Thread: Lack of immigration reform "crazy": Schwarzenegger

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Friday the federal government was "crazy" to clamp down on border security without also passing a law to allow more foreign workers into the United States.

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Schwarzenegger was one of few Republicans to do well in the midterm elections after distancing himself from President Bush and taking more moderate positions. He said a U.S. plan to build more fences on the Mexican border was only a limited solution to the illegal immigration problem.

"It is crazy for the federal government not to simultaneously ... also create a law where we can bring more people into the country legally," he said during a private meeting with Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon.

California relies heavily on Mexican agricultural workers.

The governor's camera crew allowed reporters to listen to a recording of part of the meeting, and press secretary Marguita Thompson confirmed the governor's comments.

The former bodybuilder and movie star won re-election in a landslide on Tuesday.

At the same time, Democrats took a majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, which will give the party control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 12 years.

Schwarzenegger said the 110th Congress, which convenes in January, could speed up immigration reform.

"The good thing is that new blood comes to Washington, new Democrats, new Republicans," he told reporters in the northern city of Monterrey.

"I think there is a better chance to move immigration reform forward much quicker," he said before meeting with business leaders in the industrial city.

Bush signed legislation last month to build 700 miles

of border fencing after failing to persuade Republican leaders in Congress to back a comprehensive measure that included a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants.

Schwarzenegger, in Mexico to promote California exports, said lawmakers should have passed a two-pronged approach that mixed border enforcement with more visas for foreign workers.

"It is insane ... not to have been able to accomplish it this year," he said.

Calderon, a conservative who replaces President Vicente Fox on December 1, was mostly silent in the short excerpt taken at the start of a meeting between the two.

The pair went on to talk about trade, the environment and the economy, a Schwarzenegger aide said. Calderon met Bush in the White House on a visit to Washington this week.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061111/us_ ... egger_dc_2

"It is crazy for the federal government not to simultaneously ... also create a law where we can bring more people into the country legally," he said during a private meeting with Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon."

So much rhetoric, so little details and facts.

Well here's a few facts the "Terminator" needs to think about! The United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than the rest of the world combined. Moreover, we allow in almost 1 million legal immigrants annually!

Do the math Arnold: 1 million legals + 1 million illegals = 2 million immigrants annually. There should be zero talk of more legal immigrants until the damn border is secured tighter than a gnats butt!

How come we never hear the rest of the story? Some of you folks in California need to let your infamous leader in on a few facts. Sounds like the wrong people are bending his ear. Everyone knows "Benedict Arnold" never had an original thought of his own that was worth a hill of beans. I know Arnold was better than the alternative on Nov. 7th, but geez - this man is a flaming idiot thats only seems interesting in kissing butt to appease the Hispanic voter. Arnold is the "poster child" for pandering.