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Senator (Jeff Sessions) Tries to Run Out the Clock on Immigration
New York Times ^ | June 17, 2013 | JONATHAN WEISMAN

Posted on 06/18/2013 9:22:24 AM PDT by reaganaut1

WASHINGTON — Senator Jeff Sessions, an elfin Alabamian with a mischievous smile and a relentless approach to legislative battle, has a theory about the sweeping immigration bill pending in the Senate: It’s as good as dead.

“The longer it lays in the sun, the more it smells, as they say about the mackerel,” said Mr. Sessions, the Republican enthusiastically leading the opposition to a bill others on his side of the aisle see as vital to the very future of the Republican Party.

If that sounds familiar to the immigration rights advocates who have been pressing an overhaul since 2006, it should. “As sunlight falls on the mackerel, it begins to smell more and more,” Mr. Sessions said in 2007 as he successfully waged war on a previous immigration bill, championed by President George W. Bush and pushed forward by his party’s most senior leaders.

In 2006, the dead-mackerel theory played out for the first time as Mr. Sessions helped churn an immigration bill written by the Capitol Hill titans Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and John McCain of Arizona into Senate chum.

Advocates of the legislation — Republicans and Democrats — insist this time will be different. The Republican drubbing in November among Latino voters, the shifting demographics of the American electorate, and the rise of telegenic champions of the immigration changes like Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, both Republicans, have changed the stakes as well as the political equation.

But in Mr. Sessions, they face an opponent with experience, one who reminds his staff every day that passage of immigration legislation was supposed to be inevitable in 2006 as well, and even more so in 2007.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: aliens; jeffsessions
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To: Buckeye McFrog

->NY Timesspeak for “an effing Bible Belt Conservative”

I didn’t think of that. Great point.


21 posted on 06/18/2013 10:04:18 AM PDT by Christie at the beach
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To: MestaMachine
"There are. Better even"

????

Could you just list the ones you're saying are better than Jeff Sessions?

Inquiring minds want to know.....

22 posted on 06/18/2013 10:06:11 AM PDT by traditional1 (Amerika.....Providing public housing for the Mulatto Messiah)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

What will this ‘immigration’ bill do TO Americans?


23 posted on 06/18/2013 10:06:14 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

Sessions is absolutely correct to ask this. Our government at all levels has forgotten for whom they work.

All policy, all legislation, every decision that any public servant makes should be able to be held to that standard, “What will this _________ (insert legislation/policy, etc....here) do for Americans?”


24 posted on 06/18/2013 10:12:57 AM PDT by MWestMom (Psalms 109:8)
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To: MestaMachine
There are. Better even.

Well, please list those who are better than Sessions and tell us what they are saying about the illegal alien amnesty bill.

25 posted on 06/18/2013 10:22:27 AM PDT by Will88
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To: reaganaut1
From the article:Sessions bump!
26 posted on 06/18/2013 10:24:38 AM PDT by upchuck (To the faceless, jack-booted government bureaucrat who just scanned this post: SCREW YOU!)
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To: Will88

Find it strange when the excuse is being given that while the government knows whats going on in 300 million citizens lives but because the illegals are not citizens and in “the shadows” according to Florida’s Senator Rubio the US doesn’t know who they are or where they’re comming from so we must make them citizens..

FR’s ;This Wednesday June 19th a Anti Amnesty Rally will be held on the Capitol grounds. Participants are urged to visit their respective Congressional Representatives and let them know their feelings Michelle Bachmann announced over the Rusty Humphries show

If you agree with the above and the following please don’t let it lay here in FR-land. Pass it on to to your favorite talk show host and to your US legislators. PUSH THE HASTERT RULE.

