Breaking: Bush, Senate leaders reach immigration agreement; Update: “I don’t care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty”; Update: Illegals slam bill as too onerous
posted at 1:15 pm on May 17, 2007 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
Fox News and MSNBC are reporting that the hour of reckoning is at hand. Stand by for details, although I think we already know most of them.
Update: “Quick legal status.”
A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones…
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush’s top non-war priorities.
The group of lawmakers had been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new “point system.” The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Update: The formal announcement is at 1:30. Reuters has a few of the basics already; it looks like the GOP won the battle over whether illegals can bring extended family with them.
The legislation would create a temporary worker program that would require laborers to return home after a period of time. Tough border security and workplace enforcement measures would go into place before the temporary worker program, congressional aides said.
The proposal would limit family-based migration to immediate family members and establish a merit-based system by which future migrants could earn points for skills, education, understanding of English and family ties.
Update: Michelle is posting reaction and points to a WashTimes report from last night that claimed Bush was ready to cave on safeguards that would prevent fraud in the guest-worker program. She also links to a point by point rebuttal of the GOP talking points at Lone Wacko.
Update: Quote of the day:
Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, said he had doubts about this approach, but said Congress had to do something because his constituents were telling him that “they feel they are being overrun with uncontrolled immigration.”
The irony is that most Republicans would accept a compromise on the back half of the equation, even if it meant legalizing large numbers of illegals who are already here, if the party was serious about plugging the leaks in the border. Show us a sustained, good faith effort to secure it and then we can deal charitably with the “undocumented.” Anyone think that’s in the offing?
Update: WaPo has the major details. 400,000 “guest workers” a year. And unless they’ve made an oversight, the English-language requirement for the “Z visa” that would grant permanent legal status has been dropped: “each Z Visa itself would be renewable indefinitely, as long as the holder passes a criminal background check, remains fully employed and pays a $5,000 fine, plus a paperwork-processing fee.”
Update: Near as I can tell (nitty gritty details being suspiciously hard to come by in news reports on immigration), there are two basic innovations to the bill: replacing family connections with a “points system” that emphasizes job skills and education as the key criteria for a green card — which seems odd given the argument about needing low-skilled workers to do the jobs Americans won’t do — and the requirement that the “Z visa” program not be triggered until certain measures have been taken to enforce the border. Question per Lone Wacko: Does that mean actual, concrete improvements in border security or merely passing laws and allocating funds for improvements that are never going to be made, like that nifty border fence they passed last year?
We had a Republican Congress and a Republican White House for six years. Six years, and it’s come to this.
Update: Bush applauds. And I take it back — here’s the line of the day:
“This is what my 9th grade teacher told me government is all about and I finally got to experience it,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Update: The Counterterrorism Blog says it’s a national security disaster:
In short order, the system will be overwhelmed. Whatever minimal fraud detection and prevention safeguards might be erected won’t last long in the face of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of applications and petitions to be adjudicated. What that means is the information provided on those applications and petitions, and whatever supporting documents they may have (if any), will essentially be taken at face value. Whatever the applicant alien tells the adjudicator will essentially be taken at face value. There will be little time or process available to verify anything, perhaps beyond running the applicant’s name through a standard battery of computer databases (and, even that may become so time consuming some will slip through the cracks).
Update: Who among the GOP candidates reaps the whirlwind on this? It’s got to be McCain, right?
Expect Rudy to pronounce himself “troubled” by the deal.
Update: Jim DeMint: “I don’t care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty.”
Update: Tancredo goes right after McCain:
“Senator McCain and his allies seem to think that they can dupe the American public into accepting a blanket amnesty if they just call it ‘comprehensive’ or ‘earned legalization’ or ‘regularization.’ Unfortunately for them, however, the American people know amnesty when they see it,” said Tancredo. “The President is so desperate for a legacy and a domestic policy win that he is willing to sell out the American people and our national security.”
“If Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy spent as much time working on improving border security as they did poll testing creative euphemisms for amnesty, America would be a much safer place,” quipped Tancredo.
