SAUNDERS: Immigration law backlash not likely

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/28/6 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

OF COURSE, America needs immigrants. This is a country founded by immigrants and made richer by the imprint of newcomers in search of a land that rewards their hard work and determination to make a better life for their families.

The problem is that no country -- certainly, no country with a social safety net -- can afford to accommodate everyone who wants in. (Or as Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, put it, "We can't be the HMO to the world.") That's why there are immigration policies that limit the number of people who can immigrate here legally.

The lack of an open-door policy has spawned this week's victim class, illegal or "undocumented" immigrants, who have flouted American law and apparently believe they should not have to pay the consequences of that choice. Hence Sunday's huge demonstration in Los Angeles, where activists carried signs that called for "Amnistía, Full Rights for All Immigrants."

The Los Angeles Times duly reported, "Some Republicans fear that pushing too hard against illegal immigrants could backfire nationally, as with Proposition 187 (the 1994 ballot measure that sought to deny benefits for illegal immigrants, that) helped spur record numbers of California Latinos to become U.S. citizens and register to vote. Those voters subsequently helped Democrats regain political control in the state."

Call that the Backlash Myth. In fact, Prop. 187 passed with 59 percent of the vote and GOP Gov. Pete Wilson, who championed the measure, was re-elected in 1994. In 2003, when Democratic Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to get drivers' licenses, he so enraged voters that he sealed his political demise. After Davis was recalled from office, the heavily Democratic California Legislature repealed the bill.

[detsaoT]

Yep, but if white culture (or, to remove any hint of a racial element from the argument, "Western European" culture) is the ONLY culture that the P.C. goons FORBID us from celebrating, what chance do you suppose we have of keeping our "culture?" Particularly if our "culture" was built by and heavily relies on the STRICT rule of law inherent in Western European culture?

[Regulator]

It ain't just ANSWER. The Spanish language radio and TV stations exhorted them to come out, the Mexican government is undoubtedly using it's money and people (Teodoro Maus in Georgia is just the most visible), and the rest of the Destroy America Left is there as well (all predicted and documented in Bill Hawkins book Importing Revolution ).

What's truly amazing is the President of the United States - allegedly a "law and order Republican" - is on their side!.

Hate to tell ya kiddies but...St. Reagan and the Evil Dick Nixon would have used water cannons and riot police, with the cute little green vans waiting for them as they ran from the riot scene.

[penowa]

The Los Angeles Times duly reported, "Some Republicans fear that pushing too hard against illegal immigrants could backfire nationally, as with Proposition 187 (the 1994 ballot measure that sought to deny benefits for illegal immigrants, that) helped spur record numbers of California Latinos to become U.S. citizens and register to vote. Those voters subsequently helped Democrats regain political control in the state."

The backlash will come in Nov. and they won't need illegals to vote to get the result. The Republicans are sealing their fate by continuing to ignore their constituents IMO.

[detsaoT]

My real concern is that, with the rise of "minority-dominant" cultures, we're losing the single aspect that caused America to be successful—A healthy respect for the RULE of law.

Compare your average American city with any central- or south-American city. Heck, compare it with Puerto Rico! To get ANYTHING done in that area of the world, you have to bribe politicians, policemen, customs inspectors, and anyone ELSE with their hand out before you can get anything done.

While one could argue that this is a similar situation to the average American metropolis, I would counter that, when caught, the recipients of bribes are SWIFTLY punished here, whereas it's a FULLY accepted part of the "culture" down there (whatever you wish to call said culture).

We are in a cultural battle for survival right now, and it's definitely not looking good for western european traditionalists, or others who respect the rule of law ("lex rex!").

Perhaps America's time is coming to an end, and we'll be forced to survive as the shattered remnants of the country. The Southwest is almost completely lost to reconquista, and the Northwest certainly holds no love towards "flyover country." Will this result in three distinct nations being born from our ashes? Who knows.

The fault lines are definitely visible, though. I fear that a call to arms is imminent, if this situation is not defused quickly.

(THE big question on my mind, though, is why the Communists at ANSWER have started pushing this NOW. KEEP IN MIND that we have elections coming up this November, which is MONTHS away. WHY are we doing this NOW, rather than in SEPTEMBER, when it'll remain fresh in the populace's mind??)

[Euro-American Scum]

"Some Republicans fear that pushing too hard against illegal immigrants could backfire nationally, as with Proposition 187 (the 1994 ballot measure that sought to deny benefits for illegal immigrants, that) helped spur record numbers of California Latinos to become U.S. citizens and register to vote. Those voters subsequently helped Democrats regain political control in the state."

So the GOP will tap dance around the issue, do nothing, open the floodgates to millions more illegals with the expectation of what? That they'll vote for the Republicans when they register to vote?

What a crock of delusional crap.

