Romney dawdles and ducks on immigration
Mitt Romney spoke today to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, where he was expected to finally take a position on President Obama’s recent decision not to deport illegal immigrants who were brought here as children and are now seeking an education or serving in the military.
The remarks were much-anticipated. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, for example, has been saying this week that he didn’t want to take a position on Obama’s move until Romney had done so, explaining that Romney “is the leader of our party from now until November.”
However, Romney’s speech did nothing to clarify his position, as you can see for yourself:
“For two years, this president had huge majorities in the House and Senate – he was free to pursue any policy he pleased. But he did nothing to advance a permanent fix for our broken immigration system. Instead, he failed to act until facing a tough re-election and trying to secure your vote.
Last week, the president finally offered a temporary measure that he seems to think will be just enough to get him through the election. After three and a half years of putting every issue from
loan guarantees for his donors to Cash For Clunkers before immigration, now the president has been seized by an overwhelming need to do what he could have done on Day One. I think you deserve better.Some people have asked if I will let stand the president’s executive action. The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the president’s temporary measure.
As president, I won’t settle for a stop-gap measure. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find a long-term solution. I will prioritize measures that strengthen legal immigration and make it easier. And I will address the problem of illegal immigration in a civil but resolute manner.”
I’m sure McConnell and his fellow Republicans appreciate the clear, “resolute” roadmap drawn for them by their party’s nominee.
In the primaries, of course, Romney had no such problem with clarity.
As usual with Romney, it is also necessary to point out that the words in his speech had only the vaguest of relationships to the truth. For example, he claims that for his first three and a half years as president, Obama “did nothing to advance a permanent fix for our broken immigration system.”
In 2010, and at Obama’s insistence, Democrats in both the House and Senate pushed passage of the so-called DREAM Act. The measure passed the House 216-198, although only eight Republicans supported it. It also drew strong majority support in the Senate, 55-41, but because Republicans had invoked the filibuster rule, it fell short of the 60 votes required for passage.
Only three Republican senators dared to vote to override that filibuster. Let’s take a look at their fate, shall we?
– At the time of the vote, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had just been re-elected as a write-in candidate after being rejected as insufficiently conservative by GOP primary voters in her state.
– Bob Bennett of Utah had also been defeated earlier that year in a GOP primary, again on grounds that he had been insufficiently conservative.
– Richard Lugar of Indiana was defeated this year in a Republican primary, again because he was considered insufficiently conservative.
In other words, there is no chance whatsoever that Republican leaders — terrified of their base — will gather the courage necessary to address this issue. But they are indulging in hypocrisy of the highest order in an attempt to disguise that reality.
For example, House Speaker John Boehner had the gall this week to complain that by taking executive action, Obama had short-circuited any chance of congressional action on the DREAM act:
“It puts everyone in a difficult position. I think we all have concerns for those who are caught in this trap, who through no fault of their own are here. But the president’s actions are going to make it much more difficult for us to work in a bipartisan way to get to a permanent solution.”
Note Boehner’s expression of deep, humane concern “for those who are caught in this trap, who through no fault of their own are here.” Note his yearning for “a bipartisan way to get to a permanent solution.” I tell you, it almost brought tears to my eyes.
Then note the GOP’s overwhelmingly rejection of the DREAM act in 2010, led by Boehner. Note Romney’s promise to veto such legislation should it ever reach his desk as president. Note what happened to Rick Perry in the GOP presidential primaries after he defended a Texas version of the DREAM act.
The truth is, there is no give on this issue among Republicans. None. The party has taken an absolutist position and has badly punished any of its own who has dared to challenge that absolute. And while this predicament may be frustrating for party leaders, it is a predicament of their own making. The animus that they helped to generate within their base as a means of building voter loyalty has now become real and heartfelt, and as a result it is now impossible for them to make the adjustments needed for the long-term health of their party and the long-term health of this country.