Update: Rich Lowry thinks the “triggers” are a scam from the word go, with amnesty granted immediately upon passage of the bill and the “Z visas,” which are keed to the enforcement triggers, only relevant insofar as they allow the bearer to travel. But even if Lowry’s wrong, what happens to the illegals who are here while the feds are working towards the triggers? Let’s say they get bogged down and can’t get them done for another decade. What’s the status of the “undocumented” during that interim period?
Update: Illegal aliens don’t like the bill either, a claim which will doubtless be trumpeted by proponents to “prove” that it’s a fair compromise. Actually, what it proves is that even the amnesty side of it is crap that won’t achieve what it means to.
The sub-moronic “touchback” provision comes in for special abuse:
David Guerra wants to be legal, but he says the path to citizenship offered by the Senate on Thursday would be too risky and too expensive, and could end up driving him deeper into the shadows…
“If I go home, who is going to guarantee that I’ll be let back in?” said the 44-year-old who lays bricks, clears weeds and does landscaping…
“Where would I find $5,000? In two years, I don’t get $5,000,” said Daniel Carrillo Maldonado, an illegal immigrant who was looking for construction work outside a Home Depot in Phoenix…
Amy Ndour, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant from Senegal who lives in New York, said she would be willing to pay the $5,000 fine, but not return home because her family there depends on what she earns as a hair braider.
“I’m helping myself” here, she said. “I’m helping people there too.”…
Many illegal immigrants said they had little incentive to apply for residency because the process was long and did not offer much hope of bringing their families.
“If I’ll never be able to bring my family, why should I apply?” said Jose Monson, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala who has lived in Los Angeles for four years. “I prefer to just stay here illegally.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.
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
Comment pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 »
Hmm. I’ve got an idea. All of us stop working, and let the new citizens pay taxes and support us, through social security, free healthcare, etc. Yeah. I like that.
amerpundit on May 17, 2007 at 4:24 PM
OK, we disagree on the GOP thing.
Now which white ethnic identity-politics group could possibly unite you, me, Michael Moore, Cindy Sheehan, Sean Penn, Ted Kennedy, etc…? All of us are as white as the Pilgrims, but what else do we have in common with those folks?
“La Raza” no more represents my local hispanic Republican activists than the KKK represents me. It’s the ideology that counts, not some BS ethnic identity. This kind of thinking is for multi-culti liberals.
I think there’s a place for a third party that unites small-government control-the-borders conservatives as an interest block. Rick Santorum and Tom Tancredo could easily form such a party to put pressure on the GOP. But for now, these stalwart border-defenders are in the GOP. So I will stay there.
Anton on May 17, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Perhaps I don’t understand the amnesty bill, but, it provides for 400,000 guest workers per year.
I was under the impression that there are currently 12,000,000 ‘guest’ workers already here.
So, does this mean that we expect 12,000,000 people to return home and wait for their turn for one of 400,000 slots to come and work in the US?
Or, does this mean that the 12,000,000 ‘guests’ already here are here to stay (after paying 1 or 2 years worth of the last 5 years worth of taxes, of course - wish I could get a 2/5 tax deal) and this means there will be 400,000 ADDITIONAL guest workers each year (plus, whoever else slips across the border in search of the better standard of living we’ve made for ourselves up here)?
JadeNYU on May 17, 2007 at 4:25 PM
To be honest, I’m not even worried about terrorists crossing our border(they easily could), they don’t have to attack us here, we have already submitted to their will. We are slitting our own throats, thank you very much.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 4:25 PM
JadeNYU, I think the “400,000″ is just a feel good number.
moonsbreath on May 17, 2007 at 4:26 PM
FRED!! Where are you!!
