democrats
know what's coming. with no possible hope of a civil debate on the issues going their way, the republican slime machine is gearing up for a total scorched earth attack on immigration. hey, forget the fact that they've had all the power the last five years -- it's slimein' time!
instead of being the predictable party of catch-up the democrats really need to get out in front of this one. how about pre-empting the whole thing and making the point that the only way to discourage illegal immigration is to go after the employers. obviously, if there was no one willing to hire them they wouldn't risk death crossing the desert to come here. existing
law already allows for a five year prison term for knowingly hiring an illegal alien. how about enforcing that one instead of emotive attacks on "mexican welfare queens and the democratic congressmen who love them!"
(more on the flip)
of course the truth that no politician wants to admit is that we need these workers in our country. our economy depends on them. and if what i am recommending here as a democratic political strategy were ever actually implemented (of course it won't be!) we would see very quickly how fucked our economy would be without them!
for the republican slime machine the truth is irrelevant, only inciting hatred matters. for them immigration is the gay marriage of the next election cycle. if democrats get out there first with a message that is anathema to the repunks' corporate sponsers -- holding businesses criminally liable -- they are far less likely to keep the issue going, i think.