Immigration Pits GOP Elites Against Conservative Voters

If a Republican politician is uncommonly good on both economics and social issues, he will probably be terrible on immigration.

It’s an unfortunate fact of political life that’s taken me some time to get used to, but here it is: If a Republican politician is uncommonly good on both economics and social issues, he will probably be terrible on immigration. Think Dick Armey, Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake and Jack Kemp in his better days. All strong economic and social conservatives; all weak on immigration control.

And that’s just conservative Republicans. Moderate to liberal Republicans tend to be even worse. Flake’s guest-workers program, one of the pieces of legislation floating around that corresponds fairly closely with the Bush administration’s amnesty-light proposal, is co-sponsored by his fellow Arizona Republicans Senator John McCain and Representative Jim Kolbe. While there are many honorable exceptions, the GOP as a whole has been useless, and sometimes pernicious, on immigration.

Yet most rank-and-file Republican voters take a more sensible position. They believe that immigration should be legal and controlled, occurring at a manageable level accompanied by assimilation. They are receptive to immigrants who actually intend to give their allegiance to America, but don’t see any need to import poverty, cultural balkanization and sociopolitical fragmentation.

In other words, the GOP’s grassroots conservative base approaches immigration with different motives than the cheap-labor lobby, transnational progressives, multiculturalists -- and many of the Republican candidates they end up voting for. This discontinuity between the party’s leadership and its voters has only gotten worse under George W. Bush, who has maintained a stubborn infatuation with the idea of offering “temporary” worker status to millions of illegal aliens and extending that status to an apparently limitless number of willing foreign workers all over the world -- only after their prospective U.S. employers have verified that the jobs they’re being offered are of the kind that Americans just won’t do, of course.

There is much that can be said for Karl Rove’s political acumen. His grassroots turnout strategies in the 2004 campaign certainly paid off. But immigration, an issue Rove seems to mistakenly see as the key to a Hispanic Republican majority, is testing the Architect’s limits. Republicans with their ears closer to the ground -- and the conservative grassroots -- don’t see amnesty and guest workers as winning political issues.

According to a Washington Post report last week, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay distanced himself slightly from the president on immigration reform. DeLay’s proposal wasn’t much better. He would offer illegal aliens guest-worker status, but only if they go home first. It doesn’t benefit lawbreakers as much as Bush’s version, but many current illegals would probably still see their status regularized after a visit back home and overall it would increase immigration. In the New York Times account, the Republican leader suggests it as a possible modification of the White House proposal.

DeLay’s arm-twisting tactics may have earned him the nickname the Hammer, but he also has a good read on the House Republican Conference. If he is suggesting compromise, it is a good indication that the President’s immigration-liberalization plan cannot pass as presently outlined, because it lacks GOP support.

Rush Limbaugh, as attentive to the opinion trends of right-of-center Americans as any commentator, has also spoken of a grassroots revolt against the party establishment on immigration. In late January, he warned that the President’s approach to the issue jeopardized his initiatives on Social Security and tax reform. Limbaugh went further to contend that porous borders threatened our national sovereignty and the electoral coalition that supports the Republican Party.

The latter point was also made in a National Review cover story at the end of last year, written by David Frum rather than one of the magazine’s usual immigration restrictionists. “There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders,” Frum wrote. “Immigration for Republicans in 2005 is what crime was for Democrats in 1965 or abortion in 1975: a vulnerable point at which a strong-minded opponent could drive a wedge that would shatter the GOP.”

Even voices on the Wall Street Journal editorial page have taken notice. In an Opinion Journal column following Limbaugh’s volley, John Fund urged “measures to address the legitimate concerns of Americans who worry the federal government has completely lost control of the borders.” While he mainly criticized serious immigration reforms and downplayed the electoral clout of restrictionists, Fund implicitly acknowledged the gap between the GOP’s elites and the voters they need to remain in power.

The immigration debate has become the latest struggle for the soul of the GOP, with the party’s majorities potentially hanging in the balance. Time will tell whose lead Republican officeholders decide to follow -- the Hammer or the Architect’s.

The issue based reality that is being ignored by elected representatives has been going on for years and years. The Elites have created their own Frankenstein Monster that the taxpayers are obliged to support and pay for. The question to fully consider is this! How long will "WE THE PEOPLE" support and continue to throw good "TAX" money after bad; with no ROI to justify our participation. I submit that the vast majority of the voting public remains willingly ignorant, refusing to address the real issue of their own laziness and lack of involvement. Until they become aware of their sense of Duty in this matter and quit being led down the path of no return, we can expect no response from those who we have given the "Keys To The Kingdom". The worthless guilty politicians who ride the National Gravy Train will continue their lying scheming cheating ways unhindered carrying a blank check endorsed by the Lazy politically Ignorant American voting public!

