And the democrats are addressing immigration in ways you prefer?
Try paying attention to Senator's Sessions, Kyl, Cronyn and Coburn, and support them. It's not over yet. Frist, McCain, Specter, Kennedy, Biden and Reid might be surrpised.
The House is holding strong.
GOD I hope you're right- the House had better stand strong- if McCain gets his way it's going to be a tragedy for our country.
I never said that. I said that the actions of Bush, Frist and Lott and the GOP Senate as a whole would have a depressing effect on conservative voters in November. This apathy caused by the leadership of the GOP will ironically knock out a lot of true conservative republicans - a dying breed.
It doesn't matter how closely I follow the actions of some Senator that never makes the nightly news - what is important to the masses of voters is how the GOP in general is doing and the masses look at Bush, Frist and Lott as the face of the GOP.
Most voters don't have time to evaluate the voting record of their individual senators - they look at the party. That might not be how you or I vote but it is true for the masses.
I've been watching this issue from out here in the sticks of Kansas for years, and during the last round of "Immigration Protest" the Kansas Dems finally figured out that this is the one issue that they could use to upset our traditional Red-State pre-disposition.
for example, the state dems are hammering Law & Order/Border Security
http://www.ksdp.org/?q=node/view/2203
Isn't it strange that in this election cycle Democrats have decided to be the party of Law&Order?
Meanwhile our Republicans here are talking about being a welcoming and loving nation that embraces all, despite their legal status!
WTF?
Watch how this issue plays out in Red States over the course of this summer and you'll see the end of a Republican Congress...
I hope you are right. It could work out that nothing happens and after the election the Senate caves and we get a good bill.
A good combination of HB4437 and the Ben Nelson amendment (SA #3267 [to SA #3192]) would please me.
Summary: Replaces the Judiciary Committee bill with an enforcement-only proposal, which, among other things:
(1) provides for the construction of a two-layer reinforced fence along the Southern border stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and the creation of a 100-yard border zone controlled by DHS;
(2) more enforcement personnel;
(3) greater coordination between DHS and the Defense Department on the use of border surveillance technology;
(4) more facilities to house detained aliens, adding up to at least 10,000 more detention beds;
(5) greater potential involvement of state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws and Federal reimbursement to those agencies for their assistance;
(7) mandatory use of an entry-exit data system at all ports of entry;
(8) more stringent penalties for violations of immigration law, including for alien smugglers, identity thieves – specifically, those who use false identification to gain immigration benefits or obtain employment – and unlawful presence; and
(9) establish a permanent and mandatory employment eligibility mechanism requiring all employers to verify the eligibility of all new hires within two years of the bill’s enactment and to verify the eligibility of all previously-hired employees within six years of enactment.
Eliminates the Visa Lottery, which allows 50,000 random aliens to enter the United States each year.
Expands the Institutional Removal Program to all states, thus ensuring that more criminal aliens detained in our correctional facilities are removed in a timely fashion.
Refuses admission to citizens of countries who refuse repatriation of their nationals.
Prohibits those not demonstrating “good moral character” – including terrorists and serious criminals – from obtaining citizenship or receiving any sort of immigration relief or benefit.
:)Easy Does It:)