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Fred Barnes: Losing Friends and Influence (President Bush misjudges immigration and the ports issue)
The Weekly Standard ^ | March 6, 2006 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 02/25/2006 2:30:07 PM PST by RWR8189

Like few presidents before him, President Bush was poised for a consequential and potentially quite successful second term. It hasn't worked out that way (so far). Bush made one strategic error in 2005, guessing wrongly that the country was adult and serious enough to reform Social Security. Now he faces at least two immediate challenges: immigration and the Dubai ports flap.

Let's start with immigration, which the Senate is slated to take up in late March. On immigration, Bush is not a conventional conservative or any other kind of conservative. His instinct is to sympathize with immigrants. Bush believes that whether they come to the United States legally or illegally, they come for the right reasons, chiefly for economic opportunity and the chance to shape their own destiny in life.

This has put the president deeply at odds with most Republicans in Congress and the army of conservative talk radio hosts and their listeners around the country. They regard Bush as a slacker on immigration. Their primary aim is to tighten security along the border with Mexico. And the legislation that passed the House last December would do exactly that, partly by erecting a 700-mile wall.

Bush had little influence in the House debate, though he wound up endorsing the measure. His mistake was having proposed in 2004, as his first major immigration initiative, a program to allow illegal immigrants to work legally in this country. Most Republicans and conservatives want stepped-up border security to come first. They're skeptical, at best, about a "guest worker" program.

Bush invited members of Congress and his cabinet, plus leaders of Hispanic groups, to his speech at the White House in January 2004 calling for more immigration into the United States. "The citizenship line . . . is too long and our current limits on legal immigration are too low," he said. But he devoted most of his address to illegal immigrants.

"Out of common sense and fairness, our laws should allow willing workers to enter our country and fill jobs that Americans are not filling," he declared. "We must make our immigration laws more rational and more humane. And I believe we can do so without jeopardizing the livelihoods of American citizens." His plan would "offer legal status, as temporary workers, to the millions of undocumented men and women now employed in the United States and to those in foreign countries who seek to participate in the program and have been offered employment here."

Note the size of the program Bush envisions: millions. It could conceivably cover all the illegal immigrants now living in America. This, of course, enrages Bush's Republican and conservative critics on immigration and makes them all the more dubious of his plans and of him.

How could this adversarial relationship on immigration have been avoided? "If we had to do it again, we probably would lead with enforcement," a White House official said. In other words, soften up the immigrant-bashers with dramatically increased border security and then, and only then, seek a temporary worker program in a year or two. That might have succeeded.

As things now stand, the president's hopes rest with the Senate. His strategy is to get senators to include a modest guest worker program in their bill--a program that could be expanded later. To get the House to accept it, the legislation would be larded with strong enforcement provisions. Who knows? This might work.

On the Dubai ports deal, the failure at the White House was in not seeing political trouble on the horizon. Foreign business deals involving American national security that are approved by the Committee on Foreign Investments normally draw little media or political attention.

But the purchase by a Dubai firm of the British company that manages terminals in six U.S. ports did. In fact, attacks on the deal for supposedly putting America's national security in jeopardy continued for more than a week before the White House responded. It had not consulted members of Congress about the deal beforehand.

The White House was firm and conciliatory in defending the deal but also tardy. The demagoguery on Capitol Hill had gotten out of hand by the time Bush intervened. Most of the criticism focused on the notion that an Arab country with past al Qaeda ties would be in charge of security at the six ports.

This isn't true. Security would remain in the hands of the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs Service. And the personnel operating the ports would be the same. Only the company owning the terminals would change.

But the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, was the home of two 9/11 terrorists and banks there had transferred money to al Qaeda. This alone was sufficient to bar the deal for what seemed like most of Congress. Bush countered that the UAE had become a full-blown ally in the war on terrorism since 9/11.

The surprise in all this and the most worrisome aspect for the White House was the eagerness with which congressional Republicans broke into revolt against Bush. Without checking with Bush or his aides, congressional Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, denounced the deal publicly and insisted it be reconsidered or blocked.

The revolt showed that Bush's strength in Congress has significantly eroded as he begins his sixth year as president. In effect, his Republican base is no longer secure.

