Ridge's immigration remarks in Miami set off firestorm

[grok]

Ridge's immigration remarks in Miami set off firestorm
By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press
Posted December 11 2003, 2:33 PM EST
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's expression of support for giving legal status to immigrants drew congressional criticism Wednesday, but heartened advocates.
At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence." He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship.

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Full text.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1211ridge,0,4027915.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/12/12/3fd94c811dd9c

Another play for the latino vote?

Grok

[Racenut20]

1. Strange he said all this in Miami isn't it. DUH!!!!!!

[grok]

3. Not necessarily...

It shouldn't effect the Cuban-American vote that much in Florida. They get the red carpet treatment into this country anyways. I am more concerned for the Mexican-American vote in California and Western states!

Grok

[La_Serpiente]

2. Maybe

but I don't know about the Republicans trying to get rid of Medicare for non-citizens.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/12/01/state2027EST0133.DTL

Didn't something like this happen in California where the Republicans encouraged the referendum on blocking all social and education programs for non-citizens? They ended up losing the immigrant vote in California for a very long time.

Besides, something like granting citizenship or legal status to illegal immigrants would never pass in a Republican Congress. The Pat Buchanan wing of the party will never allow it.

[grok]

4. You could be right

Perhaps the Republicans have learned their lesson this time in Cali. They lost any chance of control over the state legislature because of their suppport for Prop 187 for over a decade. Perhaps Ahnold is giving at least lip service to drivers licenses for illegals(under certain conditions) for that very reason.

>Besides, something like granting citizenship or legal status to
>illegal immigrants would never pass in a Republican Congress. The Pat
>Buchanan wing of the party will never allow it.

Well, the Reps in masse would never go for it, as you say. But throw in several Democrats, along with with the Reps that always tow the white house line, and it very well may pass.

Grok

[myopinion]

5. Another example that they can't keep their story straight

Every time the “shrub/chimp/draft dodger/AWOL/coke snorter/drunk” or one of his gang of crooks say something it is only for the moment to please the preselected crowd they had brought in for the photo-ops.
None of what they say is ever the truth.

No child left behind for instance, states let alone schools can’t keep anything but the basics going because of no funds, no before school or after school unless you pay, less meals at school for poor kids unless they can dig some coins out of their pockets, no health care for poor kids through the first place that would see a problem. The results of the plan, illiteracy is up, children in homes under the poverty line up, child and infant deaths are up in the US; the list on this one subject by itself could go on for pages.

[loudnclear]

7. I ask again, can someone say "dysfunctional administration?"

This is be far the worse administration to take over government since Nixon...and that includes the Reagan administration.

[xxqqqzme]

9. great post

in pointing out the 'unseen' consequences of squatter's knee jerk social program starvation.

[thebigidea]

6. potato-man speaks!

[impeach the gop]

8. Who'da thunk

n/t

[devinsgram]

10. I'm from PA and I've always said

Ridge is the biggest f**king jerk to come out of this state. Our biggest embarrasment since Thornbigget.

[truthseeker1]

11. Might the govt. be hurting for more young male bodies to send to war?

They could be planning to "offer" these folks citizenship if they put in a tour of duty in Messopotamia.