Jul 02 2007
GOP Trying To Remove Immigration Stain
Update: Harold Hutchison has the numbers showing the GOP lost massive support from independents, moderates and hispanics between their huge successes in 2004 and their butt whooping in 2006. Not to worry though, I am sure they will be able to eclipse their 2006 results in 2008, and get whooped even worse. All is well and fine for the GOP!
– end update
I have to laugh. Unlike the Amnesty Hypochondriacs in the GOP who exaggerated everything they could think of to make the Immigration Bill (and the people it was aimed to address) as distasteful as possible, I was not exaggerating in my predictions of what would the GOP reap for such hate filled idiocy. The GOP told itself this was some great effort for the GOP to save humanity as we know it. I simply looked at the political calculations on either side to see which path could do maximum good/harm to either side. Passing the bill maximized the good for the GOP, not passing it maximized the harm. The Dems ALWAYS had the opportunity to exploit this if the hypochondriacs showed their usual lack of self control. And boy did they make good on that bet!
Bush and the bill’s proponents gave the far right too much credit for being able to hold reasonable debate and be reasonable in the resulting compromise. They thought these people could set aside their biases and hate and be the legislative leaders everyone thought they could be, deep down inside. Sadly, the reality is the inverse. The facade of legislative leader hid the deep down bias and anger. And therefore the GOP screwed itself by exposing their dark side on this issue. Michael Barone makes a decent, yet lame, attempt to salvage dignity from the most undignified of acts; the tarring of people based on race, ethnicity and nationality.
But the reality is the Dems can and will exploit the GOP’s hate filled blunders for the next year and a half. They only need to post the disgusting comments that blessed so many rightwing sites to remind Hispanics that the dark, hidden soul of the GOP hates Hispanics:
Democrats sensing an opportunity for gains among the nation’s fastest-growing minority group swarmed a gathering of 1,000 Hispanic elected officials from across the nation here this weekend.
…
They came with one big advantage – the fact that Republicans are taking most of the blame for the decisive defeat of the immigration reform bill in the Senate last week.
In a forum for the candidates, all of the Democrats lamented defeat of the bill, and several denounced what they suggested was a racist or anti-Hispanic tinge to the arguments used against it.
Barack Obama, for example, said there was “an ugly overtone” in the debate, which he said was absent from the debate over the same bill last year, and accused opponents of using “the politics of fear.”
Is there a dark side inside the GOP? I would quibble with Obama and say the ugly side was the ‘undertone’, not the ‘overtone’. But trust me, this is not a distinction which will make a difference. Yes, there is a segment of the Amnesty Hypochondriacs who are very much the kind of people I would never want to associate with. And since I am not in the GOP (and never have been) I am not worried about being associated with them. But for all those who allied with these people, the stain is there and it has set in. And what appear to be Freudian slips of the tonque by GOP front runners is not helping:
Buzz at the conference also focused on a gaffe by potential GOP candidate Fred Thompson, who seemed to refer to Cuban immigrants as terrorists in a speech to a South Carolina Republican Party gathering Wednesday.
Way to go Fred. But the slip of the tongue was nothing compared to the cold shoulder the GOP sent the Hispanic Community:
The Republican presidential candidates all cited scheduling conflicts in failing to attend the conference, and it came at an awkward time – the end of a quarterly fundraising period when all candidates are preoccupied with raising money.
The only path out of this is to reverse course with a mea culpa and resurrecting the bill. The only way to cleanse the stain is to clean house. So therefore there is not going to be any serious reconciliation for the GOP with Hispanics and moderates. The die is set and fate has set things in motion. The GOP wil not be saved by wins in Iraq. In fact, success in Iraq will provide even more rational to dump the GOP in 2008 – their job done and the immediate need for them reduced a bit.
This is cold, logical observation – there is no attempt to get even on my part. I predicted all this before hand. To win in politiics one exploits the misteps of their opponent. When the opponent provides you a mistake you can use for decades to come, it is impossible to resist maximizing that opportunity. I warned the GOP that they did not want to go down this route. But too many are so cocky and sure and such infallible legends in their own minds they forgot one little thing. They are human and humans make really, really bad decision and really, really big mistakes with the best of intentions in their minds. All the time.
The GOP is in no mood to admit their mistake, and the Dems will exploit those horrific mistakes to their maximum benefit. And no one will feel pity on the GOP when the Democrats exaggerate the evil of the Republican Party – the same way the GOP exaggerated the evil of immigrants. Someone should have thought of that before they went off half cocked. Touche’! The GOP has sliced it own nose cleanly off – as predicted. I have little sympathy for them at the moment. I think it best they ponder the fruits of the efforts for some time to come.
AJ, I do not doubt that you are correct, however, I also feel that there may be a backlash against Dems who want open borders, with the intent, and hope to subsitute their voters, since so many of them are aborted before a chance of life. Someone has to make up for that loss.
I also would like to know what you think about the african community, which would also be affected by open border policy, and cheap labor. Nobody seems to think about that, and I’m sure that somewhere down the line, it could become an issue.
