Is Obama in any hurry to act on Immigration? - Page 2

If the 11 Republicans who voted in 07 for reform would repeat their votes today, reform would pass.

The problem is that Republicans adopted a scorched earth policy in 09 reinforced by nativists who put real costs on any moderate republicans. That's not Obama's fault.

When the economy improves, the populist anger subsides and Republicans have spent enough years in the political wilderness to realize they have to moderate themselves, then something could pass.

I of course wouldn't have problems with electing moderate Republicans like Mel Martinez or Chuck Hagel, but it's precisely those Republicans who have become marginalized and thus retired these past few years.

And not even entertain the idea of a Republican house. That would be the death knell of any reform prospect. There too, the larger the democratic majority is the better it would be.

Hit the nail on the head with all your points. Couldn't agree more.

The power of the nativist voice is the lynchpin here, IMO.

Back when Bush tried, we still had a republican majority in both houses, now's a different story. We all know the republican party has become the party of "no" simply because they have chosen not to collaborate with Obama. With a republican president, the republicans in congress who voted yes in the past would probably vote yes now.