Sound Politics: Fox visit

May 04, 2006

Fox visit

Mrs. Gregoire¹ will host Mexican President Vicente Fox later this month.

Gregoire said it's a coincidence that Fox's visit comes at a time when immigration dominates the news, but she expects him to address the topic. "I think he will probably talk about it while he is here and bring a perspective and say it in a way that will be pretty telling to us," she said.

What does that mean? Does she want him to tell us what to do? We also learn that

Mexico is the largest importer of apples from Washington state.

That's nice, but, um, ... they import our apples and in exchange we import their underclass? Somebody's getting the better end of the deal here.

But what's there for Mrs. Gregoire not to like about a growing constituency of perpetually underassimilated and undereducated ready-made voters who are eternally dependent on an ever-expanding government to take care of them?

¹ Mrs. Gregoire was the president of a segregated sorority in college. Mr. Fox has said that Mexicans were willing to take jobs in the U.S. "that not even blacks want to do"

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 04, 2006 10:06 AM | Email This

Comments

1. The fraud vote. That's what it's all about for the democrats.

Posted by: Hinton on May 4, 2006 10:32 AM

2. Gregoire needs to get somebody to round up some reports on what Fox has already said. Doesn't she know? Or is she hoping he'll say something different?
Is she hoping that Fox will be glad to provide a warm place to sleep, medical care, and other welfare benefits for our underclass? I hear the weather down in parts of Mexico can be downright balmy, and the cost of living is pretty low, compared to most of the USA. [sarcasm] I just can't understand why anybody would want to come up here into the cold and wet and pay so much in taxes and bills and whatnot. [/sarcasm]

Posted by: pseduotsuga on May 4, 2006 10:52 AM

3. Gregoire just selected the fish/mountain state quarter design because that is what the public picked in the vote -- too bad she didn't respect the actual vote in Gov race before stealing governorship

Posted by: REVOTE on May 4, 2006 10:58 AM

4. I hear the Queen signed Fox up to vote in Washington and gave him some extra forms to take home for friends and family. Don't laugh, Fox has as much right to vote in Washington State elections as a good many people who presently vote here.

Posted by: Saltherring on May 4, 2006 11:19 AM

5. Hmmm. Send Seeeenor-Fox to visit Main Street in Monroe. He will feel right at home! Place is teaming with Mexico's finest (all legals I'm certain). Plenty of shops where the workers and owners don't even speak english...and don't need to.

Who is coming next your majesty? Castro?

Posted by: Pbs7mm on May 4, 2006 11:56 AM

6. I want a refund! How about we trade back! I'd rather have the apples than the illegals!

They are robbing us blind!

Posted by: SP Fan on May 4, 2006 01:05 PM

7. I read that although Fox said he would sign the legislation making drug possession legal in Mexico, after a word from W, he backed down and now says he won't sign it.

Would that W could or would apply that kind of pressure on the immigration issue. As much as I think he will be shown by history to be one of our greatest presidents for his stand against this century's Islamic Jihad, this open border mess really makes my blood boil.

Posted by: katomar on May 4, 2006 01:53 PM

8. The only reason he is in town is because he is term-limited and is a lame-duck.

And Gregoire will get hers the next election- the American way to term limits

Posted by: swatter on May 4, 2006 01:59 PM

9. Oh, I thought Gregoire was going to visit Fox's in Spanaway...completely different reaction then.

Posted by: Reporterward on May 4, 2006 02:07 PM

10. She got to kow-tow to the Chinese president, and now she can do the same with Fox.

She found no time in Hu's visit to comment on human rights abuses in his country. I doubt she will have any criticism whatsoever for Fox. Not sure what good will come of this visit, it will all be PR and photo ops. Oh, yeah, and really expensive dinners paid for by us, the taxpayers.

Posted by: Janet S on May 4, 2006 02:11 PM

11. Vicente Fox is okay in my book. He is from the National Action Party (PAN), which is the most conservative of the three major Mexican political parties. Basically the equivalent of Ronald Reagan or Dino Rossi in Mexican politics.

Posted by: Richard Pope on May 4, 2006 02:15 PM

12. In any event, Fox has no duty to try to prevent people from LEAVING Mexico. Nor should he have the right to try this either.

The USA has the right to try to keep people from entering our country. There is nothing per se wrong with having an "Iron Curtain" -- so long as it is used to keep people out, instead of keeping people in.

No one has the right to blame Fox or any other Mexican politicians, simply because the USA doesn't try hard enough to prevent illegal immigration and hardly does anything at all to get rid of illegal immigrants once they have entered this country.

Posted by: Richard Pope on May 4, 2006 02:21 PM

13. Sorry, Richard, I disagree. A decent leader would recognize that the massive emigration indicates a serious problem at home. Rather than addressing the corruption and disfunction in Mexico, he encourages his citizens to cross the border.

At one point, he was a new star. Now he is just part of the problem. Please don't compare him to republicans.

Posted by: Janet S on May 4, 2006 02:51 PM

14. Reporterward;

Now thats funny right there! LOL.

Now appearing on the main stage Chrissy, don't forget to tip your union waitress!. Remember, Chrissy and others in her administration are always available for a private dance in the VIP (Olympia)room for a sizable donation. Coming up next is Patty Cakes, followed by Maria.

Posted by: Smokie on May 5, 2006 07:28 AM

15. C'mon gang... He may be term limited but this is really just a campaign stop. He's here to press the flesh with his constituency and curry votes for his party in their next elections. Go where the voters are...

Posted by: Jamie on May 5, 2006 09:45 AM

16. Fox has been improving conditions in Mexico and increased prosperity is visible in many northern states such as Chihuahua, the main apple-growing state, but he can't turn things around overnight, and he is term-limited. Continued improvement is dependent on his party being able to maintain their conservative momentum. Because of adverse weather, they need our apples and we'd like to sell them to them:

Mexican apple harvest dropping by 14% (http://www.freshplaza.com/2005/12sep/2_mx_appleharvest.htm)

Mexico 's 2005-06 apple crop is expected to sink 14% to around 495,000 metric tons (MT), because weather conditions in Chihuahua, the main apple producing state, have not been favorable for apple production.

The U.S. agricultural attache for the country said, "Freezing temperatures, as well as hailstorms, during the month of May and during harvesting season have damaged a number of orchards. The severe weather has primarily affected Red Delicious varieties, which may result in lower quality and smaller sized apples."

Apple consumption for 2005-06 is forecast at 558,000 MT, down 15% compared to 2004-05. The expected decrease in consumption is mainly attributed to lower supplies and higher prices.

Posted by: Ann in Issaquah on May 5, 2006 12:28 PM