New Deal Coalition

As I wrote once before, I think the Democrats have played the immigration issue like a fiddle, and that this is potentially a political winner for them, but what the heck do I know? Nice to see someone agrees with me

Democrats are at last beginning to grasp that by representing a multi-ethnic, multilingual coalition of hard working strivers for the fruits of the American Dream they can recreate a Newer Deal coalition that will grant them political power for a generation. Some Democrats will come back from recess eager to put themselves in front of the crowds that have already formed. They will not be willing to cut the bad deals that the Republicans will want. The ship of state will be in irons, as the sailors say, because the White House will be focused on Iran bombing plans and the Libby trial; besides, the White House's base won't welcome the Democratic push for worker's rights and family values -- which is what the immigration cause can fairly be described as being. Senator Kennedy himself will find the roar of the crowd overcomes the impulse to wheel and deal in the cloakroom.