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Red-state senators feel the heat of a fiery immigration debate
The Christian Science Monitor ^ | June 4, 2007 | Patrik Jonsson and Faye Bowers

Posted on 06/03/2007 4:19:42 PM PDT by mdittmar

GREENVILLE, S.C., and PHOENIX - In South Carolina last week during the congressional break, Sen. Lindsey Graham generally avoided crowds. Likewise Sen. Jon Kyl, back home in Arizona, scheduled no public appearances, instead huddling with party officials in Phoenix.

It could not have been an easy week for the two GOP senators, key brokers of the compromise immigration-reform bill that has infuriated so many of their red-state constituents. How well they and other senators in the hot seat endured the heat may become clear when the Senate resumes debate on the bill this week – and whether the amendments to come are designed mainly to alter it or, rather, to kill it.

The week at home made one thing evident: Senators who back this measure, especially Republicans, are taking a calculated risk.

To some, they are traitors and sellouts, offering "amnesty" to illegal immigrants who broke the law by crossing into the US. Angry constituents promise repercussions at the ballot box, and political analysts say those are not empty threats.

"Among a lot of Republicans, there's been intensely negative reaction directed against the Republican senators who have been involved with [the bill]," says Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta and coauthor of the book "Divided America." Though the Republican senators "are saying that they're actually responsible for most of the conservative parts of the bill, they're not seen that way by their supporters."

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; civilwar2; illegalaliens
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To: Prokopton

I knew you were being sarcastic, but we have so many members....


61 posted on 06/03/2007 6:27:09 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Illegals: representation without taxation--Citizens: taxation without representation)
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To: KeyLargo

Same here in Washington, the State.....we have Murray and Cantwell....


62 posted on 06/03/2007 6:27:43 PM PDT by goodnesswins (We need to cure Academentia)
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To: Wolverine
>>Well, according to a former Daschle aide, Graham was quick to work with Daschle and the minority on a number of issues. After one such meeting, Graham emerged from Daschle's office, walked to the door, turned around, and proclaimed loudly for the Daschle's entire staff to hear: "Republican by day, Democrat by night."<<

"He needs a long spoon who sups with the Devil."


63 posted on 06/03/2007 6:37:10 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Illegals: representation without taxation--Citizens: taxation without representation)
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To: driftdiver

Mexico—108 million.

We may have 12 million illegals. They become legal and with chain importation a right, they all import 8 relatives. 12 mil X 8 = 96,000,000. Mexico will have a population of 12 mil—the no. that the US has now. It will still be enough for the handful of elites to have servants.

vaudine


64 posted on 06/03/2007 6:49:47 PM PDT by vaudine
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To: mdmathis6

It’s not just Mexico, its all of South America, China, the middle east (of all places), Asia, etc.


65 posted on 06/03/2007 6:57:43 PM PDT by Stayfree (*************************Get your copy of The Fred Factor by David Gill at Capitol Hill Comedy.com)
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To: toddlintown

This is what I got from him when I wrote to his office about his “troops are wasting thier life” comment...

BEGIN QUOTE
Thank you for writing to share your concerns regarding my comments on February 12, 2007, regarding the loss of American life in Iraq. I appreciate knowing your perspective.

As you may know, I have apologized for my comments and have explained that I do not, in fact, consider the courageous sacrifices of our servicemen and women a waste. What I do believe is that these sacrifices have not been honored appropriately by our civilian leadership in the Administration, which has yet to offer a reasonable, comprehensive strategy for improving the situation in Iraq.
The American servicemen and women I have met with inside and outside of Iraq are good people. I believe in them. I know they want to keep America secure and bring democracy to Iraq, and that they care deeply about their honor and America’s honor. They deserve our utmost respect and gratitude for fighting for our country, and we must not undermine their ability to do their jobs in Iraq or ignore their needs when they return home to the United States.

In January I offered a plan (S. 433, The Iraq War De-Escalation Act) that would responsibly end this war. The United States military should exit Iraq as quickly as possible, but we should not do so in a way that leaves a security vacuum filled with terrorism, chaos, ethnic cleansing and genocide that could engulf large swaths of the Middle East and endanger America. We have both moral and national security reasons to manage our exit carefully, and my plan takes both into consideration.
Again, thank you for contacting my office. I will be sure to keep your views in mind as I consider relevant issues in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama United States Senator
END QUOTE

So i wrote back:

I received your pro-forma response to a message I sent MONTHS AGO:

“In January I offered a plan (S. 433, The Iraq War De-Escalation Act) that would responsibly end this war. “

Responsibly end the war? Hello.. did you people consult with the people we are at war with?

It’s obvious you know nothing about the goals and ideology of the Islamic forces we’re fighting against.

Do I need to be the one to tell you people that Al Qaida will view any withdrawel as validation of thier religious conviction that our neutralization is inevitable and that the time in history has come for the establishment of Allah’s global caliphate?

Do you understand the implications if they come to accept that? What are you people doing there? Why do I know this and you apparently dont. I guess the Senator is too busy running for President and lecturing the Senators of other States.

You people are disgusting.. you are not defending us. You are promoting our own destruction.
Please, do not insult me with pro-forma responses.. either respond with thought or not at all.


66 posted on 06/03/2007 6:57:48 PM PDT by pacelvi
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To: Dante3

Please help spread the word to your friends, relatives and coworkers, anyone who can stop this monstrosity.


