Rating W's Speech

7.5/10

To be perfectly honest, I liked most of what the president had to say last night. I like the idea of the National Guard going down and protecting the border from intruders. As a matter of fact, I would put more down there than just the 6,000 that Bush is proposing. I would probably put at least 12,000 there to guarantee that there are not more problems. I really hope that 6,000 is enough.

Next, I also like the idea of training alot more border patrol agents. I think Bush said that he wants to add 6,000 border patrol by 2008, then take the Guard away from the border once the Border Patrol is ready to effectively handle the situtation. Thats fine with me, as long as the Border Patrol can do the job without the backup of the National Guard.

Another aspect of the president plan that I liked was how he said that it was not practical to round up the 12 million or so illegals that are already in this country. He's absolutely right about that. As much as conservatives like to bitch about it, there is not practical way to just throw all those people out of the country. So he wants to help them assimilate into the culture but also punish them for being in thsi country against the law, the he wants them to go to the back of the line in regards to gaining citizenship. I suppose thats the only option. Yes, it basically is amnesty because they do get to say in the US, but like I said you cannot just round them up and toss 12 million people into paddywagons and drop them off in Mexico. Unfortunetaly, the reality is that what Bush said to do is the only option.

The only part I dont like about Bush's policy is this guest-worker program, because we just dont need it. With 12 million illegals here today, we do not need to let more in to do work because there are plenty here to do it right now. The ones already here can do the work that Americans appearenly wont do according to the president, no need to let more come over here to do it. I really dont understand why he is so set on this guest-working thing, I think it is a very bad idea.

Overall however, he gave a pretty good speech last night. He was focused, powerful, and very presidential, which is important. The speech was well worded and well written. I do believe this will help the president, especially with more moderate voters. He wont get a break from either extreme politically because he didnt say to open the border completely, nor did he say to throw out all illegals here now and build a wall. But his ideas were practical and should stop about 90% or more of the influx of illegals we see today. Lets hope and pray his plan works because in all seriousness, our nation depends on it.

-Brad