" And you guys have done a really good job. Thank you for your time. Thanks for your understanding of the complex, carefully crafted piece of legislation that is moving through the Senate. And you've done exactly what I asked you to do -- that's why you're in the Cabinet. (Laughter.) I appreciate you all helping work this bill through the Senate."

This is a bald-faced lie: the proffered legislation was not carefully crafted and is incomplete, missing a number of secret Amendments at this time. There are many provisions which defy common sense, such as granting "amnesty" to violent gang members in return for their signature on a document renouncing their gang affiliations. If only it were that easy to curtail these dope-dealing violent felons. 

The first thing that we've got to recognize in the country is that the system isn't working. The immigration system needs reform. The status quo is unacceptable. Most Americans understand that. They say, well, we attempted to reform the system in 1986, and the reform didn't work.

Aha - the President speaks the truth!

"I view this as an historic opportunity for Congress to act, for Congress to replace a system that is not working with one that we believe will work a lot better. In other words, this is a moment for people who have been elected to come together, focus on a problem, and show the American people that we can work together to fix the problem. If you dislike the status quo on immigration, then you ought to be supporting a comprehensive approach to making sure the system works."

We believe?  From all indications, there is no way that the currently overburdened bureaucracy can deal with the administrative tasks required to effectuate this bill in a manner that enhances the safety and security of American citizens. Quite the contrary, the bill immediately grants "illegal aliens" legal status and the become undeportable.  The trigger events used to sell this bill to the American public will not even apply. And there is no guarantee that Congress or the Administration will ever enforce any of the more difficult provisions of the final bill. You need only to ask yourself, why has the President not taken action to protect the border when he already has enabling, fully-funded legislative authority? The answer is clear: because he is the "decider" and he has decided not to!

"And it's a practical approach. The Senate has worked very hard to craft a comprehensive bill. In a good piece of legislation like this, and a difficult piece of legislation like this, one side doesn't get everything they want. It's a careful compromise, and many of you have been involved with that compromise."

The approach is provably not practical as the bill cannot be currently implemented by any Agency in the United States to protect American citizens from the ravages that will affect their healthcare, education and retirement. I don't want a compromise which is based on a "deal with the devil." Is this president will to stand before the American people and explain how he allowed Congress to "compromise" America's sovereignty, security and future. If anything, if this bill ever succeeds, this would rise to the level of a "high crime or misdemeanor" that would be needed to impeach a sitting president. To bargain away America's future without so much as a cost and benefit study is criminally negligent.

"The problem that this bill recognizes, the bill recognizes that we've got to address the problem in a comprehensive fashion. There are people who say, well, we've got to do more to protect our border -- and they're right, we do have to do more to protect our border. And that's why this bill has a lot of border security measures that will help continue the strategy that we have been implementing over the past year."

"As a matter of fact, there's a $4.4 billion direct deposit on enforcement measures. But it's important for our fellow citizens to understand that in order to enforce the border, there has to be a way for people to come to our country on a temporary basis to do work Americans aren't doing. Otherwise, they will continue to try to sneak in across the border."

This is bull-pucky. More rhetoric. What he says about protecting the border is absolutely true. What he is not saying is even more telling. The whole truth is that he could do it all without this bill or any additional legislation. All of the legalities and funding already exist. ONLY ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT IS REQUIRED! The sad fact is that both the current system and the bill itself, unless it is immediately amended, do not have provisions for tracking those who leave our country. So, if you track the inbound visitors and fail to track those who leave -- you will never know who remains in this country illegally. A stupid situation being promoted by the President and his agencies.  A reminder: all of the 9/11 hijackers overstayed or abused their student visas and the immigration department was still sending them communications and student visa information long after they crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and in that infamous Pennsylvania field... and presumed "dead" by our government. And this is the bureaucracy that is going to be changed with handling millions and millions of documents in order to make America safer. Also note, some Senators have claimed that the $4.4 billion dollars in funding will come from fines paid by illegal aliens... when there is no method for paying such fines or even a legal requirement to do so anywhere in the current bill.

"And, therefore, a second aspect of the comprehensive bill is one that addresses the economic needs of our country, and that is a temporary worker program that will match foreign workers with jobs Americans aren't doing -- and notice I say temporary worker program. There are a lot of employers here in this country that worry about having a work force that will be able to meet the demands and needs of a growing economy."

The United States Chamber of Commerce and the casinos in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's State of Nevada are the prime beneficiaries of this measure. Do not make the mistake of confusing highly-needed agricultural migrant temporary workers or those highly-skilled foreign workers with the bulk of impoverished workers who are already here. In many cases it is all about cheap labor and potential voters (and union members) that drive this legislation. But what of those legitimate citizens and immigrants located in the United States that are experiencing the lack of employment opportunities or who already live below the poverty line? Nothing addresses these concerns -- and the bill will strip away the little opportunity that they may have in favor of lower-paid, freshly arriving "guest" workers.

