[Not A Snowbird]

My personal opinion is that anybody who came here illegally as an adult, for any length of time, is forever barred from applying for citizenship. Period.

[Gritty]

[Unam Sanctam]

I'm sick to death of these conservatives who say that any steps the President on border security are automatically bogus. Politics is the art of the possible and sometimes you take what you can get. And furthermore, it is a logical fallacy to say that border security and earned legalization to those already here are mutually exclusive. It is possible to walk and chew gum at the same time. Both sides of this debate make me sick. One side says only enforcement and don't realistically address the problem of people already here, the other side says that one should completely ignore the fact that illegal immigrants broke the law and that the US should not defend our borders. A pox on both your houses, I say!

[EEDUDE]

""What we have here has become a symbol for the right wing in American politics," countered Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill."

While were at it let's build a fence around this jackass's house to keep him contained and doing no damage.

[Plutarch]

Tony Snow defended Bush against criticism. "The president is actually taking a more aggressive role on border security than the House itself took," he said. "That is the sort of thing that is going to answer a lot of the complaints that we have heard."

We love ya Tony, but border security is an essential function of the Federal Government, and should be performed by every President who takes the Oath of Office. It is not something the people need bargain for, that will only be performed if the Government can provide Amnesty to 12 million lawbreakers.

As Ben Franklin might have put it:

Those who would let Congress provide just one last amnesty, to purchase a little border security, will get no border security and more amnesty.

[Tammy8]

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. He said if the proposal passed, "our relationship with Mexico would come down to a barrier between our two countries."

If he thinks a barrier on the border will destroy our relationship with Mexico he must think our relationship is based on drugs and illegals. He may be right about that, but if that is so, then it is about time to cut our losses. No one is proposing anything that will limit legal travel or legal commerce between the two countries.

[Nasher]

Finally, something to get the ball rolling.

Now let's get a vote passed that ensures the remaining 75.4% of the border is fenced as well.

[gedeon3]

I'm against any type of blanket amnesty for these violators. But why is the government talking about citizenship? If they are going to cave in, why go that far? A resident can live here, work, go to school, etc; they just cannot vote. Do I smell something here from our traitors in congress? You bet!

[MaineVoter2002]

I just sent a new fax to my senators from numbersusa.com...

Dear Senator,

I was extremely disappointed by the President's immigration speech.


A recent Zogby poll shows that the enforcement-only approach of H.R. 4437, which most House Republicans supported in December, is the approach favored by most Americans.

The poll found that Americans want less, not more, immigration. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said immigration should be reduced so those already here are allowed to assimilate.

Furthermore, support for the enforcement-only approach cut across party lines, with 81 percent of Republicans, 72 percent of independents, and 57 percent of Democrats supporting it.

This suggests that the immigration plan the President outlined is not what a majority of Americans want. In fact, it is in direct contrast to what they want. Please pursue an enforcement-only immigration bill.

Cordially,

P.S. After having secured our borders I would support a more diversified guestworker program that includes all peoples of every nationality. Given that there is a long line of people in nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia and those of Africa, I do not believe it is fair to them to only include Mexicans and Central Americans as eligible for the guestworker program. Furthermore, I would be against offering the guestworker program to those already here illegally.

You can find this fax by proceeding to
http://www.numbersusa.com/faxes?ID=5520

[Republican Wildcat]

Amid increasingly emotional debate over election-year immigration legislation, senators voted 83-16 to add fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border.

That amendment passed, too? It seems Sessions and company are chipping away at this bill little by little...but will it end up being enough to be effective?

[The_Reader_David]

Well, well, Congress seems to slowly be converging to the solution I've been advocating for over a year:

Tight border enforcement (including fences), tight internal enforcement, and a guest worker program. I just hope their 'mulling' citizenship ditches the fast-track to citizenship for folks who sunk in. A fast track to regular guest-worker status is fine with me (mostly for logistical reasons).

[trubluolyguy]

The Senate voted to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border

---

Now, I thought that border was over 2,000 miles?

[Defiant]

Republicans are like the Dems of the 60s, torn between their civil rights wing and their dixiecrat wing. Dems were in charge of Congress, and fought the battle within their party. It ended up leading to a GOP majority. We are split between a conservative, pro-American wing and a "dem-lite" wing.

These fools like Hagel, McCain and Bush are leading the GOP down that same path, back to permanent minority status.

[Paulus Invictus]

The fence needs to be 1200 miles long, not 400 miles! Don't these senatorial morons know anything at all about the border?