Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The Politicians are Crafting Your Future. Let's Craft Theirs.



"We've got to convince the American people that this bill is the best way to enforce our border," Bush said. "The status quo is unacceptable."



You know this is a cynical trick. Let them prove to us they are going to enforce existing laws. They need to do that first. The Congress cannot enforce laws. They make them. There is one man responsible and sworn to enforce US law. That is President Bush. If he cannot do it he should resign. If he refuses to enforce the law and does not resign, then he needs to be impeached and removed from office.

Senators work to revive immigration bill

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Key Republican and Democratic senators are reaching for a deal to resurrect their stalled immigration compromise by requiring that some $4 billion be spent on border security and workplace enforcement.

The mandatory security funding is part of a plan to attract more Republican support for the measure, which grants legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants.

In private meetings Wednesday, the bipartisan group that crafted the delicate compromise was hammering out a plan to allow votes on a limited set of Republican- and Democratic-sought changes in exchange for a commitment from GOP holdouts that they will back moving ahead with the bill.

Republican architects of the measure, which grants legal status to millions of unlawful immigrants, expressed confidence that such an agreement was possible as early as Thursday.

"The list is there," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., adding that GOP senators were ready to present their plan to Senate leaders.

With the tentative package, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "should have what he needs to move forward," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "This is just to let him know that it can be done."

Reid has said he would revive the measure if at least 20 more Republicans commit to moving ahead with the broad immigration bill. It stalled last week when only seven GOP senators supported a Democratic bid to limit debate and expedite a final vote.

Reid expressed optimism that negotiators would strike a deal that could pave the way.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the lead Democratic negotiator, said he supported the bid to provide mandatory funding for border security and enforcement.

"You give the assurance that when this is signed, that there are going to be the resources to do the kind of security protections that are in this legislation," Kennedy said.

Under the proposal by Kyl and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., border security and workplace enforcement would be funded up front, and eventually covered by the fines and fees set out in the broader immigration bill.

"Everybody's trying to prove that they are willing and able to enforce the law this time, unlike 1986," Kyl said, referring to the last major immigration overhaul, which established a one-year amnesty program for illegal immigrants who had been in the U.S. at least four years.

"What better way to demonstrate that other than to say, 'We're not going to let congressional appropriations dictate this — we are going to put the money up front,'" Kyl said.

As part of the tentative deal, the Senate would vote on a proposal by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to require all illegal immigrant household heads to return to their countries of origin before obtaining legal status, Graham said. Under the legislation, only those seeking green cards — permanent legal residency — would be required to return home first.

Negotiators spent hours Wednesday huddled in meetings or on the phone. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who with Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez helped craft the bill in a series of intense and secretive talks earlier this year, was again on hand to help broker a deal.

"There's no question it's an uphill battle," Kennedy said. "It's difficult but not impossible."

A day after Bush went to Capitol Hill to field criticism from Republicans who derailed the bill, the White House said it would be open to changes to the delicate bipartisan compromise. Architects have argued their so-called "grand bargain" could collapse under the weight of poison-pill amendments.

"You may have a carefully crafted compromise, but on the other hand, you have members of both parties who want to have their say and have their input," White House press secretary Tony Snow said.

Snow also signaled support for the idea of pumping additional money into border security, which he said was worth pursuing, and played down the bitter divisions among Republicans on the issue. "This is not an internal 'fight,'" he said, and added that Bush "considers fellow Republicans friends and colleagues."

Republicans have coalesced behind the idea of assuring a funding stream for border security and workplace enforcement. Georgia Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson want a separate emergency spending bill that could total as much as $15 billion to pay for such measures.

Additional funds for border and workplace crackdowns could persuade the Georgians to back the effort to resurrect the immigration bill, Chambliss said.

"We're thinking about it," he told reporters.


32 comments:

  1. By Lou Dobbs
    CNN

    NEW YORK (CNN) -- President Bush is building his legacy, adding another unfortunate line of hollow bravado to his rhetorical repertoire. To "Mission accomplished," "Bring it on," "Wanted: Dead or alive," and of course, "I earned ... political capital, and now I intend to spend it," he has added "I'll see you at the bill signing," referring to his own ill-considered push for so-called comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

    Bush emerged from a midday meeting with Republican senators on Capitol Hill to declare, "We've got to convince the American people this bill is the best way to enforce our border."