Theworldisnotenough on May 17, 2007 at 4:30 PM
An additional 400,000 a year. Only the head of the family would have to return to Mexico, when his visa expires.
amerpundit on May 17, 2007 at 4:30 PM
I think Lou Dobbs is controlling the website over at CNN, because this is a top story on the front page.
amerpundit on May 17, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Does this amnesty cover all races, colors and creeds?
tomas on May 17, 2007 at 4:31 PM
>I don’t really think the options you’re proposing are good ones
Well, sticking with the Republican Party hasn’t done any good. Seriously, every stinking year we hear the same thing. “Keep trying to work within the party. If we don’t stick with the party, the Democrats will get control.”
Again I ask: HOW FREAKING LONG DO WE HAVE TO WORK WITHIN A PARTY THAT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT MOVE STEADILY TO THE LEFT FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES? (Yes, I know that all caps means shouting.) The few victories here and there haven’t done anything to stem the overall decline.
There is nothing of value left in the Republican Party, nothing to keep conservatives there. It’s not a conservative party. It’s not an honest, hard-working, patriotic party. It’s not courageously fighting the war against terrorism. It’s a big blob of nothingness that is a filter making leftist ideology easier for normal people to swallow. We’re getting socialism and losing our sovereignty, just like we would from the Democrats. It’s just dressed up to look less radical. Socialism with a Republican face is still socialism.
Doghouse on May 17, 2007 at 4:33 PM
MEXICO just took over the greatest country on earth without firing a shot!
Mellen on May 17, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Maybe they can get MS-13 to chair the judiciary??
Mellen on May 17, 2007 at 4:34 PM
We are in a long war, Patriot33. If our country shifts leftward with the increased Hispanicization of the American electorate, you can forget waging that war.
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 4:34 PM
>I don’t really think the options you’re proposing are good ones
Well, sticking with the Republican Party hasn’t done any good. Seriously, every stinking year we hear the same thing. “Keep trying to work within the party. If we don’t stick with the party, the Democrats will get control.”
Again I ask: HOW FREAKING LONG DO WE HAVE TO WORK WITHIN A PARTY THAT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT MOVE STEADILY TO THE LEFT FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES? (Yes, I know that all caps means shouting.) The few victories here and there haven’t done anything to stem the overall decline.
Doghouse on May 17, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Republicans have become democrats, democrats have become socialists. Which one do you want? Neither? OK, then what?
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 4:38 PM
The real point to be made here is that we need to repeal the 17th Amendment. If senators were answerable to their state and appointed by their state this legislation would be DOA.
I don’t know how the 17th ever got approved but it sure cut into the clout of the states. I think we should go back to the way the founders set things up before it is to late.
duff65 on May 17, 2007 at 4:43 PM
There is nothing of value left in the Republican Party; nothing to keep conservatives there. It’s not a conservative party. It’s not an honest, hard-working, patriotic party. It’s not courageously fighting the war against terrorism. It’s just a big blob of nothingness that is a filter making leftist ideology easier for normal people to swallow. We’re getting socialism and losing our sovereignty, just like we would from the Democrats. It’s all just dressed up to look less radical. Socialism with a Republican face is still socialism.
Doghouse on May 17, 2007 at 4:44 PM
>I think we should go back to the way the founders set things up before it is to late.
But, but, but, that’s not progressive!
Doghouse on May 17, 2007 at 4:45 PM
So what laws can we break with NO repercussions? I’d really like to know so I can enjoy my pursuit of happiness.
VikingGoneWild on May 17, 2007 at 4:49 PM
And I didn’t think I could get anymore disgusted…
disgusted
ej_pez on May 17, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Here is what I just sent to my two Texas Senators….
Dear Sir/Madam,
I fully expect you to do your duty and uphold the Constitution of the United States and defend our national sovereignty by voting against ANY illegal immigration bill. By the way - what part of illegal is it that all you lawyers don’t seem to understand? In fact, it is my understanding that every one of them who has obtained a false SSN has committed a felony - in addition to being here illegally! Hello? Can you say criminal?
I am NOT however anti LEGAL immigrant. I have a coworker who is a Mexican national and he is spending over $10,000 of his own money to live in the US legally. You would not believe the hoops that he has to jump through to continue to stay here under the law; endless interviews, etc… I admire him very much for what he is doing and he is as sick as I am at the prospect of amnesty for his countrymen and others who flaunt the law.
