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Say It Ain't So, Dubya
boblonsberry.com ^ | 1/7/04 | Bob Lonsberrry

Posted on 01/07/2004 6:06:39 AM PST by shortstop

In politics, it’s good to be up for grabs. And it’s miserable to be a sure thing.

As President Bush will prove today. In an expected announcement of sweeping amnesty and Social Security benefits for illegal Mexican aliens, the president will kick conservatives in the teeth in order to woo Latino voters.

It’s clear proof that the adage “Dance with the one what brung ya” doesn’t apply in the GOP.

In the GOP, conservatives exist to donate money and vote a straight ticket, and then be ignored. At least in this Administration and by this Congress. Time after time, the principles of those who put George W. Bush in office have been compromised and rejected. And now, on an issue that could forever alter the nature of the United States, conservatives are being betrayed by their president.

And, you could argue, so is the country.

What are the details? We won’t learn until today. But it is expected that a new “adjusted work status” will be announced for most of the eight million Mexicans currently in this country illegally. Also, lifetime Social Security benefits will be guaranteed illegal Mexican aliens – even after they leave the United States – if they pay Social Security tax for as little as 18 months.

Lawbreakers will be rewarded, and the American taxpayer will become the primary funder of the Mexican retirement system.

And billions of dollars of wages earned by illegal aliens will continue to be sent back to Mexico – bleeding our prosperity and continuing as the second largest cash source for the Mexican economy.

Why is this happening?

Why is the Republican president selling out everything you would think his party stands for?

Because the Latino vote is in play.

Simply put, the large number of Latinos in America have not yet clearly identified with a political party. And the Republicans want them. The Democratic Party owns the black vote lock, stock and barrel and the Republican Party wants to do the same with the Latino vote.

Democrats hope to draw Latino voters by convincing them – as they have African-Americans – that they are an underprivileged minority which needs the Democratic Party to avenge it against the larger American culture.

Republicans hope to draw Latino voters by convincing them – as they have American moderates and conservatives – that they are part of the larger American culture.

Democrats want people identified as minorities; Republicans want people identified as the mainstream.

Apparently President Bush believes that the Republican Party can win the heart of Latinos by rewarding millions of illegal Mexican aliens and by creating a welfare entitlement for people who aren’t even Americans.

Specifically, by caving in to a demand by Mexican President Vicente Fox – the author of the policy President Bush will announce today.

Latinos are powerful because they are up for grabs. Conservatives are powerless because they are a sure thing.

Honestly, if conservatives get ticked off at George W. Bush, what are they going to do? Who are they going to vote for?

Howard Dean? Hillary Clinton?

No way.

After being walked on and ignored, conservatives will dutifully come out this fall to support not just President Bush but the Republican Congress. Why?

Because we want judges and cabinet secretaries and protections for guns and free enterprise and property rights – things we didn’t really get this go round but hope to get in the next.

Conservatives are patsies to the Republican Party, just like blacks are patsies to the Democratic Party. Both get stroked at election time, and both get some very pretty speeches, but when it comes time to make laws and keep promises, both groups are roundly ignored by their parties.

Critics of this policy – as comments from the White House spokesman already indicate – are going to be labeled xenophobes and bigots. There will be syrupy quotes about this being a nation of immigrants and how new people coming to America make it a better nation.

Well, it used to be that way. When our foreign forefathers came to America to be Americans.

But those days have passed. Overwhelmingly, Mexicans come to America to be Mexicans. The melting pot is broken. The language is not learned, the culture is not adopted, the customs and values are not acquired.

And in a couple of generations the Latin Quarter is going to refer to that part of America west of Louisiana and south of Oregon and Idaho. There is a broad-based Latinization of the United States underway, a cultural conquest that the Mexican army could not win but the American government is willing to surrender.

We are growing our own Quebec, and it speaks Spanish. Latino immigrants, and specifically Mexicans, are wonderful people. Yet their success in this country – and the continued integrity of this country – are dependant on obeying the law and acquiring the culture and values of the American Constitution and heritage.

And that is not done by rewarding those whose first act on American soil was an immigration crime.

Instead of granting amnesty and rewarding lawbreakers, we should make a guest-worker program that lets Mexican immigrants walk honorably through the front door instead of illegally through the back door. We have the jobs, they want the work, let us bring order to putting the two together.

And then secure the borders, with troops if need be, so that illegal immigration stops.

Reward those who do right, not those who do wrong. Quicker, more efficient legal immigration is right. Amnesty is wrong.

And this fool idea of opening the empty Social Security coffers to Mexican nationals in Mexico is insane.

But if insanity buys votes, in an election year it becomes law.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; aliens; bush; buyingvotes; camejo; cheney; dubya; edwards; election; gwb; illegalmexicans; invasion; kerry; lonsberry; mexico; nader; pandering; plunderamericans; theft; thenannystate; thewelfarestate; welfarestate
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To: biblewonk
All laws are equally just right?

