Bush is taking shots from both sides (05/18/06)

Remember that political capital the president boasted about after his re-election?

It looks as if it’s just about gone.

Monday night, the president outlined his proposals for getting a handle on America’s unruly immigration situation.

In many ways, it was a centrist speech, with an emphasis on both controlling borders and figuring out how to deal with the millions of illegal immigrants already here. It’s not far from the proposals which have won support in the U.S. Senate, and it’s far less draconian than those which have been pushed in the House.

If George W. Bush still had the political capital that came with re-election, it’s the sort of middle-ground approach that might stand a chance in an increasingly-polarized Washington.

But those days are gone.

Even before the president opened his mouth, lawmakers and governors were doing their best to distance themselves.

Border state governors weren’t pleased with proposals for the use of National Guard troops. Minuteman-type zealots dismissed the proposals as weak. Those on the left — and in Mexico — raised concerns about “militarizing” a border between two friendly nations.

By the next day, politicians of every stripe were taking whacks at the president as if he were a piñata.

The unfortunate irony is that the speech was — from a policy and governance standpoint — one of the best of President Bush’s career. From a political standpoint, it was a disaster. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]