What can be done to save the Republican Party from" shooting itself in the foot?" Part Tw
(This is the second and last of a two-part series) Please read Part One before you proceed.
The big issues of today are: • Immigration • Deficit reduction • Defense budget • Gun Control • New infrastructure • Additional jobs • Revise tax code • Climate control Because of time and space limitations I shall address Immigration only.
IMMIGRATION Let's first be upfront. The Republicans have been primarily against immigration. One of their targets has been "the dreamers", which refers to that group of young people that have grown up in this country, some, no doubt, are unaware that they were not legal citizens. With a few exceptions, most have gone to school in this country, observed the laws, and generally have been good citizens. If we pass a law that allows these young people to stay in this country and eventually obtain citizenship, the Republicans in the past would have bellowed loud and clear it's "Amnesty." However, since President Obama's reelection, many, and perhaps close to a majority, of the Republicans have switched gears.
As a result, Amnesty is no longer a subject for discussion. Similarly, let us no longer question political motivation. The Republicans now appear ready to deal with practical politics and solutions. The question is, what can be done to create bipartisan between the parties on this subject of immigration? The Republicans already have done something positive. They announced that they were working on a bipartisan basis with the Democrats to come up with a workable solution. Perhaps it was unwise, but in any event, president Obama also proposed legislation on the subject. Right away the Republicans claimed that the president was "grandstanding" and said "no" immediately. Assuming, that the president's actions were either grandstanding or in any event, ill-timed, that was the time for the Republicans to step up as statesmen, react positively to what the president proposed and suggest that for the time being his proposal be held in abeyance, until the working committee set up by the Democrats and the Republicans could arrive at their own solution. They should've ignored motivation; they should have" stood above the fray," and showed that they were upstanding, mature, legislative leaders. Unfortunately, they fell into the" no" trap all over again. Of course, let us not be naïve. Had the Republicans reacted positively, it could have been " window dressing." Yet, sometimes, even an artificial response can be of value for purposes of establishing momentum and purpose. Let's hope that the Democrats and Republicans working together can propose something original and more acceptable to their respective parties for the benefit of the country, and not for the benefit necessarily of any individual candidate seeking reelection. If they want to tighten border security as part of their immigration proposal, which is a very complex issue and very difficult to define, why don't they ibiththeir definition of border security, nonetheless, since there is no such things as full security, make that a simultaneous requirement, and work together from there. Once again the Republicans can be heroes if they spell out what they thinkknecessary for full security and stop just knocking proposals by Administration.idtherwise, they are to be faulted once again for seeking political advantage and not seeking what is best for society.
I say to the Republicans, as a fellow American of the opposing party, act as is expected of a statesman. Ego, self-dealings, reelection considerations, have no part in decision-making. This is true, and applies to all Democrats as well, especially those Democrats, who are highly idealistic and find it difficult to move towards the give-and-take of a reasonable solution. Prepared by Jerry Sonenblick, lawyer, author of the fictional legal thriller, Disbarment, depicting, Mason Grewe, a nefarious lawyer, who betrays his clients, and, David Sherwood, a fellow lawyer, who is called upon to exercise maximum moral courage to overcome Mason's misdeeds. A pitched courtroom battle presented by brilliant legal minds ensues before the Supreme Court of Arizona.
-JS
