Am I the only one that wants to puke when they hear the term, "compassionate conservative"? Bush sure was a Consservative? Consider Medicare Part D, ban on incandescent light bulbs, No Child Left Behind, push for amnesty for illegal aliens (oops undocumented workers), etc.

The citizenship for illegal alien lovers always leave out, "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". Can someone explain how someone here illegally is subject to the jurisdiction thereof?

Just put another check-off box on the top of the 1040 form asking if American citizens want several hundred billion of the taxes they're paying to be given to illegal aliens. Those who check yes can have more taxes taken out, and those who check no will have no longer have more taxes taken out to pay for "free" welfare, "free healthcare", "free" subsidies, and "free" education for citizens of other nations who have come here illegally.

Employers of illegal aliens forced to pay for their healthcare.....excellent.

Those who violate the law are responsible for separating their families, not those who uphold it. Shall we disregard the laws of drunk driving, identity theft, fraud, manslaughter, and USC 8 235 because those who violate them might be separating themselves from their families? Ridiculous. American citizens are required to obey the law or suffer the consequences. To require less of foreign nationals here illegally at the EXPENSE of American citizens is idiocy. And THAT is where you find "compassionate conservatives".

Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is the same as calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".

Illegal is illegal. I appreciate people coming to the United States for a better life, but do it legally like my grandparents did.

As to the children of illegals that were brought here at a very young age, they are illegal, too. The whole family goes.

This applies to illegals from Kenya, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, wherever.

Illegal is illegal.

We need to have a Mohican in charge of enforcing immigration policy. They truly understand the folly of an open border policy.

Barry Payne, Titular Despot Emeritus

For the most part I agree with Mr. Thomas. However; realistically I know that what he proposes is not going to happen. If we as conservatives want to achieve any kind of change at all, we have to get behind someone as our candidate for president. No one person is going to fit the bill for everyone, but if we remain divided it means re-election for the scoundrel currently in the White House. Newt is not perfect. However; I believe he can mop the floor with Obama, and that is what is critical at this point.

Richard Ryan

Lamar,Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

Cal's suggestions completely lack common sense. How could employers be expected to advertize for a job that's already filled? This is just an ivory tower, ideological way of looking at real world, common sense problems.

First, Newt suggested 25 years because he knows there will be legislation, and compromise to be made. The real timeframe may be 10 years. He recognizes that he doesn't know what it will eventually be.

Second, local panels - whether liberal or conservative - should have the final say, if we are actually conservatives, and don't want to just impose OUR OWN standards on communities. The law should simply stipulate that there IS NO PATHWAY to citizenship. Let them clamor for it after the fact. That's their right. And, they'll do it regardless of what law you pass.

Gingrich gives a good framework for getting off of square-one on a problem that is 60 years old.

"Compassionate conservative" is code for the progressive wing or the establishment of the Republican party. They believe in Big Government to enforce social conservatism, but Big Government none the less.

True conservatism is the most compassionate of all by not wanting to keep people dependent and trapped in poverty. It succeeds every time it is tried and it benefits all people every time it is the governing philosphy of this country. The platform and the message of the Republican party should be true conservatism. Pandering to any group makes Republicans no different than the Democrats.

I too want a reprieve from breaking one of our laws.

Think the police or politicians will grant me amnesty for breaking a law, or will I be fined or imprisioned for doing so?

I believe we all know the answer to that question.

So whay the double standard, and one more against American citizens? It is simple, they are politicians canvassing for votes as a means to propel them to power!

Newt Gingrich is no different than all other career politicians.

@ Richard Ryan

I'm with you Richard. Read Thomas Sowells article - "Gingrich and Immigration." I think Dr. Sowell has it right. Despite Newt's views on immigration, he cannot push through an Amnesty Bill with a Republican Congress anyway and we have to support the best candidate available to us. I agree Newt is definitely the most likely candidate to reveal Obama for the destroyer of the nation he is in a presidential debate, and will likely govern well on other important issues.

We will just have to remind Mr. Gingrich that it's not about "compassion", it's about the Rule of Law. And when you play fast and loose with one part of the law, the rest unravels... eventually.

Cal Thomas writes here: "In my ideal world (and some U.S. laws might have to change to accomplish it), this is what I think should be done: Illegal immigrants who have jobs, pay taxes and are law abiding can stay as temporary residents provided they are doing jobs no American citizen wants to do."

Really? There is so much inherently wrong with that statement. How is it that the "illegal immigrant" is paying taxes? Fraudulent Social Security Number or a Stolen Social Security Number? If the latter, is this not identify theft... with a victim somewhere? If the former... well that's fraud, a crime unto itself, and are there not also other potential victims among those they've conducted business with? By being an illegal immigrant in the first place, they have made their employer either a willing or an unwitting accessory to their crime.

Point is, however harmless or well intentioned one views a breach of the law - lawbreaking begets more lawbreaking. And at some point down the line, someone invariably is harmed... The very thing our government is supposed to protect us from through the law itself. When the law has no meaning or force, or becomes arbitrary in application, civilised society itself is lost.

Being the historian he is, Newt should know this.

"They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men." ~ John Adams, 1775 — Novanglus No. 7

We don't have to deport illegals. They will deport themselves if we cut off all aid of any kind to anyone who cannot (or will not) produce evidence of legal residence or United States citizenship. Emergency medical care in life-threatening cases could be provided, but nothing else. And the law needs to revised or clarified so that illegals who give birth on United States soil will no longer automatically acquire citizenship for themselves and their offspring. Businesses who hire illegals should be fined heavily or prosecuted to recoup the expense to the taxpayers. As others have noted, illegal is illegal. If not, then why should anyone else obey any law or be prosecuted for not obeying it? All this nonsense about "compassion" is just childish Leftist twaddle. Our media and education systems have turned us into a nation of perpetual adolescents.

We need to start with the border; end anchor babies (not the intent of the law they're relying on); and then find a way to deal with those who are here. Newt puts out good first steps. As much as we might like it to be, it won't be an all or nothing deal.

First, build a fence! Then round them up, all 11 million of them, and deport them. Enough with this "compassionism!" Cut off all the freebies, all of them!

Then, we must fix our country! Our public schools do not teach even American children the true history of this country, and do not teach Americans English, either. How then can we expect illegals to learn these things? Let's get back to "readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic for our own students before trying it with illegals.

While we're at it, let's put a moratorium on all immigration for a period of time. Obtaining freedom and creating this nation cost lives and blood, and fortunes. Immigrants have no incentive to fight for their freedom in their own countries, as long as they can just pack up and move to America. If they want freedom like ours, then let them fight for it in their own countries.

No doubt that this will be viewed as harsh and as impossible by many people; "desperate times call for desperate measures!"

What we need now, and have for the past 6 years or more, is a young Ronald Reagan in Hollywood again exposing the communists and socialists undermining America again.

We could certainly use one who can expose the media too.

They must be exposed for undermining our values, beliefs, ethics and constitution before it is too late.

I'm naive, confused or both...how can an illegal live in our once great country for 25 years and pay taxes?????