The Republican Schism is opening

[ck4829]

A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush's immigration reform proposals and predicted that up to 180 party members would support him.

Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.

"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050112/pl_nm/politics_immigration_dc_1

What do we want to do?

Do we want to go against the Republicans or the President?

I support immigration, but Bush's plan could put our nation at risk, so we should support Tancredo.

[wtmusic]

1. He just found out his party is full of shit

"There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.
:D

[Career Prole]

8. Uh-oh! Someone must have set their chair down

on his Koolaid I.V.!

[wtmusic]

12. LOL!

"Ack...help...I can't lie..." :D

[K-W]

10. I dont think he had any revelations.

Just politics as usual.

[fob]

2. What do we want to do?

Stand aside and let those idiots fight amongst themselves!

Oh and per a prior DU thread listing fweeper college courses; get mr tancredo into Recognizing Irony 101 STAT!

"Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk..."

[Sandpiper]

3. Bush doesn't want meaningful immigration reform

He wants legal Mexican stoop labor.

[Merrick]

4. A Flock Divided Cannot Stand

Sounds like some people are forgetting the fundamental principle of mindless unconditional conformity

[K-W]

5. We dont support either of them.

We continue to stand for the right immigration policy opposed to both republicans who want to keep immigrants out completely and those who want a cheap legitimate work force.

You fall into thier trap when you turn it into a black/white debate.

We dont agree with either of the dogs in this fight. Supporting immigration can be like tough on crime. Once you take a black white stand you become very bad at dealing with the grey stuff and very easy to take advantage of politically.

That is part of the problem in America. Everyone has big general ideological stances, but nobody has informed opinions on the specificities. (and I wasnt referring to you there)

[Aristus]

6. Is Tancredo JUST NOW waking up to the fact that his Fuhrer

is a toady for the corporations? I've got two questions for Insight Boy there: What have you been smoking? And where can I score some?

Tancredo for the last four years: :boring:

[K-W]

7. Hes an anti immigration advocate, hes been in reality of his own making.

And always will be.

But that reality will not tolerate anything that helps immigrants, so Bush has a wound to sow up.

[necso]

9. We should try to trade Democratic votes on this issue

(to those that oppose *) for votes on other issues.

Personally, I would be willing to make a rather lopsided trade -- and "abstains" or "not-presents" might be good enough to defeat * in this case (which is a good thing itself and helps build momentum).

[Lexingtonian]

11. I suggest donating them knives and handgrenades

We'd like to see some spirited Republican debate- with results everyone can agree to!

[JDPriestly]

13. Not sure, but,

as I understand it, Bush's immigration program will ultimately create second-class residents/citizens -- people who come to this country to contribute, but who can only acquire a stake in our society if they are lucky enough to win the immigration lottery. That means we will have people living and working beside us who do not share even the hope of potentially assuming the responsibilities and benefits of citizenship. That may be within the letter (not sure) of the Constitution, but it sure violates its spirit.

I have heard a nasty rumor that there are guest workers in Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries who have lived in those countries for more than a generation and whose children are basically countryless. Is that true? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Besides, isn't Bush's argument that he has to allow guest workers in to do jobs no one else will do inconsistent with Republican theories about the free market? If an employer can't find anyone to do a job, doesn't the free market theory require him to offer more money? There are lots of unemployed people who are willing to do just about anything for a living wage.

[Strelnikov_]

16. Exactly. Offer More Money, Also Maintain Safety Standards

since injured workers in a regulated system is a cost.

Desperate people are willing to do anything, including skirting of safety standards, to keep their job.

I guess that the question is, what is the control population for the labor supply in the supply/demand relationship? If it is the entire world, then we will probably land end up with the living standards of India for most of the U.S. population.

Whatever immigration system we have, it needs to be heavily regulated to avoid the race to the bottom our Great Leader is trying to facilitate.

[pinto]

14. Bush's plan is a "gasp" smoke and mirror gambit...

Essentially, he proposes a three (?) year work permit for immigrants. After that, they can go home, stay illegally and face deportation if caught or apply for status. Oh, status requires a five year legal residency...ooops.

So, what's new in the plan? A guaranteed - and expendable - revolving pool of immigrant labor available for minimum wage jobs.

When Bush touts that line about immigrant workers being able to go home and see their families without fear of being denied re-entry, he's really only talking about a federally managed transient workforce.

While compassion has nothing to do with this little scheme, I suspect many Central Americans would take it up, given the opportunity here. I suppose I'd do the same, if I had the guts immigrants must have to make the break from home to an unknown possibility in the US.

I wish Bush would address how we as a nation can realize immigration as an opportunity for us all.

(Hint - It's happened before)

[Disturbed]

15. More Bush Bullshit!

If the laws that are on the books were enforced and the border
was actually protected the problem wouldn't be as ominous as it is now. Bush Junta and U.S. Corps are entertwimed and placing Amerika in danger on many levels. The Bush Junta are traitors and War Criminals.