Video: Highlights of Bush’s immigration speech
posted at 9:30 pm on May 15, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Michelle wasn’t impressed. Neither was Hot Air’s video maestro, Bryan Preston.
Full sixteen-minute clip is at Hot Air affiliate Expose the Left. EtL also has video of CNN’s screw-up in cutting to Bush during rehearsal.
Glenn wishes Bush had spent more time on assimilation. Captain Ed says the speech proves Bush sticks to his guns, even if it means a 29% approval rating. Hugh Hewitt gave it a solid B+, then interviewed Julie Myers and downgraded it to a D-.
Dave from Garfield Ridge liked the rhetoric, didn’t much like the actual program. Confederate Yankee congratulates Bush — whom he labels “The Divider” — on having split the Republican party. Jay Stephenson played the drinking game and ended up not totally wasted.
James Joyner liked it, but notes he’s not part of the group Bush needed to win over. Jonah Goldberg says Bush will probably get a bounce from it, but mainly because he can’t go any lower. JPod calls it a “partial victory,” Krikorian calls it wimpy mush. Amanda Carpenter of Human Events Online lists the pros, and then the cons: “No fence. Doesn’t militarize the border. Is amnesty.” Heh.
Pelosi seizes the moment to demand Bush disavow the “mean-spirited” House bill. And suddenly, I see Geraghty’s point from this morning with crystal clarity…
For me, the most ridiculous part was Bush’s insistence that temporary workers would leave when their stay is up. Krikorian draws the obvious conclusion. Derbyshire adds the exclamation point.
John Hinderaker is despondent. Paul Mirengoff is slightly cheerier, but only slightly: “[T]he real middle ground between an automatic path to citizenship and deportation is no path to citizenship and no mass deportation.” Defense Tech considers the logistics and declares the proposal “border security theater,” a plan devised mostly for show. Shocking.
Olbermann Watch reports that Krazy Kayo headed straight for the ulterior motive. Iowa Voice sounds even more depressed than Powerline.
TV Newser says CNN is blaming NBC for their screw-up.
The AP has reactions from Democratic and Republican pols. Tancredo is loving every minute of this, isn’t he? Meanwhile, “the undocumented” are vowing that no National Guardsmen are going to keep them out of the U.S. And here’s the White House fact sheet on — sigh — “comprehensive immigration reform.”
Human Events Online rounds up reaction from various Republican congressmen and senators.
New poll from Newsweek: 61% disapprove of the job Bush is doing — on immigration. A ten-percent increase since January. Aside from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, border-state pols don’t sound real thrilled with him either.
Meanwhile, at PoliPundit, they’re on the brink of civil war. The Times talks to both sides of the debate and finds, unsurprisingly, that the speech disappointed everyone.
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I don’t understand how “illegal” can be “decent”?
Are killers and robbers decent too? Can we put millions of them in jail? Is it “realistic”?
Is he implying that this country was built by ILLEGAL immigrants?
I think W just got new nick name JOHN W KERRY!
b2stealth on May 15, 2006 at 9:41 PM
Illegal is Illegal. I honestly do not get why Mr. Bush does not get it. If he sees it as votes wrong think again. I hope the illegals do another walk out, clear freeways , no huge wait in the E.R. and teachers can actually do their job and teach in a normal sized classroom teaching in English.
SugarnSpice on May 15, 2006 at 9:46 PM
We need to make sure that he is the last Bush who is ever elected President. He can spend his post-White House years cuddling up to Bubba, like Mommy and Daddy do, while being trashed at home and abroad by him.
Jeb, thank your brother for what he’s doing.
Paul Atreides on May 15, 2006 at 9:47 PM
All in all, not bad. We’re still in a precarious place, with the real possibility of an amnesty and a massive increase in immigration, but this speech was so bad, such a pathetic rehash of platitudes, euphemisms, and lies, such an arrogant swipe at people who are feeling the huge costs of mass immigration, that there’s a chance the right will finally stop giving him the benefit of the doubt on this issue and finally acknowledge that he’s nothing but an anti-American open borders fanatic.
I admit the reaction from the mainstream right-wing press is not encouraging so far (it’s great that The Corner is giving us their grades; maybe someday they’ll figure out what they think about immigration? Something more advanced than “breaking the law is wrong” maybe?), but hopefully the public will be more serious.
Alex K on May 15, 2006 at 10:04 PM
The President has played his cards. It will be interesting to see how his poll number are affect by the proposal to use the National Guard.
From the perspective of a college student here in Mexifornia my guess is that the mexican groups are not going to be happy and I can look for to months of protests from my fellow students. They will only see the speech as an attempt at reaching a middle ground. Therefore, the opening is there and they’ll need to do everything they can NOW. At least the President gave us a little something, the National Guard, to fight back with this time.
norman on May 15, 2006 at 10:04 PM
All the advice from lingering Bush fans as to what to say and do on this issue has been adorable. Hopefully this will have snapped them out of it and they’ll now see: On this issue, he’s not a misguided ally, he’s an opponent. He’s deeply committed to merging the U.S. and Mexico, he doesn’t believe in or care about the economic and cultural devastation of combining the U.S. with the corrupt, anti-American third world.
