NYT: Bush's Immigration Plan Stalled as House G.O.P. Grew More Anxious

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, June 24 — For the White House, the Congressional picnic last week seemed like the perfect setting to mend strained relations with Republican allies on Capitol Hill: President Bush and his advisers eating taquitos and Mexican confetti rice on the lawn of the White House with Republican Congressional leaders.

But moments before Mr. Bush was to welcome his guests, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert told the president that House Republicans were effectively sidelining — and in the view of some Congressional aides probably killing — what had become Mr. Bush's signature domestic initiative of the year: an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws.

That disappointing news for Mr. Bush signaled the apparent collapse of a carefully orchestrated White House strategy to push a compromise immigration bill through Congress this summer — and in the process invigorate Mr. Bush's second term with a badly needed domestic victory.

The decision by the House leadership to defy the president after he had put so much prestige on the line — including a rare prime-time Oval Office speech for a domestic initiative — amounted to a clear rebuke of the president on an issue that he has long held dear.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/washington/25bush.html?hp&ex=1151208000&en=9472cbf436846ed6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Kagemusha]

1. I have a long memory, and I forgot Bush had made the Oval Office speech

I bet basically all of America forgot too. Kinda pales in importance to a lot of things doesn't it? And in this case, well, it doesn't matter very much what Bush thinks. That's what everyone could have expected.

[ugarte]

2. To tell the truth, I don't think Bush gives a shit about immigration

I think he pretends to care, but the status quo suits him just fine.

[Supersedeas]

3. looks like the WH wants to take this off the election cycle concerns