Why the GOP Wants You to Think There'll Be an Immigration Deal if They Win

One month ago, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Speaker of the House John Boehner said something that spoke to the preferences and utter gullibility of Republican donors. Immigration reform, said Boehner, "wasn’t likely to happen this year because of the flood on the border, and the President’s own pounding his chest about using his phone and his pen." Having absolved himself and congressional Republicans from blame for the impasse, Boehner suggested that if the president could "continue to follow the law, and begin to take steps that would better secure our border, it would create an environment where you could do immigration reform in a responsible way next year."

Yes, next year -- that age of boundless dreams, when you'll have lost that extra 20 pounds, when the Cubs will win the World Series, and when Agents of SHIELD will finally be watchable. Boehner was echoed last week by Florida Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, a reformer who predicted a new final deadline for a comprehensive bill every three-odd months this year. "I’m hoping we can do it early next Congress," said Diaz-Balart.