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June 05, 2007
The Good ~ The Bad and the Ugly
Below are statements made in the amnesty fight:
The GOOD
“This administration has a case of ‘the slows’ on border enforcement. If we have border enforcement, we will be able at that point to start to regulate the internal problem that we’ve got....This 2,000-mile porous border, incidentally, is our biggest homeland security problem -- it’s not just an immigration problem, it’s a homeland security problem. We need to build the border fence. We need to have a Border Patrol that is big enough to get the job done, and we need to be able to ask people when they want to come into America, knock on the front door, because the back door is going to be closed.”
—Rep. Duncan Hunter (R.-Calif.), South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate, May 15
“The bill contains a new ‘Z visa’ that allows those who entered our country illegally to stay here permanently without ever returning home. This rewards people who broke the law with permanent legal status, and puts them ahead of millions of law-abiding immigrants waiting to come to America. I don’t care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty”
—Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), statement on Senate office website, May 17
“Amnesty for 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants isn’t a ‘narrow slice’ Mr. President, it’s the whole darn pie. What part of illegal does the President not understand? The American people want us to secure the border and crack down on the No. 1 incentive for illegal immigration, which is illegal employment. They don’t want another amnesty.”
—Chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), Austin American-Statesman, May 30
“We should scrap this ‘comprehensive’ immigration bill and the whole debate until the government can show the American people that we have secured the borders—or at least made great headway.”
—Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R.-Tenn.), op-ed on National Review Online, May 18
“Sen. McCain and his allies seem to think that they can dupe the American public into accepting a blanket amnesty if they just call it ‘comprehensive’ or ‘earned legalization’ or ‘regularization.’ Unfortunately for them, however, the American people know amnesty when they see it. The President is so desperate for a legacy and a domestic policy win that he is willing to sell out the American people and our national security. If Sen. McCain and Sen. Kennedy spent as much time working on improving border security as they did poll-testing creative euphemisms for amnesty, America would be a much safer place.”
—Rep. Tom Tancredo (R.-Colo.), statement on House office website, May 17
The BAD
“I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it.”
—Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.), interview with Vanity Fair, June 2007
“The bottom line here is that if the bill doesn’t pass, another 10 million illegal aliens are going to come here in the next five years anyway. So the chaos we have now will double. The new immigration bill is unfair to those who’ve obeyed the rules. It is dangerous if not tightly controlled. And it is definitely amnesty. But if the bill does not pass, things will get even worse in America.”
—Bill O’Reilly, Fox News’s “O’Reilly Factor,” May 18
“The bipartisan immigration deal announced today is a step in the right direction toward reaching a final, comprehensive immigration bill....The agreement ... is an improvement from last year’s bill. The way you make good laws is to have people from both sides of the aisle come together, and this was a highly committed group that came together to work on these issues that aren’t in the best interest of any particular political party, but rather in the best interest of the American people.”
—Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R.-Ga.), statement on Senate office website, May 17
“For weeks, senators and administration officials worked to forge a bill that secures our border, creates workable and effective interior and workplace enforcement, realistically deals with the people illegally here, and designs a truly temporary worker program that responds to the nation’s fluctuating labor needs. In these meetings, Republicans insisted on achieving certain milestones in interior and border security. . . . Republicans also insisted on an effective and enforceable electronic employment verification system that would prevent employers from hiring illegal workers and provide stiff penalties for those who violate the law. . . . What we have shown is it that a bipartisan consensus is possible. The American people will have to determine if it is what they want. But for me, failing to try is not a solution. "
—Sen. Jon Kyl (R.-Ariz.), op-ed in the Arizona Republic, May 20
“We support the immigration reform compromise worked out in the Senate for a few simple reasons. It strengthens our national defense. It makes our economy more competitive and flexible. It enhances the rule of law and promotes national unity.”
—Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R.) and former Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman, op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, May 31
The UGLY
“If you want to scare the American people, what you say is the bill’s an amnesty bill, that’s empty political rhetoric, trying to frighten our citizens....Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don’t like. 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.”
