Bush’s immigration plan is one big photo-op

Here’s why I’m disgusted with George Bush in general, and his immigration reform plan in specific.

From the May 1 issue of TIME magazine, in an article about how the White House hopes to hold on to control of Congress by preaching to the right-wing faithful:

Deploy guns and badges. This is an unabashed play to members of the conservative base who are worried about illegal immigration. Under the banner of homeland security, the White House plans to seek more funding for an extremely visible enforcement crackdown at the Mexican border, including a beefed up force of agents patrolling on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

“It’ll be more guys with guns and badges,” said a proponent of the plan. “Think of the visuals. The President can go down and meet with the new recruits. He can go down to the border and meet with a bunch of guys and go ride around on an ATV.”

Yes indeed. On May 19 this AP photo appeared in the Portland Oregonian and many other newspapers, including the Arizona Daily Star. Sure made me feel glad that our southern border was more secure now. Gosh, now that I’ve seen our President riding around in a Border Patrol ATV, I’m on board with granting amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens.

Not! Unfortunately, the Senate was today.

Photo-op policy making wins again. And the Democrats sheepishly provided the votes to give Bush the Senate bill he wanted (38 were in favor of the bill, 4 were against; most Republicans opposed the bill).

Shades of “No Child Left Behind,” Bush proposes an unworkable but sound-bite friendly piece of legislation and the Dems are eager to line up behind it. Baaaah! Baaaah! The presidential border collie barks and the sheep-like Democratic Senators vote as directed.

I expect to be disappointed by George Bush. I had much higher hopes for the so-called opposition party. Which is that in name only, as evidenced by today’s vote.

I’m waiting for someone to oppose rewarding crossing the border illegally with citizenship, and to oppose rewarding businesses who hire low cost foreign workers with higher profits. It looks like the House Republicans are the best hope for a genuine alternative to Bush’s nonsensical “the longer you’ve broken the law, the more we want you as a citizen” legislation.

Democrats, once again you’ve been taken in by a president who has no more substance than a photo-op. That’s pathetic.

Comments

[Chuck Butcher]

Somehow progressives don't like progressives demanding respect for the legal low-mid blue collar wage earners, or their futures. Apparently all you have to do is get into the US in order to garner sympathy, if you've been here all along working your butt off - you don't count.

Chuck