John Stormer wrote a book several years ago called "The Death Of A Nation". We are witnesses to the premise of his book that has come full circle in the history of America. Another Author you won't read the truth from these days is Gary Allen, his expose's of the Elites and those who are mad with the "Lust Of Power" carry more truth than the average individual can comprehend or absorb. His conservative truths rise from his grave to scream in your ears and fly off the pages of his books showing you plainly how to locate and identify the enemy from within our own Country. Two other American heroes long since forgotten by the vast majority of our pseudo-intellectual Elites are Kent and Phoebe Courtney who wrote two of the most timely books that exposes the Socialist Enemy in our own ranks. One of them is the most concise analogy I have ever read on the Power of the CFR Elite. The other book is equally effective in exposing the subtle attack on Metro and Regional Government called Beware Metro & Regional government. It outlines the Ten Federal Regions Nixion was involved with exploiting. The last Author I will mention is a former FBI Agent named Dan Smoot; "ONE OF The REALLY GOOD GUYS" this country produced. His Book I like best is called "THE Business End Of Government. The cover has you staring down the barrel of a pistol and leaves nothing to the imagination.

These hard hitting novels are dated material but still available if you know where to look. This is what is sorely needed in these troubling times we are living in. I frequent many of the old style paperback book stores in my searches not the fancy la te da establishments where preppy drinks are swilled! the great truths lie hidden away awaiting you to come to your senses and start seeing what this collage of wisdom knew over thirty years ago. The Death of Our Nation looms wide on the horizon but it is not a foregone conclusion .....YET! An informed electorate is truly something to be feared and our enemies know this to be so! I invite you to find the courage to send these Socialist Bastards to the Pit of Hell! They need to hear from you and I in this matter of Immigration & gun Control because these two issues will be the "DEATH OF OUR NATION"

"My family has had to move out of their traditional homes to flee the violence that the gang-bangers in Phoenix have brought across the border with them."

When the Polish came, there were Polish gangs. When the Irish came, there were Irish gangs. When the Italians came, there were Italian gangs.

There were Jewish gangs, there are Russian gangs...

The fear that new immigrants will not assimilate is one of the most constant things about immigration.

Here's one very succint description of the immigration wave that brought us the Polish and Italian immigrants:

"Immigration between 1880-1920 and the Age of the "New Immigrant"
Between 1880 and 1920, almost 24 million immigrants arrived in the United States. These “New Immigrants” were primarily from Southern and Eastern European nations — Italy, Croatia, Greece, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungry, and Russia. In 1882, immigration reached a new high with 788,992 persons arriving that year. During this forty-year period, the “New Immigrants” came to the United States for a variety of reasons. The population of Europe had doubled over the course of the 1800s, and the growing population (and the United States) faced the challenges associated with industrialization. During the second half of the 19th century, industrialization (the rise of cities and manufacturing) upset the fragile lifestyle and stability of the peasant classes. Millions moved to European cities seeking work and a decent life following the decline of agriculture and their way of life. Approximately 60 million people fled Europe during this period, with almost half that number coming to the United States.
Low wages, unemployment, disease, forced military conscription, and religious persecution (particularly Eastern European and Russian Jews forced from their homes by Pogroms) all inspired immigrants to flee their homelands and come to the United States. These immigrants were inspired to come to America by its reputation as the “Land Of Liberty” and also by the inspiring letters of friends and relatives already in the United States. These “New Immigrants” fleeing poverty and persecution faced difficulties in assimilating into American culture that immigrants in the 1840s did not. Most could not speak English, nor were they literate in their own language. They came from nondemocratic governments and were often distrustful of government. Immigrants during this period crammed into cities in the Northeast (although many did migrate to the Midwestern city of Chicago), and created small ethnic communities where they preserved the culture of their homelands. Immigrants maintained their culture by publishing newspapers in their native languages, opening specialty grocery stores and restaurants, and establishing churches, synagogues, and schools. But these communities could not protect immigrants from discrimination inflicted by native-born Americans.
The New Immigrants during the 1880-1920 period typically settled in the cities along the eastern seaboard and entered low-paying, wage-labor jobs. They filled the growing factories and also worked at other poorly-paid jobs such as construction work or sewing. These immigrants often arrived with little money and were forced into substandard housing in the worst sections of the overcrowded cities. With their populations rising exponentially, the infrastructure of the cities could not handle the effects of overcrowding. Many cities had problems with sanitation, leading to overflowing sewers, uncollected garbage, impure water, and a general stench in the air. Combined with soaring populations and overcrowding, crime rates rose. Many nativeborn Americans blamed the New Immigrants for the unsettling situation in the cities and for taking over "their” nation." -- Source.

