If the Senate removes the revenue-producing fines, then it is truly an AMNESTY bill and there will be no denying that by the White House. The bill will never see the light of day as it currently reads.
Personally, I believe this “bill” was merely a show, produced for the benefit of all parties to make it appear as if they are really trying to do something. Once it is killed, they can all go home and say “We tried” until after the next election. After the 2008 elections, all bets are off.
Probably true. Just shifting the attention from what is already happening and will continue to happen regardless of the outcome. After it fails, the people will breathe a sigh of great relief and say, 'We did it! We did it! We told them to shove it and they did! Haha. We showed them that the people still rule this country.'
(Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .)
Disagree strongly. The Dems want this bill while an accommodating Rep President is still in the WH. They want Rep fingerprints on it. Their main objective is to legalize the status of the 12 to 20 million illegals already here. Once that is done, there is no turning back. They can change the provisions they don't like in subsequent Congresses. The Rep elites want it now because they believe that they can get a better deal for business in this WH. Both sides want to make it appear bipartisan and not amnesty.
The immigration reform group I am a member of, lobbied the Senate the two weeks prior to the recess. It appears that it is a done deal in the Senate. Our only hope is the House. We will be up on the Hill this coming week going to lobby various House representatives. It is 50/50. The House will make some modifications friendly to the labor unions and groups like La Raza. Then they [the Dems] will hammer out the final bill in conference. Whatever comes out of conference will make or break the bill in terms of biparitsan support.
This is far from being "a show." This is going to be very close. The WH will sign anything that comes out of Congress. If the Senate is any indication, I am pessimistic about our chances to stop it.
The politiicans are banking on the short attention span of the American public. By the time November 2008 rolls around, they think that the public will not care anymore and the MSM will be praising this bipartisan measure that finally got the illegals out of the shadows and secured our borders. They believe that they can make it a non-issue in 2008.
If the Reps are smart, they will distance themselves from this deal. You can put all the spin you want on it, but the reality is not going away. The invasion will continue in even greater numbers as the problem continues to metastasize around the country. The public will then have to answer this question: "Whom do you believe, the political elites or your own lyin' eyes?" If this bill passes in its current form, it is game, set, and match. We are finished as a nation.