Dubya's End

New York Post ^ | June 29, 2007 | John Podhoretz

[Truth29]

DUBYA'S END

BORDER BILL THE LAST BLOW

June 29, 2007 -- PRESIDENT Bush's disastrous second term has not been without its moments. Unfortunately for him, these moments have come primarily when members of his own party have risen up against him to defy his wishes. That's what happened yesterday. For the second time in four weeks, Republicans in the Senate put a stake through the heart of Bush's beloved but politically catastrophic immigration bill.

It's also what happened in the early months of the second term, when Bush chose to nominate his unqualified aide, Harriet Miers, to the Supreme Court - and finally backed down and had her withdraw her name after three weeks of lobbying and complaining.

(snip)

He would not and could not back down on immigration reform, an issue far too close to his heart. But after the Senate first rejected the bill at the end of May, Bush could have left it alone and accepted defeat. He could have seen reason, as he did in January 2004 when he first proposed a piece of legislation and was met with an uprising from his conservative base - whereupon he prudently dropped the subject because he was running for re-election and needed a united and enthusiastic Republican electorate behind him.

(snip)

And perhaps most interesting, Bush chose to believe it was more important to court potential future Republican voters - those illegals who would have gained a "path to citizenship" under the terms of the bill in 13 years' time - rather than listen to the concerns of present-day Republican voters.

[romanesq]

“not likely upset.” Anyone watching Bush yesterday could see that he was not only upset but was emotional about seeing Shamensty go down in flames. I think he was in total shock. They (the elites) all thought it was a done deal with just a formality of process being flushed down the toilet to bring it about.

And how many of the media elites did you hear decry this destruction of process? Other than Lou Dobbs, I didn’t hear it.

To me, Bush looked like someone who knew that his domestic agenda was done. There’s only about three months at most of any action before the political weight of the elections completely takes over. He knows that. And the political climate now doesn’t even permit him to revisit important issues like Social Security reform, etc. That’s why he looked near tears to me.

He knows its over. And he wasn’t prepared for it.

[Eagle of Liberty]

that Republican Senate PASSED the monster amnesty for illegals, while the Democrat Senate defeated it TWICE

Not following your logic. You are glad that we lost control of the House and the Senate? The Democrat Senate defeated it? The Republican Senate PASSED the Secure Fence Act of 2006 last year. Again, not following.

[montag813]

Time for Bush to resign and let Cheney have his chance. Cheney should then tell the Arabist pussies Rice and Gates to get lost, and run this war the way it should have been run.

[raybbr]

What Rush and others are saying, is that regardless of Bush's interest in this, it never would have gotten this far without major Democrat input and influence (the DIM's would never have bought into a purely Republican bill that made sense - not in the Senate!). Consequently, the bill had little in it for Bush's base to support, thus no way to gain traction otherwise.

That's spin. Bush had plenty of republicans lined up to support this bill or something like it.

Somehow they determined that they had to pander to hispanics and their illegal cousins to maintain power.

Find Bush's press conference the day after the last election and listen to it. He's asked working with the dems on his pet project. He changed from a downtrodden loser to a man with a mission. He clearly had wanted this since before he was elected.

Bush's vision of a "new America" goes way back.

THE "NEW AMERICAN"..........<

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.

George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

You can read the speech here.

Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:

In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

It's driving me crazy that Rush won't put any blame on Bush for this bill.

Why would this make you feel better? We need to paper this all over Democrats. There were only a few Republicans that wanted this monstrosity and it was Republicans who defeated it.

[wtc911]

No...the 'pubes dont think they can get the hispanic vote...they are shilling to american business interests who want cheap, slave labor...a despicable short term money making scheme that does not look to the future at all.

___________________________________________________

It is really far more insidious. The jorge in the White House is pushing hard for a no-borders North American Union.

Please take a few minutes to check out www.spp.gov (yes, gov). It is scary and signed off on by condi and Chertoff.

Then do a quick search of 'spp issues problems' to see what they're hiding.

I am no conspiracy freak and my wife is a cold-sober rational 'prove it' type. To borrow a phrase from my long lost past, this SPP stuff blew her mind.

