Kabar,
What truly seems to upset you is Bush’s immigration policy, since that is what you refer back to repeatedly. I’m not fully on board with that either. But I have four responses ...
First, Bush did not create this problem. Reagan did, Bush and Clinton made it worse, and unless I am mistaken this was not an issue that got all that much media attention or political capital until roughly 2005. Aside from a handful of Republicans like Tancredo, who else was pushing this aggressively before then? My only point is that there is lots and lots of blame to go around. I’m not defending Bush. But I’m also unwilling to lay all of the blame at his feet. The venom and invective that is focused entirely on Bush is simply stupid.
Second, Bush’s recent efforts at enforcement have been quite effective, judging by demonstrated empirical evidence. This is the first real progress in a quarter-century. I would find those who hate Bush’s immigration policy more credible and sympathetic if they would give him his props ... It’s important if only to keep those efforts going. To say that Bush has come through with too little too late effectively invites the Obama Administration to drop the effort.
Third, Bush and Rove are right that we must formulate immigration policy in ways that do not alienate Latinos, Asians and other demographic groups. Our immigration policy can not be punitive. It must be hopeful. Now ... I don’t agree with the balance that Bush has tried to strike. Like you, I think it is too soft. But the truly hateful positions that I see put forward on this site will doom the GOP to minority status for decades to come.
Fourth, everyone wants their own agenda items. I want the war prosecuted well and with no holds barred. You may want immigration reform. Others might want lower taxes. Bush’s popularity gave him virtually no political capital. Let’s be real.
Lower taxes??? He ran up massive deficits when he had his own party for 5-6 years, and got worse afterward. I take away any credit I gave him for tax cuts before. It was insanity. What good are tax cuts now with what remains of the economy handed to Pelosi/Obama by Bush with the Bush debt?? And he wanted to give illegals SS and other benefits by legalization. HIS two bailouts sent the WORST possible message about what republicans stand for.
Bushes popularity?? He had 90% and a republican congress in early 2003. You blame his massive loss in popularity as a defense for him doing even WORSE things?? So everything bad he does he loses more popularity and gets a pass for worse actions? Unfortunately that is how he acted.
Okay, so you disagree with Bush, who claimed lots of political capital. Fine.
Even if he had only a little political capital, he expended it unwisely. When you have little, you don't use it to make things worse.
Reagan didn't create the problem, LBJ and the 1965 Immigration Act did. The 1965 Immigration Act: Anatomy of a Disaster
Reagan signed the one-time 1986 amnesty bill that was clearly a mistake in addressing the illegal alien problem. The USG estimated 1 million would apply and the real number turned out to be 2.7 million. Fraudulent documents were the rule. And the enforcement provisions of the 1986 amnesty were never carried out. Many of those same provisions can be found in the 2006 Hagel-Martinez bill and the 2007 McCain-Kennedy bill. Bush 41 signed the 1990 Immigration Act that raised the annual ceiling from 270,000 to 700,000 for 1992-94 and 675,000 afterwards (including 480,000 family-sponsored, 140,000 employment-based, and 55,000 "diversity" immigrants). Clinton was better than both Bushes on immigration enforcement.
The issue has been building since 1965 as the demographic impact of immigration becomes more and more pronounced. In 1965, Hispanics were 1% of the US population. Today, they are 15% and by 2050 they will be 30% and that is without an amnesty. Tancredo became more visible on the issue, but it was raised long before 2005. Rove, McCain, Graham, and others branded their fellow Reps who wanted the rule of law respected as nativists, xenophobes, and bigots. In the meantime 87% of the 1.2 million legal immigrants who enter this country annually are minorities and almost all of the 500,000 to 1 million illegals are minorities. Minorities and immigrants vote Dem.
My only point is that there is lots and lots of blame to go around. I’m not defending Bush. But I’m also unwilling to lay all of the blame at his feet. The venom and invective that is focused entirely on Bush is simply stupid.
You are making excuses for an indefensible position. Bush is the President. He was taking a position opposite most of his own party. He deserves most of the blame for dividing the party and making this a divisive issue.
Second, Bush’s recent efforts at enforcement have been quite effective, judging by demonstrated empirical evidence. This is the first real progress in a quarter-century. I would find those who hate Bush’s immigration policy more credible and sympathetic if they would give him his props
It is all relative. The reality is that it has had very little effect on illegal immigration, certainly less than the economy. You can expect a new surge as Obama, McCain, et. al. try again on amnesty. And the disintegrating situation in Mexico will add to those numbers. And nothing has been done with our legal immigration policies, which are far more insidious and difficult to change. We simply do not need 1.2 million legal immigrants a year, most of whom are uneducated and unskilled. They are going to be a net drain on our society and be of little use in making us competitive in the global economy.
And they will account for about two thirds of our 165 million increase in population over the next 50 years. In 1970, the US had a population of about 200 million. Today it is 305 million by 2050, it will be 439 million. Our pro-population growth immigration policies are going to have a major impact on virtually all of the major challenges facing this country, whether it is energy, infrastructure, the environment, entitlement programs, education, law enforcement, etc. And there are also the social consequences that may result from the Balkanization of this country along cultural and linguistic lines.
To say that Bush has come through with too little too late effectively invites the Obama Administration to drop the effort.
LOL. You are really naive. I am an immigration grassroots activist who has been lobbying on the state and national level on immigration issues. Obama has hired a former VP from La Raza to be his policy advisor [McCain had Juan Hernandez] and selected Napolitano to be his head of Homeland Security. Obama aided by folks like McCain are not going to be enforcing our immigration laws and they will push for an amnesty, which will destroy the country with the stroke of a pen. Not only will an amnesty legalize the status of the 12 to 20 million illegals already here, it will enable them to sponsor another 66 million to 100 million thru chain migration, i.e., family reunification.
Third, Bush and Rove are right that we must formulate immigration policy in ways that do not alienate Latinos, Asians and other demographic groups. Our immigration policy can not be punitive. It must be hopeful.
Give me a break. Punitive? Since when is enforcing the law punitive? Reps can't play identity politics like the Dems and pander to various groups. McCain, aka the Amnesty King among immigration activists, was the perfect candidate for those moderates advocating a policy of outreach to minorities. Latinos voted 70% to 30% against him. The reality is that even if McCain had received 70% of the Latino vote, he would have lost. Rove and Bush are wrong on immigration, substantively and politically.
The Republicans’ Hispanic Delusion Amnesty is not just wrong in principle, it’s bad politics.
Fourth, everyone wants their own agenda items. I want the war prosecuted well and with no holds barred. You may want immigration reform. Others might want lower taxes. Bush’s popularity gave him virtually no political capital. Let’s be real.
Yes, let's be real. There are only two issues that can destroy this country: immigration and the entitlement programs. The real problem with Bush was his inability to articulate and defend his positions. He lacked vision. And he was beset by issues like the WOT, Katrina, the collapse of the housing bubble, etc. that had him fighting fires and not focussing on the really big, long term issues affecting this nation. He became reactive rather than proactive.