IMMIGRATION: WHAT HAPPENED?
Back in January, Bush expressed some admirable sentiments:

Reform must begin by confronting a basic fact of life and economics: some of the jobs being generated in America's growing economy are jobs American citizens are not filling. Yet these jobs represent a tremendous opportunity for workers from abroad who want to work and fulfill their duties as a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter.

Their search for a better life is one of the most basic desires of human beings. Many undocumented workers have walked mile after mile, through the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Some have risked their lives in dangerous desert border crossings, or entrusted their lives to the brutal rings of heartless human smugglers. Workers who seek only to earn a living end up in the shadows of American life -- fearful, often abused and exploited. When they are victimized by crime, they are afraid to call the police, or seek recourse in the legal system. They are cut off from their families far away, fearing if they leave our country to visit relatives back home, they might never be able to return to their jobs.

The situation I described is wrong. It is not the American way. Out of common sense and fairness, our laws should allow willing workers to enter our country and fill jobs that Americans have are not filling. (Applause.) We must make our immigration laws more rational, and more humane. And I believe we can do so without jeopardizing the livelihoods of American citizens.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!!! But the initiative seems to have vanished. I can't find any more news about Bush's immigration proposal anywhere. Blame politics, sure, but who: the conservative base did not react to the proposal well, but the Democrats immediately charged that it was just a "political ploy." They offered a counter-proposal... and then what? Nothing, as far as I can tell. It seems to me the Democrats' counter-proposal was the political ploy: they offered an act they knew wouldn't pass so they wouldn't have to defend it in front of the voters! [If so, they are] Lying scoundrel scum! It makes me want to see the Democrats fry, but it also makes me much more anxious about supporting Bush. The immigration proposal was the biggest reason for my burst of passion for Bush in the spring. If that has been dropped... sad, sad, sad.