Republicans May Kill Bush Immigration Plan

Sierra Times ^ | 5/29/2006 | Jim Kouri

[FerdieMurphy]

Republican members of House of Representatives continue to send their collective message to President George W. Bush and Senate liberals such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): They are overwhelmingly opposed to any deal that provides illegal immigrants a path to citizenship through a program that amounts to "amnesty" for over 12 million illegal aliens.

The heated rhetoric emanating from the GOP members of the House significantly dims the prospects that President Bush will win the immigration compromise he is seeking, according to the GOP establishment within the Beltway.

The Republican opposition spreads across the geographical and ideological boundaries that often divide House Republicans, according to interviews with about half of the roughly 40 members whom political handicappers consider most vulnerable to defeat this November. Republicans -- from moderates such as Chris Shays in suburban Connecticut and Steve Chabot in Cincinnati to conservative J.D. Hayworth in Arizona -- continue to say they are adamant that Congress not take any action that might be perceived as rewarding illegal behavior.

Shays, one of the few vulnerable House Republicans open to a broad compromise with the Senate, said strong protests from his constituents this month prompted him to come out for the first time against "citizenship for undocumented workers."

“It would be a huge mistake to give people a path to citizenship that came here illegally,” he told the Washington Post.

Surprisingly, Shays' constituents are Northeast liberals who have voiced their concerns over uncontrolled illegal immigration and the reality of porous, unprotected borders.

The House Republicans have molded a near united front against Bush’s approach to immigration. The message of GOP representatives is clear: the president faces a tough time if he plans to coax the House to embrace what he calls a “rational middle ground,” along the lines of a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate on a 62-36 vote last Thursday.

While these lawmakers are reflecting the will of their constituents, GOP leaders in the House are basing their legislative strategy regarding illegal aliens on how it will affect members in the upcoming November elections.

According to the Republican National Committee staff and political strategists, over 75 percent of the 231 Republican members are steadfastly opposed to the Senate bill or even a watered-down version of it. Add the Democrat congressmen who are also vulnerable this fall should they vote in favor of "amnesty," and it appears there is a good chance the Senate bill -- chock full of goodies for illegal aliens, as well as the Mexican government -- will die a death of a thousand cuts.

While a few polls, which some believe are skewed, show bipartisan support for Bush's immigration giveaway, most GOP lawmakers said the House plan to secure the borders and enforce existing immigration laws is unquestionably the safer political stand in his or her district. House staffers have intimated that enforcement of existing laws coupled with tough, no-nonsense border security is the winning hand in the political game.

Most of these lawmakers reject the argument made by the White House and Senate Republicans such as John McCain that the best long-term political strategy is to craft a compromise that is appealing to many Latinos, the fastest-growing minority group in America.

House Republicans view that argument as pandering to a potential voting-block which ultimately leads to big-spending programs and redistribution of wealth -- a hallmark of liberal-think.

House Republicans appear ready to forcefully debate the issue with their Senate counterparts. The shaky Senate coalition, led by McCain and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), that passed the so-called comprehensive legislation is held together by a common belief that it would be unwise and unworkable to deal with the borders only and not solve the problem of what to do with the 11 million illegal immigrants living here. The coalition will crumble if the House Republicans prevail, according to senators and aides.

But House members fire back that if current enforcement of laws aimed at cracking down on employers of illegal aliens are strategically implemented, the jobs would disappear and so would many illegals.

Lately, the Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has announced several cases in which employers were arrested for hiring and harboring illegal aliens, but voices within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the investigative branch of DHS, claim that there is little support by their superiors to go after some of the top corporations that employ tens of thousands of illegal aliens.

Last week, the White House dispatched their wonderboy, Karl Rove, who is lobbying -- some say strong-arming -- House members to reconsider their positions and the hope is that more moderate Republicans will cave-in to Bush's wishes. At the same time, there are letters, e-mails and telephone calls flooding Washington, DC from Americans who wish to see the Senate's immigration bill blasted to smithereens, with pieces of the tattered bill littering the floor of the House of Representatives.

