Doubling Down On A Pair Of Deuces

David Frum in Los Angeles Times, Saturday:

The next effort to fix the broken system must accomplish four things: Stop new illegal immigrants from entering the country. Induce existing illegals to return home. Reorient immigration policy to favor those who make a net economic contribution to the U.S. over those who do not. And bow to the will of the 70% of Americans who feel that current immigration levels are too high.

Illegal immigration is not some sort of uncontrollable natural phenomenon. It can and should be regulated.Illegal immigrants come to the United States because the United States doesn't do much to stop them. Yes, there's a Border Patrol, but the patrol can't be on every inch of the border. That's why most Americans want a border wall. Elude the patrol — or overstay your visa, as one-quarter of illegals do — and it's ollee-ollee-oxen free. Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. to work. If we make it substantially more difficult for them to find work, substantially fewer of them will come, and many of those already here will return home.

Bush Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez CNN's Late Edition, Sunday:

"The [immigration reform] bill is not dead. It is alive and well, and the Administration is more determined than ever to see it passed."

He called the objections "clerical issues."

Washington Republican lawyer Victoria Toensing, last week:

"If the President can pardon twelve million illegal immigrants, he can pardon Scooter Libby."

Robert Novak's report on Bush's reaction to the Libby jail sentence, same link:

That distance has continued with Bush's response from Europe to Libby's conviction; it was filtered through a deputy press secretary, emphasizing that he had no intention of issuing a pardon.

Some contrasts are too gaping to be believed.

Reminds me of the episode of Taxi where Tony Banta (the wannabe-boxer cab driver) and Bobby Wheeler (the wannabe-actor cab driver) are having an argument that is about to come to blows. Wheeler protests that that's not fair, since Banta is a (sort of) boxer. Banta's going to sock him anyway, so Wheeler offers to hit himself in the gut, and does so. Banta says, "Do it again, harder." Wheeler complies and doubles himself over in the process. Then Banta says, "In the face." Wheeler begs his friend not to make him hit himself in the face, since his acting aspirations are dependent upon his good looks. Banta replies that if Wheeler doesn't break his own nose, he'll do it for him. So Wheeler is about to go through with it when Alex Reiger intervenes by grabbing Wheeler's arm. Reiger looks back at the audience and exclaims, "I can't believe I'm trying to break up a fight between one guy!"

Ed Morrissey has some more thoughts along those lines this morning, at which he bats .500. For my part, I'm just wondering when this train wreck is ever going to end.