2) This is a crucial issue, but like many things, it must wait its turn. Bush is NOT going to deal with this, or adopt any of Frum's reforms. It will take the NEXT Republican candidate to do this.
3) I already predicted, last year, that immigration would not be a part of the 2004 campaign but would be THE issue of 2008.
4) You cannot make this about "bad employers." This will be the ONLY message the left will hear and it will be the ONLY legislation that they will allow to be passed. This must be the LAST piece of legislation passed.
5) If we are going to be consistent in our law enforcement, and treat both supply and demand side, there must be some increased prosecution of the "bad employers." But this must be consistent and widespread, and NOT symbolic for purposes of having a few high-profile "perp walks."
6) The REAL issue here, though, is that people are committing crimes by crossing the border illegally and for WHATEVER reason they do so, they are criminals and must be treated as such. We only allow "mitigating circumstances" so much room for mercy in other crimes, and so it should be here.
I don't pretend to know who the candidate is who can pull this off---it sure isn't Tancredo---but there IS someone out there. Personally, I think it will take a Hollywood level "star" of Schwarzenegger's power with Tancredo's views to make this happen, although another 9/11 might also galvanize the public.
David Frum is on CSPAN's Washington Journal right now.
Yeah but would a jury convict a criminal whose crime is to take a job cleaning toilets or pick vegetables.
Yup, that's the ticket... put more business people behind bars.
Once you get away from the border states, nobody really cares how or why they got here. The REAL issue is that every small town in North Carolina & Georgia have literally 100's of Mexicans suddenly standing around on the downtown streets & the local folks are going to vote for whichever candidate who promises to do something about it. Amnesty & welfare are not the answers the local folks are looking for.
What do you see in 2006 if the democrats take a "control immigration and prosecute employers" position. I see them taking control of the House and Senate with such a move.