Bush Pulls Off Shrewd Stroke (Immigration strategery is a coup de main)

The United Press International ^ | January 8, 2004 | Martin Sieff

[quidnunc]

President George W. Bush's proposed immigration reform plan may prove to be a masterstroke from a maestro political strategist playing at the top of his game. It may backfire on him, but it probably won't.

The reform plan has already provoked strong attacks from Democrats and Latino activists who say it does not go far enough and the critical voices have been particularly loud in crucial California. It will also increase strains the president's policies have already generated in the Rocky Mountain libertarian West, his archrival John McCain's stronghold in the 2000 Republican primary race.

But at the end of the day, unless the two huge decisive issues of the economy and national security turn catastrophically sour on the president, these critiques will probably bounce off him like any criticism off the Teflon back of Ronald Reagan.

-snip-

[FITZ]

Well --- Fox is out of power in three years. That's when the illegals would supposedly be heading back home.

[JackelopeBreeder]

I think I have a reasonable amount of "street smarts," and I can' t imagine these people suddenly motivated to "turn themselves in" to the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT to be photographed, I.D.'d and otherwise put on record for deportation later. That makes no sense.

Here's a quote for you from a man who is normally my complete antithesis: Senor Ray Borane, mayor of Douglas, Arizona and part-time political boss of adjoining town of Agua Prieta, Mexico.

"Saying he wants to give Bush the benefit of the doubt, Borane said those who believe that working on a new guest-worker proposal will stop the flow of illegal immigrants coming into the United States are not looking at the real world.

Illegal immigration "is the fastest, easiest with the least resistance," compared to a bureaucratic process, and people will take the quickest way to come to the United States, Borane said.

That many Hispanic groups in the United States do not seem warm to the president's proposals is disappointing because it leads people in other countries, such as Mexico, to believe the best way to come to America is through illegal means, he said.

Unfortunately, the proposal that illegal immigrants who are in the country working can become legal and then have to leave after three years is not what some Hispanic leaders in the United States and in Mexico want, the Douglas mayor said.

Hispanic leaders and illegal immigrants, want a complete amnesty and an ability to become American citizens, said Borane, who has been against blanket amnesty.

"They want the whole enchilada," he said. "But the problem is an American one. It is American immigration law being violated, not Mexican."

As much as it disgusts me to say so, Senor Borane is right. By the way, the reason he is against blanket amnesty is that his town would cease to exist without smuggler traffic in drugs and humans. Still, in this instance he is right.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

So, what did the 82% get for their trouble? A combination of Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter without Monica Lewinsky?

... and...

I have no reason to believe a Gore presidency would have been more destructive to the country than a Bush presidency.

I've never seen any faux so-called "conservative" blow their own online cover so completely, or cluelessly.

TAX CUTS and NATIONAL DEFENSE are the two core, essential bedrock principles of political conservatism in this country. (Post- Roe v. Wade, ABORTION became the third one.)

If you genuinely cannot determine for yourself the yawning, cavernous differences vetween GWB and Gore (or Dean) on any/all of these issues -- after the latter two have gone on record, repeatedly, in defense of higher taxes, more baies butchered in aborturaries, and steadfast opposition to the war on terror -- then, plain and simple, you not only aren't qualified to determine relative levels of "true conservatism" in others; you are not even intelligent enough, in all likelihood, to legally vote.

[MJY1288]

I'm not sure if you realize it or not, but there is people here trying to have a rational debate. You're a notorious bomb thrower and incapable of contributing much more than somebody screaming "Fire" in a crowded theater. Would you mind sparing us the embarrassment of seeing another reasonable debate ending up in the "Smokey Back Room" and leave

[Jodi]

hell yeah, I'll endorse you for precinct chair (I admire you for standing up to public scrutiny! GOOD LUCK!). However, will your platform (if you were running for president) carry you through moderate and independant scrutiny? After all, you should be president of everybody, not just the people that vote for you. Right?

[FITZ]

Here's an interesting thought -- the blue card is good for 3 years, Fox's presidential term ends in 3 years --- and they only get a one 6-year term. The July elections showed PRI making big gains, PRD also moved ahead but PAN -- Fox's party lost 25% of it's Congressional seats. Whatever party is in power --- and it might not be Fox's, would have the threat of 8-20 millions illegals being returned home. That could be turned into a pretty big threat to whoever is in power at the time.

[gatorbait]

The only way to make the Bush program work is to pair it with immigration law enforcement. Otherwise the lawbreakers will continue to act brazenly and ignore the law.

I am thinking this is the hammer inside the velvet bag. something being pointedly ignored in some quarters.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

.

[RLK]

Well, I've heard that kind of talk from my Liberal Democrat freinds and family but I know in my bones it total and utter bunk. If you want to help the Socialists and Liberals gain power, it's your right, but dont call yourself 'conservative' your just embarrassing us.

------------------------

As far as I'm concerned, Bush is a Christian socialist. Unlike you, I don't think with my bones. My head and Bush statements about America's obligation to share its wealth with the world tell me that.

[SerpentDove]

"...the proposal that illegal immigrants who are in the country working can become legal and then have to leave after three years"

I don't understand how this can be proposed, with no further explanation of how to implement it, with a straight face.

We would have to be a bunch of fools to accept all this at face value. I don't get it, for the life of me.

[Travis McGee]

Aprenda Espanol hoy, evite la prisa manana.

[Jodi]

They will become part of a steadily increasing army sneaking more of their pals in. The process will be unstoppable. And both Bush and Presidente Fox know it.

this kind of talk is embarrassing to anybody who claims themselves as conservative. knock it off, please.

[SerpentDove]

I like it.

:-)

[WOSG]

"However, will your platform (if you were running for president) carry you through moderate and independant scrutiny? "

Well, you can check my web page for my beliefs. I think a pro-enforcement immigration policy polls very well, and so I am surprised Bush wont go that route. They really want to be wobbly on this issue.
If Reagan won once, I think a true-blue conservative could win the Presidency again. we shall see.

"After all, you should be president of everybody, not just the people that vote for you. Right?"

Anyone in public office should represent all their constituents, sure.

[MJY1288]

I might believe that if he sold us out to a foreign leader before. So far, he has shown himself as a world leader who puts America first, granted he made a serious mistake by relying on the SCOTUS to shoot down the parts of CFR he openly objected to. And his capitulation on the education bill was abysmal, but he has shown the world that we will never be second fiddle to the UN or anyone.

[SerpentDove]

I hope you are right.

"Trust, but verify."

[Joe Hadenuf]

I voted for him, but the days of trusting George Bush blindly went by the wayside a long time ago, for me.

In light of current events, that's quite understandable.

[FITZ]

I can just see it ---
USA: "Give us more oil",
Mexico: "No!",
USA: "Then the temporaries are going back home!" Mexico: "How much more oil?"

[philetus]

I think "they" misunderstand Bush on this because he hasn't given us all the information.

Possibly he would like to deport all of the illegals, but it's too late now.We should have been 5tightening our borders and deporting illegals, years ago.

If they tried to start deporting 8 to 14 million illegals now, I think we would have a bloody war on our hands.
8 million armed illegals would make a formidable gorilla force and they are armed.

[MJY1288]

My whole point of joining in this debate was to see if we could ease up on the flame wars and have a serious debate, share our different opinions and possibly coordinate a serious response to our Represenatives.

I've only been here for 3 years, but I know this, Free Republic is not a joke, and if we apply some common sense to our debates and organize around a common cause, 135,000 members strong is nothing to sneeze at.

I know this place can get crazy at times with all the labeling and flame wars, but I do believe we are all on the same side. (Aside from the trolls) :-)

Freegards