AJ Strata does a marvelous job of blowing up Dick Morris’ column today that speculated that Bush could save the Republicans in 08′ if he pulled out the troops:

George Bush doesn’t think in such crass partisan terms. Too many consultants who surround politicians sadly do. There is no salvation down this path. But this might explain some recent comments by Senators Lugar and Voinovich. Both men have now lost their spine and convictions on the Iraq war. In Lugar’s case it may be fall out from the immigration debate (and if so he is truly a dishonorable person). Lugar is very much in favor of the comprehensive immigration bill. And after ‘the base’ (al-Qaeda in Arabic - the irony of it all) went on their scortched Earth drive they may have made Lugar’s support to all things Bush too much. Voinovich seems to be in the same situation - pro immigration reform and most likely getting pummeled by the hysterical talking heads.

Ever the consultant that Morris. But the smackdown of Dick Luger George Voinovich in the same paragraph are noteworthy as Strata shrwedly points out that the President doesn’t make decisions this way, nor will he be influenced by Senate Republicans losing their will. Maybe dubya remembers Margaret Thatcher tealling his dad, “Now, George. Don’t go all wobbly now.”

Love that gal, Maggie. Happens to be my mothers name.

At any rate, Strata continues and offers a barb thats been needed in my opinion for those on the right who’ve gotten hysterical and resorted to name-calling about the immigration bill:

This just too disheartening to watch. The divisive nature of the immigration opponents is corrosive and is fracturing GOP resolve. And it will be our troops who pay in the end. Because they are the ones out there fighting and dying for a success which is not back in reach, but they need a strong and united GOP to make all their sacrifices worthwhile.

The rhetoric of “traitor” and “quisling” was always over the top and uncalled for. People have reasonable differing views on immigration. Mine, as I have stated, is based on culling out the hardened criminals here ASAP before they can be recruited by al-Qaeda. Minutiae like provisional status during processing and myths about criminal records checks have never risen to the level to make me divert from the need to reduce our risks from inside our country. In response to these reasonable views I have been called a traitor who thinks on a 5th grade level. OK, I could care less about those comments. But a politician needs to reflect their constituents to stay in office. So all those cries of shoving a bad bill down the throats of America may have backfired as the SAME argument can be made about shoving a tough war down the throats of a non-supportive America.

I must say that my thinking reflects Strata’s in that our security is primary whether its about immigration or any of our military efforts. We have to enforce our borders. Senator Lamar Alexander was bringing this up when he was a presedential candidate and before 9-11. Secure them first, we cannot have a unchecked flow. Nevermind the fact we cannot afford it. The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed this and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama has been trumpeting these numbers for a few weeks now.  

Still, many must find it curious the President’s steadfast support for immigration reform legislation. But they really shouldn’t. George Bush is a man that says what he means, and means what he says. His actions in the White House since 2000 have demonstrated this. Like it or not, republicans must realize that he’s doing what he truly feels is the right thing for America. Polls, politics and the press be damned.