[Howlin]

My statement stands: we're discussing this because of statements that Powell made IN Mexico.

In his press conference after he won, Bush didn't even MENTION immigration.

[Fatalis]

True about the press conference, and it's true that Powell opened up this new can of worms (hello Taiwan), but the Bush meeting with McCain is another trigger.

It would be better if he dropped it for now, or adopted the Tancredo guest worker proposal into his overall plan. This is a fight that will be a major distraction, I'm afraid, and there are issues that were more central to the President's campaign that I'd rather see him tackle first.