[FerdieMurphy]

A win win situation. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border, take the dirt and raise the levies in New Orleans and put the Florida alligators in the moat. Any other problems you would like for me to solve?

[Jameison]

"Republicans May Kill Bush Immigration Plan"

Correction:

Republicans WILL Kill Senate Amnesty Plan

[Jameison]

"At the same time, there are letters, e-mails and telephone calls flooding Washington, DC from Americans who wish to see the Senate's immigration bill blasted to smithereens, with pieces of the tattered bill littering the floor of the House of Representatives."

Doncha just love how democracy works?
The people in the Senate (especially the 39-4 vote RATS) should bow their heads in shame.

[ncountylee]

Surprisingly, Shays' constituents are Northeast liberals who have voiced their concerns over uncontrolled illegal immigration and the reality of porous, unprotected borders.

Hardly, only a surprise to MSM, the insulated Senate liberal RINOs and perhaps the White House.

[AntiGuv]

The "rational middle ground" is to secure the borders first and to crack down on those who employ illegals, and only then to consider anything like a guest worker program.

[Grendel9]

You're right! Bush's plan
was nowhere NEAR what that
goofy group in the Senate
put out. Now that they're
all safely back home in
their little mansions,
let us hope they actually
come in contact with some
of their consituents and
hear what American is
actually saying to them
and their ilk for trying
to sell America down the
river.

[kabar]

It bears repeating that the Reps in the Senate voted 32-23 against the bill. The WH is supporting a bill that the majority of Reps in Congress, House and Senate, is against.

[Diogenesis]

Exactly. And what is the full plan?

Illegal aliens do not pay taxes -- without accountability, but with support by US Senate traitors.
40% of all workers in L.A. County (L.A. County has 10 million people) are
working for cash, and not paying taxes both encouraged and supported by US Senate traitors.

Illegal aliens rape and murder Americans without accountability,
as they are encouraged and supported the US Senate traitors who are isolated and protected unlike ordinary Americans.
95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally. US Senate traitors want more.

Illegal aliens will inherit and bankrupt America.
Over 2/3's of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien
Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers, and supported by the US Senate traitors.
Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops but 29% are on welfare, and the US Senate traitors want more.

Illegal aliens bring Americans infectious hepatitis,
incurable tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera, mumps,
Chagas disease, leprosy, incurable Morgellons disease, and Dengue fever.
They deliver the diseases that Americans will not, fully encouraged and supported by US Senate traitors
who are isolated and protected unlike ordinary Americans.
Ref: "10 points from Los Angeles Times"

The 43rd Co-president and Foreign Excellency of the USA, courtesy of the US Senate traitors.

[zerosix]

Everyone in Congress and the Senate (now perhaps even the President) need to run for reelection every two years, then maybe these jerks who sit as kings, barons, and princes (princess to such as Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi) over the rest of us would have a government that looked a whole lot like "by the people, for the people and of the people."

Happy Memorial to all of you great guys and gals in the service of our country and a hearty thanks to you vets who have stood between our enemies and the people at home. I love all of you and thank God for each of you every day.

[jmaroneps37]

"Republicans May Kill Bush Immigration Plan'... and the rinos and rats will be fighting them every inch of the way.

[AntiGuv]

...voices within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the investigative branch of DHS, claim that there is little support by their superiors to go after some of the top corporations that employ tens of thousands of illegal aliens.

Those superiors need to be fired immediately, and possibly charged with criminal misconduct.

[csmusaret]

Hello Hancock.

[kabar]

Bush's plan was nowhere NEAR what that goofy group in the Senate put out.

So why doesn't the WH disavow the Senate bill?

[nj26]

"House Republicans view that argument as pandering to a potential voting-block which ultimately leads to big-spending programs and redistribution of wealth -- a hallmark of liberal-think."