– Jay Bookman
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590 comments Add your comment
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
4:28 pm
“I mean, what’s so hard about a Republican candidate saying “I disagree with what President Obama did, and here’s why”? ”
Would that all of our politicians did that.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 21st, 2012
4:28 pm
K’Chak — “Shorter le petit caporal: Do as I say and not as I do.”
This.
Joseph
June 21st, 2012
4:28 pm
Most real news outlets gives Romney a positive rating for his speech to Hispanics… Not Jay, Media Matters, Huff Post, or the Daily Cos… Is there a connection there??
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/tough-crowd-romney-rips-obamas-immigration-approach-high/story?id=16621370
JamVet
June 21st, 2012
4:28 pm
What’s so hard about thousands of American businessmen using people who entered our country legally?
Oh yeah…I forgot about Benefits of doing it illegally….no withholding taxes to calculate and account for, no unemployment insurance payments, no social security taxes, no healthcare, nothing.
Just mountains of illegal profits.
And you pro-crime neocons love it.
Because in your demented minds it only takes one to tango…
ty webb
June 21st, 2012
4:29 pm
Pogo,
thanks, I appreciate the link.
Steve Atl
June 21st, 2012
4:30 pm
Pogo…read the article from the Telegraph…at least the rest of the world and the republicans get it.
JamVet
June 21st, 2012
4:30 pm
Romney will not get 25% of the Latino vote. Or the Asian vote. Or the black vote. Or the Jewish vote.
Welcome to the realities of the Lily White Party…
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
4:32 pm
“The most substantive policy change to come out of Washington in months” Give me a break!! Nothing but an attempt to gain the Latino vote. Why didn’t he do this three years ago when he had a Democratic Senate and House? Now he invokes the Dream Act by Executive Order when it looks like his campaign is going South to pick up a few more Latino votes. You might think that the American electorate is stupid, Bookman, but reality will win every time. If it walks like a duck……
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
4:33 pm
Exactly who do you think the President is ‘buying off,’ and how’s he doing it? What’s he paying them with?
He’s paying them off with food stamps redeemable for prom dresses at Whole Foods.
Steve
June 21st, 2012
4:34 pm
Romney is toast as he’s not conservative enough for the base, Mormon, plastic, the 0.5%, and he can’t win with the latinos/blacks/gays/women vote. He has nothing going for him. Obama’s milque-toast accomplishments (thanks to an obstructionist Congress, even when there was a supposed Dem majority) are still better than what Romney brings to the table. A strong GOP candidate would have crushed Obama. Conservatives- you guys messed this one up.
Steve Atl
June 21st, 2012
4:35 pm
Obama surrounds himself with great people…Tim Geithner the tax cheat and Eric Holder the corrupt scumbag.
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:35 pm
“Romney dawdles and ducks on immigration”
(yawn)…Obama dawdles and ducks on fast and furious.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 21st, 2012
4:37 pm
Towncrier — “I didn’t see it, JHM (I haven’t been on consistently). Thanks for the heads up. I have read it and thanks you for your detailed response.”
This is the first time I’ve seen you on for more than a post or two since then, and I wanted to be sure you’d seen it.
“a possibility Lembcke denies outright because he has seen no researched evidence for it. I mean, why go to the trouble to write a book to refute firsthand claims it happened instead of just letting things die down over time? It seems to be to be driven all by an agenda to preserve an image (whatever that might be).”
If you’ll look back at my original post, you’ll see that I asserted that there was no *documented evidence* for it, not that it hadn’t ever happened. There’s *some* overlap in my position and Lembcke’s, but not much. This is why I kept asking you why you were bringing Lembcke up. I’m familiar with his book, but I don’t agree with much of it and I certainly wouldn’t cite it.
“I share your frustration with Lindgren not specifying the publication date of the articles he cites (especially given his academic stature) and applaud you for your effort so far.”
Very kind of you to say. Thank you!
“I wonder if an e-mail addressed to him directly, in a nice manner (you know, “an acquaintance of mine and I are having this debate about….”), could yield this information. Perhaps he has copies of the articles themselves in a file somewhere. A response from him, in whatever manner, might reveal a lot.”
