OCCOM BILL wrote:Cyclops; that conclusion relies entirely too heavily on your delusion that the 2008 election has already been decided. It also ignores the possibility that Republican strategists would prefer Immigration Reform be something that Democrats shove down Republican throats. Think about it. A large segment of the population is going to think it a disaster no matter what it looks like. And the current compromise is appealing to practically no one.
Just because you can't see the writing on the wall, doesn't mean that I can't, Bill. The odds are in favor of a Dem winning in '08. You know this, but don't want to admit it. The odds are in favor of the Dems keeping the Senate and House in '08, but you don't want to admit that either, I guess. This translates to good odds for a Dem-ran country.
As much of the population favors much of the bill in question - though everyone has a small problem with some part of it, you are correct - I am going to have to disagree with your last sentence. Path to legalization polls well, securing the border polls well. The overall bill polls poorly as the Dems think it's too tough on the illegals who are here, and the Republicans think it isn't tough enough.
If Republican strategists would rather see the Dems shove a Dem-written, Dem-preferred bill down their throats in three years, then hey - I agree with them and welcome the opportunity for that to happen. But I think in the long run it is a mistake for the Republican party to further alienate Latino voters (who had turned to them in large numbers before the immigration issue came up) while actively working to kill attempts to solve the problem. It's a lose-lose for them.
Cycloptichorn
