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...

[Czar]

"Bush’s Push on Immigration Tests His Base"

...and the base passed but Bush failed that test.

[expatguy]

Deportation is the ONLY solution.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Carter “only” gave away the Panama Canal. Bush and Kennedy and company are planning to give away the country”

Destroying America trumps giving away a canal the last time

I checked : )

[HonestConservative]

Should’ve used the /s tag, sorry. I just assumed and you know what happens then!

[stephenjohnbanker]

They can do it in Malaysia, but they can’t do it here??

I don’t buy it for one second!

[hinckley buzzard]

All of the temporary Teddy Kennedy's will not take the place of a loyal party support

I don't think George Bush much cares about party support. He got what he wanted from the party, two terms, and now the party can go pound salt.

[expatguy]

America has done it in the past as well. "Operation Wetback"

Deport them - You wont have to deport all of them because the majority will go on their own.

[stephenjohnbanker]

: )

On the bright side, if we fight this hard enough, and relentlessly, we can stop this bill in the House. Contributions are down 40%, and Bush has been relegated to lashing out at his own Republicans.....Bush is getting desperate!!

[avacado]

Bush was clear on his position on illegal immigration before he even took office in 2000, so this, in reality is not a surprise nor a disappointment to me. Bush’s position was expected by me. What is disappointing is to have a Republican minority in both Houses at this time. They would have stopped it. The voter roll call pre-2006 shows that.

But now, all the Republicans can do is try and stuff it with some pork for their respective districts and states and let is sail through.

[Bogtrotter52]

This is only a test? Sorry, no backsies.

[edweena]

Thanks for the link.

It’s a good explanation for why a corrupt political class might like the idea of untrammeled immigration. However I still can’t make it fit with the War on Terror as President Bush is waging it in Iraq. Why would he send our troops there to battle the insurgents and die while ignoring the terrorist threat from uncontrolled immigration? Assuming all he is interested in is preserving the wealth and luxury of his class, it STILL doesn’t make sense to ignore the threat of stealth terrorism coming through Mexico. Even the privileged and wealthy can die from the results of terrorism.

[Bogtrotter52]

“You are quoted in the article...”

First thing that popped into mind was S. Pak episode where earth is going to be destroyed by the alian network. First reaction by officials is “We’re on TV...We’re famous!!!” LOL

[Desron13]

"They also noted that the most recent New York Times/CBS News poll showed 66 percent of Republicans supported its legalization provisions."

What an unbelievable, bald faced, steaming load! The question probably read something like (Do you as a Republican think that illegal aliens should be shot on site?) and that translated into supporting legalization.

[mad_as_he$$]

We need to recognize one thing here. Bush is technically correct that it is not amnesty. It is a PRESIDENTAL PARDON and it costs $5,0000. Hell Clinton got over $250,000 per pardon. Low rent Bush.

[mad_as_he$$]

Savage=Michael Weiner

[mad_as_he$$]

where in the article did it say FR called for anyone to die?

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Why don’t you or Savage call for the resignations of Kennedy and the Democrats who control congress.<<

I don’t know much about Savage. If I could do something to get Kennedy out of his position I would do that.

>>You can say anything you want to. We still have freedom of speech.<<

You got that right.

>>Elect Republican Duncan Hunter or Republican Tom Tancredo as president and they will stop illegal immigration and this 3rd world invasion.<<

You seems to misunderstand me. They are good men and deserve our support.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

From the article:

White House officials said [the backlash] had led them to engage the blogosphere in a concerted way for the first time, posting defenses on liberal and conservative sites.

I think I would have known about that if it had been done openly, but aside from Hugh Hewitt I'm not aware of any overt defenses being posted.

And, I don't think Karl Rove has a DailyKos diary.

Were these defenses posted covertly? Someone should look into whether any laws were broken if that's the case.

[do the dhue]

And if they can not enforce the current laws, we shouldn’t allow them to pass anymore laws.

[Earthdweller]

The NYT is wishful thinking if it believes the current irrational tone on FR represents the majority of the conservative“base”. Half of the people posting here will probably disappear once the bill is killed and the borders are left wide open for several more years.