Rumors In The Congress
By Erick Posted in Congress — Comments (26) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
You know what rumor is floating around Congress right now? A strong and credible rumor?
It's that the Senate Immigration bill has become so unpopular in several of the key swing states up for grabs in 2008, that the Dems are doing everything they can to let every one of the swing state Republicans take ownership of it before the Dems ride in and act as savior.
It sounds like paranoia to me, frankly, but then I was emailed some of the internal poll numbers. Sheesh. The Senate GOP might want to take some cues from the House GOP on this issue.
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I don't even need to see them to have a pretty good idea of what they say. The Democratic polls were clear enough.
Which leaves me wondering again what on earth is behind this. The lettuce farmers of America surely are not pumping that much money into the GOP's coffers. Surely there most be some Deep Throat in Washington willing to spill the beans on why the Republican Party is cutting its own throat in this fashion. The lack of any more plausible explanation is what lends credibility to the NAU theories.
Jon, you said The lettuce farmers of America surely are not pumping that much money into the GOP's coffers.
Apparently the Dem senator from MO thinks so. The fishwrapper in STL says:
Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, voted against allowing the bill to go forward. "I've come to the conclusion that the way this has been put together has been more about business interests than stopping the flow of illegal immigrants," McCaskill said.
I came to the same conclusion several weeks ago. There is no other logical explanation.
This bill isn't much more popular with Dems than the Repubs. Maybe Harry doesn't want to make Clinton and Obama go on the record for this bill. Harry may be able to protect them from a vote and still blame the Repubs for not having enough votes.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Barry Goldwater
the general Kossack feeling was that they didn't like the bill but were happy with it after all because they thought it made Republicans look bad.
"Maybe Harry doesn't want to make Clinton and Obama go on the record for this bill. "
TOO LATE FOR THAT.
Obama and Clinton are majorly in the tank not only for Z visa amnesty but for some particularly odious add-ons and amendments votes as well.
When Bush is out of the way in 2008 in advanced lame-duckery, then the GOP can own immigration issue for real... 1) English as our language 2) Say "no" to amnesty 3) Secure the borders 4) Enforce the law 5) Real voter ID.
.... OBAMA AND CLINTON ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE ON ALL FIVE.
If the GOP tomorrow sinks the bill - MEANING MITCH MCCONNELL AND ENSIGN AND COLEMAN AND HATCH AND BROWNBACK BETTER BE SMART AND VOTE "NO" ON CLOTURE - THEN WE CAN START CALLING THIS BILL A DEMOCRAT BILL.
But first we have to end the careers of prominent pro-amnesty RINOs - Grahamnesty, McVain, etc. to make the distinction clear.
Bush has in effect nullified and destroy a key GOP advantage, just as he destroy fiscal discipline as a key GOP advantage and even tarnished national security ... it will take time, but with each Democrat mis-step we win those issues back.
despise the House Republican's opinions almost as much as they despise the voters opinions.
That they would take advise from the House that faces re-election every two years as to why the electorate is on fire right now about illegal immigration would be outstanding, but not one I'd put money on happening.
The Republicans need to pin this bill on Teddy K if they want to retain any credibility, although after listening to several of them not answer direct questions about it I have little hope.
Yet another reason to kill the bill. It's sad, I really don't think this is so far from being a good bill, on the merits (although I don't expect the things I object to to get fixed). But it's potentially bad enough politics at this point that it would have to be very, very good policy to be worth the cost.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
The Senate immigration bill is an awful bill, designed to fail and destined to brak its promises and a poster child for 'unintended consequences' -
It is not too strong to say that this is the kind of bill that can lead to the decline and fall of American civilization. It is a bigger tax increase than ever passed before, a larger expansion in the welfare state than ever, the most massive attack on law-and-order ever. ...
Why?
It pretends to uphold border security and enforcing the law, but it actually undermines them completely with the Z visa amnesty/legalization program and its many loopholes and 'gotchas'.
- It repeats the mistakes of 1986 on a grand scale.