However, even these weren't new sentiments...check this out...don't forget to check on the link and investigate the source:

I am perfectly of your mind, that measures of great Temper are necessary with the Germans: and am not without Apprehensions, that thro' their indiscretion or Ours, or both, great disorders and inconveniences may one day arise among us; Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation, and as Ignorance is often attended with Credulity when Knavery would mislead it, and with Suspicion when Honesty would set it right; and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, 'tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain. Their own Clergy have very little influence over the people; who seem to take an uncommon pleasure in abusing and discharging the Minister on every trivial occasion. Not being used to Liberty, they know not how to make a modest use of it; and as Kolben says of the young Hottentots, that they are not esteemed men till they have shewn their manhood by beating their mothers, so these seem to think themselves not free, till they can feel their liberty in abusing and insulting their Teachers. Thus they are under no restraint of Ecclesiastical Government; They behave, however, submissively enough at present to the Civil Government which I wish they may continue to do: For I remember when they modestly declined intermeddling in our Elections, but now they come in droves, and carry all before them, except in one or two Counties; Few of their children in the Country learn English; they import many Books from Germany; and of the six printing houses in the Province, two are entirely German, two half German half English, and but two entirely English; They have one German News-paper, and one half German. Advertisements intended to be general are now printed in Dutch and English; the Signs in our Streets have inscriptions in both languages, and in some places only German: They begin of late to make all their Bonds nad other legal Writings in their own Language, which (though I think it ought not to be) are allowed good in our Courts, where the German Business so encreases that there is continual need of Interpreters; and I suppose in a few years they will be also necessary in the Assembly, to tell one half of our Legislators what the other half say; In short unless the stream of their importation could be turned from this to other colonies, as you very judiciously propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not in My Opinion be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become precarious. -- Source

I know that having been directly impacted by these gangs, it can easily appear to you that every Hispanic is a gang banger...they/we are not.

Hispanics on the Rise as Largest U.S. Ethnicity

By Staff Sgt. Alicia K. Borlik - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON -- Hispanics account for almost 11 percent of the American population, numbering near 30 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And their numbers are expected to triple by the middle of the next century, accounting for nearly a quarter of America's population.
The fastest growing ethnic group in America is also increasing its presence in the military. Since 1987, the percentage of Hispanics in uniform has increased more than any other group, up 3 percent to almost 100,000 in strength, according to statistics from the Defense Manpower Data Center in Monterey, Calif.
The Army shows the largest Hispanic increase in the past 10 years. Despite the drawdown, the number of Hispanic soldiers increased 10 percent even as the ranks of white and black soldiers decreased about 40 percent each. Hispanic soldiers currently account for nearly 7 percent of the Army.
Hispanic representation in the Marine Corps nearly doubled during the past 10 years to about 11 percent. The Navy and Air Force have 6 percent to 8 percent Hispanic service members. -- United States Department of Defense

Have faith.

"See, that's the problem. I know you're not."

You don't think that South Florida, the self labeled "gateway to the Americas" has not seen more than its share of street gang violence?

Jamaican street gangs, Colombian street gangs, Cuban street gangs, black street gangs.

Top Five Most Stressful Cities
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma residents contend with one of the highest divorce rates in the country as well as one of the highest unemployment rates. It's cloudy in Tacoma much of the time, and the suicide and property crime rates are high. On a brighter note, Tacomans can feel safe from bodily harm thanks to the low violent crime rate.

Miami, FL
Miami has the highest violent crime rate in our study as well as one of the highest property crime rates. Making Miami even more stressful is the long commute time, a high unemployment rate, and a high rate of divorce. Despite these factors, Miami residents manage to maintain a positive mental attitude.

New Orleans
Maybe New Orleans should be nicknamed The Big Un -Easy, due to a high violent crime rate and a high unemployment rate. There's also a significant number of suicides and divorces.

Las Vegas, NV
The turbulent lifestyle of Las Vegas produces some extremely stressful conditions-- the highest suicide and divorce rates in our study, as well as a great deal of alcohol use. Unfortunately, the greatest number of sunny days per year doesn't seem to translate to overall happiness-- residents of Las Vegas have a great number of days experiencing poor mental health.

New York, NY
Beginning and ending their days with the longest commute in the country, the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple can really stress people out. Unemployment is high and so is violent crime, which may explain why New Yorkers spend many of their days experiencing stress, depression, and problems with emotions. But New Yorkers are not quitters - the suicide and divorce rates are some of the lowest. Source

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