Bush 'Amused' by SPP Criticism

President Bush recently met with the leaders of Mexico and Canada in Quebec to discuss topics related to the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) that began two years ago. A reporter for Fox News asked the three leaders the following question: "As you three leaders meet here, there are a growing number of people in each of your countries who have expressed concern about the [SPP]. This is addressed to all three of you. Can you say that this is not a prelude to a North American Union, similar to a European Union?"

Bush replied, "We represent three great nations. We respect each other's sovereignty. You know, there are some who would like to frighten our fellow citizens into believing that relations between us are harmful for our respective peoples. I just believe they're wrong. I believe it is in our interest to trade . . . to dialogue . . . to work out common problems for the good of our people." He went on to say that speculation against the SPP "amused" him because it involved "scare tactics" and "[laying] out a conspiracy."

Jerome Corsi, a leading critic of the SPP, maintained that "the argument wasn't answered" by the president's reply. Said Corsi, "Just to ridicule the idea, when he had a chance to deny it, raises doubts in peoples' minds. . . ." Source: WorldNetDaily.com 8/21/07.

Feinstein Will Push AgJobs Amnesty

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced that she would back amnesty legislation this fall, the so-called AgJobs bill, which would offer legal status and eventual citizenship to 1.5 million illegal aliens now working in agriculture. Sen. Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that passing AgJobs this year would be one of his priorities.

Some commentators believe that the Bush Administration's recently announced crackdown on employment of illegal aliens is a backhanded attempt to prompt outrage by employers-and political pressure to halt enforcement and pass an amnesty. The beginning of the stricter enforcement is timed to start at harvest time.

An article in the Fresno Bee observed (8/23/07), "More than one agricultural lobbyist believes the White House hopes that angry business leaders will . . . lean on Congress to change the immigration laws."

Another article in The Los Angeles Times (8/3/07) observed that strict enforcement "might lead to the comprehensive changes the administration has sought, including . . . some accommodation for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. [Michael] Chertoff [secretary of Homeland Security] said the [enforcement] provisions . . . could push corporate America to apply more pressure on Congress. . . ."