—President Bush, speech at the Glynco, Ga., federal law enforcement training center, May 29
“We’re gonna tell the bigots to shut up!”
—Sen. Lindsay Graham (R.-S.C.), receiving an award from the National Council of La Raza, March 2007
“F*** you! I know more about [immigration reform] than anyone else in the room.”
—Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) to Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.), during a private negotiation meeting on the immigration bill, May 17
“Some people just don’t like Mexicans -- or anyone else from South of the border. They think Latinos are freeloaders and welfare cheats who are too lazy to learn English. They think Latinos have too many babies, and that Latino kids will dumb down our schools. They think Latinos are dirty, diseased, indolent and more prone to criminal behavior. They think Latinos are just too different from us ever to become real Americans....Where once the xenophobes could advocate forced sterilization and eugenics coupled with virtually shutting off legal immigration from ‘undesirable’ countries, now they must be content with building walls, putting troops on the border, rounding up illegal aliens on the job and deporting them, passing local ordinances to signal their distaste for immigrants’ multi-family living arrangements, and doing whatever else they can to drive these people back where they came from.”
—Linda Chavez, nationally syndicated column, May 25
“I understand that some people think it’s not tough enough. Maybe they want people thrown in jail for 10 years or they want people executed.”
—Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, interview with Newsweek, May 18
Wild Thing's comment............
History has shown again and again that amnesty only results in more illegal immigrants. What was that phrase about the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
No amnesty. Enforce the damned laws that we already have.
See the general attitude of the a-holes in elected office. Its impossible to deport, its impossible to build a wall and secure the border, its impossible to police the companies that hire the illegal worker. Hiring illegals is itself illegal.
This bill gives amnesty to all the employers who hired illegal aliens.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 5, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
The bottom line here is that if the bill doesn’t pass, another 10 million illegal aliens are going to come here in the next five years anyway...Bill O’Reilly
What the hell do we have a military for? Only 12% of our Armed Forces are involved with Iraq and Afghanistan. Let's get the other 88% involved with protecting and defending the borders of the United States. Thousands of GI's are doing 8 hours a day, 5 days per week and that's it. Don't try to tell me different; I did 26 years and know better. Arm them and put em on the border. Two AWACS could effectively patrol the border and radio to ground patrols incursions into the US. All this debate is BS. We've got the people and technology right now to put a stop to this.
Posted by: BobF at June 5, 2007 08:56 AM
Bob,
It would take the President to actually put "Active Duty" soldiers on the borders -- and since he loves them illegals so much, you know he won't to THAT! Because, in my opinion, they would need shoot to kill orders.
Posted by: Jo at June 5, 2007 12:41 PM
O'Reilly is a putz, and a Geraldo Symp.
They have the laws already on the books, but won't enforce them. When agents do enforce the law, the agents get arrested and go to jail. They tell us the new legislation will enforce border. Why can't the old laws do the same ?
Bush says the new laws are not Amnesty, in the next breadth he is saying, well it could be interpreted as amnesty but it is not, what kind of double talk is that.
In the past 20 years they have not enforced the law concerning the border, why should we believe now will be any different. Because of new legislation ?
'Ok now we really mean what we say.'
They are pandering to Mexico, for 20 million new welfare recipients.
Kyl supports this piece of garbage, because he just got re-elected and isn't up for re-election for another 5 years, so what the hell does he care.
I just got a survey from the RNC, they wanted a donation and answer some questions.
one was, Do you support the Presidents Immigration Bill?
I wrote in the blank , No I do not support the Presidents "Amnesty" Program, and I will not donate one penne, or support any Republican or Democrat that does.
They keep telling us, "Well, we can't deport them", why not, during the second world war we managed to round up every Jap we could find and put them in a relocation camp. We sure as hell can deport illegals. Just go for the smell of the re-fried Beans and they will find all of them.
