Crossposted from Occidental Dissent
VDARE.com Editor Peter Brimelow writes: We’re again crossposting Occidental Dissent’s brilliant Hunter Wallace, this time on the now-overwhelming shift among Republican voters against immigration, astutely sensed (in his weird way) by Donald J. Trump. Remember, just ten years ago Jeb Bush was calling illegal immigration “an act of love” and, as front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2016, actually campaigned on Amnesty.
Wallace kindly says “I trust VDARE” and quotes our Washington Watcher II’s recent column on the outbreak of backbone on the border collapse that has suddenly and surprisingly occurred within the Congressional GOP.
Wallace continues:
In 2024, Peter Brimelow and VDARE are the mainstream on immigration in the GOP and it is dwindling ranks of True Cons in the Senate and the Chamber of Commerce types who are radically out of touch with the Republican base. This is a triumph from where we were at thirty years ago.
I KNOW!—it was almost thirty years ago that I published my book Alien Nation Common Sense About America’s Immigration Disaster to almost universal execration, above all from Conservatism Inc. types whom I considered my friends.
Wallace adds:
NOTE: Our friends at VDARE have been under relentless attack in recent weeks by people who are big mad at how much the ground has shifted. Slow and steady is winning the race.
“Slow and steady”—I like that! (Maybe I’m getting old?)
The relentless attacks continue, unfortunately. We hope to have more information soon.
Here’s Hunter Wallace (With added links):
Donald Trump: How I Will End Joe Biden’s Border Disaster On Day One
It is 2024.
The Revenge Tour is building momentum.
The biggest political decision that I have to make this year is whether to 1.) reboard the Trump Train or 2.) watch from the sidelines. There is no chance that I will support Joe Biden in 2024. Regardless, I plan to focus my attention this year on improving other aspects of my life.
The most compelling argument for coming off the sidelines and voting for Trump is how Joe Biden has handled immigration as president and would continue to do so in a second term. Millions of illegal aliens have flooded into the country under Joe Biden. Joe Biden has been so awful on immigration that I am nostalgic for the failures of the Trump administration. Sure, Trump failed to “Build the Wall” or to deport the illegal aliens who were already here, but he brought the numbers down in his final year in office and he was at least trying to implement more restrictionist immigration policies, which were stymied mainly by True Cons in the Senate, a Democratic House and endless litigation in federal courts.
Joe Biden’s policy has been to dismantle immigration enforcement. It has gotten so bad that Democratic cities are pleading for relief. Even if Trump failed to deliver on 95% of what he is promising here, there is no chance that he would be as awful as Joe Biden has been on immigration.
“The most urgent task facing the next president is to end Joe Biden’s nation-wrecking nightmare on our southern border. I am the only candidate who will stop this invasion — and I will do it on day one. …
Now you are witnessing the disastrous results. We have the highest number of illegal border crossings in history, by far. Nearly a quarter million migrants crossed in November alone — and that’s a likely vast undercount. Migrants are overwhelming our cities. Drugs, criminals, gang members and terrorists are pouring in. …
Then, we will begin a record-setting deportation operation. Joe Biden has given us no choice. The millions of illegal aliens who have invaded under Biden require a record number of removals. This is just common sense.
To achieve this goal, I will make clear to every department and to state and local governments that we must use all resources and authorities available. We will shift massive portions of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement — including parts of the DEA, ATF, FBI, and DHS. … ”
Donald Trump: This is how I will end Joe Biden's border disaster on day one
By Donald Trump, Guest columnist, January 3, 2024
I trust VDARE.
As frustrated as I can get with the GOP Congress, it is still true that it has come a long way on immigration since 2013. It has come a long way since 2018 when House Republicans couldn’t be bothered to fund Trump’s signature border wall on the grounds that it was too expensive.
“The year 2023 delivered a pleasant surprise to immigration patriots. It showed a Republican Party willing to take immigration seriously for the first time in many years. The GOP no longer entertains Amnesty, at least not publicly. Now leaders openly espouse immigration restriction, threaten to shut down foreign aid unless the border is secured, and every GOP presidential contender wants Birthright Citizenship eliminated. The party is certainly not perfect. Issues with the GOP’s handling of immigration remain. But last year showed that Republicans are moving in the right direction.
The year began with the GOP’s assuming the majority and battling about the next House Speaker. Conservatives revolted against the coronation of Kevin McCarthy, forcing him to make concessions to the right wing of the House caucus. The fight had little to do with immigration, but it did show a party willing to be different from the past. It wanted to focus on matters important to its constituents rather than matters important to the Swamp. …”
The optimistic case is that the worst is behind us.
George W. Bush is discredited. John McCain is dead. Mitt Romney is leaving Congress.
Public opinion on immigration has radically changed. It is now a top tier issue. In fact, it is so important now that it has stymied the huge foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel. Most Americans now support “building the wall” which was unpopular when Trump was president. The Great Replacement has gone mainstream and Republican voters overwhelmingly support immigration restriction.
In 2024, Peter Brimelow and VDARE are the mainstream on immigration in the GOP and it is dwindling ranks of True Cons in the Senate and the Chamber of Commerce types who are radically out of touch with the Republican base. This is a triumph from where we were at thirty years ago.
For all the failures of Donald Trump’s first term, he succeeded in “moving the Overton Window” on immigration. Also, Joe Biden’s disastrous first term as president has caused public opinion to shift and catch up and now there is majority support for what used to be “radical” immigration policies. A Trump victory in 2024 is unlikely to play out like his previous victory in the 2016 election which was considered a fluke by a generation of establishment Republicans who were still ensconced in Congress.
Note: Our friends at VDARE have been under relentless attack in recent weeks by people who are big mad at how much the ground has shifted. Slow and steady is winning the race.
Hunter Wallace writes for Occidental Dissent.
