Breakthrough on Senate immigration bill
posted at 11:26 am on May 11, 2006 by Allahpundit
Frist and Reid emerge from the barn with their new baby. No details yet; Frist says a “considerable” number of amendments are up for debate for next week, so much of it is still in flux.
Probably not the part about earned citizenship, though.
Zogby took a poll of likely voters recently on behalf of the Center for Immigration Studies. Among his tasks was to determine which approach, the Senate’s or the House’s, Americans preferred. Results are here.
Update: WaPo profiles immigrants against illegal immigration.
Update: Doing the jobs Americans won’t do, recovering from the illnesses Americans won’t recover from. Meanwhile, Illinois says mi casa es su casa — literally. No social security number required!
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Dobbs needs to expand his question to “does the congress think we’re stupid?”. These political yo-yos are still trying to fool us with slight of hand tricks.
rplat on May 11, 2006 at 11:32 AM
pure and unadultrated garbage, the selling of America to Mexico. Frist is a pandering fool and the GOP has lost its moral authority to lead. If this happens, I don’t care if Hillary gets elected with Conners as VP in 2008.
MikeG on May 11, 2006 at 11:34 AM
This will be nothing but another Amnesty Bill.
Do not be fooled by the rhetoric, it will be a full blown attempt to pass Amnesty because they think the American People have settled down after the Marches in our streets by Illegal Aliens.
Call your senator and tell them you are not being fooled by the latest attempt.
The Senate thinks we are all stupid!!!
US Congressional Switchboard Toll-free Numbers
1-800-833-6354
1-866-340-9281
1-877-762-8762
1-866-808-0065
1-888-355-3588
1-866-220-0044
ScottyDog on May 11, 2006 at 11:54 AM
Dread Pirate Roberts Common Sense Immigration Plan
1. We’ve reached capacity, build the WALL!
2. Already here: Self-report for processing
3. Pay the $2,500 fine (processing fee if you wish)
4. Submit to a background check.
5. Start paying taxes.
6. If you go home for any reason, you stay there. We’re full!
7. To apply for permanent residence, you must go home first (see rule 6)
8. So much as pass gas in public and you’re outta here.
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on May 11, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Earth To Frist. Immigration means:
Infinite
Masses
Marching
In
Generally
Refusing
Altogehter
To
Incorporate
Our
Norms
bucktowndusty on May 11, 2006 at 11:58 AM
Amendment to the Dread Pirate Roberts Common Sense Immigration Plan (What would a plan be w/o amendments)
9. Register with Selective Service (You never know)
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on May 11, 2006 at 12:15 PM
LET any politician favoring a guest worker program be the first to sign up for a GUEST HOST PROGRAM. See how fast the list shrinks when politicians must house those they wish to amnesty.
bucktowndusty on May 11, 2006 at 12:28 PM
Inconceivable!! I’m from Tennessee and very active in our local and state GOP and I am totally disgusted with Frist’s pandering. Own this house!! Someone please own this house with the MANDATE that we gave you two years ago!
church
-Look out for the R.O.U.S’s
y2church on May 11, 2006 at 12:45 PM
No need for an immigration bill, just enforce the existing laws now or we’ll enforce them for you is the message. Put the Guard on the border (I’ll come out of retirement) and work for free. Once we clean out the illegals, two to three years down the road, then we’ll talk about a true guested worker program when the feds demonstrate that they will enforce the immigration laws. Read my blog on Illegal immigration costs http://www.texastowncar.com.
texast on May 11, 2006 at 12:56 PM
We need to outsource Congress to India.
clyde on May 11, 2006 at 12:57 PM
By the way, there is no such thing as a “guest worker” program unless the “guest” is invited. None of these illegals were invited. I guess this makes them “unwanted guests”. UWG is a good euphemism. Labor-and-judicially-challenged would be another.
clyde on May 11, 2006 at 2:11 PM
I saw Frist on O’Rielly yesterday say that security would come before amnesty. I could tell he was lying, he was very nervous and circumspect. And he was lying.
pat on May 11, 2006 at 2:17 PM
The “amnesty” already exists in Illinois. Illegals can get low-interest state-funded home loans for $150,000 homes through a program called I-Loan, bank accounts, and other benefits without a social security number, as well as free public schooling for their kids on the taxpayer’s tab, and out-of-state tuition in the U of Illinois college system, along with free medical care and numerous other benefits. All this without paying taxes. Why in hell would ANYONE want to register with the government and give them half what you earn in taxes to get this, when you can get it all free? Hola!
clyde on May 11, 2006 at 2:38 PM
Frist has lost my support completely. I am more in a Tancredo mood! This is unbelievable..the illegals have more influence than Americans. I dont know what is going to happen but am quite sure it will be something I despise.
labwrs on May 11, 2006 at 2:40 PM
Just called the Frist office in Nashville. They are very touchy…..