The first new passion and fortitude he’s shown in months–and it was to chastise us for making him go through this charade instead of just letting him have his borderless, plutocratic one-world economy the way his birthright entitled him.
Alex K on May 15, 2006 at 10:06 PM
Some of President Bush’s words were Ok but the real test will be in what Congress passes and what the president is willing to sign. So far, President Bush’s domestic policies have been a disaster and little attention has been paid to how to correct problems. Maybe this is a start on the immigration issue. The first and major issue for me is border control and immigration enforcement, especially employment verification!
If this turns out to be more smoke and mirrors, I’d be ready to call for the president’s impeachment because we cannot abide another 5-more years of doing nothing on the border, not if this country is to survive as a democracy.
DougW on May 15, 2006 at 10:14 PM
“Immigrants live in the shadows of society.”
I agree with Michelle. Very laughable line! All President Bush would have to do is cross the Potomac into Fairfax County to see the hordes of illegals demanding low-cost housing at the government center and registering to vote with their issued VA driver’s licenses to know how ridiculous a statement it is. He definitely needs to cross the Potomac, get out of downtown and see the real America.
Still, one has to like the idea of the National Guard on the border. The fact that Democrats are whining about taking troops from the “forests” to the border shows that the idea has great merit. If Congress can get a fence up on the border to boot, I will definitely stop sending “cero dineros.”
januarius on May 15, 2006 at 10:16 PM
His poll numbers will go into the upper teens by the end of the week.
This speech was pure pandering. He has lost all credibility on this issue.
Geeze, rewarding the biggest offenders.
stenwin77 on May 15, 2006 at 10:20 PM
What we need now is a plan – and leadership. I will no longer look to the White House or Senate for it.
dman on May 15, 2006 at 10:25 PM
CNN calls it a mistake? lol Um Yeah right.
Brah on May 15, 2006 at 10:27 PM
Hmmm…. 35,000 troops in Japan, protecting Japan…
32,700 troops protecting the border of Korea….
100,000 troops protecting Europe… from the Mongol hords???
US? 6000 National Guardsmen who will build roads protecting the border which the US Constitution says is the FEDERAL repsonsibility…
Bush blew it. I have never activly worked in Politics before… I was too busy protecting my country (US Navy Retired) and trying to make a living and raise my children…
But enough is enough… I refuse to GIVE the country I LITTERALY bled for to illegal immigrants through gutless politicians.
Romeo13 on May 15, 2006 at 10:28 PM
His poll numbers will go into the upper teens by the end of the week. This speech was pure pandering. He has lost all credibility on this issue. — I’m Sayin’, Sten.
PowerLine has it right, right down the line. John H was prescient, and had the right speech in his vest pocket. I’m starting to think that Bush is too stupid to have read it, even if it was on his telepromptr…
Jaibones on May 15, 2006 at 10:31 PM
It’s worth looking up the cast of characters and arguments behind the “Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965″. The history will open your eyes. The Wikipedia article is a good starting point.
dman on May 15, 2006 at 10:33 PM
Romeo: thanks, brother.
We need to fix this, and here’s the hard truth: we knew this twit was no conservative when we nominated him, and he has proved it in spades.
McCain, Hagel, Martinez, Chafee, Snowe, Lott, Cochran, and the rest of the RINO dinks need to get bounced by conservatives in the primaries. Time to go on the attack.
Jaibones on May 15, 2006 at 10:35 PM
>But enough is enough…
I second that!
No other country in the world keeps open border – not even MEXICO!
b2stealth on May 15, 2006 at 10:38 PM
It is amazing to see that the politicians are not doing anything to defend the country unless we -the people- are pushing them to do something about it.
Why have we elected them? To look for the interests of America, to defend and protect her or to keep our borders wide open for everybody, including terrorists? To enforce the laws already existing on the books or to forget about them? Or am I missing something?
How many terrorists entered America from Mexico? And why going after them around the world and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan when those politicians welcomed them already in America?
If those politicians are not doing their job they were elected to do, then why keeping them in office?
It’s too late Bush, too late.
You and politicians like you have lost it.
CatholicConservative on May 15, 2006 at 10:40 PM
This speech was nothing but Bushs plan to aid and abet illegal aliens. He can order troops to the border tonight without congress’ approval, but he won’t.
roninacreage on May 15, 2006 at 10:46 PM
How Bush came to his view on immigration, which seems unintuitive, is actually pretty easy to figure out.
a) He’s a wealthy businessman.
b) He didn’t create his wealth, he inheirited the capital.
c) He has most of his roots in Texas.
d) So do most of his peers.