ONE NATIONALITY AMNESTY SKEWS QUOTAS. AMNESTY FOR NATIONALS FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS CLAIMS ON OUR NATIONAL TERRITORY HURTS OTHERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA, AMERICAN CITIZENS AND SKILLED LABOR FROM OTHER NATIONS

In that May 3rd speech Obama gave before the Mexican Anthropological Museum in which he blamed America for the violence in Mexico I believe he went even futhur. There’s a inference but never referenced by name to the Gasden purchase and border settlements US made with Mexico where Obama hinted he seems to side with the Mexican claims. Would those in attendence share that view is a question that should be asked, because I believe they would,.he does.

SOLVING THE ‘LATINO” PROBLEM A MYTH HISPANIC IS NOT A RACE BUT A POLITICAL LINGUISTIC CONTRIVANCE ...don’t fall into the hypenated Americans trap created by the hypenated political party ...The DEMO-COMS

The Mexicans have been getting most favorable treatment above the rest of our neighbors both north and south. They’re permitted to cross our borders and enter illegally and are allowed access to rights of citizenship (with the exception of voting which if the democrat party regains control over the House will happen) other nationals entering this country don’t get.. Worse yet the Obama government has been working hand in glove with Mexican movements such as LaRaza supporting the Mexican claims which are also supporting “Amnesty”.

Also by allowing Mexicans to do this any quota ration for immigration from other south and central American countrys are taken up by Mexicans while that country is laying claim to a large chunk of our sovereign territory is a recipe for later serious problems which are happening now.

ARE MEXICAN ILLEGALS SQUATTERS PERPETUATING THE MEXICAN CLAIMS ?

We are already seeing the result of this in certain areas claimed by the Mexicans. Their national flag (standard) gets displayed over ours. Where there is a controlling number of Mexican nationals (illegals). It’s displayed over certain institutions particularly schools accompanied by riots and disturbances. Blacks are threatend by Mexicans in certain sections of citys in those areas. We’re courting trouble by not placing a value on our sovereignty and our citizenship.

MOST COINS OF THE REALM HAVE TWO FACES WHAT ABOUT HOW ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS LIVING IN MEXICO BEING TREATED ?

Worse yet if a US citizen goes into Mexico never mind illegaly but legally. They’ll get 2nd class treatment. Land ownership in title is prohibited period. And there are a slew of regulations they must comply with. Which doesn’t apply to a citizen of Mexico.

By not insisting on reciprocity particularly on those who have entered this country illegally we’re offering no incentive for assimilation and we’re not easing the burden for our fellow citizens who for what ever reason decided to live in Mexico.

ENOUGH OF THE ONE WORLD SOCIALISM ...BRING BACK SOVEREIGNTY AND SANITY TO OUR COUNTRY .....BRING BACK BELIEF IN GOD ...THIS GOVERNMENT OUT OUR FACE..... OUR RELIGIONS..... AND OUR BEDROOMS..


27 posted on 06/18/2013 11:06:35 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
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To: reaganaut1
Why aren't there more senators like Sessions?

He's a man who believes in doing "the right thing" and "what's BEST for America".

There are few in Washington D.C. who have or hold those beliefs.

28 posted on 06/18/2013 11:10:52 AM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: Christie at the beach
7 ... I don’t think Jeff caves on his principles.

As an Alabama native, I have voted for him every time. He was once considered on the short list for a SCOTUS nomination, but those days passed him by. He does frustrate me at times, though. I e-mailed him in early-2009 encouraging him to block Eric Holder's nomination to the AG. He replied that the POTUS had the right to nominate whoever he saw fit. So, he let EH get through the Senate committee for a vote. He did end up voting against EH, but by then the damage was done ... and that was that.

I e-mailed both Sessions and Shelby (our other GOP Senator) last week imploring them to fight this bill. They both voted NO to keep it from coming out of the Senate committee. Alas, too many RINOs and now it is on the Senate floor.

29 posted on 06/18/2013 11:19:36 AM PDT by MacNaughton
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To: Vigilanteman
9 I've always liked Senator Jeff Sessions a lot. ...

Your analysis, sir, is dead on. There are times when I wish he could get in the mire, gut Chuckie Schumer, and eat his liver while staring him in the face, but that is just not his nature.