This is an excellent idea. I will do just that.
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
4:38 pm
“What’s so hard about thousands of American businessmen using people who entered our country legally? Oh yeah…I forgot about Benefits of doing it illegally….no withholding taxes to calculate and account for, no unemployment insurance payments, no social security taxes, no healthcare, nothing. Just mountains of illegal profits.”
There is truth in this JamVet – perhaps the reason Bush did not move to secure our borders militarily after 9/11 and apparently called the Minute Men “vigilantes” off mike. I am very conservative, but really think the liberals have a point in bemoaning the unbridled greed of people in the name of “business”. Ad the apostle Paul has said, the love of money is the ROOT of much evil. But I don’t think you can realistically legislate against it, anymore than you can against drug use or drinking alcohol – it will persist in an alarming fashion. It might be much better to incentivize more generous and selfless behavior in a logical, consistent and comprehensive manner.
Jay
June 21st, 2012
4:38 pm
Submitted on 2012/06/21 at 4:20pm
Steve ATL asks, “What’s so hard about filling out the proper paperwork, getting in line, and entering our country legally?”
Maybe it’s because, as the Deseret News points out, “The State Department reports that some categories of Mexican immigrants who are now being processed have been waiting for visas for 18 years.” Add the 11 million here illegally to that waiting list and the wait would become much longer. You can apply at age 18 and get admittance at age 50. A lot of good that would do you.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
June 21st, 2012
4:39 pm
Obama is rising in the polls rapidly in Florida.
He wins that state and its game set match.
Sorry angry white Cons.
Its over.
Steve Atl
June 21st, 2012
4:39 pm
Executive Privilege #2 coming up…when the Supreme Court shoots down Obamacare.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
June 21st, 2012
4:43 pm
Executive Privilege #2 coming up…when the Supreme Court shoots down Obamacare.
That doesn’t even make sense.
And… he would still have 14 to go to catch W.
josef
June 21st, 2012
4:43 pm
IMAM
Thanks for that @ 4:38. I was trying to come up with an answer, but that citation does the job nicely.
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:43 pm
“He wins that state and its game set match.”
If pigs had wings they could fly.
Aquagirl
June 21st, 2012
4:44 pm
Most real news outlets gives Romney a positive rating for his speech to Hispanics
When they talk about “scattered applause” it doesn’t sound like a rousing success.
Poor Joseph—-couldn’t struggle through even the first page of his own link.
Steve
June 21st, 2012
4:44 pm
You people forget that every administration has looked the other way and kicked the can down the road with immigration. We allowed this for years and enjoyed the benefits of cheap labor. Not easily solved.
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:45 pm
“Romney dawdles and ducks on immigration”
Romney isn’t even the president (yet).
What has the campaigner-in-chief done about illegal immigration in 3.5 years?
josef
June 21st, 2012
4:45 pm
STEVE
@ 4:44
Yep.
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
4:46 pm
Somehow, liberals believe that it is our duty as a country to hasten the immigration process to allow more Mexicans to enter our country. And, somehow, the delay in approving their admission to our country is some kind of sin. I personally don’t give a tinker’s damn how long they have to wait. Neither do many other successful countries in the world. Try that approach in Switzerland. We should only be taking immigrants into our country that have something to contribute, have means to support themselves and have no criminal record. That would cut out nearly all of the present illegals that we have in this country. It is not our duty nor our obligation to admit to our country, anyone who wants to become an American citizen. Liberals make it seem that if we are not admitting most anyone who wants to enter and are not doing it on the fast track, that something is wrong with us. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:46 pm
Maybe Barack will sponsor some legislation on immigration after he’s fulfilled his promise to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first (and last) term…
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
4:47 pm
We allowed this for years and enjoyed the benefits of cheap labor.
As someone that spent 35 years in the construction biz, I have “enjoyed” nothing but stagnant pay.
