"a transparent attempt"

Yes, I am sure you are right: To better sell the guest worker/amnesty 'solution', the Bush administration has to be seen at the least as trying to stem the tide via rhetorical means -- kind of like shaming the Mexicans into doing something (which is idiotic of course, as it is definitely not in the interest of the Mexicans to do anything about it -- in fact, exactly the opposite, which, to anyone who is really paying attention, explains a lot about the behavior of the Mexican government). And who better to do this than someone named Garza?

Sigh.

Perhaps it is stating the obvious, but I think opposed Americans should begin adjusting to the eventual reality of some sort of guest worker/amnesty legislation, which IMO is inevitable. This sort of gradual acceptance may make it easier to swallow.

Because it is obvious how it will be presented: Look, be reasonable -- there are millions of them here, they are working and an integral part of communities throughout America, and it isn't practical to disrupt all of that (i.e. personal lives, the economy, etc) in order to arrest and deport all of them (this impracticality is the reason there is "catch and release" in the first place, and don't forget the Nazi-like "box car" mass deportation analogy -- expect to see that one again); so why not face reality and accept them as 'guest workers', and at the same time offer them a 'path to legalization'? After all, isn't America a "nation of immigrants"?

Again: IMO a big part of the problem is the fact that almost all illegals are non-white, and there just is not the political courage out there to face up to all the accusations of racism, xenophobia, nativism, etc, etc, that will surely rain down on those who voice their adamant opposition.

I wish I could believe that Bush & Co. have finally gotten serious but I can't. This is nothing more than part of a transparent attempt to get the US citizens, who for the most part emphatically oppose his amnesty proposal, to sort of calm down, get with the program, don't get excited, etc. They will then try to ram an amnesty program through Congress, promise enforcement later knowing that it will never happen, and hope that nobody notices until after the 2006 elections. 1986 all over again. This time I hope the people catch on quicker.

Sorry for the double post.

Garza's words are simply pro forma diplomat-speak. Even Bush pays lip service to the issue of border-crossing which is contrary to US law. I used that convoluted language because of the routine conflation of legal and illegal immigration.
BTW, have Bush or Chertoff ever addressed the issue of visa overstays at any of their close-to-the-border dog-and-pony shows?

Garza's words are simply pro forma diplomat-speak. Even Bush pays lip service to the issue of border-crossing which is contrary to US law. I used that convoluted language because of the routine conflation of legal and illegal immigration.
BTW, have Bush or Chertoff ever addressed the issue of visa overstays at any of their close-to-the-border dog-and-pony shows?