I could go along with enforcing our current law but I would support illegal entry being bumped up to a felony, along with the same label being assigned to those that knowingly hire illegals.
I agree totally that we need to remove the choice of inaction from them. Wether that pertains to reforms in the law and to enforcment of old laws or a new one. They are all there to take a stand and it is time they do so openly for all to see what exactly they stand for and against.
There are improvements that could be made to the old law, agreed, just as there are improvements that could be made to applications for VISA's.
The key here really is willingness to enforce our laws. Without that anything else is dead as far as acceptance coming from the American people. Our representatives have a chance to prove they will do so by enforcing what we've got first, and they don't even have to wait until they get 60 that will agree and not filibuster legislation.
It really is the practical solution for now to dealing with this problem. It gives Republicans credibility on the borders, it begins to get the problem under control, avoids making it worse, and can be implemented immediately.
The fact they aren't enforcing those laws is living testimony that the current bills are not serious. Only a means to amnesty.
And, yeah. In past elections we've had campaigns about Character (post-Clinton/Gore/Bush 2000), WOT, Iraq, Judges, Taxes etc...D.C. isn't going to want to make this campaign about immigration. Dems want a "Culture of corruption", Reps want to run on the old platform they've let largely drop once they were elected. I don't see why D.C. pols should set the table of issues to discuss this fall when its clear the American people have made this their premier issue for '06. At campaign events, make them take a stand. Ask questions. The base needs to force it of both Dems and Reps running in their areas for election.