[William Terrell]

You're absolutely right. The word "amnesty" is not found anywhere in the proposal. The authors thereof have, however, been heard to say,"Raining? It's not raining. That's just water falling from the sky.

[Luis Gonzalez]

am·nes·ty
(click to hear the word) (mn-st)
n. pl. am·nes·ties

A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses.

par·don
(click to hear the word) (pärdn)
tr.v. par·doned, par·don·ing, par·dons

1. To release (a person) from punishment; exempt from penalty: a convicted criminal who was pardoned by the governor.
2. To let (an offense) pass without punishment.

Words have meaning, which is why you consider it so important to distort the Bush plan.

There is no amnesty, because there is no pardon.

There is however, a change in the penalty attached with being in the country illegally.

A change, not an amnesty, because for it to be an amnesty, there would have to be no fines imposed.

Bush proposes a fine for the act of being in the country illegally, and further, a change in the mechanics used to obtain legal status after the fact while remaining in the country. The old way was to leave the US, and apply from your country of origin, the proposed change would eliminate the need to return home to petition for legal status.

If the law is changed in regards to murder, capital punishment outlawed and replaced with life in prison, that would never be considered an amnesty.

Keep spinning, maybe Kerry will address the issue more to your satisfaction.