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	<title>Comments on: Countdown to amnesty; Update: Bush calls bill &#8220;amnesty&#8221; (sort of); Update: Heart-ache, 64-35; Update: 15 16 Republicans switched from no to yes</title>
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		<title>By: usa today lines</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-711656</link>
		<dc:creator>usa today lines</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:03:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-711656</guid>
		<description>&lt;strong&gt;usa today lines...&lt;/strong&gt;

Free Flash gamesz online Visit www.Flashgamesz.net...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>usa today lines&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>Free Flash gamesz online Visit <a href="http://www.Flashgamesz.net.." rel="nofollow">http://www.Flashgamesz.net..</a>.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: A_Nonny_Mouse</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-514553</link>
		<dc:creator>A_Nonny_Mouse</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:29:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-514553</guid>
		<description>“Doesn’t make sense.”  writes ColtsFan on June 27, 2007 at 1:53 PM

I&#039;ve seen posts elsewhere linking this with the NAU (North American Union) and SPP (Security &amp; Prosperity Partnership).  Briefly: Globalization.  Free movement of people, goods, money.  A supranational ruling body.  Loss of sovereignty. (&quot;Nationalism? Patriotism?  How quaint! {how archaic}.&quot; )  

I don&#039;t know exactly how this huge super-multi-all-purpose bill forwards that agenda, but I&#039;m not seeing any other reasonable explanations for this Congressional betrayal.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>“Doesn’t make sense.”  writes ColtsFan on June 27, 2007 at 1:53 PM</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve seen posts elsewhere linking this with the NAU (North American Union) and SPP (Security &amp; Prosperity Partnership).  Briefly: Globalization.  Free movement of people, goods, money.  A supranational ruling body.  Loss of sovereignty. (&#8221;Nationalism? Patriotism?  How quaint! {how archaic}.&#8221; )  </p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know exactly how this huge super-multi-all-purpose bill forwards that agenda, but I&#8217;m not seeing any other reasonable explanations for this Congressional betrayal.</p>
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		<title>By: A_Nonny_Mouse</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-514482</link>
		<dc:creator>A_Nonny_Mouse</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:13:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-514482</guid>
		<description>JustTruth101 on June 26, 2007 at 1:04 PM   wrote:

&quot;Bush thinks we need to merge US/Can/Mx to protect ourselves against the islamic tidal wave of violence which inevitably will come…&quot;

I don&#039;t think it&#039;s about security, I think it&#039;s about competition with the EU.  But look what those countries (Britain, Germany, France, Denmark, ...) have to put up with, wave after wave of Somalis, Pakistanis, Albanians...  Can our government not see the similarities?  We will also have wave after wave from underdeveloped countries, coming to be on OUR dole! ... And hollering &quot;racist!&quot; &quot;bigot!&quot; when we start complaining about the expense.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>JustTruth101 on June 26, 2007 at 1:04 PM   wrote:</p>
<p>&#8220;Bush thinks we need to merge US/Can/Mx to protect ourselves against the islamic tidal wave of violence which inevitably will come…&#8221;</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s about security, I think it&#8217;s about competition with the EU.  But look what those countries (Britain, Germany, France, Denmark, &#8230;) have to put up with, wave after wave of Somalis, Pakistanis, Albanians&#8230;  Can our government not see the similarities?  We will also have wave after wave from underdeveloped countries, coming to be on OUR dole! &#8230; And hollering &#8220;racist!&#8221; &#8220;bigot!&#8221; when we start complaining about the expense.</p>
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		<title>By: ColtsFan</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512632</link>
		<dc:creator>ColtsFan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:53:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512632</guid>
		<description>&lt;blockquote&gt;
What you seem to be saying is that business is willing to spend large amounts of political capital and actual capital to lobby for this bill, so they can fire the illegal’s working for them now… just to hire new ones later. But they can do that with …. or without this bill. Doesn’t make sense.

Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 1:44 PM
&lt;/blockquote&gt;

You are correct.  This whole thing---shamnesty, no border enforcement, no punishment for Visa over-stays, etc---does not make any sense.

&lt;blockquote&gt;
Its strange that they could be so powerful yet so unknown and unseen. I appreciate your input, but I’m still far from convinced that its any association of businesses that is behind this. 

Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 1:44 PM
&lt;/blockquote&gt;

I appreciate your good comments.  I intend to keep learning from others, including yourself.   To be honest with you, I am still speechless on this whole thing.  Your above quote sums up everything perfectly:  &lt;strong&gt;&quot;Doesn’t make sense.&quot;&lt;/strong&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>
What you seem to be saying is that business is willing to spend large amounts of political capital and actual capital to lobby for this bill, so they can fire the illegal’s working for them now… just to hire new ones later. But they can do that with …. or without this bill. Doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 1:44 PM
</p></blockquote>
<p>You are correct.  This whole thing&#8212;shamnesty, no border enforcement, no punishment for Visa over-stays, etc&#8212;does not make any sense.</p>
<blockquote><p>
Its strange that they could be so powerful yet so unknown and unseen. I appreciate your input, but I’m still far from convinced that its any association of businesses that is behind this. </p>
<p>Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 1:44 PM
</p></blockquote>
<p>I appreciate your good comments.  I intend to keep learning from others, including yourself.   To be honest with you, I am still speechless on this whole thing.  Your above quote sums up everything perfectly:  <strong>&#8220;Doesn’t make sense.&#8221;</strong></p>
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		<title>By: Maxx</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512599</link>
		<dc:creator>Maxx</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:44:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512599</guid>
		<description>&lt;blockquote&gt;The reason they are “for it” is because there is no effective border security, thus guaranteeing that millions and millions of new illegal aliens will arrive illegally across our open and porous borders in the future. Not to mention visa over-stays.

The existing employers who already hire illegal aliens will then fire their illegals-turned newly Z visa-turned eventual voting USA citizens.

Then they will just hire the new illegals, or Visa over-stays.

Remember, Amnesty has already been given 7 times SINCE 1986. The businesses know what to do. Hire illegals, then fire them when they become USA citizens, then hire more illegals

After all, our government is encouraging them to do so.

ColtsFan on June 27, 2007 at 1:20 PM&lt;/blockquote&gt;

What you seem to be saying is that business is willing to spend large amounts of political capital and actual capital to lobby for this bill, so they can fire the illegal’s working for them now... just to hire new ones later. But they can do that with .... or without this bill. Doesn&#039;t make sense.

And where and who is this well organized and cohesive group of disassociated businesses (except illegal labor) that has such sway with Congress? I’ve never heard of, or seen them before, yet they are able to make Congress and the President close their eyes to 75% of the electorate. Its strange that they could be so powerful yet so unknown and unseen. I appreciate your input, but I’m still far from convinced that its any association of businesses that is behind this.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>The reason they are “for it” is because there is no effective border security, thus guaranteeing that millions and millions of new illegal aliens will arrive illegally across our open and porous borders in the future. Not to mention visa over-stays.</p>
<p>The existing employers who already hire illegal aliens will then fire their illegals-turned newly Z visa-turned eventual voting USA citizens.</p>
<p>Then they will just hire the new illegals, or Visa over-stays.</p>
<p>Remember, Amnesty has already been given 7 times SINCE 1986. The businesses know what to do. Hire illegals, then fire them when they become USA citizens, then hire more illegals</p>
<p>After all, our government is encouraging them to do so.</p>
<p>ColtsFan on June 27, 2007 at 1:20 PM</p></blockquote>
<p>What you seem to be saying is that business is willing to spend large amounts of political capital and actual capital to lobby for this bill, so they can fire the illegal’s working for them now&#8230; just to hire new ones later. But they can do that with &#8230;. or without this bill. Doesn&#8217;t make sense.</p>
<p>And where and who is this well organized and cohesive group of disassociated businesses (except illegal labor) that has such sway with Congress? I’ve never heard of, or seen them before, yet they are able to make Congress and the President close their eyes to 75% of the electorate. Its strange that they could be so powerful yet so unknown and unseen. I appreciate your input, but I’m still far from convinced that its any association of businesses that is behind this.</p>
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		<title>By: ColtsFan</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512505</link>
		<dc:creator>ColtsFan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:20:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512505</guid>
		<description>&lt;blockquote&gt;
Yes, and all of that will change under the amnesty bill, suddenly they WILL have to start paying taxes and insurance for all of those employees. So why would they be for it ? I am not convinced that business is pushing this, but that is “the story” that is being put out there.