[joseph20]

No you're not. Those who are genuinely upset at Bush's position on ILLEGAL Mexicans don't refer to the debacle as "immigration". Only those who seek to cover up the depth and breadth of his outrageous position on this invasion will do that.

Your attack against me is unappreciated and inappropriate.

[adm5]

I agree with Rush that there is an 80% chance of her election in 2008.

I disagree with you and Rush regarding this. As evidenced by yesterdays Shamnesty defeat in the Senate, Conservatives have a powerful voice, and they also have a thirst for a POTUS candidate who will represent their views.

Fred Thompson, and hopefully, Duncan Hunter will provide a conservative ticket that would result in a landslide victory come Nov. '08 whomever they face.

[GoldenPup]

WHERE’S THE FENCE???

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

While Jorge deserves a lot of criticism on this issue, it's predictably bizarre to watch the leftistABC/NBC/CBSmedia describe this Kennedy alienamnesty bill as Bush's initiative.

As always they're trying to put up a smokescreen for the Demrats.

You got that right. We can't let them get by with this. This was a Democrat (Teddy Kennedy) bill with only the support of a few Republicans. Republicans defeated it.

[Vaquero]

we dont need a fence...guard towers every half mile with gatling guns.

[alarm rider]

I grew up in Texas. What part of East Texas are you from?

[Gideon T. Reader]

Jorge Arbusto simply has not done his job utilizing the readily available tools at hand, i.e., a reasonable operating Border Security budget, and laws already in place.

Furthermore, he lied about the proposed legislation, and tried to “bend" & obfuscate it’s obvious effects and meanings.

And to add spice to that unflavorful stew, he agressively and publicly insulted us; his party base as racists, nativists, bigots, fools; the childlike followers of evil reactionary leaders who poison our petty but receptive minds via AM radio.

What the Senate with the presidents connivance has served to the citizens and legal residents of this nation is an inedible and unpalatable dinner of indigestible slops, as poisonous as any pet food made in China. Mr.Bush receives no points for taste, none for originality and his presentation & plating receive negative points as if he were to have dumped this steaming excrement in our laps.

[alicewonders]

Please take a few minutes to check out www.spp.gov (yes, gov). It is scary and signed off on by condi and Chertoff.

Bloody crap!!!! That site sent chills down my spine! It confirms most of my suspicions as of late - people, we better keep this momentum going & shut this whole operation down! I've been talking to some democrats lately that feel the same way I do about our leaders being ineffective and not representing us. We are being sold down the river so that politicians can line their pockets!!!

Suddenly I feel like putting on a kilt & painting my face blue.

[alicewonders]

Very well said!

[Earthdweller]

For the life of me I can not believe how R’s who are concerned about the WOT where taken on this issue. We haven’t won anything. There is still no fence, there are still no immigration laws that can be enforced and the alien numbers are still going up. Why no one wants to admit that the fence will never be funded now by the Dems and that they have tied W hands by withholding the full funds is beyond denial it’s masochistic from a national security standpoint.

[horse_doc]

I disagree with you and Rush regarding this.

I don't think that anyone is discounting the ability of a conservative leader to gather votes, but rather we are looking at the reality of the electoral college.

That reality is that a few key red states have become purple toss-ups. They can be taken back, but ideas have momentum, and it does take time, and it may be too late for this election cycle.

Our leadership has been living off of Ronald Reagan's intellectual capital.

[raybbr]

There were only a few Republicans that wanted this monstrosity ....

Yep.

Bush.

Chertoff.

Gonzales.

All the top "leaders" of the republican party.

Just a few.

[Enterprise]

Podhoretz does make a good point, and I don’t disagree with the thinking of President Bush on it. The hispanic population will continue to grow, and in time, that population will translate to votes. I would rather see those inevitable votes go to the Republican Party rather than to the Democrats. Yet, I too believe that the votes will go to the Democrats as those who begin to vote, would succumb very quickly to the deceit and propaganda of the Democrats. In the end, there was too much that was unfavorable and this was best left for dead.