[freedom4me]

Last night I heard Dick Morris say that 60% of Hispanic voters went Democrat on Tuesday.

It seems to me that President Bush's immigration plan (as awful as it is) was meant to bring Hispanic voters into the Republican fold. I, too, hate the plan, but if Hispanics (the largest growing minority) become a solid Democrat voting block, then it will be hard for any Republican to be elected...ever. It's just a matter of numbers.

[Fraulein]

if Hispanics (the largest growing minority) become a solid Democrat voting block, then it will be hard for any Republican to be elected...ever

Kinda hard to run a presidential race if you already know from the get-go that you don't stand a chance in California, Texas, etc...

[kabar]

It is too late to pander to Hispanic groups. The Dems already own the issue. It was no coincidence that Hillary, Kennedy, et. al., were speaking at many of the demonstrations around the country. Bush passed the Drug Prescription bill, but the Reps get no credit for it.

The idea that the Reps should get on the bandwagon is poor public policy and a compromise of our principles. Moreover, about 80% of Americans are on our side. The Reps need to do a better job of articulating what is at stake. Illegal immigration is a winning issue for the Reps if we play it right.

So is SS reform. Starting in 2008, the SS "surplus" will start declining, which means that Congress will have to come up with new money to replace the shortfall or cut spending. The Reps should hold the Dems feet to the fire on spending and Pay-go. Let's see what the Dem Congress does with spending and if their actions meet their words in 2006. In 2017, SS starts paying out more than it is taking in. The Reps should use the Dem scare tactics about SS and not OK, like they did in 1983, any increase in the retirement age or an increase in FICA taxes or any attempt at means testing or recomputation of the COLA fromula.