This also may awaken the conservative side to movement in the upcoming elections; dems agenda is only higher taxes, open borders, socialist healthcare (by the way coming from a country of soc healthcare, these people have no clue what they are advertising), take things away for the common good, race baiting. There is no agenda of national security, since it is only a bumper sticker issue.
AJ, the professional agitators who passed out the talking points don’t care.
They prefer either the present mess or a real, no-kidding amnesty law to rail against than any measure that might take their pet issue off of the table. Their fate is not tied to the GOP; indeed, their fortunes rise when the Democrats are in charge, because they can scare more money out of their chumps–er, “generous contributors.”
There are sheep to be sheared, AJ! Alan Keyes, RightMarch, and the other “usual suspects” are in the business of “Mo’ money!” and not in the business of accomplishing anything useful.
“There are sheep to be sheared, AJ! Alan Keyes, RightMarch, and the other “usual suspects†are in the business of “Mo’ money!†and not in the business of accomplishing anything useful.”
Amen Colbalt.
ALan Keyes and Rightmarch are a big part of the problem and one reason why we are in mess.
The events in Florida and the skipping of that conference is a disaster. Our poor Hispanic Republican Leaders are embarrased and are put in a difficult position. YEt not a peep at several of the big sites. I am glad this site is doing its part to warn that there are problems instead of dishing out the red meat to the crowd that everything is great
I think we need to start doing some constructive with Hispanic Republicans and make sure they are able to get a voice. Often theri net outlets are so lacking.
I rarely sawa hispanic Republican on any of the talks shows or the MSM. We do have a good many of them
I have little sympathy for the GOP either (and I’m registered as a Republican) but my thoughts always come back to the alternative party and my stomach gets queezy. What to do?
oops. either should have been also or too.
Well, good example of the choir leader singing to the choir and the choir singing, Amen.
The apple polishers in full fury.
OK, the bill failed much to AJ’s dismay. But instead of promoting taking sections of the bill that were good and working with them (as I think Cornyn and Hutchison will) and eliminating the parts that were sell-outs, AJ is still trying to get his shovel full of dirt to throw on the face of the GOP which he claims is DOA and in it’s grave.
Not that I think for one minute that AJ is unhappy in the thought of a dead GOP. Instead, I think that his obsession with the subject shows that in reality, he is expressing his wishful thinking. Is this a case of removing a man from the liberals but you can’t remove the liberal from the man? Remember, AJ admits he was a Dhimmicrat until 2004, where he voted “along party lines”. But the big question remains to be asked, what party? And why, if someone was converted to conservatism and the GOP, would they throw in the towel in just three short years and one issue?
I am not going to go into the whole “shamnesty” thing again with AJ. He has become tone deaf to the problems that the bill created, one being the fact that it would have been a judicial nightmare. As I said before, all politics are personal and so far, we have not had any honesty from AJ why he backed a bill that gave illegals rights not granted to American citizens.
I posted my thoughts on this before and the post was eaten. But the question remains, what benefit did this bill bring to legal American citizens? And is that not after all, what our elected elite should be doing, acting in the best interest of Americans, not the citizens of a foreign nation? And when our elected elites start representing the citizens of a foreign nation over the representation that give to Americans, who will represent us?
R05,
LOL! more fantasies. There is no new bill – just the cesspool left by the GOP. Get over the pretend games and face the mess you folks left.
Hello…o…o…..o……o……o…….o…….o……..o………ooooo
it’s clear to me that some people are just going to insult AJ and anyone who agrees with him. How dumb is that?
imagine that. there are some people who have the nerve to actually agree with AJ.
“you folks” as in the group that you think messed up, i.e. Republicans?
You could not get much clearer, AJ, that you are not now, and have never been, part of “us folks”, i.e. Republicans.
But you would think that we could at least have a bit of honesty from you. I guess that is as DOA as you seem to think the GOP is.
AJ, why do you never mention the Democrats that voted against the bill?
“But the question remains, what benefit did this bill bring to legal American citizens? And is that not after all, what our elected elite should be doing, acting in the best interest of Americans, not the citizens of a foreign nation? And when our elected elites start representing the citizens of a foreign nation over the representation that give to Americans, who will represent us? ”
When
When did conservative start so freely using the term “elites” as to our Represenatives. I mean I know the reason for this. It is the power of words to set a tone. When I look at the background of lets say a Senator Lindsey Graham “elite” does not come to mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham#Personal_life
That being said I think the your other question as to the benefits to Amercia and her “legal Citizens” has been answered.
It has a very big benefit to the 3.1 million LEGAL american Children of Illegal aliens. I know they don’t vote but they are part of the whole general welfare thing.
It has a big benefit to the Spouces and various family members that are legal that are related to a illegal aline. THe Family is basic social unit of a society even ours despite it being under attack
It has a benefit economically to business and to our continued growth in GNP. People can disagree if its a negative or postive overall but the case has been made by bill supporters that it is a postive
It is a benefit because this seems like a rational immigration policy for the future especailly as to the merit system to make sure we get the world’s smartest.
