Posted on 04/06/2006 11:35:42 AM PDT by george wythe
The Senate reached an extraordinary and fragile bipartisan agreement today on a sweeping overhaul of U.S. immigration law that would grant a chance to permanent residence for illegal immigrants who have been in the country longer than five years -- an estimated 7 million people.
[snip]
President Bush early today signed off on the compromise, as did the Republican and Democratic Senate leaders. It was reached after three days of intense negotiations that came about after the Senate had reached an impasse that threatened to kill any legislation for the year. A key player was Sen. Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican who also announced the agreement in Spanish in the Senate television gallery, a first.
"We've had a huge breakthrough" overnight, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn, told reporters today.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
There is amnesty and then there is amnesty.
Frist opposed the McCain-Kennedy bill because it contained amnesty. After a few cosmetic changes, now Frist endores the bill with the Hagel-Martinez amendment.
In Washington, amnesty is in the sight of the beholder.
REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS Five Senate Republicans — Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Jon Kyl of Arizona and Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, both of Georgia — announced their opposition.
Dear Everyone: Remember Forever That This is What the GOP Did With Their Historic Majority in the Congress.
Not the abolition of Abortion.
Not the abolition of the Income Tax.
Not the abolition of the massive Federal agency alphabet soup.
Not the abolition of the Welfare State.
Not the abolition of loopholes an out of control Judiciary exploits.
Not even the abolition of the dominance of far left judges on the Supreme Court...although they might get one more guy on the court.
NOPE. The political capital is all to be spent by handing over the country to....the citizens of Mexico.
Hope the House of Judas is being paid many coins of Silver for this.
Of course, Judas did the right thing after he took the money.
Bush, republican senate leaders and RAT senate leaders= axis of assholes. Now we need the supreme court to validate it and get all three branches to screw us.
"Bush, republican senate leaders and RAT senate leaders= axis of assholes. "
I hate to say it, but all are duly-elected. We put them there. That's how our system works.
No big surprise here... Same old RINO crap. Time for a third party. I know many Republican loyalists will continue to vote "the lesser of two evils", but that will only prolong the situation for the US. Time for a gut check boys and girls. It took many years for this country to reach this point, and it will take many years to turn it around. Dump the phony conservative party and start from scratch. It will be painful in the beginning, but it will be worth it in the long run...
It's too bad none of the senators will pay the price. Apathy is the detriment of the US political system.
I would like to jump into the Spanish translation fray. (Am Spanish tchr at h.s. and jr. college levels)
Sometimes the best translation will use a completely different idiomatic expression in the second language. I would offer up: Agárrese (or Agárrate) los tobillos mientras te la doy otra vez (Grab your ankles while I give "it"--the "la" would be a very crude reference to a certain male organ--to you again).
On the other hand, I couldn't disagree more with the general sentiments expressed by the majority of posters here at FR on this subject. I fear for what will happen to the Republican party at the national level if the Tom Tancredo wing takes over. He will do to the national party what Pete Wilson did to the California pubbies.
Go ahead and flame me if you wish, but I have yet to hear one single responsible suggestion from the other side that deals with the fact that we cannot deport 12 million people. It's not going to happen. Lindsay Graham is right when he says that the status quo is the biggest amnesty program of all, and the House-passed version offers no realistic answer for what we do about those already here.
none...
Bye bye America. I love you.
Our govt raised the white flag to illegal mexican immigration a decade or more ago. So what's all this fuss about? I am in shock to learn that there are Americans who actually expected our current laws to be enforced and our existing borders to be protected by some new BS law passed by congress? ROFLMAO!
Folks we don't need a new law. We need our current laws regarding immigration to be enforced . And we need them enforced just as aggressive are the laws regarding our having a cold beer while driving are enforced.
Republican Mel Martinez of my state voted for this. I can't bitch him out because I can't speak Spanish!!!
Traitor. MARTINEZ, YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO THIS COUNTRY YOU SCUM BAG! YOU PIECE OF DIRT! YOU'RE GIVING MY COUNTRY AWAY AND I DIDN'T GIVE YOU PERMISSION! YOU DIDN'T ASK ME, YOU PATHETIC PIECE OF LIBERAL REPUBLICAN GARBAGE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD TRADE OUT YOUR COUNTRY FOR A HISPANIC VOTE! YOU MAKE ME SICK!
*sob* my country is disappearing and I can't stop it! *sob*
Oh, not to worry about the border, they are going to fly unmanned drones along the border to protect us from further invasion.
No fence, no increase in Border Patrol, no penalities for entering, just an electronic fence will do, don't ya kno.
Note to self. Stupid me, I forgot there is no money to be made catching illegals. Especially like the money that is made when catching some good ole boy who had a couple of cold beers with some friends after work and then dared to drive home. That's a win win for all when they are done raping that good ole boy. But catching an illegal immigrant, who's gonna pay for that?
Mine too. It didn't matter. Martinez just sold us out.
Only 5 out of how many? Man this makes me mad!!!
Probably a note from any one of 15 - 20 roommates s/he is sharing a house with, will do ;-)
This is not an idea. The last time we offered "amnesty" to illegals, back in the late 1980s, it was based on a time of residence in the USA. And up blossomed, immediately, an underground market in bogus "evidence" of residency.
It included mail to an addressee, electricity bills to a certain name at an American address, etc. The counterfeiters learned how to falsify postage stamps and all the rest. It really was a joke.
You never hear WHY we Republicans are so opposed to amnesty. It's because those of us that lived in California, especially the LA area, saw the degradation and despoilation of the metro area in front of our very eyes. Mexicans who poured across the border after amnesty became law, and became instant citizens if they could afford the bogus "evidence" of residency.
Outside of the tourist areas, LA looks like a cross between Tijuana and Mexico City. Brought to you by lax enforcement of immigration laws and easily duped amnesty provisions.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.