Congress Nears Deal on Illegal Immigrants (breaking on cable networks)

AP/Yahoo News ^ | 4-6-06 | DAVID ESPO

[STARWISE]

WASHINGTON - In a last stab at compromise, Senate Republicans and Democrats reported progress Thursday toward agreement on legislation opening the way to legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. illegally.

"There's been tremendous progress overnight," said Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, the Democratic leader, while Majority Leader Bill Frist also expressed optimism that a long-sought compromise might be at hand.

There was no immediate reaction from President Bush, who has made immigration legislation a key priority.

The developments occurred after Frist unveiled a new bill late Wednesday night on the subject as the Senate headed into a test vote on the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades.

In general, the legislation would provide for enhanced border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants into the United States and settle the legal fate of the estimated 11 million men, women and children already in the country.

It was the fate of the illegal immigrant population that proved hardest to legislate, and it has left the Senate on the verge of gridlock for days.

(snip)

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., as well as other key senators met before the vote to review terms of a proposed compromise.

In general, it would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.

Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.

[liberty2004]

I don't know what party to switch to, but I'm done with Republicans. This is obsurd.

The Republican leadership in Congress deserve contempt and ouster. The Republicans in Congress are spitting on American values and tradition, they have absolutely NO respect for the Constitution and they have the audacity to think they are "doing the right thing." I truly believe there is nothing that can be done to save this Republic. The Socialist left has won.

[JeffAtlanta]

She confessed to a criminal act.

Drunk driving is a crime - having a glass of wine with dinner is not.

Are you purposely being obtuse on this issue?

[Serenissima Venezia]

RNC voice mail system: 202 863 8500
Let's plan on filling their mailboxes until the Senate votes on the guestamnesty bill.

Senators that are supposedly on the fence about amnesty:
Sen. Lott R-MS (202) 224-6253
Sen. Allen R-VA (202) 224-4024
Sen. Allard R-CO (202) 224-5941
Sen. Bond R-MO (202) 224-5721
Sen. Burns R-MT (202) 224-2644
Sen. Chambliss R-GA (202) 224-3521
Sen. Cornyn R-TX (202) 224-2934
Sen. Hatch R-UT (202) 224-5251
Sen. Dorgan D-ND (202) 224-2551
Sen. Kyl R-AZ (202) 224-4521
Sen. Sununu R-NH (202) 224-2841
Sen. Ensign R-NV (202) 224-6244
Sen. Rockefeller D-WV (202) 224-6472
Sen. Stabenow D-MI (202) 224-4822
Sen. Feinstein D-CA (202) 224-3841
Sen. Frist R-TN (202) 224-3344
Sen. Talent R-MO (202) 224-6154
Sen. Thomas R-WY (202) 224-6441
Sen. DeMint R-SC (202) 224-6121
Sen. Burr R-NC (202) 224-3154
Sen. Bennett R-UT (202) 224-5444
Sen. Hutchison R-TX (202) 224-5922
Sen. Snowe R-ME (202) 224-5344
Sen. Enzi R-WY (202) 224-3424
Sen. McConnell R-KY (202) 224-2541
Sen. Murkowski R-AK (202) 224-6665
Sen. Santorum R-PA (202) 224-6324
Sen. Thune R-SD (202) 224-2321
Sen. Bunning R-KY (202) 224-4343

[nicmarlo]

But from the many elected officials behavior, and from the way the President has been calling Minute Men vigilantes and the illegal aliens "good people who just want to do the work no American wants to do".....who do you "logically" think the National Guard would be told to go after?

[liberty2004]

It won't come from the government protecting us against the invasion. It would come from the (most likely) few Americans who are fed up. And guess who'd be the first to be attacked and arrested by the National Guard when they're called out? American citizens.

Sadly, any noble revolutionary act to restore this Republic to it's Constitutional foundation will be met with violence by all levels of government. Those in power will command the National Guard to act only in one way -- to assure the power of the State. Any popular uprising would be seen as a threat to the state and be met with incredible violence. To truly restore this Republic to its basic Constitutional role would require about 80% of the Federal budget to be eliminated, most cabinet departments and millions of workers fired. The only place I can see that happening is in some Mel Gibson film, not the real world.

[nicmarlo]

The only place I can see that happening is in some Mel Gibson film, not the real world.

You're right. And that's why America has no hope nor future to be the country it once was.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

If she accepts responsibility for the results of her actions then it's nobody's damned business if she's had a few drinks (or anything else) before getting behind the wheel.
If an alien accepts responsibility for the results of their actions then it is nobody's damned business if they crossed at a specified Entry Point (or anywhere else) before working a job.

However, if she acts irresponsibly and injures or kills someone, she should be fully held accountable for the results of her actions.
However, if the alien acts irresponsibly and injures or kills someone, they should be fully held accountable for the results of their actions.

I have seen plenty of drivers who are far more dangerous on the road while perfectly sober than are most people after a few drinks.
I have seen plenty of native born citizens who are far more dangerous to the republic than are most aliens that fail to get proper documents.

And drinking and driving above DUI limits is so common that if it were strictly enforced we'd have no fewer than 50 million people in jail.
And breaking the law is so common that if all of them were strictly enforced, every American would forfeit the right to vote.

I fully subscribe to the freedoms that are granted by the United States constitution, and the Texas state constitution. Sovereignty means nothing without freedom. Ask any former communist country, especially old East Germany, Czech republic, or Poland.

