A Republican Dream Act

      While it's clear that Mitt Romney doesn't give Americans much to go on in terms of what he's about or what he plans to do once in office-he even said that he will close some government departments but that he would not reveal which ones-he does open up more when he talks to his private wealthy donors.

     One thing he told them that he won't tell us is what departments he plans on shutting down-education and energy. He also admits behind closed doors that Fox News viewers are "true believers" and that if the Republicans don't do something to appeal to Latino voters his campaign "is doomed."

     At least closed door, talking to his rich donors Romney lives in the real world. He even went as far as suggesting that there is a need for a "Republican Dream Act."

     It is clear that if Romney has any chance in the election there are a bunch of swing states he must win. Obama doesn't face the amount of "must wins" Romney does. This is part of a longer term trend beginning with Clinton's win in 1992 the GOP's math in winning the 270 electoral votes is very tight after the previous period-1968-88 when they dominated Presidential elections.

    In these swing states GOP operatives are well aware he has to be able to win 40% of the Latino vote to stand a chance. This was the amount of the Latino vote President George W. Bush had won in 2004.

     Since then they've come nowhere close to this. McCain had 30% in 2008, currently Romney has 14%. Part of the problem is that just like in their terrible poll numbers with women, is more than an issue of impressions or personalities but issues.

     President Bush at least had somewhat Latino friendly policies about immigration. He also had a somewhat charming routine where he would speak Spanish a little. While it was rather mangled, it was kind of charming and perhaps Latinos appreciated the effort.

     What has happened is the party has become so rabidly opposed to all immigration. It's policy that's the problem as with women. That's why photo ops with his wife Ann Romney aren't going to solve anything even if Ann Romney razzes Hilary Rosen.

     As Romney is aware that he needs help with Latinos, it might seem to be a win win to put Marco Rubio on the bottom of the ticket. After all he is of course Latino. And he has his own "Republican Dream Act."

      The plan will of course rule out any chance of a "path to citizenship." It would allow immigrants to go to college and maybe work. It's something though it would go nowhere in Congressman/ Rubio's House of Representatives.

      Ann Coulter basically has given the game away when she said that there can be no compromise on immigration. She wants nothing. Why? Because Latino immigration means more Democrat voters.

     Coulter warns that if Republicans don't crackdown on immigration soon the whole country will be like California where no Republican can win office anymore.

    Speaking of which it is amazing how far on the anti-immigration limb Romney has gone. He has not only said he will veto the Dream Act but even recommended that immigrants try "self-deportation." This very phrase, "self-deportation" was originally a joke phrase, satire by Latino groups in protest of Republican Governor Pete Wilson's anti-immigration policies in the 90s.

    And Romney is going to come back after invoking Pete Wilson? More or less impossible especially as Ann Coulter's comments suggest the GOP base will give him such a short leash.