Posted on 09/05/2006 8:50:08 PM PDT by Shermy
AURORA, Colo. — It was not by chance that Republicans brought their summer tour of hearings on illegal immigration to this growing community just outside Denver.
Not only is Aurora bearing the costs of schooling and providing other services for a significant population of illegal immigrants, it is in the heart of a swing district and so is central to the intense battle for control of the House of Representatives.
And while Congress is unlikely to enact major immigration legislation before November, inaction does not make the issue any less potent in campaigning. In fact, many Republicans, on the defensive here and around the country over the war in Iraq, say they are finding that a hard-line immigration stance resonates not just with conservatives, who have been disheartened on other fronts this year, but also with a wide swath of voters in districts where control of the House could be decided.
“Immigration is an issue that is really popping, “ said Dan Allen, a Republican strategist. “It is an issue that independents are paying attention to as well. It gets us talking about security and law and order.”
Leading Republicans, leery of a compromise on immigration, are encouraging their candidates to keep the focus on border control, as in legislation passed by the House, rather than accept a broader bill that would also clear a path for many illegal immigrants to gain legal status. The latter approach, approved by the Senate with overwhelming Democratic support and backed by the White House, makes illegal immigration one of the issues on which Republicans face a tough choice of standing by President Bush or taking their own path.
“The American people want a good illegal-immigration-reform bill,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House majority leader, “not a watered-down, pro-amnesty bill.” ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I could have sworn NYTimes said the opposite yesterday.
G.O.P. Sets Aside Work on Immigration
In both stories Rep. Booehner is quoted, but for different effect.
When I hear reform I get nervous.How about we just enforce the laws that are already on the books!Spineless republicans.People break the law by coming to this country illegally and the politicians want a reform bill? NUTS!
In fact, many Republicans, on the defensive here and around the country over the war in Iraq, say they are finding that a hard-line immigration stance resonates not just with conservatives, who have been disheartened on other fronts this year, but also with a wide swath of voters in districts where control of the House could be decided. “Immigration is an issue that is really popping, “ said Dan Allen, a Republican strategist. “It is an issue that independents are paying attention to as well. It gets us talking about security and law and order.”
Gasp! You mean it's not just racist backwater fringer right wing conservatives that want the border enforced?
Just a few weeks ago politicians and analysts suspected that immigration had lost its political punch in Colorado, after the legislature enacted a tough immigration overhaul including tighter identification rules for those seeking state government services. But the issue refuses to die. Mr. O’Donnell said it was the subject most frequently raised with him by residents. At the hearing here the other day, presided over by Senator Wayne Allard, a Colorado Republican, more than 200 people showed up even though it had promised to be a fairly dry look at the fiscal effects of illegal immigration.
That can't be right. Why, I saw someone state on this very board the issue had been highly overrated in its interest. LOL
This issue isn't going away, and amnesty isn't going to be accepted. We've just moved into states/districts and bypassed the useless critters in Congress to get what we want. Not that some of them haven't been helpful. People like Sesssions, Kyl and Santorum...the House excepting Liberals...and occasional breakaway like pence have helped stop the amnesty wave while we work the issue at home.
"Gasp! You mean it's not just racist backwater fringer right wing conservatives that want the border enforced?"
They have to break the news sloooowly to New York Times believers.
""Just a few weeks ago politicians and analysts suspected that immigration had lost its political punch in Colorado, after the legislature enacted a tough immigration overhaul including tighter identification rules for those seeking state government services.""
LOL! Yeah, we heard all about those thinkers...
I have said it before and I'll say it again, all fines concerning illegal immigration should be split with the whistleblower.
I have said it before and I'll say it again, all fines concerning illegal immigration should be split with the whistleblower.
I have become convinced that what is driving the Bush immigration policy for Mexico, or the lack thereof, is the fear that if, or perhaps more likely, when Mexico implodes, the rush for the border will truly become a huge tidal wave of illegal immigration, dwarfing today's huge tidal wave!
So, reasons our leader, we had better keep that "Safety Valve" open for as long as possible to prevent what's happening in Mexico right now, from REALLY happening. And, we had better keep those Wal-Mart Money Orders flowing, too."
And so reason the people: "He won't listen. We can't vote against him, we'll vote against his friends. Maybe we will vote for the Democrat."
This is actually quite un-reasonable. Because if the Democrats are elected, we WILL have amnesty,and be on the fast-track toward becoming a Latin American country. And that really is one thing that is George Bush's Fault.
I don't want to hear from any "Republican Strategist" (oxymoron?) until December. The difference between a Republican Strategist and a Democrat Strategist is simple.
The Democrats read Freeps and act. The Republicans may read Freeps, but somehow we made them afraid to act until it may be too late. Ironic, ain't it? We are helping the Democrats shape their message, especially on immigration; a message BTW, in which they most emphatically do not believe.
"they are finding that a hard-line immigration stance resonates not just with conservatives, who have been disheartened on other fronts this year, but also with a wide swath of voters in districts where control of the House could be decided."
Don't let brilliant strategist Karl "La Raza" Rove hear about this or he'll stamp out this common sense immigration control heresy.
If the Pubbies lose the House in November, they have only their sorry, do-nothing selves to blame.
I said this on another thread but I am not spamming:
I called Denny Hastert's office yesterday and told the young man who answered the phone to convey to the Speaker that if the GOP did not do something on the Border situation before Nov. 7, he could very well be handing the gavel over to Nancy Pelosi in January.
He laughed and said: "Thanks for the concern".
ping
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