America's fake identity crisis (Mark Steyn)

National Post ^ | January 6th, 2003 | Mark Steyn

[B4Ranch]

Tightening security isn't part of the plan or Bush would have demanded it be done the day he got in office.

[Marine Inspector]

I happen to ADORE President Bush

It's nice to know your personal affection for the President has clouded you assessment of his handling of the immigration issue.

Me, I prefer to let our masterful team know that I will support whatever efforts they make to curb the problems without making this country into a socialist nanny state governed by the para-military wannabes.

LOL. Your masterful team of clowns have done nothing to curb the problem and have only made the problem worst.

Also, GWB and his group of masterful clowns have done everything they can to turn this country in socialist nanny state run by para-military wannabes. Just look at the PATRIOT Act, and all the other crap that Congress has passed and the President has signed.

Bush wants to Amnesty illegal aliens; Bush wants to give away our Social Security to Mexicans, Bush wants the Borders wide open for cheap labor and hopefully votes.

Illegal Immigration is a contributing factor, if not the major contributing factor, to almost every problem in the US, and Bush has no desire to stop illegal aliens from entering this country.

Since 9/11, Bush and company have made it harder for the INS law enforcement officers to arrest and deport illegal aliens, and have implemented several flawed programs the hinder legal travelers and do nothing to hinder illegal travelers.

Bush and his masterful team of clowns will be the ruin of this country just as fast as any Democrat.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[jpl]

Steyn is today's H.L. Mencken; an absolutely brilliant penner of opinions. But he made one tiny (albeit hilarious) mistake: Jenna Bush doesn't need her fake ID anymore, as she and her sister turned 21 about a month ago.

[Jennikins]

You say that supporting Tancredo will enable another disastrous Democrat in the WH. I say that we presently have a disastrous RINO in the WH. George Bush has proven that he is no conservative. He leaves the borders open to anyone who wants to stroll across and take advantage of Americans.

Janet, I think we've given George Bush enough time to let us know the road he's going to take. He's proving it daily on the illegal immigration front. He's a disappointment.

[Jennikins]

Bush and his masterful team of clowns will be the ruin of this country just as fast as any Democrat.

I agree. Wait until the Mexican trucks get rolling here into the good old U.S.A, and the Free Trade Area of the Americas starts kicking in. Our country will be one big divided mess of multicultures, with ours gone down the drain.

[janetgreen]

Wait until the Mexican trucks get rolling here

Unhappily, I agree with you. I think those trucks will be filled with more than imported goods. I believe there will be shipments of illegal aliens (not only Mexicans), drugs, and worse.

What or who will stop an Al Qaeda terrorist from paying a Mexican truck driver to deliver whatever nightmare weapon he wants to enter our country? Not George Bush, he doesn't want to hurt Vicente Fox's feelings, after all, it's not politically correct.

[janetgreen]

I also will be writing in Tom Tancredo's name, along with many other Californians I know.

[Jennikins]

Janet, re: mexican trucks. I don't know if this is the gospel truth, but I heard that the Mexican drug cartels are buying up Mexican truck companies. That would enable them to get the drugs into the USA a whole lot quicker, don't you think? Especially since most of the trucks are not inspected.

[janetgreen]

Nothing would surprise me regarding Mexico and its corruption. Let's face it, NEITHER Bush has wanted to deal with stopping the drug trade, or with anything having to do with Mexico. They must have some deal going between them. OIL?

[Missouri]

>>Our country will be one big divided mess of multicultures, with ours gone down the drain.<<



It seems like we're headed in that direction.
About two months ago, a Mexican food store opened up in my town and they posted a large Mexican flag in the window. This upset me. At least they could have put an American flag in the window, too. Anyway I just happened to drive by there today and the shops next to the Mexican store had put up large American flags in their windows. I felt good about this. Maybe people are waking up.

[Allan]

SteynBump

[Sabertooth]

Sabertooth: President Bush and the GOP have an eighteen month opportunity to get on the right track. If you jump off the wagon now, they have no reason to steer in the direction in which you'd like them to go.

JJDKII: Do you honestly believe that there's the remotest chance that Bush and the GOP (as a whole) intend to get on the right track? Has Bush in particular ever said one word or done one thing to suggest that he has any serious plans to curb what I frankly regard as an (unarmed) invasion of the United States?

While I understand and share much of the frustration that many have with President Bush and his policies to date on Illegals, I don't see any urgency in deciding not to vote for him. My vote is his to lose in 2004, and here's why:

First, there's no election until November of next year. Time is not a factor. I might support an insurgent candidate in the primary, but even that decision is more than a year away. The legislative cycle is going to be about eighteen months, maybe a little more.

Second, for the first time in my lifetime, the GOP has a clear, explicit majority of both chambers of Congress, as well as the Presidency. I'm curious to see how that plays out, aren't you? It's finally put or shut up time for the Republicans and President Bush on Illegals, as well as many other matters. Why would I walk away from the table now?

Third, despite his disappointing record on Illegals, President Bush is the best immediate hope to turn this around. What are the other options? Join the Democrats? A third party? Even if I did that, there will be no effect on President Bush until November 2004 at the earliest, if he continues to coddle Illegals. The Democrats certainly aren't going to deport anyone, and third parties have no power at the moment.

Fourth, as I asked before, if I leave now, what leverage do I have? Zero. If the President has already lost my vote, I am no longer even an infinitesimal factor in his decision making.

So, in answer to your question, JJDKII, I do think that there is some chance that President Bush might do something constructive on Illegals. I hold the prerogative to vote for someone else in 2004, and I don't lose it by giving the President a chance in the meantime to do the right thing.

In the interim, I intend to support President Bush where I believe he is right (as in much of his foreign policy, after the Clinton disaster, judicial appointments, tax cuts, etc.), and I'll rattle my sword and stomp my walking boots any time he so much as looks funny at Illegals. That seems to me to be the most prudent, if sketchy, path of action right now.

Fair enough?

[Torie]

To the extent they are fully informed, it is difficult for a part of the Pubbie base to depart over one issue, or even several issues, unless they are willing to see the Dems take power (obviously just who the Dem is has some relevance, although the current crop strike me as rather monochromatic except for Dean, but I don't think he would appeal to this dissident part of the base as much in some ways he appeals to me), and hope the longer term impact will counterbalance the short term pain. It is a risky scheme, and requires a lot of judgment and wisdom to execute. Another risk is that if Bush wins without that part of the base, then maybe the Pubbies set up a new coalition, leaving the dissenters in the wilderness. As I say, it is tricky.

[Sabertooth]

It is a risky scheme, and requires a lot of judgment and wisdom to execute. Another risk is that if Bush wins without that part of the base, then maybe the Pubbies set up a new coalition, leaving the dissenters in the wilderness. As I say, it is tricky.

Yes, for now I'll cling to my cherished status among the barely relevant, and put off for now lurching into quixotic exile.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Excellent post, Saber.

Third, despite his disappointing record on Illegals, President Bush is the best immediate hope to turn this around. What are the other options? Join the Democrats? A third party? Even if I did that, there will be no effect on President Bush until November 2004 at the earliest, if he continues to coddle Illegals. The Democrats certainly aren't going to deport anyone, and third parties have no power at the moment.

Agreed.

[Sabertooth]

The fact that the Liberals and the media favor immigration may in part explain the failure of the GOP to speak out and do something against it in fear that the media would accuse them of being mean, heartless, and exclusive....

So far, doing nothing hasn't had many consequences because, even though the majority of people want immigration reduced, they haven't retaliated against their members of Congress when they have failed to comply.

That's the trick... to find a way to make the truth more intimidating than the lie.