It is NOT Amnesty. It is ...

... well, ... uh ... let me see now ... I'm pretty sure the President is against amnesty, so it must be ... something else.

 

President Bush outlined his bold new plan (Ken Mehlman's words) last night.  The plan? 

1.  Throw more money at it.

Tonight I'm calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we'll increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we'll have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my presidency.

1a.  Throw more money at it

 So we'll increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions.

1b.  Build more facilities (sounds like throw more money at it)

We've expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more.

2.  Create a new "guest worker" program in lieu of the current temporary VISA program.

Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program.
...
Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
...
A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers, and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.

3.  In spite of the fact that employer's now are supposed to verify the right to work, create a new program of identification.

It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law, and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.

4.  Reward those who have violated the law the longest.

That middle ground recognizes there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently, and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record.
I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law, to pay their taxes, to learn English, and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship, but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law.

5.  Let's all just assimilate.

Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery, from cleaning offices to running offices, from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit, and they add to the unity of America.

But always remember:

What I've just described is not amnesty, it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.

Next up, some real eye-opening remarks by Assistant Secretary Julie Myers.  Hugh Hewitt updates that the White House seems serious about real fences.

We shall see.

It's the Middle of the Week...

... do you know where your Congress is?

Ann Coulter notes that

It's pretty pathetic when a Kennedy is too drunk to drive into the Potomac. After the visibly intoxicated Rep. Patrick Kennedy crashed his car into a police barrier near the Capitol just before 3 a.m. last Thursday morning, he explained to the police he was hurrying back to the Capitol for a vote, a procedure known on the Hill as "last call." It could have been a lot worse: Patrick's designated driver that night was Ted Kennedy.

She reminisces about the Democrat love affair with special prosecutors until an actual felon was being investigated. Read the whole article.

Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi (or, as George Stephanopolous would say, "Madame Speaker") wants to impeach President Bush as soon as the Democrats win back Congress. Excuse me, win back? Seems like they (aided by the gang of 14) have pretty much been in control so far. Of course, once the Democrats are firmly seated in the majority, we will see how a majority party is supposed to act. They will brook no insubordination from the minority.

Democrats have declared war against Republicans, and Republicans are wandering around like a bunch of ninny Neville Chamberlains, congratulating themselves on their excellent behavior. They'll have some terrific stories about their Gandhi-like passivity to share while sitting in cells at Guantanamo after Hillary is elected.

Oh, and in case we want to know how to deal with an immigration problem, we can see how Mexico does it.

Herman Cain writes a great letter from a slave to an illegal.

My ancestors were brought to this country in chains against their will, and sold and forced to work like common farm animals. They had to abide by the laws to stay alive.
...
Throughout my ancestors’ 350-year struggle the objective was always “one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” When that liberty and justice finally became legally recognized as our civil rights, some of us ran through the doors of opportunity, some walked, and some chose to stay on the outside to criticize and complain. Still, our nation’s history has always been defined by one set of laws, one language and one flag of unity. This is what defines the United States of America!

And here's an amazing article about the Al Qaeda connection.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 8 (AP) — The Council of Holy Warriors, Al Qaeda's branch in Iraq, is worried that its cells in the Baghdad area are ineffective, with one militant describing their activities as nothing more than a "daily annoyance" to the Iraqi government, according to two documents released Monday by the United States military.

Did you notice how that was the lead story on ABC? Well, how about NBC? CBS? CNN? Fox?
Oh, right.

What about Congress? They want to investigate "Big Oil" for price gouging. Meanwhile protecting their own - well, if they are Democrats - contrast Duke Cunningham and William Jefferson or that other William Jefferson ... .

Democrats adored the independent counsel statute -- until it was used to catch an actual felon in the Oval Office. Then they noticed all sorts of problems with the law. Democrats swore up and down that women never lie about rape -- until that same felon was credibly accused of rape by Juanita Broaddrick on "NBC News," not to mention the four other card-carrying Democratic women who described being raped by Bill Clinton in eerily similar detail in Christopher Hitchens' book "No One Left to Lie To."

Just wait until November.

Third Party, Anyone?

With election season rapidly approaching, Congress (both houses, both parties) is struggling to appear relevant by wanting to investigate oil companies for price gouging. Of course, the fact that gas prices are now going DOWN will not deter them. Similarly, both sides of the aisle appear to be courting the illegal immigrant vote, although the Democrats are a little more blatant about it. Here's a thought: How about investigating the illegals and protecting our borders. Oh, and while you're at it, how about talking about the good things going on in Iraq.

Ann Coulter has an article that nails Congress and the professors. Good job, Ann.

Coming up, soaring prices at the colleges. Who's to blame? How can you keep your child in college and cash in your wallet? And Harvard outrage, big education makes big bucks, but we pay the price. So should President Bush limit prices? ...

To our top story now. It seems like a summer ritual. Rising professors' salaries mean rising tuition prices. But this year, sticker shock at the tuition window is fueling more concern than ever. And it has many people asking where is it going to end?

JAMIE COURT, CONSUMER RIGHTS ADVOCATE: Every time you see the price of tuition go up, you can hear "ka-ching, ka-ching" in the bank accounts of the college professors.

And then, there is our friend, the Butcher back in business with two new posts:

An explanation of the current oil shortage, and

Another look at immigration.

While you are surfing, be sure to visit Liberal Larry and get his reasoning on Big Oil. Or maybe on Moussaoui.

The Verdict Is In

Moussaoui (one of the wannabe hijackers from 9-11) was found guilty of being a terrorist and we waited for the jury to give the verdict on his punishment. They have decided.

For his crimes against America, Moussaoui will pay. He will have to eat American food, wear American clothes (prison, that is) for the rest of his life. Yes, we will feed and clothe him and provide shelter for the rest of his natural life. That will fix him.

Wait a minute? Who is paying for this? The government. And where do they propose to get the money? From those of us who pay taxes. So, you and I have agreed to support this man for the rest of his life because he is a terrorist.

Of course, he is not a martyr and therefore does not get his hot and cold running virgins. OK, that should be punishment enough. Let's provide him a hearty breakfast of his choice of ham, bacon or sausage every day. Yeah, that's the ticket. No wait, that would be considered torture.

Oh, I know. Let's not feed him at all. We learned that is a particularly euphoric existence. Well, short and euphoric. No, can't do that. He would die.

Nope, he will just have to do the best he can in prison. Maybe he can get a book deal.