"Rewarding Border Invading and Granting Amnesty"

Here is the transcript of the President's speech on "Border Security and Immigration Reform in Arizona."

Might as well call it "Rewarding Border Invading and Granting Amnesty."

Now, for some analysis:

Securing our border is essential to securing the homeland. And I want to thank all of those who are working around the clock to defend our border, to enforce our laws, and to uphold the values of the United States of America. America is grateful to those who are on the front lines of enforcing the border.

Why did it take the President FIVE YEARS to grasp this?

Is he thanking those patriots like the Minutemen, who he has referred to as vigilantes? They are doing the work the government is supposed to.

I have a solemn duty, and so do the members of the United States Congress, to protect our nation, our Constitution, and our laws. Our border and immigration security officers devote themselves to those same missions every single day.

Still waiting for this to be taken seriously.

America has always been a compassionate nation that values the newcomer and takes great pride in our immigrant heritage; yet we're also a nation built on the rule of law, and those who enter the country illegally violate the law. The American people should not have to choose between a welcoming society and a lawful society. We can have both at the same time. And to keep the promise of America, we will enforce the laws of our country. (emphasis added)

I want the lawful society. We're done with being welcoming. Why do we have to be welcoming to the invaders?

As a former governor, I know that enforcing the law and the border is especially important to the communities along the border. Illegal immigration puts pressure on our schools and hospitals -- I understand that. I understand it strains the resources needed for law enforcement and emergency services. And the vicious human strugglers -- smugglers and gangs that bring illegal immigrants across the border also bring crime to our neighborhoods and danger to the highways. Illegal immigration is a serious challenge. And our responsibility is clear: We are going to protect the border.

Has he only just learned all this? If he knew it as a governor, he ought to have done something about it 5 years ago, when we elected him to do something about it.

We're going to strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws within our country. And together with Congress, we're going to create a temporary worker program that will take pressure off the border, bring workers from out of the shadows, and reject amnesty.

We can't strengthen immigration enforcement if we allow lawbreakers to be rewarded with temporary worker programs. No thank you.

We have a right to protect our borders, to expel all illegal aliens, to keep anyone and everyone from entering, and impose strict penalties on those who try to invade. Does President Bush not grasp the basic concepts here?

This speech was obviously meant to be a gift to soften the Conservatives, but with the insistence that a temporary worker program be created, it won't work. I don't buy it. In fact, I reject it.

I don't want to live in a country where illegals can invade our country and then be rewarded by the PRESIDENT. No thank you.

And, mind you, they are illegal aliens, not "illegal immigrants." Immigrants are legal.

You can read the rest, including his ideas for enforcement and his stupid worker program here and find the White House's fact sheet here.

Michelle Malkin did some liveblogging and has a round-up.

The Political Teen has video.