Jul 18 2007
Immigration Fiasco Continues
Strengthening the laws and streamlining the process for deporting criminal aliens was one of the key elements in the immigration bill the far right tanked in the Senate last month. And I said then every death and victim by a criminal illegal alien would be the responsibility of those radicals on the right who were more concerned about nannies paying a fine and staying than the violent criminals we have had to deal with under they current system. I noted that these far right radicals KNEW current law was insufficient and had to be changed, even though they claimed otherwise. Now there is some lame campaign to pretend current law doesn’t have all the loopholes and delaying mechanisms the far right had noted earlier and simply scream ‘deport them now”.
I have been hearing in the background that the audiences for the hard liners in talk radio is crashing in many media markets. I don’t have access to real numbers but have heard there are places where Ingraham and her ilk have lost over 50% of their audiences and many of their sponsors. I think the realization of the debacle these people created for the GOP and themselves is just now sinking in. America is turning their backs on these people and they know it. So they are trying to pretend there is still something that can be done on immigration. There can’t be. They made sure of that. Immigration reform is 3-5 years off, at the earliest. And our laws are just as broken now as they have been for the last 20 years. That is what these people demanded – do nothing now! They got what they wished for. Now they get to pay the price of their success.
Update: For those still wondering where America sits on immigration a new Gallup Poll gives the bad news to the GOP. Only 20% want the government to focus on the borders only – that is the same 20% we have seen in poll after poll representing the amnesty hypochondriacs. A majority – 53% – want to deal with those immigrants here now as well as the border (the comprehensive package). 25% want to focus on the immigrants here now. The ‘fence only’ crowd is outnumbered 4-1. That is not likely to build a governing majority any time soon. The GOP got screwed by the hypochondriacs and has allowed the Dems to make even bolder misteps without fear of repercussions than normally.
AJ, since John (Let’s Fix Immigration) McCain is tanking in the polls right about now (http://www.wmur.com/news/13699387/detail.html)
I think that this is a wonderful opportunity for you and the folks that want to save the GOP from the radical right to show us where all the real votes are. You can show us all that grass roots support for liberalized immigration which you say is out there.
How about a blog campaign sponsored by, ahem, moderate fellows like yourself to bump up some cash and voter support for the Amenista candidate?
You could simultaneously advance your cause while disproving what most pols already know- the pro amnesty position is a political loser at the polls and will be an albatross for the party that adopts it.
LOL! Trent, just wait until 2008. I have seen some information I cannot share, but the talking heads like Ingraham and Savage have tanked while those taking a more moderate position have grown. And I mean 50% losses vs doubling of audience share.
I don’t need to show you anything since it will all become clear in 2008! The damage is a lot worse than I thought it would be, if that tells you anything.
AJ, for you to suggest Laura Ingraham is losing audience, and then to OMIT the fact that Michael Savage is the one picking up her share is disingenuous, to be charitable.
Anyway, I’ll say it again: John McCain has tanked because of his pro-immigration stance. Prove I’m wrong by rallying your so-called pro-immigration grass roots voting block. I’m saying it ain’t there, and I’ll be the first one to admit I’m wrong if it appears and Johnny M gets resurrected- which ain’t gonna happen. Anyway, take a gander at the interview I have linked to the post above- McCain has committed hari-kiri with his immigrant bill, and Trent Lott is sitting at about 19% approval.
Trent,
I never said Savage was picking up her share. I said BOTH were tanking and those who were supporting the conprehensive bill were seeing huge increases.
Trent:
Look at 2006, the hardliners lost seats. Just ask JD Hayworth. And I don’t see Tancredo running at number one. And when you look at McCain, remember there is more going on there than immigration.
But more importantly, look at how Republicans are doing in overall polls compared to Democrats, many of whom did support immigration. Well all except for the ones sucking up to the ACLU and the AFL-CIO anyway.
In truth there is every bit as much evidence in the polls that the hardliners came off as a bit too manic for the majority of the country.
But you know what? If they really can do it, then do it, deport all 12 million of these people now. Just jump right in there, stop yammering and bitching…do it.
The truth is this country arrests and deports people everyday. But the law requires that everyone gets a hearing, the law does not say round them up and put them in cattle cars or lay land mines at the border or whatever, so maybe the deport them now people should put up or shut up.
In fact a good place to start would be the fields and orchards and the Gulf Coast. There are thousands of them working to clean up after Katrina because the locals can not or will not do it. And there are thousands if not millions working in the agricultural industry. Go ahead, go haul them off. Who needs them? I am sure happy little elfs will be out there whistling while they work, you will never mess them. Just go ahead, go do it.
The error is in believing that this poll actually means very much. First, it was a weekend poll conducted 7/6-7/8 i.e. over a fourth of July weekend. Secondly, we could argue that those who want to deal only with the immigrants already here are similarly overwhelmed. I would argue that it is an easy answer for those in the middle to claim both policing the borders and dealing with the immigrants here are of equal rank. It would be more interesting to see what they would have said if forced to pick either/or.
But, overall, only 29% (and mostly Republicans) care a great deal about the issue. It is interesting that 39% of Republicans lost confidence in Bush over this. There is no indication as to why they lost confidence in him. The whole problem was mostly with the Senate. All in all, this was a pretty squirrely poll and it is hard to draw any conclusions of how accurate and how long lasting the result will be. My guess is that now that the publicity is dieing down that immigration will slip down in importance. I am arguing that importance is a function of publicity. I would strongly bet against any effect at the polls in 2008 (except that I will never vote for Mel Martinez again).
Finally, I am pretty skeptical that any of the radio guys are losing a large proportion of their audience over this. I certainly don’t trust some “inside baseball†on this point.
Rick
Right now, like it or not, the Demcorats are leading in the presidential race. Even some moron like Edwards can beat just about any Republican out there, and immigration reform is something all of these candidates endorce.
I think the problem the right has on this issue is that they have demagogued it to the point that it is impossible to have rational debate on the subject, much less fix the problems. That does not make them look good. After all these guys were celebrating killing a bill and keeping the status quo, at no point did they come up with a solution to a difficult and complex problem. Add to that the nastiness of some of the rhetoric and what do they expect?
Rick C,
Just keep pretending all these polls don’t mean anything! LOL. You think that would bother me????
No, I don’t think it would bother you, but we can revisit it in 6 months. I just didn’t think you were interpreting the poll very well. As I said, those saying both control the borders and deal with current immigrants were of equal importance were over half. To add those in with those who wanted to solely deal with those already here to get your 4:1 number was disingenuous since equal priority was the easy answer for those who weren’t terribly interested in the whole question. Remember, only 29% said it was even much of a priority.
I argued during the debate that I simply didn’t believe that this Congress or administration was serious about controlling the borders. They never have been. Without that, this was just a nothing bill. When this government shows it will deal with the borders, then I have no problem with amnesty or increased immigration. But, “trust me” doesn’t work. Old Texas saying: if a mule kicks you once, it is the mules fault. If he kicks you again………
Rick