Dammit, Rove!

[NorCalDem]

How did we let ourselves fall into the same damn trap!

Not that immigration isn't tremendously important, but dammit I know that this issue is going to help Republicans pick up votes for the '06 midterm elections. Although 62% of the country doesn't like Bush, not all of that 62% thinks particularly highly of Mexicans and other people here from South of the Border. It's unfortunate, and I'm not referring to anyone here at DU, but face it people, some of those Republican seats that were in Jeopardy for very good reasons (bad war, bad economy, Bush going down in flames, etc.) are now going to look a little better after this wedge gets driven in.

It saddens me to say it, but here's my opinion on the issue.

Illegal immigration deserves serious debate but at this point in time we are not prepared for the cost associated with fixing the problem in a suitable manner. It'll cost too much (budget's getting slimmer with this war) and we don't have the manpower (national guard tied up in that war) to treat the problem as seriously as it deserves.

Both sides (either amnesty or felony-punishment) are going to bring a huge cost to bear on the citizens of this country that at this time we are simply not prepared to take on. Doesn't matter for the Republicans however, they've already proven deficits don't matter and that most white people, deep down, are afraid of brown people.

Face it, on this issue they win!

Edited to add: they win, not in a 50-50 sort of way, but in a way in which it serves as damage control :D

[CPMaz]

1. No doubt about it -

Immigration is an election-year smokescreen issue - the Repubs may be wholly corrupt, but they aren't stupid. They know if the voters judge them on their record (stuff you covered quite well), they are screwed.

And unemployed come January. (many of them, anyway)

Watch how fast the furor dies down after the elections once the issue doesn't have any value for the Repubs.

[Skittles]

2. you know it, CPMaz

welcome to DU :hi:

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. I don't think this immigration flap is going to help them

People see it as jr & the rups upsetting the status quo. The status quo was working for them, and nobody else that mattered cared about it one way or the other.

[Ignacio Upton]

4. This is will not help the Repubs

Immigration divides their party along libertarian/pro-business vs. xenophobe/paleo-conservative lines.

[tulsakatz]

5. I agree..........

I don't see this issue as something that would help Republicans in the election.

The latinos that Bush has tried to bring to their side are now seeing that Bush has done nothing for them!

This issue is also creating a division within their own party! They can't even agree on the immigration bill! And that is further weakening any their party.

[Minnesota Libra]

6. I tend to agree with you because whatever party can figure out...........

....how to permanently secure our borders and deal with the illegal alien issue will win elections for some time to come.:think:

Personally, I like Lou Dobbs approach although he is a self-professed conservative.:eyes: At least he's a thinking fair-minded conservative and not a neocon.

Before anyone flames me please remember this is about the only issue I routinely disagree with liberals on.:shrug:

[pearl]

7. This is their only hope

To so inflame their base as to bring them to the polls.
They are hoping for a "Backlash" from their racist
reactionary base. That's exactly what Howard Dean predicted.

[cassiepriam]

8. yep, Rove at work, with Bubba bait...

Get everyone stirred up over some hot button issue.

In the meantime they are murdering every man, woman and
child in Iraq.