An Appeal to President Bush on Immigration
Remembering Reagan: 'Government is not a solution to our problem'
By Bluey Posted in Featured Stories | Immigration — Comments (73) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Dear President Bush:
Conservatives will never completely abandon you, but as long as you keep spouting liberal talking points on immigration, there's a good chance you'll lose what few supporters you have left. After your speech today in Georgia -- one in which you lauded the role of government in fixing the immigration problem -- I have a feeling even some pro-amnesty libertarians will find your language hard to swallow.
A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform primarily because they don't think the government can fix the problems. And my answer to the skeptics is, give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect. Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don't try to kill this bill before it gets moving. Give us a chance to make it easier for the folks who wear the uniform along our borders to do their job.
That's hardly what you'd expect from a conservative. Your remarks attacking opponents of the bill will only inspire my fellow critics to fight harder. I realize that you and your allies in the Senate (including odd bedfellows Teddy Kennedy and Jon Kyl) are on the defensive and need to fight back. You were caught off guard by our successful attempt to correctly point out that this bill is amnesty -- even worse than the mistake our idol Ronald Reagan made in 1986.
Read the rest of my letter...
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're trumping big government again. You did it before on education reform (No Child Left Behind) and health-care reform (Medicare prescription drug entitlement). But it's profoundly disappointing that after the conservative base turned Republicans out of office in 2006 our leader still doesn't get it.
You said today "the bill before Congress learns from the mistakes of the past." But that's not true, Mr. President. The bill is the 1986 amnesty all over again. Only this time, instead of giving amnesty to 2.7 million illegal aliens, we're talking about doing it for 12 million. This bill will cause a flood of new illegal immigrants to America because it is so generous.
Your claim that the bill "makes enforcement our highest priority" is just hogwash. There are no new border-security provisions in the bill that aren't already in existing law. In fact, we'd be better off without your new bill because at least all the security measures would still be in effect without the new amnesty provisions.
Let's face it, Mr. President. Teddy Kennedy is a good negotiator. He's gotten what he wanted in the past and he's done so again this time. Even if Karl Rove is telling you that Republicans will benefit from an influx of Hispanic voters, don't believe him. He said the same thing with the Medicare prescription drug bill. I plead with you not to put politics ahead of bad public policy.
Sincerely,
Concerned Conservative
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I'm gone. I'm part of "the base". I've voted straight-ticket Republican since 1980. And I'm done. No more. GWB has turned my stomach at every turn. I cannot believe I was duped so thoroughly by this man. He has done ONE (well, two) things to help the Conservative cause - his Supreme Court nominations. His speech today sickened me, like he seems to do now every time he opens his mouth.
This election will be a repeat of 1992, UNLESS a true conservative emerges and captures the hearts/minds of the Republican party. Otherwise we will have Bob Dole again. And like 1992, this is a result of a faux Republican (wow, another Bush - imagine that!) who lied to his base and became a pseudo-liberal turncoat.
where exactly are you going? Are you going to vote Democrat? They will remove the National Guard from the border and provide amnesty. What exactly is your alternative?
I know people are upset with this bill but now many of you are acting like the out of control foaming at the mouth liberals that we all hate. Everyone settle down. Last I checked there is no bill passed. This is democracy at work. A bill is proposed. The bill gets debated and something better comes about and all I hear is kicking, screaming and idle threats. All of you need to relax. Our views are being heard. The Congress is debating and why don't we all wait for the final product before we all decide to jump ship all at once.
maybe things have got to get a lot worse before they can get batter.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
I will never again support the RNC. I will never again support the RSCC. I will never again support the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. I will support individuals that are conservative, but I will never support anyone that votes for this Immigration Bill. I will work and donate money to defeat them in the primary and yes I will work to defeat them in the general election. Will I vote Dem....no...unless it is to defeat my own Senator Martinez, then I will actively work for the Democrat in the general election. I will do everything in my power to defeat him during the next election cycle including voting for a Democrat. Why, because he cannot be trusted to keep his word on immigration..so why should I trust him on anything else? A Democrat who is honest is more important than a Republican who cannot keep his word!!!
absolutely, brilliant. So, in other words, you will support someone that won't only give amnesty but will remove the national guard and not build a fence. Now, that is really thinking. Yeah, it is attitudes like that that will give us a President Clinton or maybe a President Obama. You sound much like the foaming at the mouth far left liberals that I despise. Get a grip. Your voice can be heard but leaving the party means handing Democrats who are much worse on immigration the next election. This is the sort of raving lunatic rants that I would expect at dailykos. You need to get a grip.