    No, Mr. President, someone you trust and respect must convince you that kind of tortured reasoning should never be exposed before cameras and microphones. Isn't there anyone in this administration with the guts to say, "Give it a rest, Mr. President"?

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  2. All you ever wanted to know about the National Razorblade, aka, the Dougal.

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  3. ""What better way to demonstrate that other than to say, 'We're not going to let congressional appropriations dictate this — we are going to put the money up front,'"

    Kyl said.
    "
    ---
    Right:
    Certainly not by enforcing the law NOW.
    They can't process a few million petetioners in YEARS, yet, as soon as this legislation passes, they'll have 24 hours to make these life or death decisions.
    ---
    It's the NeoRepublican Way:
    Throw money at the problem.

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  4. Anti-immigrant rhetoric will alienate the GOP
    By: Gebe Martinez

    Xenophobic rhetoric dividing Republicans

    Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) protested, even as he worked to add more hurdles to obtaining visas. "This bill is not an amnesty bill. Unfortunately, we are behind the eight ball because there are a lot of our folks who are saying that. That's a huge problem."

    The message to the Latino community is, "We don't like you, and we want to put you in jail, and we want to deport you," said Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum.

    "I think it's going to be impossible for (candidates) to resist the temptation to demagogue this," said Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. "There's going to be a kind of backlash that I think is going to tear the social fabric of America, perhaps beyond repair."

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. By around 1300 the Europeans had advanced from the sword to the prototype guillotine, yet mo's men still cling to the past. No updates for them.

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. As long as Barney, Mr Bush's purple TV friend stands shoulder to shoulder with Mr Bush, he will stay the course. Or is it his dog, Barney.

    Well, as long as either stand with the President, he'll continue forward, saving the soul of the Ameircas.

    What more could we wish for?

    A President with kinda firm beliefs about how things ought to be.

    Like any child caught in a lie, Mr Bush can come clean, of push on with the falsehood, trying to fool as many people as he can. As Mr Lincoln advised thouugh, he can't fool all the people, all the time.

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  9. I can't help it; I just don't trust the motherfuckers.

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  10. I'll tell you what, the lie that is the Bush Administration is on display, on Univision TV, right now.

    You see, in Houston, this second, there are tens of thousands of Mexican nationals concregated at the Astrodome, watching Mexico play Panama, Copa Oro 2007.

    No need to round them up, they've done so, volunteerily.

    But no, not to be.
    They'll all continue their criminal activities, in the USA, tomorrow, regardless of US law or the Presidental lies that are told to the US public, about future enforcement, today.

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  11. Yup, tens of thousands of 'Mexican/Americans' sitting in the dome, cheering for the old country.

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  12. Americans documented in Mexico, bob.

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  13. "I just don't trust the motherfuckers."

    I think you might have yourself a bumper sticker there, rufus.

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  14. Coulter:
    No Drug Smuggler Left Behind


    Ramos was nominated for Border Patrol Agent of the Year in 2005.
    His nomination received a major setback when the Bush administration decided to put him in prison instead.
    Ramos and Compean are now serving more than 10 years apiece in solitary confinement for chasing a drug-running illegal alien back to Mexico.

    Intriguingly, Kanof also says: "The Border Patrol pursuit policy prohibits the pursuit of someone." (Hence, the oft-heard warning of the border agent in hot pursuit, "Stop or I'll ... do absolutely nothing!") Can we apply this rule to meter maids and tax collectors?

    But wait -- that's not all! The Border Patrol agents also exceeded the speed limit. "In order to exceed the speed limit," Kanof said, "you have to get supervisor approval, and they did not."

    Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez shot at the tires of a van full of illegal aliens, inadvertently wounding one of them. Sutton prosecuted Hernandez. The government proceeded to give the illegal aliens green cards and $100,000 each.

    Illegal aliens might want to rethink Bush's amnesty plan. The only Hispanics Bush seems to prosecute are the ones who are law-abiding U.S. citizens.

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  15. If no one cares or takes action against the fait accompli, why the concern about illegal immigration?