Of course not. The law that incarcerates the productive, family man who smokes cannabis is much more egregous than the law that prevents unknown foreign persons with selfserving agendas into this country to keep to themselves and their customs, sending much of our wealth back to the hellpit that spawned them.

241 posted on 01/07/2004 11:19:34 AM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: shortstop
The message to anyone who follows the legal path to immigration is that they are a CHUMP!
242 posted on 01/07/2004 11:24:48 AM PST by expatguy
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To: Prolifeconservative
The two candidates pursuing the Constitution Party nomination of which I am aware are Michael Peroutka and Jim Headings. Peroutka is running an active campaign and currently receiving the most coverage as a result.
243 posted on 01/07/2004 11:35:11 AM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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To: pcx99
"There are 250 million Americans, and around 9 million Mexicans immigrants (including around 5 million undocumented). I fail to see the problem. "

I was originally going to argue about the numbers, but I won't. I just caution that there is an unknown "threshold" where assimilation becomes impossible. It is not just a matter of numbers, it is a matter of attitude. I submit Chinatown as a good example, an indigestible lump in the melting pot.

"Mexico is a strongly religious (catholic) nation. Abortion is a no-no, they work hard for their money taking jobs most Americans won't, and believe strongly family (and they send back a PAINFUL percentage of their income to support those families this I know first hand), are there any particular problem with these values?"

Yes, how about nepotism on a larger scale then America? How about the concept that junta is a valid political mechanism for change? How about the ingrained acknowledgment that the rich are absolutely unaccountable for their actions.

For example, the last President's brother got away with murder if I recall, even though reported in news. There is no Ken Lay or Martha Stewart in Mexico.

How about the graft culture, or the lack of Noblesse Oblige? Need I mention the antisemitism or the oppression of the indigenous Indians?

I know these things exist in America, but the Rule of Law remains stronger, thus far. Just some thoughts.
244 posted on 01/07/2004 11:40:48 AM PST by flydye45
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To: Happy2BMe
Hi Happy

Focus shift;

Russia's Money people/Families thingy...similar to America in some regards.

Putin lets the players play...but don't touch re'al Polotik!

Guess one wealthy Oligarch is rotting in a cell now...others learning to dance the dance.

But then..who Put Pooty in Power...and who saw Oligarch so and so crushed?

One Oligarch bought up lots of oil firms..or rather..used existing law to drive them off their leases..and take their oil....a Russian version of.."Kick their Ass and take their gas"!

He stomped all over BP holdings in Russia...Tony Blair was even called in to fixy.
Later..B.P. is signing deals for percentage of Yuko's oil operations in Russia..American firms lining up as well.

Americas Corporate movers are less ruffian than Russkies...yet both dive in the money pool and swim.

American Corporate head to Russian Oligarch.."I want to invest in your operations"...

Oligarch:.."Wait a bit...operations need trimming[Russian for,...I gotta bump some people off first]..then you can invest"

Myriads of Mexican illegals in America.....maybe they will start building Pyramids soon....start sacrificing people again....call it trimming business operations : )

245 posted on 01/07/2004 11:52:20 AM PST by Light Speed
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To: flydye45
I only hope this is a finger in the wind and our objections will be noted.
Come November, I'll vote for Bush because the alternative is so bad. But I'm not happy.
If a law's not being enforced, it should be. Or it should be dropped. Granting amnesty to millions of lawbreakers is not the right approach.
Granting them full benefits, including Social Security, is a recipe for utter disaster.
Does he think the liberals won't hijack the new immigrant vote like they hijacked every civil rights advance brought about by Republicans?
We are at a point where the Dem party is about to self-destruct, and he's giving it another 8 million votes and a new lease on life.
It's asinine, as Hannity said. On its face.
Or does Bush think the Congress won't go for it? As he thought the Sup Ct wouldn't go for CFR? Bush doesn't strike me as that sort of calculating politician, but I'm not as cynical as I should be.
246 posted on 01/07/2004 11:54:33 AM PST by Graymatter
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To: T.Smith; Happy2BMe
"Yee Haa...were at the Mexi-Cal border....Chalupa drop in ...3,2,1"


Paid for by the B-52's for Arizona fund.

247 posted on 01/07/2004 12:05:41 PM PST by Light Speed
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To: The_Eaglet
Thank you for the heads up. This is the first time I am considering voting other than Republican in my entire life.

And I'm well aware of the "throw-away-vote" arguement people make about voting for a candidate who hasn't a real shot at winning. At this point, I could give a rat's behind anymore.

