Congressional Negotiators Reach Agreement on Intelligence Bill

Hannity ^ | 12/6/2004 | n/a

[WOSG]

This language can, and should, be in any transportation bill or immigration bill or justice bill that comes up. It's reasonable.

We need to have an immigration platform voted on by the Congress.

[Havoc]

Interesting isn't it - that they are trying yet another excuse to federalize the drivers license - something they know beyond a doubt after so many attempts to get it past America's scrutiny, just won't fly.. while at the same time they look for any excuse they can grasp to get away from dealing fully with immigration. My bet is we'll get told they delt with it and their version of dealing with it boils down to a cave in.

[WOSG]

"I think I just realized why so many representatives and senators keep getting re-elected over and over again--- Nothing is EVER blamed on them. So many posters on this and other threads blame Bush for every thing they think isn't perfect in the country. I guess they don't take into account how long the problem was there before Bush came, and the fact that HE is only PART of the government that makes laws, changes laws, and enforces laws."

An astute observation.

Yet, with a fully GOP Congress coming next January, the Republicans will be on the hot-seat - we can no longer blame the Democrats (except in filibuster cases) for inaction. Collectively, the GOP will be judged on their handling of immigration and other matters. Bush will need to heed the grassroots groundswell and not discourage actions to protect the border, enforce documentation verification, reduce backlogs on deportations, and encourage enforcement of immigration laws. He *and* the Congress will be held responsible.

[Blood of Tyrants]

We have several new senators that are very much more conservative than those they defeated. The next legislative session will marginalize center-left Republicans and make bills that have less compromise in them.

I hope.

[Txsleuth]

I think a lot of people were hoping this bill would be put over until the new session because there are more conservative congresspeople elected. I just don't understand this "chicken little" atmosphere that is eminating out of Washington right now, unless congress knows something we don't know about terrorist activities.

I know I saw a Fox news story last week sometime about new measures at the Mexico border. It was about fingerprint identification. There was a machine that you put your finger on a pad and it sends your print to a clearinghouse computer with known "bad guys" prints. It is being tested but it is very slow and everyone is complaining.

And, if you only printed "suspicious types", you would be accused of profiling and the ACLU would be right up every ones butt.

[jveritas]

Read the posts of this "JustAnAmerican" guy. He is horrible.

[Amerigomag]

you cannot blame him for the illegal immigration problem completely

I don't and he isn't the only president who abetted illegal immigration. He's just the latest.

The problem has been growing slowly since WWII. Prior to WWII Hispanics were a constant 15% of the southwest population and what boarder jumping occurred was balanced by an equal return to Mexico during the Christmas season.

The Bracero Program in the late 50's gave Mexico's starving masses hope and the stampede began. First into Texas and later into California from Texas. Reagan added fuel to the fire in 1984, when through his efforts, women and children were given legal protection which led to employment in the services industries and which allowed year round residency. Bush's proposal of last January 7, misunderstood by the average Mexican and capitalized upon my the Mexican government, has caused the current jump in illegal entry but Bush is only part of a long list of presidents who have either ignored or aided the unmanaged migration along our southern boarder.

The problem for Bush is that he is president now. He has the authority to change the status quo of immigration which he understands. My problem is that I am vehemently opposed to Bush's proposals because they've been tried before, failed miserably and have wrought economic terror of California.

California is broke today because it openly welcomes illegal immigrants and is trying to provide public services and government employment to 3 generations of illegal immigrants and their progeny. Approximately 1/3 of California's present expenditures are consumed by the consequences of illegal immigration into the state since 1950.

[WOSG]

"I think a lot of people were hoping this bill would be put over until the new session because there are more conservative congresspeople elected."

I was one of them...

" I just don't understand this "chicken little" atmosphere that is eminating out of Washington right now, unless congress knows something we don't know about terrorist activities."

politically, there was a stampede to pass it. IMHO, the bill stunk. This is the 9/11 doodoo droppings that they think are golden wisdom. hogwash. But they had the pols over a barrel, since you dont want to vote *against* stopping the next 9/11.


The bill always had a majority for it, but the GOP wanted it to be a GOP bill not a bill that mostly Democrats signed. so they had to get the republican objections addressed.
Frankly, I was shocked that the House GOP leadership had the cohones to stop it earlier. IMHO THAT IS A GOOD SIGN. THE CONSERVATIVES WILL NOT ROLL FOR BUSH, BUT WILL STAND FOR THEIR (OUR) ISSUES.

[WOSG]

My generic response to the 'whiner' posts that bash the President about the complaint-du-jour:

If you have an issue that you are passionate about, remember that ad hominem is a form of illogical argumentation and that it's best to win converts by espousing a POSITIVE agenda, not an 'against' agenda. If you want to advance the agenda, quit the attacks and focus on the issue and convincing others - including your Congress-critter - on the same. Many of us are with you on these issues, but support the President for many other reasons, so attacking the President only *hurts* by dividing us.

Perhaps you are expressing yourself not to make positive change but to satisfy an emotional need. if so, have your non-productive useless tantrum about Bush daring to violate your vision of how he should run the country. Last I checked, *he* got elected President, not you. And he's doing a fine job, overall.

(ping if you like my generic response)

[Txsleuth]

As you can tell from my screen name, I am from Texas and I know what you mean about spending so much money on care for illegal immigrants.

A couple months ago, the county hospital in Fort Worth voted to give free regular check ups to illegals. I guess there reasoning was that if they caught illnesses in routine check-ups it would be cheaper than waiting until they get sick and have to be hospitalized.

Well, there was quite an uproar, considering US citizens that couldn't afford insurance did not quailify for same care. Long story short, they changed back to only being for emergency care.

