Conservative bloggers in full revolt over immigration

cnn ^ | 6-15-07

[LouAvul]

Different conservative blogs have different pet issues -- government transparency, federal judges, Fred Thompson, to name a few.

But no issue in recent memory has united conservative bloggers like the debate over immigration. Their frustration has culminated in a full-scale revolt against the Bush administration and a Senate bill that activists say does little to solve the country's border security problems.

President Bush's pledge to support $4.4 billion in additional border security funds has breathed new life into the bill, but the drumbeat against the legislation shows no signs of quieting. (Watch how senators revived the immigration bill )

It's increasingly clear from Web postings and interviews with top conservative bloggers that the immigration bill has done serious damage to the president's credibility among the conservative netroots, the grassroots bloggers on the Web.

Erick Erickson, managing editor of the popular conservative blog RedState.com, says he receives between 800 and 900 e-mails a day from readers, most of whom are "enraged" by the White House's immigration efforts.

"Of all the issues the president has picked to make his hill to die on, he has picked the one that has divided his base," said Erickson, who lives in Macon, Georgia. "I am shocked by the anger and outrage out there ... You've got war against the president within the Republican party."

When details of an immigration compromise were announced this spring, conservative bloggers were immediately incensed. Michelle Malkin labeled it "a White House betrayal."

Another popular blogger, Hugh Hewitt, called the bill a "fiasco" and wrote: "this push for this bill is a disaster, Mr. President."

Bloggers: Secure the border first Conservative bloggers make various arguments against the bill. Some say the bill grants amnesty to illegal immigrants who have already broken the law.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[dixiechick2000]

"Why wouldn’t there be grounds for demanding minimum wage if they are entitled to other rights that American citizens get after all they are then “legal”?"

Maybe because they aren't citizens of the USA.

Hard to tell if they are AMERICAN citizens.

These days, there are folks who don't want to differentiate between the two.

[dixiechick2000]

There are some leftover bushbots.

I don’t know why, though.

[60Gunner]

Sadly, their method works better for getting their agenda pushed through.

WRONG. The number one reason that the Dems are able to push their agenda through: craven, spineless, weak-kneed, unprincipled, cowardly REPUBLICANS.

Had it not been for the cowards you embrace, we would not be arguing about immigration while a Democrat majority and brain-dead president try and sell us to Mexico.

Let me guess. The color of the sky in your world is... brown.

[60Gunner]

Wow, Waterboy. Just wow.

[Centurion2000]

The liberals won’t impeach the President on this issue but the immigration bill ensures that many who would have defended him will stand and watch when they get around to it.

Yep ....

[60Gunner]

He will go down in history as a great leader.

Yeah, right. Only if by "great leader" you really mean "Titanic." George W. Bush has burned this country. If America does remember him, it will only be for his unprincipled dissolution of our national sovereignty.

And you talk about screen names... Whore-hay. Great name. It works for you, Waterboy.

[ClancyJ]

Pardon me - the congress with those same weak-kneed GOP members were the super failure - not Bush.

Bush is one man, he does not write laws. The failure of the congress to support him meant nothing could get through.

They are only capable of following the leadership of the democrats. We are not a party of leaders - we are weak and only used to cowering before the dems - even when they have no power. Amazing.

Why do you think Bush is partnering with Kennedy? Solely because Kennedy can get things done and Kennedy will lead the way - his own party does nothing.

I am highly suspicious that the strong drive for immigration reform is the that it is known for a fact that Al Qaeda is seeding itself all over the U.S. with major plans. We are hearing glimmers of plans against Britian and the U.S.

Bush has never been this adamant on a subject if it did not involve terrorist activity and fighting them. So - in following with his pattern, I think it is something to do with an immediate need to put in controls to find out who is here.

But - again, maybe he cared the same amount about immigration all along and I did not realize it.

[ClancyJ]

Well, you just see what happens when you dump 1 million families back into Mexico. Those puny jobs are long gone.

Then you call it BS.

It might help if some people were able to think things through instead of just making a decision with no responsibility for the results.

A president HAS to look at the results - he does not have the luxury of snap, unthought out decisions. Of course, I am not happy with the way Bush has handled our borders in the least.

But, if you can’t get anything through congress because of non-support of your own congressional team, what do you do? You use the powerful among the democrats and pay the price of that partnership. Otherwise - no option. And apparently for some reason he feels it has to be done before the democrats take over.

[Liz]

ROTFL---thanks, traditional1.

Priceless "liberal" brain imagery---nails every facet of these incomprehensible self-absorbed robotic thought- police.

[ruination]

[dsutah]

Are you sure, or has your dislike for Bush taken over your common sense? I’m sorry, but I sure don’t see where Bush is advocating anything of the sort! I’m afraid I’m not the dummy you think I am! I am capable of reading things for myself, and I’ve never read anything or heard anything where he is advocating anyone taking over the country.

Am I a Bushbot? Well yes, I suppose I am in the way I do support him in most things if that’s your definition of one. But I’m not a mind-numbed robot. I believe that it’s not a crime or a sin on this website to support my Pres./other Republicans. After all, that’s my right, isn’t it?

Reflect on that please, before you answer this, ok?

[60Gunner]

Oh, please, Clancy. Wake up! The President Bush you embrace as an "anti-terrorist" (and who I supported in 00 and 04) is the same President Bush who offered Dubai carte blanche to run our major seaports. You know, Dubai- the Islamic nation who denies entry to anyone who is from, or has traveled through, Israel, or who is Jewish. Nice people, those Moslems.

And this same president wishes to throw open our borders, allowing people who have been convicted of acts against the United States to receive residency status.

Wow, Clancy. I don't know how I could have missed Bush's brilliant leadership, considering how he has done so much to secure our borders from foreign enemies while our troops in Iraq continue to get their arses blown up by any stupid goathumper with an IED thanks to his inept command of the war.