Anger over immigration plan surprises GOP senators

CNN.Com - Politics ^ | POSTED: 7:34 p.m. EDT, May 29, 2007 | CNN

[F15Eagle]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In his speech Tuesday on immigration reform, President Bush was trying to provide political cover for members of Congress to support the legislation. That could be tough.

Republicans are getting an earful on immigration. "I have learned some new words from some of my constituents," Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, said.

The angry response comes as a shock. "The level of intensity and volume is, I think, surprising,'' CNN contributor and radio talk show host Bill Bennett said. "We've talked to a number of Republican senators, and they confessed to being surprised by the reaction."

There's a big difference in intensity. Among those who favor a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, 28 percent say the issue is extremely important to them, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. Those who oppose a path to citizenship feel much more strongly about the issue. Forty-seven percent say it's extremely important.

~~~

President Bush said the legislation puts enforcement first. "If you're serious about securing our borders, it makes sense to support legislation that makes enforcement our highest priority," Bush said Tuesday.

Conservative critics responded with a scathing indictment. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said, "The folks out there in America who, when they see Washington saying we have this wonderful plan, they say 'Yeah right. We saw what you did with Katrina, we saw what you did with corruption, we saw what you have done in terms of managing the war. So when you tell us you fixed immigration, we are not buying.' "

President Bush used equally harsh language to assail his critics. "If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. You can use it to frighten people,'' Bush said.

[F15Eagle]

duh ...

[2banana]

Conservative critics responded with a scathing indictment. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said, "The folks out there in America who, when they see Washington saying we have this wonderful plan, they say 'Yeah right. We saw what you did with Katrina, we saw what you did with corruption, we saw what you have done in terms of managing the war. So when you tell us you fixed immigration, we are not buying.' "

We see what you did with the last immigration reform...

[DManA]

Pure demagoguery:

President Bush said the legislation puts enforcement first. "If you're serious about securing our borders, it makes sense to support legislation that makes enforcement our highest priority," Bush said Tuesday.

[taxed2death]

So there you have it. Our Senators freely admit they are disconnected from the people who elected them. They are in fact, clueless.

[mewzilla]

The US Senate has become our very own House of Lords.

I hope the Founding Fathers are spinning.

[azhenfud]

"I have earned some new words from some of my constituents," Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, said.

Some of those aren't even known by Websters, yet.

[Just Lori]

Got an email back from my Congressman today. He says he will NOT support this bill.

[Tirian]

President Bush,

You have seriously and deeply misread the American people on this issue, causing us to think that we have perhaps seriously and deeply misread you.

[mewzilla]

[F15Eagle]

We’ve got to keep this thing on top and stomp this amnesty plan immediately into the ground and put the fear in them to never try this again (amnesty: because that’s what it boils down to for all intents and purposes).

[DManA]

You are correct and Huckabee is using a stunt right out of the liberal play book - put a stupid argument in your enemy’s mouth.

[F15Eagle]

Got an email back from my Congressman today. He says he will NOT support this bill.

TERRIFIC!!!!!!!!!!

[Psycho_Bunny]

I swear, that's exactly what came to my mind....and I usually don't say things like that.

[mirkwood]

HMS SURPRISE

[From One - Many]

really the level of anger isn't a shock.....
Americans really do want to win the war on terror and Americans realize the illegals have to be removed to win the war on terror....
The politicians are playing stupid again......
The politicians know the truth but act as though they don't.
It is easier for the wolf to hide in sheep's clothing, if the one in the sheep's clothing acts like a sheep, and politicians are master of this game, but this time the American public is on to the politicians......
A wolf can be made to leave, if the sheep go after the wolf in great numbers.

[tgusa]

The good news is that there are only 100 of those arrogant b*stards.

[F15Eagle]

fyi

[azhenfud]

What America is Really Saying

With much vocal opposition to the latest proposed immigration code reform, Americans are loudly and clearly sending the Senate and other Legislators of both parties a uniform message: “We simply do not trust you.”

We do not trust you to see to it the laws are enforced no matter how craftily they’re revised or devised. We do not trust you to see to it America’s borders are secured foremost. We do not trust you to see to it America’s sovereignty is placed as a top priority. Neither do we trust you to see to it law enforcement is provided with sufficient and proper tools to combat the massive invasion of America.

Americans are telling you: “Enforce our current laws - close the floodgate of illegal migration first, then when we see a legitimate enforcement effort fails expectations, we may then be more receptive to entertaining sensible code revisions.”

It’s time politicians simply realize one thing: Americans do not trust Legislators.

Americans are saying; “Prove your commitment. You’ve said you would add thousands of Border Patrol agents. You’ve failed. You’ve said you would build the border barrier. You’ve failed. You’ve justly earned your no confidence vote.”

“Why should we trust you?”

[ishabibble]

Demand that the Congress stay in session through the summer.
Turn off the air conditioning in the Capitol Building.
Don’t let them leave.
Force them to give us something better.

Those fatcats need to sweat about something other than their precious careers. This bill is so lazy, so slapped together and worthless, not to mention dangerous, that the Congress must be held accountable.

