Just a quick take on the raw politics vis a vis terrorism: Imagine a member of al Qaeda sneaks across the border and blows up a bus in New York, or Los Angeles, or whereever. There will be hell to pay for whichever party holds power when that happens. When your party controls the executive and legislative branches, it goes without saying, this means you.

President Bush should think of that reality every time he begins the sentence "family values don't stop at the Rio Grande." The problem now, of course, is that almost nothing stops at the Rio Grande. A controlled border can still allow honest, hard-working, law-abiding people across. An uncontrolled border means anyone can cross. So "family values" are entirely beside the point.

The border must be controlled as a matter of our national security. But the raw politics of it, the devastation a border breach leading to a terrorist act will mean for Republicans, ought to provide additional incentive for even the most craven politician. To be very clear here, this is not a suggestion that political considerations should be paramount. We're just noting the reality of the situation here. Politicians should pay a price when they don't do what needs to be done.

Michelle Malkin: "Okay, now can we enforce our immigration laws???"