LZVandy on May 11, 2006 at 2:44 PM
I need to borrow Glen Beck’s duct tape and wrap my head everytime I hear a Senate Republican anymore, just in case.
right as rain man on May 11, 2006 at 2:46 PM
Right on, ‘texast’.
dman on May 11, 2006 at 3:07 PM
Remember, folks … this is the SENATE. The House passed a proper border enforcement bill. Be selective when you go to the polls in November. Don’t punish those who have been true.
dman on May 11, 2006 at 3:14 PM
On May first, pro-illegal immigrant activists held “A Day Without Immigrants”.
Fearless prediction: On November 7, Republican senators are going to experience the backlash from “A Day Without Conservative Voters”.
thirteen28 on May 11, 2006 at 4:57 PM
No Amnesty; EVER.
Here is the correct path to earn citizenship:
1: Go back where you came from.
2: Apply for legal entry.
3: Learn English.
4: Obey all the laws and customs of the USA.
5: Get jobs that are ‘documented’
6: Pay all the proper taxes.
7: Love your adopted nation.
8: Fly no flags of foreign nations.
9: Apply for citizenship.
10: Take all the classes pertaining to earning citizenship.
11: Swear the oath of naturalized citizenship.
Congratulations: Once you have completed all of the above you have earned citizenship and are welcome here.
LegendHasIt on May 11, 2006 at 5:23 PM
Send a squad of U.S. soldiers to Mexico City and make the annexation official. Arrive between noon and three, and the place will be empty anyway. Siesta time, remember? They can wait on el presedente Fox in his office.
clyde on May 11, 2006 at 5:53 PM
Am I the only one who thinks there is something terribly wrong with this country? Having Republicans in charge is meaningless and only seems to make matters worse! I’m afraid they’ll have that fact driven home in November.
manwiththehands on May 11, 2006 at 6:47 PM
Notice the Zogby poll also found that most Americans want to lower immigration levels altogether. Apart from the whole amnesty scandal, the Senate is trying to *increase* visas enormously.
Alex K on May 11, 2006 at 8:03 PM
Take your senate immigration bill and shove it! Close the friggin borders to the illegal immigrants. PERIOD. Then we can worry about the rest of the friggin illegals that managed to get here.
Arrest and fine anyone who knowingly hires an illegal. Put in jail anyone that possesses a fake I.D., etc., etc., etc.
gary on May 11, 2006 at 8:06 PM
manwiththehands,
Remember to target the Senate, not the House. We need someone to organize this, since more House seats are at risk. An organized campaign can overcome these odds. What is needed is EFFECTIVE and rational protest.
Targeting the Senate would meet our objectives, punish the RINOs, and avoid the doomsday scenario that Karl Rove et al will spin to keep us in line with their “summer offensive”.
Think about it. The Republicans would retain the House and the Presidency, and VP Cheney would still preside over the Senate. The Supreme Court situation has been resolved. A Democrat Senate would make a lot of noise, but not much else. The Dems would be forced to show their hand on policy. The 2-year situation would send a stern message and weaken the Senate RINOs. The GOP would have time to get its act together before 2008.
One step backwards …
dman on May 11, 2006 at 8:16 PM
I am very discouraged with the entire Senate, and GWB on this whole issue. In NO way has any of them shown the Conservative’s realistic view on this issue. If you want deportation, all you hear are excuses as to why it won’t work. I wonder what it is, that has them all bowing to the Mexicans while they flip us the middle finger salute ???
All in all, it just makes no sense, like every one of them is on the take and being paid off by Mexico under the table.
ChipThome on May 12, 2006 at 2:33 AM
IMHO, it’s more of an elitist mentality. It’s why GWB backed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey in 2004. He was a chairman, and long-time member of the “in” Senate group. From NAFTA to the WTO to the World Bank to the UN to open borders, the elitists believe in the internationalist creed.
Targeting the Senate this year, and breaking up the “club”, would make way for much needed new blood in 2008 and beyond.
… two steps forward.
dman on May 12, 2006 at 9:15 AM
Fristy, my boy, let me put this as clearly as possible – and the same goes for every pro-immigrant, pro-amnesty sleaze-bag.
