President Plans Immigration Address For Monday

Immigration-Mania '06 continues this Monday with a televised address from the President...

AP: Bush to Speak About Immigration on Monday

President Bush plans to address the nation Monday night on the immigration debate, trying to build momentum for legislation that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens.

The White House said it was seeking time from television networks for the president's remarks...

Fox, if you preempt 'Prison Break' or '24' for this, you will meet my wrath!!

The article implies that the President will continue to push for the same plan he's been sticking with- ie. less rigid than the draconian House bill, with more focus on guest workers and earned citizenship- but I get the feeling he's going to backtrack on that, at least a little. Why hold a live, televised address to reiterate a policy position that is satisfactory to no one? The left thinks (and I'm including me there) that a guest worker plan amounts to legalized slave labor, while the right thinks his plan amounts to amnesty and a betrayal of his presidential duties. Given that he's at 29% approval, he needs his base now more than anything else, and so my instincts tell this address will be a partial reversal of course- a chance for him to stake out a tough, hardline stance on immigration that will be pleasing to the Lou Dobbs of the world. Of course, whatever he would propose will likely not be seen as satisfactory enough by the far-right (who are merely playing the border security card to hide a larger xenophobia), nor will it stop the Republicans in Congress from tearing themselves apart over this 'debate', but this is all speculation. We'll find out on Monday.

As long as it takes enough people's attention away from the war, NSA spying, congressional corruption, and other failures, it will probably be a success by the President's definitions.

[By the way, look at the photo the AP used. Is Dick Cheney sleeping again?]