The Decider Becomes the Defeatist

"Not all incremental progress is equal in the eyes of President Bush. When it occurs in Iraq, it is a sign that we need to forge ahead despite all difficulties. When it occurs on our southern border, it is deemed insufficient and a sign that — to use a favorite GOP phrase — we need to settle on a 'surrender date' on immigration enforcement. That date would be whenever Bush’s latest 'comprehensive' reform proposal kicked in. He wants to legalize illegal immigrants already here and invite in 'temporary' guest workers. When Congress finishes with it, this probably will be another proposal to solve the illegal-immigrant problem by making all immigrants past and future legal. This is the immigration-enforcement version of 'declare victory and go home,'" writes Rich Lowry in National Review. "The administration contradicts itself on enforcement. On the one hand, it touts the success of increased border patrols and occasional workplace raids, because it realizes, politically, that it has to be seen as trying to enforce the laws. On the other hand, it argues that enforcement can’t possibly work, so we have to adopt an amnesty and guest-worker program. The rational response to the promising signs from enforcement would be to do more of it, and to avoid undercutting its early success. But on immigration, the Bushies are — again, to use a term from the Iraq debate — defeatists."

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