I must admit that this is not one of Bush's strong points.
If it weren't for the War on Terror a lot of Pubbies would stay home over this.
GOP, please note for 2006 and 2008.
Meanwhile, W had better pray (a lot), because if someone gets through the Mexican border and pulls off a successful terrorist attack, this election will be up for grabs, Kerry's wartime warts and all.
If the Dems had any sense at all (which they don't as dedicated leftists), they would have run a candidate like Zel Miller. Bush would be toast.
Instead, the Dems run the most rabid drooling leftist available in the party and bank on his 4 months of military service in Vietnam. Republicans aren't the only stupid party.
It makes you wonder if the Clintons are running the Dem party and actually planned it this way so as to make way for the Hildebeast in 2008.
This no-borders policy favored by both parties spells the effective death of the Republic, and rather quickly I fear. The long-term peril far outweighs terrorism, IMO.
Terrorism can be thwarted for the most part [I hope]. Even if they manage to kill thousands - or more - again, efforts will be redoubled against them worldwide, the terrorists must lose in the end. But as you say, keeping our borders pourous only increases the likelyhood of another 9-11.
The Illegals problem will only only get worse and the more amnesty they get, the faster they will come. Low educatioon, low income, large families = poverty & taxpayer assistance. Their alliegence is to Old Mexico - screw being assimilated. Those here illegally only care about our Constitution for what they can get out of it in the name of 'fairness', etc.
There is alot of "moral equivalence" going on with republican/conservatives on the immigration issue. The argument is that this is just one of many issues and Bush should be judged in a broad context. Not quite!
I did't like Bush's medicare legislation for the same reasons many people didn't like it: too expensive, too complicated, too much of a giveaway to the drug companies etc. We can argue about it, see how it works, and maybe change it.
Immigration is different. It fundamentally changes the demographics of the US. These people aren't going home, the changes will be profound and permanent. AND THIS IS AMNESTY 2...It becomes harder and harder to argue against amnesty 3, sure to come, ever bigger and vastly expanded.
If the Republicans are going to merge our nationhood into some sort of continental, or hemisheperic political union, maybe they should tell us... that seems to be where this is going. NO, IMMIGRATION IS NOT JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES. IF THE REPUBLICANS CRAP OUT ON THIS,well, there really is no difference between thems and dems.
So, if they come across on the border with Canada, it won't be so bad?
If the thought pattern is that we should have such impregnable borders, land or shore, that not a single person can get through them undetected, then give up now, because in order to have that, we must abandon all semblance of freedom.
If you are critical of President Bush for not sealing the borders, remember that John F'ing Kerry will not seal them either.