Posted on 02/06/2008 3:57:35 PM PST by backtothestreets
Listen Up!
Senator John McCain may be the Republican nominee for President, and will most likely face either Clinton or Obama in the General Election. One of the great concerns Republicans voice with McCain is his pro-amnesty stance, which coincidently is shared by the presumed Democratic rivals. They believe McCain as President, or either of the Democrats, would grant amnesty to illegal aliens. Well, our current President wasn't able to accomplish that, and this fact had better make conservatives pay closer attention to all the elections taking place this year.
Class II of the Senate has 33 seats up for election, plus an additional seat from another Class that was vacated. Class II is the most Republican populated Class. Of the present 49 Republicans in the US Senate, twenty-one are members of Class II, with the remaining 28 Republicans seats being members of Class I (9 Republican seats) and III (19 Republican seats).
As many as 13 of the Class II Senate seats are expected to face strong challenges, 11 of which are now held by Republicans (two in favor of amnesty - 9 opposed), and two by a Democrats (one in favor, one opposed).
Once again, very recent history tells us a pro-amnesty president is of no consequence in signing an amnesty bill if such a bill cannot be passed in the Senate. That said, the presidential race will result in a new President of the Senate (Vice-President of the United States) to cast the deciding vote in case of a tied Senate vote when such a bill resurfaces.
The race for the White House is an extremely crucial race, but the greater battle will be for the overall composition of the US Senate, including who will serve as President of the Senate.
Here's a table of how the Class II Senators voted on the two amnesty bills before the Senate last Summer.
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A total of thirteen Class II Senate seats, currently held by Senators that took stances on Immigration Reform Legislation in 2007, are expected to have strong competition in the November General Elections. Ten opposed the amnesty bill, while three favored the bill.
Of the Class II Republican Senators voting Nay on Immigration Reform Legislation, 9 seats will face strong competition. The two Republicans that supported the amnesty packages are due to leave office.
Of the Class II Democratic Senators voting Nay on Immigration Reform Legislation, 1 will face strong competition. Additionally, 1 additional Senator absent due to health problems at the time votes were cast is a supporter of those measures, and may face stiff competition due to those health concerns.
Collectively, the net outcome of these races will determine the future fate of any amnesty bills taken up in the Senate in 2009 and 2010.
Also, do not assume a Democratic candidate for Senate would favor amnesty, nor that a Republican would oppose amnesty. The 2006 Senate elections brought two of the staunches Democratic opponents of amnesty and illegal immigration to the Senate. This is not about party affiliation. This is about the future of the USA. Look into the specific positions of all candidates. Assume nothing.
If you are a conservative, and you are considering not voting in the November elections with hopes that by not voting it will somehow fix America or your political party, you may just put America in a real fix. WAKE UP!
I know Ted Stevens. He has done a fine job, but he ought to retire. The time comes.
Even if we're screwed on the Presidency, it is all the more reason to turn out and secure conservatives in congressional posts!
Chuck—I missed this yesterday. I am so glad that you posted this thread. This is very helpful information.
Even if such a candidate had little chance of winning, he could help the Republicans by drawing conservative voters who would otherwise stay home. And if the ticket won at least some Electoral Votes (a possibility I would think, with the right candidates) that could send a pretty strong message. What I'd most like would be for McCain to come in third, though that doesn't seem terribly likely. But if he gets sufficiently stomped, it could happen in the EC.
BTTT
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