Take a Breather

If there's one issue left for this Congress to address that will for sure bring the tea bagging crazies back into the town halls and protesting in the streets, it is immigration. Sure financial regulation and a climate bill are important issues that will have their share of strident supporters and foes, but nothing like what immigration will chaperon.

Realistically, the other two issues just aren't as push button as immigration. The Times had an article yesterday that shows the White House is aware of the incendiary nature of the matter and may ask for a breather.

“It’s a matter of political will,” he said, adding that Congress might not have the stomach for another tough battle after the bruising fight over health care...

“We’ve gone through a very tough year, and I’ve been driving Congress pretty hard,” Mr. Obama said.

Personally I would like to see the immigration issue tabled.   You can't fix everything this year.  The president has successfully and unprecedentedly passed a stimulus package and health care reform.  Those two alone are arguably more than any president has ever accomplished in their first year.  Plenty to call this a very successful presidency.  But there is more than those two big items.  The president also set a fixed timetable for withdrawal from Iraq (carried over from the Bush administration).  He lifted federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research; expanded CHIP; appointed the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court; passed the largest middle class tax cut in history (contained in stimulus bill); and signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  All this in 15 months.  Those are huge accomplishments.  Any two-term president would love to have such a list much less have all that with over two years still left in his first term.

My point, there's still time for immigration reform.  I think right now it's time for a calm down period.  Financial regulation will undoubtedly pass by the end of May and then it's Memorial Day recess.  After that it's budget time.  And then before we know it, it's time to take a month off for summer break.  And then, it's campaign season. Bringing up immigration reform, a process that will take at least 5 months, and will lead right up to the November elections, isn't the best of plans for what will already be a tough year for Democrats.  To me, holding onto the majority is more important than reforming immigration laws.  I understand people will disagree with that and I'll let those pieces fall where they may.