[F15Eagle]

LOL

[NativeNewYorker]

This is like the Harriet Miers appointment. Bassackwards stupid on its face, yet from inside the DC bubble, it made sense. Very scary how utterly detached from reality the political class is, especially considering how easy it is now to guage public opinion.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

More evidence that today’s GOP is truly clueless.

[umgud]

This gov’t, both congress and the president, have done nothing but token enforcement and only that after public pressure. But now they expect us to believe them. No thanks.

[Badeye]

They are still clinging to the myth that last falls election implosion had ‘nothing to do with border security and amnesty programs offered up’.

In other words, they are oblivious to reality outside of Washington DC.

[N. Theknow]

If we can round up all of the illegals and make certain that they go home for a "touchback" before re-entering the U.S. on the road to citizenship; then why can't we round them up and send them home permanently?

If someone is serious about keeping a ship from sinking, plug the hole(s) first.

Bush II is as big a disappointment as his father. And as his father continues to be with sucking up to Clinton.

[Leatherneck_MT]

President Bush needs to remember that he is not George the 1st.

We kicked George the 3rd out of this country over 200 years ago, I’ll be damned if we’re going to replace him with another little tin horn dictator. People in DC need a wakeup call in the worst way.

[F15Eagle]

yeah, they can't really be surprised -- this whole thing started with D.C. fight against the Minutemen -- doing the Constitutional job that D.C. refuses to do --

Travis, glad to be able to ping ya once again ... thanks FR!

[moondoggie]

This "could be" a winner for the GOP if they weren't so damned dense!

Yesterday in a poll of potential Latino voters, over 72% said they want border control FIRST.

The GOP wimps in the Senate ought to insist on two bills and make the first one to close the borders.

[F15Eagle]

People in DC need a wakeup call in the worst way.

YES THEY DO. Time to vote these backstabbing traitors out of office once and forever.

[SeaBiscuit]

“amnesty: because that’s what it boils down to for all intents and purposes”

Stop scaring people! /sarc

[F15Eagle]

Yes they are cutting their own throats. The only good news is, they have revealed to us where their priorities lie.

And it is NOT with the Constitution nor the American people.

Nothing more after that need be said ...

[F15Eagle]

rotflol

[Leatherneck_MT]

Amen brother

[Brilliant]

“The angry response comes as a shock.”

These people are clueless.

[George W. Bush]

President Bush used equally harsh language to assail his critics. "If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. You can use it to frighten people,'' Bush said.

Good grief. I'm even more incoherent than usual.

I must be lying big-time about the zamnesty.

[MplsSteve]

Good Point!

Last week, I heard Sen Kyl saying that they were hurrying to get as much done before their Memorial Day break - which is a week long.

I would much rather see Congress remain in DC and get some work done.

On the opposite side, sometimes it is quite dangerous when Congress is in session!

[Joe Boucher]

Next election, any congress critter and senator that has supported this amnesty bill should be sent packing.
NO they all aren’t up for re-election but those that are need one hell of a wake up call.

[Brilliant]

“President Bush said the legislation puts enforcement first.”

No one trusts the politicians on immigration—period. They haven’t enforced the laws over the last 25 years. Why would they start now?

[VeniVidiVici]

It’s because they reneged on the 1986 agreement. Plus there is nothing in the bill other than a vague amendment to pay back taxes (which won’t be enforcable) to make sure Americans no longer pay for their health care or education.

They even had to amend the damn bill to make sure the illegals weren’t entitled to the Earned Income Tax Credit. There is no way they have our wallets in mind if they forgot something as simple as this in the orginal bill.

Drop anchor baby.

[F15Eagle]

LOL

[SUSSA]

Kyl sells out to the Bush-Kennedy-McCain pro-criminal axis and then is surprised when people are mad. He’s not rational.

Note to Kyl: When you side with the pro-criminal axis against the American people, the American people get mad.

[Sword_of_Gideon]

President Bush used equally harsh language to assail his critics. “If you want to kill the bill, if you don’t want to do what’s right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. You can use it to frighten people,’’ Bush said.

Thats that quote that causes me to shudder. How dare he to tell us that simply asking them to enforce current U.S. law is not wanting “to do what’s right for America”. These people (the illegals) are criminals and need to be sent packing.

[FreedomPoster]

Travis McGee, who has returned, has nailed it:

“Remember, the same folks who sent automatic visa extensions to the 9-11 hijackers six months after they destroyed the WTC and died, will be in charge of this process.”

[F15Eagle]

Next election, any congress critter and senator that has supported this amnesty bill should be sent packing.

Agreed. No matter how this thing goes, any supporter has got to be voted out of office. Gone, good riddance.

[Non-Sequitur]

If they truly are surprised then they truly are clueless.

[Just another Joe]

Travis! It IS good to see you back.

See you round the barn.

[IamConservative]

President Bush said the legislation puts enforcement first. "If you're serious about securing our borders, it makes sense to support legislation that makes enforcement our highest priority," Bush said Tuesday.

I agree. You prove you can secure the border, then we'll talk about a guest worker program.

[BuffaloJack]

I tired of all this illegal immigration BS. Let’s just annex Mexico, make all the Mexicans pay income tax and be done with it.

[gondramB]

>>Anger over immigration plan surprises GOP senators<<

Cluelessness of Senators does not surprise conservatives.

[mtbopfuyn]

"If you want to kill the bill, if you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. You can use it to frighten people,'' Bush said.

Jorge is quickly becoming whats frightening people. Yeah, I voted for him not once, not twice, but three times.