So, while poor and middle-class Americans, and rich Americans not living near the border (i.e. 98% of the country) are discussing the illegal alien problem in serious, adult terms- the terms of culture wars, depression of working-class wages, and exponential crime increase- Mr. Bush and his colleagues only see the illegal “problem” in terms of smoothing the invasion so the “American economy” (whatever the hell that means- it certainly doesn’t refer to the well-being of most Americans) can profit from the cheap slave labor.
HitNRun on May 15, 2006 at 10:56 PM
So, what’s gonna happen now? The Dems take the House and Senate in 2006? I suppose they can’t do much worse that the feckless Republicans…
gmoonster on May 15, 2006 at 11:00 PM
Repeat after me. JUST BUILD THE DAMN FENCE. Is this concept so hard for so many people to grasp? Sovereignty or political correctness. Choose.
I hate to use the F-word, but in this case it’s appropriate.
Ron_S on May 15, 2006 at 11:01 PM
We Americans see all these illegal protesters and see a problem. Politicians look at these same people and all they see are possible new voters. It’s disgusting.
Ron_S on May 15, 2006 at 11:03 PM
That was it? National Guard won’t have the ability to arrest?
That was it? Talk about “hot air”…
And he didn’t even mention the border to Canada. Sure, the illegal immigration from Mexico is worse, but we still have issues on the Canadian border too.
I’m very disappointed.
Sojourner on May 15, 2006 at 11:08 PM
The only people who possibly could possibly be approving of this 20 minutes of pandering are White House staffers, corporatist elites, smarmy “we know what’s best for you” Senators and the various Stepford illegal alien apologists they have bamboozled. After five years of his taking a jackhammer to the sensibilities of his “rock solid” conservative base, there are some gaping cracks that the silly putty Bush served up tonight cannot fill.
kdaddy on May 15, 2006 at 11:09 PM
And once the illegals figure out that the Guard’s hand are tied, they’ll start walking right past them into the country.
Ron_S on May 15, 2006 at 11:14 PM
He didn’t talk about assimilation. He didn’t talk at all of ultimate numbers. Compassionate blah blah blah blah. I don’t even know what the hell he said. Melting pot blah blah blah. Hard working blah blah blah, 6,000 administrative troops doing their two week rotations blah blah blah. Nation of laws…illegal aliens use forged documents blah blah blah…Use for political gain blah blah blah. Latino voters blah blah blah. Little note for Vincente – not militarization blah blah blah.
Altura Ct. on May 15, 2006 at 11:15 PM
And why not militarization? Isn’t that what our military is FOR?
Ron_S on May 15, 2006 at 11:20 PM
What “I” Heard the President say tonight…
1. “I’ve lost control of the United States, and now Mexican President Fox is also your President! Isn’t that great”?
2. “President Fox, please believe me when I say, American’s are stupid and will believe whatever I tell them.”
3. “I don’t think I truly understand what I’ve just told the American people, but hopefully they bought it, hook line and sinker.”
4. “What? The Republican Party just fell apart? Oh well, I’m glad my term is done! Hopefully I’ve messed it up SO much that not even the Democrat’s can fix it!”
5. “Si, se puede”
FudPucker on May 15, 2006 at 11:25 PM
Nothing makes me more angry than being patronized.
President Bush is patronizing the conservative base.
easy87us on May 15, 2006 at 11:34 PM
The only good thing about Bush is the Liberals would be worse.
I am so mad at Bush and every other person trying to ruin our country for whatever agenda they have that I’m ready to either head down to the border, fully armed, or go on a 3-state killing spree, in Washington D.C.
I hate the helpless feeling of having to depend on these losers while they’re trying as fast and as slippery as they can to give away our country. It’s really bad when you keep trying to talk yourself into doing something you know is not right, when you keep trying to persuade yourself a few broken knees of a few politicians might just give them the jump start they need to get their brains in working order. The difference is, I’m not violent nor am I a criminal, unlike those illegal invaders who protest my government for the right to be criminals and disobey our laws, our language and our way of life. You know, the invaders our president says are “just here to work and make a better life for them and their families.”
George W. Bush, resign!
RolandHall on May 15, 2006 at 11:48 PM
Did you catch it? The fact that the President signed off his speech without saying his usual “And God Bless America”
Hummmm…
talelights on May 15, 2006 at 11:49 PM
*** YAWN ***
Smoke screens, mirrors, and a rabbit hat.
Disgusting…
byteshredder on May 16, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Ya’, I caught that but then I had already heard enough of his drivel. I’m surprised he didn’t say, “Hasta lluego gringos. Viva Los Estados Unidos de Mexico!”
RolandHall on May 16, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Right, nothing about assimilation. And what about recognizing the problems a lot of states are having with the closing down of hospitals? And grid-lock? And some of the recent outbreaks of diseases we haven’t seen here for ages?
And it angers me to no that we still haven’t established English as the official language. How long have we been having this converstation here in the US? Now, in Los Angeles, when you call many service providers, the message states “If you want to hear this message in English, press !”
Ok, I’m done ranting. If we could start with the fence and actual ENFORCEMENT of the laws already on the books, I’d consider that a satisfactory “start”.