House GOP: Stand your ground! Don't give in to Bush and the Senate RINOs. We support you.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

The "Northeast liberals" wouldn't feel the way they do for long if only Hillary would get up here and explain that they are looking at the prospect of millions of new rat voters.

That's the entire reason for the rat support of the "Immigration Bill".

[ContraryMary]

Republicans May Kill Bush Immigration Plan

It deserves to die.

[Jameison]

"It bears repeating that the Reps in the Senate voted 32-23 against the bill"

Yep.
The majority of Republicans in BOTH The Senate and by far the majority of Republicans in the House voted AGAINST amnesty.

We are the majority Party.
It's now up to use to make sure that the largely RATS(plus McCain) Senate Amnesty Bill suffers a swift death.
There should be no let up in our phone calls, letters, emails to the Reublicans in the Congress, and the message should be clear:
SECURE THE BORDERS AND NO AMNESTY

[Jameison]

" if only Hillary would get up here and explain that they are looking at the prospect of millions of new rat voters.
That's the entire reason for the rat support of the "Immigration Bill""

Bingo!

[stopem]

This is interesting

"and Senate liberals such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)"

he sure acts like one all right. Any Senator who votes for and with the libs on this issue are libs even with a (R) after their name.

The bill is packed chock full with socialist ideas, such as give the ILLEGALS social security benefits, amnesty, welfare benefits on and on and on, give, give, give, the great American giveaway!!!

[rbg81]

Good. No bill is better than a bad bill. That being said, we still need to get serious about enforcement. At the border and (more importantly) in the Heartland.

[Big Horn]

I would say it is a safe bet that you are not ready to welcome a Mexican family into your home this summer.

[FreePaul]

Bush's plan was nowhere NEAR what that goofy group in the Senate put out.

Bush's "plan" seemed to be keep the borders open, grant citizenship/amnesty to those already here and throw in a few other benefits. The senate just amplified what he wanted and added the usual perks granted minorities. Until Bush comes out strongly against the obnoxious elements of the current senate proposal it's his. Unfortunately some of the obnoxious elements of the senate bill are the Bush "plan."

[ovrtaxt]

Meanwhile, while DC is mired in inaction, the Minutemen are buliding a fence.

[Fruitbat]

A win win situation. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border, take the dirt and raise the levies in New Orleans and put the Florida alligators in the moat. Any other problems you would like for me to solve?

LOL...

Then send all lib Congressmen down to the "moat" for a nice beach vacation. We can save money by buying one-way tix.

“It would be a huge mistake to give people a path to citizenship that came here illegally,” he told the Washington Post. (Shays)

Bush doesn't think so. Neither does the Senate.

[neutrino]

I certainly hope that miserable bill dies. Hopefully, it will die horribly.

[kittymyrib]

Now if we started fining employers, large and small, $40,000 per illegal they hire, with jsil time for repeat offenders, and those 12-20 million had to go home or starve, then the GOP wouldn't have to worry about their future with "the fastest growing population in the US." It would be the fastest shrinking population, much to the sorrow of the Democrats, who have been registering illegals to vote Democrat in our border states for years. This would really cut into the Democrat vote and win many votes from citizens for the Republicans. Are GOP Senate members who voted for their monstrosity really so stupid that they can't see this?

[Paul Ross]

This reversal is likely going to send shockwaves through the Beltway, and rattle even McCain's cage. But most likely he will just lash out in further vituperation. He just doesn't handle rejection by those pesky voters very well:

Shays, one of the few vulnerable House Republicans open to a broad compromise with the Senate, said strong protests from his constituents this month prompted him to come out for the first time against "citizenship for undocumented workers."

“It would be a huge mistake to give people a path to citizenship that came here illegally,” he told the Washington Post.

Surprisingly, Shays' constituents are Northeast liberals who have voiced their concerns over uncontrolled illegal immigration and the reality of porous, unprotected borders.

