Many in GOP Will Sit Out Bush Talk (Grassroots Angry Over Amnesty)

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 23, 2006 | Christopher Goffard and Jean Pasco

[nj26]

When President Bush arrives in Irvine on Monday morning to pitch his immigration reform plan, one of his party's best-known local standard-bearers will be maintaining a respectful — and politically careful — distance.

Dana Rohrabacher, the nine-term Republican congressman from Huntington Beach, generally supports the president, but disagrees with his immigration policies. So Rohrabacher plans to sit out Bush's speech to the Orange County Business Council.

"I don't want to be behind him looking glum and not applauding," Rohrabacher said. "So as not to be rude to the president — which I think is inexcusable — I think I'll just be staying away."

Rohrabacher's remarks reflect deep unhappiness within the GOP toward Bush's immigration stance, particularly in Republican Orange County, which is famous as a caldron of border-crackdown sentiment and where many Republicans criticize his guest-worker plan as amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Bush's decision to speak here might prove an embarrassing miscalculation, said John J. Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College who used to live in Orange County and worked for the national GOP.

"I'm not sure they had their O.C. antennae up," he said of White House schedulers. "They don't realize how complicated this issue is. It's possible this is a Daniel-in-the-lions'-den moment, but that's not really characteristic of this administration."

[KCRW]

Most Republicans in the house did vote for making being an illegal alien a felony, they did vote for slamming the border closed, they did vote for strictly penalizing people employing illegal aliens.

The House did it! They did exactly what you are demanding and you want to punish them for it!

The bill was HR. 4437- passed in the house on 12/16/2005-

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll661.xml

Yet, it is the House that the Democrats will be working to get contol of. Instead of defending these House members, conservatives on this very website are bound and determined to punish these House members for doing exactly what they demanded of them. Why?

[Serenissima Venezia]

Call it Tough Love, a Trial Separation, or just taking their selfish butts to the woodshed. They're asking for it.

And they don't change otherwise. In a way, it's a good thing the 2006 elections are right around the corner. The GOP losing big time in 2006 (except for Tandcredo, Sensenbrenner, and a handful of others that are following their constituents) will be a wake up call for them in 2008.

[Serenissima Venezia]

Are you telling us he will have to break laws to enforce laws?

Sounds like Kerry logic.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Oh, go away.

[KCRW]

According to polls, the American people want amnesty for the illegals already here and they want to stop any more from coming in.

That does not fit into what you think, but in general the rest of America thinks so.

I also don't agree with amnesty for any of them, but I am not foolish enough to think that this is the only issue in November. I don't get to vote on amnesty or not in November, I get to vote for governor.

The only amnesty issue that I got to support was whether or not illegal immigrants were allowed to have a driver's license. I voted for the people that thought giving driver's licenses to illegals should not happen- these folks voted the way I asked them to. Illegal immigrants will not be allowed to get a driver's licensee in the state of Wisconsin. These people that I voted for are state senators and state house reps.

See how that works, states do have rights. These state elections are very important. That is what we are voting on in November.

[Serenissima Venezia]

I see that I only have two choices:
1) tote the party line and hope that the Republicans do what I want w/r illegal immigration eventually
2) vote my conscious (which will not be to vote for Hillary, but for a 3rd party that might actually do something with illegal immigration).

Choice #2 might make us lose an election, but in the long-term, if it brings my party back where it should be, the party and the country will be better off.

Choice #1 just supports the status quo, which is highly unacceptable to me after living in border states for decades. I also don't see many politicians willing to stand for what they believe if it is different than the party (Tancredo, Sensenbrenner,Sessions excluded) - so I don't foresee change happening in the Republicans unless their being elected is threatened.

If a truly conservative party emerges from the ashes of the GOP, we'll all be better off. The House did an outstanding job on HR4437, but our wussy Senators are refusing to even consider looking at it. And the wussy President's attitude is part of the problem. We don't need the likes of them elected again.

[KCRW]

What you guys are demanding- yes, the President will have to break the law in order to enforce the borders the way you are asking. The President cannot take the individual states rights away from them.

You remember a few months back when the governor of Arizona sent National Guard troops to the Arizona/Mexico border? The governor can do that- the President cannot.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187214,00.html

[mmercier]

To do the right thing apparently is not enough these days

Doing the right thing implies you are either a naif or a would be terrorist. The federals see as suspect anyone who does not immediately lie cheat and steal whenever possible.

[Serenissima Venezia]

According to polls, the American people want amnesty for the illegals already here...

I've seen polls that said just the opposite, so I guess it depends who you want to believe.

I understand your position. But you are safely in a beautiful north eastern state. I might feel the same way if I am ever lucky enough to leave Mexifornia. I've lived in border states all my life and the illegal situation has gone from bad to worse. Even the nicer parts of Bakersfield are now like Mexico - you can't go into any store or restaurant withouot having Spanish spoken about as often as English. Signs are in both languages. And in the less nicer parts, Bakersfield has reached 3rd world status - the crime, the filth, the overpopulation, and no English heard or seen anywhere.

Illegal immigration has become my line-in-the-sand issue. If a politician doesn't pass that test, I don't care to hear what else they have to say. (Unless of course, I get to move somewhere that still resembles the U.S.A. and can ignore the problems the illegals are causing. Until they invade that place as well.)

[VRWC For Truth]

Jorge Boosh is no Democrat ... he just acts like one 80% of the time.

[McGavin999]

He needs to find out just how complicated the issue is. Perhaps if those who go just don't bother to applaud when he speaks on immigration it just might get the message across to him.

I love this president dearly, but he is losing people over this issue, I'm even finding it hard to listen when he speaks about it. I'm about as big a Bushbot as you will find so that should give you some kind of clue just how bad this issue is.

