This statement Tuesday by President Bush about the immigration debate was truly unfortunate.
Those determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don't like. If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it, you can use it to frighten people. Or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all, so the people who wear the uniform in this crowd can do the job we expect them to do.
Well. Those who "don't want to do what's right for America" now include such radicals as George Will and Peggy Noonan. I don't think we've heard that kind of churlishness since Bush was thwarted in his doomed 2005 attempt to nominate the unfortunate Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.
Just a few weeks ago, Mickey Kaus was quoted by the omniscient Instapundit:
The president's ratings have tumbled each time immigration reform dominates the news. Using advanced, high-tech tools, Karl Rove has found the last pocket of support for Bush and destroyed it with laser-like efficiency.
I'd say President Bush is doing his own dirty work now. Maybe he thinks his Democratic allies in this foolishness will save the day. But at what cost?
Posted by Alan at May 30, 2007 05:57 AM