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.

[tarheelswamprat]

Bush will be petulant and vindictive about his defeat, the consequences to the party and this country be damned.

Count on it. So will the Senate.

[bray]

I am not offended in the least that you call me a racist!! I just find it funny that you’re so quick to use it after being so offended.

Since when was it racist to call a Mexican a Mexican?? You’re so PC with the Latina term. Every Mexican I ever met called themselves Mexican so I call them Mexican because they are Mexican.

If so many Republicans agreed w/you why is Tancredo drawing 3%. It’s because they don’t and are not worried about Mexicans picking the lettuce.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Gondring]

Bush has not shown a lot of wisdom in his presidency, imho.

Oh come on...it's all part of some grand strategery that's too complicated for mere mortals to understand! </sarc>

[Psycho_Bunny]

Guess you all forgot about the thing called a VETO?

Guess you forgot to read the article.

[Danae]

ROTFLMAO

Oh now that is precious!

[Eagle of Liberty]

Not...only a down payment.

What are you talking about? The 2007 DHS Appropriations Act (HR5441) does the following:

- authorizes $362 million for the US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator (US-VISIT) project, with $200 million on hold until officials provide Senate and House Appropriations Committees an expenditure plan for the funds.

- a total of $7.4 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including $1.2 billion for fencing and other barriers along the border, and funding for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents; $3.9 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and $181 million for US Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS).

Legislators inserted some flexibility into the border fence legislation in last-minute negotiations before the September 29 passage of the two bills. The DHS appropriations act was altered to allow the Bush administration flexibility in using the money not only for a physical fence, but also for roads, technology, and tactical infrastructure to support the type of "virtual fence" pushed by the president.

Further, GOP congressional leaders promised in a letter inserted into the Congressional Record that American Indian tribes, members of Congress, and local governments would be consulted in determining the exact placement of fencing, and that DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff would have discretion over whether to use alternative tactics in places where fencing was deemed ineffective or impractical.

Links:
http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=491

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h5441enr.txt.pdf

[DCPatriot]

A good buddy of mine was saying they had something on Bush almost since his 2nd term started. AT first I thought he was crazy but time after time after time Bush made some dumb move.

That's insane.

If the democrat machine had ANYTHING on President Bush, they would have used it.

They stooped to every new low imaginable..the SCOTUS decision on the Florida recount...the forged phony National Guard memos...the DUI conviction...etc..

[Mamzelle]

re: Bush will be petulant and vindictive about his defeat, the consequences to the party and this country be damned.)))

I agree. I saw something in Bush's attitude y'day that I have not seen before.

But I believe the vindictiveness has been here a long time--I am coming to believe that the RNC, under Bush's leadership, deliberately worked for our defeats in 06, just so he could ramrod this monstrosity through. Remember how chipper, how delighted Tony Snow acted?

Remember how the elites were crowing about how border enforcement was a losing issue? Remember all the ink about it, here on FR?

We saw this week how much a losing issue border-enforcement is...!!

We've got to get better RNC leadership.

[Vision]

I hope not.

[Gondring]

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

Without the will to use them to protect the border, they would be worse than worthless.

[DCPatriot]

Your home state of Ohio are a bunch of anti war whiners. Free trade bashers and has been poorly run for years. Badly prepared for the 21st century.

Ohio should take a lesson from Detroit, Michigan.

The industrial manufacturing economy is no longer what drives the nation. Most Great Lakes cities and States are struggling...and the cheap immigrant labor is the perfect medicine to keep the heart beating.

Too many one-trick pony conservatives are blind to the 'big picture', IMO.

[Eagle of Liberty]

We need to go into 2008 as a conservative party, not a bunch of bi-partisan dupes.

Totally agree with this statement.

[bray]

Ass opposed to level headed President Bushaters. You guys make DU appear sane.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Liberty Valance]

There you are! Hope the summer is treating you well there. We’ve had some interesting rain/water/flood patterns since you’ve been gone. BTW, I’m with ya on the Independent thingy. They’ll have to earn it from now on. Yesterday was a major “push back” for the good guys.

[Doctor Don]

If Hillary is elected, it will be because of Jorge’s recent efforts to schmooze illegals, and because he did not choose a VP running mate who would be a reasonable candidate to succeed him!

[mimaw]

I’m with you. The immigration bill has gone down in flames and won’t come back until after elections. What happens depends on weather some here help elect democrats by sitting home or voting third party to teach a lesson. To them it’s my way 100% or the highway. I’m disgusted by the attacks on my President. They hate him because they disagree with him about an issue and don’t give him the credit he deserves.

[DCPatriot]

Bray...just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your posts on this topic.

[DuncanWaring]

That makes one of us.

[gulfcoast6]

Before my wife died I often disagreed with her on matters but didn’t run her off because of it.

W has done a lot but when you have to fight both sides to get something done, being sniped at by both sides, it just won’t work. I, like I said, was, am, and gonna be with him.