"It really boils down to whether you think illegal immigrants should be offered a path to citizenship or not."

hmmm...no, Ron, I don't think this issue CAN be boiled down that far. There are far too many variables and special cases to consider. Sure, you can write a clear, simple law "No one allowed in!" or "Anyone allowed in."; but neither of those make any sense.

   And you get the problem ...IF you offer current illegals a path to citizenship, are you then offering subsequent illegals the same path? Does citizenship go by default to those who are sneakiest, and find a way over the border? (And lucky and brave enough to survive?) Why even man the border at all if it's only use is to deter the old, lame & dumb?

.....There ARE reasons to have a sane, orderly way for a temporary work force to come here, and to have a sane, orderly, process for those who wish to apply for citizenship....but there are also reasons to have ***LIMITS*** on both. No process can BE sane and/or orderly if it is not controlled!

and so to "If Democratic candidates don't offer a clear choice between them and Republicans on this issue, Hispanics will look to other issues."

I certainly HOPE that the Democrats don't make the mistake of choosing a platform based on 'being different', just to attract Hispanics! I have seen far too many races run on political expedience, when the platforms were essentially unworkable and soon abandoned.

If you read and listen to Lou Dobbs carefully, and over a period of time, you will see that he is saying much of what I am.....that this stupidity foolishness of ignoring both the law and common sense in favor of rubber-stamping faits accompli will make any future attempts and control both immoral and impossible.

...you know, a bully who harasses you, knocks you down, and steals your lunch because he is poor & hungry is still a bully...the solution is not to reward him, but to head off his perceived need to bully! (I know...thats too hard!...easier to just fix an extra lunch everyday!) (what, me? cynical? naawwwwwww...)