Posted on 03/25/2006 11:03:30 PM PST by Icelander
In elections one earns political capital. Once spent, cest tout. Consumed capital cannot be replenished by a cauterized constituency, and today the Republican base boils.
I recently spoke to someone who volunteered for Bushs 2004 campaign. I asked whether he would work for the GOP in 2008, and he bemoaned no. I asked why, and he replied, Its a sad day when Democrats like Dianne Feinstein are tougher on immigration than Republicans like Sam Brownback.
The avalanche of support that has followed Republicans since 1994 we now see slowly evaporating over the issue of a guest-worker program. Impassioned Republicans four years ago now stand out of steam, feeling betrayed by a party leadership that would support a bill so at odds with conservative principles.
This guest-worker proposal, after all, rewards illegal behavior. Instead of requiring illegal immigrants to return to Mexico (or wherever) to apply for a permit, it grants legal status on the spot, thus acting as a magnet for continued illegal immigration. And, as Rep. John Hostettler (R.-Ind.) recently said, any guest-worker plan puts the interest of foreign, illegal workers above those of our own American citizens.
Newt Gingrich summed up the matter most succinctly on the OReilly Factor (March 15, 2006). He has observed a growing divide between Washington GOP elites and the average voting Republican. Somehow, GOP elites have come to believe that a guest-worker program is necessary (although it is not). Your average GOP voter, however, while praising boosts to border security, deeply dislikes any guest-worker giveaway.
Why GOP leadership supports such a lemon remains unseen. In 1986 Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. It granted green cards to three million illegal immigrants, consequently attracting yet another five million to cross the border to replace their decriminalized comrades. Furthermore, a recent poll taken in Mexico found that at least 46 percent of the population (50 million Mexicans) would cross the border if given the chance. Any guest-worker initiative advertises this avenue.
It is in future forecasts, however, that Republicans really blunder. Illegal immigrants, voting for socialist candidates in Mexico or South America, will become Democrats once gaining full citizenship. Superficial surveys taken in a couple cities show that 9 out of 10 illegal immigrants support Democrats over Republicans. This guest-worker program, on a silver platter, will hand over California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to Democrats.
Is the GOP abating its base and fallowing its future in one fell swoop?
Ditto>
This country can survive wrongheaded tax policies, just as it can survive goofy environmental laws.
What it CANNOT survive, however, is this continued flood of illegal immigrants, mostly Hispanics, who have no love for the American ideals but instead seek to turn the US into a third world country like Mexico.
Every day the inner city (now surburban) Spanish gangs get stronger and bigger. Ask any police officer.
I refuse to have my grandkids grow up in a country where they must fight hoards of 'guest workers' just to speak English or just to be safe when walking down the street.
"Amazing that a "Libertine in Exile" is always advocating a massive expansion in the size, scope and reach of the Federal Govt. Seems your actions don't match your pretensions LIE. Why is that?"
Funny you should mention that. First, it's pure fantasy on your part. Second, it has nothing to do with your silly assertion above, that Bill Frist's bill should shut up those complaining about the compromise bill here. Or did you simply decide to quit on the topic of the thread, knowing you'd been spanked and the issue put soundly to bed?
It's always a joy trading posts with you, and witnessing how many puerile twists and turns you'll take after your initial outburst is smacked down. What next, some complaint about how my feet smell, or I should post using smaller words so you'll understand them?
I wouldn't have believed I could make the change myself but being liberated from the People's Republic of Massachusetts seems to have awakened a sense of urgency in me. Iwish you every comfort and success in your transition!
KP
"Republicans" are living down to the expectations of some of their harshest critics, the accusation of those that claim the Republican party is the party of "The Rich" and "it's only about money."
I can't believe RATS are tougher on immigration than Republicans.
According to FOX this demonstration was in response to Sensenbrenner's bill. Last I knew, Sensenbrenner is a R.
I have an idea: We all go to Mexico City and march on Mexico City demanding our rights.
I can't believe RATS are tougher on immigration than Republicans.
According to FOX this demonstration was in response to Sensenbrenner's bill. Last I knew, Sensenbrenner is a R.
