How do you solve a problem like a dismal approval rating?
The issue of "earned citizenship" -- or "amnesty," as opponents of the proposal call it -- is likely to be at center stage as lawmakers take up President Bush's call for immigration reform.
Bush's approach to immigration, outlined in an address Monday night, combines tougher border enforcement with a guest-worker program.
Trying to navigate the election-year minefield on the issue, Bush called for the short-term deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops in a supporting role along the U.S.-Mexico border.
And, for the first time, he endorsed a controversial proposal to give illegal immigrants already in the United States a path to work toward citizenship.
With less than six months until the mid-term elections, somebody evidently convinced Bush he needed to do something to reverse his plummeting approval ratings (currently at 29%). Walking a thin line in order to appease both sides, he doesn't seem to be doing a very good job, especially with his own party.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, said he was "very disappointed" by the president's speech. He took issue with Bush's distinction between a legalization process for illegal immigrants and amnesty.
"If they are here illegally and you make them here legally, that is an amnesty," Rohrabacher said.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, agreed.
Tancredo said on Fox News that Bush's plan to give some illegal immigrants a way to work their way to citizenship is "not fair" to those who have "been waiting for years outside the country to come in."
On the other hand, you could look at it as a reward for actually having the initiative to come over here in the first place. I thought Republicans were big fans of taking the lead and seizing control of your own destiny. Or does that just count for white people?
Conservatives say targeting businesses that employ illegal immigrants is the answer. When businesses can no longer hire them, the illegal immigrants will leave, they say.
In that case, you better start dusting off the next minimum wage increase. The alternative is closing down those businesses that do hire them, though I guess that won't bother you if your first inclination when dining out is to go to Luby's.
Your keen grasp of sarcasm tells me you've been hanging out on APCB a long time.
Next you'll call me a Commie. That never gets old.
Well, it will keep 6000 National Guardsmen out of Iraq! Welcome to the borders!
I am not sure if this is the answer, but I don't have a simple-minded one liner answer like so many people have.
Oh. I forgot:
Commie!!!!!
:-)
I don't like the idea of the National Guard defending the rights of corporations large and small to continue breaking the law.
Not to mention the Republicans who hire them to raise their children and mow their lawns.
The GOP is fracturing over this. The country club set needs the cheap labor to maintain their lifestyle, while the suburban conservative bigots get enraged every time they see a Mexican flag or a taco truck.
Pass the popcorn.
Why doesn't Bush do what he normally does when he's hit with a big issue he can't deal with? He needs to start talking about gay marriage, 10 commandments or a mission to mars. If he keeps actually discussing his views on a real issue that affects his constituency, he's absolutely screwed.....unless of course he flies out in his sexy flight suit and congratulates some sailors on the Mission Accomplished. That'll boost his ratings at least 15% points with the angry neocon religious right that doesn't really like "Those People" hanging out by gas stations in the 'burbs looking for work.
You forgot 'raise the terror threat alert' color from magenta to chartreuse. It's important to spook the sheople every now and then, and they haven't done that in quite awhile.
Perhaps Kommandant Rove has been preoccupied...
"..what 'dismal approval rating'? Ah don't believe it."
Laura B.
Pete, you're a miserable Commie bastard. That's why I visit your blog everyday. :)
6,000 national guard troops on the Mexican border. 6,000 soldiers in Santa Anna's army. Coincidence? ;-)
Why not just reward bank robbers for actually having the iniative to get other peoples money out of the bank in the first place. You can take the lead and sieze control of your own destiny with the law, not find a way to circumvent it and hope you can outlast it until new legislation is past. While it would be right progressive of us to allow all the illegal aliens to remain in this country, the strain it places on our social service networks will prevent them from exapnding to the point where all Americans have free??? access to everything, like the liberals seem to be pushing for.