So who is really pushing this bill? 

Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 12:19 PM
&lt;/blockquote&gt;

The reason they are &quot;for it&quot; is because there is no effective border security, thus guaranteeing that millions and millions of new illegal aliens will arrive illegally across our open and porous borders in the future.  Not to mention visa over-stays.

The existing employers who already hire illegal aliens will then fire their illegals-turned newly Z visa-turned eventual voting USA citizens.

Then they will just hire the new illegals, or Visa over-stays.

Remember, &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.numbersusa.com/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;Amnesty has already been given 7 times SINCE 1986.  The businesses know what to do. Hire illegals, then fire them when they become USA citizens, then hire more illegals&lt;/a&gt;

After all, our government is encouraging them to do so.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>
Yes, and all of that will change under the amnesty bill, suddenly they WILL have to start paying taxes and insurance for all of those employees. So why would they be for it ? I am not convinced that business is pushing this, but that is “the story” that is being put out there.</p>
<p>So who is really pushing this bill? </p>
<p>Maxx on June 27, 2007 at 12:19 PM
</p></blockquote>
<p>The reason they are &#8220;for it&#8221; is because there is no effective border security, thus guaranteeing that millions and millions of new illegal aliens will arrive illegally across our open and porous borders in the future.  Not to mention visa over-stays.</p>
<p>The existing employers who already hire illegal aliens will then fire their illegals-turned newly Z visa-turned eventual voting USA citizens.</p>
<p>Then they will just hire the new illegals, or Visa over-stays.</p>
<p>Remember, <a href="http://www.numbersusa.com/" rel="nofollow">Amnesty has already been given 7 times SINCE 1986.  The businesses know what to do. Hire illegals, then fire them when they become USA citizens, then hire more illegals</a></p>
<p>After all, our government is encouraging them to do so.</p>
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		<title>By: Hot Air &#187; Blog Archive &#187; LA Times: Support for amnesty bill slipping?</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512473</link>
		<dc:creator>Hot Air &#187; Blog Archive &#187; LA Times: Support for amnesty bill slipping?</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:13:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512473</guid>
		<description>[...] Incidentally, according to one of K-Lo&#8217;s sources, they don&#8217;t even have the final bill ready yet. The &#8220;clay pigeon&#8221; is full of errors so they&#8217;re in a holding pattern at the moment while staffers rework it in some back room. They&#8217;ll proceed directly to debate once it&#8217;s ready, of course, not pausing for so much as a day to read and digest it. Why? Because, as we saw yesterday, this is about legislative viability, not practical viability. A dramatic illustration of that fact per the WashTimes: Two Republicans — Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — appeared so eager to revive the bill [yesterday] they initially voted the wrong way on a previous labor union rights vote, before catching themselves and switching. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Incidentally, according to one of K-Lo&#8217;s sources, they don&#8217;t even have the final bill ready yet. The &#8220;clay pigeon&#8221; is full of errors so they&#8217;re in a holding pattern at the moment while staffers rework it in some back room. They&#8217;ll proceed directly to debate once it&#8217;s ready, of course, not pausing for so much as a day to read and digest it. Why? Because, as we saw yesterday, this is about legislative viability, not practical viability. A dramatic illustration of that fact per the WashTimes: Two Republicans — Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — appeared so eager to revive the bill [yesterday] they initially voted the wrong way on a previous labor union rights vote, before catching themselves and switching. [...]</p>
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		<title>By: mag5435</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512321</link>
		<dc:creator>mag5435</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:36:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512321</guid>
		<description>Good quesion, Maxx.