This is the typical canard we see from the Republicans...you gonna give it to the Dems. There is no money for the Fence it was never appropriated..so why should I vote for Martinez? The Guard is not at the border as far as I know and they aren't allowed to arrest anyone either...so why should I vote for Martinez? So the difference between Martinez and the Dem is...? Let me see, I should vote for the following: Katrina, Abu Graib, No Child Left Behind, Medicare Prescriptions, Ney, Lewis, Cunningham, Calvert, Delay, Jack Abramoff, Plame, Iraq incompetence, Campaign Finance, Immigration Reform, Bridge to Nowhere, and Earmarks Galore...Yep, those are all fine things to support. Why should I vote for a Republican like Martinez when I can't tell him from a Dem...Now that's really Brilliant! I believe it's really smart to get rid of the man who stands for one thing and forgets that stand after election. I expect it from a Dem, I expect a Conservative to live up to his word.
I quit supporting the GOP apparatus a long time ago. I have sent them so many postage paid envelopes saying "Not a penny until you secure the borders" that they no longer send them to me anymore.
In 2000 I had high hopes but the last several years of Republican rule which was preceded by many years of Democrat rule have convinced me that I am going to get bad government no matter which party is in power. They are all unprincipled and corrupt and the only thing any of them care about is getting re-elected. They govern for the benefit of whichever special interest offers the most in terms of getting them re-elected. The longer they are in office the worse they get.
Basically if they are an incumbant, regardless of party, I am going to vote against them. Since I live in Wyoming, most of the incumbants are Republicans.
But, not any longer. I will no longer vote for candidates who support flawed legislation like this. I did vote for John Kyl because he actually opposed illegal immigration before he supported it. Not anymore.
For all of you who are criticizing those of us who have left the GOP (actually the GOP left us), what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to continue to support the status quo?
Supporting the status quo is what got us in this mess.
The GOP is dead and GWB is a big reason for it.
Mike,
I agree that this is how it works. The probelm is that wasn't the intent from the Republican co-sponsors at the start. There was much subterfuge involved. They cut a deal with the WH and Dems, announced it and expected that it would simply sail on through with 2 quick votes, 1 in the Senate, 1 in the House, and then presto! It's a law. It's only because of the kicking, screaming, and idle threats that it's not law already. Given the chance, the system generally works. The intent here was to short-circuit the regular process from day one. It would be one thing to pound away at this from the outside, trying to make it "something better". It's something else when there are Republican (and nominally conservative!) fingerprints on it from the start. It's not just that this legislation corrupts the rule of law, it's that the process to make it was corrupted itself.
"The day you think you know it all is the day your trouble starts."
Party registrations are being changed by the thousands, party identification is heavily with the Democrats, and many similar and tangible actions are taking place across the board. The bad part is that the damage Bush already has wrought is devastating. The reason I find this so tragic is that the total implosion of the GOP was the only thing that kept some Republican senators and representatives from jumping over the cliff with the president. That is gone now, and there is no incentive for many to do the right thing.
Perhaps the Republicans cried "we'll leave, we'll stay at home" so often that once it became something tangible and real, the mindless party hacks in D.C. actually believed they could pat the critics' heads and get them back into the fold. Your post certainly betrays that total lack of awareness.
upon passage. However, it's a good thing GWB is not up for re-election, because barring a complete turnaround, there's no way he could get elected to the library board, much less POTUS.
If GOP senators all of a sudden develop gonads and drop their support for this abomination, then maybe I will consider sticking with them. If they do as I expect and cave to the left, then my comments stand. If this occurs, I fully expect a 3rd party candidate to emerge - one that is closer to my own convictions than the current batch of losers that the Republicans are trumpeting. (Fred? Are you out there Fred?)
Again, this is 1992 all over again. Let's hope the (inevitable, depending on the outcome of the "No Illegal Left Behind" bill) 3rd party candidate is a little more respectable than H. Ross Perot.
The good news is that 1994 came two years later. While I am really upset at the current legislation - and I'm bewildered at my senators support of the bill - I keep telling myself that even if things get worse in 2008, there's always hope for a turn around.
