Rio Grande Illusion

May 15, 2006 — -- Many conservatives were quite chagrined over President Bush's immigration reform proposal. Guest worker programs? A chance at citizenship for illegal immigrants? A bill co-drafted by Sen. Ted Kennedy? To a lot of conservatives, it sounds too soft, too much like amnesty for law breakers.

Tonight's speech -- in which the president proposed up to 6,000 National Guard troops at the Mexican border -- was designed to change that. The president also asked Congress to pay for additional detention centers for illegal immigrants.

After all, if you don't have liberals or conservatives backing you, that can be a tough negotiating position.

"We do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that," Bush said in his first prime-time network speech ever that focused on domestic policy.

Critics, of course, said that this is all a Rio Grande illusion. At least half of the National Guard has already served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and many military observers said the Guard is stretched too thin.

But the president disagreed and said the enforcement provision of his immigration reform package is essential. That it's politically essential seems unquestionable.

"We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly and fair," Bush said.