NationStates Jolt Archive


More on Immigration -- Enemies of America Abound

Myrmidonisia
01-06-2007, 21:28
I guess I've finally joined the ranks of the "unpatriotic". I've been disgusted with what has been going on in the Republican party for a long time, so there's really no final straw to cause me to abandon them. But the recent statements from the White House about this awful immigration bill are just too much to ignore.

One of the leading indicators is what my favorite columnist has to say today. You know that when Peggy Noonan says (http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/) bad things about the President, a line has been crossed. Here's an excerpt from her column...

The president has taken to suggesting that opponents of his immigration bill are unpatriotic--they "don't want to do what's right for America." His ally Sen. Lindsey Graham has said, "We're gonna tell the bigots to shut up." On Fox last weekend he vowed to "push back." Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff suggested opponents would prefer illegal immigrants be killed; Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said those who oppose the bill want "mass deportation." Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson said those who oppose the bill are "anti-immigrant" and suggested they suffer from "rage" and "national chauvinism."

I still support the tax cuts that (shouldn't) expire in 2010 and I still support the decision to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq -- even if the premise to go to Iraq was a little tenuous. We are better off tying up terrorists there because Homeland Security sure can't keep them out. I mean if the DHS can't stop one guy with Tuberculosis, how can we expect them to keep out hordes of foreign terrorists? But those were all first term decisions. The second term has been as mismanaged as was the aftermath of Katrina.

And I console myself with the idea that this is still better than an America with Al Gore or John Kerry at the helm. Although in either of those outcomes, we'd still have a Congress that was comprised of a decent opposition party.

I like to think of myself as a Libertarian party member, but I'm also a realist. I know that the LP isn't going to be a factor in national politics for a very long time, if ever. It's up to the Conservatives of the Republican party to come to grips with Bush and the religious right to produce a party that can govern.

We're in for a long, rough ride until then.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
01-06-2007, 21:33
I guess I've finally joined the ranks of the "unpatriotic".

Don't be silly. It's a rare Republican indeed who would slander you on the basis of dissent like that. I'm supporting Newt, myself, who has been highly critical of many recent Bush Admin. policies including immigration. It's they who are behind the times, not us who are unpatriotic. :)
Araraukar
01-06-2007, 21:36
From where I'm standing, you're still a raving mad patriotic maniac, if it helps any! :D
Myrmidonisia
02-06-2007, 01:02
From where I'm standing, you're still a raving mad patriotic maniac, if it helps any! :D
I'm worried less about my patriotism than about the next six years. It's going to be a painful time for conservatives.