This is what they Senate has shown they care less about...and they have always banked on the East Coast backing them up. Drudge was surprised by the number of East Coast callers white hot on the issue too.

These issues: Rule of Law. Sovereignty of the People. National Security. A nation with a government, not a government with a nation.

Rather than despaire over our betrayal, I recommend that ALL CONSERVATIVES go forward positively. This poses a real opportunity. This is a time for very careful counterstrikes on the Democrats on this issue. This is their own wedge issue. It must be used. Instead of losing seats of Good Conservative Republicans...let's see if we can gain seats, and expel some Rats. Too bad we can't as easily clean house in the GOP. It requires a concerted effort at the Primary Leve. But that is the way to go, rather than Third Party. And pressure must be exerted upon the would-be INCOMING RINOS, such as Mark Kennedy, who has abdicated his former conservative principles on a number of issues to slavishly conform to the White House line.

After all, it is only making the party abide by its own self-professed principles. This is simply calling the RINOs on the carpet on those egregious departures from agreed principles in the Reagan Platform.

Now, More Than Ever!

[Diogenesis]

Legal Mexican immigrants, si.

Illegal aliens, NO.

[Jameison]

"The bill is packed chock full with socialist ideas, such as give the ILLEGALS social security benefits, amnesty, welfare benefits on and on and on, give, give, give, the great American giveaway!!!"

Yep.
I was listening to House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr on TV yesterday, and one thing he said that just got me even more incensed:

The Senate Bill has those provisions whereby the Feds will have to right whatsoever to question any credentials submitted by these illegals when they turn up and claim that they have been here for over 5 years.

In fact this Senate Bill stipulates grievous punishment for any Federal official who even attempts to investigate the likely fake credentials that are submitted by those illegals who will apply for the "path to citizenship" rubbish.

My question is:
Exactly what were the Senate smoking?

[jpsb]

"Bush's plan was nowhere NEAR what that goofy group in the Senate put out. "

Kool-Aid overdose alert.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Shays wouldn't be listening if he weren't up for reelection.

[tabsternager]

Bush has been pushing for amnesty all along, since way back when he and Daschele pushed for a "mini amnesty." And now he's sent Rove to push the House Members to agree to the Senate's amnesty bill.

There's no difference here -- For whatever their crazy reasons, both Bush and the Senate majority want amnesty and government handouts for illegal aliens.

[Soul Seeker]

Since when did "Amnesty" become known as "Immigration"? I'm still adapting to "is" having its definition completely restructured.

Republican members of House of Representatives continue to send their collective message to President George W. Bush and Senate liberals such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):

Finally! He gets labeled for what he is.

The heated rhetoric emanating from the GOP members of the House significantly dims the prospects that President Bush will win the immigration compromise he is seeking, according to the GOP establishment within the Beltway.

You mean the feeble threats from the betlway aren't working? Gee, they must be as disappointed as the (minority of) GOP syncophants on this board that have tried the same tactics to no avail.

The Republican opposition spreads across the geographical and ideological boundaries that often divide House Republicans, according to interviews with about half of the roughly 40 members whom political handicappers consider most vulnerable to defeat this November. Republicans -- from moderates such as Chris Shays in suburban Connecticut and Steve Chabot in Cincinnati to conservative J.D. Hayworth in Arizona -- continue to say they are adamant that Congress not take any action that might be perceived as rewarding illegal behavior.

Kind of sad Shays is, so far as it seems right now, more of an ally to conservatives (Americans) then the administration or Senators Frist and McConnell.

Surprisingly, Shays' constituents are Northeast liberals who have voiced their concerns over uncontrolled illegal immigration and the reality of porous, unprotected borders.