Posted by: Mark at June 5, 2007 12:58 PM
Fine employers of illegals heavily and cut off jobs. Refuse welfare payments to illegals. Tax cash flowing to Mexico. Put Mexico off limits to American tourists. 90%+ of the problem solved. Just don't get between the illegals and Mexico as they flood back home.
The next badly needed item in America is extreme term limits for federal legislators and no more life time appointments for federal judges.
Remember when Repubs( the Stupid Party) were the minority and they called for term limits, no more Congressional pay raises and spending cuts. Then they became the majority and all that was forgotten.
Posted by: TomR at June 5, 2007 01:34 PM
TomR has covered the bases. Well stated.
Yes, extreme term limits, just for starters it will eliminate some of the McIdiots in government.
McCain
McCarthy
McCaskil
McCaul
McDermott
McCollum
McCotter
McCrery
McDonald
McGovern
McHenry
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McMorris
McNerney
McNulty
TomR for president!!!!
Posted by: Jack at June 5, 2007 02:56 PM
“I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it.”
—Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.), interview with Vanity Fair, June 2007
Which only goes to show out of touch McCain is! A wall/fence is an absolute necessity, the sine qua non of any serious legislation on this matter. Stem the flow, and employer enforcement and the like are that much easier.
TomR's suggestions are helpful, but not enough. Two words: underground economy. Millions of citizens, let alone illegals, are working off the books for cash.
Posted by: Nick Byram at June 5, 2007 03:45 PM
Good comment by McCane, least effective means ??? Yeah, it might even keep out the Illegals if someone with a half a brain would enforce the current laws, but when it comes to brains in DC they seem to be in short supply.
But he will build one if thats what they want ?
Does this half-wit even have a clue ? ... does he ever listen to what the folks in 'fly-over' country are saying ?
No McClain would rather Yell at Cornyn ...Expletive You, and scream about how much he knows about immigration.
According to Smart-Ass McCane, who has all the answers and this is why he is dead last in the current Presidential polls.
Hopefully he will be finsihed by the end of the year, cuz I know a whole bunch of people who are not going to vote for this has been.
Posted by: Mark at June 5, 2007 06:01 PM
Wild Thing,
I agree completely about bill o'really. I quit watching that phoney when he gave algore a pass on his glo-bull warming scam which has him buying "carbon credits" FROM HIMSELF. All o'really had to say was "well there is gunk up there, we need to get rid of the gunk." I quit watching faux news channel all together when that racist geraldodo started showing up everywhere spewing his racist, child abusing rants.
Oh, and good job pointing out all the other good, bad and uglies also. You were spot on!
Posted by: Dan at June 5, 2007 11:20 PM
O'Reilly is a tough talking guy who isn't tough. When he was outed for his perverted phone calls and said he would fight "this biggest battle of my life' to the end and not give up. Well, that battle lasted about ten days, then he settled out of court paying $millions. Yeah, real tough guy! Pervert too!
Posted by: TomR at June 5, 2007 11:47 PM
Bob..."We've got the people and technology right now to put a stop to this."....we sure do. Too bad Bush cares more about the illegals then he does about legal Americans and America.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:41 AM
Jo I would agree with that. They would know we meant business if that could happen.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:44 AM
Mark great comment, thank you so much!!!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:45 AM
Tom, yesss that is needed so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:47 AM
Jack good list!!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:49 AM
Nick Byram, I agree McCain is completely out of touch and if that is not the reason that he is an outright anti-American and could care less the travesty this is going to cause.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:51 AM
Mark, I just don't understand even a little, how anyone can vote for these people. McCain my gosh how can a person sleep at night and be for this guy McCain. sheesh
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:53 AM
Dan thanks and I agree about O'Reilly and geraldo too. I have a short fuse when it comes to these rhino's.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:55 AM
Tom I agree, Bill O'reilly is a wimp. He talks big but only in spurts. I would not want him in my foxhole.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 6, 2007 12:56 AM
