That was a great idea for a press conference prop, Trteamer. Mr. Trooprally brought his post hole digger and a 4x4, per your suggestion:
Posted on 06/02/2007 3:56:35 PM PDT by kristinn
The D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com invites all FReepers and lurkers in good standing to join us this Monday morning as we freep the Republican party over their leadership's support of the amnesty bill and their failure to support securing our borders first.
We will also be announcing the results of the FR poll on support for the GOP if the amnesty bill passes into law.
When: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, June 4, 2007
Where: Republican National Committee headquarters, 310 First St., SE, Washington, D.C.
Bring: American flags and signs calling for border security first and no amnesty for illegal aliens. D.C. Chapter made signs will be available for use.
As always, the D.C. Chapter's rules for protesting will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect. We reserve the right to refuse participation by anyone who refuses to abide by these rules.
Yields floor to Sen. Ken Salazar, (D-CO).
Begins arguing “this is an issue of National Security”, emphasizes need to secure the borders, and claims that this legislation does that. Speaking in general enough terms to blow off specific challenges to the legislation at-hand.
CURRENT BILL STATUS:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01348:
Links on this page to text of legislation, amendments, CBO cost estimates, etc.
Now, back to Kyl (R-AZ), who begins by pooh-poohing Dorgan’s insistence that border security must be primary to any workable illegal immigration solution.
Purporting that ICE and BP are getting alot more effective. Of course, when there’s more to do, and not more co-workers to help do it, yeah, you’ve got no choice but to get more efficient. Whatta dupe!
Now enumerating environmental impact of illegal immigration. Building the case to “do something about this problem”, as if just “doing something” will be a solution, even if nobody likes it.
Now addressing, “Why do you think a new law will be enforced if the existing law isn’t being enforced??”
Kyl bringing you and I to the floor. Explaining that we’re pissed because we’ve been let down by a government that has almost completely failed to enforce the border for twenty years.
Highlighting “triggers” in the current bill:
— Increase members of BP by 20K BEFORE any visa will be issued to any illegal immigrant. Notes that 20K is half of NYPD.
— 275mi of border fence completed BEFORE any new visa is issued.
— 300mi vehicle barriers BEFORE any new Z-visa is issued.
— 70+ new radar stations on-line BEFORE any new visa is issued.
— 4 UAV’s in operation BEFORE any visa is issued.
— 26K detention spaces to eliminate “catch and release” BEFORE any new visa is issued.
— NEVS (New Employee Verification System) will be implemented BEFORE any new visa is issued. NOTES that burden of verification will be on govt. not the employers.
Now asking, “If you’re not happy with the status quo, why would you oppoase a change?” As if just any old change would suffice, implying that this bill is an improvement over the status quo.
Sen. Sessions now on, debunking the legislation.
I have to go out soon to visit my dad in a nursing home..
Free Republic has wonderful tag teams!!
Thank-you for your help in keeping this thread viable :)
Ah, you’re welcome.
Sen. Domenici (R-NM) now on decrying opposition to this bill saying, when you oppose this,” you’re telling us to do nothing.” As if nobody calling Washington might possibly have a better idea. Domenici asserting this legislation has alot of good things about it, and leaning on the “it’s much better than what we’ve got now” agrument.
Of course, he also includes the obligatory “if we keep up with the enforcement measures in this bill”, which is the primary beef we’ve had for twenty years, and the one thing we want to see taken care of FIRST.
Now, at bat, Sen Salazar (D-CO)
Trying to refute the “it’s amnesty” charge.
Claiming that the probationary status provided for in the bill is not “amnesty”, because of the hurdles put in place by the legislation.
Illegalse Have to reveal themselves and register.
Have to pay a fine. ~$2500
Have to go through probationary period ~8 years.
$1500 for z-visa
$1500 for visa renewal
After 8 years, more money for Green Card — all told it amounts to ~$7500 - $8000 per person.
Contends “that’s not ‘amnesty’”.
Now ripping poor record of border enforcement and claiming that this bill will remedy that situation.
Enumerating stereotypical jobs held by illegals, noting their subjection to exploitation, advocating that this legislation would end that situation and bring those people into a position wherein they could no longer be exploited.
[breaking out the violins] Highlighting the moral issues at the heart of this debate, the human cost among illegal immigrants; making an appeal on behalf of those who die trying to get to freedom.
Kyl now back giving his molar massage to Sen. Salazar’s plea to the humanitarian dimension of illegal immigration.
Shifts gears to discuss “respect for law” in our society. Forming an argument that the regard for the rule of law has eben substantively eroded because the government has failed to enforce immigration law in a consistent and just fashion.
Asserts that this legislation would change the law in such a way that it would actually become enforceable. “The law today is very very difficult to enforce, and as a result we’ve got to change it.”
Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) now getting emotional about having his “family reunification” amendment characterized as a “killer amendment”. REALLY does want to see comprehensive immigration reform and has REALLY wroked hard for it, has “fervent hope, FERVENT hope” [ooooh, that must be twice as nice] that this can be done.
Now trying to make something of the differences between how we view/handle the northern v. southern borders.
Outlining how his amendment makes sure that legal residents who’ve “played by the rules” would not have their ability to bring the members of their immediate family to this country.
Reallly taking up the cause of ensuring that the values system implemented by any immigration bill recognizes the preservation of the nuclear family as a significant element.
Wants to get some kind of “point” value for families integrated into the “100 Point” system in the current legislation. Notes that, under the current legislation, the parents of Colin Powell could not have come to this country, nor would Gen. Petraeus’ parents have been able to come to America, nor would the parents of Jonas Salk, or Thomas Edison, or Bob Hope.
REPEATS TIRED CLAIM: “Amnsety is somethin fer nothin. This isn’t somethin fer nothin.”
Sen. Salazar now wrapping the session.
A couple of procedural items...
Sen Salazar relating his family history in the southwest from 1598 on. Enumerating military service of various family members...
Noting the flood of email and phone calls the legislation has generated. Making a case to get the legislation passed in spite of the outcry. Repeats characterization that the outcry — you and I expressing our objections — is, really, us advocating that the Senate do nothing; that somehow our outcry is a sidestepping of the illegal immigration issue.
Repeating generalizations as to the importance of the issues this legislation addressed.
Procedural items...
Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am, June 5th.
That was a great idea for a press conference prop, Trteamer. Mr. Trooprally brought his post hole digger and a 4x4, per your suggestion:
Trueblackman, Kristinn, (Mr.) Trooprally, Doctor Raoul, outside the RNC.
Awesome Pics! Great job!
There’s a famous anecdote from Eisenhower, during a Cabinet meeting to one of the secretaries who was always trying to stick his nose into areas outside his responsibility: “Don’t just do something… STAND THERE!
Perfectly appropriate in this case.
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