Posted on 04/23/2006 5:27:56 AM PDT by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Maybe than he will get the picture, you promised to secure America, it can't be done without protecting OUR border.
Two words, NO amnesty!
There are socialist marxist who have invaded and are taking over this Country don't let them.
Republicans get punished, Democrats like 'Sandy' Tenat get Medal of Freedoms.
I won't watch him either, this "bozo" doesn't have a plan except his rediculous "compassionate conservatism" that says no Mexican left behind.
Bush is as big a BS'er as scumbag Clinton!
His obvious impression of the average American is, we are a bunch of "numb noggins"!
Actually, you will be responsible for the 2006 elections. You and tons of folks like you.
Just like you, President Bush gets one vote.
You will be responsible for the Democrats taking over power.
If you burn the base enough times they won't come back.
I can't count the ways...
More like the Republicans will have failed to maintain it.
Why vote for Democrats lite?
The GOP will have no one to blame but themselves. We kept up our end of the bargain for putting them in power to begin with, it's time they kept up their end.
The Republicans better give us someone to vote for then. I will not vote for anyone who supports amnesty in any form.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Open bordersAnd we are furious!
Illegal immigration
Eminent domain
Malpractice litigation
Government expansion
Expanding entitlement programs
Et al.!
The Democrat Party is FAR WORSE and has NOTHING to offer. Note tagline.
And this is the bottom line:
It makes them feel good wallowing in constant negativity.
Rohrabacher is not "base." He's "margin."
I notice the L.A. Times could hardly wait to get out the news of dissention among the ranks. Not much on the content of the visit or speech itself, only highlighting one disconcerted GOP who will sit out in order not to "embarrass" - however will give a loud soundbite before the event and before he hears what the President will announce.
Typical grandstanding and the phony press love it. Zip it up ROARbacker!
That said - it is too late for George Bush to back off his immigration position and I as an immigrant having to stand in line waiting to swear the Oath of Allegience, am losing my patience because I have done all the right things...and get treated like an illegal anyway.
It's the standard now - assume everyone is lying. I have never in my life had to dig so deep into my reserve of patience because my honesty and sincerity have been questioned over and over by different faces, new individuals, and while they are all polite, the suspicion is pervasive.
Having been a good citizen for years in this land, contributing employment taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, consumer spending...why am I now going through the "iffy" process. That should have been done years ago instead of letting a person live here unchallenged. Filing for citizenship should be a slam dunk. It's the way you've lived before filing which counts.
To do the right thing apparently is not enough these days.
You had better come up with a new argument. That one will not work this year. How about Republicans listening to the people, who are not Republicans, who helped put them there. If ya'll lose it will be of you own making.
I am a conservative independent who has voted Republican out of choice, scare tactic politics will turn me off faster than anything.
Somewhere you got it in your mind that we had to vote Republican.
President Bush appears to be part of the one world government and has sold out conservatives, the pubs will probalby come to their chosen end, an affiliate of the communist conspirsy to destroy American sovereignty and nationalist patriotism.
Is their really a difference between the communist left and the pubs?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.