Obama, McCain to huddle on immigration strategy and other issues

The Hill ^ | November 7, 2013 | Alexander Bolton with Justin Sink

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will meet with President Obama at the White House Thursday afternoon to plot strategy for passing comprehensive immigration reform.

McCain said Obama requested the meeting, which comes at a time political momentum for immigration reform is flagging.

McCain and Obama need to shore up the support of wavering allies such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has backed off the push to overhaul the nation's immigration laws in a 1,200-page comprehensive bill.

Rubio has said the Senate should not try to merge its comprehensive bill with a piecemeal measure coming out of the House.

McCain's ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), has predicted there will be more Republican support for immigration reform after the filing deadlines for Republican primaries in 2014.

Graham, who is facing his own primary threat in South Carolina, said he will not attend Thursday's meeting between McCain and Obama. A White House official confirmed the president's meeting with McCain would occur at 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, but stressed the two would "discuss a broad range of issues" — not just immigration.

[rod1]

Good grief

[C210N]

minds essentially in the same republicrat party, getting together to plot

[clintonh8r]

Fortunately everybody (except the Kenyan and Arizona voters, apparently) knows McCain is a joke and has no credibility.

[almcbean]

Anyone else have the suspicion that if the Senate goes 51-49 GOP in 2014 that McCain will switch parties?

[Sarah Barracuda]

Oh how adorable..a Golden Girls moment..group hug..where is Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty to join in the fun

[GeorgeTex]

That’s called pulling a Jeffords.

[bkopto]

They don’t call him Juan MexiCain for nothing.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Jan 2011: "Arizona - The old John McCain was back Sunday, writing a gallant tribute to President Obama - and delivering a veiled rebuke to former running mate Sarah Palin.

The Arizona senator who ran against Obama and was clearly deeply embittered by his loss, praised the President’s call in Arizona for greater civility as a “terrific speech.”

Obama, he said, “comforted and inspired the country.”

“We should be mindful as we argue about our differences that so much more unites than divides us,” McCain wrote in The Washington Post.

“Our political discourse should be more civil than it currently is, and we all, myself included, bear some responsibility for it not being so.”

Taking on those heated voices from the Tea Party fringes who call Obama a Nazi, a usurper, or an outright agent of evil, McCain wrote:

“I disagree with many of the President’s policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country’s cause.

“I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals,” he wrote.

That stands in stark contrast to Palin, who has called Obama’s policies “un-American” and just last week accused him of being “hellbent on weakening America.”

McCain offered some support to Palin, whose gun-happy political rhetoric was blamed by some for the Tucson massacre by a lone nut with no clear political agenda.

“Imagine how it must feel to have watched one week ago the incomprehensible massacre of innocents…and to have heard in the coverage of that tragedy voices accusing you of complicity in it,” he wrote.

But then McCain appeared to chide Palin’s defensive response, in which she rejected calls to tone down the political vitriol as attempts to “muzzle dissent.”

McCain wrote: “It is not beyond us to do better; to behave more modestly and courteously and respectfully toward one another.”

Influential Washington Post columnist Dan Balz said the column should be the beginning of a thaw between McCain and Obama, who have been wary adversaries since 2008.

“Not since his gracious concession speech on the night of the election has McCain spoken so generously of his rival,” Balz wrote. “Obama should not let the opportunity pass to reach out to McCain in return.”

John McCain Praises Obama, Subtly Jabs Sarah Palin

[Black Agnes]

Nah, he’s too useful to the dims as a pubbie. He saw what happened when Specter stopped playing hard to get and made it official.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Thank you McCain! Trying to push immigration through so that THE POWER will never again be taken from the Democrat-Republicans. How nice.

BTW, does anyone know if a book was ever written explaining in detail just how McCain was able to garner the nomination at a time when his political career was floundering so bad?

[areukiddingme1]

Damit! Enforce the laws!!! Stop F’n around and uphold the oath that you all swore to uphold...Be an American first!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDoYsBAyFb0

[Paine in the Neck]

"Six, two and even, they're selling you out, kid"

[SecondAmendment]

> Anyone else have the suspicion that if the Senate goes 51-49 GOP in 2014 that McCain will switch parties?

It would only be relevant if McConnel gets booted in the primaries.

[Eagle of Liberty]

1,200-page comprehensive bill.

NO MORE "COMPREHENSIVE" BILLS!!

[Moonman62]

I despise the ruling class.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The sad thing about this is that the average Low-Information Voter will think:

“How nice: two former rivals are putting aside their differences to get something accomplished.”

We, however, realize it’s just two treasonous progressive pols getting together to screw the American people.

[woweeitsme]

Comprehensive = Hidden Goodies for Scumbag Politicians

[556x45]

Clearly the voters of AZ dont...

[TigersEye]

Oh, good, the turncoat pays a booty call to the usurper.