Posted on 06/28/2007 7:16:49 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
As the Senate Democratic leader pushed his immigration bill through the chamber yesterday, Republican leader Mitch McConnell took a pass on the debate and left his rank-and-file members to fend for themselves. Mr. McConnell finds himself in the crossfire between a majority of his own senators, who oppose the bill, and President Bush, who desperately wants it to pass. The Kentucky Republican's solution has been to go underground, leaving his party's senators to fight among themselves and with Democrats.
During all of yesterday's back-and-forth and procedural maneuvers, he did not utter a word, even eschewing the usual duty of helping open the day's proceedings.
"I've been very, very disappointed, but there's nothing to be gained at this point" from making him angry, said one of the 25 Republicans who voted earlier this week to block the bill...
Mr. McConnell's disappearance has been stark — particularly in comparison to Sen. Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, who was on the floor virtually all of yesterday, using his position as majority leader to control the proceedings and prevent amendments.
The bill collapsed three weeks ago...But a week later, Mr. McConnell struck an agreement with Mr. Reid to resurrect the bill, with the Republican vowing to limit amendments from his side to about a dozen, and Mr. Reid agreeing to bring back the bill.
Mr. Reid says Mr. McConnell and the White House have agreed to far more than that, though. He said they approved his use of the "clay pigeon" technique that has effectively shut out the recalcitrant senators and restricted the debate to a list of about two dozen hand-picked amendments.
"I would not have considered employing it in this instance without the full support of Senator McConnell," Mr. Reid wrote...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
He headed for the tall blue-grass.
...the will of the American people be damned!
His silence is courageous. My D.C. buddies tell me that Bush is absolutely furious with Mitch. If he abstains, it is a vote in our favor. Kill the bill!
If the bill passes the Senate he’s a shoe-in for a Kennedy Profile in Courage award.
If he agreed to the Clay Pigeon maneuver he needs to hide. he should be run out of town on a rail. Iam not too sure the President dosnt need a ride on the same rail.
Here we are fighting for democracy in Iraq while we are losing it in our own country to slick maneuvers by our own people. The people have spoken loud and clear. Thats Democracy, what we see in the Senate is Fascism.
I’m doing something I haven’t done in years - watching live “debate” on this bill on C-SPAN2.
What the heck? Jeff Sessions complained loudly that those in favor received 45-50 minutes to speak, while the opposition received 10. Sessions’ comments were 100% spot on that this apparent bias was just a reflection of how the whole debate has gone on this issue.
He also said that the capitol phone system had crashed due to the overwhelming call volume - nearly all of which was against this bill.
The US Senate is poised to completely reject the will of the US citizens.
And I am so dissapointed at all the RINOs standing up in favor of this bill - saying that this is as good as it gets - and that not passing it is “doing nothing” which is worse.
Yet, by every account, the best this bill could hope to accomplish is a 13% reduction in illegal immigration - with an additional 8.5 million illegals added in the next few years.
And Kennedy is such a blabbing jerk - I thought he was going to blow a gasket about knocking down the walls of racism...arrrrgggghhhh!!!
Arlen Specter is more than worthless...
Mel Martinez - using his own immigrant origins...yet he dot represent the illegal population. He says that immigrants come here to be part of American, not to change America...that is “his experience”. Boy, he must really be out of touch.
I’m going to turn this off before I blow a gasket....
Mitch’s wife is a cabinet secretary, Madam Cho, so maybe he is being threatened through her. But why oh why would they care? She has been there long enough to parlay herselef into a fat lobbying job or law firm, etc. Cummon Mitch! Save the day!
(and why has Dubya lost his mind to join with Dems to fight his base? Odd.)
A model of leadership - NOT!
The cloture vote is in five minutes.
There are Senate DEMOCRATS more critical of the heavy handed unprecedented tactics of Dingy Harry Reid than this boy McConnell, but Congressional Republican Leaders disgracing themselves, has become the norm not the aberration.
They’re already leaderless b/c McConnell is no leader.
“Bush is absolutely furious with Mitch.”....to bad Mr. Bush!...the will of the people be damned, right?
Rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air....This will be a nice 4th of July for the American people who fought this amnesty pile of crap!
Ya think Bush is mad with McConnell, just wait till he get's home to Kentucky.
THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE WON!
Now keep the pressure on to build the entire FENCE. Secure the border! ENFORCE “ALL” the laws on the books including DEPORTING when found law. SANCTION employers who hire ILLEGALS heavily. Get rid of the demand for the jobs and ILLEGALS will leave.
VOTE ALL RINO’S OUT IN ‘08!
And he ended up voting against cloture.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.