I don’t buy the excuses. It IS possible to sort out who does and who does not belong. Other countries do it. I often work in Mexico and China (since we have let the nice people at corporate headquarters relocate all the manufacturing jobs there) and I can assure you that I cannot get into a single factory without showing a valid visa. In Mexico, immigration is still using an old DOS database but guess what; it works!!! And if I don’t cancel out my visa when I leave I get to pay a huge fine - or I don’t get another visa! And that old dBase program tracks me down just fine.
On top of that, I live in the Rio Grand Valley and see every day what life is like in what we call “The Occupied Territories of Deep South Texas”! A substantial portion of the local population is already here illegally. Even worse; I get to see Mexican Nationals pull up to the school each day and drop off their kids - since our elected officials decided that we taxpayers should fund the schools for them. After all, we cannot deny anything to our neighbors to the south!!!
I have seen, first hand, the lines of illegals in the emergency rooms of out hospitals awaiting their free medical treatment! The hundreds of millions of dollars spent on their free care comes from somewhere. It isn’t free. It comes from me and from every other law-abiding taxpayer who has insurance.
There are very few of you who represent us who know just how angry the general public is about illegal immigration because WE are not being represented. Republican lawmakers want illegals for their buddies in “Big Business” and the Democrats want illegals for their voting block. And the average taxpaying American gets screwed.
This is a sad day for America. I have very little hope for the future of the country that my ancestors (I am a Mayflower descendant) founded. When my grandchildren and great-grandchildren are in the minority in this country do you think that the new majority will be so kind to them?
Sincerely,
thewhitneys on May 17, 2007 at 4:52 PM
I just visited huffpo and they are as pissed as we are. Of course they are advocating open violence against employers and illegals.
This is obviously about big corporations and high profits and in my experience, most politicians are beholding to big business and couldn’t care less about us when they are forced to make a choice.
csdeven on May 17, 2007 at 4:54 PM
The base made Bush rethink the Harriet Miers snafu, so there may be a slim chance of killing this thing.
Anyone feel much like defending Gonzales at DOJ anymore? How’s a guy that far out of the loop supposed to engage in the GWOT? Compromises have consequences. Let Ted Kennedy defend the AG. When you call the WH, let them know to get a new AG too.
rw on May 17, 2007 at 4:58 PM
Excellent letter Whitneys. Too bad it will fall on deaf ears. At the end of the day, republicans are beholdent to big business. That’s who gets them elected. Big business wants illegals. Democrats want voters. It’s that simple. There is no patriotism in washington anymore, it’s all about the bucks, and the votes, not what’s best for the future of this country.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 5:00 PM
The only mail our elected officials read are campaign contribution checks and messages congratulating them for winning the election.
Jesse Helms was the exception to this. You could always count on a personalized response, never a form letter, which is why he was never defeated in the Senate.
Valiant on May 17, 2007 at 5:01 PM
Out of 100 Senators, is there not one loyal American that will filibuster this? Not one?????
Dave Shay on May 17, 2007 at 5:05 PM
Quote of the day
Bloodhound on May 17, 2007 at 5:08 PM
By the way……Where do I get in line so I can get kissed also?
VikingGoneWild on May 17, 2007 at 5:08 PM
The best bet for killing this thing is if a dozen or so Republicans threaten to leave the Republican Party and become Independents. I think DeMint already threatened to some months back.
Perchant on May 17, 2007 at 5:09 PM
I have to laugh that you are all so enraged…It would have been nice to see at the polls. Do something about it…start a protest…letter writing campaign whatever.
It is not to late in spite of this tired rhetoric i’m hearing. Not getting involved is just as bad as not voting.
The streets have your names on them…get your lazy asses out there like the people you are trying to keep out of this country. That is what I thought… you are computer geek complainers.
tomas on May 17, 2007 at 5:09 PM
I don’t feel like supporting anything that this administration does anymore. Go ahead DEMs, impeach Bush, impeach Cheney, put Pelosi in charge and lets just get it over with. It can’t get any worse.
