"Ted. You are so cool giving amnesty to all terrorists on US soil."
Posted on 06/28/2007 4:28:06 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The bitter fight over a comprehensive immigration overhaul has pushed President Bush and his fellow Republicans to the brink of divorce -- and, for the first time, the opportunities for reconciliation appear severely limited.
House leaders played down the friction Wednesday, but Republicans have predicted a showdown with the White House over immigration since Democrats took control of Congress last fall. And that longstanding tension spilled out Tuesday when GOP lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to reject the Senate -- and, by turns, the White House -- immigration overhaul.
This immigration fight marks yet another low ebb for the White House, and the path forward looks rocky, as GOP support for the war in Iraq teeters.
The president needs Republican support to maintain troop levels in Iraq, and the calls this week by a pair of GOP senators -- Dick Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio -- to reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq have spurred concerns that moderate Republicans will publicize their opposition to the war before Army Gen. David Petraeus reports to Congress in September on the progress of the president's troop surge.
The administration is also struggling to renew No Child Left Behind, the signature education initiative of Bush's first term that passed despite concerns from numerous conservative Republicans.
Those concerns have been amplified in the intervening years, with House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and other leaders vocally opposing the law as it was initially written.
Republicans suggest many members have been waiting all year to pounce on an immigration overhaul and the reauthorization of his signature education program.
"We've all been aware of the president's priorities" since the beginning of the year, said Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida.
Republicans theatrically opposed the Senate's comprehensive immigration overhaul last summer. But the vitriol spiked again Tuesday during two closed-door sessions in which House Republicans considered a symbolic resolution opposing the Senate bill.
"This is our magic carpet ride," one lawmaker proclaimed to the applause of his colleagues, according to a member present.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan said he and a group of fellow Republicans decided to move forward with their resolution rejecting the Senate bill after Bush berated opponents who called the legislation "amnesty."
The White House had wanted Republican leaders to prevent members from voting on Hoekstra's measure the same week the Senate renewed consideration of the issue, a member and two leadership aides said, asking Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) to throw up a procedural roadblock forcing members to suspend consideration of the resolution.
But Republican leaders, already sympathetic to their members' overwhelming opposition to the Senate bill, knew Hoekstra would have more than enough votes to override the proposed stalling tactics and rejected the White House plan.
"The White House wasn't happy about it, but after the vote yesterday they certainly understand it," one Republican leader said.
At the White House, press secretary Tony Snow said, "There are going to be some who are not going to vote with us; we understand that.
"We hope that in the House we'll be able, on a bipartisan basis, to put together the votes we need,'' he added.
Among the Republican leadership in the House, Boehner has moved away from the White House since casting a vote in 2005 against legislation establishing a national standard for state-issued identification cards. He opposed that measure because it would establish new regulations requiring employers to verify the citizenship of their workers -- something in the current reform package -- and last month he called the Senate bill "a piece of shit" because it doesn't go far enough to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the border and securing jobs. He has also tacitly supported Hoekstra and others who want to derail a comprehensive overhaul.
Putnam was viewed as the one member of elected leadership most likely to accept a comprehensive immigration package, but he decided to oppose the Senate bill after members rejected an amendment offered by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to deport convicted felons, something supporters viewed as a poison pill.
And Rep. John B. Shadegg (R-Ariz.), another prominent supporter of comprehensive reform, worked with Hoekstra to introduce the resolution.
Other Republicans expressed skepticism that federal agencies can implement provisions in the bill. They are concerned, for example, that the Department of Homeland Security will not be able to establish an employer verification system when there is so much trouble meeting new passport requests.
Given the standoff, Republicans are trying to shift the emphasis to House Democrats, who are more divided over comprehensive immigration reform -- if only because House Republicans appear unified against it.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has urged the White House to corral 70 GOP votes before she brings an immigration package to the floor. But backers suggest that number now hovers between 20 and 30, and they point out that the speaker will face significant pressure from Hispanic groups to move a reform measure in some form.
"She has dodged it as long as she can," Putnam said.
Last time I heard... legislation is created in Congress... not the White House.
I’ve been counting on the House to save the day if necessary. I’m curious to know how Tony Snow feels deep down inside about this bill.
Which tells you all you need to know about the majority of congressmen from both parties. They can't even agree that violent criminals are a bad thing.
This ain’t no mutiny, boys and girls.
After Scooter, the Marine prosecutions, the Borderpatrolmen, the PC war stratergys, Kennedyisms, etc....
THE “BATTERED SPOUSES” of the GOP SUE FOR DIVORCE.
sw
>>And that longstanding tension spilled out Tuesday when GOP lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to reject the Senate — and, by turns, the White House — immigration overhaul.<<
At first glance, it looks like some major Senate vote against amnesty. But I think the author is talking about a House vote that condemns the Senate bill. That House vote seems to have convinced some senators to oppose the Senate bill.
“...the calls this week by a pair of GOP senators — Dick Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio — to reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq”
The same people who are calling for retreat and surender are the ones that are also supporting Jorge’s criminal amnesty bill. Coincidence? I think not.
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)
Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!
Why are they all so stupid and insensitive, or deaf and myopic?
We are a monarchy now. Congress is only advisory.
Thank God we have the decider to make the rules.
"Ted. You are so cool giving amnesty to all terrorists on US soil."
Voinavich today on Hannity’s radio show. OMG! He hadn’t even heard of the “fairness doctrine. What a disgraceful showing for everyone to hear. “I’d vote for it, whatever it is.”
My divorce with that man I voted twice for was completed months ago.
Good Luck to us all today. I won’t be here when the vote goes down (work), please everyone keep calling these remaining hours!
What a needless and stupid waste of remaing political capital on the President’s part.
I’m finished with jorge bush.
