANY PRIVACY RIGHTS.WAKE-UP BEWARE OF NEO-CON FASCISM…ITS ALL A LIE
November 28th, 2005 at 11:13 pmBush the Flip-flopping Psychopath.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:51 pm[...] I guess they’ve given up pretending and prefer to throw some red meat to the base, saying that they really don’t like those brown-skinned folks. [...]
November 28th, 2005 at 11:53 pmI have heard that Canada and many other countries with social systems actually need immigrants to support such systems.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:56 pmCassy- Try getting into any heavily socialized country and find out what it means to be an alien. They pretend to be accepting and non-materialistic until you try and get some of their material wealth….
November 29th, 2005 at 12:05 amIs this the same man speaking out against illegals from Mexico that we listened to prior to the election? Then they were hard workers looking for a better life. It is obvious he does not need the hispanic vote for re-election any more isn’t it? This man would jeopardize the safety of this country for another shot at the white house. And he proved it today. He could have done this on 9/12. What is the reason behind this flip flop now?
November 29th, 2005 at 12:06 amBush is smart in doing this. For all of you who just decide based on rhetorics don’t know much how congress works. HE”S DOING IT BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY WAY HE CAN PASS AN IMMIGRATION BILL! you need to satisfy a majority and if that means paying lip service to both sides than so be it, rather than being stubborn and not getting anything passed.
Bush is a compassionate conservative and deep at heart wants to help immigrants but he knows he has to satisfy the right wingers in order for his plan to materialize, thus the contradictory statements he sometimes make
November 29th, 2005 at 12:38 amIf stopping potential terrorists from coming over the border was actually important to the Chimp In Chief or the Hitler Men(Minute Men), then they should just offer a reward, and amnesty, to any Mexican who turns over a terrorist to any border patrol. Crackers from South Carolina might not be able to tell the difference between a Mexican and a Muslim extremist, but Mexicans can.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:48 amFood should cost more in this country. This country is made up of the fattest bunch of slobs that has ever existed. The average American could probably eat half of what he normally eats and he would still be chubby. The media pays lip service to these people calling obesity a disease and promoting whatever fad diet is popular that day. Insurance companies will pay for a lazy blob with no self control’s stomach stapling operation, but has never paid a dime for any eye care I’ve ever needed. What kind of free country has values that leave me to spend thousands of dollars over the years for glasses and eye exams, but will pay 50 grand so Al Roker won’t look like the Marshmellow Man any more.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:59 amTheo- Your insensitive comments are a welcome change from the lefty navel gazing mantra’s this sight breeds…..
November 29th, 2005 at 4:54 amThe government is just avoiding the real issue. If you want to stop illegal immigration, put up laws that force companies to pay just as much or more to immigrant workers. If companies have no attractives to hire this labor force anymore, then there will be no demand for it any longer.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:17 amI don’t know where people get the idea that food is reasonably priced. Starchy and unhealthy food is cheap. Fresh foods, fruit-vegetables, lean meats, are really really expensive. Try making a meal for a family of four with low starch and fresh foods and it easily will cost over $20. plus shopping and cooking. The problem with junk food is it has so little nutrition that your body is constantly craving more food because it does not feel satisfied.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:21 amAlso, it doesn’t help that our milk products contain bovine growth hormones and anti-biotics and are really not fit for consumption.
Shopping and cooking for a family is a full-time job and with most women working it is almost impossible. Then you have the upperclass wives who are too busy getting their nails done and like to brag they can’t cook (I actually know these types so it isn’t just a stereotype) who can’t be bothered even though they have the money to feed their families well.
WENDy
Think Progress,
What have Democrats done to reform immigration? Was it Bill Clinton who called for amnesty for Mexican illegals?
I’m not fooled Think Progress.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:24 amTheo reiterated a lot of what was said in earlier posts on this thread with the difference being Theo used words like lazy blob and fat slobs.
Is that really the only way to speak to you, MM? Ryan stated the same idea about food pricing being truer and possible unintended weight loss as a result above. I’m perplexed that you only jibe with posts that are more derogatory in nature.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:25 amIgnore the troll trying to dissolve intelligent discussion into nonsense about Clinton. Nice try troll, but no sale. We live in present day and are here speaking about our future. I’m sure there is an appropriate Clinton bashing site for you to feast upon elsewhere.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:30 amI agree Wendy, good food is very expensive.
SpudgeBoy and others, I agree, American’s eat too much.
I wonder how many arabs sneak into the country via the Mexican border. They’re getting in from somewhere and it’s not the airports.
Don’t assume that only Mexicans come in from the Mexican border. Anybody can fly to Mexico and then cross the border into the states.
Bushie supports terrorism, thats a fact or he would have resolved the border issue a long time ago.
Impeach Bush and Cheney, they support torture and terrorism.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:38 amRYAN
I did not say INFLAMMATORY, I said INFLATIONARY.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:42 amI’m not surprised that Dumbya is flip flopping again. For a man that claims he doesn’t pay attention to polls or read newspapers, he sure seems to know when it’s time to distract the masses.
This tactic will not work though because Dumbya has no intention of cutting off the corporate slave train. He’s paying lip service right now to his base because he knows he’s in trouble. He can’t actually do what he’s proposing because :
1) His corporate cronies would have a cow. They are making profits hand over fist by utilizing undocumented workers.
2) Hispanics are courted every election cycle by the GOP. They need those minority voters in place and on their side. If you start deporting their relatives, you’ll lose their support politically.