1980 and 1994 still give me hope in the long run. I just don't understand how 2006 wasn't a bigger clue-in to them.
I'm facing losing a senior senator that I generally love. . . all over this immigration bill. He likely will not win re-election if he votes for it, so I am really at a loss for why he's continuing to support it.
>>>there's always hope for a turn around.<<<
if there's a leader in the GOP who emerges that can lead them back down a path of conservative values. That is precisely what Newt did in 1994, and that's what we need today. Such a person either does not exist or is lurking in the dark...
Even Newt isn't Newt anymore... Our leader is going to have to come from the Executive Branch this time around, I think, or we're going to have some trouble.
Run like Reagan!
that has to be his greatest achievement. For that alone, he should go down in history as a winner. Every time, I get upset because of the immigration issue and other issues, I have to remember, things could be a lot worse. John Kerry, who surrendered to the enemy in Paris, would have been elected President had President Bush not beaten him.
is that you don't know what else would have happened. The congress was still Republican at that time. Maybe with a Democrat in office they would have found some balls and actually tried to govern. Then who knows? A perceived weak President Kerry might have caused more Republican to be elected.
You just don't know.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
If Bluey doesn't know that by now I doubt he ever will. The Conservative base is gone! Not only from Bush, but from the Republican Party. They've duped us long enough, but never again. Conservatives will never support Democrats, but now they may never support another Republican! They'll either cast a protest vote or stay at home.
and frankly it is that attitude that will produce a President Clinton or Obama and frankly whatever faults you think Bush and the Republicans have it is nothing compared to the wretched government those two will level upon us.
I can give you a point by point comparison from a CONSERVATIVE viewpoint that Bill Clinton was a better president than Bush on everything except the response to terror and nominating Judges.
Now those are two important things, but I reject the Idea that we cannot survive a Democrat. We have a harder time surviving an un-conservative Republican.
But whether you like it or not is immaterial, we are talking about human nature, This administration and this congress are about to turn so many conservatives and libertarian off there will be millions who leave the political sphere permanently.
This happened once before, after Nixon's resignation. Conservative people left the political arena in droves but Reagan was able to lure many of them back.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
and some social issues. So it looks more of a mixed bag.
Not sure I can give W the defense either. Its not hard to be good on defense during wartime.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Clinton originally went with a tax hike, but then signed into law a truly massive capital gains tax cut(for the rich!), which is a big reason the economy took off in the late 1990's.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
"The Sky will fall" mentality won't work anymore. Because the Republican Party can't be trusted to do anything that it promises. It is just as power hungry and unprincipled as the Democrats. If the Democrats don't wreck the country the Republicans will. Come to think of it, they're doing pretty good job of doing just that right now!
I will hold my nose, and I will vote for Republicans but don't EVER dare tell me again that I have to do my duty or else the big bad Dems will win.
That won't play anymore.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
We are like the Eagles song "Already Gone"....I am so tired of "take this and like it...or you'll get fill in the blanks " something else that the RNC and Jorge think will scare us worse than their current plan....
Republican since Goldwater...disgusted with RINOs and gone gone gone
I could add my 2-cents, but the short of it is You said it, brother. And it seems the elitist response to the erupting groundswell -- dig in, use the race card or the xenophobe card, and tell us how we are misunderstanding the situation.
It's war -- so when can we start shooting back at the enemy Democrats?
Here is the part that jumped out at me...
"A lot of Americans are skeptical about immigration reform primarily because they don't think the government can fix the problems. And my answer to the skeptics is, give us a chance to fix the problems in a comprehensive way that enforces our border and treats people with decency and respect."
Well, in the words of Ronald Reagan,
"the nine most dangerous words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'"
Except that like Budahmon, I have now completely abandoned this President (whom I voted for twice). It would be one thing if this were simply a random piece of bad legislation with fleeting effects. Sadly, this legislation will inevitably damage this country for decades. Robert Rector's $2.5 trillion price tag alone should shock even the most resolute among us. With all due respect to the importance of our battle in Iraq, what good is it to win over there, if we lose our country over here?
Moreover, for the President to justify his refusal to enforce the Constitution and our duly enacted laws (as he did in Georgia today) by claiming that critics don't care about what is "best" for this country is almost Orwellian in its absurdity. Someone needs to inform this President that our current immigration laws are not an ala carte menu for him to selectively enforce as it suits his open borders agenda.
