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Hearing that the “Amnesty bill” went down in flames today, I am stuck with question in my head I am hoping the “Jedi Counsel” of Free Republic can answer for me.

So now what on Illegal Immigration?

Conservatives cannot get only what they want, the Democrats filibustered their bill last year. Conservatives did not like what could be done politically this year so the Republicans filibustered it. So now the answer is “Do nothing”? But that is what was suppose to be the problem originally!

So NOW what? Because the whole reason this issue came up was people were, for the last 4-5 years, daily complaining about “We got to do something about the border or it will destroy the country”.

So now what?

So now what on Illegal Immigration?

Secure the border including the implementation of the US Visit program so we can track, monitor, and deport visa overstays. This is matter of national security and should be our highest priority. Amy delay in doing this is indefensible. If the WH and the Dems continue to hold our national security hostage to comprehensive immigration reform, we should organize and confront our elected leaders. There has to be a consequence for not enforcing our laws.

We have to go on the offensive politically. We should demand that we collect data on illegal immigrants so we can make good public policy. For starters, we really don't know how may are even here. How anyone can make good public policy without reliable data is beyond my comprehension. Imagine if the estimates of 12 million illegal immigrants are wrong and the real number is two to three times that as was the case in 1986. Not only would we be legalizing the status of those already here, we would be bringing in two to three times that number as LEGAL immigrants thru chain migration.

We dodged a major bullet today, but now it is time to go on the offensive and stop reacting to the initiatives of the corporate, special interest, and labor unions who have bought and control most of our representatives. The very fact that we reached this point despite the fact that only 26% of the American people supported this bill shows in what sad shape this country is in. It is time for a change. Graham, Hegel, and Lott should go. We should work for conservative candidates in the primaries.

Johnnie

you are starting to sound like McCain....

I prefer Newt...although Newt is not perfect— I prefer his stronger stance on being conservative as opposed to your “we can’t win....the Dems rule.....give in... give in.....” whining...

My family members have served this country, risking their lives...for MY right and YOUR right to be free....

When 80% of Americans are against a bill, and the Senate is determined to SHOVE it down our throats ANYWAY...

YOU of ALL people==I believe would be calling for CHANGE...

THIS issue may have been the just the spotlight to bring to the fore what we all already know...

It is NOT just THIS bill...

It is the whole package of what goes on in DC..

It is TIME!

Time for ALL OF US- to take back the heritage our forefathers left us...

government BY THE PEOPLE!

the WILL OF THE PEOPLE...

not the WILL of the ELITE in DC!

I choose to fight for what I believe in...

I choose to be a Ceasar Rodney....not a Benedict Arnold...

First and foremost I believe that the thrust now needs to be to decouple border security from enforcement and/or amnesty for those already here. The latter issue has been used to hold the former issue hostage. We must consciously and forcefully say that we are worried about fixing the border and not interested in talking about those already here until the border security issue can reasonably be considered solved.

As a separate thrust those obsessed with those issues can pursue the enforcement of existing laws by shining the light of publicity on the sweat shops and other exploitative workplaces that thrive on illegals, not by trying to push through new laws. We gain no ground in the debate by allowing ourselves to be painted as anti-immigrant. We can advance our arguments a long way by pointing out how a large percentage of those in this country illegal are able to be exploited because of that illegal status.

This is basically Fred Thompson’s advice from a few weeks ago (also here). I also think that this question should be made part of the debate for the presidential election. Let our prospective leaders put forward their ideas for solving the broader problems (after the border is secured) and see how their ideas play with the people.

What a novel concept.

If I had to make a really wild guess it would be wait and see who wins the presidential election with high hopes that someone(maybe Fred T.) will run on a “secure the border platform) and actually win.
Even if he does win with a rat congress it will be a near impossible dream to get it done, (build the fence ).

I stand by what I said some time ago that any progress made on securing the border and dealing with illegal aliens will be done at the state and or local level in cities, counties etc.
The feds are just not going to get the job done.

I know you want a compromise to get at least something done MNJ, but as we have seen too many are not willing to compromise border security, its a “hard”(inflexible) issue.

In addition I will credit talk radio(either rightly or wrongly) with ginning up the base to accept no bill as a win.