- It undermines rule of law in immigration, invites huge fraud in amnesty applications and further illegal
immigration via weak document requirements and a mere 24-hour turnaround on provisional acceptance.
- It crowds out higher-skill legal immigrants.
- It creates a massive increased burden on taxpayers ($2.5 Trillion estimate from Heritage) along
with unfunded mandates on states and local Governments.
- It undermines American principles of assimilation by bringing in a majority of people from a
single country and not requiring English proficiency. The "English-only" provision is a fig-leaf.
And for what, exactly? CBO has indicated that illegal immigration in the next 10 years
will still be significant with this bill - a huge amnesty, but more illegal immigration. Pathetic!
The idea that we give a huge and costly amnesty and accomplish - NOTHING - is so offensive to
American voters, taxpayers and citizens, that a majority is not just opposed, but many are outraged.
The Z visa legalization/amnesty is a slap in the face to legal immigrants, taxpayers, American workers,
and anyone who cares about the rule of law. This bill is a surrender not a solution!
Are the best friends democrats could ever hope for.
The Republicans let the demcrats off the hook every time, and never fail to miss an opportunity to pull democrat fat out of the fire.
Kyl has ruined his career and reputation for what? For nothing.
I can tell you for this conservative that if a blue dog takes a stand against this bill ie: Webb he will get the votes of the four voters in this house as well as the money necessary to run. I refuse to to help those who would throw my family under the bus for business. I don't say that lightly and I have given this whole episode a lot of thought as to where I stand politically and the answer is I stand with those who stand with me.
with a D ... consider him unreliable from liberal perspective, so that means he often but doesnt always vote the wrong way.
On this, Webb like other recent elected *ran* on a populist message, which - guess what - was *not* Open Borders. His 'yes' vote yesterday already broke campaign promises, if he votes 'yes' tomorrow he will have exposed his campaign as a fraud. So he better vote no!
anymore, Let em sink by their own stupidity. Things will have to get a lot worse before they can get better.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Pro-Amnesty. Anti-GWOT. Doing *nothing* about judges.
The Senate Republicans (minus a few good ones like DeMint & Coburn) are every bit as bad for this country as the Democrats. There truly isn't a dime's worth of difference between them anymore.
A pox on both parties in that (half) of the house. Fie.
of non action in this climate may not even do that for them-several of them are up for reelection in '08 and that don't appear to care much.
I am guessing it is as much about the money as it is about the power at this point.
And it doesn't seem to be the republicans.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
has been done to the GOP.
I will grant this sounds about right: introduce this ridiculous legislation, use outrageous tactics to ram it through Congress, call it "Bush's bill," let the GOP tear itself apart, and then let the Democratic House save the day. The first four have happened already. One would hope McConnell would have the insight to see he will face a filibuster-proof Senate in 2009 if he doesn't move to staunch the bleeding already.
for cloture. Mark Pryor in Arkansas, and Jay Rockefeller in West Virginia come to mind.
http://haussamen.blogspot.com/2007/06/domenici-wont-support-immigration....
With Bond, that means we only need 5 more (assuming the first 35 stick)
assuming no losses. But the more the better of course.
My guess is that once it looks like the bill is going to lose, there will be an avalanche of Senators trying to put some distance between themselves and it. But getting to that point will take more work.
I kept getting " All circuits are busy" messages today while calling the Senate. I believe that indicates not busy lines at the individual Senate offices but busy trunk lines into DC. That is a LOT of calls.
The MSM, needless to say, are quite unaware of anything going on.
so that means 3 more. Ben Nelson said he's probably going to vote no. So that means two are needed. We can get two. But we'll see.
Republicans can not let the D's claim this issue. We can blame it on lame-duck Bush if the majority votes against cloture.
I think Ensign should be targeted. I'd call the NRSC before his Senate office though. What little money is coming in should dry up if this abomination is allowed to pass, especially if the head of it voted to get it through. Talk about a tin ear.
because DC was busy. I told them that my entire household (me, wife, daughter) will vote against Craig in the primary and general election if he continues on the course he's currently on.
press release.