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
4:47 pm
“If pigs had wings they could fly.”
Probably be best if you keep the blinds closed
Steve Atl
June 21st, 2012
4:48 pm
Jay…can you let me know where you found the statistic that says it takes 18 years to become a US citizen. Please paste the link. Friends of mine have taken anywhere from 3 months to 5 years.
Were you just exxageramerating?
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:48 pm
Maybe some of the illegals pouring over the Mexican border will have the courtesy to return some of the assault weapons Holder sold them.
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
4:50 pm
“Maybe it’s because, as the Deseret News points out, “The State Department reports that some categories of Mexican immigrants who are now being processed have been waiting for visas for 18 years.” Add the 11 million here illegally to that waiting list and the wait would become much longer. You can apply at age 18 and get admittance at age 50. A lot of good that would do you.”
I trust you are not suggesting that the ends justify the means here, Jay. Because that argument can be applied to almost any law. And I think when a law is not very accommodating, then it becomes alright in the minds of some to ignore it. And your cited statistics do not explain the illegal crossings that have occurred decades ago when the wait was no doubt much shorter. The law needs to be changed (no doubt) not defiantly ignored. I thought Bush’s guest worker program was a great idea.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
4:50 pm
Jay…can you let me know where you found the statistic that says it takes 18 years to become a US citizen.
Not real good with the reading compremehension thingie, are you?
UNCLE SAMANTHA
June 21st, 2012
4:50 pm
CJ
June 21st, 2012
3:45 pm
Mitt Romney: “As president, I won’t settle for a stop-gap measure. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find a long-term solution.”
Any idiot can run for office on that platform. And, frankly, one would have to be an idiot to buy that snake oil.
HOPE AND CHANGE CJ
HOPE AND CHANGE
idiots are in both parties
and elected MR. HOPE AND CHANGE
mdouglasman
June 21st, 2012
4:51 pm
This ‘blog’ is a total waste of time. Jay, you have never had a creative thought…same old stuff. One of these days I hope you and dem lemmings look at facts and wake up….31/2 years…trillions spent, $2 trillion printed, bad results. It has never worked in the history of mankind, never will work….look at Europe, an example staring back at you and you guys do the same thing over and over and expect different results. Got to go and try to make some money with these aliens I have working for me.
pogo
June 21st, 2012
4:51 pm
The money is pouring into Romney’s campaign from both private donations and Super PACS. While Obama raked it in from both sources in 2008 Jay and his liberals had nothing to say. But now that Romney and the RNC are doing great in this area Jay and his liberal brethren are crying and wailing about big money buying the election. Obama is from Chicago and he only knows big money politics and he has taken full advantage of them throughout his career. He especially took advantage of it in 2008. But this year, he has no record to run on, his policies have failed and his coffers are beginning to dwindle FAST. As for the people I know I have never seen so many people contributing to a political campaign (specifically Romney and the RNC) as this year. Hundreds of people who have never contributed to a political campaign are giving money to the Republicans. In fact, we are holding small fundraiser meetings in our own houses and we have raised a heck of a lot of money this way. We have one every other week. We call them “GROB” parties (that stands for, “Get rid of ” oh well, you know). Besides Jay, Obama has used 778 Billion of us taxpayers money to buy votes through the FoodStamp program and another few hundred billion to buy union votes so what is your problem with private citizens and business buying them through donations?
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
4:52 pm
“Sorry angry white Cons.”
I smell a bit of racism here. FYI, not all conservatives are “white”.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 21st, 2012
4:52 pm
K71 — “Somehow, liberals believe that it is our duty as a country to hasten the immigration process to allow more Mexicans to enter our country.”
False statement #1.
“And, somehow, the delay in approving their admission to our country is some kind of sin.”
False statement #2.
“I personally don’t give a tinker’s damn how long they have to wait. Neither do many other successful countries in the world. Try that approach in Switzerland.”
Shrug.
“We should only be taking immigrants into our country that have something to contribute, have means to support themselves and have no criminal record. That would cut out nearly all of the present illegals that we have in this country.”
