May 17, 2007

Fair and Balanced

Speaking of hyperventilation.

Michelle Malkin carries a post called "It's here: The Bush-Kennedy amnesty Report: Potential cost = $2.5 trillion." With an online poll which asks "Will you support a GOP presidential candidate who supports the Bush/Kennedy amnesty?" The three choices are Yes, no, and "hell No!"

I hate to be humorless. But I like to think that the right wing blogosphere is a little more thoughtful and intelligent than the left wing "netroots." Malkin frequently proves me wrong.

Lastly, I'd make the comment that I made about Hugh Hewitt. Can you not broach any intra-party dissent on this topic? Are we going to chase out all the free traders that support liberalized immigration? Honest people can disagree -- well, no, I guess they can't. Michelle and Hugh will tell us what Republicans think.

BTW, thanks to ThreeSources enforcement fans for their respectful and intelligent debate.

Immigration Posted by jk at May 17, 2007 5:30 PM

What is amusing is that the immigration debate features a unique dichotomy in which Democrats complain the policy is too conservative and Republicans complain that it is too liberal. As Mickey Kaus pointed out this morning, that is very clearly a contradiction.

I do not know why I would expect any different. The current state of political discourse is deplorable -- and I have low expectations.

Posted by: Everyday Economist at May 18, 2007 11:46 AM

Those who've been publicly critical of the new legalization proposal have been accused of "hyperventilating." I think it's fair to say those who rush to assure us "It's going to be okay" are being pollyannish.

Posted by: johngalt at May 18, 2007 3:02 PM

You can call me Pollyannaish. As I'm generally supportive of legislation which hasn't even been fully written, you are on solid footing.

I was trying to separate differences from tactics.

I disagree with you and AlexC and Hugh Hewitt and Michelle Malkin and my brother in law, fine. I took exception to Malkin's and Hewitt's assertion that every good Republican agrees with them.

I take double exception to their using the language and tactics that were employed to buck up the Republican legislators who were going to vote for surrender in Iraq. Hewitt has taken that successful play and done a search replace for "Amnesty." That equates voting for comprehensive immigration reform -- which is supported by a lot if not a plurality of serious Republicans -- with a withdrawal schedule in Iraq, which is supported by only a fringe.

Malkin takes emotional stands on a variety of issues. it may not be fair to accuse her of hyperventilating. But ol' buddy Hugh has really turned the crank up to 11 on this. I don't think I am wrong for pointing that out.

Posted by: jk at May 18, 2007 3:32 PM | What do you think? [3]