What set my hair on fire, was a illegal alien protester with a sign saying it is their land not ours.  Oh, really!  They made a shithole out Mexico and now they want to do it to the rest of the continent.  Could they have come up with a Consitution like we have?  Could they have built a country like we have? I don&#039; think so.  Besides, I saw on TV on the history or discovery channel...that they now have proof that Europeans (from what is now France) were the first people to come to what is now America.  In fact, it said the people traveled back and forth between the American and European continents, depending on the weather, ice etc.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good quesion, Maxx.</p>
<p>What set my hair on fire, was a illegal alien protester with a sign saying it is their land not ours.  Oh, really!  They made a shithole out Mexico and now they want to do it to the rest of the continent.  Could they have come up with a Consitution like we have?  Could they have built a country like we have? I don&#8217; think so.  Besides, I saw on TV on the history or discovery channel&#8230;that they now have proof that Europeans (from what is now France) were the first people to come to what is now America.  In fact, it said the people traveled back and forth between the American and European continents, depending on the weather, ice etc.</p>
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		<title>By: Maxx</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-512258</link>
		<dc:creator>Maxx</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:19:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-512258</guid>
		<description>&lt;blockquote&gt;Some companies require English-speaking employees. Unfortunately, many do not. Examples of the latter commonly include:

***agriculture
***manufacturing companies
***companies involved in distribution, transportation
***landscaping
***retail companies
***service industry

Those are just the tip of the iceberg. And companies that hire illegals know that they do not have to pay any healthcare insurance. Instead, the employer just directs the illegal alien to the nearest emergency room where they receive free healthcare, ranging from outpatient and inpatient stays.

ColtsFan on June 26, 2007 at 11:58 PM&lt;/blockquote&gt;

Yes, and all of that will change under the amnesty bill, &lt;strong&gt;suddenly they WILL have to start paying taxes and insurance for all of those employees.&lt;/strong&gt; So why would they be for it ? I am not convinced that business is pushing this, but that is &quot;the story&quot; that is being put out there.

So who is really pushing this bill ?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>Some companies require English-speaking employees. Unfortunately, many do not. Examples of the latter commonly include:</p>
<p>***agriculture<br />
***manufacturing companies<br />
***companies involved in distribution, transportation<br />
***landscaping<br />
***retail companies<br />
***service industry</p>
<p>Those are just the tip of the iceberg. And companies that hire illegals know that they do not have to pay any healthcare insurance. Instead, the employer just directs the illegal alien to the nearest emergency room where they receive free healthcare, ranging from outpatient and inpatient stays.</p>
<p>ColtsFan on June 26, 2007 at 11:58 PM</p></blockquote>
<p>Yes, and all of that will change under the amnesty bill, <strong>suddenly they WILL have to start paying taxes and insurance for all of those employees.</strong> So why would they be for it ? I am not convinced that business is pushing this, but that is &#8220;the story&#8221; that is being put out there.</p>
<p>So who is really pushing this bill ?</p>
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		<title>By: ColtsFan</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-510122</link>
		<dc:creator>ColtsFan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:58:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-510122</guid>
		<description>&lt;blockquote&gt;
I keep hearing that “Big Business” is pro-amnesty bill. Tell why then do so many chemical companies and refineries require that all employees are able to read and speak English fluently, at least in this part of Louisiana. It is a safety “reason.” Now then why would they want illegals to be inside the boundary.

I realize that there are other big businesses besides refining and petrochemical but we do need to say more than “Big Business” to be accurate. 

