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Bush’s Push on Immigration Tests His Base (FR Mentioned)
NY Times ^ | June 3, 2007 | JIM RUTENBERG and CARL HULSE

Posted on 06/02/2007 10:22:51 AM PDT by nj26

President Bush’s advocacy of an immigration overhaul and his attacks on critics of the plan are provoking an unusually intense backlash from conservatives who form the bulwark of his remaining support, splintering his base and laying bare divisions within a party whose unity has been the envy of Democrats.

It has pitted some of Mr. Bush’s most stalwart Congressional and grass-roots backers against him, sparking a vitriol that has at times exceeded anything seen yet between Mr. Bush and his supporters, who have generally stood with him through the toughest patches of his presidency. Those supporters now view him as pursuing amnesty for foreign law breakers when he should be focusing on border security.

Postings on conservative Web sites this week have gone so far as to call for Mr. Bush’s impeachment, and usually friendly radio hosts, commentators and Congressional allies are warning that he stands to lose supporters — a potentially damaging development, they say, when he needs all the backing he can get on other vital matters like the war in Iraq.

“I think President Bush hurts himself every time he says it is not amnesty,” said Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, referring to the bill’s legalization process for immigrants. “We are not all that stupid.”

This week, in discussing Mr. Bush’s recent comments accusing conservative critics of the immigration legislation of fear-mongering, Rush Limbaugh told listeners: “I just wish he hadn’t done it because he’s not going to lose me on Iraq, and he’s not going to lose me on national security. But he might lose some of you.”

Such sentiments have reverberated through talk radio, conservative publications like National Review and Fox News. They have also appeared on Web sites including RedState.com and FreeRepublic.com...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Free Republic; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; benedictarnold; borders; deathofthegop; enemedia; freerepublic; illegalaliens; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigration; jimmycarter2; liberalmedia; mediabias; sellout; trysellingthetruth
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To: nj26
I have an idea that might help.

START ASKING THESE ELITES ABOUT THEIR OWN HISTORY OF EMPLOYING ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Just ask. I have *never* heard any reporter/citizen/pundit put the question to Bush (or through his emmissary, Snow) Has the Bush family ever hired illegal labor for their homes, their businesses, their ranches, their many domiciles?"

Isn't a lot of the passion of the elites for this monstrosity a sort of self-justifying tactic? They show such marked sympathy for lawbreakers...why? Have they broken the law, a want to change the law and thereby change the nature of their own lawlessness?

Nobody has asked McCain this question--and he's been in the SW for many years, and comes from a tradition of slaveholders in Mississippi. He's got a grand palace in Arizona and I don't think the much younger blonde (the one with the rich daddy who financed McCain's politics) he married does much of the housework.

Ask McCain, "Has you family every employed illegals?" Think about the fireworkds that would ensue. McInsane would blow up, much to the entertainment of onlookers, like a white-haired Rumplestiltskin.

What would he answer, once he stopped cursing and spluttering? Yes, we have. No, we have not. (Yeah, in Arizona for decades and living the rich man's life.) I don't know. I can't remember. How dare you ask me a question, you miserable peon.

Just asking the question would change a lot.

281 posted on 06/03/2007 8:24:51 AM PDT by Mamzelle ("Mr. Elite Pro-Amnesty Republican--Has your family ever employed illegal labor?")
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To: omega4179

Bush’s Push on Immigration Tests HisAlienates GOP Base

too true

How about:

Bush’s Push on Immigration Orphans his political supporters?

So basically we got two SCOTUS judges and tax cuts out of GWB, and the AWB died even though he said he would re-sign it if it reached his desk, that is a waste of 7 years to say the least on the subject.


282 posted on 06/03/2007 9:28:21 AM PDT by padre35 (GWB choose Amnesty as his hill to die on, not Social Security reform.....that speaks much)
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To: Diogenesis

The “instant Homeland Security” cartoon nails it!


283 posted on 06/03/2007 9:34:13 AM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: LibertyRocks
Not necessarily newbies, but operatives nonetheless...

I have always thought that some of the more prominent "Bushbots", especially in the illegal immigration threads, were GOP staffers.

Many just have a man crush on Bush, but on the illegal immigration threads it goes far beyond that.

284 posted on 06/03/2007 9:40:47 AM PDT by JeffAtlanta
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To: dsutah; LibertyRocks
It’s mind-boggling how no matter what else he’s done that you’d think would make them happy don’t even matter anymore!

It's "what else he has done" that has made this the last straw. He has spent money (non military) at record levels. The very small, temporary tax cuts are totally overwelmed with the debt that he has saddled us with and the damage he has done to the value of the dollar. What good is it to save $300 a year on taxes when the man dollar is worth 60% of what is was 5 years ago and the debt is climibing?

He also signed CFR, pushed for No Child Left Behind, pushed for Medicare Plan-D, abandoned SS reform, abandoned drilling in ANWR, pushed the Dubai ports deal, pushed for Harriet Miers for the supreme court, totally mismanaged the Katrina fiasco ("Brownie is doing a great job"), pledged billions for African AID relief (that will just go to the corrupt leaders), abandoned any real tax reform, has grown the government...the list goes on and on.