Buzzy on May 17, 2007 at 5:11 PM
I just sent a slightly modified version to the White House too. I know it will fall on big deaf ears, but if I do it - and I’ve never done it before - then there must be hundreds or thousands of others who’s bile has finally risen to the limit and will call and write too. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take the country back with pens (and keyboards)!
thewhitneys on May 17, 2007 at 5:12 PM
I just finished making my calls to Washington and my local GOP leaders. Thanks for providing the numbers to Washington, amerpundit.
DannoJyd on May 17, 2007 at 5:12 PM
Tomas …what do you think people have been doing numbnuts??? Over 300,000 faxes go out from Numbers.usa., also numerous phone calls to numbers that are often message services FULL….then there are several other groups doing the same..
.This is the upshot for your pea brain…They don’t care what you, (an American ) think...think The King of England Taxes and the Boston Tea Party…see the analogy??
Mellen on May 17, 2007 at 5:13 PM
With preferences shifting away from family members towards those with skills and education, look for this country to be the place of choice for all kind of high-tech R&D. With so many skilled workings willing, and now finally able, to work here, companies won’t have to deal with the hassle of setting up shops in India or China. That keeps more technology development here and will eventually result in a return of some manufacturing also to this country. I think people will look back on this day as the start of new boom in American industry.
That’s what the Republican leadership got in their compromise on this deal, and I applaud them for that.
pedestrian on May 17, 2007 at 5:14 PM
Pedestrian, I hope that was sarcasm.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 5:17 PM
LOL! Pedestrian, I certainly applaud your optimism.
PRCalDude on May 17, 2007 at 5:21 PM
If people calling the talks shows in Massachusetts are any indication of how angry (and I mean revolution type angry) people are then there’s big trouble ahead over this.
TheBigOldDog on May 17, 2007 at 5:22 PM
Let’s organize a one day protest to shut this country down! Call in sick, walk off the job, don’t buy anything, clog the streets with protests in every city, town or village! June 14th is Flag Day. Let’s make it “Save our Flag Day”. Show the slime balls in Washington and in the boardroom who keeps this country and their businesses running! Most polls I’ve seen show 70%+ are against this crap. Just imagine if 70% of the CITIZENS of this Country spent the day walking through their city waving an American Flag!
xetnec on May 17, 2007 at 5:22 PM
pedestrian, no matter how much lipstick to try to put on this pig named “amnesty”, it’s still “amnesty”, which means it rewards people for having broken the law. Millions of them in fact.
How much are the cowardly senators paying you to post this ridiculous crap anyway?
thirteen28 on May 17, 2007 at 5:25 PM
What we will get is an over-abundence of low-skilled workers, who will undercut Americans already doing those jobs, and will grow old living from paycheck to paycheck, and then bleed dry medi-care, medi-caid, and social security.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Hey guys, I just got off the phone with my local GOP, and the people there aren’t happy either (ok, they’re mad). Do me a favor, and before changing parties, wait until tomorrow. Cool off, sleep on it, and then look tomorrow.
I’m personally staying with the GOP, but looking for a change of politicians who represent the GOP. Let’s revamp the party, not leave it.
amerpundit on May 17, 2007 at 5:30 PM
There’s another option.
amerpundit on May 17, 2007 at 5:31 PM
Remember; you can’t spell Mexico without putting ME first!
thewhitneys on May 17, 2007 at 5:31 PM
Hmmm… was just thinking on it… only way they can ENFORCE this is with a National ID card.
And if they do that, they should take over the Driver’s License bureau and tie it in… as well as the Voter Registration… Tie your passport, and SSN in and you’ve now got somthing.
We have the technology… just need to do it. Make sure that it includes a JPEG photo so people can make sure the person using the card is who they say it is… use barcodes… crap… we built the credit card system, we could make this wordk.
