A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-14-07....No Gloating! ~ JH2

JohnHuang2, pookie18, Aquamarine | JohnHuang2

[Aquamarine]

No Gloating!

by JohnHuang2

Yes, here once again, I admit it’s tempting — deliciously tempting — especially after the last three weeks when the smart set kept telling us immigration “reform” is in the bag, resistance is futile, too much momentum behind it, etc. But I’m not going to gloat. Bottom line, if gloating is what you’re looking for, you’re looking in the wrong place. No gloating from me.

That’s why you won’t even hear a peep from me about how the Amnesty bill got trounced even after its proponents — the White House, the Democrat leadership, the entire media establishment — had pulled all the stops. The pro-Amnesty side’s inability to get this thing passed and signed into law must be a horribly bitter pill to swallow. But, as I said, nary a word about it from me.

I suppose I could gloat about how the Amnesty bill failed three attempts to invoke cloture, but I won’t. Three attempts! The third attempt still fell a staggering 15 votes short. Look, if I were gloating, wouldn’t I mention how this ‘Gang of 12’ “bipartisan” senators had been meeting secretly for three months to craft this ‘grand bargain’ for cheap labor, only to see it go down in flames? Wouldn’t I point out how the ‘grand bargainers’ got egg on their faces despite the way they timed the roll out of the ‘deal’ — a week before Memorial Day, to build pressure for swift passage?

The whole committee process was circumvented — there were no hearings (the bill couldn’t withstand scrutiny), no public testimony for and against (the bill couldn’t withstand public debate), no attempt to gauge the cost of this ‘grand bargain,’ no effort to gauge the impact of giving amnesty to 20 million mostly poor illegal aliens, etc. — in order to ram this thing through, but since I’m not gloating, I won’t even mention any of this either.

Here’s what else my lips are tightly sealed about: One of the Democrats’ most massive special interest unions — the Services Employees International Union — demanded in a letter to the Senate a vote FOR cloture. “The time to move forward is now,” read the letter (NYT, 6/8). One of the Democrats’ most powerful unions proved powerless against our flood of calls, faxes, petitions, e-mails and the power of talk radio and the Internet — but, once again, you won’t hear me gloat about it, nor even mention it once.

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, another big Democrat pressure group, also got its head handed back to it (but I refuse to mention that, too). The group demanded cloture: “A small handful of immigration restrictionists in the Senate should not be allowed to prolong the debate indefinitely.” (NYT, 6/8).

And did you notice how glum, dejected, sullen and dispirited Dingy Harry looked when he announced he was pulling Kennedy’s Mexican Amnesty bill from the floor after its crushing 45-50 defeat? Not gonna mention that either. If I were gloating, I’d quote what Reid said on the Senate floor after the bill crumbled: “There’s lots of support for this program on the outside, and the problem was on the inside of the Senate chamber.” By lots of support “on the outside,” Reid meant Mexico.

Oh (heh, heh, heh), remember the torrent of headlines just before the bill collapsed?

Lawmakers Remain Optimistic on Immigration Reform

The big debate: McCain optimistic on immigration

Bill gives hope to illegals

Immigration-reform bill gains support

Martinez: Immigration reform alive

Backers of immigration Bill More Optimistic

But, like I said, I’m not going to gloat.

In the lead-up to the bill’s collapse, there was lots of talk from amnesty supporters about “poison pills,” but, in the end, the biggest poison pill was amnesty itself. But don’t expect me to mention it — I haven’t gloated yet, and I’m not about to start now.

For all these reasons, any attempt to “revive” amnesty is doomed to fail — no matter what lipstick they use.

Incidentally, of all the headlines after the bill’s defeat, this is one of my favs: Grass Roots Roared and Immigration Plan Collapsed — NYT, 6/10.

Heh, heh, heh! Oops, I wasn’t gloating. Honest!

Anyway, that's...

My Two Cents...

"JohnHuang2"

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-11-12-07....Military Tribute 06-13-07....Warm Fuzzy Wednesday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[luvie]

That is just gorgeous, Lady! Thanks for always being here for the troops and to entertain us with your unique perspective! :D

[Lady Jag]

You can't have enough flags

[Aquamarine]

Woo Hoo! We made it over 100 replies! lol

Love all the flag posts!

[Aquamarine]

I like your stoplight, Aqua, and the bit of red in the table borders.

Thanks Billie, knew you would notice. You did say to be creative with the tables and borders, this was my first effort.

[Aquamarine]

Wanted to say hello and that it’s good to see you posting regularly again. :)

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for all the beautiful flag posts, don’t know where you find so many different American flag graphics.