I have discovered something about myself tonight---I am as against illegal immigration as others at FR, and I want Bush to do something about it, but I just can't convince myself that he won't because being a Bush fan, it is hard to accept that he is soooooooo out of the loop on the public desires on this.

[COEXERJ145]

Read the posts of this "JustAnAmerican" guy. He is horrible.

Typical Buchananite. Their reality is based on what they've learned from their god Pat and not on facts. They're still angry that the Republican Party told Pat to go away. Now they see anything that the Republican Party and President Bush do in regards to immigration as "selling out". Like I've said before, for the Buchananites, nothing short of rounding up every illegal, executing everyone of them (after all, they're law breakers) and then dropping Hellfire missiles on anyone who tries to cross the border will be considered "selling out" and "amnesty".

Can all the Buchananites say it in unison with Pat? "All of America's problems are the fault of the Jews Mexicans".

[Dat Mon]

"I think a lot of people were hoping this bill would be put over until the new session because there are more conservative congresspeople elected. I just don't understand this "chicken little" atmosphere that is eminating out of Washington right now, unless congress knows something we don't know about terrorist activities."

I dont like the way this bill is being muscled through Congress. Why the rush? The Repub leadership must know that they can get a better bill in the next congress session, with more true blue conswervatives coming on board.

A political operative told me once to be wary of any legislation that is rammed through in a lame duck session, especially bills dealing with establishment of agencies or spending bills.

I'm wary of bills that have the enthusiastic support of Jay Rockefeller.

If there is a security issue that requires immediate attention...why can't Bush deal with it via executive order?

Lets face it..after the CFR and Prescription Drug bills...one might be a bit leery of bipartisan 'go-go' legislation.

[Cedar]

"I'd might feel differently if he and Sensenbrenner hadn't publicly said they were supporting each other, but Hunter let the White House pick him off."

It makes you wonder if there were subtle threats involved--maybe Hunter has a few skeletons.

Just doesn't make sense otherwise for Hunter to go back on his word.

[Dat Mon]

"Since Bush didn't hide this fact, no one here can complain about it, if they voted for him. Right? "

I think what you are seeing on these threads is an accumulated frustration of many republicans and conservatives. In short..many are confused because they see things that don't make sense.

IMHO most republicans (and many libertarians and democrats) voted for Bush without reservation, knowing he was the right candidate to execute the war on terror, and not subject our country to the dictates of the UN.

After 9-11, Bush was magnificent; he was the right man in the right place at the right time.

After Clinton, America wanted a man of faith and character, and Bush filled that need. They also voted on moral issues such as gay marriage and abortion.

For me, the problems started with CFR bill. There was no reason to sign it...Bush had infinite political capital at that point. I still feel it is unconstitutional. We've seen the unintended consequences of this bill.

I never liked the references to Islam being a "religion of peace". Christ came as a 'prophet of peace', Muhammad did not.

I don't like the fact that Bush has not vetoed any spending bills, or even threatened a veto to try to limit pork spending.

Frankly, I think most people did not like the guest worker bill proposal from the beginning, but figured that it was dead on arrival in the House...based on comments by Tancredo and Delay. Note that the issue was scarcely mentioned by either candidate during the campaign.

The immigration issue also dovetails in nicely with other HSA issues such as the daily hassles that seem to arise for folks who travel regularly by air.

Lets face it...people in the Southwest ARE being overrun by illegals and are extremely frustrated.

So, in summary...you should take the comments on these threads in the context of the entire legislative and social agenda that has been presented in the last four years.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent words !!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

and I want Bush to do something about it, but I just can't convince myself that he won't because being a Bush fan, it is hard to accept that he is soooooooo out of the loop on the public desires on this.

Me too, but there is some BIG MONEY lobbying Hard in the Senate Chambers NOT to do anything about it!

[usadave]

Typical Buchananite. Their reality is based on what they've learned from their god Pat and not on facts. They're still angry that the Republican Party told Pat to go away. Now they see anything that the Republican Party and President Bush do in regards to immigration as "selling out". Like I've said before, for the Buchananites, nothing short of rounding up every illegal, executing everyone of them (after all, they're law breakers) and then dropping Hellfire missiles on anyone who tries to cross the border will be considered "selling out" and "amnesty".

More unintelligible spew from a delusional nutcase.

[fire_eye]

I think they want it that way. If their constituents (i.e. us peasants and serfs) can't tell exactly what is in a bill up to the very second it comes up for a vote, we won't be able to mobilize to stop them.

I'm *very* interested in whether those drivers' license provisions are going to stay in that bill... if the Feddle Gummint ends up mandating that the driver's license becomes Feddle ID in this fashion, you can kiss freedom goodbye in this country.

I'll try calling the idiots that poopulate my Senators' orifices tomorrow and see if any of them know (or will admit) (or will tell the truth as to) what's in the bill in the form in which it will be crammed down our throats... (won't bother with my Representative; she's as dumb as a cabbage, and the ones in *her* office probably can't talk with all the rings in their lips...)

[JustAnAmerican]

Here we go again, if you can't win the argument you start calling folks Racists or Nuts. Sounds like you are taking a playing card from the left. No matter, I stand on the side of most Americans. All I want is someone to enforce the laws on the books, which the Pro-illegal(Anti-American) do not. As long as they have that Cheap Labor pool all is well.

[newzjunkey]

You understand what Hunter's immigration voting record is, right? You understand that his district is a Mexican border district, right? You understand that he's more concerned with the military fight right now, don't you? Hunter's son is serving in Iraq, btw. Duncan's a good man and serves San Diego County well.

As a local, I haven't heard anything about this supposed promise to Jim on the immigration issue. He's always been about the military access to intelligence assets rather than micromanaged by a Washington bureaucrat.