First Principles: The House Republicans’ position on immigration reform is to always look reasonable

Slate ^ | January 30, 2014 | David Weigel

[Cincinatus' Wife]

".....................................................................What if none of this results in an actual bill? Politically, that might be the best outcome for the party. That’s the point of looking and sounding open to negotiation—redefining President Obama as unreasonable, obstinate, and tyrannical. A couple of days before the conference, I asked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio whether “legalization” without citizenship required a bill at all. The president could, after all, issue an executive action, calling off deportations.

“That would be a terrible mistake,” said Rubio. “No. 1, it would expire at the end of his presidency. No. 2, I think it’s an overreach of his powers. No. 3, he’s already said he would not do that, so if he did, he’d be violating a promise he made. No. 4, it would set back even further the hopes of arriving at a solution that’s responsible.”

Rubio isn’t really relevant to the process in the House, but he knows what they’re thinking. Immigration reformers have managed to keep their cause alive, in a year when the House has no political incentive to pass it. They could still get what they want. But Republicans could get what they want, too, without satisfying the reformers. And everybody knows that as they plow ahead.

[wolfpat]

The whole immigration discussion is maddening. Obviously, none of these politicians on either side have actually talked to these illegal immigrants. They are NOT here to become citizens.

Many are here to earn what they can in 5 or more years, and then return home and live like kings for the rest of their lives.

The only way citizenship would be a concern to them is if it were made a condition for getting food stamps, Section 8 housing, health care, etc.

These are NOT law abiding people, and they are NOT like the people who actually stood in line to get their “Green Card” so they could be here legally.

Those WITH “Green Cards” are EXACTLY the kind of people we need here. Immigration reform should, for now, be a discussion on how these people can more easily obtain citizenship.

The illegal immigrants have a job here ONLY because they are illegal, and can be exploited outside the law. If they were made legal in some giant amnesty plan, then their value as workers goes to zero, and they’ll all end up on the public dole, while a new batch of illegals are imported. The rest of the discussions on immigration should center on those who are employing people who are here illegally. Personally, I would confiscate all of the belongings of these employers, and throw them and their families in the street. This would dampen the demand for illegal labor.

I’m sorry their home country is a craphole. But it is not our fault, and we shouldn’t pay for it.

/rant

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The issue is never about the issue.

[Liz]

B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l rant-—hits all the relevant points-—and then some.

[RavenATB]

Indeed...it is maddening, and for many reasons.

About 90% or more of the illegal alien population is educated at the 7th grade level, or less. If they’re able to find jobs at all, those jobs will be low wage labor jobs, and a few skilled jobs once they gain experience. But overall, they will have almost no ability to pull themselves out of poverty, unless the hit the lottery.

This will be the most devastating legislation to hit black Americans since Reconstruction, or perhaps the formation of the nation itself. Black Americans, who have a larger percentage of their population at the high school education level or less, needing to enter the professional work force at the entry level, where they can gain experience and work ethic, will have about 20Million more “citizens” competing for those entry-level jobs. This will make it virtually impossible for any black without a college education to live the American dream and enjoy a normal, productive life.

Of course, it will also diminish the political power of black Americans, who will quickly become a secondary political demographic group.

But this will ensure that the vast majority of both the black and illegal alien populations will spend their entire lives in poverty and on the welfare system. Of course, that will ensure that the vast majority of those new unskilled, uneducated voters pull the lever for Democrats.

[RC one]

The House Republicans’ position on immigration reform is to always look reasonable not accept amnesty for illegal aliens in way, shape, or form. Amnesty over our dead bodies. end of story.

[Liz]

Immigration reformers have managed to keep their cause alive----but that's b/c Obama did everything to suckup except fellate an illegal on the steps of the Capitol.

America-hating Ana Navarro---sometimes billed as a "GOP strategist" and/or "McCain adviser" says "she thinks" people on the right oppose amnesty because "they are racist..."

Race-baiting is Ana's second obsession (after gorging herself at the fiesta).

Lets set fat Ana straight:

(a) People on the right "KNOW" that people like Ana Navarro want amnesty b/c Navarro, and her ilk, despise America; her remarks show she loathes Americans.

(b) People on the right "KNOW" that amnesty is a diabolical plan to undermine US national security.

REFERENCE Quoting Miguel Perez of Cal State-Northridge’s MEChA chapter: “The ultimate MECha ideology is the liberation of Aztlan (taking back the SW). Communism would be closest [to it]. Once Aztlan is established, ethnic cleansing (of Americans) would commence: Non-Chicanos (Americans) would have to be expelled — opposition groups (that's us) would be quashed because latinos have to keep power (over the gringos they loathe).”