Wild-Azz guess.
“It is not our duty nor our obligation to admit to our country, anyone who wants to become an American citizen.”
If’ they’re Cuban and they get their feet onto American soil, then it actually *is* our obligation. Such individuals are automatically permitted to stay.
“Liberals make it seem that if we are not admitting most anyone who wants to enter and are not doing it on the fast track, that something is wrong with us.”
False statement #1
“Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Good assessment of your own post.
Your fiction-writing skills are getting better, but you’re still not doing the quality of work that I know you’re capable of. See me after class, young man.
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:52 pm
“As someone that spent 35 years in the construction biz, I have “enjoyed” nothing but stagnant pay.”
You enjoy DragonCon every year don’t you?
UNCLE SAMANTHA
June 21st, 2012
4:53 pm
JAY
PLEASE EDUCATE THE PEOPLE
visas are different than citizenship
permanenant residency is different than citizenship
there are many tools available to solve the problem
but congress lacks the one most important tool
balls
josef
June 21st, 2012
4:53 pm
It’s kind of interesting the lack of historical perspective a lot of posters have. From the 1630s forward we have a tradition of importing “those people,” whoever the those people of the generation, to do our cheap dirt work. The “waves” and “hordes” of Messicans are but the latest.
Oscar
June 21st, 2012
4:53 pm
Romney says Obama had a huge majority in the senate for two years. He either has a really bad memory or maybe it’s just that he can’t count and divide very well. Or maybe he just likes to ignore the real facts and make up some on his own.
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
4:53 pm
kayaker
Can we assume that when you go to a restaurant, purchase vegetables, maybe had a house built or renovated, contracted for yard work or other services that you verified no illegals were involved?
If not, they thank you for contributing to the reason they have come here.
I’m for tighter boarder security as well as finding those who over stay visas, but as long as the US consumer demands products as cheap as they can get them and business owners are looking to maximize profit on every dollar………… they will be here.
And it will not matter who is in the WH
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
4:54 pm
You enjoy DragonCon every year don’t you?
No.
This has been another episode of one word answers to a simple{ton’s} question.
Oscar
June 21st, 2012
4:54 pm
I think all of you European ancestors are part of “those people.”
Aquagirl
June 21st, 2012
4:56 pm
I thought Bush’s guest worker program was a great idea.
Some people would like to join their spouses or family. They’re not all here to mow your lawn and pick your cheap produce, however much you like that idea.
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
4:56 pm
White, middle class working America is getting more and more tired of Bozo’s election year shenanigans as the polls show. Incumbent presidents are not supposed to be behind in the polls four months prior to an election. And the Democrats know it. Now, some of the prominent Democrats are even shunning the Democratic Convention, seeing it as a losing cause. Bozo is pulling out all of the stops, lying to the American public and defying the Constitution and the separation of powers in an attempt to divide us up into separate interest groups to his own advantage. That’s all he has.
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
4:57 pm
JHM @ 4:52
Kayaker is certainly one of our better fiction writers. He might be slipping a little today, but the day is not over and there is always tomorrow for him to top surpass previous posts.
Someone has to win the Pinocchio Blogger of the Year award or at least be in the running
JKL2
June 21st, 2012
4:57 pm
Vote obama: Because being successful just isn’t fair!
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:58 pm
“As someone that spent 35 years in the construction biz, I have “enjoyed” nothing but stagnant pay.”
Mediocrity tends to limit upward mobility in a free society.
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
4:59 pm
“Incumbent presidents are not supposed to be behind in the polls four months prior to an election”
Well in some he is and others he is not. But I would remind you that even in Karl Rove’s electoral map, it isn’t Romney with the hill to climb.
It is about the Electoral College.
Just sayn
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
4:59 pm
Maybe I’m being unfair. Little Barry Soetoro has made quite a nice career of mediocrity.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 21st, 2012
5:00 pm
B. Shockley — “Mediocrity tends to limit upward mobility in a free society.”
So THAT’S how the Republicans have been doing it.