Romeo13 on May 17, 2007 at 5:35 PM
This is all about short term gain for politicians currently in power, and big business. The republicans acting like they “compromised” is a joke. Their agenda is the same as the dems.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 5:39 PM
What we have an abundance of is Mexicans who move in and send back money to their families in Mexico. That’s one of, if not the, major sources of foreign capital in Mexico. Considering how poorly some of the jobs they have pay, I truly admire them and welcome that kind of generous people to this country.
pedestrian on May 17, 2007 at 5:39 PM
“A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul….”
That should read:
“….reached agreement on the betrayal of the American people”.
doingwhatican on May 17, 2007 at 5:40 PM
Here is contact information for the Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 5:41 PM
Good luck with that. It’s too late for me, I’m an Indie now and I will vote for candidates who most closely represent my views which - as a pro-war, pro-law enforcement, anti-abortion, anti-illegal alien, fiscal conservative - I suspect will come mostly from the Republican Party.
CliffHanger on May 17, 2007 at 5:42 PM
I think the right vengeance is to all become GOParty activists, and use the expertise that comes from being inside to make sure the traitors won’t enjoy their party for long.
dhimwit on May 17, 2007 at 5:43 PM
My God, man! Stop with the nonsense!
CliffHanger on May 17, 2007 at 5:43 PM
Ummmmm … it’s the American taxpayer that’s been generous. Providing everything from food to housing to medical care to schooling for FREE, not to mention IN-STATE tutition. I would think the ethic you admire so much would be better served building Mexico into a country that can take care of it’s own without having to farm them out to us to pay for.
Your perspective is skewed.
darwin on May 17, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Pedestrian, I can only assume you are role-playing here, playing devils advocate, because that statement is so laughable.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 5:46 PM
Uh oH…… Just found a killer loophole…
OK… this also authorizes a “guest worker program” of up to 400,000 a year… so they come in, have a kid… and then will get to stay because their KID is a citizen….
Loophole alert…
Romeo13 on May 17, 2007 at 5:46 PM
Lordie, lordie, we could HA all day - if it wouldn’t be so serious, it w/b good.
Entelechy on May 17, 2007 at 5:46 PM
That would be certain to get the attention of the Politburo in DC. The only thing is the organization and would enough people do it?
darwin on May 17, 2007 at 5:48 PM
Pedestrian,
The buck stops here. They accept ‘low pay’ like construction jobs? Come out to California, pal, there’s no more Americans in these jobs. Even the supervisors are Mexican. There go your jobs starting at $15 with advancement potential. What are our kids going to do if they aren’t cut out for college?
On top of that, they have babies they don’t pay for, they use social services they aren’t paying taxes to support, and make up a disproportionate amount of the crime. $18,000 per illegal, per year is what the taxpayer is paying. What planet are you on, man?
PRCalDude on May 17, 2007 at 5:51 PM
I don’t see people in force out in the streets…that is the only thing left that will work. you can’t protest business because they all employ illegals without fear of retribution.
You need the law enforcement president.
tomas on May 17, 2007 at 6:05 PM
Not to mention all the traffic accidents they walk away from (if they did’nt kill anyone) leaving the insured American to pick up the tab, driving up insurance rates, especially in the southwest.
bmac on May 17, 2007 at 6:06 PM
Pedestrian, if I were looking at you right now, I’d pu nch you in the face.
Romeo13, you have had some good comments before, but National Id card? Are you high?
Cut out welfare and see if some Americans don’t start taking some of the Mexican jobs back.
doginblack on May 17, 2007 at 6:06 PM
This line about illegal aliens doing jobs that Americans won’t do is utter nonsense that should be obvious to anyone who’s familiar with basic economics. A scarcity of labor would translate into a sharp rise in wages. In the case of every single industry where illegal immigrants are concentrated (agriculture, construction, meatpacking) we’ve seen a decline in real wages over the last few decades.
Dean Baker, a liberal economist, can easily figure this out. Too bad so many open-borders conservatives and libertarians are prepared to argue the laws of supply and demand, which they rely upon for so many of their other arguments, are somehow suspended in the case of illegal aliens.
