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Dubya's End
New York Post ^ | June 29, 2007 | John Podhoretz

Posted on 06/29/2007 4:14:31 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amnesty; bush43; deathofthegop; illegalaliens; illegalimmigration; podhoretz; politicalcaptial; term2; vampirebill; victory
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To: ProCivitas
.... leftistABC/NBC/CBSmedia describe this Kennedy alienamnesty bill as Bush's initiative.

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

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

41 posted on 06/29/2007 5:00:30 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: ruination
"I think the fence will be built, albeit slowly and with much thrashing and gnawing."

Yeah, but the "thrashing and gnawing" is coming from the WH, AGAINST building the fence. Some 'fence' legacy that is.

42 posted on 06/29/2007 5:02:57 AM PDT by gemma0000
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To: Truth29

“...when members of his own party have risen up against him to defy his wishes.”

Wrong. He rose up against us and defide our conservative wishes for almost 7 years. Who was going to let this lunatic give away our country?


43 posted on 06/29/2007 5:03:28 AM PDT by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
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To: IndyTiger

Several formerly red states have turned blue or purple. The GOP is going to have an uphill battle to win in 08.

In the late 90s we had Clinton fatigue.

Now and for the next 18 months, we have Bush fatigue.

To those who decried the voters for ending the Republican majorities in the House and Senate: that Republican Senate PASSED the monster amnesty for illegals, while the Democrat Senate defeated it TWICE.

Yes. Elections do have consequences. It seems many of the politicians understood the voters’ 06 and yesterday’s messages.


44 posted on 06/29/2007 5:05:05 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: IndyTiger

I’ll second your comments-I feel pretty much the same way. But, he is an excellent example of what happens when one doesn’t have really strong principles/beliefs(conservative, in particular). Like Rush says of W, he trends conservative, but is not a conservative.


45 posted on 06/29/2007 5:06:00 AM PDT by izzatzo
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To: ProCivitas

Well, it was primarily his initiative. He made common cause with Kennedy. The bill would have never been brought back up without his initiative. McConnell developed the clay pigeon strategy with Reid and then set back to let other’s lead the GOP opposition in the Senate. Bush sent cabinet secretaries and others to lobby members to vote for the bill. Bush does deserve the lions share of the blame.


46 posted on 06/29/2007 5:07:25 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Texas Jack

Jimmy Carter thanks GW Bush.

Herbert Hoover thanks GW Bush.


47 posted on 06/29/2007 5:07:45 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: gemma0000

When I said “legacy” I didn’t mean the one he wanted. But he did sign it!


48 posted on 06/29/2007 5:08:06 AM PDT by ruination
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To: MNJohnnie

It takes such courage for Peditz to write an anti-President Bush column. Like there are not enough of them on FR.

I doubt W is too upset this bill never passed. He tried but the problem is far too big for gummit to solve. Let alone a Rat congress.

HilaryCare and her 60 vote majority will push something through that the Bushaters will love.

Pray for W and Our Troops


49 posted on 06/29/2007 5:08:47 AM PDT by bray (The Surge is Working on both Enemies)
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To: MNJohnnie
Guess you all forgot about the thing called a VETO?

Is another stem cell bill on the horizon?
50 posted on 06/29/2007 5:08:56 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: Vaquero
Pubes logic is so great since businesses don’t vote. They have equated money to votes in their collective minds. To some extent money does get votes but ask Ross Perot how much money it takes to by the Presidency.
51 posted on 06/29/2007 5:09:18 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (We stand on the bridge and no one may pass. We go into the dark places....)
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To: goldstategop

“the President might have stood a better chance if he had pushed to reform Social Security. He never tried hard enough and its an opportunity really gone. “
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^

I think in some twisted way, he thought the amnesty of the 25 million illegal aliens would FIX the SS problem.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA


52 posted on 06/29/2007 5:10:45 AM PDT by TaxxMann (THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT GUARANTEE FAIR SPEECH, IT GUARANTEES FREE SPEECH)
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To: Truth29

Let us pray that the final legacy is that Iran got the nukes it later used to tragic effect while we worried over a 700 page inscrutability of a “law”, and the Leader’s attention and spirit were tied to that pole of folly, then broken.


53 posted on 06/29/2007 5:11:32 AM PDT by bvw
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To: MNJohnnie
"Guess you all forgot about the thing called a VETO?"

If I were defending President Bush's legacy I wouldn't be discussing vetoes if I were you. It took the man six years in Office before he found out where his veto pen was located.

54 posted on 06/29/2007 5:11:43 AM PDT by gemma0000
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To: raybbr
"... leftistABC/NBC/CBSmedia describe this Kennedy alienamnesty bill as Bush's initiative."

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.

55 posted on 06/29/2007 5:11:49 AM PDT by ProCivitas (Duncan Hunter '08: Pro-Family, Pro-Fair Trade)
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To: Truth29

THE BUSH DOCTRINE

Not in our worst dreams did we ever think we would have this ‘’Compassionate Conservative’’ president openly refusing to enforce the laws he is sworn to uphold.

He is setting precedent and giving cover to future democrats who will selectively enforce or ignore laws; after all - it’s The Bush Doctrine.

This will be his true legacy.

It is sad to think what a golden opportunity has been wasted since those heady days of January 2001.
And it just gets worse and worse and worse.


56 posted on 06/29/2007 5:12:47 AM PDT by BoneShaker (Choices: Where's The Fence?)
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To: bert

misunderestimate?

Now there is a new word. I like it.


57 posted on 06/29/2007 5:13:08 AM PDT by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
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To: mo
have yet to understand why the attempt at giving NON-CITIZENS better representation than Americans ever came to the floor of the Capitol. There is a fundamental flaw somewhere here....

Far to many republicans have thrown out the belief in the rugged individual, per Ronald Reagan and his ability to succeed and to add to the American pie, They have replace it with worship of the Golden Idol, they prostate themselves to the multi millionaires of corporate America and the chamber of commerce, and slave labor. They seem to have lost all concept of one man one vote, and with a few more million in contributions they can con you into voting for them.

58 posted on 06/29/2007 5:13:27 AM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: ProCivitas
it's predictably bizarre to watch the leftistABC/NBC/CBSmedia describe this Kennedy alienamnesty bill as Bush's initiative.

Who made an unprecedented special trip to Capitol Hill last week to resurrect this dead monstrosity?

Who sent his minions to arm-twist on Capitol Hill earlier this week to try to get this monstrosity passed?

Clue: GW Bush.

Yes. This round was his initiative. And many parts of the two 2007 versions were written IN the WH.

Give credit where credit is due. This WAS a Bush initiative.
59 posted on 06/29/2007 5:14:08 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: ProCivitas

Exactly, if this bill would have passed, Kennedy’s pic would be on all front pages and the credit would go to the Dems...once again, it is Bush’s fault..any mention of the primary author is relegated to the lower paragraphs.

I am for immigration reform, it just wasn’t going to happen in this bill.


60 posted on 06/29/2007 5:14:13 AM PDT by SueRae
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