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In Las Vegas, President Obama delivered a speech calling for immigration reform. The address was mostly vague on details and focused primarily on making the broad historic, moral and economic argument for reform.
The lack of details was likely a political choice. Obama seems relatively happy with how things are currently moving in Congress and does want to step in unless necessary.
Obama basically endorsed the outline of the proposal from the Gang of Eight. From the speech:
Now, the good news is that for the first time in many years, Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem together. (Applause.) Members of both parties, in both chambers, are actively working on a solution. Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators announced their principles for comprehensive immigration reform, which are very much in line with the principles I’ve proposed and campaigned on for the last few years. So at this moment, it looks like there’s a genuine desire to get this done soon, and that’s very encouraging. [...]
Now, of course, there will be rigorous debate about many of the details, and every stakeholder should engage in real give and take in the process. But it’s important for us to recognize that the foundation for bipartisan action is already in place. And if Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away. (Applause.)
The very few broad policy that Obama said he wants from immigration reform, “smarter enforcement; a pathway to earned citizenship; improvements in the legal immigration system so that we continue to be a magnet for the best and the brightest all around the world” are nearly identical to what is in the bipartisan package.
If these Senators can turn their current proposal into a bill, Obama seems ready to sign it and declare victory.
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Yep. Get a law passed. Any law, no matter how bad. That’s what the rubes want to see – that you did your job and got a law passed.
And it’s even better if the law you get credit for passing is chock-full of bipartisany goodness!
I was thinking about this last night. All of the rhetoric I hear – and I me from the pro people very much as well – is that all of this is still just ridiculous.
Seems like every 15-20 years we have to just fold these people into our society. All this path to stuff is just bullshit. Just swear them in and start collecting the taxes and be done with it.
Also… you know what really irks me. I grew up in a border state and know a thing or two about “illegals”. I just dont think people in like Indiana should even be involved in the discussion. Its not really a “national” problem. 11 million people have not moved to wyoming.
Thanks…and Im very tired of that word ‘illegals’ and the other one ‘aliens.’
In what planet? The language is really crazy.
I think Obysmal would rather like just being head of state, as opposed to head of government. Vague stuff suits whatever his line is. He’s the king of konstitutional america.
Actual government is for the someone else.
“Obama seems…” “Obama basically endorsed…”
I was waiting for “Obama believes…” ,or “Obama has given hints that…”
I’m sorry that President Obama isn’t the Liberal warrior you imagined he was based on nothing but your talent for selective hearing. It must be rough to discover that getting real things accomplished in the real world isn’t as easy as carping from the sidelines. You’re a good journalist, Mr. Walker, and even though I don’t agree with you a lot, I appreciate your keeping the President’s feet to the fire, politically speaking.
As a political strategist, however, you kinda suck. President Obama has some ignoble retreats on his record, but also a hell of a lot of successes. That you missed the fact he’s a pro-business Centrist with a cautious streak a mile wide, however, is all on you.
You want Bernie Sanders for President? All you hafta do is convince 51% of our fellow citizens to vote for him.
This sort of “some say..” kvetching is really beneath your ability.
Done bitching now. Still like your stuff a lot.
So let’s add millions of legal and illegal foreign workers to a country where 23 million Americans are unemployed.
Why not? The elite don’t give a shit about people who have no jobs and will have less chance of getting jobs when this goes through.
That is correct. All this path to stuff is just bullshit. One thing these people are better at than native born Americans is the knowledge of path (and geography). They don’t need no guidance of path or GPS type of nonsense.
Just do like they did in old American West: ask the guys to raise the hand and promise to obey the law (although nobody knew what the law was) to be deputized and then give them a tin star. It always seemed to have worked and left everyone content.
I have been unemployed for almost four years. I have not lost one job opportunity to an undocumented person.
The ‘illegal problem’ is a tough one. Not getting what is considered the best solution is the solution. Compromise is part of the solution. This is what the GOP is currently having trouble with…absolutism: “advocacy of a rule by absolute standards or principles”.
The current govt that we have is not what I would choose but it is what we have. If you don’t like it, then work to change it. I think the Hastert Rule is being dropped and that is a good thing. A little less absolutism.
This year will be known as the great compromise. What the Dems have to give up remains to be seen. If the economy recovers enough to help lower the deficit Dems will have to give up less. Immigration, the debt, the deficit and guns are currently up in the air in Washington and I wish for a perfect solution but I advocate for a reasonable compromise.
Cross posted at:…mywag.wordpress