>>It is being reported that in his televised speech tonight President Bush will deploy tens of thousands of National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to assist the border patrol (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/15/immigration/index.html).
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>>My feelings about this issue, as well as this incumbent, are well known here by now so I won't rehash them. I will just say I regret he is doing this in response to political pressure. Whether I like it or not, the opinion polls show a majority of Americans want to stem, if not reverse, the immigration of Mexicans into this country. And now an embattled President is going to seize this emotional issue in an attempt to climb out of the ditch he has dug for himself.
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>>Whatever the short term outcome, I think this will be viewed as a shameful chapter in our nation's history. The current political climate reminds me uncomfortably of Germany circa 1935. "Deport them", "secure our borders", etc. -- these are code phrases that exhibit the darker side of the American dream.
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>Oh contraire, Securing our borders is a catch phrase for "securing our borders". If we have no borders, how then are we a country? Maybe we are just Northern Mexico? Terrorists have been crossing into this country from Mexico and Canada, yet we still want to operate as if 9/11 never happened. Bush's current problem is he is trying to placate everyone. A true leader doesn't do that because he knows he'll only make everyone mad. He should make a decision and stand by it! The FIRST order of business, IMHO, is to secure the borders, then talk about what to do with Juan, Julio, etc.

In this case I am not sure what we would be "securing" our borders against. Do poor migrant workers wanting to make a better living constitute a threat to our national security? I sure don't think so.

What terrorists have crossed into the U.S. from Mexico? I remember one who was caught trying to come in from Canada in the hope of unleashing mayhem in L.A. on 1/1/01, but don't remember any from Mexico. Please enlighten me.

PS -- re "Oh contraire," maybe you should stick to English....