Couldn't make the GoP unite again....
Immigration Speech Observations
The Washington Post
Bush Rules Out Large-Scale Deportation of Immigrants
Tuesday, May 16, 2006; 3:42 PM
President Bush today effectively ruled out large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants, saying it was "unrealistic" to send home millions of people who have resided in the United States illegally for years.
In comments on border security following his televised address to the nation on the subject last night, Bush also dismissed the idea that his plan to post National Guard members on the U.S.-Mexican border would strain America's ability to wage the war on terrorism and to deal with domestic disasters. He denied that his proposal would "militarize" the border.
In the House, some Republicans have openly denounced Bush's proposed guest worker program as a de facto amnesty that would ultimately legalize millions of people who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. Bush denies that the proposal amounts to an amnesty, but he has not explained how authorities would enforce a requirement that the workers return home at the end of their stays.
The New York Times
Bush Calls for Compromise on Immigration
WASHINGTON, May 15 — President Bush proposed a plan on Monday that could place up to 6,000 National Guard troops along the border with Mexico for at least a year, but he urged Congress to address illegal immigration in a way that maintains the nation's tradition of openness.
White House officials said in a briefing for reporters Monday afternoon that the president was calling for $1.9 billion included in a supplemental budget bill now before Congress to be used for his proposals.
Some of the border state governors, Democrats in Congress, and others immediately raised questions about the practicality of the plan. Mr. Bush's broad approach also drew tepid reviews from some House Republicans and conservatives, whose support he will need as he grapples with a problem that has defied decades of proposed solutions: the continued economic imbalances between the United States and its trading partners to the south.
The reactions underscored the slender line the president is trying to walk between not only Democrats and warring members of his own party who are trying to hammer out legislation, but also between the increasingly powerful Hispanic voters he hopes to recruit to his party and the conservatives who still form its base.
In Conclusion:Unfortunately for the GOP the presidents plan is a compromise that really pleases none of his supporters to any great extent. Many have pointed out two great weaknesses one being that there is no way to force guest workers to go home after their legal stay has ended and second that it is extremely soft on buisnesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
America has had an addiction to cheap labor for a long time. And we need to face that and deal with it. Although if things continue at their current trends China will eventually, at least in the manufacturing sector, fix that problem for us.
The President's plan is a timid step in the right direction. And this close to an election it would have been foolish for us to have hoped for a bold and daring immigration policy. What we received instead was an attempt at appeasement and we won't really know if that worked until November.
However here in blogville the presidents plan has caused much consternation like:
A total meltdown at a team conservative blog and at least one spat between conservative bloggers.
Liberals are most certainly enjoying watching the show. Its like interactive melodrama after all.
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