I have an idea: We all go to Mexico City and march on Mexico City demanding our rights.
Unfortunately for some, most people did vote for Bush with a majority and they knew he wanted a guest worker program with an immigration bill even before the election. Is he right, hell no, but when the choices are given, people would place sealing the border priority even if the compromise meant a guest worker program. Can't weld the pipe until the flow is stopped. If I had my way, which I don't, I would cut all medical funding and other freebies and fine employers $20,000 per violation and charge them criminally along with the illegals. That in it's natural process would help seal the borders.
If I have to go to Mexico to demand my rights, I get a house in Cancun.
Well, there are other options. I'm not enthusiastically for them, but if your options are a tax-raising traitor Rat and a tax-raising traitor Pubbie, say, you're choosing between a Chaffee and a Whitehouse, it's still better to vote. I'm usually just as torn as you as to whether it's better to vote GOP and waste your vote or vote third party and waste your vote. When I think of how choosing the lesser of two evils has turned out in recent elections, it makes the call even closer. But I'd still vote.
"Bad idea. The Constitution Party is made up of egomaniacs who are operating a scam. They take people's money and hope, knowing full well, they'll never have to fulfill on anything.
They're a bunch of cowards. If they had any courage, they would run as Republicans, at least in primaries.
They're afraid they may actually get elected and have to prove they can govern."
They could do us some real good if they would run as Republicans.
That and free medical care and free education for our children.
"Unfortunately for some, most people did vote for Bush with a majority and they knew he wanted a guest worker program with an immigration bill even before the election."
I'm among them. But I didn't vote for him for that, and I bet very few people did. Intimating otherwise is utter falsehood.
"Is he right, hell no, but when the choices are given, people would place sealing the border priority even if the compromise meant a guest worker program. Can't weld the pipe until the flow is stopped."
But a compromise of this sort means the flow will increase, not decrease, and there will be no stoppage, even with a compromise. There was supposed to be a compromise last time, but there was no enforcement of the laws that were supposed to prevent employers from hiring illegals, and up to today, even with this pressure, there IS no enforcement of those laws. To call any compromise including an amnesty provision "stopping the flow" is right up there with busting a hole in Hoover Dam and calling it "stopping the Colorado." Screw ANY new legislation--the President should enforce the old laws first.
And of course that will be the RNC talking points if the President and his amnesty choirboys lose...that the American public prefers the status quo (and the illegals that the pro-illegal GOP refuse to remove) to any pro-enforcement change. They'll find some way to have their cake either way.
Yes. I do manage to get out and vote -- usually there are other issues on the table. Although the Republican Kilgore lost to a Democrat in Virginia for governor possibly because many folks stood down on election day. Kilgore was trying to act like a Democrat to get more votes; he may have but he eroded his base more. Now the Demo governor wants to raise more taxes than the Republicans. He is employing marxist/communist principles in doing that (that is, lying to the people)! Both parties in Virginia have raised taxes recently.
Undocumented Undocumented
Surgeon Accountant
Well, the good news is that if a lot of us stay home and/or vote Dem, at least the GOP has a better track record of learning from its mistakes and not rewarding failure.
Both parties were bought and paid for long ago by business interests who need the cheap labor. Campaign contributions from anyone "foreign" to the district an election is in have completely destroyed representative democracy. In this case, they completely outweigh the will of 70% of the electorate.
It will get corrected when our representatives forego the money.
Like they say, have you ever thought about all the things that are going to happen the day after hell freezes over?
Great post. Good seeing you again over here, too.
Huh!? Frist is trying to sell us out on this issue. Oh sure, he recently said he wants border security before any sort of guest worker program. But his proposal also DOUBLES the number of Green Cards issued each year. I've seen one calculation that shows that idea over time lets in/excuses more aliens than the McCain/Kennedy bill.
And who knows where Rice stands on this issue and other. I suspect she's as liberal as her boss. She's admitted to being "pro-choice" and in so doing forever lost my vote.
Thats really not a solution for the illegal immigration problem which will be decided in the next few weeks but thanks anyway.
Bump
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