Frank Katz
New said it all, today. He said that "GWB has turned into the Republican Jimmy Carter." But I'm beginning to think that is actually more of an insult to Carter than it is to Bush!
Though Carter keeps digging trying to hold on to last place...but Bush may overtake him in the final stretch...
The President thinks that we should treat the illegal invaders with decency and respect? The man, and his cohorts, have lost their minds and their conservative base.
Their selling this country out to their big business supporters and future illegal alien votes. They have no soul!
Try to imagine every American city looking like Los Angeles or Miami Mr. President. Personally, I'm trying not to.
There is no amount of money or power in the universe sufficient to surrender this country to invaders. In took over 200 years for our forefathers to build this great nation and its culture. You and your cohorts don't have the right to destroy it for political, monetary or legacy reasons.
I've never looked more forward to election season.
Replace people at INS and stop the current inflow of illegals. Then we can talk about what next. Oh you might try a few more raids of meat packing plants, textile producers and gardening firms.
I have never stopped hoping that the laws we have would be enforced.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
6 years and the problem with immigration is worse!
He picked the head of ICE who General Meyers niece and has NO law enforcement experience. He does not want the laws CURRENTLY on the books to be enforced...
Republican since Goldwater...disgusted with RINOs
The President is a Republican, not a Conservative. This bill is not the death knell of the Republican Party, it's the death knell of the conservative members of the party. The conservative ideals will still exist, the newly legalized "citizens" can be brought into the conservative fold, but it will take generations. The new "citizens" will understand far more readily the instancy of the rewards offered by their new sponsors, the Democrats. The understanding and applying of the conservative ideals takes time,and asks for sacrifice, and delaying gratification. The new "citizens" are far more likely to reward those that are "helping" them, as opposed to those who appear to have fought against their "inclusion" in society. For many of the supporters of this bill, the important thing is to "do a deal", or "get something done". Doing something triumphs over doing the right thing. I'm sure there are many supporters who believe this is the right thing, but they are sadly, terribly wrong. There is enough of an existing framework of laws to do what needs to be done already. In 20 years, we'll be dealing with +/- 50 million "undocumented workers", who "just want to come out of the shadows". As Yogi Berra would say, "It's deja vu all over again".
"The day you think you know it all is the day your trouble starts."
terribly wrong is Bill Kristol. I've grown to dislike this man so much over the past few years. He may be in charge of the "Weekly Standard", but let us hope he has little input into our next "Standard Bearer".
Barnes and Kristol are Neocons. They and their ilk have destroyed the Republican Party. And Fox News is nothing more than the Neocon pimp. Harsh word? Perhaps, but I think it would be very hard to prove me wrong.
I thought I was the only one here who thought Kristol and Barnes were puffed up, pompous a***s. I find myself disagreeing with them both, but especially Kristol, on most issues. He comes across with such arrogance that you can almost see him wishing for failure to prove how smart he was.
Barnes just strikes me as more of a DC hack.
Barnes is making me sick. He and brother Kristol think this bill is the best thing since sliced-bread. That alone should tell you volumes about them and neoconservatism in general.
But I agree with your assessment of Barnes. He's corporate. And nasty.
I don't think the entirety of Fox's presentation is Neocon. I think they have presented many traditional views.
Apparently to build credibilty when this kind of issue comes up.
They think that "we" are either too stupid to understand or that we are just bigots. Even GWB thinks we are vigilantes or ignorant or bigots...
Republican since Goldwater...disgusted with RINOs & gone...forever
...clearly, you do. Should have read the Posting Rules, boychik.
Blam.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Moe,
Banning someone for using the word "neocon" ? There are some virulently PC people in this world who would be really proud of your adoption of their tactics. I thought about joining RS (and supporting it financially) two years ago after the Harriet Miers fiasco. (That's when I changed my registration from R to I and stopped financial support for the GOP.)
Now I'm glad I didn't join RS or support it financially, too. I may continue to lurk in the future, but this may be the only post you ever see from me.
Try saying something about the Jews, next time: that's reliable. Depleted uranium, blood-for-oil, chickenhawking, non-ironic use of the Southern Strategy meme... have I forgot anything?
Well, obviously 9/11 conspiracy theories and/or repeated use of profanity. Ditto religious bigotry, racism and hating Firefly...
