[goalinestan]

Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?

Am I just incredibly stupid and missing something here?

[mnehring]

Can someone post the details of the bill so we can actually see what was voted on and not just a title.. for all we know, there was some bad wording in the bill or a rider that made it useless or bad.

[llevrok]

Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?

There wasn't enough pork in the bill is why (obvious sarc - or not)

[Wonder Warthog]

"Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?"

Looks like pretty much the "standard bunch of RINOS".

[colorado tanker]

Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?

They agree with the President and disagree with you? Just a guess.

[leprechaun9]

You must understand that the majority in Congress (either house) is decided by LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE division and NOT REPUBLUICAN/DEMOCRAP!

[Iron Eagle]

"Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?"

Because no single action will stop the influx of illegals. A plan must be comprehensive. On that, Bush was correct. Contrary to the belief of many -- the Borders cannot be realistically secured through enforcement or a wall -- at least not quickly and not at realistic costs. (We couldn't keep terrorists from entering or leaving Falluja and it was surrounded by the U.S. Marines in open desert)

The only way to secure the borders, is to make people not want to come here. That includes a series of serious proposals attacking incentives. (Bush, of course, had none.)

The best way to stop the influx and to actually encourage the return of illegals is through proper incentives and disincentives. No more birthright citizenship. No more preference to parents of anchor babies. No more health care to illegal immigrants --- even on an emergency basis. Most importantly, no more free k-12 education for illegals or the children of illegals. Finally, massive increases in fines for hiring illegals -- which you could use current border patrols to help investigate instead of sitting in the desert chasing shadows. (Companies that hire illegals should have their officers and directors held personally liable for all fines -- that will end the hiring practice)

Together with these reforms, we need to streamline the legal process for entry so that wait list for entry is not 9-15 years as it is in some cases. (Current law allows only 5,000 entrants for low skilled jobs. Almost 1,000,000 lawful immigrants are permitted in this country each year -- and more than 600k come in illegally.

Finally -- and this I think would be met with great U.S. support -- we need to penalize sending countries. I propose foreign aid reductions on a per-deportee basis. By charging Mexico 1-2 million dollars per apprehended illegal alien, we will shift the burden and cost of border enforcement to Mexico. (If illegal immigration were a financial loser for Mexico, it would stop the silent invasion -- probably by force.)
Of course, what do I know. I have only been on the front lines of this battle for 14 years -- talking writing, advising, and litigating the issue before virtualy any other national attention. I drafted the legal strategy for a pending action that will make news any day out of Virginia.
What you are witnessing on capital hill and from the white house is a sell-out. The only question is, how badly will legal immigrants and lawful residents get screwed.

[pleikumud]

I'm glad the bill was defeated, because it was not a comprehensive solution. We don't need several new laws, we need comprehensive legislation, as Bush said last night. Of course, the media and some Democrats want to make it sound as if Republicans are against tough border security, which is nonsense.

[Sender]

I imagine part of it has to do with not losing the Hispanic vote.

[kittymyrib]

Brownback and Lugar are in the pocket of ADM and Cargill, the agribusiness giants that pull their strings through campaign contributions. Other pro-illegal votes come from those in bed with the meatpackers and carpet/textile makers in the mid-west and south.

[oldbrowser]

Seriously, is there anyone who can rationally explain why these R's voted like this?

If you start picking the original bill apart, it will degenerate into a food fight.

This bill is crafted in such a way to achieve a majority of votes. There is a little something for the left, the right, and the middle.

If you start cutting out sections you risk losing your majority.

The ultimate goal is to control our borders, so trade offs need to be made.