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 6:07 PM
President Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Bill
President Bush on Thursday said, “Immigration is a tough issue for a lot of Americans. The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty, but without animosity.”
En Español
I swear, from whitehouse.gov and read about the immigration spin, you can read it en espanol.
The end is near, the end is near
doginblack on May 17, 2007 at 6:15 PM
Disgusting. Just absolutely revolting.
KSgop on May 17, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Americans don’t dupe so easily anymore and that realization hasn’t caught up to the arrogance and assumption of gullibility that many of our lawmakers still cling too or maybe hope is still in effect..not.
McCain, Kennedy and quite a few others have kept themselves unapproachable on this issue and have blown sky high when anyone dared try to engage them no matter what level that engagement was on unless it came from the anti America, screw your borders you racists crowd.
If we march in the streets waving foreign flags and shout down with America perhaps these fools would listen.
That the supporters of this attack on America travesty are totally blind to the reality or the extent of the outright “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore” American citizens is no surprise.
Backlash is an understatement of cosmic proportions.
Speakup on May 17, 2007 at 9:34 PM
I’m so freaking mad. As if LA doesn’t have enough illegals in it; now we’ll be overrun. I’ve had it with the Republican party. What really gets me as that all the Lefties hate Bush when he’s one of them more than he’s a conservative.
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:38 PM
CONTACTS:
White House Comments (9am-5pm EST): 202-456-1111
Email White House: comments@whitehouse.gov
Email VP Cheney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
GOP HQ (nat’l & states) contact: http://www.gop.com/ContactUs/
Call the Upper House and ask for the offices of Mitch McConnell, Trent Lott or Jon Kyl (8:30am-5:30pm EST): 202-225-3121
Email your representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Email your senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Write and call every one of them. Copy this list and email it to everyone you know.
Here’s my email:
IrishEi on May 17, 2007 at 9:41 PM
So does anyone know what happens to the illegals in prison? Is there a provision for that? Do they get to become citizens, too?
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:42 PM
She really is a Neocon! Gross.
Theworldisnotenough on May 17, 2007 at 9:43 PM
From the Associated (with Terrorists) Press:
Straight from the ass’ mouth: respecting those who broke our laws is “equally important” to protecting our national security and sovereignty. Too bad even that claim is a lie. Respecting non-citizen lawbreakers is far more important than protecting American citizens by Bush’s estimation.
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 9:44 PM
Short of employing East German Berlin wall tactics, what else is going to stop people from flooding the border?
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:45 PM
What this does is it legitimizes ANARCHY….so get yourselves a gun…the invaders are heading in great numbers to come across the unprotected border as I write this…they knew they could count on Kennedy and his freinds to sell out the American people….
Kennedy has hijacked YOUR American dream and given it to illegal lawbreakers…ain’t that swell
Mellen on May 17, 2007 at 9:46 PM
John and Ken on KFI radio, and their callers, are naming our ‘leaders’ “traitorous rats” this afternoon, and are calling/e-mailing all of them. Big campaign.
John and Ken are vowing this “McCain can kiss off winning California in the primaries”, now at the beginning of Feb. ‘08.
No one should ignore these guys. Their drive/fury is incredible. They have many feathers of success already. They don’t discriminate either - they go after lefties and righties, equally. The other one they’re after is Congressman Dryer.
Entelechy on May 17, 2007 at 9:47 PM
Daniel complains it is too much, because he doesn’t make 5,000 in a year. Well, going rate at the Home Depots in Phoenix is $10 an hour and there is plenty of work at them. Who is he fooling?
Tim Burton on May 17, 2007 at 9:47 PM
Yeah, because a wall on our border would be just like the Berlin Wall. Sheesh.
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 9:48 PM
So…how many illegals, making below minimum wage, can afford to pay the $5,000 fine? Who wants to bet some group will set up a taxpayer subsidized loan program to help illegals pay their fines?
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:49 PM
tommy1, I didn’t mean a wall would be the Berlin Wall, I meant that if they were serious about building a wall and keeping people out, that’s what it would have to be.