Kermit on June 26, 2007 at 10:41 PM
&lt;/blockquote&gt;

Excellent point.

Some companies require English-speaking employees.  Unfortunately, many do not.  Examples of the latter commonly include:

***agriculture
***manufacturing companies
***companies involved in distribution, transportation
***landscaping
***retail companies
***service industry

Those are just the tip of the iceberg.  And companies that hire illegals &lt;em&gt;know that they do not have to pay any healthcare insurance&lt;/em&gt;.  Instead, the employer just directs the illegal alien to the nearest emergency room where they receive free healthcare, ranging from outpatient and inpatient stays.

And people wonder why Emergency Rooms are packed full (standing room only) with patients who do not even have ER type of symptoms.  

This is an abuse of the system.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>
I keep hearing that “Big Business” is pro-amnesty bill. Tell why then do so many chemical companies and refineries require that all employees are able to read and speak English fluently, at least in this part of Louisiana. It is a safety “reason.” Now then why would they want illegals to be inside the boundary.</p>
<p>I realize that there are other big businesses besides refining and petrochemical but we do need to say more than “Big Business” to be accurate. </p>
<p>Kermit on June 26, 2007 at 10:41 PM
</p></blockquote>
<p>Excellent point.</p>
<p>Some companies require English-speaking employees.  Unfortunately, many do not.  Examples of the latter commonly include:</p>
<p>***agriculture<br />
***manufacturing companies<br />
***companies involved in distribution, transportation<br />
***landscaping<br />
***retail companies<br />
***service industry</p>
<p>Those are just the tip of the iceberg.  And companies that hire illegals <em>know that they do not have to pay any healthcare insurance</em>.  Instead, the employer just directs the illegal alien to the nearest emergency room where they receive free healthcare, ranging from outpatient and inpatient stays.</p>
<p>And people wonder why Emergency Rooms are packed full (standing room only) with patients who do not even have ER type of symptoms.  </p>
<p>This is an abuse of the system.</p>
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		<title>By: Talon</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-509886</link>
		<dc:creator>Talon</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:53:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-509886</guid>
		<description>Saying the repubs are better than the dems now reminds me of a joke.

Dr. tells a patient that he has Alzheimer&#039;s AND cancer. The patient responds, &quot;Thank God I don&#039;t have cancer!&quot;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Saying the repubs are better than the dems now reminds me of a joke.</p>
<p>Dr. tells a patient that he has Alzheimer&#8217;s AND cancer. The patient responds, &#8220;Thank God I don&#8217;t have cancer!&#8221;</p>
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		<title>By: Kermit</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-509837</link>
		<dc:creator>Kermit</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:41:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-509837</guid>
		<description>I keep hearing that &quot;Big Business&quot; is pro-amnesty bill.  Tell why then do so many chemical companies and refineries require that all employees are able to read and speak English fluently, at least in this part of Louisiana.  It is a safety &quot;reason.&quot;  Now then why would they want illegals to be inside the boundary.

I realize that there are other big businesses besides refining and petrochemical but we do need to say more than &quot;Big Business&quot; to be accurate.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I keep hearing that &#8220;Big Business&#8221; is pro-amnesty bill.  Tell why then do so many chemical companies and refineries require that all employees are able to read and speak English fluently, at least in this part of Louisiana.  It is a safety &#8220;reason.&#8221;  Now then why would they want illegals to be inside the boundary.</p>
<p>I realize that there are other big businesses besides refining and petrochemical but we do need to say more than &#8220;Big Business&#8221; to be accurate.</p>
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		<title>By: Kermit</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-509821</link>
		<dc:creator>Kermit</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:36:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-509821</guid>
		<description>Wow Landrieu does have some integrity afterall.  With this list I now know who not to send money to at election time.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wow Landrieu does have some integrity afterall.  With this list I now know who not to send money to at election time.</p>
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		<title>By: jihadwatcher</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-509813</link>
		<dc:creator>jihadwatcher</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:34:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-509813</guid>
		<description>Representational democracy works on the honor system. It works on trust. You, the citizen, relinquish your right to decide the fate of your nation, to an elected representative, on the promise that he or she will act according to the will of you and your peers. This gentlemen&#039;s agreement is made in lieu of you and your peers making the fortnight journey to the capital on horseback to vote for yourself. 