We don’t want immigrants, we don’t want more immigration, we don’t want amnesty for illegal immigrants. Why? We just don’t!
If you have trouble understanding this then I suggest you point with your finger and read out aloud – NO MORE IMMIGRANTS AND SEND BACK THE ONES IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. Get It? Got It? Doubt It.
Great White on May 12, 2006 at 9:38 AM
Amendment to LegendHasIt’s citizenship program:
12. Don move into no stinkin barrio.
Crude One on May 12, 2006 at 9:45 AM
I don’t go that far, Great White, but an immigration moratorium for a few years (as Pat Buchanan once suggested) might give us time to straighten out this mess.
Immigration good. Uncontrolled immigration bad.
dman on May 12, 2006 at 10:11 AM
This is the biggest pile of “BS I’ve seen in years. Basically, if you break our laws and get away with it for two years you’re home free. It’s time to make these jelly spined politicians pay at the polls.
rplat on May 12, 2006 at 11:33 AM
This situation is not new. The Roman Empire, during the long duration of its decline, experienced substantially the same difficulty. The less “civilized” polities directly across its border raided and pillaged the Roman Citizens when possible. When the extorionate Roman taxes and lack of armed protection left this landscape with a population deficit, and when the adjacent “Barbarians” were being, in turn, pressed by more warlike peoples, they would frequently move over to the Roman Empire Territory and petition the Empire for permission to remain as subjects. The Empire allowed them their boon more often than not. If they promised to pay taxes, their request was heard with additional attention. Sometimes, they actually paid the promised imposts. As with the present influx of Latin Americans into these United States, the attraction was primarily economic, and the loyalty of the immigrants was to their own ethnic institutions of clan and tribe, and only secondarily to the Empire. The seeds of the feudal settlement may be faintly discerned in these porous Roman borders.
Waumpuscat on May 12, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Does it strike anyone else as convenient that – now that the Minutemen have gained so much support from the public for building a fence and GOP support is plummeting – our government seems to have been struck with an urgent desire to send troops to the border?
Hmmm… what’s easier to a)get around and b)remove?
Up to 5000 troops scattered along a 2000 mile border, or a fence?
…
That’s what I thought too.
The money (granted, not a huge amount, but still!) I intended to give to the GOP and Republican candidates will now go to The Minuteman Project unless on Monday Bush says that he will support a fence and until it’s built, drop the idea of legalizing anyone.
Laura on May 12, 2006 at 7:48 PM
OK. Fine, everyone stay home in November. Teach the Republicans a lesson. Show ‘em what it feels like to have Bush and Cheney simultaneously impeached. Make ‘em feel the pain of having Pelosi as President. Show those “Right to Lifers” what it means to have Pelosi appoint the next Supreme. Repeal the Tax cuts, Make the 50% who actually pay taxes, pay even more. That’ll teach them. Pull the troops out of Iraq, teach those 25 million Iraqi suckers never to trust America again. Bring back the Clinton era, elect Hillery in ’08. Oh, and forget about the the fence, the Democrats won’t build one and besides, we’ll need those Mexicans to clean up the mess after the big one goes off in NYC or Chicago. After all they’ll do the work that no one else wants to do.
right ascension on May 12, 2006 at 11:29 PM
Now I see why Michelle calls her program “Vent”.
right ascension, though stating it sarcastically, is right. Hold your nose and vote Republican in November. The last time a spoiler (Ross Perot-1992) went Independent and split the Republican Party, Bill Clinton got in. We don’t want that to happen again. And the elections this year are just as important. Look at how much vitriol the Democrats have been spraying around when they are the “Party Out Of Power-P.O.O.P.” We cannot afford to let them take back the Senate and have the power to subvert every advance we have made.
Doug on May 13, 2006 at 2:00 AM
That’s right, folks. Just fall in line and march to the polls like good little sheep.
We fear the consequences of voting (or not voting) our convictions, and then vent our frustration that nothihg seems to change. Democracy involves risk – and courage.
Enter the “summer offensive” scare tactics of the RNC, illustrated by the two posts above. Follow their advice, AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE. We need a realistic, effective way to turn our frustration into positive action.
This is why, IMHO, we need to target our action and do a ‘surgical’ strike. We need to keep the House under GOP control, since 1)they have not been the problem; 2) articles of impeachment must be originated in the House; 3) budget legistlation begins there; 4) they can block any efforts by the Senate to override the President and do something radical; xxx) you can add to this list yourself.
