Well, we certainly won't agree on amnesty, regardless of when it is addressed. IMO it is morally wrong to allow them to cut in front of those who are attempting to get here legally, it is morally wrong to reward the breaking of our immigration laws with citizenship, and it is morally wrong not to punish them for having entered illegally and going on to commit crimes while here, and it is morally reprehensible that they should think they are in a position to make DEMANDS, assemble in numbers that risk our national security, threaten to shut down our country, and use a show of force to intimidate our lawmakers.
Given that, for the sake of 'morality', I am still willing to make a compromise, and I'm not even catholic! No jail time in exchange for immediate deportation.
" Putting up a fence stops the flow." "DELAY discussion of amnesty until NEXT year or afterward, but get the Fence approved THIS year and start building it."
Trying to separate the two issues changes the outcome of neither! I've looked through hundreds and hundreds of photos of the protests all across the country. Not once did I see a sign that said "Protect the Border, Build a Fence", nor did I see any that said "Willing to Earn Amnesty". In fact, quite the opposite. I've seen signs demanding legalization, demanding open borders, and Revolucion!
I do not believe that Bush and reps on the wrong side of this issue, catholics, unions, Lib Lawmakers, the illegal immigrants or those who support them are going to support the building of a fence, wall, etc. If Bush was serious about border security, we wouldn't be discussing the lack of it, post 9/11, in 2006.
Let me ask you, then:
(1) Are you going to vote for the Republicans this November, even if they either do nothing and leave the status quo open border, or if they offer an amnesty and a fence? Yes or no?
(2) Will you vote for them if they vote to put up the fence, allocate funds and start doing it, without agreeing to an amnesty? Yes or no?
Those are the only three options likely to happen:
paralysis and status quo open border;
a fence and amnesty;
or just a fence.
Will you vote for the Republicans if they do any of those three things?