Borders

It looks like some democRats are taking the bait.  New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (who I think has a 50-50 chance of being on the democRat ticket with Hillary in 2008) and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, both known for their very lax histories on immigration and border control, are now speaking out about the catastrophic failure of the federal government (*cough*wehatebush*cough*) to secure the borders.

Michelle Malkin, a stalwart champion of secured borders, thinks this is bad news for Republicans, who, in general, have failed to come up with a good policy.

I, however, the eternal optimist, have a different take:

If the Republican Party is able to read the winds properly, this could be the biggest backfiring blunder the democRats have made since... well, it's hard to compare things like this as long as Howard Dean speaks.  But this could backfire big time on dems.

The more active Republicans, like us right-wing bloggers, have been all over this issue for years.  But mainstream America hasn't put much thought into it... yet.  Now, thanks to two big-name democRats with good media connections, this issue has been put on the front page, for everyone to see.  And what will they see as the issue unfolds?

We are still over one full year from the next Congressional election, and over 3 full years from the next Presidential election.  That's time for things to happen, and currently only Republicans have the power to do anything.  The democRats do not have any control over the House, and have only the power to obstruct in the Senate.  Worse, they not only have no control over the White House, but face a President with no re-election to worry about.  Even if Bush fails, Republicans have the power to nominate a successor with a strong border and immigration policy.  Blaming Bush does nothing for the democRats because he isn't running again, ever.  The democRats can do nothing but complain; the Republicans have all the power to implement change.

If the Republicans respond to these charges (which, to be fair, are legitimate!) and pass a few new laws (even if they are half-hearted attempts) to curb illegals, then during the election cycles, they get to take credit.  What's more: the democRats making an issue of this are taking a big gamble.  They know that this position is not the position of their base.  They aren't hoping to win support, but to fracture the opposition.  Their gamble is that they will harm the Republican Party more than they will anger their own.  But if we call their bluff, we solidify our own base, while at the same time watching theirs erode.

Republicans: take notice!

If you rise to this challenge, now that the democRats have put the issue into the mainstream media, you will steal their thunder and ride to an election landslide and single-party control not seen since the FDR era.

Comments

[Rivrdog]

Republicans take notice (2):

If you FAIL to take advantage of the (D)onks hanging their wazoo out in the breeze on this issue, YOU WILL LOSE THE NEXT ELECTION, BECAUSE THE RIGHT WILL STAY HOME IN DROVES.

[Sailor Republica]

Tom Tancredo is already doing it, as is George Allen, Norm Coleman, and (God help us) John McCain.

Let's put Gordie Smith's feet to the fire, let's get Condi Rice on notice.

We will not tolerate Vincente Fox's war on the USA, we will not tolerate illegal immigrants, and we will partner with Napolitano and Richardson if we have to.

[Van Helsing]

I must be an eternal pessimist, because I don't see anyone but Tancredo (whom the Left would have no trouble caricaturing as a kook) willing to do anything meaningful to secure our borders.

[Gullyborg]

I expect Tancredo to play the Howard Dean role: he has no chance of winning anything, but his message will be so popular he will draw a lot of early support and force the other candidates to address the issue. Howard Dean used anti-war Bush hatred; Tancredo will use anti-illegal immigration as a security issue.

If McCain takes a strong stand on it, it could almost totally overcome his current negatives with the base and catapult him into the White House.

If George Allen takes a strong stand and manages to get the word out, he could use that along with his deep connections with the party establishment to dominate the primaries.

I have a lot of optimism about this; it's too big for the party as a whole to continue to ignore much longer. And since Bush is a lame duck, even if he completely ignores it, it doesn't matter so much; as long as his potential successors pick up the ball and run with it, we win.

[JannyMae]

Well, as a citizen of the great RED state of Arizona, I can tell you that Napolitano is not fooling me. She has advocated driver's licenses for illegals--no doubt, so they can vote for her. She has vetoed over 50 bills placed before her by the legislature to curb illegal alien activities, and she has continued to oppose the enforcement of the Protect Arizona Now ballot Prop. 200. The only reason she is making any little WHIMPERS about cracking down on illegals, is Don Goldwater, Barry's nephew, has announced that he is going to run against her. He has been making the rounds in the state, pointing out her lax policies, and he was even on Hannity's radio show the other day. She's shaking in her boots, and she won't fool too many conservatives here.