Yeah, sure, surprising. As if Liberals aren't fighting for those "jobs Americans won't do", and paying the hefty taxes to support those feeding like parasites off our welfare systems resulting in closing hospitals, poorer education, decreased property values... Between the poor LEGAL American and the middle class no one should be surprised we've united against the rich few that will not, at first, have their livelihoods directly threatened. Now, granted, there are other reasons to be in opposition. But these are the reasons uniting Liberals and "moderates" with conservatives. Issues of sovereignty...etc...probably reflect the concerns of the GOP base a little more then the Dems. I could be wrong about that, but doubt it based on their reaction to the WOT.

According to the Republican National Committee staff and political strategists, over 75 percent of the 231 Republican members are steadfastly opposed to the Senate bill or even a watered-down version of it. Add the Democrat congressmen who are also vulnerable this fall should they vote in favor of "amnesty," and it appears there is a good chance the Senate bill -- chock full of goodies for illegal aliens, as well as the Mexican government -- will die a death of a thousand cuts.

Or they could just gut it fast and furious. Actually I'm in favor of a thousand cuts so long as it doesn't lead to them caving for amnesty. I'd like this to be an election issue for 2006 and I've been working to make it so. The GOP establishment, of course, wanted it out of the way before the fall. We all know why.

While a few polls, which some believe are skewed, show bipartisan support for Bush's immigration giveaway, most GOP lawmakers said the House plan to secure the borders and enforce existing immigration laws is unquestionably the safer political stand in his or her district. House staffers have intimated that enforcement of existing laws coupled with tough, no-nonsense border security is the winning hand in the political game.

Shock! They admit they can be skewed! Guess Dowd isn't doing too good of a job at distorting reality in the beltway huh?

This is what I know. Shays has taken back his support for amnesty. The President got on TV and begged us to believe it isn't amnesty, and that he gave a damn about the borders. A rare speech by the President, on immigration, on a subject Rove conspiculously denied was a problem attributing the problem all being result of Iraq.

Letters/Calls/faxes/bricks/town meetings are being acknowledged by the politicians as overwhelmingly against amnesty. Vulnerable Senate Dems voted against amnesty. Folks like Santorum in tight races voted against amnesty in a majority. Only the truly out of touch running this year support it, such as DeWine who went against judges too and Chafee.

People were thrown out over this issue in a local race. A House congressman is being forced into a runoff over this issue, and that challenger just barely missed replacing him outright on the ticket. Osbourne lost his bid for Govenor on this issue in his Republican primary. Here in WA we actually, shockingly, got in the state platform to state they were against anchor babies.

Most people I talk to, here in WA btw, are furious and against this for a multitude of reasons. Drain on welfare services, soveriegnty issues, national security, humanitarian, depressed wages, refusal to assimiliate (those flags really ticked people of), you name it. I see the same on talk radio no matter the dial, all across the blogosphere even the squishes that advocate "Vote GOP no matter what" are either on defensive of acknowledging their views are not representative of the backlash against amnesty.

The forces on Capitol Hill and their mouthpeices like Barnes and Kristol run scared at the notion it's amnesty, and have fallen back on the threat "the President will be a lame duck and you'll lose your job", signaling they realize they have the losing argument and want to jam it through quickly to prevent further attention on them.

Every outside factors indicates Americans ARE NOT in favor of the admin/Senate amnesty approach..except a couple of dirtorted news polls. Gee, what do I believe hmm? The evidence or cherry picked statements given to soemone over a phone?

Most of these lawmakers reject the argument made by the White House and Senate Republicans such as John McCain that the best long-term political strategy is to craft a compromise that is appealing to many Latinos, the fastest-growing minority group in America. House Republicans view that argument as pandering to a potential voting-block which ultimately leads to big-spending programs and redistribution of wealth -- a hallmark of liberal-think.

Which is why the Liberal RINO's led by McCain want it so badly. To destroy the conservative movement, though they'll destroy themselves in process because this group will not lovingly embrace them.

House Republicans appear ready to forcefully debate the issue with their Senate counterparts. The shaky Senate coalition, led by McCain and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), that passed the so-called comprehensive legislation is held together by a common belief that it would be unwise and unworkable to deal with the borders only and not solve the problem of what to do with the 11 million illegal immigrants living here. The coalition will crumble if the House Republicans prevail, according to senators and aides.