Sojourner on May 16, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Isn’t it true that we have a law that forbidden any criminals to be naturalized to become citizen of USA?
Is sneaking into our country a violation of our law?
Is using fake social security cards to work a violation of our law?
How about falsifying infos on a bank account application?
President Bush, will you let terrorists to stay here and grant them a work permit if their number is in the million?
With your policy, we may just get there.
Easy87us
easy87us on May 16, 2006 at 12:27 AM
This is a start. It is not the answer. But the problem has been growing for over decade. It can not be solved overnight.
I will give Congress a chance to make it right. But I will not hold my breathe. I can see the Senate not voting on a bill. Will the Democrats come out and say Citizenship for illegals or no border security. The way they talk that seems to be the message they are sending me.
Lets start enforcing the laws on the books. No new laws are needed. The laws have been there for decades. Just enforce them.
I would say start a guest worker program ASAP but can only sign up for it in Mexico or Canada. After they pass the checks. And their Finger prints and DNA compared to a US database of Criminals and their home Country has no record of criminal activity let them in.
The frustrating thing is we deport criminals one day and the next day they are back into the country. Does that make sense. No deportation until we can somewhat secure the borders. But every guest must have their fingerprints and DNA on record. This will be one way to ensure that if they do a crime we have a record of who did it. It would may stop some of the criminal activity.
I can see only one law added to the books. If you vote in the US and are not a citizen you lose any chance of citizenship. No exceptions.
danfinrud on May 16, 2006 at 12:31 AM
The best way to kick Bush out is to keep Republican congressmen and senators in.
Don’t let him destroy our country and our GOP conservative base.
I always suspect that Bush is trying to hand the 2008 election to the Clinton. Going to the poll to re-elect GOP is the only way we can save our country. Turn out…is the key to survival.
Easy87us
easy87us on May 16, 2006 at 12:33 AM
Easy87us-
Good luck on that. 90%+ of the conservative electorate does not read blogs, but are just as dismayed by this President on this issues as the posters here. They will never see the “Speaker Pelosi” posts that are showing up acorss conservative blogs. They will simply not bother to vote for a party they fell little loyalty to.
It took over 60 million votes to get Bush into office, and you can guarantee millions of those just tuned out ‘06.
Clark1 on May 16, 2006 at 12:55 AM
“It took over 60 million votes to get Bush into office, and you can guarantee millions of those just tuned out ‘06.”
Yep.
If losing an election or three is what it will take to refocus Republican priorities, then so be it.
speed647 on May 16, 2006 at 1:01 AM
I guess we must look past President Bush for leadership. Tom Tancredo I know little about, but he is said to be right on the illegal alien issue. I don’t want this country to fall into the hands of the Democrats any time soon. There’s a strong conservative base which wants our sovereignty as a nation protected, including our immigration laws and our borders. Some Govenor or other polititian, maybe Tancredo, needs to capture the hearts of this base. And keep on the right side of the issue. And not become mush, which now somehow rhymes with Bush.
Doug on May 16, 2006 at 1:08 AM
Keep in mind the house has a very tough proposal out there. The President and the Senate are the wussies. By the sounds of things around here, a lot of people are gonna be holding back their checks to the various Republican organizations, I know I am. That’ll get their attention real fast.
gmoonster on May 16, 2006 at 1:10 AM
Tancredo should start the impeachment ball rolling tomorrow. Then follow it up with a treason charge or two. Let’s get rid of this lyin creep before it’s too late.
msplitt on May 16, 2006 at 1:15 AM
Two things:
1. Tom Tancredo sticks his foot in his mouth a little too much for my taste, but he had the best line on that entire page, hands down.
2. I’m heartened to see that Democrats have had nothing but criticism in response to the speech, rather than concrete solutions. What a change of pace. If they do take back one or both houses in November it sure won’t be as a result of anything they’ve done to earn it. Except for refraining from going too far out on a limb.
Mark V. on May 16, 2006 at 3:19 AM
CNN has another “accidental” eh? Hey CNN airtime was 8PM!! Not 7:58!!!!!
johnnyU on May 16, 2006 at 5:52 AM
The only thing the President did last night was to reinforce the prevailing thinking that his immigration policies are conceived, implemented and legislated in Mexico City! In fact, he ‘reassured’ el Presidente Fox before his speech, that his measures will be temporary.
There was nothing in his speech, including using the Guard, that will alleviate, reverse or mitigate the current border crisis. In fact, Bush did quite the opposite: He reinforced his stubborn opposition to meaningful reform and urged the do-nothing Congress to pass a bill that is closet amnesty.
George Bush dashed all hope of rescuing or reversing another Bush search-and-destroy mission against the Republican Party.
Do all the Bushs have a ‘read my lips’ problem?
ForYourEdification on May 16, 2006 at 6:52 AM
I have a question.
Was anyone paying attention when Bush talked about this prior to 9/11? He’s doing what he said he wanted to do. I have to hand it to him. Whether you agree with him or not, he says what he means and means what he says. He’s definitely not a populist like his predecessor.
