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…so observes New York Times conservative columnist David Brooks, when cross-referencing the Founding Father’s reverence for virtue and civic duty with the bill’s portal to good citizenship. He writes:
Aspiring immigrants would learn, from an early age, what sort of person the U.S. is looking for. In a break from the current system, this bill awards visas on a merit-based points system that rewards education, English proficiency, agricultural work experience, home ownership and other traits. Potential immigrants would understand that the U.S. is looking for people who can be self-sufficient from the start, and they’d mold themselves to demonstrate that ability.
However, the bill’s authors (applying the skeptical zeal of our forefathers) don’t rest the success of immigration reform solely on goodwill or good conscience. Mechanisms for law and order are woven into its 1,000 page core:
The Senate bill reduces that incentive for lawlessness. If you think it is light on enforcement, read the thing. It would not only beef up enforcement on the border, but would also create an electronic worker registry. People who overstay their welcome could forfeit their chance of being regularized forever.
To read Brooks’ entire and enlightening column, New York Times subscriber’s can click here.
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Electoral Politics, Immigration | Leave a Comment
From the Deseret Morning News, a mainstream paper with consistently conservative and well-reasoned opinion pieces:
Harry Truman coined the phrase “Do nothing Congress.” But if the wobbly coalition holds between liberal and conservative lawmakers and keeps the new immigration reform bill on track, this could be the “Git ‘er done Congress.”
Few social issues bedevil American politicians, law enforcement officials, employers and social activists more than that of finding a way to deal with the tidal wave of illegal immigrants. Now, at last, the train seems to be leaving the station.
Citizens of the United States, please, don’t derail the thing.
Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall. The bill is not perfect, but it is passable.
Pass it.First of all, detractors should keep in mind that to be here illegally is not a felony, though the $5,000 fee being imposed on illegal immigrants is felony level punishment.
Make them pay, then let them stay.
To do otherwise would be to callously tighten the thumbscrews on suffering families, jittery employers, exhausted immigration officers and distracted lawmakers.
The practical reasons for the bill hold true: America needs the workers. Deporting everybody would be an impossible undertaking at an impossible cost and would be a fool’s errand.
This bill isn’t amnesty. It’s more like probation. Contribute to the welfare of the nation and you get a “stay out of jail” card — a “Z” visa. Mess up and you go home or go to the calaboose. And the borders will not be as friendly should you decided to try to slip back in.
If illegal immigrants want to become U.S. citizens or get resident cards, they need to return to their native lands and apply — and that goes for Chileans, Cambodians, Mexicans, Dominicans and the blue men of Morocco.
The bill is imperfect. It winks at family ties in favor of job skills. It gives a break to people who have broken the law. But just the fact it is making everybody annoyed means it may have a chance.
Middle ground is never easy to find. This bill comes close.
Congress needs to pass it now or spend the next two years wishing it had.
Filed under: Electoral Politics, Immigration, Media | Leave a Comment
John McCain didn’t earn the nickname “Maverick” for playing nice at patty cake. Instead, he earned his firebrad reputation by taking on the status-quo (aka: political safety zone) to do what’s right for America. This time, McCain is facing down the contentious issue of immigration reform. He’s moving forward now, despite the risks to his presidential bid, because the problem can’t wait for future generations to solve. But this time, he’s not alone.
Here’s what conservative Republican leaders across the nation are saying about McCain’s bipartisan bill:
Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT): “It is clear that comprehensive immigration reform is needed to address the national security and economic realities currently facing our country. For the past several months, both Republicans and Democrats have worked to find common ground on critical immigration issues, and I am pleased that an agreement was reached today. I continue to review the details of the legislation and look forward to the debate next week,” (Sen. Bennett, press release 5/17/07)
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA):“ [T]here is no guaranteed pathway to citizenship for anybody in this bill. But anybody who is going to become a citizen is now going to have to have a real appreciation for what it means to be an American, and why it’s important to be an American.” (Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Press Conference, 5/17/07)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-TN): The need to secure our borders, and to have a real security infrastructure in place is critical … I believe the agreement is far stronger than the bill the Senate produced last year. (Sen. Mitch McConnell, Release, 5/17/07)
Senate GOP Conference Chairman Jon Kyl (R-AZ): “…[I]t represents the best opportunity that we have in a bipartisan way to do something about this problem, and if we had not gotten together as Republicans and Democrats to develop this bipartisan consensus we can be assured that there would not be a bill passed this year and probably not next year. (Sen. Jon Kyl, Press Conference, 5/17/07)
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA): “We have found a broad agreement that can be the foundation for a meaningful change and for the security of our borders and respect for our immigration process.” (Sen. Johnny Isakson, Press Conference, 5/17/07)
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Character, Electoral Politics, Immigration | 1 Comment
As part of an interview for US News and World Report, Thomas J. O’Halloran photographed Lt. Comdr. John S. McCain on April 24, 1973. The photo was taken one month after McCain’s release from a five-year stay at the “Hanoi Hilton.” Note how little his intensity has changed in the thirtysome years since.
