A wedge issue we should embrace

Bill Richardson, opportunist Democratic governor of New Mexico, is stirring the pot with his attempt to look like a hard-line border protectionist by declaring a state of emergency in four border counties and pledging $1.5 million to help reinforce border patrol efforts. Why, he's even considering playing nice with the Minutemen!

Like any good politician, Richardson can put his finger to the political winds and determine from whence they bloweth. Good for him. Sure he's been on all sides of the issue. What did you expect?

But this is a good thing, especially right now. Something must awaken Dubya, or one of his top lieutenants, to the fact that the American public is fed up with our leaky borders. Nothing awakens napping officialdom quicker than the spectre of being outpositioned on an issue that, by rights, should have been theirs all along. This is a wedge issue we should embrace, and be noisy about telling pollsters, press and politicians about it.

For whatever reasons Bush has never chosen to be serious about border security or illegal immigration. He's never explained his position to the extent that we could understand it, let alone defend it. It's been one of those article of faith ("trust me") kind of issues that leaves a great deal of the Bush base wondering if we aren't being seriously taken for granted. That goes double for those of us in states in proximity to the border. We can see with our own eyes, and hear with our own ears, the ever increasing numbers of Hispanic workers and motorists. Only a fool believes that most of them are here legally. The inflow is undeniable.

Even without the threat of terrorists hidden in the surge of unregulated immigration, this would be a concern. There are limits to our society's ability to train and assimulate new members, not to mention serious concerns about insurance coverages (health and auto). Rare is the week that ends without hearing new reports of people involved in accidents with uninsured undocumenteds (most of whom disappear quickly).

So let the President and the GOP get nervous about border control. We'd be pleased if they worry about losing their base on this wedge issue. Hopefully they'll be discomforted enough to actually do something about it.

There's a surge of patriotic Americans rallying to the issue, Mr. President. We're looking for someone to do something about it, preferably before 2008. This would be a good time to get out in front and make it look like a parade. Your parade. Otherwise it might become Richardson's parade or, heaven forbid, Hillary's.