I think you actually have a very good stategy on this issue. The Republicans can look like idiots after this is all over.
Posted by Dennis Carney at May 2, 2006 10:27 AMIt seems to me, the more the American people become acquainted with Bill "Cat Killer" Frist, the more they loathe him.
Posted by Christopher at May 2, 2006 10:40 AMIf Steve is right, and he's pretty persuasive, then Reid bungled this the first time around, and gave KKKarl's Capital & Crucifix Party additional time to perfect and revise their strategy.
We have no margin of error. Everything has to work perfectly for the Dems to have the slimmest hope of geting one house of congress by a single vote. I expect professionals to be able to play several moves ahead.
Posted by euzoius at May 2, 2006 11:37 AMSteve,
I'd agree with one very important caveat. It's only acceptable to utilize such "clever" and appropriate political tactics IF there is no chance the bill will actually pass.
I'm not so sanguine that Bush would even possibly consider vetoing the bill. That means if the whack-jobs in the House managed to have their way with the legislation and then, at the all-republican (no Democrats tolerated) joint reconcilliation committee, there's WAY too much insanity to believe it would be fixed or made "compassionate".
As far as I'm concerned, the value of nuanced politics, beltway style, ends when it actually starts hurting the middle class and working families. Once laws like that are enacted, millions can suffer before (if ever) the law can be rectified. Perhaps Harry has a good reason to NOT want to trust the porcess.
Posted by DeminNewJ at May 2, 2006 11:41 AMDeminNJ:
The idea behind my approach is the Dems are covered no matter what. Even if the House pushes through the harsh bill, and even if Bush signs it, the Dems can say that 1) we didn't have the power to change the bill for the better; and 2) if you vote for us in November, we will fix it next year into what McCain/Kennedy was trying to do.
As for the GOP, even if the harsh House bill hits Bush's desk and he signs it, the GOP loses the wedge issue for the fall election, while pissing off the Catholic Church, all faith groups, and the Latino bloc of voters, thereby undermining Rove's handiwork all these years.
Posted by Steve Soto at May 2, 2006 12:09 PMSteve:
I suggest you look at this issue from the point of view of the immigrants. A bill sponsored by the Republicans would become politically accepted by even the Swift Boaters. Any bill that came out of a future Dem house would not. And the Swifties would then use this issue to divide the country. Let's just accept (as Harry should) an imperfect bill from the Repubs and take this issue off the table....
whenwego:
When the Dems control the House and Senate, and if I am calling the shots, the Swifties will be on the run 24/7/365.
Posted by Steve Soto at May 2, 2006 12:33 PMI agree with Steve. This is a great win-win strategy for the Democrats. Let the Repuglicans commit hara-kiri over this issue.
Jonathan
Posted by at May 2, 2006 12:36 PM"By the way, can someone please ask the family values crowd like Sensenbrenner, Tancredo, and Rohrabacher what they plan to do with the millions of children citizens of these deportees when the GOP deports their parents?"
You know the answer to that, right?
If children are dual citizens and neither parent is a legal resident of the United States, then they will be forcibly expatriated. Otherwise, they will be treated as stateless persons.
By the way, "stateless person" is one of those wonderful terms of art in international law. It would be worth looking up to see what it means if you're confused. I assure you— Sensenbrenner, Rohrabacher and Tancredo are not at all confused.
Posted by s9 at May 2, 2006 01:57 PMSteve, perhaps Rove IS thinking several steps ahead on this one:
Let's say the final bill looks a lot like the current House bill (conference committee shenanigans and all). Bush signs it.
Latin people in the US go beserk. Rioting in the streets. Calling out the national guard. Putting latins in the detention camps BushCo has built in the US. Declaring martial law.
Huge protests also from the Dem. left. More rioting.
BushCo wins the battle for the House and Senate under a law and order banner.
It could happen....
Posted by JimPortlandOR at May 2, 2006 02:13 PM