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The Hot Plate Issue Has Arrived
Immigration reform has burst upon the scene, sparking angry confrontations and name calling — and that’s just within the GOP itself…
5 Responses to “The Hot Plate Issue Has Arrived”
This issue was a gift from above for the GOP. I believe many of the pundits have it all wrong. They are talking about how the Republican Party is fractured. Even though Bush and many of the conservative elites back the Bush/Kennedy/McCain plan, the base of the Republican Party doesn’t. Bush and the conservatives elites mostly supported the ports deal. We all saw what happened there.
The Republican base strongly supports what was passed in the House. When people are voting in their district, they will want to know which candidate was toughest on illegal immigaration. It will not matter what Bush thinks about it. Most Republican politicians are already running away from Bush as fast as they can. This will be another way of showing their independence. The Republican base is infuriated over this issue. The Democrats are basically keeping their mouths shut as usual. The Republicans are on record in the House for being extremely tough on illegal immigration. The Democrats are taking a more moderate approach. This moderate approach might be intellectually and morally responsible, but it will not help the Democrats politically. In midterm elections you need to get your base riled up. The Democratic base will not be riled up over this issue. All Republicans have to do now is make this the number one issue throughout the country. Bring up how most Democrats are weak on illegal immigration and watch them score gigantic political points. Then watch how the Democrats act stunned when they don’t take over the House or Senate in 2006. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Note: The only thing that will save the Democrats is a compromise between the House and more moderate Senate plan. If the Democrats can vote on this compromise, they will have cover. If I was a Republican, I would do my best to keep a compromise from happening. Without a compromise, the Democrats are extremely vulnerable to the attack on being weak on illegal immigration.
Cordially,
Moderate Democrat
The Demo’s can’t take a strong stand on anything, they can’t stand along side their own Senator when he proposed censue of the criminal-in-chief. And the Repug’s base won’t let anything serious happen as the base need cheap labor in their companies.
Dear Moderate Democrat,
I think you have it all wrong. The only side that loses in this quandary is the Republicans. Their base is in a state of confusion over having to choose between a “right” position represented by the House bill, and a pro-business position represented by GW.Bush/McCain. In the end, the only thing up for grabs is the hispanic bloc, which will mostly go to the Democrats.
When the majority party has problems, the minority party merely has to point the finger.
The base might be energised, but the business Republicans have the money, and it is the money that wins the elections.
Not win’s grog, it buys.