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
5:01 pm
“it is Romney………”
Excuse me
Steve Atl
June 21st, 2012
5:01 pm
I thought Jay had the Pinocchio Blogger of the Year Award wrapped up or was that the Jeff Spicoli Blogger of the Year Award…
“What Jefferson was saying was, Hey! You know, we left this England place ’cause it was bogus; so if we don’t get some cool rules ourselves – pronto – we’ll just be bogus too! Get it? “
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
5:02 pm
Is Barack’s aunt one of the illegal slackers he intends to let stay here?
Joe Hussein Mama
June 21st, 2012
5:02 pm
I’m out. All be well and drive safely.
JamVet
June 21st, 2012
5:03 pm
White, middle class working America is getting more and more tired of
Bozo’s election year shenanigansforty years of flat lined wages, as the polls show.Excluding of course, the self-flagellating neocons, who seem to love gaining no ground at all for decades at a time…
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
5:04 pm
“So THAT’S how the Republicans have been doing it.”
It’s not Republicans asking government to provide equal outcomes for all, regardless of talent, skill, and effort. That would be Democrats.
But then you knew that already.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
5:04 pm
Now, some of the prominent Democrats are even shunning the Democratic Convention…
Sensing a recurring theme I just had to go check, and sure enough a headline at the gooey Drudgey goodness.
More Dems to Skip Convention…
Baaaa, baaaa, baaaa….
Ben Shockley
June 21st, 2012
5:05 pm
JamVet, I’m a white middle class working American, and my income has quadrupled in the last 15 years. And I’m not even a government employee.
TaxPayer
June 21st, 2012
5:06 pm
It’s not Republicans asking government to provide equal outcomes for all, regardless of talent, skill, and effort. That would be Democrats.
If only there were a linkee to that claim.
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
5:06 pm
“Some people would like to join their spouses or family. They’re not all here to mow your lawn and pick your cheap produce, however much you like that idea.”
The US is not a country club, however much you like that idea. Many more people want to immigrate here than can logistically, rationally or feasibly be allowed – you know that right? I am on record here as saying, time and again, that Mexicans and Canadians ought to be at the head of the line – given preference over all others (maybe by making it so that half of all immigrants are from these countries). For those who are way back in line, then a work permit should perhaps be allowed to at least give them the opportunity to make more money than they are in their own countries and help businesses here. If they prove to be upstanding citizens during that time, perhaps they (and their families) get moved up for consideration.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
5:06 pm
Mediocrity tends to limit upward mobility in a free society.
I’m self employed, sport.
Whose ass do you have to kiss to get ahead?
TaxPayer
June 21st, 2012
5:07 pm
4 x 4
They BOTH suck
June 21st, 2012
5:08 pm
Ben
Good for you and congratulations, however that has nothing to do with Jam’s claim that wages have stagnated across the board.
But do carry on
mdouglasman
June 21st, 2012
5:08 pm
Hey Ben,
Don’t talk about your income quading…you are a target for those havenots.
mdouglasman
June 21st, 2012
5:09 pm
Kam, one one who would hire you?
josef
June 21st, 2012
5:09 pm
TOWNCRIER
@ 5:06
But..but…that would make sense and be rational…why the hell would anybody want to do that?
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
5:09 pm
Next step….. incumbent Democratic Senators, Congressmen/women and governors will begin to shun Bozo at every opportunity just like they did with W. They know a losing cause when they see it and they will want no part of his support….. even to be seen with him at a campaign event will be a liability.
barking frog
June 21st, 2012
5:10 pm
Ben Shockley
buy a horse..
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
5:11 pm
“But..but…that would make sense and be rational…why the hell would anybody want to do that?”
Good point, josef. What was I thinking?