==============================================

LOOK AT EM--- OBAMA, AND US LAWMAKERS, IN LOCKSTEP---COLLUDING TO STAGE A THIRD WORLD COUPE D'ETAT. The not so well-hidden amnesty agenda seems to have specific goals:

<><> (1) undermining US ntl security,

<><> (2) aiding and abetting crimes against Americans,

<><> (3) financing Third World political goals w/ US tax dollars,

<><> (4) suppressing dissent.

Heavens to Berchtesgarden.....IS A "PUTSCH" IN THE OFFING?

[Gaffer]

My worry is that they do desire citizenship because it assures their ability to remain here for whatever purpose they have in mind. Free to rape our support systems, resources and financial system.

There’s no doubt many are here to build up the equity and resources to return home and live comfortably. What illegal wouldn’t want to be completely legitimized so that when they return home, and at the appropriate age, file for Social Security and have a guaranteed payment show up at their banco every month?

Taxes? There won’t be any substantive boon from them. They’ll do what they do now (at least the ones who get stuck with being legal enough to get taxes taken out of their pay). They’ll claim 10 dependents and the Federal and State ripoff will be nothing. The only thing they’ll have to pay is the 7.65% SS and Medicare bite. This will REALLY kill those programs because we’ll end up having to build a support system in Mexico for them.

So, I’d say on the one hand, they’re not interested in becoming citizens that stay, become assimilated and a contributing part of this country, but they are interested in it for reasons of benefit in some manner.

[Pollster1]

. . . redefining President Obama as unreasonable, obstinate, and tyrannical

That is like redefining the ocean as large, wet, and salty.

[Liz]

Amnesty is Obamacare with Spanish subtitles (/snix).

[ransacked]

The donations from their base having slowed to a trickle, their only source of money mnow is from corporations, and the way they see it, they MUST do their bidding!

[Guenevere]

Bttt

[RC one]

If the republican controlled house allows any kind of an amnesty bill to pass, I am done voting in America and I will take joy in watching the Republican party die alongside this republic.

[Maceman]

There is nothing reasonable about so-called "immigration reform."

In July 2003, then-congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado)gave Insight Magazine the following account of his conversation in Mexico with Juan Hernandez, head of the newly created Ministry of Mexicans Living in the United States. According to Mr. Tancredo:

“I asked about the purpose of the government agency he heads, since I had never heard of such a thing. He said its purpose is to increase the flow of Mexican nationals to the United States. I asked, ‘Why?’

"’It serves Mexico's needs,’ he said, and ticked off a list of such things as remittances to Mexico of $10 billion a year, which is 30 percent of the Mexican GDP [gross domestic product]. It provides employment for an exploding population, it alleviates social instability due to rising unemployment and it provides training for Mexicans, ultimately repatriating those skills back to Mexico.

"I responded to his final aim - repatriation of trained and skilled Mexicans back into Mexico - and asked, ‘Then your government would oppose amnesty for the illegal Mexicans in the United States?’

"He cried, ‘Oh no! We support amnesty totally. . . . by populating the United States with millions of Hispanics who are tied economically, politically and linguistically to Mexico, we are able to exert enormous influence and pressure on U.S. policy and its dealings with Mexico.’

"President Vicente Fox believes the U.S. border is a figment of the imagination. In fact, Fox and/or members of his government stated at one point that the borders of Mexico extend much farther north than currently drawn on the map.”

[wolfpat]

My worry is that they do desire citizenship because it assures their ability to remain here for whatever purpose they have in mind. Free to rape our support systems, resources and financial system.

Do you think an "Anchor Baby" might serve this purpose in lieu of citizenship?

[Gaffer]

I think many of them find a wife to have a kid with as an insurance policy to help them stay here, for sure.

Frankly, I’m not in favor of any illegal with an anchor baby being allowed to stay here, regardless of the born-in-the-US citizenship bestowment. They do not belong here, never did. It was only by an illegal act they were even born here.

We simply do not need them, period. Just like we don’t need all the third world ‘entrepreneurs’ coming here. By government standards, and more realistic measures we have an unemployment problem, not a lack-of-citizens problem.

[Gaffer]

Further data from the Center for Immigration Studies:

The study found that in 2010, 36 percent of immigrant-headed households receive benefits from at least one welfare program, compared to just 23 percent of households headed by U.S. natives. Among households with children, immigrant welfare households outnumbered non-immigrants by a similarly wide margin: 57 percent to 40 percent.

[wolfpat]

Frankly, I’m not in favor of any illegal with an anchor baby being allowed to stay here, regardless of the born-in-the-US citizenship bestowment. They do not belong here, never did. It was only by an illegal act they were even born here.

I agree. The second phrase of the first sentence of the 14th Amendment, "... and subject to the jurisdiction thereof..." nullifies any claim to citizenship of illegal residents and their children, since by being here illegally, they have removed themselves from jurisdiction.