Jeb Bush defends his statements on immigration . . . . . and we tend to agree.

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“To be young and dynamic again we have to be young and dynamic again . . . . . .   immigration reform not as a problem, but as a huge opportunity.”

“This past weekend, I made some statements about immigration reform [that] generated a little more news than I anticipated.   You know, I’ve been saying this for the last three or four years,  I said the exact same thing that I’ve said regularly.   And the simple fact is, there is no conflict between enforcing our laws, believing in the rule of law and having some sensitivity to the immigrant experience, which is part of who we are as a country.”

Editor's notes:  This is not an endorsement of Bush for the GOP nomination,  but,  if his view on a "compassionate immigration solution" includes an aggressive solution as to border security,  he is closer to a conservative solution than many want to give him credit.  

Mexico is a mess as a country, a nation that offers comparatively little in terms of freedom,  job and retirement security,  and safe passage in so many regions of that nation.  It is a dangerous place to live, at times,  and its educational system is a sad commentary of the value placed on its youth as they prepare to live and survive in an increasingly technological world.   

When a man comes to this country to work,  and sends that money back to his family in Mexico, that is an act of love.  When a man brings his family to this country,  legally or in violation of the rules,  that is an act of love, on his part,  as well.  

Love or not,  the growing population of "illegals" is a problem and one that needs resolution that something other than "rounding them up and busing them back to their homeland."  

Something in the neighborhood of 6 million Mexicans are here illegally.  We conservatives do not like this next statement,  but, it is true,  nonetheless:  we,  as a nation,  have allowed this growing population and related problems.  

Our refusal to enforce existing border law,  is a disgrace,  but that is problem of our doing;  the "illegal" is only taking advantage of the situation  -  the "illegal" is not causing the problem,  in spite of the fact that their presence, here in this country,  is the problem.  

Understand two things:  One,  we are not going to bus 6 million people out of this country,  for a number of reasons,  logistically and otherwise.  Two,  many (between 40% and 60%) of these people have children born in this country;  those children are American citizens and deserve the consideration due to citizenship.  

Some folks believe that sending the parents back to Mexico and moving the children into foster care is a solution  -  as incredibly blind and heartless solution as that might sound.    

We need to solve the problem and stop worrying about who these folks are going to vote for,  in the future.  Understand this,  the current leadership within the Progressive/Socialist,  Democrat Party,  only cares about the "alien population" because of what they offer at the ballot box.  There is no debate about that.  If we conservatives are consumed by the same consideration,  the problem will never see a solution.  

GW Bush,  as governor of Texas,  ran that state as a conservative and [still] enjoyed a 40% vote support among Hispanics in that state.  In 2004,  GW won that national election with a 44% vote from the Hispanics in this country.  If the GOP and its conservative base can see a consistent 35% to 45% Hispanic vote in our national elections,  we will win more than our fair share of those elections.   Romney lost with 27% of the Hispanic vote.  A 35% total would have won the election for the GOP.  

What I am saying is this:  we are not that far behind with the Hispanic voter.  It is not too late.  But we have a lot of work to do.

Besides securing the border,  we will need to "patriate" these folks,  making certain they understand and appreciate our founding historicity,  its documents and  the role the Constitution plays as the centre of our legal system.  If this is not part of "comprehensive immigration legislation,"  we are only allowing the growth of a rebel, unAmerican population.  

As a nation,  it is suicidal to offer citizenship to a growing population of people who do not appreciate our laws,  our history, and our place/destiny in the world.  If this collective issue is not a part of the solution,  there is no viable solution that advances the goodness of this wonderful country.    A rebel population would be a disaster.  I mean,  look at the rebel leadership in the New Democrat, World Without Borders,  party,  of the Obama era.  

A complicated problem, to be sure. Does Jeb Bush have all the answers?  I doubt it.  But I have not heard a comprehensive solution,  to date,  that embraces such the patriate issue along with border security,  legal work status and a path to citizenship "that begins at the back of the line" (as they say).  

At least,  we are not seriously talking about Chris Christie, anymore.