Someone who could unite the rabid right and anti-NAFTA left on immigration

[BurtWorm]

would be a terrible force in the 2008 election, true or false?

For the record, I am not anti-immigration. I think we're in the middle of a historic migration that can't be stopped with mere national politics. But I can't help but notice how focused and motivated the anti-immigration people are on both sides of the political spectrum. Just imagine someone who is not Pat Buchanan channeling the wingers, now in a serious mood to punish the republicans for Bush, toward the left. Would that person be a force to contend with, or just a one-trick pony like Pat Buchanan?

[TwilightGardener]

1. They might unite around a candidate on that issue, but it wouldn't be enough to wreak much

havoc on the election. The reason why mainstream-idea, compromise-position candidates become party front-runners, nominees, and then Presidents is because that's where the vast majority of voters are--somewhere in the middle, not the radical fringes.

[BurtWorm]

It's true that the polls show most Americans feeling lenient toward immigrants

but most people are also lenient toward gays and lesbians and want their kids to learn useful things like science in the schools. But they're not the ones who elbow their way out of the starting gate to get to the polls on election day. It's always the frothers and the irate who make sure to express themselves in the voting booth.

[TwilightGardener]

11. You do have a point there, about who consistently votes--fringers with

axes to grind, and the AARP set. Fortunately, there's usually enough of mainstream America, in sheer numbers, to neutralize them--but in a low-turnout election, you could end up with a real kook in any given office.

[endarkenment]

2. The "anti nafta left" is in general not anti-immigrant. nt.

[pampango]

4. In reading these forums I'd have to say that there are an awful

lot of them who want illegal immigrants deported and blame NAFTA, and other "free trade" deals for economic chaos in Latin America that causes most of the immigration.

[endarkenment]

And I would suggest that 'the lot of them' ain't 'left'.

Not a strict rule, mind you, just a generalization.

[pampango]

10. Maybe they ain't left, but they do a good impersonation of it

with the bashing of NAFTA (not a practice commonly undertaken by RW'ers.)

[BurtWorm]

5. I believe they're not anti-immigrant, but many are anti-immigration

and they're vocal and motivated about it.

[endarkenment]

7. Most of the posters here who are anti-immigration,

while typically mouthing anti-nafta sentiments, are rarely 'leftwing' in their political outlook.

[BurtWorm]

9. I've come across at least a couple who were very left wing in their outlook

and very anti-immigration. Their position was that illegal immigration hurts American workers and wages. Did they want to make the undocumented workers here documented and legal? No, because their being here still depresses wages.

The main difference between left and right on this issue is that the left wants to sock it to the employers and make it too expensive to hire non-citizens, which in theory would dry up that market, while the right wants to criminalize immigration.

[pampango]

14. Posts 12 and 13 below. n/t

[Jim__]

3. The situation is ripe for a demagogue.

Someone ready to seize power, seizing on the current emotional state of the electorate, getting elected and then taking advantage of bush's attacks on the Constitution, could do a lot of damage to this country. Even more than bush has done.

[Tom Joad]

6. that is my concern. it can be worse.

[RB TexLa]

8. Guess they could just dust off Strom Thurmand's old speeches

replace "whites" with "American workers" as in. I'm standing up for the American workers.

replace "coloreds" with "illegals" as in. Our teachers should not have to teach illegals.


And of course could borrow from Wallace, "A fence today, a fence tomorrow, a fence forever!"

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

12. I'm an anti-NAFTA and pro-restricted immigration Leftist

We should have nominate one of our own in our own party. With a populist message, we'll win. No wishy-washy bullshit.

[LostInAnomie]

13. I agree

NAFTA and the guest worker/illegal immigration policies have only harmed working class Americans. It is beyond me how so many bright DUers can support globalization and the accelerated exploitation of the working class.

If some candidate would come out with a serious unapologetic populist message they would have my unwavering support.

[Odin2005]

15. I'm also an anti-NAFTA and pro-restricted immigration Leftist.

I totally agree with you. Mexico needs to be fixing it's problems, not using us as a "safety valve" to delay reform. It's time to put a lid on the melting pot somewhat and let it go to work.