The strange case of immigration politics

Washington Times ^ | January 14, 2004 | Tony Blankley

[Kay Soze]

President Bush's recent, lamentable proposals on illegal immigrants highlight, yet again, that both the Republican and Democratic Parties heed neither public opinion nor their primary governing responsibility to defend and protect the United States, as it relates to illegal immigration.

[expatpat]

the GOP's leadership is afraid to risk antagonizing such votes by a secure borders policy.

I think the GOP remembers vividly how Pete Wilson's attack on illegal immigration put California into the Democrap's hands big-time.

[varon]

This latest immigration initiative of GWB will do to him what the health care fiasco did to Hillary at the beginning of WJC administration!

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Tex, putting the banter aside for a minute, you can see how annoyed our fellow Freepers are about this, and I guess the heartland must be pretty fed up, too. But the fact is Bush is conservatism's best bet, even the only bet, at this point. So somehow he's got to change his mind on the amnesty issue before the discontentment translates into voter apathy, or worse. Can you imagine anything more hideous than going through another nail-biting election like the last one?

Now, you're a Texan, and you must have studied him closer than most of us. When he's made a political mistake in the past, say, when he was Governor, how has he handled it? Will he change course if enough of his people want him to? Or is he one of those stubborn types? Cheers, By

[pissant]

You do know Bush campaigned on creating a guest worker program, don't you

[Kay Soze]

Great Article!

I heard on NPR earlier in the week that the aging of Mexico will push illegal immigration down starting in 2016.

Older Mexicans simply will be too settled and unwilling to make the huge lifestyle change that sneaking into the US requires.

Don’t misunderstand me, I am not against immigration.

We should increase our quotas to our southern neighbor.

But we should be in control of our immigration and not some drugged out coyotes.

[Texasforever]

he's made a political mistake in the past, say, when he was Governor, how has he handled it? Will he change course if enough of his people want him to? Or is he one of those stubborn types? Cheers, By

No he will not change his mind. He is a stubborn cuss. He has advocated this proposal his entire life as a public official. He really believes it is the right thing to do and it makes no difference to him what the political implications are. What is surprising is the number of "teed off conservatives" that are shocked at this. He has been VERY public in his view on this issue both as governor and in his presidential campaign. No he will not back down because to him, he IS standing on principle.

[Ben Ficklin]

A guest worker program would be preferable to increasing immigration for two reasons:

First, it limits the political influence, and second, it enables these guest workers to return home with capital, which is critical for Mexico.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...he will not back down because to him, he IS standing on principle...

Right. As I feared.

We had a poster here about five years ago, Donna, from Arizona. She'd studied him since the Ma Richards days and she knew all about this soft spot on illegals. But I still find it amazing he's pushing something not even the Dems would dare to enunciate. Must be a personal thing, with the President? Oh well, I guess all we can do is hope the outrage dies down by towards the end of the year. What worries me is, you need as big a safety margin as possible when you're going up against the Dems, in case they pull some kind of last minute manufactured scandal out of the hat, that energises their usual stay-at-homes. if this kind of thing keeps popping up, we are going to be cutting into the safety margin.

[Nanodik]

Never mind Tex, he hates anything that wasn't born and conceived in Texas. He especially hates it when he is corrected by someone who is or used to be a subject of the Queen.

[hchutch]

People knew where he stood on this issue. They knew what they were getting. The howls of betrayal ring hollow, IMHO. So is the outrage.

[nonliberal]

Buchanan is not looking so extreme now, is he?

[MissAmericanPie]

What if they gave an election and nobody came?

[navyblue]

That is because that "maximum" effort would NEVER be acceptable to the nation. Until people are in fear for their lives by crossing the border nothing will stop them from crossing.

Don't know about that. I think a year or two in jail might change their minds some!

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...never mind Tex, he hates anything that wasn't born and conceived in Texas...

Yep. I've seen some of that behaviour.

But my guess is he's a bit like myself, an ol' softie at heart, who responds best to a friendly overture:

[Texasforever]

think a year or two in jail might change their minds some!

Yep let's empty those jails for a misdemeanor.

[Texasforever]

someone who is or used to be a subject of the Queen.

Well when you start posting something that shows your break from the "Queen" I may take you seriously.

[Texasforever]

Thanks.

[BenR2]

Rove is evil.

That W. listens to him shows that W. is morally obtuse.

[Joe Hadenuf]

That is because that "maximum" effort would NEVER be acceptable to the nation. Until people are in fear for their lives by crossing the border nothing will stop them from crossing.

Wrong. There are many solutions to this government sponsored invasion.