The New Orleans coverage has temporarily eclipsed the coverage of what I think should - and will - be the dominant issue in the 2006 and 2008 elections - illegal immigration. I'd like to pose a question for everyone - if the Bush Administration continues to dodge the immigration question, or if Bush's solution ultimately consists of an amnesty (most likely one disguised as a "guest worker" program), do you think the Democrats will seize the issue?
On the one hand, the Dems must realize that taking a strong stand against illegal immigration would be a great way to pick off centrist and even possibly some conservative voters who are getting increasingly frustrated with Bush's position on this issue. On the other hand, adopting such a position would clash most violently with the multiculturalist creed and tendency toward permanent racial pandering that has come to define the Democratic Party.
My guess is that this issue is becoming so important to so many people that the Dems - especially those involved in close Congressional races - will not be able to resist clubbing the Republicans with it. That said, my guess is that most Democratic candidates from all levels of government who run on anti-illegal immigrant platforms won't have any intention of actually delivering on their promises to fix the problem - it would just alienate too many members of their base who have an ideological aversion to any display of U.S. sovereignty. I think Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who declared a state of emergency on his border after spending years resisting any meaningful border enforcement measures, offers an early example of how the Dems will exploit the immigration issue while quietly doing all they can to perpetuate the status quo.