GT on May 16, 2006 at 7:13 AM
We must not confuse Bush’s stubborness with conviction.
George Bush refuses to admit a mistake and will not ‘back down’ from a bad idea. Meaning what you say and saying what you mean is a good trait and quality in a person, but when a leader of a country confuses a good trait (conviction) with a bad one (stubborness), that makes for potentially dangerous policy.
What we have on our borders is indeed dangerous to our nation’s health!
ForYourEdification on May 16, 2006 at 7:20 AM
President Bush is a former governor of a state with a very long common border with Mexico. It makes more sense to listen to his experience than that of a representative of Colorado.
This was a serious speech, with sensible, straightforward talk about what we really do need to accomplish. Unfortunately, we have the old communists from ANSWER making stupid, inflammatory statements that are not supported by the vast majority of immigrants, both legal and illegal, and the pull-up-the-ladder crowd biting like hungry bass.
A well-crafted guest worker program would have a substantial, positive impact on both the United States and South America, principally Mexico. That is because it would more easily allow people to exit this country, and maintain their ties at home. Right now, our policy is more effective for bottling people up in this country once they arrive, than it is at keeping them out.
Valerie on May 16, 2006 at 7:30 AM
These Mexicans are still vowing to come to the US no matter what.
That seems like a threat that needs to be neutralized now.
They will never deserve to become Americans if they knowingly break our laws to achieve it.
“A day without illlegal Immigration”.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 7:43 AM
Senate Immigration Bill Would Allow 100 Million New Legal Immigrants over the Next Twenty Years……..
Why don’t we just give it to them now.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 7:49 AM
“Senate Immigration Bill Would Allow 100 Million New Legal Immigrants over the Next Twenty Years……..”
Yep and that is just “legal”. That needs to be repeated and that is why we will NEVER get a second chance to get this right.
Altura Ct. on May 16, 2006 at 7:57 AM
Come one, Come all……
Take whatever you want.
Desecrate our flag.
We Americans will lay down and take it like we always do.
Our shear numbers will be of no use.
We are cowards.
English is no more.
We must all learn Spanglish.
F-it.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 8:18 AM
HOLTVILLE, California (AP) — A van packed with more than two dozen people crashed on a highway in the Southern California desert, killing at least two suspected illegal immigrants and critically injuring several others, officials said.
Let’s all take a guess on who will pay for these law abiding illegal americans hospital bills.
Yep……
the real American Citizens.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 8:23 AM
Am I wrong or was Bush talking amnesty again. I just read an ariticle on Drudgereport where the migrants in Mexico basically said that they would try every way to get here, even if there are soldiers turning them back. I dodnt know there were migrant shelters where illegal immigrants prepared to cross the border. This is ridiculous. Illegal immigrants somehoe think that we are obligated to let them in. I just dont get it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060516/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_us_immigration_4
Phytogirl79 on May 16, 2006 at 9:39 AM
Let stop this “illegal immigrant” nonsense! They are criminals. CRIMINALS! (AP) A van packed with more than dozen criminals….!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on May 16, 2006 at 9:44 AM
Blah, blah, blah…Where is Reagan when we need him most. What a gutless, spineless, whimpering fool we have in the White House. What exactly is the National Guard going to be doing? Building roads? Are they going to be armed for when the Mexican military comes across again? Back in the day, when real men sat in the White House, those incursions were an act of war-and dealt with accordingly!
We need Rambo…
“Coven leader to Raven…
Come in Raven…
Johnny you out there…”
“I didn’t start it sir…
They did; They drew first blood…”
hoosier_federalist on May 16, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Remember the Alamo.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Don’t we already have H-2A VISA?
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker INA Section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)
Sec. 214.2(h)(5)
(5) Petition for alien to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature (H-2A)–
(i) Filing a petition —
(A) General. An H-2A petition must be filed on Form I – 129. The petition must be filed with a single valid temporary agricultural labor certification. However, if a certification is denied, domestic labor subsequently fails to appear at the worksite, and the Department of Labor denies an appeal under section 216(e)(2) of the Act, the written denial of appeal shall be considered a certification for this purpose if filed with evidence which establishes that qualified domestic labor is unavailable. An H -2A petition may be filed by either the employer listed on the certification, the employer’s agent, or the association of United States agricultural producers named as a joint employer on the certification.
..
(D) Evidence. An H – 2A petitioner must show that the proposed employment qualifies as a basis for H – 2A status, and that any named beneficiary qualifies for that employment. A petition will be automatically denied if filed without the certification evidence required in paragraph (h)(5)(i)(A) of this section and, for each named beneficiary, the initial evidence required in paragraph (h)(5)(v) of this section.
(iii) Ability and intent to meet a job offer —
(A) Eligibility requirements. An H – 2A petitioner must establish that each beneficiary will be employed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the certification, which includes that the principal duties to be performed are those on the certification, with other duties minor and incidental.