OK, that last one won't get people banned. It's unwise to cop to, but it won't get people banned.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
For a guy who wants everyone to take him so seriously. No need to ban me; you probably wouldn't be able to stomach my high-octane polemics, so I'll refrain from posting myself. Besides, why should I hang around a place where politics is supposed to be up for discussion, but the moderators think everyone is supposed to play patty-cake? There's moderating the discussion, but thought straitjackets are going overboard. Sheesh. Later.
I'm an outed roleplaying gamer, Sparky. I do posts about bad Eighties music video and magical leapluridons and killer death robots. I no more expect people to take me seriously than I expected any of the campaigns at CPAC to go on the record about whether their guy was the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby. I mean. I've banned people using haiku.
Now, I expect people to take my moderation seriously, which is a whole different issue.
Moe
PS: Still not banning-worthy, sorry.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I just haven't been to any of the frivolous dusty corners. Hence my apparent perfection in overlooking your posts. I have, however, been a fan of Kilmer's Sunday Show reviews and Pejman's writing. But I rarely have spent much time down in the comments section until this latest illegal alien amnesty bill reared its ugly head from Teddy Kennedy's posterior. And I maintain that you have your shoes laces tied too tightly. Adios...
Is this serious? Irving Kristol defined the neoconservative movement. Assigning the label to his son is a bannable offense?
...if I was convinced that the person meant it as a vile slur.
If this troubles you further, take it up with the Directors via the Contact button.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
you assume Mr. Bush cares what conservatives and other opponents of the legislation think. He doesn't. In fact, he seems to have become so unhinged today it may be wrong to assume he can rationally understand anything.
Bush is our Jimmy Carter, the Republican Party will be paying for the Bush Presidency for years to come. Of course Bush was better than the alternatives in the general election, and I will still pull the Republican lever, but you won't see me carrying water for Republican politicians that don't deserve it.
I won't unquestionably write a check to whoever the Republican nominee is, I won't volunteer my time, and I won't defend bad policy for short term electoral gains. The Republican Party went along with everything Bush ordered, and I've finally had it with immigration, that's the line in the sand for me.
Our Party would be in a far better position had we nominated someone different in place of Bush. He has shown to be an incompetent leader, an awful communicator, a terrible commander for the Iraq War, and now he is supporting a piece of legislation that will destroy the Republican party, and permanately balkanize the United States. With friends like these, who needs enemies.
I'll never let another Bush anywhere near the Republican Party again.
"Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the nation because the people were so poor. Now we are told we must collectivize the nation because the people are so rich. "
William F. Buckley, Jr.
20/20 hindsight. Just who would you have nominated that could have beat Algore and John Carry? Geez, I can hear the whine through the screen.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
I was going to comment at the start of your post about how it worried me that all Republicans were going to be punished for the sins of the ones now, but I think after reading it all the way through that you meant you would check into the policy positions of a candidate before supporting them, right?
If so, I'm with you 100%.
I defend you no longer.
The position itself is deserving of a minimum level of respect. That is where you sit.
The United States is not some parliamentary rag of a structure to be destoyed for cheap trinkets. She is of higher Cardinality, Sir.
She represents the Dream of Liberty of Mankind, and has come closer than any other to achieving that Dream. Something Honorable.
Dear President Bush:
Conservatives will never completely abandon you, ....this one is...he ain't conservative and "_his mind_" is made up....He never changes his mind...
Republican since Goldwater...disgusted with RINOs
It may be a low price for Z visas, but the bill isn't amnesty. Words mean things. The 1986 bill clearly was amnesty:
Title II: Legalization - Directs the Attorney General to adjust to temporary resident status those aliens who: (1) apply within 18 months; (2) establish that they entered the United States before January 1, 1982, and have resided here continuously in an unlawful status (including Cuban/Haitian entrants) since such date; and (3) are otherwise admissible.
In my view, conservatives do not persuade by calling something amnesty that isn't.
you believe that there will be enforcement, and that the immigrants will actually have to pay any fines or fees.
I, for one, have absolutely no belief that any such thing will occur, and judging from recent history you should not either.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
An analogy I like is if I stole a new BMW last year, amnesty/pardon would be telling me that if I just turn in the stolen car, they won't hit me with jail, fine or other punishment. Ending my possession of the stolen car is not a punishment, it's just refraining from future commission of the offense I just got amnesty for.
