Fred Barnes: Losing Friends and Influence (President Bush misjudges immigration and the ports issue)

The Weekly Standard ^ | March 6, 2006 | Fred Barnes

[winker]

Don't forget about the Side by Side terrorist Palesinian State issue... This one could be the death of us all by going against Almighty God!

[Joe Boucher]

Good post.
The most important thing this president can do is to fill the supremes with good pro conservative strict constitutionalist jurists. As opposed to disgusting rags like ginsburg.
He is doing a great job at so many things, I just disagree with his idea of allowing every damn illegal.

[CBart95]

Illegal immigration and the utter intransigence of our President on it is political suicide. It was always was his Achilles Heel and it has come to pass.

Bush is finished.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>The revolt showed that Bush's strength in Congress has significantly eroded as he begins his sixth year as president. In effect, his Republican base is no longer secure.

The Bush fatigue factor is setting in, a bit early, but setting in nonetheless.

[starbase]

His instinct is to sympathize with immigrants Mexicans.

George loves Mexico and Mexicans. He's plugged in deep with the few billionaire families who run that corrupt dump and he'll wheel and deal how it best helps the aristocrats, Americans can go to hell.

Bush believes that whether they come to the United States legally or illegally, they come for the right reasons, chiefly for economic opportunity and the chance to shape their own destiny in life.

I've never liked Barnes or the other corporate eunuchs we see on TV. He's an empty suit and a non-intellect. He should not be stating in such excruciating detail exactly what President Bush thinks about things which President Bush has never commented on in detail. Did Bush say he believes the way Barnes says he does? I don't think so.

[Countyline]

brought to mind the country music song
"you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"

Bush's attitude about pulling the world up with the "cash" of the United States and doing so with monstrous increases in the national debt ... is not a good road to be on now.

The whole one world concept, the trade debacle, the supporting of the Palestinians and "the road to peace" he is forcing on Israel is astonishing. How can he possibly believe and think it is going to work?

He seems to have lost touch with reality. Living in a world of good intentions just will not work as President of the U.S.; however much he wants to give democracy to the world.

He is a good man. His strength on defense and military is proved and necessary. Otherwise he is spending money for the tax payers like a drunk sailor in port. He is saying we are going to help Iraq rebuild their mosque. And he ignores this nations strong belief about immigration and the necessity for changes.

People that grow up in wealth have a skewed view of the working man and money. Unfortunately most candidates for major offices are from wealthy families. Is is a casual or even disdaining attitude about money. Of course not all ... just many. IMO

[dmanLA]

Bush has a penchant for just "not getting it". Staggers the imagination.

---

On the contrary, Bush gets it. What we don't 'get' or want is the globalist future he is pushing us towards.

[WalterSkinner]

..commerce over security--a very bad trade...

[em2vn]

I believe either one is accepted. You will go broke betting against Fred Barnes.

[italianquaker]

oh no not clinton

[mdefranc]

"Maybe we have more to spend." - mariabush

Not enough. Look at the increasing deficit.


"It hasn't changed your life one iota." - mariabush

Deficits affect the private and public sectors, current and future.

[snowman1]

now you better do this right. All the pork and BS legislation is the fault of the Congress not W.

[jwh_Denver]

"What we don't 'get' or want is the globalist future he is pushing us towards."

I'll go along with that.

[Rockitz]

Illegal immigration and the utter intransigence of our President on it is political suicide. It was always was his Achilles Heel and it has come to pass.

One of his consultants must have told him it was a win-win for the GOP:

1) reward big GOP donors who hire them with cheap labor.

2) endear illegals to the GOP in hopes of getting their votes in the future.

I'm tired of paying their infrastructure, auto insurance, tuition, and medical costs. Cheap lettuce and lawn care isn't cheap when this is considered.

[upchuck]

The revolt [over the UAE ports deal] showed that Bush's strength in Congress has significantly eroded as he begins his sixth year as president. In effect, his Republican base is no longer secure.

His Republican base is no longer secure because President Bush has done so many things that are NOT conservative.

With all due respect, most times I feel like we've got a RINO in the White House.

[FreeRep]

What is happening here is that the Bush administration is no longer being given the benefit of the doubt. This is wrong, the Bush administration is a good administration and Bush is a good man. Things go a lot smoother when we give each other and the President the benefit of the doubt. I am still undecided on the sell, so lets just wait for the hearings.

[A. Pole]

It hasn't worked out that way (so far). Bush made one strategic error in 2005, guessing wrongly that the country was adult and serious enough to reform Social Security. Now he faces at least two immediate challenges: immigration and the Dubai ports flap.

Probably the country is not "adult and serious enough" to keep borders open and to trust emirs or sheiks with the national security.

[A. Pole]

This is wrong, the Bush administration is a good administration and Bush is a good man. Things go a lot smoother when we give each other and the President the benefit of the doubt.

"each other"? Who is this "each" and who is the "other"?

[devolve]

I saw Fred Barnes on Brit Hume's FNC show recently.

Fred Barnes called everyone who opposes illegal aliens invading the USA "racist" on live TV - and he was quite strong when he said that.


Check the transcripts - I cannot give a date but it was recent and Brit Hume did not question Fred Barnes on his comment.

GW is not the only one "out of touch" on this!

[potlatch]