Juan McCainez, Jorge Boosh, Ted Kennedy, Linseed Grahamnesty, and the RINO Rangers should be impeached or voted out a the earliest opportunity!!
Someone must have reminded them that in most of Georgia "He just needed killin" is still a viable defense in court.
The little butt-kicking lesson that is going on right now is the very reason why legislation comes from Congress, not the White House. It must begin from the will of the People, ie. "from the consent of the governed" or you have a revolution such as the one you see right now. An agenda that comes from a single special interest source is nothing but trouble.
The only way you can even begin to put together a consensus of opinion on new legislation is from a body of representatives gathered from (imagine this...) all fifty states. That is WHY we have Congress and NOT a dictator with an agenda that he wants to make into law.
Hey, White House lurkers, ya`ll listening??
He has always been pro-amnesty, long before he took the admininstration job.
I think that’s one reason Bush picked him. That’s also the reason Bush put Martinez in as the head of RNC. Bush has been lining this up for a long, long time.
That’s also one reason why I think he and Rove blew the 2006 election. I’m just sayin...
Excellent idea! With President George W. Bush on top and the Senators who opposed cloture.
Correction: meant to say who favored it and the bill.
This is more boneheaded that his Father, Bush I, who's political approval collapsed from 91% to 34% in 18 months, simply because the stakes are so high. Blowing the Iraq War for the sake of this criminally idiotic bill is so insane, that no one can understand, why he's doing it.
bttt
George Bush’s push for amnesty is the lowest of the low.
It is sad to say that I’m Almost to the point of wanting to see some controversy, a distasteful statement, or revealed ethical misstep on the President’s part, that would allow us to feed him figuretively to the Democrats, twisting in some strong winds of public scrutiny.
It is very crazy, however the Iraq war is progressing well and those angry at Bush for this shouldn't lump the two together. Iraq is not only winnable but we are winning. Bush's stubbornness with the amnesty bill is the same stubbornness he has with the Iraq war. Good for Iraq bad for amnesty. His stubborness kept Rummy and the old occupation plan in place too long, but I can understand why Bush kept pushing that particular plan. When he realized there needed to be a change he did it. Hopefully he will do the same with amnesty and get the fence built.
That sort of action is how Bush has worked.
For the Democrats, I would strongly suggest taking a pro-union/anti-illegal alien stance (i.e. “they are taking our jobs”) rather than using the conservative national security angle.
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“Last time I heard... legislation is created in Congress... not the White House.”
Bush has been one of the prime forces behind this. It will be remembered as his bill as it always is when a President fights for a bill. Nobody remembers who introduced New Deal legislation in Congress. They remembered FDR for fighting for them. Nobody remembers who introduced LBJ’s disastrous War on Poverty, they remember Johnson for it.
I am feeling the rats will be jumping ship soon. Remember Graham, Voinavich and Kyl come election time, even if they see the writing on the wall and jump ship too. Especially remember Graham.
And Wetback. Don’t forget Sam Wetback (RINO-KS).
I have posted that sentiment several times. I remember right after the election Bush said that he now has a congress he can work with on immigration. When you look at the lackluster campaign the RNC ran in 2006 it sure makes sense.
Except I think it was a canard and they just negotiated their No with the leadership to save their jobs, especially Chambliss as he is up in 2008. Otherwise, why were they adding an amendment to a bill they thought was wrong?
Nah, watch the slicksters, they were likely given cover by "leadership" after a quick head count. Blackbird.
Yep.
This bill was dead. Bush wanted it revived and worked harder to do so than he has for some truly worthwhile initiatives. He is tarred with this one for good.
Stupidity? Or have the payoffs already made their way
to the Senators’ refridgerators?
Uhh, that’s the current mindset, so don’t worry.
Which tells you all you need to know about the majority of congressmen from both parties. They can't even agree that violent criminals are a bad thing.
You nailed it. I would be willing to at least discuss taking most of this load of apples if there was even a conviction to remove the rotten apples first. Since there is not and the majority of the senate seems to feel we have to take the rotten apples too, then we have no choice but to reject the entire load.
"Dad .... You .... Me .... Hillary .... Jeb ...... Chelsea .....
and then the end of the United States of America. Cooooool."
“The bitter fight over a comprehensive immigration overhaul has pushed President Bush and his fellow Republicans to the brink of divorce — and, for the first time, the opportunities for reconciliation appear severely limited.”
MR. PRESIDENT; YOU ARE SELLING OUT THE COUNTRY AND STABBING YOUR FRIENDS IN THE BACK!!
I caught Hannity's interview with Voinavich yesterday. What an absolute, clueless idiot!
I hope the voters of Ohio were listening.....
That's actually a consistent stand to take, whether you like it or not.
A government that insists on waging a stupid "war on terror" halfway around the world while pushing for unfettered access to this country by foreign invaders across our southern border is so far beyond any rational comprehension that it's f#%&ing deranged.
If the President gave one damn about the nation and reconciliation with his base he’d 1) see to it this POS legislation dies a cruel death, 2) enforce the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and see to it the SECURE fence is built pronto, 3) enforce the National Identification Act of 2004 and see to it the border patrol is staffed and equipped sufficiently to stop border violations. 4) FIRE Chertoff.
Instead, this is an intentional grande effort to tactically screw the dwindling base because his admin is pissed with Conservatives. There is no way possible anyone can not be deliberate in execution of such a screw-up as Bush has done. There is no way this can be accidental. No way.
MR. PRESIDENT; YOU ARE SELLING OUT THE COUNTRY AND STABBING YOUR FRIENDS IN THE BACK!!
Sounds like the days of Clinton. Only his “friends” were literally stabbed, or shot, or run over by trains, or killled on planes, etc.....
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