The Speech

(Sorry, I had a hosed link all day. More better now.)
Text here.

So I listened to Dubya issue his 'Five Points' on border security last night.
I have to say, I think the plan is good if he can make it work.
He wants to add 6,000 National Guard for a year, until border patrol has increased by 6,000 agents. Fine. I think their should be more like 12,000 or even 20,000, but that's a start. There is 1,200 miles of border in Texas alone. 6,000 guardsmen, over three shifts, scattered over just those 1,200 miles amounts to about 1 guardsmen every mile. The border is still a sieve.
If you get the chance, fire up Google Earth and scan a few miles east of Douglas Arixona. You'll see the fence end abruptly, with a couple convenient turnaround spots for coyotes to load up their cargo.
It's the same along the whole border. There are only fences near the highway crossings. Sure, it may be tought to drive a car across the border, but to walk? Plenty of places, from the gulf to the ocean.

I like the idea of sanctions against companies that hire illegals too. Take away the opportunity and they will go home, right? Let's hope so.
Let's hope they do that rather than turn even more criminal and start taking advantage of Americans.

And as for the point about allowing those already here to become citizens, that may work. If they've lived here a certain amount of time, are established, have a life etc., give them a chance to become citizens. Go through the process just like any other immigrant has in the past. In the meantime, learn english.
I'm getting quite tired of reading the whole fucking label on something to find the part written in english, or listening to the announcements in the hardware store (Lowe's by the way - which I may soon have to boycott) spoken in english and spanish.
Bullshit. When in Rome...

Well, we'll see how it goes. Hopefully more action than talk this go 'round.