do you all remember when Rove said he wanted to make immigration

[400Years]

the issue for the next election?

well, I don't think it's working out too well. It looks to me like it is doing nothing but fracturing the republicans.

[MadMaddie]

1. I agree with you....they picked on the wrong demographic

and underestimated the power of the Latino community....

This may be the catalyst that broke the camels back....

[Christa]

2. My compliments to him

for a job well done :evilgrin:

[endarkenment]

3. Fractures Democrats too.

And as the Hispanic vote is largely Democratic, this is not exactly stupid on Rove's part. What is stupid is DU'ers falling for the xenophobia.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. If he said that, then it just proves how Rove and the republicans

have the media in their back pocket.

[Bridget Burke]

5. If you look at DU, it would appear the Democrats are fractured...

But if you look closer, the "tuffer than the Republicans" message is only coming from a few.

Cragg Hines ended his Houston Chronicle column like this:

Republicans in Congress better beware," said California consultant Hoffenblum.

Hispanics can interpret the anti-immigrant message as "unless you look like us and talk like us we don't want you to vote for us," Hoffenblum said.

The angst in Congress contrasts sharply with largely joyous pro-immigrant demonstrations around the country, prompting political scientist Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the University of Southern California to remark on the political effects of the debate that so many conservatives have been demanding: "It energizes the Democratic base and splits the Republican base."

May it ever be thus.

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/hines/3755240.html

[400Years]

9. thanks for posting that

[EFerrari]

11. That's right!

Great catch.

[Zimmy44]

6. He wanted a wedge...

...and he's getting it in a very uncomfortable spot.

[400Years]

10. ha ha

:rofl:

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Sure do!

I keep trying to find the post I made a couple of months ago about it, trying to say it was going to gear up and the number one hot-button issue. I'd been seeing the rumblings setting the stage for it...voila!

[peace frog]

8. On the other hand, Junior is poised to look like a savior

to all the undocumented aliens who are about to be granted amnesty in the latest round of Republican immigration "reform" law. Repubs whose proposals offer harsher tactics may suffer by comparison, but I don't think Junior gives a good goddamn as long as he looks good. Getting Republicans elected is Rove's headache... Junior cares only for himself.

[EFerrari]

12. It won't work because HE isn't up for re-election -- unless

we're looking at 8 years of Jeb in another Diebold coup. :puke:

[peace frog]

13. You miss my point

Junior is still campaigning and shilling for Big Bidniz, it's the only thing he's been able to do with a modicum of success (he sure as shit can't govern). No doubt Junior's proposal to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens will pass as law, making him and the Republicans who support his legislation heroes to the "saved". I'm certain it will be remembered by minority voters later this election year.

Rove is off his game lately, but not by much.

[EFerrari]

14. Yes, I agree with you. He's their frontman.

But imho, the BFEE is in this for the long haul. They have to decide whether to piss of their base with this amnesty program or gamble on a new constituency that so far hates their guts.

Latinos have had too many people slaughtered or otherwise mistreated to ever jump on the B* or GOP bandwagon. They'll like the amnesty if that happens; they won't cross over. Hell, I can throw a rock in my front yard and hit at least three people who have lost family members to death squads in Central America.

Edit: And I live in a working class hood that isn't heavily Latino, fyi.

[countryjake]

17. Undocumented workers know exactly what Bush's "guest worker" proposal

actually means. They've been struggling against those visas for decades in trying to fight for better conditions and higher wages on their jobs...as fast as they gain any foothold in unionizing, their employer claims "shortage", which gives him the right to implement "guest worker", shipping in a load of scab labor on those temporary visas.

Our prez's "plan" is more of that same-old-same-old and a majority of the "undocumented" who work in this country, recognize it for exactly the old threat it represents.

[Sapere aude]

15. Are you discussing the war or immigration right now?

It's working all right. The heat is off Bush now and the whole country is focused on illegal immigration. Rove is still smarter then most of us here IMHO.

[Cleita]

16. It's fracturing both sides.

Look at what has been said at DU?

[400Years]

18. when has a day gone by when people on DU didn't argue about stuff?

that's the difference between us and that circle jerk over at FR