Photo Credit: O’Halloran/Library of Congress via pingnews at flickr
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Character, Iraq | Leave a Comment
Austin Powers be advised: in a review of Tuesday’s debate, Time Magazine puts a dynamic John McCain on top of the presidential heap.
Sold bipartisanship, hard choices, fiscal discipline, anti-torture, and experience — all his aces.
My thoughts exactly…On a related note: the John McCain Express is steadily steaming into the hearts and minds of moderate and conservative America. According Real Clear Politics poll roll-up, McCain’s right on Rudy’s tail at 21.3% to 27.2%, respectively. When accounting for an error margin of +/-4%, Rudy just might be hanging on by a thread.
Filed under: Electoral Politics | Leave a Comment
McCain stands above the fray
John McCain alone took the high ground during tonight’s debate.
Not because he’s nearly cracked-the-nut of immigration reform by working with the otherwise rancorous Democrats.
Not because he views fiscal responsibility as equal parts a tax and spending issue.
And, not because he’d rather lose this election than give in to national white-knuckledness and surrender in Iraq.
No. It’s much bigger than that: John McCain knows civilization itself is on the line when it comes to using torture.
It seemed like his argument could have been easily misinterpreted. He didn’t say he wouldn’t use torture in the most dire circumstances. He said he might in that “one-in-one-million” situation where the means might justify the end. But that’s one-in-one million, folks. A needle in a haystack. A teardrop in the rain.
But far more significantly, John McCain understood a very serious truth tonight: that millions of people across the world would hear about the debate. Maybe even the captors of our three young American Soldiers in Iraq. Accordingly, John McCain knows we are the standardbearers of the entire world. We are the penultimate trendsetters…and, if we flippantly agree to torture, if we set our clock back to time of the Spanish Inquisition, then all of civil society goes with us. And, is that the bright future where we want to lead our nation? our world?
All I can say is this: Thank you John McCain for being a thinking man with conviction, a humane man with backbone, a decent man 24/7. After tonight’s debate, particularly because his stand on torture, I am more convinced than ever that McCain is the only candidate truly qualified to be our President.
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Character, Electoral Politics | 1 Comment
Though advertised as serious news, all too often Meet the Press transmigrates into the “Tim Russert Show.” Not this time. Today, John McCain’s depth of experience, intellect and integrity took center stage.
During the interview, the Maverick senator embodied a novel idea: a political leader who learns from his mistakes, who can adjust fire when conditions changes. Consider this statement:
You know what I found out? That every time I’ve done something from what may have been influenced by political reasons, I’ve regretted it. Every time that I’ve done something that I think is right, it’s turned out OK in the end.
Then he said this about his evolving position on ethanol production:
I have adjusted to the realities of the world we live in today, and if I don’t adjust to those realities, then I would be stuck in the past. I have to adjust to the realities. The realities today are that we have a serious problem with climate change, which I have been concerned about for many years, and we have a far more serious challenge as associated with our dependence on foreign oil.
Rocket science? Obviously not. But McCain’s astute adaptability is a rare but sorely needed characteristic among leaders. Click here for the entire transcripts.
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Character, Climate Change, Economy, Electoral Politics, Energy | Leave a Comment
Today, we stand a divided nation, without confidence in government nor vision for the future. The polarizing anxieties of war, illegal immigration, climate change, energy independence, etc. have taken a toll on our collective sense-of-self and those who lead us. According to a recent Associated Press-Ipsos poll, only 35% of Americans are satisfied with the President and Congress. The unrelenting media coverage of our failings reinforces (incites?) the ongoing disappointment . Polls themselves play a influential role in the public mind…and, all too often, in the minds of our policymakers. The Weekly Standard writes today about poll-fearing Republicans surrendering their values in an attempt to assuage populist nervousness.
When lawmakers succumb to polling trends – rather than governing with conscientiousness, intellect and backbone – a self-perpetuating cycle ensues. The resulting ad hoc policies invariably fall short of expectations. The public becomes cynical, disillusioned, and fractured. The polls reflect their dissatisfaction often vis-a-vis complex issues. The lawmakers scramble again to appease. It is, of course, an unintentional but sinister race to the bottom….