Now what if the government takes that a step further, and says I can legally keep the stolen 2006 BMW if I pay a $5000 "fee" and pass a drivers license exam. Is that a punishment, or is the discount price (offered only to car thieves) on a 2006 BMW a reward for violating the law? What it the government changed the terminology so the $5000 "fee" is now a $5000 "fine" - does that make it a punishment?
I favor amnesty for most illegal immigrants. That means any illegal is forgiven their past unlawful presence in our home - no jail, no fine, no criminal record - if they just stop commiting future violations of our law by going home now. What I oppose is giving illegal immigrants a reward, cheap legal residency visas for law breakers only, which are not available to those foreigners who respect our laws and try to immigrate legally.
I find the argument over whether forgiveness for violation of immigration laws is "amnesty" silly and useless. Of course it is amnesty, for the reasons you point out. Even some Democrats have started openly to call it "amnesty" to try to get that nonsense off the table. The serious question is whether it is good policy. The verdict is fairly clear there--it is horrible and self-destructive policy that only the clueless GOP and Democratic Beltway party hacks could perceive as acceptable.
Where this and last year's legislation slips from the stupid into the dangerous is the unspoken amnesty it provides for the felonies needed to get into and stay inside the United States--forgery, tax evasion, document fraud, identity theft, failure to register with the Selective Service, and so forth. This two-tier system of justice probably has done irreparable damage to the GOP, as would be expected. The dangerous part is that unequal protection in which lawbreakers can commit serious felonies with impunity will lead to disorder and a general breakdown in the law.
It is amnesty in effect. The law is only law when it is applied.
When was the last time you were pulled over because no-one was walking on front of your car with a lantern? There are thousands of laws on the books that never get enforced.
This will be one of them.
and its meaning some time ago, irrespective of what this bill or that bill states. Put your head in the sand if you want, but if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
and while I'm unpersuaded by the merits of the bill, the howler monkey brigades that would clearly call ANY bill that had immigration in the title "amnesty" lessen the respectability of that position. (witness Sean Hannity, whom John McCain made look foolish (not that that's particularly hard to do, IMHO) last week on his radio show, and as I said, I'm not convinced this is a good bill, or a fan of Sen. McCain - IF the bill does what McCain said it does, its worth a look. IF but I'm so fed up with both sides, the illegal/Dem caucus who say it doesn't go far enough, as well as the unhinged Dobbsians, that I'm too tired to bother looking. I. DON'T. CARE. ANYMORE.)
its also ironic the people demanding respect for something quite mild compared to their own bitching and moaning
there are a lot of good reasons to be skeptical of the bill, perhaps to oppose it outright. but there sure as hell doesn't seem to be any grownups making them.
If this passes, I'll be gone, and singing. After nearly 20 years of voting for Republicans, too.
If we must have socialist policy, let it stain the forthright proponents thereof; at least the punishment will come upon the proper party.
Therefore: it is right and proper that every Republican know they are lost should this pass--with the Democrats assured ascendence, the only ones who can be punished will be Republicans.
and the Senators have totally misread this entire fiasco and we the people are going to pay for it because they are to full of themselves to admit they are wrong and we are right. I would vote for any conservative and I don't mean compassionate either, straight up conservative. I want small government and states rights on the issue of abortion and protected borders, very simple nothing to hard in that, I only hope there are some of those out there.
Facelessj, don't leave the party; just do what I did today. When the RNC called and asked for me to renew my membership, I said no. I told them I voted for Bush twice and respected him as a strong leader on the war and as a Godly man, but that he was wrong headed on immigration and that the only way I could protest was by not renewing my membership. I told them no money until they stop with this Bill.
We have a lot of power right now, and just as the base stopped the Harriet Myers nomination, we can stop this immigration bill if we contiune to scream at the top of our lungs.
I also have no problem with enforcement folks entering primaries and opposing incumbants that want to go along with this Bill. We should pick places were pro-ammesty Republicans are running, and scare the crap out of them. Look, when Bill Kristol comes out against a Bill, then you know it has to be BAD!