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I knew they would be that way.
Give the ILLEGAL immigrants a mile, and they’ll want a kilometer!
SilverStar830 on May 17, 2007 at 9:50 PM
A hundred years from now, “The United States of Amerexico”?
kevcad on May 17, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Fair enough. Sorry, I misread your statement.
tommy1 on May 17, 2007 at 9:51 PM
Hey, Entelechy, are you in LA too? Did you hear about the “vigil” in MacArthur Park?
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:55 PM
More like ten years from now.
IrishEi on May 17, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Come down here to Texas and you can see it right now.
forged rite on May 17, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Or all of Southern California.
wherestherum on May 17, 2007 at 9:59 PM
Despite my dispair of yesterday, I sent ‘everybody’ messages on this today.
I knew it was coming regardless of what ‘We the People’ think. But in the end, had to give it one last effort.
As far as I’m concerned, Pelosi can impeach Bush. The RNC and every other Republican organization will NEVER get another cent.
The only politicians that will get any financial, moral or political support from me are those who speak out vociferously and vote against this travesty.
Right now, I’d rather vote for a Democrat with enough guts and enough sense to vote against it than a Republican who votes for it.
LegendHasIt on May 17, 2007 at 10:17 PM
I’m in North San Diego but listen to these guys daily on my way home from work. Yes, that ‘vigil’ is going on now. Around 6:00p.m. Villaraigosa was going to speak. He, who wants to become governor of all the people of Calif. after Arnold, is out protesting against the police of LA. On May 01 he was out of the country because his handlers thought it wise to not be here for the protests.
To be sure I am mad as he-l at the cops for overreacting. That protest would have fizzled because so few showed up. Now we’ll never hear the end of it.
I’m not a monster. I’m a legal immigrant myself and I’m kind to people in general, and helping those who start from scratch but work hard in particular. However, rewarding illegality, at the expense of our country and our pokets, and the detriment of those who wait legally (9 years for me to be a citizen, while following all the laws/rules) is infuriating. The marches last year did me in for good. All the American flags they now cleverly fly, at the advice of clever PR people, don’t do anything to warm my heart. The damage is done.
Entelechy on May 17, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Fixed it.
thirteen28 on May 17, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Ask, and ye shall recieve.
Random Numbers (Brian Epps) on May 17, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Hey Random Numbers, or Brian, thank you very much! Good find! Now, for more. If this guy grasps the combination of what needs to happen, he can differenciate himself and even win csdeven over :)
On a serious note, he could really lead with this hot topic. Next to the WoT, this is the domestic topic we need to grapple with and resolve. It’s already late. Unfortunately, though, all the nasties are aligned from all sides, unless the populace gets off its huge duff and lets them have it. Let’s all e-mail and call, everyone, whether they’re our reps or not.
Entelechy on May 17, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Colorado news had Tancredo reaction
William Amos on May 17, 2007 at 10:28 PM
CONTACTS:
White House Comments (9am-5pm EST): 202-456-1111
Email White House: comments@whitehouse.gov
Email VP Cheney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
GOP HQ (nat’l & states) contact: http://www.gop.com/ContactUs/
Call the Upper House and ask for the offices of Mitch McConnell, Trent Lott or Jon Kyl (8:30am-5:30pm EST): 202-225-3121
Email your representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Email your senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Write and call every one of them. Copy this list and email it to everyone you know.
IrishEi on May 17, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Sorry tancredo link is
here
William Amos on May 17, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Yeah, William!!! You did it!!!
IrishEi, I sent the contacts list to a bunch of radio stations to distribute/post on their sites.
Entelechy on May 17, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I love this country. What our forefathers planned was a beautiful insight into the nature of the human experience. Freedom as their common cause. And freedom they did accomplish.
Most of that has been whittled away over the last 50 years or so. The vision has been blinded. The mission has been derailed. We are back to square one.
I just might have to say…Hello Australia!
lsutiger on May 17, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Comment pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 »