If you read my post NR Wobble Watch, you may be interested to know that Mickey Kaus, after some desultory attempts by NRO types to explain themselves, has posted a follow-up–Reply to Rich Lowry: Yes, you’re wobbly! - By Mickey Kaus - Slate Magazine.

It’s a nine point argument, so Read The Whole Thing, but here’s a point which is important.

If you worry about amnesty, as I do and I assume NR does, it seems not even a close question whether no bill is better than Isakson. As Mark Krikorian notes, Isakson’s plan would legitimize amnesty, undermine enforcement, and create pressure for a future fudging of the benchmarks to allow an amnesty whether or not border protections, etc., work. A legislative impasse would be far preferable.**.

The asterisks refer to this footnote:

**– It might not help Republicans duck a divisive immigration debate for the 2008 election or line up Hispanic voters for future races. Those things may matter more to Republicans than to non-Republicans.

This leads to a point Sam Francis made after David Frum came out with an article called GOP, You Are Warned in National Review.

The article warned that failure to deal with immigration could severely damage the GOP. Which is very true, but not that important.

Sam wrote an article called Immigration Policy Bad For America!—Not Just GOP.

That’s the point Lowry and National Review seem to be missing–immigration isn’t just about Republicans, it’s about the continued survival of the United States of America.

Jerry Seper writes in the Washington Times:

The head of a California company hired by the U.S. government to help build a fence along the Southwest border to curb the flow of illegal aliens into the United States has been sentenced on charges of hiring illegals for the job.

Mel Kay Jr., 64, founder, chairman and president of the Golden State
Fence Co., pleaded guilty in December in federal court in San Diego to felony charges of hiring the illegals and was sentenced Wednesday to six months home confinement, three months probation and 1,040 hours of community service.

The article indicates that there were at least 15 violations. That is of course likely to be the tip of the iceberg. 1040 hours of Community Service is more than just a slap on the wrist-but when you consider the potential cost savings, I doubt such punishments will be a real deterrent until they are much, much stiffer.

Frankly, I think this is mostly a desperate ploy on the part of the GOP leadership to look like they are actually doing something when they have no intent of really addressing the issue of illegal immigration and the concentration of wealth that accompanies mass immigration.

The ultimate carrot of mass amnesty looms large these days over the millions of trespassing foreigners who believe America owes them something.

The compliant MSM reacts by printing up a batch of sniffling sob stories that are nothing more than propaganda for open borders, with no news content whatsoever. Tears flow copiously, plights are lamented and mean-spirited Americans are condemned for wanting to keep the borders and sovereignty that thousands in uniform died to protect.

Here are some recent additions to the annals of Boo Hooey. Kleenex alert for you sensitive types!

•   Poor Alejandro, The “depressed-looking” illegal alien from Guatemala has had to cut down on his social life because of the fear of lawful repatriation to his home country. Oh, the humanity!

He used to work out at a gym and go to dances on Saturday nights. “Now it’s work, home, work, home,” he said.
[Immigration: After sweep, man prepares for worst, Sante Fe New Mexican 4/1/07]

•   Parents who dragged their children through the criminal- and rapist-infested desert for days to break into American are really miffed that they aren’t freed immediately because they brought the kiddies along.

“I came to have a better life here. In America we can be somebody, and I can be with my family,” 15-year-old Jorge said in Spanish.

Jorge is separated from his family while living at the Bokenkamp Children’s Shelter.
[ Treatment of immigrant children inconsistent, Austin New Ch8 4/1/07]

•   A San Jose family lives in fear because someone Might Be Deported!

Remember when news was about Events that actually Happened? Not in Sob Story journalism lite. The mere existence of emotional discomfort experienced by illegal aliens and their family members is sufficient to rattle on at length.

Alvarado’s eldest daughter kicks a ball out front with her own young daughter. A son watches over a grandchild while another son sleeps off his graveyard shift. Another daughter coos over an infant; the youngest daughter arrives from school.

This is a celebration, but one with a painful center: Alvarado’s eldest, daughter Aime Alvarado, 26, a beloved and integral family member, is an illegal immigrant.
[Mixed status causes family to fear worse, Contra Costa Times 4/1/07]

And what’s an “immigrant” story without whining and complaints? This one ends up with a zinger: “We came here to get closer,” [son Sergio] said. “But this country gets between us.”

See, everything was wonderful for this angelic family before we mean Americans ruined it by insisting on equal justice under the law.

Via Erin O’Connor, who says this is Not an April Fool’s joke and the American Council Of Trustees And Alumni, who say No bias here this miserable email from University of Wisconsin–Lacrosse Professor John H. Betton, whose class had been studying immigration, and “reading only pro-immigration (liberal) readings. “

Here’s what he said when a student sent him links to an Allan Wall article, (on Frontpagemag.com, which is harmless enough) and an article from Phxnews.com, which said “Immigration is a good thing. Illegal is a bad thing. Is this a difficult concept?”

Here’s Professor Betton’s email response:

From: Betton John H
Sent: Wed 11/1/2006 5:51 PM
To: [Student]
Subject: Re: takes from the ‘other side’ to consider on illegal immigration

I get really tired of right wing stuff. Surely you get enough of it. Do you ask for additional readings in your right wing classes. Obviously not. I resent your insulting assumption that you have the right to teach my class or that students are not familiar with right wing racist crap on immigration. Of course they are. My course is not being taught to reinforce right wing ideology. Don’t you get enough of this in other classes, or do you need EVERY class to be consistent with extremist views.[The original email is posted at NoIndoctrination.org]

I assume Professor Betton’s belief that the other courses the student is taking are “right-wing” is because he’s teaching at the business school–and his belief that normal attitudes to immigration are “extremist” are caused by his association with other academics. These “extremist” views are those of 70 percent of Americans.

Here’s what the professor [send him mail] was teaching (it was a required course)

Course: MGT 408: Change and Changing Contexts of Management
Course Catalog Description: A comprehensive exploration of organizational behavior in its complexity, noting the impact of contemporary contextual variables and delving into systems theory and the concept of the learning community. The underlying theme of this course rests on the realization that internal and external change has become the unique constant of organizational life. The course adopts a modular integrative format introducing students to various contextual environments including Management in a Diverse World, Management in a Globally Linked World, and Management in a Technological World.

If you have kids in business school, that, with a little verbal abuse, is what you are paying for them to study.