Republicans would have actually have had to fight the Democratic Party. Also, we may not have lost the House which is where we actually have fighters. Having a man I supported twice, and a party I have supported but not registered for basically call me a racist, not once (Bush), but twice (Graham) is enough. Who do they think they are talking to THEIR (former) supporters like that? The Senate as a whole is garbage on both sides, and it's time they all go. Since I live in NJ, no Republican can win anymore, so instead I will just be trying to oust my two incumbant crooks Menendez and Lautenberg. As an Indie I have voted Republican 99% of the time, and donated to the GOP, but no more. I will save my hard earned dollar for specific races throughout the country trying to knock off supporters of this bill.
GWB and his plan of United States of North America inches ever closer.
This quote by Bush is both appalling and inexcusable:
If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it, you can use it to frighten people.
He's talking to opponents of the bill assuming they're not acting in good faith, once again engaging in that failed us versus them rhetoric. This is one many reasons why I have little to no confidence in Bush & his cronyocracy.
Those are strong words. They are the same words that might be used to describe someone who was anti-american, unpatriotic or even a traitor.
I don't appreciate the President implying that I am any of those things. Last week he used words that strongly implied that anybody who opposed the bill was a nativist bigot.
I've had just about enough name calling from a guy who deserted from the national guard and who is trying to surrender our sovereignty.
But it is utterly unpersuasive. Can he articulate even one reason why this bill is "right for America?" Evidently not, and no wonder.
I'm sorry to see the President take such a position. I can't imagine what would motivate him to completely alienate the dozen or so conservatives that still had any regard for his policies.
I received a fundraising letter from the RNC wondering if I had abandoned the party...
No, the party has abandoned ME.
I share the sentiments of those who say "not one more dime.."
I'm not a "Republican", I'm a conservative voter. I usually vote Republican, but I can no longer support a party that has completely abandoned conservative principles for the sake of who-knows-what.
This mantra of "It's our best chance to change it.." is baloney. It isn't up to "chance".. MAKE A DECISION AND SET YOUR SAILS. (Or are you waiting for some special planetary alignment to occur..?)
You get the fence UP, the border SECURE, then maybe we can talk about something else.
Or does this have something to do with promises made to Vicente Fox that the border would remain 'porous' for the forseeable future under the SPP agreements the President signed? In which case, all the foolishness and stalling on border security over the past few years begins to make much more sense..
The next budding cottage industry in America will be English schools that teach the new influx of Mexicans, Central Americans, South Americans, illegals, and much much more to learn our language. This will prepare them to compete for your job which means everyone will be making a lower wage if you are middle class or below. Why should you make $26 dollars an hour when Paco will do the same job for $7, maybe even $5? Who cares about your mortgage or expenses or child's special school needs? And Paco is willing to do it without any vacation time. It's all coming to a location near you.
Remember when the BUSH(he is ONLY the puppet, not the MASTERMIND) administration announced the WORKER VISA program? Remember the caveat that NO JOB will go to ANY FOREIGNER UNLESS it is turned down by AMERICANS FIRST?
Once this bill passes, and some form of it will over the next few years whether its these whores or the next whores that do it, you can foresee the END of traditional American life as we know it.
When new outlets or other stores are built, corporate America will take applications for let's say 500 jobs. But those jobs will be paying substantially lower wages(not even minimum wage) with no benefits since most jobs will conveniently fall below the needed minimum 40-hour work week to qualify for benefits. Once rank and file Americans quickly turn down these jobs, all of the them will be then given to the new WORKER VISA selectees since AMERICANS FIRST TURNED THEM DOWN.
For all of you that say, "Hey this is the capitalistic way and it's okay" will not be saying that when this permeates itself to your job or that of a family member. The problem with globalization is that works too efficiently. Moreover, the United States has the MOST to lose economically since it is already the highest paid economically. Whoever said you had to globalize because everyone else is doing it? Well, if you agree with globalization then don't you dare gripe about this immigration bill because you can't have it both ways.
Globalization has helped US industry make extraordinary wealth at the expense of the its own manufacturing base which is now practically non-existent. The WORKER VISA program is designed to reward the service sector with a low wage alternative that will soon be the standard. Imagine your youngest child or grandchild telling you one day that they got a job over seven other Mexican Guest VISA workers because they didn't turn down the $6.72, 30-hour a week job and they were the ONLY American that applied. What a proud moment for the family, let's break out the cake and party favors. This is economic downsizing at best. I can even foresee companies offering FREE English classes to their new crop of low wage employees. This immigration bill is a BIG WINNER for ALL BUSINESS because you will now be able to legally cut those employment expenses. Therein lies the incentive.