Dekalb Comments
June 21st, 2012
5:11 pm
Towncrier @ 5:06
Why do you think Mexicans and Canadians should be at the head of the line? I am fascinated by that thought. I don’t have anything against our gentile neighbors to our north or the poor neighbors to our south but I don’t know why their applications should be considered higher than say someone from India or Malaysia or France.
What criteria do you think we should use in determining who is allowed to come here on a path toward citizenship?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
5:11 pm
Kam, one one who would hire you?
Again — for those of you in the cheap seats: I’M SELF EMPLOYED, SPORT.
getalife
June 21st, 2012
5:13 pm
Moody’s downgrade the banks.
Slow job growth so the gop guvs decide to layoff American workers.
This is how they govern.
A disaster waiting to happen.
Dekalb Comments
June 21st, 2012
5:13 pm
Correction….our genteel neighbors to our north.
Mighty Righty
June 21st, 2012
5:13 pm
WHILE OBAMA DAWDLES AND DUCKS on jobs the unemployment remains at 552,000 fewer than when he took office and this weeks jobs numbers continue to worsen. After three and a half years Obama remains clueless about how our economy works preferring to continue his Marxist ideaology of government control of everything which has a proven track record of failure. Meanwhile 30 jobs bills lay in the do nothing Democrat controlled Senate awaiting action which would have employed millions by now had Obama been able to get HIS party to be bipartisan. This inept president can’t even get his own party to pass a jobs bill.
mdouglasman
June 21st, 2012
5:14 pm
Kam, meant to say you are the only one who would hire you.
josef
June 21st, 2012
5:16 pm
DeKalb
Why? We have long-standing historical and cultural ties one with the other. NAFTA. Cross border ties already. It’s a rather common practice among civilized states with immigration quotas. I would add to his special considerations, those from English speaking countries.
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
5:17 pm
I wonder how many Canadians are here as illegals and whether or not they would work for a Mexican wage if they were.
josef
June 21st, 2012
5:17 pm
DeKALB
Aw, I thought you had converted to Mormonism and were talking about our “gentile” neighbors!
getalife
June 21st, 2012
5:19 pm
wishy washy weird willard will not even promote his roots in Mexico.
Sad.
JamVet
June 21st, 2012
5:19 pm
It’s not Republicans asking government to provide equal outcomes for all, regardless of talent, skill, and effort.
In my best Foghorn Leghorn accent, “Son, you talk a lot, but you don’t say nothing!”
barking frog
June 21st, 2012
5:20 pm
josef
didn’t know you spoke
Mormon.
josef
June 21st, 2012
5:22 pm
kayaker
I used to live on the Canadian border. It’s a much more widespread “problem” than many think, and was especially so at that time back in the ’70s when the Canadian dollar was at .75. The Canadian worker would undercut the United States worker. It was even more acute in that it was not just in the service sector. Secondly, border crossing was quite easy and they were “in the country legally.”
TaxPayer
June 21st, 2012
5:22 pm
So. When are the Republicans going to get busy on that electrified border fence complete with gator-filled moat and razor wire and patrols armed with lots of guns. That is still their plan, isn’t it. And how are those illegal immigrant laws working out for the Republicans in states such as Alabama and Georgia. What’s the latest word.
TM
June 21st, 2012
5:22 pm
“Saying “I will replace his plan with my plan” tells us nothing without an explanation of what that plan might be.”
Ain’t that what your guy said to get elected.Hope and Change whatever that is
barking frog
June 21st, 2012
5:23 pm
Romney/Redneck Convert
2012.
josef
June 21st, 2012
5:23 pm
FROG
Hey, what can I say? I’m like the first Jewish governor of Utah who said, “where else am I a goy?”
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
5:24 pm
Looks like the Supremes handed SEIU some bad news today. Couldn’t happen to a finer group of misfits.
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
5:24 pm
“Why do you think Mexicans and Canadians should be at the head of the line?”
1) Proximity – the fact that they are our geographical neighbors and it is prudent to foster the best possible relationship with them. They have been our allies and we have a mutual interest in each other’s survival.