3) It will cost too much to man our borders and this administration has shown that they are only willing to invest in themselves and those like them. They always balk when it’s time to ante up for the common good.
November 29th, 2005 at 10:52 amYou’re absolutely correct Str8Up, the only thing Bushie accomplished by “pretending” is he just lost the hispanic vote for the 06 candidates.
November 29th, 2005 at 11:03 amWe progressives have become so suspicious of the administration that we become inured to the modicum of sense it sometimes makes. To wit: The border issue is bigger than undocumented workers. See Paul L. Williams’s conscientiously referenced new book, The Al Qaeda Connection, for the straight dope on how Islamic terrorists, based in South America since the early eighties, filter up through the Mexican border into the US, sometimes bearing nuclear materials. Meanwhile, a NAFTA/GAFTA-free foreign trade policy might be a start in reducing Mexican poverty and keeping them from pouring over the border
November 29th, 2005 at 11:28 amAll you Hispanics that voted for Bush… Who loves ya now baby?
November 29th, 2005 at 11:40 amprogressive and proud,
who is bashing Clinton? i supported Clinton. however, it was Bush who called for amnesty for Mexican illegals. this a progressive thing and a liberal thing. it was breathtaking at the time and Bush for be commended for it. immigration is complicated and sore issue, but it is just wrong to fall into the clich of Republican hate Mexicans and Democrats love Mexicans. that’s balderdash and I want Think Progress to pretend like it was educated at the Ivy League schools it was educated at. is that asking too much?
You got to come with something better than “Bush is bad, Bush is bad” everyday.
November 29th, 2005 at 1:11 pmIf you go back a bit before Katrina and before Iraq reemerged in its latest cycle of horrors there was a brief window when the GOP was test balloning the ‘immigration issue’ as the ‘gay marriage’ issue for the 2006 mid-terms. It would appear that they have settled on it as a issue they can demonize the democrats as being ’soft on illegals’ and still deliver a new set of rules by which the big-business contributors so they can still get cheap (and now legal!) temps.
The illegals play the role of the bad guys for the election script department. In a the simple frame of the campiagn they will use the frame that if you oppose Bush you must then be ’supporting’ the illegals.
But it appears to be proving to complicated from the start, plus Bush & Rove are way off their game these days with such low standing they are unable to get traction.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:48 pmBush is a piece of crap, but Americans want strict immigration control. Check any poll. They should build a fence and/or put the military on the Mexican border.
November 30th, 2005 at 12:05 pmBush should take care of what is already on his plate before starting a new adventure. His failure at everything he already proposed is the story of his life.
November 30th, 2005 at 12:40 pmI’d like to explore several thoughts about the Illegal Immigration issue:
November 30th, 2005 at 4:52 pm1. “Illegal Aliens are only doing jobs Americans don’t want to do”.
This is FALSE. Americans would gladly do those jobs, if they paid more. The only reason they don’t pay more is because illegals are willing to work for less.
Using illegal aliens as employees is really just a slightly watered down version of slavery.
2. “Americans will have to pay more for fruits and vegetables.”
So what? I’m sure if we paid the workers 10 cents an hour the prices would be even lower than we pay now, but is anyone suggesting that we should do that?
3. “You can’t blame the Mexican people for wanting to come here to work.”
While I agree with this, I do put part of the blame for the situation on the Mexican people. If there aren’t enough good paying jobs in Mexico, did it ever occur to the good people of Mexico that perhaps they are having too many children? There’s something called the Law of Supply and Demand. When workers leave Mexico to come to the US, this reduces the demand for jobs in Mexico, and serves to raise the salaries of workers in Mexico. If people sre so poor that they have to travel to a foreign land just to support their families (a noble pursuit, I agree), perhaps they would do better to have smaller families in the first place? I know that Catholics revere and obey the Pope, but this “no birth-control” policy is really hurting your country. How much longer will the US be able to absorb your excess population?
And those jobs McCain says the Americans don’t want the
Americans will take two or three of those jobs after NAFTA
and outsourcing has taken their union, good paying, good
benefits blue and white collar jobs offshore. Sending American jobs offshore at same time giving the jobs here to illegal immigrants. And on TV said that l7 million service
jobs will go offshore because of CAFTA.
US companies still here are taking advantage of ones that
have gone offshore by freezing the wages not even cost
of living wage for decade, half the starting wage, no
benefits or pay more for health insurance with limits.
And people with limits going without healthcare just
like people who loose their jobs and health insurance
with it. At least Canada and Mexico have national
healthcare so if loose job still have health insurance.
That’s what has happened from NAFTA and outsourcing
November 30th, 2005 at 6:49 pmWhat will happen with CAFTA and l7 million service
jobs going offshore and US companies taking even more
advantage with CAFTA. Union? what’s that?
This to lyle
Try living near the border and see how much you love your “neighbors”. Republican or Democrat!!
January 14th, 2006 at 6:04 pmFree Motorola Ringtones…
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January 18th, 2006 at 7:30 ami think that the ones who are not registered in the US need to go back and get registered! if they are not registered dont send them back just make them get registered! yall dont need toi take my hispanic friends away!
May 9th, 2006 at 2:21 pmi hat e it when i go to a retaraunt and the workers cant even speak english! i asked a mexican server which kind of chicken was the best, and he just stood there staring at me. finally i just gave up and walked away. have you noticed that everything has spanish on it now. for goodness sakes, there are spanish words on the signs hanging from the ceiling at the grocery store!
November 15th, 2006 at 4:40 pmwhoa, no one uses this site anymore…
November 15th, 2006 at 4:42 pm