Bush reluctantly promotes immigration "reform" at Rumsfeld press conference

Perhaps the overnights from Tony Snow's statement that the Democrats' win would enable "comprehensive immigration reform" came in and weren't favorable. Announcing Donald Rumsfeld's resignation/"resignation" earlier today, this is what our lame duck president had to say (whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061108-2.html):
Q Thank you, Mr. President. On immigration, many Democrats had more positive things to say about your comprehensive proposal than many Republicans did. Do you think a Democratic Congress gives you a better shot at comprehensive immigration reform?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I should have brought this up. I do. I think we have a good chance. Thank you. It's an important issue and I hope we can get something done on it. I meant to put that in my list of things that we need to get done.

I would hope Republicans have recognized that we've taken very strong security measures to address one aspect of comprehensive immigration reform. And I was talking to Secretary Chertoff today; he thinks that these measures we're taking are beginning to have measurable effects, and that catch and release has virtually been ended over the past couple of months. And that's positive.

And that's what some members were concerned about prior to advancing a comprehensive bill. In other words, they said, show me progress on the border, and then we'd be interested in talking about other aspects. Well, there's progress being made on the border in terms of security, and I would hope we can get something done. It's a vital issue. It's an issue that -- there's an issue where I believe we can find some common ground with the Democrats.

Q What are the odds for a guest worker provision?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's got to be an integral part of a comprehensive plan. When you're talking comprehensive immigration reform, one part of it is a guest worker program, where people can come on a temporary basis to do jobs Americans are not doing. I've always felt like that would be an important aspect of securing the border. In other words, if somebody is not trying to sneak in in the first place, it makes -- decreases the work load on our Border Patrol, and lets the Border Patrol focused on drugs and guns and terrorists. But that's a -- I appreciate you bringing that up. I should have remembered it.

Listen, thank you all very much for your time. I appreciate your interest.

Comments

The "progress being made" statement was this year's "mission accomplished."

I should have remembered it.

Yes, as if he had forgotten -- it was mentioned by Snow already. What a jerk.

Bush was, uhh, disingenuous on another point as well -- when he strongly hinted that giving Rumsfeld the boot was already on his mind when he gave him (and Cheney) a vote of confidence not long ago, and the only reason he didn't make the change earlier was that he didn't want to inject something so major into the campaign so late. Who believes this guy's claptrap?

WE ARE ALL DOOMED

Well, a worst, or very bad, case scenario may follow: since Bush is still in control of the executive, including the Pentagon, and Democrats won't be able (politically) to resist the call to 'Support Our Troops', we'll get 1) no significant change on the ground in Iraq (certainly the 'terrorists' and 'insurgents' aren't going to cooperate), and "comprehensive immigration reform" along the lines of S. 2611.

Agree with Fred Dawes. By the prez's statement "progress being made", I guess that means groundbreaking has started on the wall. ha, ha, ha! Never believed you would build it anyway. But, hey, Bush, please elaborate. WHAT progress? No hurry, I'll just be busy cleaning my guns while you think of an answer.

WE ARE ALL DOOMED, But face Facts we will be in a mass global economic trainwreck soon so this will mean nothing, buy guns and may God help you all.

BUT RIGHT BEFORE THE SYSTEM COMES DOWN MEXICO WILL OWN THIS NON NATION AND ITS POLITICAL SYSTEM.