2) History – the fact that both peoples were, for better or worse, involved in the evolution of our country.
“What criteria do you think we should use in determining who is allowed to come here on a path toward citizenship?”
I don’t have a complete answer for this. I would say commitment would be high on the list (in other words, this is a one time opportunity – if you choose not to stay a citizen, you cannot return as a citizen). Along these lines, dual citizenship must be forever renounced. I think employability would be also be high on the list, balanced against any non-employable members of family that might be coming (in other words, could they sustain themselves or would they require a lot of financial assistance we cannot afford and was never given to immigrants years ago). Obviously a clean record would be required. That’s about all I can think of now.
getalife
June 21st, 2012
5:25 pm
You speak Mormon?
Where the heck is planet kolob?
TaxPayer
June 21st, 2012
5:25 pm
“Chinese PhD’s are all the rage.” – Mitt
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 21st, 2012
5:29 pm
“Just once, I’d like for my life to be like an 80s movie.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Towncrier
June 21st, 2012
5:31 pm
“Just once, I’d like for my life to be like an 80s movie.”
“Just once, I would like to be portrayed as a vampire killer in a 21st century movie”
- Abraham Lincoln
Only in America.
kayaker 71
June 21st, 2012
5:32 pm
Off topic but interesting as hell…… the Voyager space probe was launched 35 years and has traveled at the rate of 10km/sec since launch. It has just reached the outer limits of our solar system and has just entered inter galactic space. I remember the first Star Trek movie about Veger…. a probe that was sent to gather knowledge and report back to it’s makers. Sort of makes you feel pretty insignificant.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
June 21st, 2012
5:34 pm
Romney/Redneck Convert
2012.
Only if Mr. Mormon Underpants (sorry, josef) becomes a Southren Baptist and will pick up a rattlesnake to prove it. It’s up to him. Does he want the redneck vote or don’t he?
Aquagirl
June 21st, 2012
5:34 pm
That’s about all I can think of now.
I would add “might like to live with US born spouse or close relative” but you seem to be evaluating economic units, not people.
Logical Dude
June 21st, 2012
5:34 pm
“Just once, I’d like for my life to be like an 80s movie.” – Easy A?
pogo
June 21st, 2012
5:35 pm
Politics can be fun! Win or lose, we are having a big time! And remember, the only reason those immigrants (Latinos or Asian or anything else) want to leave their homes and come to America is jobs (or so the democrats say). Now that Obama has destroyed job creation in this country, what is the incentive for immigrants to come here? The answer? Entitlements. Obama seems to thinks he can lure them to his side with welfare and social programs. That may work for some but they are going to be in direct competition with the other members legal members of “his base” for dwindling Federal entitlement dollars. It may work for a lvery ittle while but that really destroys the reason that the democrats have for saying that “these are hard working people who only want to better themselves and will do the jobs Americans don’t want to do”, isn’t it? Furthermore, most of the South American immigrants that do make some money here reventually return to their homes and I don’t blame them. They are taking the last bread from a sinking ship. Obama’s class warfare is backfiring. The so-called “rich” are cutting back on their spending and that means all of those lawn care jobs and labor intensive jobs that the illegals were doing are drying up thus we have a decreasing number of latinos immigrating to this country. His little Friday “dump” last week amounted to nothing. Without jobs the only attraction for immigrants in America are the entitlements. And if this is what Obama and the democrats want to build their base on, which apparently they do, that will only add trillions to our debt and it will hasten the demise of our country. And the legal citizens of this country who have paid into the system for many years will suffer and do without because of it. It is a losers game that Obama is playing.
Middle of the Road
June 21st, 2012
5:35 pm
I mentioned this before but I guess it’s worth repeating. While I don’t condone the practice congressfolk routinely skip their own conventions to help boost their own reelection chances. This is especially commonplace when a sitting President is a shoo-in for his party’s nomination. In 2004 eight House Republicans, four from Pennsylvania alone, skipped the GOP convention. And they pretty much used the same excuses as the Democrats are now.