As we write, a bill to address immigration policy in this country is floundering in the Senate, sinking hopes that a compromise crafted in the upper house might win the day and salvage some Congressional humanity from the wreckage that is the cruel House of Representatives bill.

Still, considering the potential explosiveness of the issue, the debate in the United States over immigration has been fairly subdued, if not always wisely conducted. Massive protests have taken place (and will continue to do so) without significant violence, and the American people seem strikingly laid back about the subject (which makes us wonder why so many people want a “guest-worker” program, the likes of which have done so much to rend European societies).

Not everyone has been so restrained, however. Charles Krauthammer writes in his usual cold-blooded way today that we should build a fence on our southern border, pointing to the Korean DMZ as an effective example of such a barrier. That counts as progressive compared to some ideas bandied about in the right-wing press. But no one does the immigration debate quite like our own Washington Times. With their fingers on their scare-quote buttons they demagogue the issue better than anyone. And the best of the bunch has to be Tom Knott, who weaves his cartoon visions like an amateur holophonist. His column this week is vintage stuff.