What I think may be (or at least hope is) happening is that we are at the beginning of a LAtino generational committment to the Democratic party. At the end of my diary here (and at Kos)I (albeit briefly) ponder whether or not this is similar to the outcome of the Southern Strategy wherein African-Americans made a wholesale switch from R to D.
 

At every appearance I saw in 2005, Dean warned that immigrants would be the Republicans' scapegoat for 2006 just like gays were in 2004. It's nice to see that for a change our side appears to be ready this time.

You'd think Republicans would be wary of this issue after Pete Wilson rode it to defeat in California in 2000, but I'm glad they want to stir the sleeping giant of Latino voter participation.

No one is bashing "immigration". People are bashing illegal aliens.

They are not one and the same, except in the fever dreams of the "cheap labor" Reps and the "I deserve a cheap labor kitchen remodel" Dems.

I'm not saying there is: I'm just saying that, as thinking observers of the political scene, we shouldn't immediately assume the move is completely retarded. (Like that invasion of Iraq that I seem remember a handy number of Dems said was an OK thing to do at the time.)

Numbers on the streets usually mean nothing except a few momentary ya-yas for those involved and their cheerleaders. Those anti-Iraq war millions pre the invasion had almost no traction. (Whereas the Vietnam war demos got their juice from the fact that thousands of American boys were dying every year.)

I suspect that the GOP has done polling.

From what there is for the Great Unwashed, on Polling Report, I see an NBC poll from this month found that a candidate who supported tightening immigration controls would would find 71% more likely to vote for him on that account (poll doesn't specify whether RVs or LVs - just saying).

And clear and persistent majorities against a temporary worker scheme.

Even - saith a Democracy Corps poll (PDF) on the Hispanic electorate last year (Q76) - a minority of Hispanics oppose encouraging new immigration to the US (56-34 - 18% strongly oppose).

And 41% agreed (27% strongly) that illegal immigration hurts rather than helps the US (Q77).

It doesn't take a genius to hypothesize that the GOP may well have concluded that most of those Hispanics who oppose tightening up on illegals are highly unlikely to vote for them.

And, on the other hand, the section of Hispanics most likely to vote GOP are indifferent to, or supportive of, such a policy.

While most white non-Hispanics appear to support it.

Of course, if they've decided on the immigration policy with the same attention to long-term planning shown in the Iraq caper, they'll come a cropper.

But I don't think that, a priori, based on a big lefties day in the park, one can conclude as much.

Giffords is a shoe-in, Mitchell just might beat JD Hayworth, and even Pederson could win his race.

I also would say that Beauprez's seat in CO is going Dem and so is Nussle's seat in IA both of which have more latino voters than people think.

Demonize anti illegal alien sentiment if you will at your own peril.  A central part of the democratic party's base is black America.  In our community we have seen this before.  You see, we have seen successive waves of immigrants come to America and pass us by.   A hundred years ago Booker T. Washington appealed to America to restrict immigration and use the pool of black labor which was readily available.  America refused.   I will not refute all of the spin and rationalization democrats use  to justify supporting illegal immigration.  There are two facts you should face.
1-These primarily Mexican immigrants will assimilate and when they do they will vote Republican just like Cubans.  That makes supporting illegal immigration like selling them the rope they will use to hang you.
2-Black peoples' interests are best served by no amnesty or road to citizenship and the most harsh illegal immigration law possible.  That can best be achieved by an alliance with the most conservative Republicans.  You see black people already agree with most of their conservative religious and cultural values.  Removing millions of illegal immigrants would boost the wages of millions of poor black people and improve the employability of the numerous black felons.  In case this does not fit in your carefully ordered bleeding heart universe please recall all those poor black people who could not flee hurricane Katrina.  Remember when you were wringing your hands and saying we must do something?  Well there are millions of poor black people all over America just like in New Orleans.  Do something.  Take care of Americans first.