It's been clear since his first term that President Bush has a soft spot for Mexico. It became a serious issue during the debate on the "shamnesty" bill and his elitist attitude when he hit the blogosphere/talk radio brick wall that derailed it.
Now he's reached his nadir with his plan to allow Mexican trucks to cross the border and deliver anywhere in the United States beginning Saturday:
Teamsters leaders said they planned to seek an emergency injunction Wednesday from the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
..."What a slap in the face to American workers, opening the highways to dangerous trucks on Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest driving weekends of the year," said Teamsters President Jim Hoffa.
..."Before providing unconditional access throughout the country to tens of thousands of big rigs we know little to nothing about, we must insure they meet safety and environmental standards," Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope said.
I actually agree with the Teamsters and the Sierra Club (an uncomfortable feeling to be sure). As one who lived in San Diego County for nearly ten years, you should see some of the vehicles that cross the border.
Another issue is that this truly is taking jobs from American workers and giving them to Mexicans. The status quo works just fine; the Mexicans haul the goods to the border, American drivers take over from there. It's worked for nearly a 25-years so why change? I'm not a big union supporter even though I am forced to work with them, but Hoffa has a point.
Bush has got to realize that the Mexicans are not Americans even though they think they should be simply because they are here, albeit illegally. He likes the Mexican people and I do too, yet to hurt American workers to appease a nation that has allowed its citizens to consistently break our laws is repulsive. If they want access to drive on American roads, charge them double what the average owner-operator pays in taxes and make them buy their diesel from our stations and under our environmental regulations. I'm not a tariff guy, but make it at least competitive and don't shut the American trucker out.
It should be noted that both Bush 41 and Bill Clinton have just as much responsibility and they were both huge advocates for NAFTA and this is part of the provision.
Update (8/31/07 0739): It's funny that Jimmy Hoffa supported the shamnesty plan and now when it will effect his union he's against this. You can't have it both ways.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Wow, this is one time I feel obliged to comment. As a Republican this is one area where President Bush and I stand in different corners. I have to agree with the labor unions and the environmentalists on this one. I think this is a point where many conservatives and liberals can come together hoping to protect our people, our jobs, and our country's environment.
I think we live in one of the greatest nations on earth, we need to start really taking care of it and the people. I hope the injunction works. I don't know what Texas is going to do....
Scot at 8:49PM on Aug 30th 2007
2. The more I read about Bush softening up on this issue, the more I fear about what is supposedly underway. Amerocurrency.com :/
Cm at 10:42PM on Aug 30th 2007
3. It seems the book by George Orwell is coming true.
Rosa Cerrato at 11:32PM on Aug 30th 2007
4. George Bush is selling America out. He is a very real advocate of the North American Union and the demise of the USA as we know it. It's heartbreaking!
Ann at 12:56AM on Aug 31st 2007
5. While I agree with the sentiments expressed here, it's not as "doom and gloom" as you predict.
The Mexican drivers and trucks will have to meet the same standards as any other trucks on our roads. While that may tax our HP agencies some, once these agencies start ticketing Mexican truckers for violations (and collecting the fees and/or impounding serious violators) and the word gets back to Mexico, then, the Mexicans will have to either upgrade their trucks or voluntarily stop at the border. Will that invite some "reverse retribution" on American trucks going into Mexico, probably, but, once the Shrub sees just how "fair" this is, perhaps Shrub will change his tune.
Now, some may say that Mexicans will be granted some sort of exemption. Sorry - Shrub and his gang does not have the authority to do that. You see, "thar is a thang called the Constitoootion", which includes another "thang" called the 14th Amendment, which clearly states that you can not treat someone differently because of their nation of origin. Hence, our law enforcement agencies will be required BY LAW to treat Mexican drivers and their trucks just like American drivers and trucks. And Shrub can not negotiate or give that away.
Unless of course, we simply sit back and let him get away with it....
ray at 2:09AM on Aug 31st 2007
6. I think that it is pretty clear now that President Bush has his own agenda and isn't too concerned with anyone else, including people in his own party. I try to look at issues from many angles and this one is pretty tough. On a large scale, I think that so many people coming into our country illegally is a huge problem that we should take almost any measure to solve. On the other hand, if I had a friend in Mexico and I knew that he would be able to have a better life here for him and his family I would probably tell him to jump the fence. So while I understand why most of them are coming here and I am sympathetic, I think that there is absolutely no excuse for our government to let this happen.
David at 2:30AM on Aug 31st 2007
7. I AM, AND HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN 60 YEARS. BUT I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND "PRES. BUSHES" WANTING TO MAKE ALL ILLEGAL MEXICANS "AMERICAN CITIZENS". INSTEAD KICKING
THEM ALL OUT,HE WOULD "REWARD" THEM FOR BREAKING OUR
LAWS!. HE ALONE, WITH HIS "STUPID!"APPOINTMENTS HAS
DAMN NEAR RUINED OUR PARTY!WHY? DOES HE KEEP KISSING
MEXICAN AND MEXICOS BUTTS."GOD"DO WE NEED A REAGAN
NOW.
MEL at 3:31AM on Aug 31st 2007
8. This really makes the term, "Homeland Security" an oxymoron.
What's the point of making me take my shoes off to board an airplane if great big trucks can drive right across our borders?
Randy at 4:45AM on Aug 31st 2007
9. ."GOD"DO WE NEED A REAGAN
NOW.
MEL at 3:31AM on Aug 31st 2007
hate to break it to you.....reagan was the last president to give amnesty to all them illegals while he was president. and from the looks of your complaint....you don't want that.
and the rest of America doesn't want that to happen again...for it did not help stop the flow of illegals still coming into our country. if you notice...even with all their(other countries) complaints about our country....it does not stop them from trying to profit off of it.
iamchavira at 9:05AM on Aug 31st 2007
10. Mexican trucks on our freeways and highways, side streets (while they learn the ropes), what a catastrophe!! Just think of all the abandoned Mexican trucks littering our streets as the drivers and their "crews" ditch them and make for the hills of everywhere. And even if they DO stay in their trucks round trip, and if they ARE fined for breaking the laws, who in the world is going to make them PAY?! I'm equally worried about WHAT is transported in those trucks. This whole mess adds to the rest of the Mexico Mess for Americans. I do LOVE Mexican food, but I'm about to drop it from my menus permanently, reminds me too much of the every growing, ever hostile "Mexican Mess".
Jean at 11:05AM on Aug 31st 2007
11. The problems we are creating with this rampant illegal immigration are astounding. Equality of people and nations is the greatest myth of all time. We either reverse course or sink.
Ames Tiedeman at 8:50PM on Sep 17th 2007