[inchworm]

Free Republic Home | Forum | New posts to you | Mail | More ... [Pager]
Posts by inchworm
This entire Bill sucks!
This Republican Senate/Congress, & this Republican President have failed. Here's how they score on the major issues:
Education: Largest spending increase ever = Fail
Madicare Drug Plan: Largest Socialist Program ever = Fail
Campaign Finance Reform: Biggest Free speech gag = Fail
Taxes Reduction: Very nice = Pass
War on Terror: Good to kick "it" where needed = Pass
Emminent domain Restrictions.Impotent failure to act = Fail
Immigration Reform. The whole Damn Bill is LIBERAL. = Fail

Results: Republicans represented a score of 2 out of 7 on the major bills since 2000 for their constituents. What the hell is their problem??? I can't take it anymore. The RNC is cut off from my wallet and I suggest everyone here do the same. The only way we can beat this is to donate directly to the candidates themselves. The RNC is supposed to represent a Republican agenda. But, when they are in the majority and fail this bad, screw them. It is obvious that my voice, and my countrymen can no longer be represented by the RNC. I think RNC really stands for "Really No Constitution"

[inchworm]

Or "Really No Care"

[sinkspur]

I would HOPE that our Guardsmen and women could distinguish between American citizens and those who are attempting to overthrow the country.

Ways to tell:
Skin color
Lauguage spoken
Color of flag they fly
Language of signs they carry

LOL! So, if I run across a brown-skinned person who speaks Spanish, has a Mexican flag anywhere, and listens to Hispanic radio, they are trying to overthrow our country??

Are you serious?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

So it if were all public property you would have no problem with the wall or is the "private property" thing just a red herring to hide your open border position?
You are welcome to build all of the walls you want in Georgia. Property rights are highly prized, and protected here in Texas. Even Fort Hood is not owned by the federal government. It is leased. It would take congress no less than a hundred years to push anything through the Texas legislature. Check up on this, our legislature does NOT meet every year. And special sessions are rare. "Public" property does not get abused.

[T. Jefferson]

"Cops have been doing that for years with their BS roadblock DUI traps."

By your logic, you infer an inalienable right to drive impaired. Did they demand a passport, proof of citizenship, or green card when they hauled this suspect in?

I picture bulging veins on your forehead, quite funny your rage. In the 1990's I had the pleasure of being trapped on the GW bridge in Manhattan on New Years in a 5 hour traffic jam. Thousands of legal sober citizens in their cars had their constitutional rights trampled, all for 2 lousy DUI arrests. If cops can do this to legal citizens, they can certainly roadblock and deport illegal aliens in the name of national security. Of course they won't, since the goal is not safety, but money. You're talking out of both sides of your mouth about protecting freedom. You support the crazed MADD prohibition/money machine roadblocks, but wanna protect illegal aliens and potential terrorists "rights" from being exposed to the same. Feel free bang away, I won't bother to read it.

[inchworm]

Ah ha I got it: RNC = "Respecting No Constitution"

[JeffAtlanta]

You are welcome to build all of the walls you want in Georgia. Property rights are highly prized, and protected here in Texas.

So if private property owners donated a small part of their land for the wall then you'd have no problem with the building of it?

[inchworm]

Or RNC could really mean, especially in this case: "Representing No Citizen" does anyone have any better ones?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Are you purposely being obtuse on this issue?

You may choose to defend a convicted drunk driver, no matter the details of the conviction. I am not being obtuse. Any alien that is apprehended and subject to due process that results in a deportation order, should be deported as a person that was convicted of a crime. I believe that not all single mothers (from your drunk driving analogy) should be rounded up and given a breathalyzer and the opportunity to confess.

[nicmarlo]

I agree with your grading.

[flaglady47]

"The Republican leadership in Congress deserve contempt and ouster."

I just sent the following to Senator Frist via e-mail:

Well, I see Senator Frist, that you capitulated to the Democrats and RINO's on the immigration bill, and now back the so-called "compromise" which is in reality amnesty for just about all of the illegal aliens. Glad to know that you, who talked so tough, became such a pinata to be so easily beaten about the head by the President, the Dems, and the RINO's. You practiced medicine. Don't you know where the spine is located? You really need to find one soon.

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. This dooms our country to another 20 years of uncontrolled borders (the cost of paying for this compromise would be astronomical, and therefore unfeasible), and then having to go through passing yet another immigration bill at that time, when we will be Atzlan, rather than the U.S.A.

Thanks for nothing, Senator Frist, and believe me, you can kiss your presidential aspirations good-bye, because the base will now desert you in vast numbers. And trust me, that is exactly what is going to happen. You think it is the illegals out there on the streets, along with a bunch of young people being truant from school, that you have to fear vote-wise. They mostly don't vote, or can't vote, or won't vote, but your Republican base does, in large numbers. You have chosen to please the wrong constituency, and that is the constituency that will do great harm to the future of our country.

The Republican party, in particular in the Senate, and with few exceptions, is now a joke. I see President Bush's poll numbers have dropped again. Want to know why? It's his own Republican base that has had it with him. Good thing he isn't running again, as he'd never make it past the primaries. We need true conservatives running our country, not pseudo-conservatives. How totally aggravating this all is.

[JeffAtlanta]

Wow, great email!

[ARealMothersSonForever]

So if private property owners donated a small part of their land for the wall then you'd have no problem with the building of it?
Not on my dime. If someone in the federal government can provide a landowner with a compelling reason to finance the building of a wall on their property, as long as the county commissioners request a variance with input from every taxpayer and landowner that would be impacted; no skin off of me. Good luck with that happening in Texas.