One thing could revive his standing among Republicans and salvage his clout on Capitol Hill: a Republican triumph led by Bush in the midterm election this fall. He did this before in 2002. But it was a long shot then, as it is now.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2ndterm; barnes; bush43; bushlegacy; fredbarnes; immigration; ports; secondterm; term2
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To: Txsleuth
I think this Specter legislation should be stopped now.

We need to take a very close look at our H1 and J visa programs.

Big business is driving this increase in H1 immigration for money purposes only.

Let Americas security be damned.

Some countries are totally dominating the H1 programs.

Does anyone have any figures on where the H1 immigrants are coming from.

If we don't have enough engineers and scientists then turn some of these socialists liberal arts schools into true universities teaching science and math.

I would start with Bezerkely.
81 posted on 02/26/2006 10:39:01 AM PST by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Yes, she is....and from what I have heard, she has made a few mistakes..

I just think they put her in the wrong position....she is better by Bush's side, as a spin controller.


82 posted on 02/26/2006 10:47:59 AM PST by Txsleuth
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To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com
His plan is clear and its devolving the US into a damned Socialist Community of North American, on the way to global governence.

I think you've inadvertently hit upon something there. There are some Marxists who, despite the fall of the Soviet Union, hold on to the hope of a revolution. Ordinarily, the failure of Marxism to accurately predict future events would cause one to abandon or--at least!--revise it. Not so. Why?

One defense that those in academia today put forth is that the understanding of the theory was flawed. One must first have a global economy before one has a global socialist revolution. A North American Community would be a good start. By supporting this initiative, the self-styled champions of capitalism and free trade would, if not help to usher in a more socialistic system, at least leave the door open for it.
83 posted on 02/26/2006 10:49:12 AM PST by Das Outsider (The chief end of man is not civil freedom.)
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To: Stellar Dendrite
lolz

You're supposed to say, "Easiest time I ever did."
84 posted on 02/26/2006 10:50:52 AM PST by Das Outsider (The chief end of man is not civil freedom.)
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To: OKIEDOC

When I first saw this "plan" by Specter, I thought it was SO bad...that surely he put it out only to try to deflect attention from the bad press over the Dubai Ports deal...

I guess I was wrong...and so is Specter.


85 posted on 02/26/2006 10:52:17 AM PST by Txsleuth
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To: GarySpFc
The correct terminology is illegal alien, NOT illegal immigrant.

'Alien' is the correct legal term. 'Immigrant' tends to conjure up images of ethnically diverse huddled masses yearning for a piece of that American dream.

The former term refers to one's status of residency (or non-residency).
86 posted on 02/26/2006 10:57:15 AM PST by Das Outsider (The chief end of man is not civil freedom.)
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To: Das Outsider

They plan to implement the Community by 2010.
That makes this next election the last one.

At least the last legitimite one.

Problem is, all the main contenders are part of the plan.

Just like the last one.

Now I see that while Gore was never in the Council, his daughter has joined. Could be that a rehabilitated Al Gore might be in the mix, too, for 08.

Rice, Cheney, McMainiac, Frist, Hillary, Warner, Richardson, all in the Council, all against America. Guliani and Romney appear to be on their waitlist.

The only one I'm still sure is on our side is Mike Pence.


87 posted on 02/26/2006 11:05:42 AM PST by the gillman@blacklagoon.com ("If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth!")
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To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com
Guliani and Romney appear to be on their waitlist.

Lovely!! Thanks for always watching that and letting us know :)

88 posted on 02/26/2006 11:23:01 AM PST by Borax Queen
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To: CBart95
And the sad part of all this, is that he could have succeded in fixing the illegal Immigration problem had he used COMMON SENSE, as Fred indicates. What did they do in New Orleans. Did they star bailing the water out first? or "secure the leevs first, THEN bail the water out? :)

That's right, he could have done something dramatic - just like he did with NAS) - and say "enough of thes BS," let's close the bordes and even warn the nation that we would address the illegal people in the country. I would have bought it. BECAUSE I KNOW, it is impossible to find all the millions of illegals, "put them in trains" and send acrroos the border!... we know that. AGAIN, what I did not like was, again, his JUDGMENT, the way he thinks, his logic... I also did no agree with Miers for the suppreme court! and also, as important as the social security problems are, I still felt uncomfortable he chose this issue as his most important issue and blew away most of his "politcal capital," Even then, I tought, why could not he have taken the Immigration problem (illegal, should be understood) FIRST! score some points and then tackle something bigger...The problem is that when one begins to lose confidence in someone's judgment... oh well, that is a problem.

