The title of this post is the best pro-immigrant protest sign I have seen to date. It points out the vital role immigrants play in the U.S. economy, and the ludicrousness of trying to prevent illegal immigration. Breaking from Republican ranks, the president is proposing an immigration reform policy, that, while it leaves something to be desired in immigrant rights, is far preferable to the plan endorsed by the House.

This break is not merely a fluke or a desperate appeal to the left in the face of rock-bottom approval ratings. Cases like immigration reform and the Dubai Ports World deal highlight a growing rift in the Republican party - between the rich, coastal business-interest Republicans, who clamor for conservative economic policy, and the "heartland" Republicans; the low income, patriotic, fervently religious traditionalists.

Since the neoconservative movement rose to prominence with Reagan, it has generally presented a unified face and consistent ideological pillars. However, this uniformity belies the fact that the American right is in fact a coalition of disparate groups with different interests.

As the Republican party feeds its corporate power base with subsidies, it appeases small-government conservatives with large tax cuts and broad gun rights. The tax policy is stacked against low income voters in rural America, but heartland conservatives are brought on board by the clear religious message of the Republican party - against gay marriage, in favor of the ten commandments, prayer in school, God in the pledge, abstinence-only education, and creationism. By casting military actions as a defence of good against evil in an almost biblical sense (an appeal bolstered by the U.S.'s strong support for Israel), the religious right is brought on board to support the war in Iraq, which had until recently generated overall support for the president, political capital he has invested in his industry backers.

We see then that today's Republicans fall into these three general groups:

- Corporate interest
- Small-government conservative
- Heartland/values/religious conservative

With the small-government conservatives generally more aligned and overlapping with the heartland crowd. On issues like globalization, which benefits American corporations and hurts American workers at the same time, the dischord within the party is mounting, and the administration is losing support from its voter base. In fact, data compiled by SurveyUSA on May 15th show that Bush's approval rating is below his dissaproval rating in all but three states: In Wyoming, the scores are tied, and only Utah and Idaho still support the president, though the trend is negative in those states too.