In a Fall Democratic National Committee meeting on December 2 in Phoenix,

"Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean offered a preview of the 2006 elections with a blistering critique of President Bush's policies on Iraq and immigration and the Republicans' ethics scandals. But he warned Democrats they cannot expect to win next year without offering an agenda of their own," reported the Washington Post. [Dean Hammers Bush On War, Immigration, By Dan Balz Washington Post, December 4, 2005;]

 Great. So what is the agenda? I believe Representative John Murtha is certainly right on withdrawal from Iraq, which, by the way, though characterized as his gut feeling, is actually backed by substantial, but quiet support from his impeccable Pentagon contacts.  Retired Lt. General William Odom, now at the conservative Hudson Institute, doesn't have to be quiet. He really puts it on the line in a December 2, 2005 UPI story: "While President George W. Bush wants to bring democracy and stability to the Middle East, the only way to achieve that goal is for the US armed forces to get out of Iraq now. "

Ok, Governor Dean, so far.

But Dean then goes on to say

"'In 2006, it's going to be immigration; that's who he's (Bush) going to scapegoat next.' He said Democrats must favor tougher enforcement of existing immigration laws and provide tighter border security, but said a balanced immigration policy would provide a way to give many of the 11 million illegal immigrants a path to legal status."

That's ELEVEN MILLION MORE ILLEGAL ALIENS, Folks.

In other words, Dean and my fellow Democrats are going along with Bush on yet another amnesty—endorsing the mass immigration, legal and illegal, that has added 35 million people to the US since the 1970s—displacing American workers who used to work for wages that allowed a middle class life style, something a $7 an hour chicken plucking, burger flipping job will not.

Do not misunderstand me. I respect all jobs, any jobs, except ones that cause slave wages for American workers.

If we Democrats can't do better for our poorest citizens than import cheap labor to take their jobs, no wonder we keep losing.

Yes, we need border enforcement, yes, we need to determine who is here legally and illegally. But there is no way we can say that an illegal alien is legal and leave those who tried to get here legally feeling anything but screwed.

I get so darned tired of hearing these Congressmen and women and people like Dean from both our major parties who think they can carry water on both shoulders. The American people understand perfectly what is happening. Both parties are bought and paid for against the interests of the average American—and against those Americans who are in even worse than average circumstances.

Katrina showed us the faces of those urban poor.  If we think either party is going to help us, forget it.

The only answer is to vote out anyone with the programs being offered by both parties on immigration. I thought the Democratic Party was the Party of the working man and woman. Guess not. If Democrats are willing to give our Party away to non citizens, I am going to find a new party.

When the candidates come by asking for your help, there is only one question you need to ask. "Are you going to commit us to another amnesty?" We have had many since 1965 and never any true and proper reform or a return to the Rule of Law. Everyone knows the borders are out of control, but the farcical McCain/Kennedy bill or the Bush give-the-country-to-Mexico Plan are not going to be answers the American voters will accept.

And the arrival of uncounted new terrorists un-captured by any systematic security checks by our inept Homeland Security Dept. remains an open sore.

The 9/11 Commission just gave the Bush Administration a failed report card on national security–4 ½ years after 9/11. Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Yes, Governor Dean, immigration will be the biggie on the November, 2006 ballots and beyond. But your proposal to fall in line with Bush by legalizing the 11 million illegal aliens already here will not fly.

Maybe it really is time for a third party.

Donald A. Collins [email him], is a freelance writer living in Washington DC and a former long time member of the board of FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform. His views are his own.