One more thing, let me clarify, he is still doing ok, NOT EVERYTHING he does is wrong! It's just like in baseball.. he is probably hitting 300 now , but he could have been hitting 700! had he done it right :)

89 posted on 02/26/2006 11:30:19 AM PST by ElPatriota (Let's not forget that we are still friends despite our differences!)
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To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com
They plan to implement the Community by 2010.

I'm very familiar with the Council on Foreign Relations and the tripartite Community that is in mind.

The idea is so absurd that it makes me wonder, "Have I got the facts wrong or are these people like lemmings, all jumping to their death?" One of those Twilight Zone moments, you know.
90 posted on 02/26/2006 11:37:40 AM PST by Das Outsider (The chief end of man is not civil freedom.)
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To: Das Outsider

Queue the creepy music.

When you read their arguments in favor of destroying the nation, the arrogance drips off the pages. The only thing worse is the mushskulls who close their eyes, cover their ears and scream out loud so as not to see or hear what's happening.


91 posted on 02/26/2006 12:40:04 PM PST by the gillman@blacklagoon.com ("If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth!")
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To: Borax Queen

I'm just guessing on that, so far. Haven't yet found proof. But they fit the mold. Will keep my eyes on them.


92 posted on 02/26/2006 12:44:47 PM PST by the gillman@blacklagoon.com ("If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth!")
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To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com; Das Outsider

To paraphrase a friend of mine - "There are many that can be led to the slaughter easily...and a lot that will aid Evil WILLINGLY!"


93 posted on 02/26/2006 12:46:16 PM PST by Borax Queen
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To: RWR8189
In other words, soften up the immigrant-bashers with dramatically increased border security...

Is this fool under the impression that these people are immigrants? They're law breakers who are cutting in line ahead of millions of true immigrants who are waiting to enter the US legally. I'm very sorry if their country of origin is a poor, corrupt, backwards nightmare. That doesn't mean they have the right to disregard our laws and undermine our national security.

Fred Barnes needs to spend some time in a border state so that he can enjoy the many social contributions (murder, theft, rape) of the illegal aliens he seems to so adore.

94 posted on 02/26/2006 12:51:10 PM PST by BearArms
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To: GarySpFc

There is even a Chinese language manual available for those who wish to learn how to scam SSI.


95 posted on 02/26/2006 12:53:05 PM PST by junta (It's Jihad stupid! Liberals, Jihadis and the Mexican elite all deserving of "preemption.")
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Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

Comment #97 Removed by Moderator

To: devolve

Looks good, wish Gregory would see it!!


98 posted on 02/26/2006 1:23:51 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: ElPatriota

Presidents don't do things to win points with the people. I know you don't believe that. But it's true.
What I really wished were true is that our elected officials show some minimal concern about your typical concerns. They just don't.

Example: Your idea that the Feds should have just started bailing water. It was'nt set up that way. It just was'nt. By the laws that ruled at the time, they could not do that. Local and State were supposed to.

That has changed. Because of Katrina. At least in some situations it is supposed to be different. We will see.


You show a lot of just plain lack of knowledge about the rules we operate by. You're surely not alone... most of us do.


As a loyal American, you have the backbone and the integrity to still support our President,even tho he is driving all of us nuts with his idiocy on immigration. He is allowing a serious situation to grow more severe by each moment and we have'nt seen the horrors that might still happen as a result of it. Allowing Mexico to "rape us" this way.Letting terrorists and criminals flood into our country. Putting all of our social services infrastucture in serious jeapardy. The whole situation is extremely urgent, yet nothing is being done.

If you think youre frustrated, at least you are not alone. All caring Americans see this unfinished business as potentially fatal...and everyone I talk to is extremely concerned about it.

Asking for and providing support to this President is what must be done. Because our own Bush Haters are only out to destroy our government. They are so full of hate and mean intent that they actually have no plan for fixing or improving anything...and they are fighting like crazy among themselves. Putting them in office would be like pouring gasoline on a raging fire.

We got to stick with this administration and demand real fixes and complete programs for all of these problems. This is no time to cut and run.



99 posted on 02/26/2006 1:51:56 PM PST by CBart95
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To: devolve

Ooo, that looks nice. I haven't seen that picture of the towers before.


100 posted on 02/26/2006 2:13:11 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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