Sending troops will not solve the problem.
Troops can be sent, and withdrawn.
A FENCE is the only permanent solution.
That's what they've got to do.
If they talk about troops but no fence, they are trying to deceive people that something is going to be done, but they don't really intend to follow through and close the border in the end.
The only thing that will appease the BorderBots is a PERMANENT BARRIER - a Fence, a Wall. Troops are good. But troops without a wall are a temporary political ploy that is INTENDED to dupe.
The words that will determine the November election will be in that speech: either there will be a Wall the WHOLE LENGTH of the Border in the speech - THAT'S the alpha priority of BorderBots - or there will be something less than that, in which case Bush may as well not make the speech, because it will only infuriate the BorderBot base all the more. Troops with a Fence is best of all. But if there's no Fence, there's no border control in the medium and long run. And there will be no more Republican Congress after November.
The only words that ultimately matter in that speech will be "a Fence (or wall, or barrier) from sea to shining sea", or words to that effect. If that's there, the Republicans win in November (and the country wins long term). If it's not, bonjour Speaker Pelosi.
In reality, they've got no room to maneuver. I hope they realize the EXTENT of disaffection in the BorderBot base, and the talismanic effect of those words "Continuous Wall" or "Continuous Fence". If those words are there, the speech will be a raging success. If they are not, Bush is impeached next year by Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Reid prepares for the impeachment trial.
That's just the way it is.
>>>If they talk about troops but no fence, they are trying to deceive people that something is going to be done, but they don't really intend to follow through and close the border in the end.
Insightful post. You are most likely right on the fence being the core requirement.
Sadly, I'm betting that he'll use weasel words on Monday based on his prior statements ("doing jobs Americans won't do", etc.), prior action (supporting phased amnesty), and based on my guess that they don't appreciate the disaffection in the ranks (as evidenced by many posts here on FR) and the amount of time it takes to show action through bureaucracies.
But we can always hope he makes a conversion on this issue -- not a gesture.