Bush's Speech on Immigration

[volinbham]

Before you respond 1) I hope you watched it and 2) you are giving YOUR impression, not the spin/analysis.

Overall, I thought it showed leadership. I believe you cannot solve one issue (border) without the other (handling illegals and guest workers).

Instead of pandering to the conservative base, W went for a solution that the is "passable" by the Congress.

I also like his continual call to debate the issue in a civil manner.

[USAF_Vol]

I like how he said if they wanted to be legal, they should learn English.

[OWB]

Personally, I see this as nothing more than an attempt to save his poll numbers and gain some approval from his party. In other words, it's for all the wrong the reasons. I believe that the President should do something because he feels strongly about it and because it's in our best interest, not because he's feeling the heat and this is just about the only area that he can actually try and improve. But hey, I guess that's politics huh?

However, I think sending the National Guard down to work the borders is the right move. It's not enough, but it's a start of something that should have been done years ago.

[hatvol96]

I think that speech was designed to drive Lou Dobbs deeper into the depths of insanity.

[OWB]

Originally Posted by (hatvol96 @ May 15, 2006 9:25 PM)

I think that speech was designed to drive Lou Dobbs deeper into the depths of insanity.

So true..

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by (hatvol96 @ May 15, 2006 8:25 PM)

I think that speech was designed to drive Lou Dobbs deeper into the depths of insanity.

Mission accomplished!

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by (Orangewhiteblood @ May 15, 2006 8:24 PM)

Personally, I see this as nothing more than an attempt to save his poll numbers and gain some approval from his party. In other words, it's for all the wrong the reasons. I believe that the President should do something because he feels strongly about it and because it's in our best interest, not because he's feeling the heat and this is just about the only area that he can actually try and improve.

However, I think sending the National Guard down to work the borders is the right move. It's not enough, but it's a start of something that should have been done years ago.

At this point, you don't believe anything he does is sincere it appears.

However, if you go back in W's history - he's consistently favored immigration reform including a guest worker program.

The House and Senate are at loggerheads and the public wants a solution. Makes sense that he would try to broker one.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by (Orangewhiteblood @ May 15, 2006 9:24 PM)

Personally, I see this as nothing more than an attempt to save his poll numbers and gain some approval from his party.

I don't know about that. If he was poll driven, he probably wouldn't be nearly as much of a centrist on this issue. He's trying to govern and he's taking serious hits from both sides on this one.

[OWB]

Originally Posted by (GAVol @ May 15, 2006 9:29 PM)

If he was poll driven, he probably wouldn't be nearly as much of a centrist on this issue.

So you're saying this has nothing to do with polls and mid term elections?

[volinbham]

As a further thought on does he believe or is he just doing to bolster the polls.

His numbers are dropping because of erosion in the conservative base - if he merely wanted to bolster the polls it would be all enforcement and no focus on guest workers and pathway to citizenship.

In short, the best way for him to shore up support would be to take the House approach. Instead, he took a much more moderate and compromise approach.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by (Orangewhiteblood @ May 15, 2006 9:30 PM)

So you're saying this has nothing to do with polls and mid term elections?

Of course it does. Everything does. I'm just saying that I don't think he's as worried about what immigration reform looks like as he is passing some sort of immigration reform.

[OWB]

Originally Posted by (volinbham @ May 15, 2006 9:27 PM)

However, if you go back in W's history - he's consistently favored immigration reform including a guest worker program.

Do you really think that the guest worker program will work. I'll admit, I don't know much about it at this point but it seems like it's a lot of hassle. Why would anyone want to go through all of the hoops and get I.D's and such when they could just sneak across the border and avoid all of that?

Is there something that would stop that from happening? I don't even know.

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by (Orangewhiteblood @ May 15, 2006 8:30 PM)

So you're saying this has nothing to do with polls and mid term elections?

He's clearly not going to sway dems to vote for republicans with this approach.

Show me any politician (dem or rep) on this issue that isn't at least considering the impact on the midterm elections!

[USAF_Vol]

I had my fingers crossed for the pull out of Iraq thing. :cry:

[volinbham]

Originally Posted by (Orangewhiteblood @ May 15, 2006 8:32 PM)

Do you really think that the guest worker program will work. I'll admit, I don't know much about it at this point but it seems like it's a lot of hassle. Why would anyone want to go through all of the hoops and get I.D's and such when they could just sneak across the border and avoid all of that?

Is there something that would stop that from happening? I don't even know.

Border security is a prerequisite. The other component is to "know" who's here.

Will be tough but I definitely think we need these workers (or some).