?
b2stealth on May 16, 2006 at 10:12 AM
So, I’ve been posting on various blogs about this mess the last few days. I’ve also been reading almost all of the posts.
Ok, so everyone’s mad. Everyone thinks Bush is pissing on us. But what are we gonna do about it. There doesn’t seem to be any kind of organized response. How do we best channel our energy to stop this game that’s being played out. And I don’t just mean 1. not voting republican 2. writing your congressman 3. checking out the Constitution Party’s website.
Where can hundreds of thousands or millions of Americans focus the most amount of energy to change the playing field and stopping Bush and Congress from destroying the very fabric of this country, all for money and votes.
Suggestions?
msplitt on May 16, 2006 at 10:14 AM
He could have shortened the whole speech to just the truth:
“To the citizens and taxpayers of the American middle class:
I have sold your birthright. You will pay for it. I suggest you learn Spanish.”
He just hung a discount price tag on the whole country, and the preferred currency is pesos.
I’m so disgusted, I don’t even want to hear anybody speaking Spanish today.
From now on, the “TX” in my address will be the abbreviation for “Texico”.
Fiver on May 16, 2006 at 10:16 AM
These illegals don’t want to become citizens, they only want a job. Have you ever heard any of these protestors saying they want to become Americans? I haven’t. I’ve only heard that they want all these rights to have jobs.
Instead of sending your representatives bricks, we should be sending marbles to the White House.
moonsbreath on May 16, 2006 at 10:19 AM
What would you do if a stranger walked into your house, sat down at your dinner table and ate your dinner?
Those people would be arrested for tresspassing and theft.
WELL, that is what’s happening in America, but instead of jail time these criminals are being rewarded with our rights.
Sounds Fair
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 10:20 AM
I have been reading comments for the last hour and here is my idea of a wake up call to our INEPT government. What if every registered voter who is disgruntled with the state of affairs in this country,whether Democrat or Republican, went down to there local registrar’s office and changed their party affiliation to INDEPENDENT! In a matter of weeks this countries largest party would be the INDEPENDENT party. Do you think that would alert the DEMS and REPS that we are truly fed up! What say you America?
dddave on May 16, 2006 at 10:28 AM
msplitt,
It seems like the minutemen are the best organized at this point and have the pressing issue of border control as their focus. Also using the alternative media to act as a watchdog for our current representatives and their financial influencers.
NIMBY on May 16, 2006 at 10:41 AM
NIMBY & dddave
Good ideas. What I would really love to see is a House or Senate Republican who is well spoken with some charisma take on Bush and rally Republicans in both the House and Senate against him. He’ll get tons of press from the MSM because he’s hammering Bush, which is always a good thing as far as the media’s concerned. One large movement with millions of Americans hammering Bush, trashing him and his disgusting gay lover Vincente on a daily basis. Hopefully Bush will have a “Harriet Myers” moment and get a clue. if not, let’s throw him out.
msplitt on May 16, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Bush: “My fellow immigrants…wink, wink……..A substantial number of you have managed to evade deportation for a number of years now. In my book, that is something to respect and I shall reward that with citizenship in the U.S.”
Bush: “Americans are lazy and won’t do certain jobs. Yes, I know illegals have cornered certain markets and have monopolized certain industries, but that deserves respect and I shall reward you.
Bush: To hell with what the people want. Don’t they know they might have to pay more for lettuce ??
darwin on May 16, 2006 at 11:15 AM
“Is George Bush Over?” Illustrated, graphically. (Guidance suggested for minors.) gringoman.com
gringoman on May 16, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Here is what I get out of it.
bestealth had the best reality check:
“No other country in the world keeps open border – not even MEXICO!”
entagor says:
By definition open borders makes the citizens of a nation servants to non-citizens. Non citizens are telling us who may live in our country.
Here is what I get from Bush:
1. a few fences a key places on the border
(to divert the flow upstream?)
2. the National Guard will be unarmed and without power to arrest
(the Minutemen were doing that and you had the Border Patrol ignore their sightings)
3. If you have evaded arrest enough years, we will make you a citizen
(because you are good people, unlike the Minutemen who are Vigilantes and take the law into their own hands)
4. If you haven’t put in the time, we will make you go back for a while unless you were smart enough to have a baby.
(family planning takes on a whole new meaning)
3. No mention of cracking down on employers now. Only talk of a future program to improve ID
(if the method of verifying citizenship does not currently work, why do we still alow open migration until the problem is corrected?)
4. Bush has reassured Vicente Fox the program is only temporary
(if it is temporary, then illegals will plan accordingly)
5.All his proposals will happen contingent upon Congress passing a bill that will allow the long term law breakers to purchase citizenship for a fine of unknown but probably compassionately small amount, and grant businesses permission to use illegals openly as guest workers
(Once business receives Congressional permission to use guest workers for the jobs Americans ‘won’t/will not do’ the usage of illegals will skyrocket)
Mccain said that lettuce picking is a job Americans won’t do even for $50 and hour
Hillary at the demonstrations in NY said that construction jobs are the jobs Americans won’t do
Head of the RNC Ken Kehlman in a recent Instapundit interview said that tech and carpentry are some of the jobs Americans won’t do.
