You are quite wrong about immigration and the conservative voter. Are you aware of the magazine, National Review? They have warned the GOP against doing nothing on immigration or face the consequences of being out of power as soon as 2006. If you can disabuse me of my understanding that National Review is a conservative voice and speaks for many of us then please try.
BTW, what is the essence of conservatism? I'll answer it for you. To conserve the US Constitution. The Constitution is a document that is the basis for our nation. A nation must have laws and borders and they must be enforced or we cease to be a nation, and the Constitution becomes meaningless. It expires and so does our nation. The US Constitution is more important than any political party, even the GOP.
Are you aware of the magazine, National Review? They have warned the GOP against doing nothing on immigration or face the consequences of being out of power as soon as 2006. Oh, I quite agree. They've been backed into that corner.
But I'm also aware that by doing any given thing on immigration, they also face the consequences of being out of power soon. They've been backed into that corner, too.
I can point out the same thing with respect to abortion, social security, and a couple of other issues.
The Dems, by contrast, can do anything they like on any of these issues, and pay no price at all. They have everything to gain by making them the centerpieces of their campaign, and of the Republicans' campaign.
The US Constitution is more important than any political party, even the GOP.
I completely agree with that...but the most pressing issue in that regard is the gigantic growth of government and taxation, IMHO. Make that the focus of the next campaign and the Republicans win big. JMHO.