67 posted on 06/03/2007 6:58:47 PM PDT by Stayfree (*************************Get your copy of The Fred Factor by David Gill at Capitol Hill Comedy.com)
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To: vaudine

In reality the region from which the latino illegals are coming extends from Mexico all the way through Guatamala, Honduras, Nicaragua, etc. down as far as Bolivia and Peru.


68 posted on 06/03/2007 7:00:06 PM PDT by SirJohnBarleycorn
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To: Liz
Liz
Where did you get that, it is so perfect to broadcast over the entire net tonight, fire up the coffee pot
69 posted on 06/03/2007 7:00:28 PM PDT by Stayfree (*************************Get your copy of The Fred Factor by David Gill at Capitol Hill Comedy.com)
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To: arderkrag
Actually, it could be good - maybe the incumbents will lose their seats and real conservatives will be elected.

In my personal life...I'm an optimist, but if what you are hoping happens....I will walk naked thru the nearest tick and chigger infested forest, and film it.

70 posted on 06/03/2007 7:01:21 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Political Correctness...is Intellectual Fascism)
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To: mdittmar

These craven rats are cpwering in their dans.

If the voting public forgets this treason in the next primaries, we deserve what we get.

We should be picketing these wretches offices!!!


71 posted on 06/03/2007 7:02:18 PM PDT by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
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To: snarkpup
I still haven't seen an adequate explanation of how the usual motivations like graft and corruption would suddenly motivate nearly an entire political party to voluntarily "throw the game"

I too remain unclear on motivation(s). Also peculiar is the "attack the questioner/supporter" with absolutely zero substance to any answer at all.

They're not telling us something very important. Whatever it is, it must be really bad to "throw the game" away.

Nevertheless, these punks will not have a job next time. And I hasten to warn the forum what will likely take place should this come to pass. There is sure to be lots of violence... possibilities of citizen vs LEOs (Tiananmen Square?)

When it becomes clear that the US is not going to be protected, that your property is not going to be protected, that your kids' school is not going to be protected, that your neighborhood is not going to be protected, people will take matters into their own hands.

Got passports? I do.

72 posted on 06/03/2007 7:13:35 PM PDT by Principled
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

bump.


73 posted on 06/03/2007 7:16:21 PM PDT by khnyny
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To: mdittmar

A politician’s worst enemy-an informed public.

NO AMNESTY!!


74 posted on 06/03/2007 7:43:35 PM PDT by getarope (The Gonzo Conservative Party! Elect Hunter/Thompson in 2008!)
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To: Principled

Just to remind you that the American revolution was fought and supported by less than 10% of the population.

I strongly urge you and everyone to fight on the side of the Declaration of Independence & the Constitution. The forces of moochers and looters are great in number luckily though they’ve been sheepled long ago. They are afraid of guns, making them easily controlled by looters and gangs of thugs but a well regulated militia can defeat the thugs and pacify the parasites.

I don’t want She who Shall Not be named to move in and take the credit for putting down the rebellions riots and revolts that are sure to follow.

If the representitives of this republic refuse to listen to the demands of those they represent then they must be overthrown. That is our duty.


75 posted on 06/03/2007 7:53:40 PM PDT by Otaku6
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To: toddlintown
“Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border.

Not 62 years ago we fought a war on two different halves of the world at the same time. We mobilized millions of men women and material to crush those who stood against us.

Now we face an invasion of those who would be here illegaly and all we get by both dems and repubs is that "It's too hard... We can't do it..."

Pansy a$$es one and all who hold this arguement.

I'm so sick of those who would lead us selling us out and giving up.

I'm starting to feel hopeless about my form of government as a representation of it's people. Rather it has become a representation of the highest bidder and whatever it takes to keep ones office.

I say throw the entire lot of them out. Good and bad. Start over with the same document, the constitution only this time give ALL politions a manditory two term limit. Otherwise they will just become more and more corrupt to the point where they are now. They no longer represent us as AMERICANS. They only represent themselves

I'm tired of it. I really am.

Sorry for my rant.

76 posted on 06/03/2007 8:04:20 PM PDT by bayliving (Democrats (and now President Bush) used to be funny. Now they're just dangerous.)
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To: snarkpup
Amusing. But actually, they'd say "it's just about sex" and go merrily onward. Men who do not blink at treason are unlikely to stick at publicity.
77 posted on 06/03/2007 8:08:04 PM PDT by JasonC
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To: mdmathis6

The Population Reference Bureau has Mexico at 108 million. Interestingly, their total fertility rate has dropped since NAFTA. In 1990, it was 3.5. The 2006 World Population Data Sheet has it at 2.4. At this increasing rate of decline, Mexico may drop below replacement rate fairly soon.


78 posted on 06/03/2007 9:13:37 PM PDT by LenS
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To: mdittmar
Hiding from their constituents, doesn’t that just typify the Republican Party. They work for big business and lick the hand of the liberal establishment, their voters are just marks to be exploited.
79 posted on 06/03/2007 9:14:54 PM PDT by jordan8
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To: driftdiver
300 million new neighbors? The credible numbers I’ve heard are around 20-25 million. The population of the US is between 300-400 million. the CIA sources put Mexico’s population at 108 million.

Oh, you think the only illegal aliens are mexicans? What gave you that idea? There are many illegals here that are NOT mexican and you can look for a whole sh** load of news ones claiming they have been here long enough for amnesty. They are already making a rush on the border to get in before this bill is signed. The only people who have made this a Mexican only debate are the ones who want open borders and want to paint those of us who are against open borders as racist.

300 million may or may not be an unrealistic number, at this point it is hard to say, however I would like to NOT risk it being accurate.

80 posted on 06/04/2007 3:55:27 AM PDT by calex59
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