So it is within this agreement of convenience that democracy, or some close version of it, is purportedly maintained without the actual participation of the people. Some may say this is not democracy. Certainly not how the Greeks envisioned it. But for large nations, and not tiny city states, it was considered the only workable solution, a clever facsimile of democracy. At worst, a clever illusion. 

However, if that trust is betrayed, or in any way misused, then you don&#039;t even have the illusion of a democracy. It was a ruse. You have an oligarchy. One could argue that in the wake of the collective epiphany the citizens have now experienced, that the United States is essentially a de facto oligarchy, where an elite cadre of men and women rule, sometimes in accordance with the general will of the people, or sometimes in contempt of it. Either way, it is not the people exercising democracy, it is only a small group of elitists that have that privilege and when they do exercise it, they do so for their own purposes, not for their constituents.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Representational democracy works on the honor system. It works on trust. You, the citizen, relinquish your right to decide the fate of your nation, to an elected representative, on the promise that he or she will act according to the will of you and your peers. This gentlemen&#8217;s agreement is made in lieu of you and your peers making the fortnight journey to the capital on horseback to vote for yourself. </p>
<p>So it is within this agreement of convenience that democracy, or some close version of it, is purportedly maintained without the actual participation of the people. Some may say this is not democracy. Certainly not how the Greeks envisioned it. But for large nations, and not tiny city states, it was considered the only workable solution, a clever facsimile of democracy. At worst, a clever illusion. </p>
<p>However, if that trust is betrayed, or in any way misused, then you don&#8217;t even have the illusion of a democracy. It was a ruse. You have an oligarchy. One could argue that in the wake of the collective epiphany the citizens have now experienced, that the United States is essentially a de facto oligarchy, where an elite cadre of men and women rule, sometimes in accordance with the general will of the people, or sometimes in contempt of it. Either way, it is not the people exercising democracy, it is only a small group of elitists that have that privilege and when they do exercise it, they do so for their own purposes, not for their constituents.</p>
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		<title>By: build the wall</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508839</link>
		<dc:creator>build the wall</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:40:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508839</guid>
		<description>My wife and me as well as 12 other family members went down to our courthouse and switched from republican to independent. We all went in as a group you should have seen the looks on the clerks face. We live in a small town of 10,000 people. Our senator Allard voted against cloture. He&#039;s a good senator.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My wife and me as well as 12 other family members went down to our courthouse and switched from republican to independent. We all went in as a group you should have seen the looks on the clerks face. We live in a small town of 10,000 people. Our senator Allard voted against cloture. He&#8217;s a good senator.</p>
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		<title>By: Limerick</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508544</link>
		<dc:creator>Limerick</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:29:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508544</guid>
		<description>You don&#039;t have to resign yourself to Frankenfurter.....just get on the bandwagon for a Rep to replace Colemanyellowtail.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You don&#8217;t have to resign yourself to Frankenfurter&#8230;..just get on the bandwagon for a Rep to replace Colemanyellowtail.</p>
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		<title>By: sabbott</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508533</link>
		<dc:creator>sabbott</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:27:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508533</guid>
		<description>The RNC has my last contribution!  As for little Norm Coleman, I will do whatever I can to make certain that he is defeated during the next election.  So Al Franken get&#039;s elected...and I&#039;m suppose to be upset about that exactly why?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The RNC has my last contribution!  As for little Norm Coleman, I will do whatever I can to make certain that he is defeated during the next election.  So Al Franken get&#8217;s elected&#8230;and I&#8217;m suppose to be upset about that exactly why?</p>
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		<title>By: Limerick</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508446</link>
		<dc:creator>Limerick</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:09:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508446</guid>
		<description>Nice try tomas but we are focused......play your thread jack someplace else today. This thread is about cloture, not Iraq.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nice try tomas but we are focused&#8230;&#8230;play your thread jack someplace else today. This thread is about cloture, not Iraq.</p>
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		<title>By: tomas</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508296</link>
		<dc:creator>tomas</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:33:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508296</guid>
		<description>The bill won&#039;t pass in the senate version