The Senate however: 1) is the home of the RINOs who have already been undermining the President; 2) while having a numerical majority of Republicans, is in DE FACTO control of the Democrats due to the lack of spine on the part of the GOP leadership. As long as filibusters (which IMO are unconstitutional) are permitted under Senate rules, spineless leaders like Frist, Lott, Graham, et al will let the more determined and disciplined Dems lead them by the nose. Can the Dems like Reid and Schumer make any more noise than they are right now? They’re in front of the cameras just about every day.
If we allow the Dems to take numerical control of the Senate, the RINOs will lose their charmanships. They will be weakened in future elections, facilitating replacement by conservatives. The Dems would no longer be able to hide and point fingers at the “Republican controlled Congress”. They will be held accountable. They will be forced to introduce leglislation of their own in the Senate, and thus show their hand. The Republican President, VP (who is president ex oficio of the Senate), and House would keep them in check.
We would enter a period of stalemate, where all but essential and non-controversial leglislation would be inhibited. Good. No more runaway spending. No amnesty for illegals. The Dems would still be forced to pass the budget, or their constituents’ welfare checks would be cut off. The 2008 election is too important to them. The power split from 1994-2000 where Dems and Repubs checked each other turned out to be a good thing, looking back at it.
Perot was not a spoiler – he had a real chance of winning until he ‘flaked out’ on us. Polls this year indicate that a SERIOUS third party candidate could get a plurality of votes. Remember, however, that the 12th Amendment provides that if no one gets an absolute majority of electoral college votes, the President would be selected by the House. Another reason to keep the Republicans in control of that body.
The Reagan candidacy and rejection of the East Coast Republicans in 1976 cost us the White House. We suffered through the malaise of Carter (one step backwards), and then Reagan won the cold war (two steps forward). Politics is a messy business.
No one is suggesting that we stay home. We need to vote to keep the Republican House. They have been faithful to the conservative agenda. An organized campaign, targeting the Senate, would force real change in the Senate “club”, and avoid the doomsday scenarios described in the posts above. The disparity in votes for House seats versus non-votes for the Senate will be glaringly plain for all to see.
We need a leading politician and/or national talk host to take up the cause and get it organized. Otherwise, our fate will be that of the Romans. Our armed forces are risking their lives. The political risks pale in comparison.
dman on May 13, 2006 at 8:25 AM
(Apologies for the typos and length of the above post, but I held my nose in 2000 and 2004. Not this year. It’s time to de-bunk the RNC “BS”.)
dman on May 13, 2006 at 10:45 AM
dman-
Your points about a surgical strike against RINO’s is well reasoned and a very good idea. But…
Too many posters on many webs sites are not using such well reasoned logic. Ldot’rs, for instance, have for months been arguing for and threatening to withhold contribs to Repubs (loc & nat) and stay home on election day. Why were the “Cero Peso’s” pix posted on this web site, with instructions to send in lieu contribs?
If the Dems pick up enough seats in the House to make it close, there are enough RINO’s in the House to support the passage of Articles.
A Dem majority in Senate could block replacement under Art XXV. After all, they could claim that they have a popular mandate to do so.
As for the SC, I see possible departures of Ginsburg and/or Stevens. Stevens (who was 86 last month) said he wants to go out under a Rep Pres. And Norman Bates mother looks healthier than Ginsburg. A Ginsburg replacement by a Dem pres would give NARAL an SC seat for the next 20+ years. Replace both and Roberts and Alito will be writing a lot of Minority opinions.
OK, so the Dems won’t have a 2/3 majority to oust the Pres, but an impeachment weakened Bush won’t be able to appoint another Roberts or Alito to the SC should an opening arise. No more Owens’ or Brown’s to the Circuits, who’s going to replace Luttig – maybe the head of the ACLU will. The “Gang of 14″ will be no more. That may sound like a good thing now but by ’07 we’re going to miss them.
As for a 3rd party candidate in ’08; in order to throw the election into the House, the electoral votes need to be split up 3 ways with no one having a majority (and I didn’t see Perot get ANY electoral votes in ’92). If a 3rd party candidate wins enough electoral votes for this scenario to occur, the 3rd party must also have a majority of Representitives in a majority of state delegations to win.That’s not going to happen in 2 years. Since “surgical strike” voting in ’06 will leave a Rep majority in the House (and among the state delegations) and a close ’08 election will probably carry this over, a presidential victory of a 3rd party candidate via the House route would require massive defections. This could result in no party having a majority of state delegations, in which case the Democrat Senate (unless another “surgical strike” in ’08 can reverse the ’06 “surgical strike”) will chuse (sic) the VP! from the top 2, who will then serve as (acting) President.