But the free fall is not irreversible. Now, more than at any time in recent history, America needs a President who can bridge national divides, navigate the rough waters ahead, and lead our nation into a bright future. Yet, the problems of the day require far more than mere optimism and hopeful rhetoric. In fact, our next President must possess an unprecedented depth and breadth of skills, knowledge and integrity. He must have confidence in the American ideal but that is not enough. Our next leader must also intimately understand the complexities of governing the world’s most powerful nation, possess the moral fortitude to stand by prudent but unpopular policies, and be ready to look beyond partisan pettiness and engage the entire body politic.
Only one candidate meets this rigorous litmus test: John McCain. His record stands solidly on its own. His integrity is unquestionable. His legacy of bi-partisan legislation has been prescient and unifying. And, he is as conscientious as he is compassionate. That’s why he has my full confidence.
For more information on John McCain, check out his official website. For policy buffs, take a few minutes to peruse his speeches.
Filed under: A Man for Many Constituencies, Character, Electoral Politics, Media | 1 Comment
This is a first posting (ever) of cartoonist Mark Januzelli’s interpretation of federal fiscal responsibility. I’m guessing the Senator sees it just about the same.
Filed under: Economy, Humor | 2 Comments
McCain’s Inner Circle
Among John McCain’s many attributes include his trenchant ability to pick innovative and effective teammates. The Washington Post took a close look at the talent closest to the Senator and how they’ll help him win in ‘08:
Steve Schmidt: Schmidt has had quite a run over the past few years. In 2004 he was a member of the innermost circle of advisers on the Bush re-election campaign. He went on to oversee strategy for the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. In 2006 Schmidt managed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R-Calif.) re-election race — taking the Governator from what looked like sure defeat to a relatively easy victory. Schmidt is still in California but has taken on a larger advisory role of late in the McCain camp.
Terry Nelson: The hiring of Nelson as campaign manager was perhaps the most obvious signal that McCain would model his organization after the President’s 2004 campaign. Nelson, a native Iowan, was political director for Bush in 2004. Prior to that he served as deputy chief of staff at the Republican National Committee in 2002 and as political director of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2000.
John Weaver: Weaver is to McCain as Karl Rove is to George W. Bush. A longtime political hand from Texas, Weaver took McCain’s defeat in 2000 hard — leaving the Republican party to do work as a Democratic strategist for a brief time in the 2002 election (Weaver ceased all political activity for the better part of three years as he battled leukemia.) Weaver has since made peace with Rove and was integral in the recruitment of former members of Bush world during the early days of McCain’s presidential bid.
Mark Salter: No one knows John McCain the man better than Salter. Salter is more than McCain’s longtime chief of staff — he is also co-author of several of McCain’s best known books including “Faith of Our Fathers” and “Character is Destiny” and is widely regarded as McCain’s alter-ego.
Brian Jones: Jones’ rapid-rise through Republican politics has culminated with his role as communications director for McCain’s presidential bid. Like Nelson, Jones has experience in the upper echelons of the Bush 2004 campaign as a senior communications adviser and served as communications director for the Republican National Committee in the 2006 cycle.
Tom Loeffler: Loeffler, a Texan, and McCain served together in Congress during the 1980s and have remained close. In the recent shakeup following McCain’s lackluster first fundraising quarter, Loeffler’s role in the campaign has been elevated as he now oversees all of the cash-collecting operation. McCain needs a big second quarter and is relying on Loeffler to deliver it.
Russ Schriefer: Schriefer is the lead media consultant for McCain 2008 — overseeing a group of image makers in the same way that Mark McKinnon did for the Bush re-election. Schriefer, along with his business partner Stuart Stevens, were responsible for some of the most memorable ads of the 2004 presidential race including one that showed Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) windsurfing and another that featured Kerry insisting that he had actually voted for an $87 billion appropriation for the war in Iraq before he voted against it.
Bill McInturff: McInturff is one of the holdovers from McCain’s 2000 campaign. As he did in that race, McIntruff will serve as the lead pollster for McCain in 2008. McInturff is a founding partner of Public Opinion Strategies, one of the most highly regarded survey research firms on the Republican side.
Mark McKinnon: McKinnon became a well-known political figure during the 2000 campaign when he oversaw the vast media campaign for Bush. In a previous life McKinnon had worked for a number of Democrats including Ann Richards (Texas) and Michael Dukakis (Mass.). McKinnon also served a stint as a songwriter with Kris Kristofferson (his official bio says he was “wildly unsuccessful” at it).
Phil Gramm: Another Texan, Gramm served in the Senate from 1984 to 2002 and even made a presidential run of his own in 1996. Gramm is intimately involved in the day to day operations of the campaign and has the ear of McCain. He is also being relied on as a key member of McCain’s policy team with a particular emphasis on the economy.
Missing from this enterprising team is Sen. McCain’s Southwest Region Coordinator, Tim Bridgewater, a former Congressional candidate and well-respected leader in Utah’s GOP community.
Filed under: Electoral Politics | 2 Comments
