Free Republic

George W. Bush finally weighed in on the great immigration debate yesterday, singing the song beloved by Corporate Republicans: "Give us your tired, your poor/ Your unemployed masses yearning to breeze in free/ The wretched refuse of the steaming poor/ Send these, the readily abused/ Greedy employers wait at the golden door." The president didn't put it in those words, exactly; language and rhetoric are not his cup of latte. The sentiment was clear enough, with the anvil chorus sung with particular gusto: "Businesses have difficulty filling jobs Americans will not do." He might have added, but didn't, "at least...

It's an ancient name with contemporary - and controversial - significance. According to legend, Aztlan was the ancestral homeland of the Aztec people, a place believed by many to be located somewhere in the southwestern United States. In Chicano folklore, the name was used to describe the part of Mexico taken over by the U.S. after the Mexican-American War of 1846. During the Chicano civil rights movement of the 1960s and '70s, Aztlan became a symbol of political nationalism and ethnic pride. Today, Aztlan is still a word that evokes pride among Mexican-Americans. "Aztlan is a state of mind. It's...

I’d like to take a moment to coin a new phrase: Brownie Moment. A Brownie moment can be defined simply as the moment when a supporter of President Bush is smacked in the head by reality and loses any and all faith in the president from that moment forward. As you may have surmised the term comes from Bush’s recent comment regarding former FEMA head Michael Brown’s leadership in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” This was my Brownie moment. I understand that in the world of politics leaders often have to say...

The Conservative movement may benefit by losing the House and Senate in 2006. I’m not advocating that we campaign to lose; however, if you look at the ramifications of losing in 2006 the Conservatives have a better chance of winning in 2008. Note: I didn’t say the Republicans I said Conservatives. First, look at the current political landscape. The sitting Republican President is floundering and struggling to get his message out or even finding a message. His 2nd term started off bold; however, the Democrats have stymied any meaningful action for his 2nd term. It’s easy to be an opposition...

In an administration that makes a virtue -- for its staffers, at least -- of anonymity and self-effacement, Harriet Miers could well be considered a saint. Miers, 59, tapped to replace Attorney General-designate Alberto Gonzales as White House counsel, has long been one of the most discreet, most private and most protective members of George W. Bush's inner circle. Now Miers, the White House deputy chief of staff, is poised to become one of its most prominent as well. The first female president of the State Bar of Texas and a Dallas native, Miers has known Bush since 1993, when...

Franck & Miers [Mark R. Levin 10/03 09:50 AM] I understand Matt's point, as he's written so eloquently about it many times. But, in truth, we already know what's going on here, and that the president, despite a magnificent farm team from which to choose a solid nominee, chose otherwise. Miers was chosen for two reasons and two reasons alone: 1. she's a she; 2. she's a long-time Bush friend. Otherwise, there's nothing to distinguish her from thousands of other lawyers. And holding a high post in the Bar, which the White House seems to be touting, is like holding...

Bush Takes Milder Tone on Terrorism Wednesday, September 14, 2005 / 10 Elul 5765 (IsraelNN.com) President George W. Bush told the United Nations on Wednesday that world leaders must change conditions which he said cause people to turn to terrorism and that war by itself will not defeat terrorism. "There can be no safety in looking away or seeking the quiet life by ignoring the hardship and oppression of others," Bush said. His speech was milder than his previous calls for a world-wide war against terrorism. "We know that this war will not be won by force of arms alone,"...