Posted on 05/16/2006 9:24:55 AM PDT by Paul Ross
It's Time for Bush to Listen to His Base
by Michael Reagan
Posted May 15, 2006
A week before he died I asked Lyn Nofziger if the White House was arrogant or just plain stupid.
“Both,” he said.
Nofziger was one of the nation’s most astute political analysts and a White House aide my father Ronald Reagan greatly admired. If you need proof that Lyn knew what he was talking about, you need only consider the White House policies on illegal immigration, which are both incredibly stupid and incredibly arrogant.
Aside from the Iraq war, no issue threatens Republican control of Capitol Hill more than the problem of illegal immigration. The overwhelming majority of Americans are outraged over the problem of our porous borders. People are demanding that the borders be sealed tight against the thousands of illegals violating them.
If the president and the Republicans in the House and Senate don’t act to enforce our current immigration laws and vastly increase border security you’ll have to hire a private detective to find any Republicans on Capitol Hill next year.
"Will they win? I think that's still up to the Republicans," Newt Gingrich told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the other day.
He added that he agrees with those who believe a substantial number of conservative voters -- upset over unbridled federal spending and unsecured national borders -- could sit out the mid-term elections, giving Democrats an edge in close House races that might otherwise go to Republicans.
"The problem you have right now is the conservative movement -- which is still very healthy in the country at large -- feels very abandoned in Washington," he told the Trib. "Conservatives actually believe in a balanced budget as a moral issue. Conservatives actually believe you ought to control the border as a matter of national security. Conservatives are the people who pay the taxes. They're not the people who get the pork."
He put his finger on the solution. "If you have the White House, the House and the Senate, and if you have the natural majority in the country, you always have the potential to be able to pose the election on your terms," he said.
The president had better wake up to the fact that the only thing he’s got going for him right now is that the Democrats are in absolute disarray. They have no leader, they have no direction, and even with the president down to his lowest point in the polls, as low as he is, the Democrats aren’t much higher due to their lack of leadership.
As a result, the Republicans still have it within their power to hang onto control of both houses of Congress -- providing they stop being stupid, and pose the election on their terms.
The Republicans need to pass two immigration bills immediately. First and foremost the border must be closed, and only after that should we negotiate the other issues, such as what to do about the 11 million-or-so illegal immigrants living here.
In addition the GOP has to alert the American people to exactly what would happen should the Democrats take over the Congress, with all their wild talk about tying the president’s hands with countless investigations and impeaching him in the middle of a war. The people have to be warned about the dangers of letting the Democrats legislate us into cutting and running in Iraq, creating hugely expensive new programs that will require massive tax increases, sabotaging the prescription drug plan now saving seniors billions of dollars, and making Rep. John Conyers chairman of the House Judiciary Committee where he says he wants to hold hearings on reparations for slavery.
It’s time for the president to listen to his base -- the people who put him in the White House twice. He’s lucky that the Democrats have the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy and Howard Dean. If they had anybody else but this bunch the Republicans would be flat on their backs.
But because the Democrats lack real leadership and their party is being run by their far-left whacko wing, the GOP has a golden opportunity to exploit the Democrats’ weaknesses and win back their base and a majority of the voters.
Conservatives now understand that they were sold a pig in a poke in 2000 and 2004....
but the alternative is worse.....
now that's enough to depress Tony Little
We're in agreement here (regarding GWB truly believing what he is pushing for on immigration reform) and that is exactly the kind of leader this nation needs. Men who stand for something and don't wilt because of silly opinion polls.
I find it funny how some on the "right" love to degrade the notion of "following polls"....yet demand it when they find themselves in the majority of said polls.
Leaders move polls...not the other way around.
We are. And if you noticed...the polls are strongly moving with the conservatives...against the President. He's just too bloody liberal...too much like John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. They would be taking the same positions as him. The Bush/Kerry/Clinton agenda is wrong on a seminal issue.
This is isn't really about polls. Its about intellectual honesty, and most importantly, loyalty. Is he for us, or against us?
And for my book, and to most the country, he's looking mighty disloyal.
He had a chance to correct that last night, but as I said, he punted.
Thanks..about time you saw the light..Jake
Mexico has everything to make it a prosperous First World country. They have minerals, they have agriculture, oil, tourism - everything they need to rank high among First World countries. All that stands in their way is corruption.Until the U.S. and President Bush stand up and point a finger - as my dad did at the evil empire - and say, "You have to eliminate corruption if you want to keep your people home," the corruption will continue and so will the flow of illegal aliens fleeing it.
Michael Reagan, April 12, 2006
This is isn't really about polls. Its about intellectual honesty, and most importantly, loyalty. Is he for us, or against us?
And for my book, and to most the country, he's looking mighty disloyal.
First off it is clear you can't be intellectually honest on this subject. This is a 40 year in the making problem, that you act as if good people can't come to differing conclusions on how best to handle it...is not being intellectually honest.
To suggest this fine CIC is like the ilk of Hillary and Kerry is utterly wrong and completely intellectually empty (dishonest).
That you suggest because this fine POTUS wants a comprehensive immigration reform bill and not some silly "one issue at a time" bill he is disloyal and you question his motives??...Well I question yours!
You sound like Democrats saying "We must address the deficits first....BEFORE we can ever talk about tax cuts"...that is complete BS - As tax cuts create the very growth needed - (Yet you trying to play this silly game now with immigration).
GWB laid out a very common sense plan last night. A plan in which the majority of the public can agree with. It makes sense.
