[ExSoldier]

Although I strongly support this one...this was a blatant attempt by the Administration to shift the focus from immigration to an issue to lure the base back to the fold. It's not gonna fly. Witness the fact that Tancredo recently won some straw polls as a Presidential contender. What's his #1 issue?

[andy58-in-nh]

This was a blatant attempt by the Administration to shift the focus from immigration to an issue to lure the base back to the fold.

I have to agree. There's no doubt about the political impetus for the debate on the amendment at this time. But...it doesn't make it wrong to talk about an important matter that has refocused Conservatives (a little) on social issues that are not going away.

Illegal immigration is still numero uno, though (pardon the pun), and George Bush needs to understand that his base will not be mollified by half-attempts at border enforcement and a full-court press toward legalization.