The forced relocation of 8 to 12 million Hispanic immigrants who have arrived illegally over the last 10 years would be the greatest ethnic cleansing human tragedy since the Stalinist "reorganization" of the borders of Poland in 1945.
Therefore don't expect enough of today's Congress to seriously consider it to make it an issue. Conservatives like Shawn Hannity, who are screaming to "send them back" for no better reason than that they broke a defective law by arriving, are making the conservative movement look foolish-at least in the long run, if not today.
Bush, who has long been one of the few Republicans to realize that the long run future of any Republican majority either has an Hispanic face, or will not be possible at all, has also now arrived at the conclusion that the border must be put back under control. He will now proceed, and reap the short term political windfall, while still insisting on the only possible solution for the millions of working (and law-abiding) Mexicans who are already here: an amnesty disguised under another name.
A time limit to apply for full citizenship (with an accelerated process), a SMALL penalty that can be paid off with a "credit" of future income taxes paid, rather than any reparation or other cash or property seizure, and something of a pass for employers who have used these workers over the last decade, are the likely outcomes. Finally, a wall running all the way from Texas to California may be too much of a boodoggle (like the Grassley Jungle or the Bridge to Nowhere-but more expensive), but an optimal mix of border police and strategically-located walls will be the likely outcome.
Such would be an historical solution to a festering political problem that would make a bright light in Bush's already shining legacy. The IRONY (and conservatives should be thoroughly ASHAMED of themselves) is that he will have to accomplish it in alliance with RINO's and liberals.
Let's hope that doesn't give him any wrong ideas about any other important issues... |
