Posted on 11/05/2014 2:25:15 PM PST by ObamahatesPACoal
HC-5, a drab, wood-paneled conference room in the Capitol basement, was quiet last Wednesday as Paul Ryan pushed for immigration reform. All eyes were on the Wisconsin Republican as he touted the economic benefits of bringing illegal immigrants into the work force. He assured his colleagues, who were clustered in cliques — moderates here, old bulls there — that stronger border security remains the leadership’s priority.
As Ryan spoke, freshman Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who was behind him in line, listened carefully. He was calm and upright, and unlike a handful of conservative rabble-rousers in the back, he didn’t sigh as Ryan made his points. Instead, he clasped his hands and focused on his coming speech. After Ryan stepped away, Cotton, a 36-year-old former Army officer, moved forward, and soon his clipped drawl filled the room.
The crowd of 200-plus Republicans took notice. From the start, Cotton’s message was a contrast with Ryan’s. He sliced into the Senate’s immigration bill and dismissed the idea of a compromise. He urged Republicans to oppose a conference with the Senate, and warned that any formal negotiations with the upper chamber would lead to disaster. He then turned to Speaker John Boehner, who was standing nearby, and advised him to tread carefully. For a moment, they engaged in a terse back-and-forth. “We are not worlds apart from the Senate, we are galaxies apart,” Cotton told the speaker. Boehner responded that Cotton shouldn’t worry. “We’re not going to conference until we’re ready,” he said. The speaker coolly explained to Cotton that it’s important to pass legislation that reflects the position of House Republicans.
Looking on, Steve King of Iowa, long a member of the House’s anti-amnesty forces, smiled. He glanced at his friends, who smiled back.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Tom Cotton hopefully gets out front and holds the line on this. God bless him.
Repeal the law of supply and demand?
Repeal the law of unintended consequences?
The problem with compromise is it tends to be one sided. One side asks for 3 times more than they expect to get. The other side compromises and only gives them twice what they expect to get.
Negotiating skill is now the #1 issue. Remeber after ‘94? Newt negotiated some great compromises. But Bob Dole seemed to be playing for the other team. The good Republican senators did not have Bob Dole’s ear. Bob Dole was listening to the Arlen Specters.
Using immigration as an example, what kind of “compromise” would you like to see happen?
Thank You Lord, for patriots such as this.
Tatt
Any Republican pushing amnesty and immigration reform slept through the election. The American people don’t appreciate millions of illegals barging across our open borders. We have a country to save, and that should start with our constitutional leaders doing their job of protecting our borders and sovereignty.
I first became aware of Tom Cotton while listening to him on Hugh Hewitt’s show several times. He has never failed to impress me, for his knowledge and depth of belief, but also for his poise. Honestly, I thought him to be 10 or 15 years older.
We are going to do well with him as a Senator, and I predict that he will be in the Senate leadership by the beginning of his 2nd term - if he lasts that long in the Senate. I think that there’s a decent possibility that he may be tapped by President Cruz to be the AG or head of some other Cabinet Department.
Godspeed, Tom Cotton. I sure wish that you were my Senator instead of Cornholio (of course, Cruz comes with the package, so I’m not too upset).
Interesting article. Senator-elect Cotton sounds like a force to be reckoned with. The Senior Senator, Boozman, has been somewhat of a disappointment — backbencher, hardly ever making news or standing for issues.
As for taking on Pryor, who would have thought????
Arkansas
Cotton (R) 57%
Pryor (D/Inc) 39%
Even the polls never had the race that close. Just a few weeks ago, polls where showing Pryor even or slightly ahead.
Cotton + Cruz + Lee, et al. Look out Mitch.
It is not "only" a matter of border security, sovereignty and health (you forgot about that one), but also about the very sanctity of our electoral process. It is an outrageous abomination that ANY non-citizen could vote in ANY election! Yet there are, apparently, hundreds of thousands that do vote across the country. How many races have gone to the Dems because of that? Allowing this is TREASON, pure and simple - because our system depends upon the consent of the governed, and this only creates total contempt for the government. While many deserve such contempt, the system as a whole does not, and our society cannot stand if this kind of thing continues.
Boozman crushed Blanche by a similar amount on amnesty.
She was more pro amnesty than Pryor. Boozman was in Jeff Sessions’ gang of 15 who refused to open any immigration bill.
Amen!
Very valuable in the House....maybe more so in the Senate.
Cotton can have a great future in politics IF he stands firm as a constitutional conservative and opponent of amnesty in ANY form.
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