Exactly how will it crumble? The only way it can crumble is if the amnesty boosters get frightened and join those interested in enforcing the border. In that event, I welcome the crumbling of these RINO's!

But House members fire back that if current enforcement of laws aimed at cracking down on employers of illegal aliens are strategically implemented, the jobs would disappear and so would many illegals.

In part. I mean, some will simply set up their own business stands and employ other illegals off the books (they do now) but they can be cracked down on as well.

Last week, the White House dispatched their wonderboy, Karl Rove, who is lobbying -- some say strong-arming -- House members to reconsider their positions and the hope is that more moderate Republicans will cave-in to Bush's wishes. At the same time, there are letters, e-mails and telephone calls flooding Washington, DC from Americans who wish to see the Senate's immigration bill blasted to smithereens, with pieces of the tattered bill littering the floor of the House of Representatives.

Okay folks. Start targeting Rove's staff with bricks, letters, faxes and calls. Why? To flood his office hindering their attempts to strongarm House members a bit. Make it difficult for them to perform their duties or venture other to the House's territory by forcing them to issue responses to us instead.

[Jameison]

"the Senate majority want amnesty "

Republican majority in the Senate don't want amnesty.
They voted 32-23 AGAINST amnesty.
And Republicans in The House are strongly against amnesty.
And we are the majority party.
The Senate Immigration Bill is going to die.

[black_diamond]

I would also change Republicans to conservatives.

[Jameison]

Great Post.

[rodguy911]

My prediction has always been there will be no bill, I stand by that prediction, all we are witnessing from both houses,especially the Senate, is massive electioneering posturing.

[Brilliant]

Good.

[ExSES]

Republicans May Kill Bush Immigration Plan

I'm not going to hold my breath!

[Jameison]

"My prediction has always been there will be no bill, I stand by that prediction"

No Bill at all is far and away better than the evil Senate Bill.
That Senate Bill would do irreparable damage to this country.
It's not going to pass.
Way I see it, immigration is going to be THE issue for November's elections, and we are on the right side of the law and the American people. Heck even liberals in the North East are up in arms over over uncontrolled illegal immigration and the porous, unprotected borders
Thanks to William Jefferson, the RATS hypocritical chant of "culture of corruption" has collapsed like a deck of cards round them.
Immigration is a win , win for Republicans.

[Jameison]

The Senate Immigration Bill is dead.

[ihatemyalarmclock]

I'd be upset about the title if it were an actual "plan." It is not.

[em2vn]

The Bush plan is exactly what the Senate gave us.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

My plan: Immediately pass legislation that states NO one entering the US illegally will EVER be eligible for citizenship or public services.

Crack down on businesses that hire illegals.

This should do it without a wall. You've removed the magnet attracting them.

We simply need to enforce existing law.

[Malesherbes]

It is absolutely critical that the Republican Party holds the House of Representatives this coming November. It may be the most important election in our lifetime. I live in a safe Republican district, but I'm going to try to find some endangered House member and send my modest but hopefully useful contribution.

[TatieBug]

Keep supporting your Rep representatives who are on the RIGHT side of this issue...I'm helping in other states since CA is Senators are hopeless! Send the entire Judiciary Commitee an email!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Don't underestimate the forces at work here.

In addition to this ridiculous amnesty plan, some Bozo in a $1,000 suit proposed a drawing for 1 million $ to any one who votes in the next main election. Can you imagine? It will bring all those ignorant unwashed over drugged socialist/Marxist idiots to he polls who ignore anything having to do with the government, not to mention those Mexicans already here who can vote in the Southwest without a valid, certified I.D.

NOW, If that isn't a RAT plan to get control of our government then I must be smoking something that makes me chase rabbits down holes.

[Liberty Valance]

We don't need a new immigration bill. We need to actually enforce the immigration laws already in force.