Both of these damned parties have figured out how to buy a constituency with giveaways and I don't see it changing anytime soon.
248 posted on 01/07/2004 12:22:56 PM PST by Prolifeconservative (If there is another terrorist attack, the womb is a very unsafe place to hide.)
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To: Prolifeconservative
I wouldn't rule out voting for the few conservative Republicans that still exist, but Bush is not one of them. Where Constitution Party candidates are not running, I am definitely open to running for pro-life conservative Libertarians, Republicans, or independents.
249 posted on 01/07/2004 12:27:52 PM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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I meant, I am definitely open to voting for pro-life conservative Libertarians, Republicans, or independents.
250 posted on 01/07/2004 12:29:04 PM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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To: LandofLincoln
I sent the rnc an email telling them that GWB has lost my vote and support (I am a lifelong broken glass repub). I will never vote for a demonrat but I will not vote for GWB. Among the reasons:
Signing the campaign finance bill.
Huge increases in spending.
Support for extention of the Brady law.
The immigration initiative was the last straw.

If I wanted a liberal I would have voted for the Gorebot.

251 posted on 01/07/2004 12:46:03 PM PST by BadAndy
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To: Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
This will allow people to vote their conscience without fear of throwing the election to another candidate that is loathed.

How so? I am not disagreeing with you, only curious.

252 posted on 01/07/2004 1:06:21 PM PST by thiscouldbemoreconfusing
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To: BadAndy
If I wanted a liberal I would have voted for the Gorebot

Exactly how I feel. If I voted for a Liberal, this would not all that much of a surprise. We are now on our way to being a third world nation.

253 posted on 01/07/2004 1:31:28 PM PST by LandofLincoln
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To: shortstop
It’s clear proof that the adage “Dance with the one what brung ya” doesn’t apply in the GOP.

This line alone says it all.

The Congressional Republicans (most) are not holding to the principles that brought them to power in '94.

And now they and Bush are colluding on this amnesty deal.

Republicans who are sick of this need to exercise some tough love. Telling them you're not happy isn't good enough. Voting against them and cleaning out the filth is the only way to really communicate the message and do some good.

254 posted on 01/07/2004 1:36:11 PM PST by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
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To: Charles Martel
With such a lame lineup of Democrat candidates, this is literally George Bush's election to lose. It looks like he's going to attempt to do just that, too.

Actually it is because there is such a lame Democratic lineup that Bush feels he can do this amnesty thing and still retain conservative votes. And he isn't wrong on this. We have no where else to go. None of us are about to vote for Dean- who will lose in the biggest landslide in history if nominated.

As an aside- witness the liberal mainstream press beginning to savage Dean with "scandal" stories on the front pages of the NYT and Boston Globe yesterday. There will only be more to follow. I predicted the liberal establishment would strangle the Dean campaign- I just thought they would have started a long time ago. Kerry or Clark are down but not out- especially with the DNC and liberal beltway gunning for Dean. Now if the liberal establishment and their media allies manage to derail a Dean nomination- a Clark or Kerrey nomination will be a real threat to Bush. We should all be defending Dean and hoping he wins.

255 posted on 01/07/2004 2:50:08 PM PST by Burkeman1 ("If you see ten troubles comin down the road, nine will run into the ditch before they reach you")
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To: TheGeezer
Stop being a xenophobe

Stop name calling...

256 posted on 01/07/2004 2:56:15 PM PST by org.whodat
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To: ravingnutter
"...any illegal currently in the US who does not apply for the guest worker program by the deadline will not be eligible for anything but deportation."

Oh please.....we aren't even enforcing our own laws on illegal aliens now. This program isn't going to stop illegal aliens from coming into this country and this incentive that Bush is offering is only making it worse!

"....if we can clear up some of the backlog at INS, and create a database with the info provided by the illegals during registration for this program that will make it easier to catch those that commit crimes, we will be better off."

And when these illegal aliens commit crimes, all they have to do to avoid prosecution is head back to the border. We are heading for troubled times and I am now looking for a politician who isn't afraid to close the borders and keep illegal aliens out of this country!
257 posted on 01/07/2004 3:59:42 PM PST by Arpege92
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To: pcx99
The best way is to open up the foreign worker system and document those entering the country *legally*.

And what in the world convinces you that this will do anything to stop aliens from entering illegally? When a (newly legitimized) guest worker's three years are up, what makes you think he will willingly go back to Mexico if he doesn't want to?

If you want to know what the flaws are to this proposal, you have to look at it from the perspective of an illegal alien who already has no respect for our immigration laws.

258 posted on 01/07/2004 4:07:53 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: shortstop
I think that the President lost more white votes today than he gained in hispanic votes.
259 posted on 01/07/2004 4:11:39 PM PST by FloridaBoy
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To: shortstop
Legal abuse of the First Amendment-Daily Campaign Finance Reform thread-day 28

260 posted on 01/07/2004 11:27:00 PM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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