The immigration bill, which compelled thousands of Americans to stockpile pitchforks and torches for a march on Washington, faces a make or break Senate vote today (Washington Post). Watching it all unfold was like watching sky-bound pigs glide toward …

I agree that there is a bit of a rift in the National GOP, but as you know, “All politics are local” and here in the SF GOP we are pretty much in lockstep in opposition on this bill. Fact is that we are pretty much amazed at the fact it got this far.

But like in 1976 when the last rift brough us Reagan, perhaps it will bring us another in the not too distant future.

Illegal immigration is as divisive an issue as slavery, for similar reasons – it cuts across party lines and reflects a very fundamental concern for the nature of our political and civic institutions.

The Republicans have utterly squandered their mandate – Congressionally through a combination of corruption and timidity in the face of the Democrats, and Presidentially through a combination of an utter failure to communicate to the American people on the most important issue of our time – the War – and an utter failure to listen to the American people on the second most important issue of our time (and really a subset of the first) – illegal immigration.

The current Republican party will not regain control of either house of Congress, and is very unlikely to win the Presidency in 2008. The only question is whether a new party emerges this year as an alternative or we wait until after a disasterous 2008 to reorganize.

(and I’ve worked for every Republican since IKE in 1956!)

I get the feeling we’re running into a very polarized America – and I’m not sure that beating this bill will be good for the country in the long run.