The GOP's suicide pact
Thousands of New Yorkers march for immigrant rights
Minutemen Gather to Press Border Control
Apr 01 8:27 PM US/Eastern
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By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer
THREE POINTS, Ariz.
At least 200 mostly older men and women heard more than a half-dozen speakers praise their efforts and call the Minutemen heroes.
At a rally kicking off the effort at a remote southern Arizona ranch Saturday afternoon, politicians and activists opposing illegal immigration gave fiery speeches calling for more border control.
At least 200 mostly older men and women heard more than a half-dozen speakers praise their efforts and call the Minutemen heroes.
Don Goldwater, a Republican candidate for Arizona governor, said he had a message for President Bush.
"Build us that wall _ now!" Goldwater said, referring to a measure that would add 700 miles fences along the border. He promised that if elected, he would put illegal immigrants in a tent city on the border and use their labor to build the wall. Goldwater is a nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater.
The GOP really, really misjudged the mood of the American people
New Poll: Americans Favor a Guest Worker Plan
79% say illegal immigrants should have the chance to work here, but most want tougher enforcement too
By JYOTI THOTTAM
* Analysis: Full Poll Report
Posted Friday, Mar. 31, 2006
Americans polled by TIME magazine show strong support for a guest-worker program and a process for undocumented workers to become citizens, but they take a tough stance on securing the borders. And most do not want illegal immigrants to have access to health care, public education or driver's licenses.
In the telephone survey of 1004 adults, conducted Wednesday and Thursday, 79% say they favor a guest worker program that would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. for a fixed period of time — the main provision of the bill proposed by Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy that is now under fierce debate in Congress. Only 47% of those polled say they support the tougher measure backed by some House conservatives, deporting all illegal immigrants back to their home countries.
Although Americans want to give illegal immigrants the chance to work in the U.S. temporarily and even earn citizenship—78% say illegal immigrants who learn English, have a job and pay taxes ought to have a chance at it—they also want better enforcement both at the border and inside the country. A large majority, 71%, favor major penalties for people who hire illegal immigrants; 62% want the U.S. to take "whatever steps are necessary" to secure the border with Mexico, including posting military forces; and 56% favor a 2,000-mile-long fence. That two-pronged approach to illegal immigration is the same one favored by President Bush, who wants both a guest worker program and tighter border security
See, the Tancredo plan would require an upsurge in anti-immigrant feeling and a real debate on immigration issues. Instead, because the House bill was so draconian, the immigrant community was able to not only rally, but show a lot more strength than anyone imagined.
And the GOP is so trapped by their base, that they refuse to seperate from the looney minutemen.
I don't believe for one minute that this went the way Bush wanted it to go. And Tancredo's bitching about amnesty is falling on deaf ears.
How can we have a real discussion on border security when you have the modern Klan standing watch provoking the Mexican government. This is a two state solution, not something the US can impose, which seems not to be understood in Congress.
The GOP base is likely to be very unhappy, while alienating millions of hispanics as well.
posted by Steve @ 1:43:00 AM