285 posted on 06/03/2007 9:51:39 AM PDT by JeffAtlanta
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To: SirJohnBarleycorn

Thank you for your most interesting reply to my “rant”. In short it is my opinion that things dealing with immigration will not change whether this bill passes or not. The USofA has not stop legal or illegal immigration in over 40 years. This is my opinion remember, and it could be in error. The people of this nation are not about to start now. The problem with foreign population growth will continue. If you believe that this is true, as I do, then you seek other ways to maintain your lifestyle. This is what Bush and the Senate are doing, IMHO.


286 posted on 06/03/2007 9:53:13 AM PDT by Blake#1
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To: R.W.Ratikal

“His plus points are the economy”

So they say, but where I live, wages are low and sinking, and prices are high and rising. The govt is reporting record low unemployment, but I haven’t been able to get one single interview (for a serious job) in more than a year.

People are working for 8 and 9 dollars an hour (well below the poverty line for a family with children), and barely scraping by. Every major employer has shipped or is shipping jobs overseas, and the jobs that are left don’t pay enough to live.


287 posted on 06/03/2007 9:55:35 AM PDT by dsc (There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. Edmund Burke)
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To: JeffAtlanta

“the list goes on and on”

Appointed flaming queens to ambassadorships, increased funding to the IRS, failed to push for a flat tax...


288 posted on 06/03/2007 9:57:56 AM PDT by dsc (There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. Edmund Burke)
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To: Issaquahking
Karl's genius stopped working after 2000.


289 posted on 06/03/2007 10:18:01 AM PDT by LFOD777 (In 2006, Washington spent $2.7 Trillion and ran a $248 billion budget deficit.)
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

Who’s defending anyone? I’m simply stating two points: 1) no President WANTS to tear down America and 2) you have no way of knowing this President or any President WANTS to tear down America. Presidents can be wrong on issues because they make wrong assumptions, have different agendas, or a variety of reasons. But there is no evidence any of them intentionally try to do harm.


290 posted on 06/03/2007 10:39:52 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: Merlinator; LibertyRocks
It gives otherwise law abiding people that have been working here and want a better life a chance to come out of the shadows, pay a fine and taxes and legally be here.

Yeah, that'll work. Our competent, efficient and thorough Department of Homeland Security and Immigration will have 24 whole HOURS to screen illegals to make sure they're not rapists, drunk drivers, terrorists, or MS-13 members before they get their Zamnesty.

And, of course, no other illegals will ever enter the country, not to mention the entire extended families of those already here. If this bill passes, we're going to have a competent immigration bureaucracy, a secure border, and only law-abiding, hardworking immigrants who can't wait to assimilate!

Trust Ted Kennedy, Mel Martinez, and our Presidente.

/

291 posted on 06/03/2007 10:41:50 AM PDT by teawithmisswilliams (Basta, already!)
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To: nj26

We conservatives supported Bush and really caught a lot of hell for doing so. So how does he thank us? He kicks us in the teeth by supporting the instant legalization of a bunch of illegals who have zero respect for America or the law (in fact, a lot of the time, they treat us like total garbage). Then he goes on TV saying how bad we are if we don’t support this AMNESTY BILL.

Thanks, Mr. Bush. I’m so glad that this is what I get for supporting you through thick and thin. If you’re the good guy, government from top to bottom needs to be razed the ground and rebuilt.


292 posted on 06/03/2007 10:55:12 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Bad spellers of the world untie!!)
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To: plain talk

what a crock.....it is perfectly plain for anyone willing to see what is happening, and who is its champion. The current figurehead’s name is George W Bush.....


293 posted on 06/03/2007 10:59:31 AM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: nj26

I just read this article in the news. Sorry if it’s been posted previously.

But life is not so simple for Mariana, who insisted that only her first name be published because she is illegally in the United States and worries she could be deported to Guatemala, where she was born.

“I’m even afraid of eating an apple in the library because I’m afraid of getting caught,” she said.

Mariana also worries about how she will pay her tuition and what kind of work she will get after she completes school. “What happens next? Without a work permit, how do you exercise your degree?” she said during a recent interview.
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070603/D8PHF7S00.html


294 posted on 06/03/2007 12:07:30 PM PDT by toldyou
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Comment #295 Removed by Moderator

To: VictoryGal

I agree


296 posted on 06/03/2007 12:26:20 PM PDT by slow5poh
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To: nj26
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Cheers!

297 posted on 06/03/2007 12:29:33 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: philman_36
That is an amazing admission! Posting on the public dime? Any lawyers in the house who can tell us if this is legal?

Wow, I didn't even think about that angle. Plus, what about a W. H. spokesmen defending the bill, all the while using a false or hidden identity? Hmm.

298 posted on 06/03/2007 12:30:40 PM PDT by Lijahsbubbe (Ah don't feeeeel no ways taihrd.)
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To: rurgan

Sorry but he’s at least 51% correct on ALL those points, and most of them are just opinions delivered in the heat of the moment, which burns in Savage 24 hours a day.
He has shown himself to be subject to “temporary blindness” of a political nature in things like having Schumer on and talking to him like he was a savior of the Dubai deal. I think he later got himself together and revised his position.


299 posted on 06/03/2007 12:34:18 PM PDT by supremedoctrine
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To: nj26

Wow. We exist now!


300 posted on 06/03/2007 12:36:33 PM PDT by Silly (http://www.paulklenk.us)
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