"There are people who live in our neighborhood and around the world who are desperate to provide food for their families, and recognize there are available jobs, and they will do anything to come to our country to work, because they want to fight off the poverty and starvation that has affected their loved ones."

Mexico is corrupt! Why would we, as a nation, allow them to outsource their poverty, corruption and educational requirements to this nation -- in order to perpetuate a healthy funds flow outside of our national economy and into the hands of corrupt government officials and their "friends."

It's a powerful incentive to be a mom or a dad to make sure your children don't suffer. That's an incentive. That's an incentive for people here in America; it also happens to be an incentive for people around the world. And, therefore, people will be willing to go extra lengths to avoid border security. They'll be willing to be crammed in the bottom of 18-wheelers. They fall prey to these coyotes who smuggle human beings to achieve profit.

An incentive greatly enhanced by the government's give-away programs which sometimes provides more aid and comfort to illegal aliens than to its legitimate, hardworking and taxpaying American citizens.

When I say the system hadn't worked -- the system hadn't worked to enforce our borders like we want, but the system has also fostered illegal operations that prey upon the human being, and it's not in this nation's interest that that continue to happen.

This is the Administration's fault ... and not just this President, but those preceding him.

"And, finally, this bill goes to the heart of our values. We have proven that our nation is capable of assimilating people. And I'm confident that we can continue to be a nation that assimilates. The bill recognizes that English is a part of the assimilation process and wants to help people learn the language in order to be able to take advantage of America."

More rhetoric...  Illegal immigrants, for the most part, do not  not want to assimilate. Their stated goal is often to make enough money to allow them and their family to return to their native land and live a life of relative comfort. As for English, there has been little progress in the schools and English is rarely spoken in the areas populated by illegal aliens.

You know, I've heard all the rhetoric -- you've heard it, too -- about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you've got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that. But it also recognizes it's in our nation's interest to bring people out of the shadows; that there's got to be a way forward that recognizes there is a penalty for being here illegally -- on the other hand, that recognizes that each person has got worth and dignity.

There is a way Mr. President. It is simple. You do not need to offer potential citizenship or even destroy our current infrastructure. You simply set a date and make all illegal aliens register (this is what the current laws mandate) or be subject to immediate deportation (with their families -- leave no child behind --  if they commit a crime. Do not make them eligible for social services or retirement unless they can produce a tamper-proof identification card issued at registration. Then enforce sanctions on those who hire illegal aliens and do not remit the proper taxes. Then implement a rational guest worker program and the problem will solve itself over time -- assuming the borders are controlled and immigration tracking enabled.

I love a country where people come with dreams and aspirations and through hard work can realize those dreams and aspirations. I'm struck every time I hear -- I'm struck about our greatness every time I hear a story about a child taking advantage of a mother's or dad's hard work to realize the blessings of America. I was at the Coast Guard Academy -- I've told this story several times -- and the number one cadet talked about his migrant grandfather. The fellow was a Mexican American -- or is a Mexican American. The father came from -- the grandfather came from Mexico to work hard so that, hopefully, some day somebody in his family would realize the blessings of America. And it worked.

The country is better off. Our soul is constantly renewed. Our spirit is invigorated when people come here and realize the blessings of America. And so the bill that we've worked hard to craft is an important piece of legislation that addresses the needs of a failed system, that says we're going to change for the better.

I want to thank you all for working hard. We've got a couple of days of hard work ahead of us to get the bill through the first stage of the process, and then, of course, when successful in the Senate, we'll be reconvening to figure out how to get the bill out of the House. It's an important piece of legislation; it's an important time to act for the sake of the country.

Thanks for your time. God bless your efforts. God bless our country. Thank you. (Applause.)

Mr. President, you are DESTROYING THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR AMERICANS -- IN ORDER TO GIVE ILLEGAL ALIENS A PARTICIPATION INTEREST IN OUR COUNTRY WHICH HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY THE "BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS" OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER. THE ONLY SPANISH YOU NEED TO LEARN IS: "NO MAS" -- NO MORE GIVEAWAYS TO THE SPECIAL INTERESTS. NO MORE GIVEAWAYS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO HAVE FLAUNTED OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND STOLEN OUR IDENTITIES WITH FORGED IDENTIFICATIONS. NO MORE TO DRUG DEALERS. AND NO MORE TO TERRORISTS.

If you plan to leave a legacy -- make sure it isn't the destruction of the American Dream.

What can YOU do?

Keep up the pressure on the Senate to kill this poorly-written piece of legislation.

Vote against politician supporting this bill.

Never compromise with America's freedom or dream.

Tell your friends.

Rally against those who are picking your pocket on behalf of the special interests.

-- steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

Reference:  President Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Reform