Lastly if you distrust this CIC so much you d*mn well better be calling for all U.S. soldiers to come home...as if you cannot trust this CIC motives on an issue like immigration, then you surely can't trust his competence enough to send men and women off to war! - You surely better fall in line with the DEMs (and stay intellectually honest) that this President can't be trusted enough...and thus...bring the troops home. My God, if you would call this President "mighty disloyal" (to most of the Country to boot)....he should not be sending soldiers off to war.
Of course that is complete foolishness...but for you to stay intellectually honest it better be your position.
The reality is GWB is a man of tremendous character and of a quiet and steadfast resolve that is sourly lacking in most people today.
The problem there is that the good people in Mexico tend to get shot when they try to change the culture. So the only variant of this message that would work would be a private one:
"You have to eliminate corruption if you want to keep Delta Force and the 101st Airborne home. Otherwise, we'll be digging your politicians and cartel leaders out of spider holes in about three weeks."
But nothing like this will ever happen, because far too many in DC are profiting from the status quo.
Very thoughtful analysis. Thanks.
I agree with your assessment of Michael Reagan. Now that that ad hominem is taken care of, address the arguments.
We ARE attacking political leftists, in the White House and in the Congress. If you're talking about attacking Democrats, we will, when they are back in the WH and in control of Congress, with your help, of course, by enabling the inept.
DevSix, you DID make your case later on, very well. I'm not entirely persuaded, but you made a good case.
A serious dialogue where people good people can come to differing conclusions on the specifics (to a degree) on how best to handle this 40 year in the making problem is exactly what is needed (and exactly what President GWB is calling for).
Best regards,
Oh, I sincerely believe that the president thinks he's right on this issue. I just as sincerely believe he's wrong, and that this wrongheadedness will cost the Republicans dearly in coming years.
Attempting to correct my president and party when they are screwing up royally is not disloyalty. If I didn't care what happens to the Republicans I'd be silent on this issue and continue to let them dig their own grave. I post my comments here as well as send faxes, emails and call my congressmen and the White House precisely because I do care very much about the future of the party.
Loyalty doesn't always equal approval. As a loving parent corrects a wayward child, I correct my party when I feel it's necessary. If they listen, wonderful. If not,at least I tried.
Fair enough then - Though I firmly believe this President is leading on a issue that is a 40 year in the making problem.
He isn't simply looking for a band-aid approach to only one aspect (the border) but is looking at a full comprehensive reform that is needed not only with securing the border but with implementing a temporary workers program that must be updated! (we must be able to verify and locate those non-citizens that are in this Country) those on worker permits must return back when it comes time (the current system provides for non of this). - A large segment of the current 12 million illegals here fall into this category...they did not come here illegally (sneaked across the border)...no they were here on a temp workers permit and simply never returned home! (border security alone will not do a single thing to solve this part of the problem).
I believe GWB has the right plan (with a little tweaking from the House) on how to move forward on this issue.
When the President and Senate prove they can be trusted by sealing the border (which could be done before summer's end), THEN we can talk about the rest.
Until then, they have earned nothing but distrust.
Until then, they have earned nothing but distrust.
Foolishness - More is happening on our borders with regard to national security then can openly be talked about (and rightly so). Think NSA Op that was outed and now this Country is less safe -
Furthermore to suggest this CIC can't be trusted, to question his motives speaks volumes about you...not GWB (and I question your motives!).
Lastly if you do not trust this CIC and you do not trust his sincerity then you d*mn well better be demanding our soldiers come home stat! - For if this CIC cannot be *trusted* nor his sincerity believed on an issue like immigration...he certainly has no business sending men and women off to war! - So to stay intellectually honest you should fall right in line with the DEMs who suggest he cannot be trusted (no WMDs in Iraq, etc).
That is complete BS in all reality....but to you it is exactly the truth....The DEMs are being intellectually honest saying this man cannot be trusted.
Just for the record, how many of the 12 million (and their additional 18 million family members by some estimates) came here on guest worker visas as you claim? That is a big bunch of visas. How many? I frankly think that this assertion is not even close to the truth but I'm willing to examine your source. Educate me.
Maybe I didn't hear him correctly but I thought the Pesident said we had not enforced the immigration laws and controlled the border for decades...including his last 6 years in office...If that is true does it not follow that he has not acted in good faith as the chief law enforcement official in the land....would that not at least impinge a tiny bit on his trustworthyness when it comes to the entire immirgation debate..must be missing something....but it is not the drivel about all he as done to protect the borders, or prosecute the employment laws concerning illegal aliens....mark that down as relatively Nada.
Now take into account the last amnesty bill (R. Reagan) was passed in 1986 - We are talking 20 years of these such numbers, with a size percentage of these people never returning back -
Do they make up the full 12 million of current illegals. Of course not, nor did I suggest such. But they most certainly do make up a sizable portion within this 12 million. Do I have an exact number on this....No (outside of my field of work).
But the reality remains GWB is taking this 40 year in the making problem and looking to address it with serious comprehensive policy.
Those here on workers permits must be able to be verified and tracked (via some ID card). Those currently here must not be given blanket amnesty....they must go through background checks (if they have a serious criminal record, they must be sent out of the Country), if they choose to want to stay here they must be forced to become supporting citizens of this great nation. There must be policies that promote assimilation.
On the border GWB is looking to address that as well...but it will not be solved over night. Though much more is happening on our borders with regard to national security then can openly be talked about (and rightfully so).
He's a poor conservative. Medicare Drug bill? No Child Left Behind? He spends like a drunken sailor. He hasn't met a spending bill he didn't like.
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