Posted on 09/16/2007 9:38:52 AM PDT by DCPatriot
Given the responses I got the last time I focused on this issue, I almost hate to bring it up…but here goes.
I think Tony Snow is exactly right when he says here:
“I deeply admire what [Mr. Bush] did on immigration and I think he’s right,” Mr. Snow said. “I think the policies the president outlined generally are the ones that eventually this country is going to adopt.”
Let us hope so, because the alternative “solutions” out there - “let everyone in and register them all Democrat” on the left and “ship them all back to Mexico no matter how long they’ve been here or how productive” - are neither workable nor just.
Snow also says, here,
“the White House was not prepared for the anger of foes of illegal immigration
For crying out loud, that’s a staggering statement when even I - a lowly and not terribly bright housewife - completely understood the mood of the illegal immigration extremists. They were not interested in any sort of “half-measure” by President Bush - they did not want Bush do what Reagan always tried to do, “get 75% of what you want and come back later for the rest.” No, the extremists on this issue, crying, “we’re the base, you better dance with who brung ya,” were relentlessly uncompromising on the matter of illegal immigration and President Bush - and any other politicians who disagreed with them or sought a more workable solution than “ship them back and build high, high walls” had their rhetorical heads smashed repeatedly against the rhetorical curbside.
I still have a few dents, myself.
The illegal immigration hardliners demanded “all or nothing at all,” from President Bush and the GOP leadership. And now, they have nothing, and no political power to do much of anything. Illegal immigrants are still entering the nation mostly unchecked. The useless NIS is no closer to being reformed and retooled into something useful. There are no plans to design as sort of Ellis Island West, to actually process potential citizen immigrants “the way my grandfather came into New York - legally!” as the hardliner crows. Nothing is being done. But hey…at least the folks with the high, strong principals can sleep at night knowing they didn’t compromise!
A long time ago I wrote that the blood of many may well rest on the heads of those who would not get serious about the War on Terror. By the same token, I think it would not be completely unfair to state that the increases and excesses of illegal immigrants - and whatever political fall-out or legislative impotence comes from once more refusing to deal realistically with an issue that has been ignored for decades - will rest on the heads on those who took a hard, uncompromising line; those who managed to drop-kick the first president to try to effect positive change, and further weaken his entire presidency, while still getting nothing done. This issue was not well-played, folks. And just because the only ones still talking about it are the one-noters in internet forums doesn’t mean the issue is put to bed. Far from it. The reckoning - and the issue itself - has simply been kicked down the road for the time being, launched by a tantrum of “conservative anger”, which sent it nowhere good.
In the Wall Street Journal today the editorial writers take a look at how the hardline stance against illegal Mexican immigrants (come on, you never hear about the illegal Irish all over Boston or Long Island) can hurt the GOP and conservatives politically. They’re right to be concerned. When conservative and Republicans find themselves further weakened politically because they’ve managed to give the back of their hand to what every year becomes a more substantial portion of the electorate, who will they blame? They’ll have no right to blame George W. Bush - who tried to deal with the issue - but they may try to. It’s easy to blame Bush for everything, after all. But the truth is, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.
I have a suspicion, just a little one - it’s anecdotal and nothing I can cite - but a suspicion nonetheless that some of the folks who jumped on the “all or nothing, ship them back, Bush has betrayed the base” bandwagon are beginning to regret the ride…turns out it was just a merry-go-round, after all.
Bumping an excellent post!
Thank you!
Okie dokie...I take you at your word.
Sometimes it's easy to misinterpret what someone is saying in print.
"And what is FROBL?
Free Republic Open Borders Lobby
I don't think I misinterpreted this one. :o(
Not for open borders either.
Just think the peaceful illegals should be given the opportunity to come out of the shadows...and be documented.
Control the borders now!
Just because there are those of us who disagree with you, that does not mean we are ill-informed.
Maybe you should consider attending Charm School. ;o)
wardaddy is nothing if not polite, and is as honest as the day is long
He will treat you with the same respect in which you treat him.
Has nothing to do with race or color of skin.
I'm sure an intelligent lady such as yourself has seen them also.
That's good to know!
Thank you!
As for the rest, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
Believe me...I totally understand the word “bigot”.
I’ve seen threads and posts that I certainly don’t agree with.
But, I wouldn’t say they are “often found here.”
If they were, I think they would be pulled in a heart beat.
Workable? Just? What about legal!?
The more this country abandons the rule of law, the nearer approaches our destruction.
You're such a phony it hurts.
This is not a personal attack.
This is not a personal attack.
Uh-huh......YAWN!
DC.
I don’t much care to tell you the truth, but PC types like you and the now gone Harpies bring out the worst in me so I prefer to strain politeness.
In other words, I do it for me.
I worry about conservatism.
You guys have the same obsession about the race prism as the left.
PJComix usually has a kewpie doll to hand out for this level of mental clarity.
I worry about Conservatism values too.
1) Small federal and state governments
2) Low tax rates
3) Strong defense
4) Business friendly administrations
5) An end to rising entitlements
I can't speak about the obsessions or lack thereof about race prisms, etc.. on the Left.
Furthermore, I hate political correctness. Deporting peaceful hardworking illegals guilty of sneaking into our country...which is a misdemeanor...is unwise. On many levels.
Cheers!
Secure the borders first, four words, so simple, yet Bush can't seem to understand them.
The Government sold us an amnesty lie in 1986, we're not going to buy that lie again.
I can make up figures too: The $1000 TRILLION dollars in benefits paid to illegals dwarfs the mere half trillion you claim.
A classic example of "The first liar doesn't stand a chance".
$567 BILLION collected. You can look it up.
I certainly hop that the English-only activists won't interfere with Frederick's Oktoberfest later this month.
Recall that Frederick had THREE German-language newspapers well into the 1800's and attended German church services within the memory of many living residents. Even our local dialect still retains some German words (toot, snitz, kinkling and skillpot, for example).
All in all, the Germans seems to have settled in pretty well, and we're better off than we were before they arriced. Perhaps the same thing will be said of our more recent immigrants a generation from now.
Dan Lufkin
Frederick
Racist posts and threads are not allowed here. So, I don't know what you're talking about. Unless, of course, as usual, you're attributing racism or labeling "xenophobic, bigoted screeds" the posts and threads on Free Republic which call for upholding the rule of law and for not rewarding lawbreakers. When you open border shills for illegal aliens run out of your pathetic arguments for rewarding lawbreakers you play the stupid race card. Typical.
I'm sure an intelligent person such as yourself knows that xenophobia and bigotry are not necessarily racist by definition.
Here let me help you....
1)Bigotry: Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, OR religion
2)Xenophobia: fear or dislike of strangers or the unknown, often used to describe nationalistic political beliefs and movements
Liberals are xenophobic and bigoted toward Conservatives, for example. Nothing to do with race.
"When you open border shills for illegal aliens run out of your pathetic arguments for rewarding lawbreakers you play the stupid race card. Typical."
No, it's typical of your side to yell race card and run for cover.
And it's typical of your side to dismiss out of hand any argument coming from another perspective...as being 'cooked up'.
For example, I have provided FACTS that show that since 1986, crime has decreased in the United States in all major categories..yet we have upwards of 20 million illegal aliens inside the borders.
Your side ignores that FACT and instead rushes to post headline grabbing articles showing heinous crimes committed by illegals. To what end?
To get everybody riled up...picking up the torches and pitchforks.
You got what you wanted Spiff. Now you'll get everything you didn't want and no political power to stop it.
Nice going. Brilliant!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.