Immigration issue ruptures Bush's conservative base

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 3, 2007 | Jim Rutenberg and Carl Hulse, New York Times

[BornInASmallTown]

President Bush's advocacy of an overhaul of immigration law and his attacks on critics of the plan are provoking a backlash from conservatives who form the bulwark of his remaining support, splintering his base and laying bare divisions within a party whose unity has been the envy of Democrats. It has pitted some of Bush's most stalwart congressional and grassroots backers against him, sparking a vitriol that has at times exceeded anything seen yet between Bush and his supporters, who have generally stood with him through the toughest patches of his presidency. Those supporters now view him as pursuing amnesty for foreign lawbreakers when he should be focusing on border security.

Postings on conservative Web sites in the last week have gone so far as to call for Bush's impeachment, and usually friendly radio hosts, commentators and congressional allies are warning that he stands to lose supporters -- a potentially damaging development, they say, when he needs all the backing he can get on other vital matters, like the war in Iraq.

"I think President Bush hurts himself every time he says it is not amnesty," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., referring to the bill's legalization process for immigrants. "We are not all that stupid."

Bush's comments to federal law enforcement trainees in Georgia on Tuesday, in which he took the rare step of going after conservative critics in terms usually reserved for Democrats, has charged the Republican ferment, specifically his suggestion that those opposed to the plan "don't want to do what's right for America." Presidential aides said later that Bush did not mean to impugn anyone's patriotism, and that he had ad-libbed the line during a passionate address on an issue he holds dear.

[johnny7]

As far as the Slimes is concerned... illegals are exclusively a Republican problem... just like those nasty arabs who blow things up.

[johnny7]

As far as the Slimes is concerned... illegals are exclusively a Republican problem... just like those nasty arabs who blow things up.

[freekitty]

The dimwits are being unusually quiet on this issue. Wonder why? Maybe it’s a real hot potatoe and they don’t want to see what their base has to say.

[LibLieSlayer]

We are NOT ruptured... but the party is in turmoil. The BASE is UNITED against illegal invaders. It really is that simple. Our leadership is out of touch with the reality of their party membership. If the RNC wants our money, they had better start representing OUR party... NOT the party going on in DC!

LLS

[umgud]

Yes Mr. President, I am a bigot and probably a racist in your book.

I don’t want 12-20 million 3rd world immigrants, legal or otherwise, and the 30-40 million loved ones they’ll bring in just as soon as you give them amnesty.

[Sender]

Why would the Dims do anything at this point? All they have to do is sit back and make popcorn.

[Just Lori]

WHAT YOU SAID! =)

[Cricket24]

“We are NOT ruptured... but the party is in turmoil. The BASE is UNITED against illegal invaders. It really is that simple. Our leadership is out of touch with the reality of their party membership. If the RNC wants our money, they had better start representing OUR party... NOT the party going on in DC!”

EXACTLY!!
I am COMPLETELY fed up and that’s exactly what I told the PA state Republican party when they called last week for money!

[upchuck]

Third time’s the charm...

[PajamaTruthMafia]

Send them some of these:

[The Worthless Miracle]

They’re bringing in tuberculosis and chagas-bugs too. CAn’t see a reason to vote repub. anymore. They’re just taking us to hell at a slower pace...

[petertare]

I support W

he understands we face elimination by mad muslim fanatics that seek to rape and slit our childrens throats

he is correct on most issues

he is way wrong on seeking to third worldize this great country—no third world turd status for America—never

[oldbill]

Bush no longer has a base.

Let him borrow some from Teddy Kennedy.

[sirchtruth]

Why would the Dims do anything at this point? All they have to do is sit back and make popcorn.

One way conservatives need to get the moderates attention is to shake the party up big time. If conservatives in the republican party didn't get the message sent by those who sat out this last election, then say hello to another 40 years of DBM/dems control of congress.

Conservatives squandered their control for a couple of reasons, but they have this opportunity to regain power NOW, and do what's neccessary to follow thru on what they started in 1994.

Get with it, or get the hell out of our Conservative Republican party moderates and that includes the Chief: Bush, the MODERATE!

Learn a lesson from 41, 43. Your Father said, "NO NEW TAXES" and contrived NEW TAXES. You say, "NO AMNESTY" and are contriving one of the most outrageous AMNESTY progams to ever exist! You do this and will go down in history as no friend to conservatives, and will be known as one who squandered and ruin America as we know and love it.

I've had enough of your kakamamied idea of "compassionate conservatism!"

[lesser_satan]

The base isn’t ruptured. Shrub’s brain is, though.

[P-40]

laying bare divisions within a party whose unity has been the envy of Democrats.

Divisions? I'd say we are pretty united against this 'plan' the politicians have.

[FredHunter08]

“he understands we face elimination by mad muslim fanatics that seek to rape and slit our childrens throats”

You do know that he actively encourages Muslim immigration into the United States, right? That he’s good friends with the people who have funded Jihad since the 60s (Saudi Arabia)?

“he is correct on most issues”

What would those be? This amnesty deal is just a symptom of his liberalism.

[Gideon Reader]

Jorge,.....
all your base belong to Thompson/Hunter ‘08

[FrankR]

"...splintering his base and laying bare divisions within a party whose unity has been the envy of Democrats"

This should read "...splintering his base away from him..."

I don't know what this "mexican thing" is with Bush, but after standing behind him from the 2000 elections and through all of the attacks on him from the left, he turns around and gives the rest of his supporting cast the virtual fickled finger of fate.

However, he is no longer a factor. He's a lame duck under a constant barrage of attacks from the left and the MSM. The bottom line is, HE IS NOT A FACTOR IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, UNLESS WE - THE CONSERVATIVES - ALLOW IT TO BE.

Here's where the old saying, "fool me once, same on you - fool me twice, shame on me." comes in. It's time for the conservatives to solidify. It's time to look at the election as not who is pro-choice or pro-life, but who is going to save our beloved America?

We know that 99.99999% of the left is pro-choice...so if you're a conservative, and are pro-choice...go vote DEM.

In other words, "Lead, Follow, or get out the way.". If you are a puppet of the MSM, then follow your master's lead and vote for hildebeast. If you've been neutered by the feminists movement, and think having an "opinion" is tantamount to being a "racist", then go and vote for the Hildebeast.

But, if you like the freedom of living where you want, raising your family like you want, enjoying the values that you embrace, and pursuing happiness in the manner that suits you, you'd be well-served to take a close look at the leftist, socialist, even communistic leanings of the hildebeast and the democrat party.

Kruschev one said they would take us over "without firing a shot.". Well, the leftist movement in this country is what he meant by that statement.

The choice we make for our leaders is not "American Idol", it's American Ideals! Do you want a country that - even though the Constitution offers freedom of religion - condemns your religion and celebrates the Muslim religion?

The hildebeast has proclaimed that she will do to the oil industry what her husband did to big tobacco (because they didn't contribute to his campaign). Now the oil companies are looking to go offshore and BUILD NEW REFINERIES...something the leftists/environuts in this country will not allow. So, then we no longer produce our own gas...but have to import it. Our last bastion of energy is going to be in some foreign country. Ask Chevron and BP about their interests in Venezuala...they were just taken away and run off.

In closing, we need to band together, and even if Jorge has turned on us, let's not turn on each other.