An editorial / By Dale McFeatters
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
President Bush was asked at his White House press conference what he called "a tricky little question" _ in essence, since the Republican-controlled Congress had failed to give him his top second-term priorities, among them comprehensive immigration reform, wouldn't he be better off working with Democrats?
He gamely said no, he wanted the Republicans to stay in control of the House and Senate.
Surely the president must have reflected on that tricky little question the following day when he signed the Secure Fence Act, a name redolent of barnyard and pasture, with a modicum of fanfare to show that the GOP was doing something about illegal immigration. Unfortunately, what it did was not what Bush wanted it to do.
The president had proposed comprehensive immigration reform that included, among much else, his priorities of a guest-worker program and a path to legalization and eventually citizenship for most of the 11 million or so illegal immigrants already here. The plan also called for verifiable IDs and employer sanctions.
Bush got his comprehensive reform bill from the Senate, but it was Democrats who gave it to him _ 38 Democrats voted for the measure, only four did not. The Republicans voted 32 nay and 23 yea.
But House Republicans and GOP opponents in the Senate insisted: First secure the borders and then we'll talk reform. Instead, what congressional Republicans gave their president was the Secure Fence Act, a $1.2 billion down payment on 700 miles of fence to secure the 2,100-mile border with Mexico. The finished fence will be wildly expensive and many, including the Border Patrol agents union, don't think it will work.
If Republicans remain in control of the House after the midterm elections, they will likely be reinforced in their opinion that they were right to buck their president and take a hard line. Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who could be speaker if Democrats win, says comprehensive immigration reform is a Democratic priority.
A tricky little question for the president and a tricky little problem, too.
Fence on Mexican border
That's $1,714,000 per mile. And this is only the down payment? Do I smell halliburtonian boondoggle here?
Fence on Mexican Border
Why, I think I do!
I am for reform.
We are a society governed by democratic law. The best idea that we thought of is to build a fence. I am sure that there are better choices for us to create. As we expand our awareness globally, this great world of ours grows closer. Not to long ago all believed that the world was flat. I suggest that we imagine what we would like the world to be in ten years from now and consider taking the steps to make that happen. I personally see the need for a greater understanding globally and then action taken responsibly. On the other hand, if one is afraid of what the world might become then let them build their fences.
There better be immigration
There better be immigration reform next year! This Congress should not ignore the millions who make this country run by serving the food, building the roads and houses, and cleaning the stores of Americans. Maybe the Republican rednexks will realize this. If not for other reason, the undocumented workers should be good to pay for the Social Security disaster that this country is headed toward.
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