Posted on 06/11/2007 7:24:03 PM PDT by justanotherfreeper
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell offered hope Monday for reviving a stalled immigration bill, saying the status quo is “indefensible” while being responsible for creating a “de facto amnesty” for millions of illegal immigrants.
The Kentucky Republican said he thought his Senate Democratic counterpart, Majority Leader Harry Reid, “gave up on the bill too soon” after lengthy Senate debate. McConnell said there’s a “good chance” the Senate will take up the legislation again.
In a conference call with Kentucky reporters, McConnell said the fundamental question is whether the status quo is better than the proposed overhaul.
McConnell acknowledged that Republican senators are divided on the issue.
“I think the status quo is indefensible,” McConnell said. “The status quo is what’s produced 11 or 12 million illegal immigrants in the country with no real plan—a de facto amnesty if you will for those who are already here.”
McConnell said the Senate “ought to make an effort to improve on a status quo that seems to me almost everybody thinks is not good.”
The senator refused to tip his hand about provisions in the legislation.
“This is a big compromise with a lot of different proposals in it,” he said. “I’m not going to specify which ones I like better than others.”
The sweeping bill, which would legalize millions of people in the U.S. unlawfully, suffered a serious setback when it failed a crucial Senate vote last week.
Supporters mustered just 45 votes to limit debate and speed the bill to final passage, 15 short of what was needed on the procedural maneuver. McConnell and Kentucky’s other senator, Republican Jim Bunning, voted against limiting debate, as did most Republicans.
McConnell said Monday that he hoped the Senate would get a chance to vote on more amendments and ultimately the bill’s final passage in the near future.
His comments came as President Bush pledged to try to revive the immigration bill.
The legislation was aimed at tightening borders and offering employers more temporary workers from abroad in addition to providing lawful status to an estimated 12 million illegal aliens and putting many of them on a path toward citizenship.
In a statement late last week, Bunning said the bill was worse than the status quo and would not have stopped the flow of illegal immigrants.
“Not only did the bill provide amnesty to millions of illegal aliens, but it also gave them their own V.I.P. line to citizenship and stuck the taxpayers with the bill for their health care, education, welfare and Social Security,” Bunning said.
He said the bill also failed to secure the border and did not create a workable system for employers to verify they aren’t hiring illegal aliens.
Bunning said the immigration system needs overhauling, but put conditions on his support.
“There must be no amnesty or other rewards for illegal aliens,” he said. “Any bill must stop the flow of new illegal aliens.”
Also, he said a guest worker program must protect American workers, include only legal aliens and ensure that the participants “go home at the end of their stay.”
Sadly I came to that conclusion a long time ago. The system has failed. Now there is very little left to distinguish between the two parties. None of them care about anything except for staying in power.
Starting tomorrow, it’s time to blitz McConnell’s with calls.
He needs to hear from us that the reason we have an illegal alien problem is not for lack of laws, but for lack of enforcement. Another law, nor matter how ‘comprehensive’ will not lead to more enforcement. With history as our guide, we can confidently say that it will most likely lead to LESS enforcement.
Bombard McConnell with those phone calls.
To paraphrase Virgil Sollozzo in “The Godfather”:
“It’s still alive. They hit it with five shots, and it’s still alive! Well that’s bad luck for me, and bad luck for you Senator if you make that deal!”
They status quo is amnesty so they want to pass a law giving them amnesty. Genius....
There is still hope. Ronald Reagan came in at the right time in history. Hopefully, we will have the wisdom to select the right man again.
Ever stop and think that they know exactly what they are doing? That they know they are going to get booted out of office but don’t care. Maybe they know that what’s coming to this country in the near future, that they will now longer need “political” parties as long as they are lying in bed with the right “people”.
Yep. I have always voted for Mitch in the past - BUT NO MORE!!!!! I’ve had it with these idiots - here’s another novel concept you worthless dregs - WE ARE YOUR BOSSES! We put you in office & WE CAN TAKE YOU OUT!!!!
As for Jim Bunning - keep up the good work - you’ll get my vote again. Thanks!
Add disbnd Homland Security, fire everyone in the department and turn the Border Patrol back to their origional function and TURN THEM LOSE TO DO THEIR JOB!
I pray with all my heart that you are right. I just hope there is something left for that person to salvage when he shows up. I had such high hopes for the current administration and they played us all for fools
>>McConnell?????????<<
Whenever I looked at Mitch McConnell, I used to take comfort and say, “There’s one Republican who is not a sellout and a worthless (fill in expletive).”
I hope I haven’t been wrong.
I used to like this guy. What the heck happened to him? Did the liberals spike the water with LSD? Maybe it’s the fluoride in his toothpaste?
We have reached the surreal in American politics, the active subjugation of the Republic by our REPUBLICAN leaders. But the big question we should be discussing is WHY? Some theories I’ve heard:
- Bush is sentimental about his Hispanic nurse-maids, and wants to bring in between 50 to 120 million Mexicans in honor of his memories of them.
- Bush is toadying up to the fatcats who own farms, convenience stores, chicken-processing plants, construction companies and lawn services to enrich them at our expense.
- Bush believes in the North American Superstate of Canada, the US and Mexico - and is implementing this plan in piecemeal fashion - first by intermingling US and Mexican populations. The rest of the plan would go down much easier after this nation-dissolving step. http://www.spp.gov/
Which theory makes the most sense? Or, are there other theories out there?
“The word bipartisan usually means some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.”
—George Carlin
Boy was he right!
Uh, the "status quo", Senator, is that immigration laws already on the freaking books ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED. Therefore, ANY BILL that you and your cronies pass is simply a new punchline to an old joke. A very UNFUNNY punchline.
Sorry to yell, but this is really frustrating.
Absolutely. If there's one truthful thing in D.C., it's this: career politicians never act out of the goodness of their hearts.
Follow the money.
Yeah. In order to compete with the EU and China as they dump the dollar, as well as all the other alliances that are springing up, we have to form our own little strategic alliance. The power of three nations combined can do a better job of competing in the global market. All to compete with the future big dog, namely China when their economy really takes off. That’s my best guess.
You probably hit the nail on the head. The traitors will live behind high gates, and will not have to associate with the hordes of peons.
The selling of America continues.
I think you are absolutely right. In all fairness, I think that Bush believes that he is doing the right thing for America in the long run. However, I also believe that he has violated his oath of office - regarding his allegiance to the US and to the Constitution. But I think he truly believes, in his elitist philosophy, that he has the right to do this.
” There is something going on under the radar that the American public is not privy to. “
The politicians (Repub and Demo) who support this bill are thralls of the businesses that use illegal labor.
Sure, some special-interest immigrant groups are supporting it, but they are generally powerless. It’s the illegal business interests that support the immigrant groups, and that are pushing the politicians to support this bill.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a larger case of corruption in American history.
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