also, Most of america wants us out of Iraq...should we leave?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The bill won&#8217;t pass in the senate version</p>
<p>also, Most of america wants us out of Iraq&#8230;should we leave?</p>
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		<title>By: cardindex7</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508274</link>
		<dc:creator>cardindex7</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:28:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508274</guid>
		<description>The only good thing that has come out of the whole opposition to this bill is that I have taken a step back and seen the true voice of the American people, so vibrant and full and alive, right here in the blogosphere. People are switching off their televisions in the thousands to come to sites like this (Michelle, you rock!) and participate. Even if it just a comment in a box along with 450 other comments, it still counts. It COUNTS, because this is America.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The only good thing that has come out of the whole opposition to this bill is that I have taken a step back and seen the true voice of the American people, so vibrant and full and alive, right here in the blogosphere. People are switching off their televisions in the thousands to come to sites like this (Michelle, you rock!) and participate. Even if it just a comment in a box along with 450 other comments, it still counts. It COUNTS, because this is America.</p>
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		<title>By: Right Angles &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Video targets the wafflers, including Burr;UPDATE: 64-35, Burr votes yes</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508260</link>
		<dc:creator>Right Angles &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Video targets the wafflers, including Burr;UPDATE: 64-35, Burr votes yes</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:26:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508260</guid>
		<description>[...] UPDATE: The vote wasn&#8217;t close, 64-35. Only two of the seven in the photo (Cochran and Hatch) voted against cloture. This will be studied for years to come in political science classes. A wildly unpopular bill nevertheless gets nearly two-thirds support of the U.S. Senate. One side will be calling this antidemocratic and the other will be saying these brave senators followed their consciences. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] UPDATE: The vote wasn&#8217;t close, 64-35. Only two of the seven in the photo (Cochran and Hatch) voted against cloture. This will be studied for years to come in political science classes. A wildly unpopular bill nevertheless gets nearly two-thirds support of the U.S. Senate. One side will be calling this antidemocratic and the other will be saying these brave senators followed their consciences. [...]</p>
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		<title>By: stanfil2</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508218</link>
		<dc:creator>stanfil2</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:17:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508218</guid>
		<description>I&#039;m sorry but what part of the &quot;Legal United States Citizens don&#039;t want this damn bill&quot; isn&#039;t clear?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m sorry but what part of the &#8220;Legal United States Citizens don&#8217;t want this damn bill&#8221; isn&#8217;t clear?</p>
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		<title>By: Limerick</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508207</link>
		<dc:creator>Limerick</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:14:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508207</guid>
		<description>After reading thru this thread I had to have a good chuckle........I have never seen so many commenters up in arms and willing to fight back. The RNC is about to reap what it sowed. Bring on 08, we are more then prepared for it. We might not get the WH, but many will no longer stand in the &#039;chamber&#039; and flip their fingers at us either. Good.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After reading thru this thread I had to have a good chuckle&#8230;&#8230;..I have never seen so many commenters up in arms and willing to fight back. The RNC is about to reap what it sowed. Bring on 08, we are more then prepared for it. We might not get the WH, but many will no longer stand in the &#8216;chamber&#8217; and flip their fingers at us either. Good.</p>
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		<title>By: Freelancer</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508156</link>
		<dc:creator>Freelancer</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:03:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508156</guid>
		<description>Today the United States Senate sent the world a two-part message.