It is a benefit because many of us think in these post 9/11 days it will send us down a path of more secure borders and we will know who is here.
It is a benefit to legal citizens because under its provsions illegal Alines under 18 can more easily qualify to defend this great nation
It is a benefit to this Country because some of think that in the end many of these people will “renew” this nation and add something important”
There are other benefits I could site. We have talked about them. Reasonable people can disagree but the arguments have been made
Simple R05,
We need your brand of GOP to be marginalized so we can get balanced immigration reform.
Well Retire, I have voted republican in every election since 1974 except one. I was a team captain for President Bush.
And I say this: AJ is absolutely correct. And we need his observations as one who can look at the big picture.
If there is one thing I have learned it’s this: the true RINO’s are this-conservatives first, republicans in name only. This is important because conservatives do not have a party and therefore do not have any accountability. Nor responsibility to organize the team for a win.
I have said it before and I will say it again: conservatives are uncomfortable with success and winning.
Now Malkin is on her purity rant again.
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/02/the-diminished-credibility-of-the-dept-of-homeland-insecurity/
Can\\\’t abide anyone being of a different mine the new (much smaller) GOP.
Slinging insults at those trying to lead these massive Fed agencies is trivial and immature. Malkin couldn\\\’t survive two weeks actually having to defend this country before she would declare marshall law so people would be REQUIRED to listen to her.
Ugh – the damage is still being done as the far right continues to destroy the GOP. Purity uber alles.
it’s clear to me that some people are just going to insult AJ and anyone who agrees with him. How dumb is that?
imagine that. there are some people who have the nerve to actually agree with AJ.
Left by satrist on July 2nd, 2007
Insult you? Insult AJ?
It’s obvious, that just like AJ; you have NOT been paying attention!
Except for one idiot, who came on this board the other day, and called President Bush a traitor; I have NEVER seen ANYONE of the regular readers on this board, insult AJ, nor the other readers!
That includes me!
But, on the other hand, from day one, AJ, you and others, have called all us, who disagreed SLIGHTLY with AJ’s take on this; and wanted to DISCUSS IT, on a point by point basis; we were called “immigration hyphochondriacs”; bigots, racists, “rightwingers”, ad naseum.
Even though almost every single one of us said we WANTED a comprehensive Immigration Bill, that we believed in a Guest Worker program, that we all agreed we needed more H1-B visas for MORE Tech workers, and the like.
We just disagreed on the method, and the Teddy content of the bill, and wanted to see some modifications!
But NOOOOOO, that wasn’t good enough for all you, and AJ; the more we wanted to discuss, the more we got insulted, mocked, made fun of, etc., while you all indulged in a mutal-masturbatory frenzy of denounciation and over the top BS, playing the race card, and not the least, you have the whole Leftist-meme “I’m a victim” while insulting you trick down pat!
Now, you’re all engaged in doom-and-gloom ludicrous speculations, and braying into the Superdome sized echo-chamber that is now your “Oh-woe-is-me, we-don’t-have-any-Hispanic-votes-and-my-party-has-been-taken-over-by-Racists” nonsense!
So don’t EVEN try to portray my ACCURATE “Hellooooooooo” as an Insult to you, or AJ, and don’t play the damn “Victim” ruse with me!
Simple R05,
We need your brand of GOP
I’ll second that, A one, A two, ……….
“It has a very big benefit to the 3.1 million LEGAL children of illegal immigrants. I know they don’t vote but the are part of the whole general welfare thing.”
Since when are the children who are legal by virtue of their birth in the U.S. (a miscontruction of the 14 amendement but recognized none the less) can’t vote? The can, and do, vote.
“benefit to the familes of those who are already legal”
How so? So by the virtue of a family relationship we are to determine our immigration policy and discount what is beneficial to the host nation?
When the Swift Packing plants were raided and lost many employees because of it, those jobs were filled by LEGAL workers by paying higher wages. And the result? Swift posted record profits in the following quarter. So much for the need for near slave-wage labor.
How do we gain the world’s smartest by granting immediate legality to millions of people, 60% who have less than a high school education?
And what part of the bill gave greater border security? The $4.4 billion that was tied to fees to be paid in the future? Sorry, that dog won’t hunt.
And tell us, biglsufan, what do you think were the drawbacks to the bill?
AJ has asserted, multiple times, that by not passing the immigration bill, the Hispanic vote would be lost to Republicans. But, asserting is not the same as making a case. That he has never done.
Further, he has never shown that passing the bill would have brought a whole new voting block into the GOP. The Democrats will always out promise (not out perform, out promise) the GOP. Just like they have with the African American vote, the rhetoric before an election is not indicative of the actions after the election.
I expect this whole immigration thing would, at best, result in the same number of voters flocking to the Republicans as the Medicare prescription bill brought elderly voters to the GOP.
Rick