Posted on 04/16/2006 11:47:35 AM PDT by wagglebee
Newt Gingrich, the architect of the 1994 GOP Revolution, is warning that Republicans in Congress better "get their act together" and pass tough new laws against illegal immigration - or the Democrats will win back the House and Senate in November.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," the former House Speaker scorched his successors for a lack of performance across a whole range of issues, but zeroed in on what he called "the debacle two weeks ago on immigration."
"The [Senate's] McCain-Kennedy bill and the compromise that followed is so far from what the average American wants," Gingrich said, "that it raises the danger of Republican [voters] staying home."
The one-time top Republican noted that in poll after poll, the public has demanded tougher border security and reforms like a voter ID card, saying it would be easy to put Democrats on the defensive on the illegal immigration issue.
"I'd be perfectly happy for the Senate Republicans to bring up a border control bill and have Hillary and Schumer try to stop it," Gingrich told Fox.
"Sometimes incumbents forget that we were sent here to reform Washington, we were not sent here to be co-opted by Washington," he added. "For Republicans to succeed in '06 and '08 we need real change."
"The question for Republicans in the next 90 days is: Are they going to become the party of real change?" Gingrich said. "Are they going to learn some lessons and get their act together?"
"That's what people need to do, go somewhere else. I think right now they're catering to the Wall St. Journal/open borders crowd, who they probably figure is their main audience."
AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WE REWARD THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR PASSING THE VERY GOOD SENSENBRENNER BILL, HR 4377 THROUGH THE HOUSE?
Remember, if we only give negative reinforcement, there is only negative result.
" They'll find out soon enough who it really is when their ratings start hitting the floor."
Been there, done that.
"Republican [voters] staying home."
"Thus giving aid and comfort to America's enemies."
America has quite a few enemies in the US Senate.
indeed, the polls have been all over the place on this. so you have to ask the questions as a set - "what choices from A, B, & C do you support as a package". my own sense, the package that most americans would support:
- no felony provision, we aren't going to deport millions of people in "roundup" fashion. it would be chaos anyway, the courts, the appeals.
- no blanket amnesty, but some sensible choices. for example, anyone here illegally who has a US citizen child, gets on the path to citizenship. we aren't going to deport those people anyway, so giving that up as part of a deal means little.
- border security, a fence, drones, whatever.
- employer sanctions, and sanctions on landlords too. provide dis-incentives for many of these people to deport themselves.
- reform INS, we need a Porter Goss style cleanup there.
- set some goals for the new enforcement measures - only after we see them working, do we discuss expanding the number of green cards and/or a guest worker plan. the sticks need to come before the carrots in this compromise.
will this happen? I doubt it.
For the life of me, I do not understand the logic of 'seal-the-borders' type Republicans handing a victory to the pro-amnesty Democrats over the immigration issue.
We have seen it very clear, front and center ... I saw Rep Jim Moran, Ted Kennedy, et al, promising amnesty in one of the amnesty-for-illegal-aliens rally. It was on C-SPAN.
That outcome is possible and certainly worse than doing nothing.
"Threats of what Dems will do in office is meaingless because, basically, there are a lot of people like myself that have some doubts that the Reps would do anything much differently."
Well, the ill-informed have an excuse -they dont know better. But anyone paying attention sees a big difference.
"I have some advice for the Republicans in Congress. Stop talking. Start acting. Do something substantive to repair damage you've made on a key issue to this base. Do that as an act of Faith, and you'll be rewarded in kind."
Really? What reward will you give the House Republicans for passing the seal-the-borders, law-and-order-on-immigration sensennbrenner bill?
It's as though they are deliberately and knowingly subverting our laws and destroying our borders.
The way this is playing out, it wouldn't surprise me to see Vicente Fox on the ticket to head up the western hemisphere nation of states in '08. ;
Another assumption I am fighting on this very thread: That the GOP is not doing what the conservative base wants ...
Look at HR 4377, passed by the House!
They actually HEAR America's majority.
That post to AC was in reference to Fox News and their biased reporting.
But you get to only vote for or against 3 of them.
So many have said this so often - only to be flamed, followed, and flamed some more by the bots. I think the bots are really DU trolls.
It may be 'Buh Bye, American Pie.'
'Now where did I put that 'Plan B' folder . . .'
Seal the border then enforce the laws we have.
Exactly... It has only been 5 years, people need to slow down, and assume that W and the GOP will do the right thing. give them more time. /sarcasm
I agree... It's just that we all know that if we give what is in effect amnesty with a promise to close the border later that they will never get around to closing the border. So close the damn border first.
I got news for you. I live in a suburb outside of Los Angeles. there are at least 12 million of these guys here in So.Ca. alone. BELIEVE IT. The 12 mil has been the magic number used since 1980's. Thousands come here in one year. Add that times 20+ years...
20 mil is a conservative estimate. Even Vincent Fox has stated more than 10% of Mexico's population is residing here...
worst case - the status quo.
the republican congress then goes to the voters and tells them the truth (a novel concept):
there isn't a political consensus amongst the current administration and congress to get a compromise bill passed, but we stopped the amnesty. here are the immigration issues, there are 2 national elections in the next 2 years - here is where we stand - vote, elect and empower whom you want to change this system.
"Newt is simply assuming that just because the GOP is doing a bad job of it, people are going to automatically assume that the Dems are going to do a good job of it."
"BAD ASSUMPTION."
The bad assumption is assuming conservatives are even going to vote since the GOP refuses to listen to them.
"I don't think its 20 million I don't think it even 12 million I think it is lower and the MSM is blowing up the numbers to try to say it's so big we can't possible do it. It a misinformation campaign."
Where the hell do you live? There's almost that many here in Texas, and we're 'bout to get fed up.
For the Life of me...I fail to understand why someone that obviously does NOT read and comprehend postings would reply to me and expect to be taken seriously. I believe I stated quite clearly I am NOT a Republican. I hate to break you from your scheduled dialogue but, really, try to get the basics right.
Further I wonder if your intent is to rebut with practiced rhetoric, or to persuade people to vote for the GOP this fall. Because IF your intent is to persuade people to vote for them, being quick with condescension towards those that do NOT agree with you isn't the way to go about it.
As for myself, I have no intent to convince people one way or the other what to do with their vote this fall so I could care less about helping you to understand my position. I don't think you even want to.
If you were interested in doing so you'd have been able to comprehend it's not 'all borders or else' with me. I stated that quite clearly as well. I stated major issues on which they have broken with us time and again the last two years as having a cumulative effect. I also stated the ONE thing they came through on lately was Alito and Roberts, but ONLY after conservatives led a revolt. The main thrust of my post wasn't even about the borders, it was about the fact I do not TRUST Republicans have any INTENT to honor our wishes nor their campaign promises. Yet predictably you assign me the category of a one issue "unappeaseable". So be it. Couldn't give a damn. Waste your time with someone that does.
Really? What reward will you give the House Republicans for passing the seal-the-borders, law-and-order-on-immigration sensennbrenner bill?
Depends on whether they passed it because they never expected the Senate to do so and they'd get credit with their constituents, or whether it's a trustworthy proposition. One they will hold firm to.
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