[lonestar]

I love my congressman, Kevin Brady. I bet y'all would, too. Here's why--from my local paper.

The district courtroom in the Jasper County courthouse wasn't exactly packed, but almost 50 people turned out to talk with U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Woodlands) at a town hall meeting last Saturday, June 9.

Brady got the meeting off to a relaxed start by announcing he plans to wear a State Champions Jasper uniform at the annual Congressional baseball fundraiser. It's Republicans versus Democrats, and usually raises $100,000 for charity.

"I'm second base and lead-off hitter for the Republicans, and I plan to wear the Bulldog uniform, if I can find one that fits," Brady said.

Topics ranged from the war on terror, immigration, the budget and income taxes.

Brady told the audience, "I'm convinced the reason we got fired (lost control of Congress to the Democrats) is that we didn't balance the budget and didn't secure our borders."

To a comment Brady made that Washington squanders money and that "before Washington makes you tighten your belt, Washington should tighten theirs," the audience gave a rousing "Amen."

Brady said that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was right not to let Congress rush through an immigration bill when amendments still need to be considered.

"This is an important bill that is going to affect us all," Brady said, and added, "Before we do anything on a guest worker bill, we have to convince you we're serious about securing our borders."

Brady called for an independent group to study the issues. Members of the audience suggested that criminal prosecution of employers who hire illegals might be an answer.

"It's going to take a while to get that back door shut," Brady told the audience. His priorities are security, fairness, and the future.

"It's not fair to those who came legally and follow the law to hand citizenship to those who didn't," Brady said. As to the future, Brady said there is no doubt that this country needs workers in hospitality, health, agriculture, construction and even at the scientific level, "but the emphasis should be on temporary workers with skills."

On TAXES--

Bob White raised the issue of a flat tax, which Brady has promoted as a replacement for the current income tax system.

Brady's view is that a sales tax paid by all, rather than payroll deductions, would be a better replacement. It would relieve employers of the burden of being tax collectors, and the boondoggle of tax laws and loopholes.

"Everyone pays the same, no sweetheart deals, and Congress can't adjust it without you knowing about it," Brady said.

But White countered that it penalized older Americans who have saved for retirement, paid income tax when the money was earned, and in the flat tax plan, would pay tax again every time they used their savings to make a purchase.

Brady countered, "You already do." Brady said for every dollar you spend, there is 23 cents concealed tax in the form of payroll taxes and the infrastructure to collect them.

[Lady Jag]

I love images of our flag and do have a lot. I hope it’s not too many for you.

[Aquamarine]

Brady told the audience, "I'm convinced the reason we got fired (lost control of Congress to the Democrats) is that we didn't balance the budget and didn't secure our borders."

Bingo! Sounds like this Brady guy has a clue.

[Aquamarine]

I think the flag and the freedom it represents is beautiful, can’t see too much of that. Post away! :)

[Lady Jag]

When it comes to the Flag, we’re much the same. Thanks.

[Aquamarine]

Thanks to all for such a beautiful Flag Day thread, made it very enjoyable to be here. Here's one more vacation pic, dressed up.

[Lady Jag]

Good night and rest well

[Majie Purple]

T Y for Your # 90! I hope You get Your white rose bush asap!

[Majie Purple]

Y W Meg! & T Y again, too!

[Majie Purple]

Love Your # 94 pic!
Your nice house,(with nice people living There!...You & JK.) w/lovely Flag!

[Majie Purple]

Hello back, Aqua!
T Y! I am glad to be able to be back on line w/ a new/properly functioning computer!
:)
I missed my Friends/FRiends*You included,of course!... and the ops for regular posting!

[Mama_Bear]

Love Your # 94 pic! Your nice house,(with nice people living There!...You & JK.) w/lovely Flag!

Awwwww.......thanks, Maj. Is this warm fuzzy Wednesday already? 'Cuz you made me feel all warm and fuzzy. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

How beautiful, and GREEN! Living in a state that is "Golden" six months out of the year, I long for lush green pastures, especially towards the end of summer.

Good night, sweet sistah, and thank you for the thread today.

[JohnHuang2]

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuperb layout, Aquamarine!! Awesome work! Love it! Bravo, bravo, my friend! {{{{{{{{{{{{Aquamarine!}}}}}}}}}}}}}

And to all who dropped by, thank you, thank you! {{{{{{{{{{{{{Group Hug!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

As for the news yesterday that the bill will be back on the Senate floor next week, I'm still convinced it's a corpse. So long as the Poison Pill of Amnesty remains in the bill, it will remain a corpse.