Posted on 06/02/2007 7:10:36 AM PDT by Travis McGee
"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical."
So said Jefferson. It would appear to be time again for a little rebellion in the Grand Old Party this time against George II.
For President Bush has attacked his own loyalists for a lack of patriotism. "If you don't want to do what's right for America," he said of opponents of the Bush-Kennedy immigration bill, "if you want to scare the American people, what you say is the bill's an amnesty bill. That's empty political rhetoric, trying to frighten our citizens."
But if the 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens are instantly legalized, what other term is there to describe that than amnesty?
Not only are opponents not doing "what's right for America," their courage is in question: "People in Congress need the courage to go back to their districts and explain exactly what this bill is all about. The fundamental question is, will elected officials have the courage necessary to put a comprehensive immigration plan in place?"
Where, one wonders, was "Bush's Brain," Karl Rove?
For, worse than a crime, this attack on his base was a blunder. The people Bush is savaging columnists, commentators, talk-show hosts, congressmen fighting his bill have been the frontline troops in his fight to sustain funding for the war.
And if there were any doubt whom Bush had in mind, his surrogate, Linda Chavez, cleared it up:
"Some people just don't like Mexicans or anyone else from south of the border. They think Latinos are freeloaders and welfare cheats who are too lazy to learn English. They think Latinos have too many babies and that Latino kids will dumb down our schools. They think Latinos are dirty, diseased, indolent and more prone to criminal behavior. They think Latinos are just too different from us ever to become real Americans. ...
"Unfortunately, among this group is a fair number of Republican members of Congress, almost all influential conservative talk radio hosts, some cable news anchors most prominently, Lou Dobbs and a handful of public policy 'experts' at organizations such as the Center for Immigration Studies, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, in addition to fringe groups like the Minuteman Project."
Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan cites other attacks by Bush surrogates on the conservative base: "Sen. Lindsey Graham has said, 'We're gonna tell the bigots to shut up.' ... Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff suggested opponents would prefer illegal immigrants be killed; Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said those who oppose the bill want 'mass deportation.' Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson said those who oppose the bill are 'anti-immigrant' and suggested they suffer from 'rage' and 'national chauvinism.'
"Why would they speak so insultingly, with such hostility, of opponents who are concerned citizens? And often, though not exclusively, concerned conservatives?" asks Noonan.
Because, Peggy, down deep where they live, they don't like the right, never did and have always sought to be seen by the Big Media as the progressive children of a dysfunctional and retarded family.
Bush's attack on the motives and character of conservatives tell us it is Goldwater-Rockefeller time again time to split the blanket. Conservatives need to declare their independence of Bush and to repudiate Bushism as the philosophy of their movement and party.
While Bush's court appointments, setting aside the Harriet Miers mess, have been superb, while his tax cuts have been Reaganite, while his stand on traditional values is courageous, beyond is a vast wasteland as far as the eye can see.
His free-trade zealotry has led to five straight record trade deficits. While America's economy is now growing at under 1 percent, China's is booming at 10 percent. His refusal to defend and secure the borders is well-nigh impeachable. His compromises with Teddy Kennedy on No Child Left Behind have doubled the size of the Department of Education without any appreciable gain in test scores. His "Big Government Conservatism" marks him as his father's son, not Reagan's heir. In Ward Connerly's courageous battle against reverse discrimination, the Bushes have all been on the other side.
His bungled war of choice on Iraq has left us with 3,400 dead, 25,000 wounded, hundreds of billions deeper in debt and an Army on the point of breaking. Relations with Europe, Russia, and the Arab and Muslim world are worse than they were when he took office.
His clandestine drive to merge Mexico, America and Canada in a "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" a North American Union modeled on the European Union entails the loss of sovereignty and end of the republic as we know it.
The damage Bush has done to his party is beginning to rival that of Herbert Hoover. If the Clintons were doing this, would conservatives be mute? Time to lock and load.
>>The damage Bush has done to his party is beginning to rival that of Herbert Hoover.<<
I don’t give a damn about a political party. That’s right not the Democrats, not the Republicans and not any of the Independents!
Mr. President,
What I care about is my Country. When I help put somebody in the White House I expect them to follow through with their Oath of Office. No turning away from protecting the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and damn sure don’t forget that you’re there to protect the Constitution of these United States, first and foremost!
I care about the people of these United States, not the ones in China or Saudia Arabia, Mexico, Russia, Africa or Iraq. The children of these United States are the kids I served to protect, not the kids in South Viet Nam. The elderly and infirm who are American citizens and those who are within our borders legally are the folks that I want to protect.
These people who are proud of their dual citizenships just piss me off. If there is a fire and you can only pick up two kids to carry out of the building, don’t try coming out the door with two foreign babies in your arms because I’ll throw you back in that fire until you understand that it’s American babies first.
You foreigners that want to live here, you want to enjoy our schools, doctors, hospitals, jobs, the national security that our servicemen give you, well dammit prove it. Knock at the door and wait for someone to give you permission to enter before you try comimg in demanding rights as if your heritage is an 200 year old American Oak tree.
Our forefathers who fought and died for this country made it what it is. If we won’t do our share to protect it then we don’t deserve to live here either.
I think I know what you mean. There's probably some 'tipping point' where cultural factionalism and ethnic balkanization so decrease a country's sense of identity that people's loyalty drops pronouncedly.
The Money Shot.
Now the pieces fit.
Amen...
No way, his meal ticket would be insulted!
What a deal! Mine cost me $25.00 for a box of 20.
Further dilluting this effect will actually help those in power retain and expand said power as well... They almost seem to be counting on such a factor.
Instead of gagging on metaphors, why not explain how one can maintain the pretense of fighting a "war" while completely forgoing even the most rudimentary defensive posture.
That even SOUNDS creepy.. What would make Ted Kennedy sign on to ANYTHING George Bush had his name on?.. Unless it was toxic to the republican party?.. AND George Bush himself..
Buchanan's lock and load reference is the third in the past two weeks I have seen of more than a political response to the immigration mess in the MSM. One was Thomas Sowell mentioning revolution, the other a FOX anti-illegal guest saying this could bring Civil War.
Even during the Gore vote stealing process, nobody on the news was saying people would physically fight. The mood in the country is changing. People are getting angrier and are not backing down anymore. There is a storm brewing. Stay safe.
Yep.
I can't stand Buchanan, but the article is pretty much right on.
Put another way, this country needs a stronger sense of identity and cultural coherence. Reducing immigration would be a start, and a popular one. Beyond that, hard to say what would help.
I love your opinion and attitude.
So do I. :-)
I have to agree with Bray here.
The last time I checked, Buchanon was the Reform Party candidate for President.
How do you go, in six short years, from being a member of the Reform Party, to appointing yourself as a spokesman of the Republican base?
“A People” is a group that thinks and feels itself a unit. They move as one. America was a “People” in the aforementioned sense from circa 1865 to about 1960. After 1960 we moved towards becoming a mere population, a demographic, a market to be exploited. I’m angry. I love this country, my ancestors and relatives have fought in every war from the King Phillips War to Vietnam(my brother).I have even had relatives in The California Senate.We have paid our taxes, obeyed the laws and what do we get as leaders-TRASH!
Amen.
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