Bush’s Push on Immigration Tests His Base (FR Mentioned)

NY Times ^ | June 3, 2007 | JIM RUTENBERG and CARL HULSE

[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...

[Sprite518]

Nate,

I do not think it will. Hang on to I-River Clix. I-Tune is free. Just download it, then once you have it. Click on Advanced, then click subscribe to podcast. Copy and paste the podcast link. OK you are set up now. When you open I-Tunes you can right click and highlight Update Podcast. You can also just wait and it will eventually check and down load it. Once you have it just click play.

Now the reason why I told you to hold on to I-River Clix.. Next time you open Iriver Clix (it may take a few minutes) but it should pick it up. I just use Windows Media Player (Version 11 and Up). It takes a few minutes to pick up, but it does every time. Once I see it in the Windows Media player. Then I sync to my MP3 player. That’s it. I love it.

[nyconse]

Yeah, you are correct. Pres. Bush absolutely believes in this for whatever reason. Also, he has always been for this sort of reform. He does not consider it amnesty. Of course, I do as do many Americans.

[theDentist]

Think of it as a ship sinking. If you can stop the leak, you’re still in trouble, but you can then concentrate on pumping the excess, unwanted seawater out. Pumping it out while not addressing the leak only slows the sinking.

[Blake#1]

I do think of “it” as a sinking ship. I wish I did not but I do not think that “fixing” the border will not change a thing. Immigrants (legal/illegal), are pouring into the USofA using every mile of our unprotected border. That is from Washington, to Maine, to Florida, to California. And, all spots in between. At the same time we are “killing” our citizens at the rate of over one million per year (abortion).
If this is true, how long before these facts will change the USofA forever?

[slow5poh]

thanks alot!!!

i apprecitae it.

[Sprite518]

No problem. I love it because now I can listen to Savage when I want commercial free. I tend to listen to him at night, and on the way to work. I have about 5 days worth of nonstop savage. I can even listen to shows from a month ago, and 95% of the show is very relative to what is going on now. I love it.

[stevio]

What if I told you that the borders are being intentionally left open to facilitate another attack against us on our own soil, so that perhaps political power can be consolidated and marshall law declared

That thought crosses my mind occasionally.

[floriduh voter]

Saxby Chambliss spilled the beans on c-span tonight. This will NEVER DO. Please pass this along. I’ve been watching c-span 2 every day. There is a Totalization Agreement between Mexico & and the US that merges the two social security systems for dual citizens. What about ALIENS WHO ARE NOT FROM MEXICO? Why a sweet deal for Mexico when they aren't the only lawbreakers in town???

Besides, isn’t the Mexican govt corrupt? Why are we comingling our SS Trust Fund with Mexico's? To prop theirs up and to bring ours to its knees? What is this scheme for?????

This is yet another reason to make more phone calls. No totalization agreement ie. messing with our Social Security Trust Fund (such as it is). FV

[dsutah]

Yeah yeah yeah, I know. I figured I would get shamed and guilt-tripped for sticking up for him for other things he’s gotten right! Of course, I have to get a lecture every time I mention that I still support him.

Silly me, how could I forget about all the bad things, and have to bring up the good conservative things he has accomplished. It seems I’m not a pure and holy “true conservative” because I don’t go along with some of you “true conservatives” on all things, especially regarding immigration. tsk, tsk

[Theodore R.]

George Bush wants to tear America down and liquidate it as we have known and loved it........to a far greater degree than would have been possible during the carter presidency, even though carter would have liked to go much further than he was able at the time.

You wrote these words before I could compose them myself!