[KCRW]

Clearly the mob mentality around here does not realize that they are not voting for George Bush.

Do you not realize that George Bush is not running? Most of those Senators that will not come out strong against illegal immigration are also not running?

What the mob mentality has decided to do is punish all those people that are supporting their ideas of strong immigration controls, because they are mad at the people that do not support the same ideas. You want to boot out the Republicans fighting for tough border security because of those that do not want tough border security.

That doesn't make sense to me. Clobber the people that can help you because you a mad at someone else.

The Republican officials that are really in trouble in this election are the ones that want tough border security. Like Rick Santorum. You guys are willing to bail out of this election on someone like Santorum, and Santorum is on your side. You cannot get much more conservative that Rick Santorum. Good grief- what do you people want? You are hanging the good people out to dry because you are mad.

John "amnesty" McCain is not up for re-election, neither is George Bush. But all of those Republicans that supported HR. 4437 are up for re-election and you are bailing on them. That is extremely pathetic!

[KCRW]

I agree with everything you said here- but judge the individuals on their immigration policy. To clobber those Republicans that supported HR4437, based on someone like John McCain, just really is not right. We will literally hurt our own cause of tougher border security if we do not support those who actually did vote for tought border security. These are the people up for re-election right now.

Vote for people willing to fight the illegal alien problem. George Bush is willing to fight this problem, instead of ignoring it like Bill Clinton. I may not like everything he says about it, but then I have never agreed with anyone 100%.

I just refuse to punish people for doing what I am asking them to do. I cannot punish the House of Representatives, they did what I wanted. But the House is where the Dems have the strongest chance of taking control. I will fight for those House members who voted for HR4437.

PS. I live in Wisconsin- right now the author of HR 4437, James Sensenbrenner is taking a beating by the media and the protesters. Currently, Sensenbrenner is doing town hall meetings, like every other Congressman. The protesters are out in full force at everything he goes to. The conservatives supporting Sensenbrenner are no where to be found. Normally, hundreds of protesters show up and we are lucky to see a half dozen supporters show up for Sensenbrenner. That is pathetic. If we want people like James Sensenbrenner to continue to represent us, we need to stand up and fight for them.

[ShandaLear]

Oh please, this has been going on for years and years and years. If you impeach Bush based on this flimsy theory, then you better impeach the entire government along with him.

[armchairadmiral]

Exactly!

[investigateworld]

>>>I'm tired of this "elect a Democrat" threat the RINOs always use. My vote is not an entitlement program!<<<


Preach it Brother!!!!

[Serenissima Venezia]

George Bush is willing to fight this problem.

??? I don't see him fighting it one bit, but accelerating it by promising amnesty (no matter what PC term he uses. If someone who entered the country illegally is allowed to stay, that is amnesty.) The reports from the Minutemen say many illegals that are coming over now are here because they want amnesty. Bush and many Senators are increasing the problem, not helping.

And I never said throw the baby out with the bathwater. The House did an awesome job. Of course, everyone here will look at only the choices they have at election time and vote according to how their particular Rep. and Senator did on the issues they care most about. People here are quite intelligent - give them some credit. But they are angry, overall, at how the Republicans are very close to offering amnesty to millions of law breakers. The House passed a great bill - and the Senate is willing to throw it away (at the President's urging). Of course we're mad!

Hopefully Sensenbrenner - and all the other politicians - realize that conservatives don't typically act like 3rd world mobs, trying to change opinions with threats of sheer numbers in the streets. The illegals are used to such tactics working in their homelands, so they try it here. While the citizens are phoning, faxing, and sending letters - and voting. I've sent both Tancredo and Sensenbrenner faxes and letters saying how much I appreciate their efforts. And that I feel they are my true representatives in Washington, even though I didn't get to vote for them, because they are representing my views. I know I'm not alone - they're just getting the other view in a more civilized fashion. (BTW, I am so proud of those two for standing up to the Republican leaders and sticking to their values. We need more politicians like them - I think that's what everyone here is saying.)

[VOYAGER]

"OH, GO AWAY"

Thanks for the direction, I'm on my way, Muchachita, yo veo mas tarde!

[CyberAnt]

"... not to appear rude ..."


AND NOT SHOWING UP IS MORE RUDE.

And .. I have a warning for all GOP'ers who are distancing themselves from Bush - Bush has a 61% PERSONAL APPROVAL RATING - THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HATE BUSH - it's only the democrats who do .. and Dana's actions play right into the dems' hands.

And .. according to Rassmussen, the President's job approval rating is 43% - not the lower 33% - because some poll takers are over-sampling the dems by 11-14%.

And .. by the way .. 43% was the President's numbers when he was re-elected in 2004 - while Rasmussen had the President at 45-47%.

[Serenissima Venezia]

The protesters are out in full force at everything he goes to. The conservatives supporting Sensenbrenner are no where to be found. Normally, hundreds of protesters show up and we are lucky to see a half dozen supporters show up for Sensenbrenner.

I am frustrated at this as well. But...if conservatives started acting like leftist mobs, would that really accomplish anything? I would be afraid of fights and riots and violence breaking out because the leftist mobs would have something to fight against.

Let's everyone instead let these heroes know how much we appreciate them keeping up the fight for us, whether we're in their district our not. They're all that standing between us and amnesty:

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R.-Ala.) 335 Russell Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4124 email Sessions

Rep. James Sensenbrenner 2449 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-4905 Telephone: (202) 225-5101 sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov

Rep. Tom Tancredo 1130 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515-0606 202.225.7882 email Tancredo

Now, who have I forgotten?