Conservatives Finally Wise Up
Perhaps it was the Miers nomination which pushed conservatives over the edge and made criticism of Bush at last widely acceptable among Republican ranks, but the dissection of Bush's recent remarks on immigration policy represents a real and significant shift on the part of the Right. Everyone from Rich Lowry at the National Review to Tucker Carlson has seen Bush's assurances of increased border security for exactly what they are: empty promises that cover for Bush's long-desired guest worker program (i.e., amnesty) and stated goal to actually increase legal immigration.
In the midst of all the debate over illegal immigration, the equally valid debate over the proper role of legal immigration has been somehow pushed beyond the pale of debate, as those who oppose illegal immigration often give tacit approval to legal entry with no consideration given to the scale or quality of such immigration. In truth, the numbers of immigrants and their skill levels matter a great deal, whether or not one has a green card. Yet, as Lowry notes, every time the public has risen up in alarm over out-of-control rates of immigration, Congress has acted to increase legal immigration. Bush's proposals are only the latest act in this sad series of events, but this time it appears the public is not going to be fooled by the same tired old rhetoric.
