Bush's Prime-time Pander Parade

Tonight is a big night for the president. Tonight is the night that the president will give his first prime-time speech on a major domestic initiative. Tonight Bush is talking immigration. Tonight is all about shoring up the president's political base by throwing them a little red meat. The early word is that the president plans to dispatch troops to protect our southern border. Great job, GWB, use the military to solve your political problems. However, even while the president is talking tough, he has managed to sound weak at the same time. Sounds like a flip before he even has a chance to flop. Read on from the Washington Post:

Mexican President Vicente Fox called to express concern over the prospect of militarization of the border, and Bush reassured him that it would be only a temporary measure to bolster overwhelmed Border Patrol agents, the White House said.

"The president made clear that the United States considers Mexico a friend and that what is being considered is not militarization of the border but support of Border Patrol capabilities on a temporary basis by National Guard personnel," said White House spokeswoman Maria Tamburri.

The president will talk tough tonight, but will his rabid base really fall for this "temporary" measure? I think not. So, Mr. President, why risk a political incident? Why risk an armed clash at the border? Is pandering to your base worth this? Unfortunately for us Mr. 29% believes it is, and we are all the worse off for his incompetence and weakness.

Read more.