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.

[raybbr]

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.

It's going to get a lot worse. They will probably now start legislation against us. Becuase we want a sovereign United States.

[azhenfud]

I’d read Graham’s approval rating had dropped to the low 30’s. Graham has ‘fonged himself. Best thing he can do now is to shift his mouth into neutral and coast the rest of his term to a halt.

If those who want would keep those idiotic Grahamnesty remarks bearing upon South Carolinians’ conscience...I believe that even should a lukewarm challenger contest Lindsey, his Senate days would be as good as over.

[yldstrk]

Harriet Meirs took the fire so the real nominee could make it unscathed. The Mexican stance was necessary to keep the war funding.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Add McCain, and Graham and you just about have the whole list.

[azhenfud]

Two days ago, I changed and joined the Unafilliated Party....;-)

[raybbr]

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.

There is no historic reason to believe the hispanics will ever vote as a majority for conservatives. Voting for Bush is not a good example - he is not a conservative.

When the anchor babies are able to vote they will vote in reps who promise them reparations for madre and padre for their years of sufferance at the hands of the gtingos regardless of party affiliation.

I do not believe that hispanics by nature are politically conservative. There are plenty of studies and voting trends to disprove that claim.

[ChildOfThe60s]

He tried but the problem is far too big for gummit to solve. Let alone a Rat congress.

May I point out that last year with a Republican congress Bush tried to push the same POS amnesty on us and couldn't do it. 6 years of Republican majorities and the WH and nothing was done beyond proposing amnesty.

We have a gigantic government with microscopic willpower. And lawmakers with nano sized spinal cords. The ability is there, but not the will.

If we get Hillary and a Dem super majority it will be Bush's and his RINO compadre's responsibility. Please explain the logic that by accepting open borders and amnesty we will somehow restore the Republicans to power.

Amnesty is a guarantee of a permanent Dem super majority.

I am very tired of being demonized for resisting efforts to flush this country's sovereignty down the toilet. Bush is at fault here, not us.

[Earthdweller]

Most of those would be your national security hawks...but you go right ahead and say we no longer have a national security problem with the borders open and the Dems at the helm...if that works for you.

[yldstrk]

You must be really desperate for leaders to quote Dukakis.

[raybbr]

Add McCain, and Graham and you just about have the whole list.

What about the U.S. Chanber of Commerce? Would you consider them liberal or conservative?

The list is a lot longer than you believe. Many of those republicans that voted against cloture yesterday did it ONLY because of the outcry. They still believe in this bill.

Ignoring the name calling and stumping that Bush did, as the "leader" of the republican party,on behalf of this bill amazes me.

[mcshot]

Overestimate I obviously did.

[alicewonders]

The Mexican stance was necessary to keep the war funding.

Not a smart strategy - no point in winning the battle going on in the street in front of your house if you are consciously losing it in the back yard.

[Eagle of Liberty]

How does that explain Hannity and Rush calling this a 'democrat' bill?

I haven't been following Hannity and Rush, but what you describe sounds like they're trying to cover for Jorge much as the LeftistMedia covers/distorts for the Demrats.

Rush HAS discussed his disbelief that W is for this awful bill. Rush has tied it primarily to Kennedy because Kennedy has been involved in bad immigration legislation since the 1960's. My bewilderment stems from the fact that W keeps going to Kennedy, a man that said America has reopened Saddam's torture chambers under new management in light of the Abu Ghraib photos.

But Hannity has been all over this like flies on crap. He has criticized everyone. He went toe to toe with Tony Snow and Chertoff. IMO, Chertoff should be canned immediately. We cannot wait 18 months for this man to be replaced. He has had funds available for months now to start building the 700 miles of fence.

What amazes me in this whole debate is that the White House and many Senators could not understand one of our biggest concerns which is the fact that we wanted them to demonstrate that they would close our borders FIRST so that in the event that a lousy bill gets signed, we will at least not have another 12-20 million illegals pouring over our border. This is the part that was not done MANY times in the past and the reason why we are even having this debate now. If our Government would have followed through on Kennedy's promise made in 1986, "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this", things may be different today.

But the reality is that people of this country are sick and tired of double-speak. They are tired of hearing one thing and then getting another. They are tired of politicians who make it to Washington and then try to screw the American people through legislation. They are tired of dealing with politicians who try to exact revenge on us for some personal reason, like they were denied the Presidency.

Here is a great thread on the 50 years of immigration failures surrounding Ted Kennedy and others: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1836487/posts

[yldstrk]

Joh Kerry is the traitor. George Bush is a hero.

[Diogenesis]

"Borders? WhoTF cares? My number one priority for months has been blanket Amnesty for all invading terrorists and felons."

[raybbr]

Most of those would be your national security hawks...but you go right ahead and say we no longer have a national security problem with the borders open and the Dems at the helm...if that works for you.

What a crock. If they were security hawks they would have secured the border after 9-11. Big business and big agriculture bought them out.

Believe that our federal govt. would have had the inclination to enforce the new regs if that works for you.

By the way, would a true security hawk tie legalization of millions of invaders to borde security? Believing that is pure fantasy.

[indcons]

“I doubt W is too upset this bill never passed. “

You should have seen him yesterday; he looked absolutely devastated. He spent the entire morning arm twisting conservative senators and his lackeys, Chertoff and Guttirez (sp?) spent the entire night calling GOP senators and forcing them, at the specific order of Bush. These are facts, Bray, and no amount of spinning is going to make this go away.

Who lost? Bush, Kennedy, La Raza, corporate special interests, and criminals.

Who won? Conservatives and other patriots.

Hooray!

[alicewonders]

You must be really desperate for leaders to quote Dukakis.

LOL! I thought about that after I posted it! I TOTALLY do not agree with the context he said it in!!! I just remember, when I first heard him say that - that I thought it was such a stupid quote! At first I didn't understand what he meant & laughed it off, like I laughed him as a candidate off.

But lately, that phrase has come back to me often & I now understand the meaning of it more clearly. If the leader stinks, the rest of the organization is going to stink too.

[azhenfud]

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

He made the conscious decision that would be the hill his political capital would die upon - the first shoot-down should've been an indication there was not enough erosion to the Constitution yet to destroy American sovereignty, and American Patriots spoke loudly and with a resonate, clear voice.

Let Bush, let Congress make no mistake about it - American Patriots want, American Patriots DEMAND our borders be secured and our laws enforced, we will not accept any excuses any longer.

[raybbr]

Joh Kerry is the traitor. George Bush is a hero.

"Sovereignty is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get."