Spitzer backs away from immigrant driver's licenses plan

[Stinky The Clown]

He says he still thinks its a good idea, but acknowledges the public isn't with him.

Pat Buchanan is all aglow this morning, looking nearly as radiant as his sister, Bay, always does.

[Squatch]

1. I'm an immigrant...will I be able to get a license in NY?

(I think you left out an important word in your subject line)

[NYVet]

2. He did what politicians rarely do.

He listened to his constituents and realized that he had swallowed his foot and half his leg with the plan to give illegal immigrants a license.

[Cha]

3. Exactly, that's was my

thought..I don't see why it's a bad, either, but obviously that's just me and Spitzer.

Fucking bushits are trying to ruin America and guys like Spitzers are trying to help.

[NYVet]

5. Possibly because a driver's license is a privilege and not a right?

Also New York Law requires that you provide a Social Security number or a letter from the US Social Security Administration stating why you are not eligible for a SSN when you apply for the license.


Here is a link to the page on the NY DMV site showign this.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/idlicense.htm

[Cha]

7. It's a "privilege" alright!

I just see the reasoning behind his views on this.

Thank you for your service, NYVet!

[treestar]

12. I hate that language

It's a right if you can pass the driver's test. It it's a privilege, the government could withhold it at will even if you can drive (barring duly legislated restrictions, as on drunk drivers, etc.). It's just a pet peeve of mine. What does one mean when one says that? That is can be withheld at whim?

Undocumented immigrants are another question, but a state has the right to determine that. There are reasons for doing it. People are here and a state can't do much about it, since the federal government has the responsibility for enforcing and interpreting the immigration laws. No state HAS to try to use that mentality of let's make their life unpleasant as possible so they will leave on their own. (Besides which, it does not work, or most undocumented immigrants would have left by now). States have no wherewithal to determine the immgration status of a person, either, except in the simplest cases.

The immigration laws have a lot of forgiveness built into them, too. Those who are big on following the law never want to follow that part.

[blm]

13. I believe he was doing what Hillary2008 wanted - Spitzer was trying to lead

his constituents with his plan. Hillary2008 needed that plan dropped to protect their candidate from that certain trip-up.

[blm]

4. Gee - wonder if any Dem candidates pressured Spitzer to reconsider so THEY could

avoid the issue?

[Stinky The Clown]

8. That's kind of a stretch.

[blm]

9. No, it isn't. It's the reality of the way it works.

You think if Hillary hadn't gotten tripped up on that issue in the debate that Spitzer would be pulling his plan now?

This is obviously a table clearing move.

[Zavulon]

10. Exactly. The day before the Vegas debate, and the plan is pulled.

Just after Hillary made an ass out of herself on the issue in the previous debate, too. Also, the announcement wasn't made in Albany, it was made on Capitol Hill after Spitzer had a long chat with his D.C. overlords.

Imagine my surprise.

[blm]

11. Yep - a press conference for pulling a plan?

.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. That's an assumption, really

The logic follows, to be sure, but it is an assumption.

[blm]

15. Heh - and a safe assumption to make. Look who put out a press release

to follow that press conference in DC.

It had to be done before the next debate tomorrow.

[KittyWampus]

6. Spitzer and Dems would have to do a major PR push BEFORE ever suggesting this legislation

it would require all kinds of public relations and marketing before any politician even mentioned it, IMO.

My questions is, why don't the Democrats have internal groups who DO THAT MARKETING for legislation?