30 posted on 06/18/2013 11:25:47 AM PDT by MacNaughton
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To: reaganaut1

“His motivation, he said, is simple: Other Republicans are too scared to take the lead, fearing they will be labeled anti-immigrant, intolerant or worse.”

This REALLY ticks me off. If my two RINOs from Tennessee were to show some backbone and join Sessions, they would win an overwhelming majority and to hell with what anyone else was saying.


31 posted on 06/18/2013 11:32:54 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Inside every liberal and WOD defender is a totalitarian screaming to get out.)
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To: traditional1; Will88

These guys don’t have Sessions’ experience and on immigration he is rock solid, I wasn’t putting him down, just saying that there are others as strong on the issue,

http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/5/priorities-for-the-immigration-reform-bill

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/06/17/ted-cruz-vows-to-offer-immigration-amendment-in-reaction-to-courts-arizona-decision

http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Jim_Risch_Immigration.htm

http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Jeff_Sessions_Immigration.htm


32 posted on 06/18/2013 11:45:02 AM PDT by MestaMachine (My caps work. You gotta earn them.)
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To: reaganaut1

“Why aren’t there more senators like Sessions?”

Are you serious? This is the same supposed conservative that said this at Eric Holder’s confirmation:

“Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, for example, said he was sure that Mr. Holder would be “a responsible legal officer and not a politician.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/us/politics/03holder.html


33 posted on 06/18/2013 11:46:02 AM PDT by bestintxas (Anyone who votes for Obama after these 4 miserable years needs to take a mandatory citizenship test.)
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To: who knows what evil?

We know the answer to that.


34 posted on 06/18/2013 3:56:23 PM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (To stay calm during these tumultuous times, I take Damitol. Ask your Doctor if it's right for you.)
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To: MWestMom

I like Jeff and he does a great job relating what he truly believes. I have disagreed with him a few times but not on anything big.


35 posted on 06/18/2013 3:58:53 PM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (To stay calm during these tumultuous times, I take Damitol. Ask your Doctor if it's right for you.)
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To: cotton1706

“...Has this writer ever described a democrat in a similar way??..”

Nah...when it comes to dems, “piece of communist garbage” will suffice.

“...elfin Alabamian with a mischievous smile...”

Oh, “ELFIN”...I thought it said “effin’” at first! Ha!


36 posted on 06/19/2013 6:16:29 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: bestintxas

“...Are you serious? ...” “Eric Holder...”

Sessions was probably just playing the politesse game. They’ll grin at each other up there on the Hill, shake hands, slap backs, and then set about finding new and interesting ways to stab each other in the back or screw the rest of us over in the most efficient way possible.

That’s part and parcel of being a politician, from either party.


37 posted on 06/19/2013 6:19:36 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: reaganaut1
an elfin Alabamian with a mischievous smile

I wonder if Mr. Weisman would appreciate being described as "a swarthy, big-nosed, New York semite"?

38 posted on 06/19/2013 6:27:40 AM PDT by prairiebreeze (Don't be afraid to see what you see. -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: reaganaut1

IMHO, Republicans are barking up the wrong tree: THERE ARE NO VOTES FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE AMNESTY TREE!

However, there are roughly 100,000,000 votes in the “We didn’t vote in 2012” tree.

One has to wonder why the Republicans panties are in a wad about illegal aliens and not about the “stay at home” voters?

Stay at home voters outnumber illegal alien voters by at least 5 to one (assuming there are 20 million illegals in the USA who want to vote).

Clearly, Republicans are barking up the wrong tree!

Talk about misplaced priorities.


39 posted on 06/19/2013 7:48:50 AM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: reaganaut1

Love my Senator!!! Hate the other one we have, Shelby.


40 posted on 06/19/2013 8:52:06 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (1 Cor 15: 50-54 & 1 Thess 4: 13-17. That about covers it.)
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