It is documented that the current administration has not enforced hiring laws against business:
from Lou Dobbs:
“the number of ICE agents assigned to enforce immigration laws in the workplace has declined from only 240 back in 1999 to now less than 100.
Illegal alien employer fines
2001 100
2002 53
2003 162
2004 3
(Source: GAO reports,8/31/05)”
Therfore the administration has no data to show what are the jobs American’s won’t do, except in the case of the Agricultural worker’s permits. The information is anecdotal, and on that we are going to displace even more American workers with cheap labor
THe most important factor is Bush wants to create a citizenship maternity ward, whereby poor parents in Mexico will sign up for guest worker when they are ready to start a family.
Unless the expanded guest worker program states that the children of guest workers do not become American citizens, America will be Mexico faster than France will become Muslim.
Sadly, the French Muslims just want to dominate the law and culture. The Mexican illegal wants to annex our country. We are actually in a worse postion than France, which may still retain their borders.
entagor on May 16, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Geez………thanks entagor. I thought I was depressed earlier. Now russian roulette is starting to sound fun !!
darwin on May 16, 2006 at 11:45 AM
I agree, It seems like the minutemen are the best organized so I say -
1. Send your support to MINUTEMEN project, e-mail, money, tell your friends about them, help them.
2. Find out WHO is not doing their jobs, look up the exact law they are breaking and sue them.
b2stealth on May 16, 2006 at 11:54 AM
To everybody here,
The president finally scooped to the lowest level he can get! During the press conference with PM Howard of Australia, he said that welcoming those illegals is morally right for the “soul”!
He is bringing the “soul” into the equation, like those who oppose amnesty have no soul! Like he has the greatest and the most passionate soul in the world!
To those legal immigrants whose jobs were taken away by the illegals, to those families whose love ones were murdered by the lawless illegals, to those poor citizens who are still trying to make a living but their 10 dollar an hour jobs have been taken by the illegals at 3 bucks an hour,…..
I apologize for voting for this pile of ^%$# into office.
I am truly sorry. Please forgive us.
To the conservative base….WE MUST RALLY TO STOP THIS MADDNESS THAT BUSH HAS CREATED! WE MUST SUPPORT THE HOUSE GOP TO PASS THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE BILL. WE MUST NOT LET THE DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO BREAK OUR PARTY BY NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN!
Easy87us
easy87us on May 16, 2006 at 12:16 PM
The Senate immigration bill allows for I belive, ONE HUNDRED NINTY THREE MILLION legal immigrants over the next twenty years. This is impossible. The only solution lies with the House bill. What world do our Senators live in, not the same world I live in.
birdman on May 16, 2006 at 12:22 PM
I have been pandered to death by this man and the “Republican” party.
I am astounded that President Bush can be so stubborn and adamant trying to force Muslim nations into democracies half way around the world, but isn’t smart enough to know he would have a lot more success helping our next door neighbor fix theirs.
And he simply makes matters even worse by telling Mexico: “Our laws don’t mean squat.”
manwiththehands on May 16, 2006 at 12:42 PM
Let’s see,
6000 Guardsmen divided by 2000 miles of border divided by three shifts = 1 Guardsman per mile. No days off, no sick leave. Forget the hotspots.
Ever heard of peeing up a rope?
Good job entagor!
JodyBlonde on May 16, 2006 at 12:44 PM
This is a Perfect Storm for a Third Party. It’s not just the Conservatives anymore, It’s 70% of the Nation.
Any idiot can run on this single issue and win in November.
Unfortunately, bug businesss has a stranglehold on our election system and these greedy bastards can’t give a rat’s ass about this Country. They wouldn’t mind seeing a Mexican style of Corruption and Chaos, that is, unless they get kidnapped one day or see their business become Nationalized like what’s been happening in South America lately.
The problem is, these creeps do not see that far ahead.
Federali on May 16, 2006 at 12:53 PM
Saw on Drudge where many illegals are saying that even the NG won’t stop them. They must be made to understand that President Bush just patted their faces with a velvet glove with his speech. When that approach fails, and it will, others will step into the breach to resolve the issue. Illegals will go back! Either on the two feet that brought them over the border, or feet first. It’s their choice.
Many fail to appreciate the seething anger and frustration that has been building over this issue since the previous “amnesty”. Mexicans and Central Americans have seen revolts in their past, they just might want to prepair themselves for one in this country.
Chief1942 on May 16, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Is the President in such a LA LA land that he thinks an outraged 80% of Americans can be forced to rub noses with the invaders of this nation and everything will be joyful and happy?
Too many whole regions have displaced half or more of the people who lived there before.
Outright sedition runs wild in the streets and the rest of America should roll over and not care?
