It started yesterday and continued right throughout the morning news shows. I’m talking about the leaking of information ahead of the speech planned by President Bush scheduled for 8 PM EDT / 5 PM EDT today. If we’re to believe the sanctioned leakers we have reason to be worried about the immigration proposals Bush is set to spell out.
Here’s what we know so far. Bush has apparently ‘heard’ the American people and now ‘understands’ the need to fully secure the U.S./Mexican border. He will announce a call up of National Guard troops to fill a support role behind agents who are presently guarding the 2000 mile long border. The National Guard presence will be temporary. Bush will express support for a temporary guest worker program and present a plan to give millions of illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship.
Assuming the leaked pre-speech information is accurate, Bush’s ‘comprehensive plan’ is nothing more than appeasement for Mexico’s Vicente Fox. Scattering National Guard troops on the border but preventing them from really providing security is simple window dressing. Allowing illegal aliens to stay in the country without penalty is blatant pandering to an electorate that isn’t Republican, in the hopes that they’ll become Republicans at some point in the future.
I hope this isn’t what we’re going to hear tonight.
MORE: WaPo | Reuters | NYT | Malkin: “Too Little, Too Late” |