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.