One of the arguments is that the ONLY jobs these IMMIGRANTS do are jobs that no AMERICAN wants to do. Don't you just love the propaganda and brainwash? Forty years ago, Americans did these jobs because there was a fair wage. The jobs that Americans will not do now are the ones being farmed out to the illegals who are willing to work for such a low economically inefficient wage that ordinary hard working Americans cannot compete. The government has turned a blind eye to this for decades.
For GUEST VISA worker, this is like the hitting the lotto. If you are a BUSH worshipper, then you only need to look at Mexico to see what will be the future in America. In Mexico, there are ONLY two social classes that exist. The very wealthy and the dirt poor. Mexico has a viable, low-cost welfare program for its needy and poor. It's a sign pointing northward to the United States.
If you think the United States would be better off being unabatedly infiltrated by immigrants from Mexico, then look at Laredo, Texas for a taste of corruption at its finest. Once passed, how far away are we from the discontinuance of the national anthem being played. Worse, will American flags be sold at a cheaper price than Mexican flags in stores? You'll know when we have hit rock bottom -- when you give your grandchildren 100 peso notes for XMAS money. What about the eventual NAFTAization of schools where kids will be scored on their ability to understand multiple currencies OR languages and also have to know the economic elements of the upcoming Amero that we will all have(If you think the dollar is worthless now...)?
There very well could be some of you thinking, "I am a manager or an accountant or a postal employee so I am safe." For the immediate moment, your job might very well be safe. But over time, as the new quasi-citizens and workers from the south permeate our society like nothing ever seen before, they will eventually compete for your jobs and those of your children.
Eventually, EEOC rights and privileges will extend to the new taxpaying workforce as integration drives its stake further and further into the heart of our society. ("I'm sorry Mr Jones, our hands our tied, our company is mandated to have a 25% GUEST WORKER base in order to qualify for our tax subsidy, so you are screwed.")
If you are under 40 as of right now, then your future employment opportunities in America are about to diminish as they will be shared with foreigners. Of course, this rationale does not immediately apply to everyone, i.e., doctors, lawyers, other unique professionals, etc. But as the legions of immigrants flow into our nation so will their need for services such as our colleges and universities. Getting used to Spanish as a second language will be helpful when you address your superiors or your child's English challenged teacher. Look for an explosion of new Mexican eateries to satisfy the growing and burgeoning influx of this new population and watch how fast American fast food eateries adapt their menus as well. Try yo salivate over the idea of a Menudo/Chorizo & Egg Breakfast sandwich at McDonald's. Yum yum.
Soon, America will be a carbon copy of Mexico with two lone classes, the very very wealthy and the poor. I don't have to prove it, just watch it blossom over the next one to two decades. As the volume of immigrants increases, so too will the erosion of the traditions of this fine nation. You cannot stop it. It has already been decided by our political elitists. They have full control of our lives. It is an impossibility to galvanize this already vegetized electorate which will grow more and more dependent on the government for help. The American electorate has been essentially neutralized and these NEW CITIZENS will solidify that measure as they are here ONLY for themselves and couldn't care less about this nation.
All empires eventually fall after they rise to the top. History is replete with examples of this. I wish I could be more positive but I saw the writing on the wall as far back as 1998.
I'm sorry this just jumped off the page at me....We've already left..in troves. I'm tired of supporting someone who can't make his case that we should be in Iraq! I'm tired of supporting someone who is so inept; Katrina, Abu Graib, no WMD, US AGs, Valerie Plame and now immigration. I am a Conservative who voted for Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. I am a conservative that held his nose for the Medicare Bill, No Child Left Behind, and Election Reform malfeasance that this man signed. I am a Conservative that worked the polls for this President (twice) and for my Senator Mel Martinez (once) giving time and effort into the run up to the election and working for 14 hours on election day in the polls. No more...not one thin dime will I give the Republican Party over this Amnesty Bill. I will not work in the polls for these people. I have left the party and will work to defeat every Senator that votes for this monstrosity. The problem is that the Republican party does not realize that their base has left and no amount of scaring up the big bad boogieman is going to get us back. They can get their money from the Illegal Aliens working in those construction jobs that no American would do.. This conservative is gone.