Thread by @StephenM

GWB’s oped is noteworthy for several reasons. First, is that it contains no original thought—it recycles the most vapid, overused immigration cliches long ago dredged of all meaning (e.g. “undocumented immigrants should be brought out of the shadows”)(1/5)
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

Second, is the detached economic privilege of its author—there is a massive surplus of labor right now due to shutdowns/lockdowns/layoffs, yet W is recommending a huge, permanent increase in the already vast # of green cards & work visas awarded to giant corporations. (2/5)

Third, is the obliviousness & recklessness of proposing an open-ended amnesty for illegally smuggled as minors at a time in which we have the largest minor smuggling crisis in U.S. history. The worst signal you could send right now is that today’s UACs are tomorrow’s USCs. (3/5)

Fourth, is the radical misalignment of priorities. Our citizens have endured a global pandemic, our borders have collapsed, our children have been kept out of school, & 43 believes the most pressing societal need is to legalize illegal workers & grant more visas for big biz.(4/5)

Taken together, this underscores why the GOP of 43 (unrestricted labor & trade flows, reflexive corporatism, cultural elitism, overseas nation-building) is a relic of the past. Indeed, much of 43’s ideology is now absorbed into the D Party. GOP is the party of America First.(5/5)