Ping!
Posted on 04/03/2006 11:14:33 AM PDT by Dubya
The furor over immigration that is raging in Congress, on radio talk shows, on cable TV shoutfests and in the conservative blogosphere is actually a high-stakes duel over the image and direction of the Republican Party.
Two powerful factions of the GOP coalition are warring openly -- a clash that threatens to further imperil the party's prospects the November congressional elections, while exacerbating internal tensions that could reignite during the 2008 presidential primaries.
The business lobby, which pumps big bucks into the GOP, wants a new law that would enable 11 million illegal immigrants to stay here and work. But if Congress goes that route, it risks prompting millions of grassroots conservatives -- who are already angry at President Bush's lavish federal spending, his Dubai ports deal and other perceived missteps -- to boycott Election Day. The party can ill afford a revolt by its base, especially because most independent voters, soured by the war in Iraq, don't seem enthused about voting Republican.
Kellyanne Conway, a conservative Republican pollster and strategist, said by phone Friday that a boycott is no idle threat: "This year, more and more would-be Republican voters are glomming on to any excuse they can find to stay home and send a message. If I was a Republican leader, I'd be very careful about banging on that beehive too many times. The immigration issue could be one more excuse to stay home."
Conservatives, furious about the guest worker ideas being floated in the Senate, generally want illegal immigrants treated as lawbreakers and sent home -- but that idea is also perilous. If Congress says yes, it risks sending a broadly anti-Hispanic message that could alienate the increasingly numerous Latino voters whom Bush and Karl Rove view as crucial to their party's future.
(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.com ...
Most of us who are employers, big and small, all have the option to hire or not hire illegals, at just about whtever we wantto pay.
Some do some don't but to make case that employers have to have illegals for low wages is simply so much Barbara Striesand. Pure BS.
What needs to happen is we need to follow the law, illegal is illegal,that's it.
No excuses, if some pubbies don't like it too bad!!
Interesting if you look at Pennsylvania and see how there is a very little area that has shades of pink. Well guess what? That just happens to be where I grew up. Aren't I lucky...LOL.
Thank you for your post. Illegal immigration is harmful to BOTH the USA and Mexico.
Not sure if you answered my question before, CowboyJay about if you want to stop LEGAL immigration as well?
It seems pretty obvious that the Republican Party wishes to exchange the vote of the base for a new base of big business and illegals. That way they have less accountability and more freedom to act like Democrats. Its too bad really, and the way those who are for illegal immigration frame the argument like a liberal really bothers me.
Laura Ingraham made that exact point on the Matthews show this weekend.
The GOP, led by Bush, McCain, and those in the Senate who back the Kennedy bill - think they can assemble a new GOP voting bloc consisting of:
the Wall Street journal editorial page
business owners who want access to these workers
hispanics
those from the current republican base who will always vote for them because they fear the Dems more
If you are a member of the republican base now, and don't fit into one of those categories above - they are pretty much telling you to go someplace else (assuming Bush and the senate bill prevails).
I think Laura looks better as a blonde : (
Guest workers=anchor babies!!!!
she needs time for it to grow back in, then she can dye it. she has been through hell, she is a tough lady, I have alot of respect for her.
Did she have cancer treatments or something?
yes, chemotherapy for breast cancer.
It's too bad because the Republicans had a real chance to become a majority party for good while the Dems fell all over themselves. Now the Dems can get power back because the Pubs do not understand or do not care about their base. I will have a hard time voting no matter what happens with this bill just because of the way the Republican elites have framed this argument. I will probably vote for my Congressman, one Senator (Cornyn) and Mayor. My choice for governor sucks ever since Perry decided to use nazi tactics arresting people for drinking in bars. If I vote for President it will have to be someone other than the current group of wannabes
I did not know that. I'm glad she's doing better then, regardless of hair color : )
Do you have TiVo? Do you want "legal" immigration stopped too?
well yes, but let's also note - this fight is not over yet. and the only ones fighting, are conservative republicans in the house (and some in the senate), so let's not give up.
and also, let's not be totally against a compromise bill if one emerges. let's not be too monolithic on this - we have to face facts, we are not going to deport 12 million people at the point of a gun. there are constructive ways to handle this problem, to provide the correct incentives for people to "deport themselves", to have real border security, to have real employer sanctions.
This is the position the president should have taken from the start - a balanced approach of sticks first, carrots to follow. But the administration made a decision that it was not possible to achieve compromise with the House, so Bush tossed his hat in with the Kennedy bill and grabbed as many senate RINOs as he could find to join him. Bush is pushing his own party to the brink.
This is an aspect that gets little attention. Despite his speaking Spanish and claiming "family values don't stop at the Rio Grande river" and such, CIC Jorge is doing nothing to encourage or force the Mexican government to make the lives of its people better or afford them more opportunity there. He is doing everything to encourage the status quo remain in that despicable hellhole and trying to keep conditions ripe for forcing more cheap workers north.
Then you could easily watch his show for just the good parts (no Chris and no commericials ; )
BTW: Do you want "legal" immigration stopped?
Perhaps you missed the two-day summit "Jorge" had in Cancun? Mexico's economy IS improving, and President Fox said he will help more on border security issues too.
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