May 15, 2006
Is he insane? This is the same speech he's delivered countless times. Does he expect a different result? Is he intentionally trying to drive his popularity down to 20%?
For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders... First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign Nation.
Bush has had over five years to secure the border, and it's been well within his ability all that time. It's a matter of will and nothing more. In this speech, he's admitted that he's violated his oath of office.
We are a Nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a Nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals – America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time.
Yes, that's why we have an immigration system, complete with a set of laws that the Bush administration refuses to enforce.
And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
How exactly is Bush going to do that? If he almost completely refuses to deport people other than at the border now, is he - or President Clinton - going to do that? And, of course, our "temporary" workers/"guests" will have U.S. citizen children, they'll buy property, and so forth. Isn't it going to be extremely difficult to deport someone who has U.S. citizen children? In fact, another argument used in his speech could be used by Bush or others to keep those "guest" workers here:
That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently – and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record.
In other words, there's a deep conflict within the same speech.
There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation.
Obviously, that's a false choice, and the rational middle ground is not amnesty. It's simply enforcing our laws.
The absolute idiots at the WaPo offer "On Immigration, Bush Seeks 'Middle Ground'". They do not explain that that "middle ground" is based on the false choice described above.
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On a lighter note, here's a fun game of mix and match:
1. "A Very Good Start --Finally."
2. "Shut up whiners"
3. "...his plan is the right plan in all respects..."
4. "If you think that is amnesty, then you are either a moron or a liar. If you ar truly a Republican to begin with, if you are truly a conservative, then you will applaud this speech and support the reforms he has articulated. Otherwise, you are not a Republican. You are not a conservative. You are a LIAR. A LIAR"
A. Hugh Hewitt
B. "MacsMind"
C. BlogsForBush (Mark Noonan)
D. The unhinged BushBot Alexander K. McClure at Polipundit
Answer: 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D
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Bush doesn't really have a complete plan, just outlines. But he has spoken favorably of the Senate plan. Now, see Senate Bill Would Allow 100 Million New Legal Immigrants Over Next 20 Years.
If you don't want that, contact your senators.
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UPDATE: Hugh Hewitt momentarily puts a finger outside the reservation for a millisecond:
My interview with Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Julie Myers staggered me, undoing in a handful of minutes my confidence in the president's commitment to border security first. Either the president's team had not communicated effectively with sub-cabinet appointees about the fence, or the president doesn't really believe in the fence, because Assistant Secretary Myers is clearly not a proponent of the fence.
UPDATE 2: See also "Did these ploys sneak into Bush's speech?" That was written before the speech.
Posted to Immigration at May 15, 2006 05:02 PM
Comments
I agree with only one thing he said: every person has dignity. I just wish he respected the dignity citizens like me whose neighborhoods and way of life are falling apart due to his policies.
Posted by: Pat at May 15, 2006 09:31 PM
I left a comment at Poli thanking him for calling me a liar! :)
Posted by: Jake Jacobsen at May 16, 2006 11:18 AM
Thus says the Lord God of ISRAEL, Let my People go!
When the Great God of Israel, the Mighty Lord, the only God appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a “bush:” and he looked, and behold, the “bush” was not consumed. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my People which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters: for I know their sorrow. And I AM come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good and large land flowing with milk and honey. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the Children of Israel (those that struggle with God, the poor and suffering) is come unto Me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that you may bring forth My People the Children of Israel out of Egypt. That was then, when with signs miracles and wanders God did bring His People out of Egypt. But now, a White Bright Light appeared unto me, and my understanding heard His Voice saying: “Thus says the LORD GOD of ALL PEOPLE. I AM the LORD; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, and unto Moses by the name JEHOVAH, and to the Jews and Gentiles as My Son JESUS, their SAVIOR, but by My New Name ALEUZENEV was I not known to them. Write through and out of the airways saying to the burning bushes, (politicians) and his leader: Let My Peaceful People come! Los AZTECAS, that they may honor Me with their work, gathering the Bread of Life under the Sun for their brethren with love, For I AM the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven to save the World.” “And He said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” Revelation 10:11
Then, I praised His New Name, ALELUYA! AMEN! ALEUZENEV! Revelation 3:12
And I saw The New Jerusalem as The New Vision of Peace coming down from Heaven from My God, and His Son JESUS ALEUZENEV sitting on a white horse, The LORD and SERVANT of ALL PEOPLE, His New Name. And the Berlin wall coming down in fragments and stating: “NO MORE DIVISION AMONG MY PEOPLE.” And I say: “Vengan mis hermanos Judios para Aleuzenev”
Ivor Manuel prophet, the pillar, branch of the Lord. Orlando, May 20, 2006
www.aleuzenev.com
Posted by: Ivor Manuel prophet at June 2, 2006 08:19 AM
