for an idiot.
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.
I stopped reading right there. One amnesty in 1986 was one too many.
That's too bad....you should at least read the rest of that paragraph...
"...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.
Bears repeating.
Bullsh*t! - It would not have been moot at all. such compromise never ends. - and you know it.
That Amnesty bill would have been the law of the land and every single thing that you state would be enshrined in legal status that would endlessly slide down.
You are simply deluded if you believe that you can push the fantasy that that crap that they tried to shove down our throats was “good.”
It wasn’t it isn’t, it failed, and you can go cry in the corner.
75% of what conservatives want does NOT include an amnesty for every single illegal here. That was what the bill did.
If it were only conservatives who were angry about Bush’s bil it probably would have passed. There was broad based opposition to the bill and that’s what shut it down. It’s also THE hot button issue for the 2008 election right up there with the war. We’ll see next year whether the author is correct. I’m pretty sure cracking down on illegals is a winning political strategy for Republicans.
80% wrong! and 80% does not the base comprise....
so when the author says base....way, way, wrong....LOL
for an idiot.
” It looks as though the author enjoys being invaded.”
I thought the same thing.
The first is treasonous, the second is nothing but just. She has justice confused with mercy.
Tony Snow has gone over to the dark side.
Half measure? The American people had ample cause to question the commitment of not just Bush, but the entire Washington establishment regarding securing the borders as part of "comprehensive" immigration reform. And the American people can look to 1987 as to what happens when amnesty is granted and security is not accomplished - it encourages even MORE illegal immigration in hopes of being here for the next amnesty. Indeed, the "reform" proposals actually rewarded the longer-term lawbreakers by having a cutoff for consideration of a track to citizenship - completely perverse reasoning.
It wasn't nativism, xenophobia, racism, bigotry or dislike of "press 2 for Spanish" that drove the opposition to immigration reform.
It was plain ol' common sense.
But seeing how common sense is in such short supply in Washington these days, one can see why the elitists cannot see, let alone understand, just what ran over their agenda.
” “get 0% of what you want and come back later for the rest.”
There.........fixed it.
yes, too many have died for this not to be an invasion.
Don't forget, with regard to "Achilles heels", as Achilles himself experienced, ONE is sufficient for your destruction...
True. He has lost many conservatives’ support on this. What could have been if he was tough on illegals.
...IMNSHO!
It was plain ol' common sense.
ROFL!
How could you type that with a straight face?
“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.”
“the first president to try effect positive change.” Who is this Anchoress ignoramus? Doesn’t she realize that Bush’s scheme was little more than a replay of Simpson-Mazzoli from 1986, that grand amnesty bill where we immediately got the amnesty for two to three times more than expected, but twenty-one years later we’re still waiting for the tough enforcement?
Any negative political consequence will rest solely on Jorge, Rove and all Republicans who were in cahoots with them on this shamnesty ruse. After Jorge’s plans had been rejected by the Republican majority in the House year-after-year, and opinion polls showed big majorities of all Americans opposed to amnesty, it was reckless and irresponsible for Jorge to try to pass his amnesty scheme with Democrat majorities in Congress, brought on by his liberal policies and inability to communicate on Iraq. They are solely responsible for the damaging internal fight over immigration in the Republican party.
Jorge and Rove also deserve most of the blame for the Democrat majorities in Congress, and for the diminished prospects for Republicans in 2008.
“This has been his only failure.”
Was CFR, NCLB, and the drug entitlement a “success”?
This isn’t the only issue he sides with the enemy on.
okay, I stand corrected....I always stand when being corrected......Salute!
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