Ruben Navarette is one of the best commentators on immigration. His home paper is in San Diego. But he also is willing to hammer the extremes on both sides. His latest column (via RealClearPolitics) is a case of that.
The Pence-Hutchison proposal is better than the enforcement-only House bill, which is doomed to failure, and the Senate bill, but it still has two problems. First, there is no way to be sure that the foreign "Ellis Island Centers" will work. Second, it relies on the notion of "self-deportation", which is a false promise - it's only doable if you make life here more miserable than where the illegals come from. That's going to take a lot of doing.
I think the approach suggested by Congressman Chris Cannon's advisory committee is a better one. But then again, as Hedgehog Central has pointed out, even the Pence bill is bitterly opposed by the hardliners.
In essence, the immigration hard-liners are to the GOP what the Deaniacs are to the Democrats. The conservatives have be frustrated beyond description. The Democrats have me royally pissed off, and frightened for the future of the country. Not a good choice for November, is it?
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2 comments:
Do you really expect anything to be done? I like the opening song of the play "1776" "...piddle, twiddle, and resolve, not one damn thing do we solve..." If this is no the perfect discription of the hard-line anti-immigration I don't know what is.
We all know Tancredo is the one who torpedoed the immigration bill, I think it was in Jan. of 2005, only to be raked over the coals by Rove. In my mind the only reason he is on this course is to embarass the White House and do as much as he can to harm GWB politically. How else can you explain the irrational actions of a handfull of hard line conservatives who have completely hijacked the House?
Frankly, I don't expect anything to be accomplished. Frankly, I don't think they want anything to be accomplished. If something were accomplished, what could they posture on FOX news about, esp. Tancredo who is a single issue person.
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog
Wow, thanks for introducing me to Navarrette. Excellent, clear writer.
I agree with Pondering American about the Ellis Island stipulation. Seems like a stupid, symbolic gesture that will cost boat loads of money, waste everyone's time, and cause more traffic jams at the border.
I have no idea where this immigration thing is going. Nothing about it is logical or predictable. I'm nearly past caring about the Pubbies though, except for what might befall GWB should we lose one or both houses. That thought, plus about a liter of vodka, will propel me to the polls in November.
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