What If...

President Bush's speech on immigration was crafted to convey his views on the matter and not as an attempt to "thread the needle"?

Cooper views Bush's speech as an "attempt to "thread the needle" -- that is, to appease conservatives and at the same time appear to be a reasonable centrist. Perhaps. But it's more likely that the speech was an attempt to advocate what Bush considers the best solution to the problem of illegal immigration. Indeed, it's difficult for me to believe that Bush and his aides thought that this speech would appease most hard core conservatives.

Source: Powerline Blog - Going nuts, Power Line style Duh! We all know President Bush has a strong will to do what he believes to be correct. To a certain extent this is what the President should do, to lead.

I do not see President Bush as trying to appease conservatives or lefties but doing what he believes is the right thing to do. Quite a few commentators have speculated the speech was just to reverse his poll numbers but then one has to ask, did he order the troops into Iraq just to reverse his poll numbers then?

President Bush's position on immigration fits nicely with mine. I want the borders enforced and I see no way we are going to deport 12 million+ people.