[detsaoT]

I'm glad I could be of service, Sir! At least my tendency to ramble isn't for nothing. ;)

Hudson County is in North Jersey, is it not? I deeply respect your decision to remain close to the land of your upbringing, but would you consider moving perhaps closer to South Jersey, which is at least (from my recollections of the last time I was over there) in not as hopeless a situation as the northern extremeties of the State? I've lived most of my life here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and there are localities here that I would never even consider living in... I'm curious, mostly—Please don't take umbrage at the question! :)

(And, to continue with my unfortunate rambling [do forgive me!], I'd like to add that the extreme mobility that we have in our society—the tendency of people to move far away from where they grew up, and to move around frequently—is one of the biggest reasons why we no longer value our culture, or our institutions. I have very fond memories of my upbringing, back during a time when elementary school existed to instruct students about their LOCAL history, and their LOCAL culture, and am saddened to see that our primary schools of today don't seem to teach these lessons any more, perhaps because too many families are coming from too many areas.)

[edcoil]

All the previous immigrants paid their way - no previous government took away so much of previous Americans incomes to pay for schools, med's, crime, etc.

Previous immigrants made their own way as opposed to todays that get free food, homes, money and everything elese.

[Serenissima Venezia]

So the GOP will tap dance around the issue, do nothing, open the floodgates to millions more illegals with the expectation of what? That they'll vote for the Republicans when they register to vote?

Not only will the amnestied illegals not vote for the Republicans, neither will I. They've sold us down the river.

[Centurion2000]

OF COURSE, America needs immigrants. This is a country founded by immigrants and made richer by the imprint of newcomers in search of a land that rewards their hard work and determination to make a better life for their families.

LEGAL immigrants you idiot !!

[Centurion2000]

The fault lines are definitely visible, though. I fear that a call to arms is imminent, if this situation is not defused quickly.

It's starting to look like it's all over except for the shooting.

[detsaoT]

Centurion, a bit of decorum is in order here. We all at FreeRepublic do share quite a few opinions in common, but it's not expected that we'll all agree 100% on every topic. Calling each other "idiots" is neither constructive nor beneficial to the argument. :)

SmithL, do you recognize that there's a difference between the legally-controlled immigration of the 1880's through the 1940's, and the completely uncontrolled immigration that we face today?

Do you recognize the increase in lawlessness that has resulted from us turning a blind eye to this crime?

Or the increase in disease that's resulted from MILLIONS of completely unscreened migrants crossing our borders?

I am extremely interested in hearing your thoughts on these questions, and will patiently await your response,

Most respectfully,
~dt~

[detsaoT]

It's starting to look like it's all over except for the shooting.

Yeah, if Washington can't figure out how UTTERLY disconnected from the American populace it is, you're absolutely correct. I still hold a shred of hope that they'll purchase the proverbial clue, though. (And have written every single one of my representatives today, via the post office, to inform them of this.)

Barring Washington finding a clue, we're definitely headed towards a rather ugly split.

Stay safe, stay vigilant, sic semper tyrannis,
~dt~

[Centurion2000]

Centurion, a bit of decorum is in order here. We all at FreeRepublic do share quite a few opinions in common, but it's not expected that we'll all agree 100% on every topic. Calling each other "idiots" is neither constructive nor beneficial to the argument. :)

Perhaps I should have been a little more clear. I was aiming that invective at the author, not the poster. :)

[penowa]

"So the GOP will tap dance around the issue, do nothing, open the floodgates to millions more illegals with the expectation of what? That they'll vote for the Republicans when they register to vote?"

I don't believe the Republicans are that deluded that they expect to receive the votes from "former illegals." I think they know that the US, Canada, and Mexico are going to be folded into one big conglomerate where none of us has a vote in short order. They are hoping to hold onto their positions until they can't be tossed by the voters. Everything is trending Democrat and they are trying to appease some of the Democrat voters without losing all their base which is badly split, so they're trying to straddle everything. Good Luck!

All this ginned up illegals in the streets threatening us by the usual suspects, the Commies, is nothing but window dressing. The real action in open borders was settled long ago and it's coming to you, your kids, and grandkids and short of a revolution (highly unlikely,) it's been over while we slept.

[detsaoT]

Oh crud, and I neglected to notice that you were responding to the ARTICLE, rather than to comments written by SmithL.

I owe you both a big apology—and promise you that I'll read more closely next time. Please forgive me for the unnecessary interjection! I remain,

Respectfully,
~dt~

[DumpsterDiver]

It ain't just ANSWER. The Spanish language radio and TV stations exhorted them to come out, the Mexican government is undoubtedly using it's money and people (Teodoro Maus in Georgia is just the most visible), and the rest of the Destroy America Left is there as well (all predicted and documented in Bill Hawkins book Importing Revolution ).

All too true.

What's truly amazing is the President of the United States - allegedly a "law and order Republican" - is on their side!.

Not so surprising for Bush, though. As Mark Steyn put it:

"Of course, conservatives have been mad about a lot of Bush policies for a long time — education, immigration — but, in fairness to him, he campaigned as a massive federaliser of the school system and as a big nancy-boy pushover for illegal Mexicans. So we can't complain we were misled."
Has Bush Blown It?
Mark Steyn - October 8, 2005

Hate to tell ya kiddies but...St. Reagan and the Evil Dick Nixon would have used water cannons and riot police, with the cute little green vans waiting for them as they ran from the riot scene.

The brats from the two high schools in my immediate area have walked out again. The cops are detaining the ones they can catch. I can hear the helicopters buzzing around right now.