The NYTimes is reporting that Bush is planning to deploy as many as 10,000 national guard troops to the border, but he has assured Mexican President Vincente Fox that this is not a permanent militarization of the border. My question is why? What about next week is different from the past couple of decades? And last, when did we suddenly have 10,000 troops lying around, ready to use?The obvious answer is that right now Bush just happens to have terrible poll numbers and is clearly desperate to sign his name on something that the country can support (like immigration reform). Putting troops on the border may be just what he needs to gain enough Republican support of his proposed reform.Whatever ends up happening it is clear that Republicans can give up on their courtship of the Hispanic vote. It just wasn’t meant to be…