Posted on 12/08/2004 8:33:59 PM PST by Reagan Man
During President George W. Bush's first term, I was among his greatest cheerleaders and his toughest critics. I praised his execution of the war on terror while criticizing his education reform package, which was nothing more than a capitulation to Ted Kennedy, and which produced the legislation now known as "No Child Left Behind," an intrusive bit of federal education expansion despised by Republicans and Democrats alike.
I commended the president's signing of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, but excoriated him for compromising on the issue of stem cell research.
I applauded his courage for defending traditional marriage by calling for a constitutional amendment that would define wedlock as the union of a man a woman. But I lambasted him for his support of RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) such as former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan for California Governor, U.S. Rep. Greg Ganske for a U.S. Senate seat in Iowa, and incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania for reelection. These were among the worst political choices the president could have made.
Bush's tax relief legislation and his willingness to look at a complete overhaul of the tax system could turn out to be the most positive item on his domestic agenda. Conversely, his insistence last year that Congress place on his desk some sort of Medicare reform bill before he entered into an election year could ultimately bankrupt the nation. Reform for its own sake is overrated.
Of course, when it came time to choose between Bush and Democrat John Kerry this year, I supported the president for reelection without hesitation. In fact, I firmly believe that the alternative would have been an unmitigated disaster for America in just about any area one can name.
That said, now that the president has been reelected, it is time for committed conservatives to hold him accountable on the most important issue of the day: illegal immigration. In the United States Congress, a handful of courageous patriots are trying to do just that. On the House side, Congressmen James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Duncan Hunter of California are leading a group of Republicans who are adamant that radical change is needed in our border control policy, lest the words "intelligence reform" have no meaning in this post-9/11 world.
Meanwhile, as the national media badgers the president to "strong-arm" Congress to produce an intelligence reform bill, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has made it clear that he does not intend to bring the issue to the floor without strong support from House Republicans. If Sensenbrenner and Hunter are any indication of that support, the White House may have to do a lot of strong-arming to get a bill any time soon. With firebrand House Members like Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Steve King of Iowa siding with Sensenbrenner and Hunter, it seems unlikely that they will compromise in their demand that immigration be a part of any bill dealing with intelligence reform.
Illegal immigration is the one issue that most frustrates the American people, who see their country being invaded at a time when we are supposed to be at war. It is the one issue that could spell disaster for our entire way of life as millions of illegals pour across our borders and disappear into our society. It is the one issue neither presidential candidate wanted to discuss during the recent election campaign. Now, in the aftermath of the 9/11 Commission Report, with pressure mounting for reform, any sort of reform, reform for its own sake, perhaps we can have the debate that should have taken place on September 12, 2001
Important to whom? In polls asking people what their most important issues were, illegal immigration didn't even register.
Yes, yes, I know if you ask people if they are for or against illegal immigration 99% will say "against", but it isn't an important issue for anyone except a handful of people who have issues with immigrants.
That's why the anti-immigrant advocates are now trying to disguise their issue as a security or intelligence issues.
Hey "Illegal Pimp Daddy"!!
This thread will quickly deevolve...
Are we to use polls, then, as the measure of what's good for America?
That's that the mainstream media does.
Have you learned that from them?
Hola! Es los tres amigos!!
Ven aqui FReepers!!!
Mira, mira!!
Larry, Curly and Moe...
Of course with ApesForevolution on board.
Viva!
Mis amigo!
Que pas?
Guys how about nominating ApesForEvolution as the freeper of the year. His great analysis and insights are inspiration for all of us. I have never seen anyone with such intelligence and vast and deep knowledge of every political, economical, and historical issue, have you?
Muchas gracias mis amigo!
Viva la Mexico! Viva La Raza! Viva La Aztlan!
Can you please send me your picture so I can hang it on the wall, and every morning I look at it for inspiration. Pleaaaaase.
I want to thank you for keeping this thread bouncing to the top before I forget...thanks!
No, we use them to measure what we are trying to measure. In this case we are measuring the importance of illegal immigration to the American people.
Surely you aren't implying that the American people don't know what issues are important to them are you?
The author says illegal immigration is the most important issue, the people don't consider it important at all. Such a disconnect is not plausible.
The American people said that national security was the most important issue, not illegal immigration. They are not the same. People are not concerned about Mexican gardeners, maids, roofers, construction workers etc...
Actually, we have issues with illegal alien lawbreakers (not that you'd let a thing like the truth get in the way of spewing your La Raza talking points).
Hey Mr. La Raza, they're called illegal alien lawbreakers.
Oh, perish the thought!! Clearly, satanding in long lines to wait while Grandma gets searched at a checkpoint, and not instead offending a Person Of Moozelim Faith, is what's important. They've demonstrated that, by their cowlike willingness to put up with it!!
Similarly, with their sheeplike willingness to be tagged and numbered, they're demonstrating that they're more willing to be turned into Property of the State, than they are to offend an illegal Mexian immigrant.
bump
I prefer the term, Criminal Invaders, and for those that support and profit from this criminal invasion, I prefer the term Traitor. Both terms are more to the point, IMO. Blackbird.
"That said, now that the president has been reelected, it is time for committed conservatives to hold him accountable on the most important issue of the day: illegal immigration."
Bump!
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