    If the legislation passes or does not pass, illegal immigration will continue.

    Immigration and the rhetoric enveloping it is therefore theater.

    Right?

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  17. Yep, unless real action is taken on the border. The rest is theater, a show without substance.

    Pass or fail, if the border is not secured against further infiltration/ migration, it's just another episode, the next act.

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  18. While Wal-Mart works the IBEC strategy in Mexico.

    The real back story.

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  19. Thank you.

    Therefore, whether the bill passes or does not pass is of no consequence.

    Why would the government enforce new laws when they have never enforced old ones.

    Maybe a war will close the border.

    Next.

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  20. If the undocumented Americans are allowed to remain in the United States, there will continue to be the "Silent Amnesty" of the status que.

    This is unacceptable.
    On that point I agree with Mr Bush.

    The remedy, that's where we disagree. Where we will continue to, as long as he continues to spread falsehoods and lies concerning the scope and cause of the challenge.

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  21. ""Everybody's trying to prove that they are willing and able to enforce the law this time, unlike 1986," "
    Kyl said,

    ...LATER, of course,
    Trust Us!

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  22. It is of some consequence in that it expands US Federal Government benefits to about 20 million new prospective "clients".

    Which is only fair, since the Federals have forced the States to extend benefits to the undocumented Americans, for years.

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  23. That border, elijah, is in the process of being erased, not fought over.

    Unification, not seperation is the trend, and the trends continue, unabated.

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  24. That image of the Houston Astrodome is really good. Really sticks out clearly. Think I'll use that in a letter to the editor. Here's how your govt enforces the laws...

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  25. Both tiers full of spectators, at least 30% of that audience was, most likely, without documents.

    That every person leaving, to avoid profiling charges, where not "carded" on the way out, illustrates the Government's lack of seriousness on the subject, while they promise improved future performance.

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  26. Sean Hannity says that Gaza is in the midst of "Civil War", but has steadfastly denied there was one in Iraq.

    Toeing the party line.
    Hypocrisy abounds on both sides of the divide

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  27. Anyone and anything can cross the border...

    Now, what was that wrote on this site awhile back...

    1
    "And death and mayhem are occurring where, here?"

    Yes. Numerous deaths attributed to illegals. Not to mention the economic costs.

    2
    "I can show where there is a breakdown of US Federal immigration authority, but it is not amongst our Muslim population, but the Hispanic/ Mexican."

    Agree on the latter part

    3
    "If the Federal power fails to protect the people, do not the people take it upon themselves?

    Is that not an inalienable right?
    To defend ones home, the markets and streets, from murder and mayhem?"

    Hmmm.

    Goodnight.

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  28. Letter is written, going to mail it now, going to Ohio tomorrow. Take care folks, and thanks for the good image, Rat.

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  29. Matters of perspective, scale and scope, elijah.

    There is still hope of a political solution that leads to law enforcement.

    Folks like Sheriff Joe, taking it to the streets, as they say. Mr Bush's Justices Department prosecutes Border Patrolmen.

    Perhaps the next President will obey and enforce the immigration and labor laws, maybe the law will be changed.

    The system is functioning, as it was designed. More or less.

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  30. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Most of Haiti's under-17 national soccer team apparently deserted the squad during an airport stopover hours before a planned Wednesday trip to South Korea to prepare for the upcoming U17 World Cup.

    By Wednesday afternoon, six of the 13 missing players had returned to the airport and turned themselves in to team officials, said Felix Augustin, the Haitian consul in New York. It was unclear where the youngsters had been and why they had left the team, he said.

    "All I know is that six of them have been retrieved and we're still looking for the others," he said by telephone.

    Most of the team's 18 players, all under age 17, had gone missing from John F. Kennedy International Airport between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Augustin said.

    Earlier, Augustin had said that officials were making calls to members of the Haitian community to try to get the children back.

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  31. The FBI is warning its agents to do more to protect Americans' personal data collected through so-called national security letters.

    The administrative subpoenas allow investigators to demand evidence, without court approval, in international terrorism and spy cases.

    The warning came in new FBI guidelines issued to correct abuses that were revealed in a Justice Department audit three months ago.


    Stronger Review

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