Posted on 06/11/2007 6:02:50 PM PDT by Shermy
For the first time in five years, President Bush will attend the Senate Republicans' weekly policy lunch today as he pushes to revive his moribund overhaul of the nation's immigration laws.
But even before he set foot in the Capitol, several Republican senators issued a terse warning yesterday: Don't expect much.
In the days after the sweeping compromise on immigration collapsed on Thursday, opposition, if anything, appears to have hardened among some senators who had once been willing to consider the deal. The bill's vociferous critics have also had a long weekend to throw dirt on its grave.
....
Republicans who have been somewhat more supportive say Bush's renewed effort is not likely to change any positions.
"We're pleased to have the president up here, but it's no secret to us that he would like the bill to pass," cautioned Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). "Most senators have pretty well made up their minds."
"We respect the president, and I will listen carefully to him," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.). "But we all have our own minds on this subject."
The rescue mission that Bush is embarking on may well be too little, too late. Reid said yesterday that he is willing to bring the immigration bill back to the Senate floor after passage of a major energy bill, probably late next week. But he wants an agreement to limit the amendments to be considered and the time for debate, which would take unanimous consent. A single senator could thwart that demand, and Sessions suggested that opponents of the bill are not about to agree to those conditions, no matter how hard Bush pushes.
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(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It's beginning to look like a pretty ragged GOP. And I think Rudy likes it that way. He could win without the majority vote, just the wins. Too many people in the field, need to do some weeding, starting with McPain.
Dear Mr. Bush,
Are there any laws against us beefing up security on the border?
If not, why don’t we add far more security on the border now, instead of waiting for a new law?
If we already have a law allowing the construction of 870 miles of fencing, why do we need to wait on a comprehensive new law to build it?
I see there have been a few more high profile employer raids lately. Is there some reason we can’t have a whole bunch more sooner rather than later?
Since we already have a path for legal immigration and a guestworker program, why can’t we just expand these without having a new comprehensive new program?
Is there some other reasons why we don’t do more border security and interior enforcement now?
Given all the above, why should we believe that a new law will be enforced when the old ones were nearly completely ignored?
Or, could it be that you know that if we legalize the existing 20 million illegals and allow them to bring in another 20-40 million family members, it won’t matter what happens because your major goal will be achieved?
What does it mean for our Republic, when the President of the United States, having taken an Oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend’ the Constitution of the United States, fails to secure our borders, allowing illegal immigrants, potential terrorists, criminals and misfits to flood into our once-sovereign Nation, and that same President, after much hemming and hawing, embraces a Senate bill authored by the lying, treasonous Fat Teddy Kennedy, that provides AMNESTY for anywhere from 10 to 20+ million of those illegals?
I’ll tell you what it means for our Republic:
It means The End if such perfidy is not stopped.
Guess explaining to the 70% of Americans why he called them unpatriotic racists isn't on tap, but dealing with the people that tried to sell our citizenship for a lousy $5000 is.
"I, frankly, find it interesting that a so-called important subject they need to get to would be to pass a political resolution on my attorney general that's going to have no bearing on whether he serves in office or not," Bush said. But Sessions counseled the president to give the issue a rest. "Let this thing cool down and come up with a real enforceable system that will reduce illegality," he said. "I don't see any groundswell for this to come back up."
George W. Bush would be a better man, a better President, and assuredly better politician if he spent less time with Kennedy and more time with Senator Sessions.
It also means Bush lied about the 2006 fence bill he signed ... not good on any count. The illegal immigrants are a society altering event, America cannot possibly assimilate these hordes, I suppose that is the plan. Bush, what a disgrace he has turned out to be.
If AMNESTY passes, the divorce will be final.
Would someone please explain why Bush should be invited to the 2008 nominating convention? Whether he shows or is a no-show, he is a political embarassment.
I doubt that this bill will be kept alive. Both parties are interested in keeping this issue alive for political purposes. I suppose this is what to expect from the Cardinals of the Senate, who like the other Congress critters on the other side of the Capital, are only interested in protecting their backsides in the next elections. In the end the status quo remains and our laws are broken over and over again with no significant consequences.
He already has.......
He constantly represents them.......
He's the best friend that an illegal ever had.......
Speak NOW, or it will be too late!
An effective coup takes time to hammer out.
Hopefully, the DC Chapter of Freerepublic will be out in full force tomorrow - can I hope there will be signs that have the 15 foot fence that is partially built out in San Diego, CA? We need lots of signs on the travel route from the WH to the Hill!!!!
“Sullivan said the president will also discuss the issue with business allies on Thursday.”
Says a lot. I predict Bush will tell them it’s going to cost $10 million more now..
I hope this meeting gets a lot of coverage
I saw this article earlier as well, they have a far more pessemistic viewpoint that the bill can be “revived”, hope they’re right.
It is the WaPo, isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Man-o-Man! The WH REALLY needs to get a grip on reality on this issue.
Apparently, next time, we need to concentrate our calls and faxes on the WH as well as the senate.
It's become very clear that W. was simply trying to dupe his base when he signed that bill. Just as we all suspected, it was all a ploy. Bushy could never imagine that we would all see straight through that scam, as, by chance, he didn't see any reason to provide any funding to actually build the fence. Odd, considering the billions he has no problem wasting on a variety of passing fads. He's an overrated used car salesman.
Join those of us working for repeal of the 17th Amendment. If it is repealled, you'll have the answer you've been looking for.
KEYWORD: DEATHOFTHEGOP
Bump!
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