The GOP Split & Bush's Balancing Act

I was listening to the Howard Eskin show on WIP yesterday, and a caller was damning the Republican Party over the immigration debate. Now, I normally don't think of many callers on that station as Mensa candidates, and this one was no exception. This guy clearly didn't know what he was talking about. So, here's the Cliff's Notes guide to the big divisions in the GOP that have been laid bare over this whole thing.

Senate GOP-mostly favors the "guest worker" program, mostly backed by the Big Business lobby
House GOP-mostly favors punitive measures against illegal aliens already here in the U.S. and the companies that hired them

There are compelling arguments for both major sides, but as far as the growth of the party goes, I think the Senate GOP reform plan will have to prevail. First, to deport 12-15 million people is not just wrong and impractical (logistically), it's bad PR. Second, the GOP should not be so stupid as to alienate Latino voters. In 2004, President Bush got nearly half of the Latino vote. Given the GOP's positions on some issues, there is a natural affinity with this growing constituency that any halfway smart politico would want to cultivate.

The President's plan (such as it is) is not perfect. It doesn't make everyone happy. But I don't know how everyone can be made happy. It is a compromise. In politics, which is real life, after all, not everyone can be made happy. And at a time when we need to come together in this country, this is as good as place as any to start.