Fight the RINO’s in the primaries, but in the general election, I don’t think that a “surgical strike” message will find many adherents. I think there are a lot MoveOn/DU out there helping to fan the anti-immigrant flames and yelling for the heads of the party in power.
I also apologise for the length (and tardiness) of this post. In ’92 and 96 I held my nose in the air, snubbed Bush Sr. and Dole and voted for Perot. I won’t do that again.
right ascension on May 13, 2006 at 12:21 PM
right ascension,
You raise some valid points. It’s nice to be arguing ideas, for a change.
I agree with your basic premise that random, undirected reprisal against the GOP would be harmful. But the polls (as much as I distrust them) do indicate a growing discontent not only with the President, but moreso with Congress. Unless this energy is directed somewhere where it might accomplish some net good, the Republican catastrophe that some predict for 2006 and 2008 will likely occur.
It’s obvious that I’m not a political ‘pro’. However, it’s frustrating that none of the ‘pros’ are providing a meaningful outlet for the public’s discontent. The “hold your nose” message isn’t going to fly this year. Let’s take some of these ideas, vet them, hone them, and give folks a way to regain some control over the direction things are taking. The effort must be highly organized, however, to circumvent some of the risks that you and Doug point out.
I’ll stand back for now and let others get into the fray. I’ve pretty much said my peace. I would only mention that the President can use recess apointments and executive orders to bypass an obstructionist Senate – especially if he has a supportive House.
What Michelle is doing here is a wonderful thing for our country. How did the Creator pack so much wisdom and courage in that petite package? I guess it’s to humble the rest of us.
dman on May 13, 2006 at 1:21 PM
Tom Tancredo for President
Ron Paul for Vice President
Vote against any Politician of either party that will not publicly state he wants to enforce our borders and is against Guest Workers or Amnesty.
That is my plan.
Call your Senators on Monday Morning Jam the Phones
US Congressional Switchboard Toll-free Numbers
1-800-833-6354
1-866-340-9281
1-877-762-8762
1-866-808-0065
1-888-355-3588
1-866-220-0044
ScottyDog on May 13, 2006 at 4:19 PM
First off, let me say I like Frist as a person; one of the truly decent men in DC.
However, his leadership just stinks! If they do seriously pass this giveaway, I’m staying home in November. They can no longer scare us with the democrat boogeyman when- on immigration and spending- they act like Democrats themselves. A couple years of letting the lunatics run the asylum and the GOP will straighten itself out to get back into power. Otherwise, they WILL be tossed in ’08, when we’d end up with a Dem president running the War on Terror (shudder).
Mike O on May 14, 2006 at 11:34 AM
Keep the pens rolling. As I’ve said before the old media is the British Redcoats and we are the Patriot minutemen fighting guerilla warfare from the woods of the blogosphere. The lefties try it too, but they can’t shoot straight. We need to write politicians, each other, our families, and quit being “nice” and quiet in conversation aobut our beliefs. We don’t have to be belligerant or militant, just persistent, factual, and correct.
CountryDoc on May 15, 2006 at 2:06 AM
Unfortunately, America’s problem with illegal immigration admits of no resolution that is politically feasible. The use of detachments of the Armed Forces to contain the inflow of workers from Mexico will end in the demoralization of these detachments. The Army has no institution comparable to the Internal Affairs (ShooFlies) Division in American Civilian Police Forces. Bribery will render these (Army) Border Guards sufficiently corrupt to assist the Drug Smugglers with their dream powder and the Coyotes with their coffles of destitute human beings. Our Armed Forces were painfully purged of the Drug Culture that they imported from Viet Nam. Pray that our Armed Forces remain the respected American Institution that we admire today.
I wish that I had an answer. The American descent into Socialism, with the safety net of the impoverished, has made our country Mexico’s relief valve, allowing that MORDIDA STATE to perpetuate its culture of peonage and soft despotism.
Waumpuscat on May 15, 2006 at 7:34 AM
What Congress calls a ‘breakthrough,’ in the real world, is called a breakDOWN!
A breakthrough would be, say, actually arresting an illegal alien without releasing him or her. Or telling el Presidente Vicente Fox to. . . well, shut up.
In the political world, a congressional breakthrough is Nancy Pelosi walking past a live microphone without stopping.
ForYourEdification on May 15, 2006 at 5:33 PM