I somehow just don’t think so.
It’s fairly obvious to me that even with overwhelming intent “will of the people” doesn’t mean much too some politicians and should be diluted in the future.
America has been attacked by “hard working” foreigners. They want America for themselves but thats OK because they’re good decent people.
Enforcement first! Enforcement now! Enforcement always!
Speakup on May 16, 2006 at 1:04 PM
I know many other Americans including myself who will help them back across the border.
I will google the F-ing directions for them and send make sure they follow them.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 1:04 PM
Been hanging out on some mainly military and law enforcement sites, and trust me when I say that those folks are talking in a manner I thought I would never hear from those sources. That they are all just as frustrated and angry as 80% of Americans is not surprising since they are drawn from mainstreet America and tend to reflect it’s views. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out when the SHTF.
Chief1942 on May 16, 2006 at 1:15 PM
It’s on like Donkey Kong.
Kramer on May 16, 2006 at 1:18 PM
I can not understand why the Presidant has turned his back on the base of the Party, conseritiveism always works. When anyone goes looking for the middle ground you find people with no backbone, no sence of being, no foundation. Anytime you try to apeal to Moderites you lose. We as the base of the GOP must not become divided, we must and have to stick to our principles. We must not allow ANYONE TO KEEP US FROM THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY. We here must energise our base, this can become A new begining and A springboard for the “06″ and “08″ elections. We must stay active and call or write our congressmen, let them know that we the people of this country want A comprehensive responsible immigration bill. In summery we can not let Nancy P., John C. and the gang of thievs that is the Democratic Party take over the House, or Ted K., Harry R., and Hillary C. take over the Senate.
birdman on May 16, 2006 at 1:19 PM
Does Minuteman Civil Defense Corps sound like a good name for a third party? They seem to share most of the views I’m reading here.
JodyBlonde on May 16, 2006 at 1:43 PM
I just read the rant at polipundit that anyone who says Bush’s proposal is amnesty is not a conservative and is a liar, Here is a rebuttal:
“conditions for what is not called Amnesty
1. should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law,
2. to pay their taxes
3. to learn English
4. to work in a job for a number of years
What is a meaningful penalty? There is no information> It could be a huge fine. It could be the $1000 or $2000 fines of prior proposals, which is less than many illegals pay coyotes to bring them over.
Paying taxes is already by law been required for all legal and illegal earnings, by citizens, and illegally resident non-citizens
Learning English is a new one. Using English is something else, as in allowing an employer to require the use of English in the work place, or
not allowing an employer to reject applicants who are not bi-lingual. Learning English is a de-fanged beast
Working in a job for a number of
years is what got them illegal in the first place
Of the four requirements, the meaningful penaltiy, and ‘learning English’ are smoke and mirrors. The other two requirements are met by – being an illegal alien
……..
Comment by vetana 5/16/2006 – 1:34 pm ”
Two conditions are phoney. The other two are met by breathing.
entagor on May 16, 2006 at 1:52 PM
We (the Republican active) are all wrong on this. All the posts above this are acting like Republicans actually have majority control of the country. We DON’T.
The Media is almost entirely Democrat, and they control the message most of the country sees. The Senate has 55 Republicans, but at least 5 of them are “Rinos” in blue states who try to make points by opposing Republican legislation.
We don’t have the power to unilaterally decide the immigration issue. We just don’t have the votes. Yes, America is on our side, but they are easily influenced by that Democrat controlled media. Right now a lot of average Americans are thinking “yeah, aren’t we overtaxing the National Guard? Maybe Reid is right?”
Bush’s plan will make real gains in cutting illegal immigration. If you want him to do more, you’d better give him more support through more votes. How many of you whining have gone door to door, sacrificed to contribute money to the RNC, manned a phone bank, or done the research to post intelligent points on a liberal web site?
And my fellow vets whining about Bush should know better. It’s all about supporting the “tip of the spear” troops, and that’s the Republicans in Congress and Bush. You’re like the Dems attacking us b/c Iraq isn’t yet a perfect place.
Stop taking a slim Republican majority for granted and instead take personal responsibility. If immigration isn’t going our way, it’s because WE haven’t done enough work.
Jason on May 16, 2006 at 1:57 PM
Enforce employment laws and jail employers who hire illegal aliens. Employers will stop hiring illegals. Illegals will either committ felonies to feed and clothe themselves or they will leave our country. Since felons cannot stay, we will be free of the problem. It all comes down to law enforcement. Mr. President, ENFORCE OUR LAWS!
LonelyMassRepublican on May 16, 2006 at 2:04 PM
Jason: In the last general election I went door to door for Bush, and also manned A phone bank on election day, my first time. I will volenteer My time again this November to get out the vote I am also joining the local GOP club. You are right Jason to many people take our slim majority for granted and sit around siffing the roses. GET OFF YOUR BUTTS DONATE SOME TIME MEET NEW PEOPLE GET OUT THE VOTE.
birdman on May 16, 2006 at 2:12 PM
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