1. &quot;The U.S. Constitution, which we are sworn to uphold, doesn&#039;t bind us as it thinks it does. We will act outside of it&#039;s boundaries as we wish.&quot;

2. &quot;The people of the United States serve at our pleasure, not the other way around. Thanks in part to McCain/Feingold, incumbent entrenchment is greater than ever, so we have little reason to fear the threats of being voted out. We are the masters, they the servants.&quot;

&lt;blockquote&gt;Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.&lt;/blockquote&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today the United States Senate sent the world a two-part message.</p>
<p>1. &#8220;The U.S. Constitution, which we are sworn to uphold, doesn&#8217;t bind us as it thinks it does. We will act outside of it&#8217;s boundaries as we wish.&#8221;</p>
<p>2. &#8220;The people of the United States serve at our pleasure, not the other way around. Thanks in part to McCain/Feingold, incumbent entrenchment is greater than ever, so we have little reason to fear the threats of being voted out. We are the masters, they the servants.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.</p></blockquote>
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		<title>By: Hot Air &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Instapundit wonders: Is it third-party time? Update: Ace wonders, is it Democrat-donation time?</title>
		<link>http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/comment-page-5/#comment-508134</link>
		<dc:creator>Hot Air &#187; Blog Archive &#187; Instapundit wonders: Is it third-party time? Update: Ace wonders, is it Democrat-donation time?</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:59:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/countdown-to-amnesty/#comment-508134</guid>
		<description>[...] Well, yeah, as he himself is wont to say. But not in the general election, probably. If, as expected, Thompson is the nominee then it hardly makes sense to vote for an amnesty shill like Mike Bloomberg than a slow-drawlin&#8217;, border-enforcin&#8217; dragonslayer like Fred. The real third-party (or primary) challenge should come at the senate level but how to pull that off? It took a herculean effort from the nutroots to push Lamont over the top in the Connecticut Democrat primary and he got gobbled up in the general anyway. And that was only one race. Here you&#8217;re talking about a dozen candidates or more, which means you&#8217;ll need at least two things: (a) conservative media with a national reach to ride herd daily on the &#8220;vote the bums out&#8221; movement (ahem) and (b) prominent, well-funded primary challengers who aren&#8217;t afraid to risk the party&#8217;s wrath by challenging an incumbent. That&#8217;s difficult under any circumstances but it&#8217;ll be especially difficult next year when, thanks to Iraq, the GOP will be staring at another round of congressional losses and the Dems will be inching towards a filibuster-proof Senate majority. They&#8217;re still far enough away from that that they won&#8217;t get there next cycle, but the cycle after that? Not impossible. [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Well, yeah, as he himself is wont to say. But not in the general election, probably. If, as expected, Thompson is the nominee then it hardly makes sense to vote for an amnesty shill like Mike Bloomberg than a slow-drawlin&#8217;, border-enforcin&#8217; dragonslayer like Fred. The real third-party (or primary) challenge should come at the senate level but how to pull that off? It took a herculean effort from the nutroots to push Lamont over the top in the Connecticut Democrat primary and he got gobbled up in the general anyway. And that was only one race. Here you&#8217;re talking about a dozen candidates or more, which means you&#8217;ll need at least two things: (a) conservative media with a national reach to ride herd daily on the &#8220;vote the bums out&#8221; movement (ahem) and (b) prominent, well-funded primary challengers who aren&#8217;t afraid to risk the party&#8217;s wrath by challenging an incumbent. That&#8217;s difficult under any circumstances but it&#8217;ll be especially difficult next year when, thanks to Iraq, the GOP will be staring at another round of congressional losses and the Dems will be inching towards a filibuster-proof Senate majority. They&#8217;re still far enough away from that that they won&#8217;t get there next cycle, but the cycle after that? Not impossible. [...]</p>
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