The Politics Of Immigration Reform

The President's attempt at compromise last night- a first- seems to have alienated everyone.

In particular, the right-wing base of the Republican party is up in arms over this (literally, in the case of the minutemen). Glenn Greenwald has an excellent roundup of these reactions. Michelle Malkin again blew off the President's rhetoric as an "amnesty sham". National Review's Mark Levin said "This is pure idiocy, and it has the potential of being far more damaging to this nation than any big-government power-grab perpetrated by any previous president and Congress." Powerline blogger John Hinderaker stated bluntly, "President Bush doesn't have many chances left to salvage his second term. After tonight, he might not have any."

Speaking of Hinderaker, his post has a story unintentionally revealing the subtle racism behind all this conservative outrage, as well as some general stupidity-

I rode home from the airport in a taxi a few minutes ago. My driver, as is almost always the case in Minnesota, was an African immigrant. No sooner had I gotten into the cab than he began talking about the speech and railing against Bush on the theory that the President is anti-immigrant. I patiently tried to explain that President Bush is in trouble because he is not just pro-immigrant, but pro-illegal immigrant. I explained that he has argued for a guest worker program and a path to citizenship, and has said repeatedly that it would be impossible to deport all the illegals.

My cab driver was completely disoriented by this. I could tell he didn't believe it. Like nearly all African cab drivers, he listens to public radio all day long. Twenty minutes with me wasn't enough to overcome years of liberal indoctrination. He simply wasn't able to absorb the idea that President Bush might not be a racist who hates immigrants. I'm sure he'd forgotten everything I said by the time he left my driveway.

As Hinderaker intelligently explains, it is a well documented fact that all cab drivers- aside from being African immigrants- listen to public radio all day long, the sole purpose of which is to brainwash Africans and smooth jazz fans with liberal indoctrination. Thank goodness Mr. Hinderaker is here to set us all straight, even if that damn liberal NPR-listening African didn't appreciate it.

Meanwhile, Matt Drudge has up this deliciously sensational story about a mini-race-riot that broke out last night at a Waffle House in the heart of conservative America-

A parting gunshot from a vehicle leaving Waffle House in West Asheville, NC shattered a window and caused a minor injury, police said.

The shooting happened around 3:00 a.m. Saturday after a group of whites argued with a group of Hispanics at the 24-hour restaurant on Smokey Park Highway, Asheville police Lt. Wallace Welch said

“The two groups were jawing back and forth with each other over citizenship issues and whatnot,” Welch said.

I've been to Waffle House. It can get pretty rough in there, particularly if one of the regulars encounters someone with brown skin. Sadly, I think this is actually a perfect snapshot of the temperature and maturity of the immigration 'debate' being put forth from the Malkin wing of the GOP.

I hope this is just an isolated incident and not a sign of things to come.

At least in Congress things are moving forward for a change (at least for now), thanks to cooperation between both parties and... yep, compromise-

Buoyed by President Bush, supporters of immigration legislation established command in the Senate on Tuesday, brushing aside potentially crippling challenges to a bill that blends tougher border enforcement with a path to citizenship for millions in the United States illegally...

...The Senate bill provides additional funds for border security, the guest worker program, an eventual opportunity at citizenship for most of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country and a tougher program of enforcement to prevent the hiring of illegal workers...

I expect, though, that squabbling between the House and Senate will stall this for months.

Finally, a central question asked by many on the left is 'why now?'. Nothing has changed in the immigration situation recently, so why have the Republicans suddenly upgraded the situation to a 'crisis'? Obvious answer: It's all political. More specifically, it's all about the midterm elections.... Illegal immigration is the new gay marriage.

A Talking Points Memo readers compares it to the color-coded terror alerts that permeated the '04 election season.

In addition, a commenter at Greenwald's blog notes "[This debate] allows them to vent sheer, unbridled rage at a president who has failed, but not direct that fury at the failed policies they supported, and often still do." Another person hits on the same point, adding "I'm beginning to think the whole immigration thing was ginned up to give the base an excuse to desert Bush while pretending it has nothing to do with losing the war in Iraq, corruption, incompetence, and the utter failure of conservative theory to transplant in the real world."

[*points to nose*] By George (W), I think you've got it.