[fastdraw]

"The President has only the beginnings of control over the INS by virtue of its moving to the new Dept of Homeland Security."

Baloney. Rearranging who reports to whom has no effect on an ineffective, bumbling bureaucracy with contradictory goals. First there has to be clarity on what it's supposed to do, and then many heads must roll to get it to do its job. None of this is in the cards.

"The first chores are to split off the border patrol from INS so it can be more effective and to get modern computers that can track immigrants."

Modern computers by themselves don't compel illegals to submit to being tracked. By themselves modern computers don't even allow different agencies to communicate with each other.

"As these things are going to take a year, there is going to be no way to show you objectively how "the Bush administration" is doing until then."

Designing and implementing intergovernment communications to the extent you dream about would take a decade, not a year. Dream on.

[fastdraw]

I should add that several attempts have already been made to upgrade federal systems, and most have ended in failure. In the 90's, the FAA wasted a billion dollars or so trying in vain to redesign its air traffic control systems. The IRS still "loses" several billion dollars per year, cannot pass even the most cursory financial audits, and will not be able to for the foreseeable future.

And you expect miracles from the INS?!?!?!? WHY????