Viva Bush?

Here in New Mexico, one of the dreaded "swing states," its common to see cars with bumper stickers saying "Viva Bush!" Courting the socially conservative Hispanic vote here was probably a big reason went red (ugh, it's still shocking to type that) in 2004.

I guess those days are over.

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Friday the national anthem should be sung in English — not Spanish — in a blunt rejection of a new Spanish-language version. He also expressed opposition to a national work stoppage called for Monday to dramatize the importance of immigrants to the U.S. economy.

..."I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English," Bush said.

Wow. I'm not sure how daring to sing the national anthem in Spanish is supposed to keep immigrants from learning English, or what language you speak has to do with being a citizen of a country with no official language, but what do I know. I'm not the president or anything.

The song, called 'Nuestro Himno,' sounds like a bit of a protest song. Judging from the offhand offensiveness of the president's remarks, protest is necessary.

And speaking of protests, in a move I think inspired by this movie, Monday is going to be a nationwide "Day Without an Immigrant."

NEW YORK (Reuters) - From mighty meatpacking plants to tiny taco stands, U.S. businesses are making plans to deal with Monday's nationwide pro-immigration boycott, which could keep millions of people away from their jobs.

Contingency plans range from juggling schedules to hiring temporary workers to closing down altogether, companies say.

Organizers say millions of immigrants and their supporters will participate in the demonstrations, scheduled to protest legislation that would declare illegal immigrants felons and erect a fence along much of the U.S.-Mexico border. Such job actions could close down several major cities, they say.

I'm curious to see how this goes down in Albuquerque.