Posted on 05/11/2006 11:04:48 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
Senate leaders reached an agreement yesterday on immigration reform legislation that would strengthen border security but also would allow millions of illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. for two years or longer to apply for citizenship. Derided by conservatives as "amnesty," the proposal could be amended but senators on both sides of the aisle say they doubt it will be dramatically altered. "Senate Republicans are united in their commitment to an open and full debate on multiple amendments," said a statement from seven Republicans who represent the full spectrum of positions on immigration reform. "We are willing to put differences aside so we can get on with the important work to be done securing our borders and grappling with the 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in our country," said the group that included Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. "We are also in agreement that efforts to curtail the debate prematurely will only derail this process. We call on Senate Democrats to allow an open debate and votes on this complex and challenging issue," the statement read. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, with whom Mr. Frist has been negotiating for weeks, said he "welcomed" the return of the thorny bill to the floor.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Well said my friend. Unfortunately I've given up hope that the GOP, in its current state, will entertain a conservative agenda ever again. My earnest prayer is that God will have mercy on us but the 'Rats are salivating and it doesn't look good.
IMHO, it boils down to Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." As a nation we've kicked God to the curb and we're beginning to reap what we've sown: a socialist/communist nightmare just waiting to explode. One need look no further than Europe to see where we'll be in the not-to-distant future if we don't wise up.
The best we can hope for now is stalemate in the house/senate committee so that amnesty doesn't pass and that we keep our losses in the senate and the house small enough to retain at least a nominal majority in one of them.
Lord, this is discouraging. It didn't have to be this way.
You have to look at it this way...
Would you rather have Bush and a Republican Congress who is willing to put through 30 - 40% of a Conservative agenda
or
Would you rather have Bush and a Democratic Congress who will probably only end up putting through 5 - 10% of a Conservative agenda... (and of course the Democratic congress will be pushing for impeachment and investigations)
greene66 wrote: "But, the GOP will really be 'mud' to me."
I'm very sympathetic to your plight in Texas. I'm right next door, and your state is appearing more like Mexico every day. However, the best way to turn this around is to seize control of the GOP.
The GOP is a nationwide party. Its machine is well established, and it will carry a certain percentage of people in any election no matter what it does (much like the notorious FDR generation in the Democratic Party--they'd vote for Hitler if he was a Democrat).
Even more important, we already have several decent conservatives on the Republican team. It's a simple matter of doing whatever gives you the best chance of winning.
You know a third party will only water the conservative vote down, ensuring we have even less say and giving the election to the Democrats. Sitting out the election will accomplish the same thing. The most pragmatic course, if you are serious about winning, is to fight for control of the Republican Party (taking over the Democratic Party would be much less likely, right?).
You will be fighting upstream against President Bush and the other RNC elites, but I'm convinced it's the only chance you have. Do you agree?
OKIEDOC wrote: "I heard that about senator Tom (Coburn). Man has he ever turned out to be a great senator. He reminds me of a Teddy Roosevelt, speak softly and carry a big stick."
That's for sure. He makes me proud to be an Oklahoman. I sure hope my fellow FReepers will work to give him some more allies in the Senate this year.
Oklahoma. My first home when I came to the U.S. :)
kpbruinfan wrote: "My earnest prayer is that God will have mercy on us but the 'Rats are salivating and it doesn't look good."
As a Christian, you already know the outlook for the world--it isn't good. In fact, it's already scheduled for demolition.
On the other hand, we don't know if the finale is going to occur in our lifetimes. For all we know, we are on the verge of a conservative revolution that will restore America for centuries to come. We just don't know unless we try. I don't put my faith in politics, of course, but that doesn't mean I feel comfortable sitting on sidelines while the country goes to Hell in a handbasket.
Under the house bill they could be charged with a crime under the "unlawful presence" provision and be fined, sentenced up to one year + one day in prison, and/or deported if they are illegal aliens. If they were legal residents they would not be so charged.
It has become increasing apparent that the vast majority of people elected on the national level are RINO's.
The RNC assumes that the base has no where to go! That everyone is afraid of a HRC presidency. Or that the "base" fears a Democrat controlled congress. What they should be afraid of is that the "base" will wake up one day and decide that both the RNC/GOP is just as irrelevant as is the DNC/DEM.
Unfortunately Mel Martinez, R-MEXICO is one of my senators. I have told Mr. Martinez, that he fooled me once but he will never fool me again. His requests for votes and funds should be directed not to Florida residents, but to residents of the great state of MEXICO!
I will never vote for a DIM, and I will never vote for another RINO. They are both cut out of the same bolt of cloth.
This nightmare has a looooong way to go before it is finalized.
You only waste your vote if you don't vote, or if you vote for the same bunch and expect them to change.
Find you another party and vote!
Let the ones who keep getting suckered into putting these same two paternal twins back in, waste their votes once again.
Nothing is going to change until enough of us decide to bite the bullet and change it.
If the Republican Party is going to change it won't be done by those who just keep hoping,and voting for the lesser of two evils.
They won't change if they win because they won't have any reason to do so.
I like the "Send a Brick" idea. I have heard about it on quite a few shows. But me, I am more into "Send a Box". So as to let these "frauds" (RINOs) go ahead and "pack their sh&%".
My solution would allow them to apply and receive a status that is less than a full citizen. Maybe it would be called a permanent resident. This status would allow them to be legal under certain circumstances but would not give them voting status, would make them ineligible for SSI yet still require the tax, and would add a surtax to both the income of the person and to the employers wages.
I know that under Reagan, amnesty was granted (to a much smaller number of illegals) and controls were set in place to punish those that hired illegals. So there was basically "a carrot and a stick."
Can somebody explain how that amnesty differs from the proposed amnesty (apart from the number of people involved)? Is there a "stick" to this legislation?
"...what would you do to the illegal alien parents of three U.S. citizens..."
Well let's give 'em a big fat gold star!
Now, tell me what we do with a different set of illegal aliens parents with three children: the oldest a gang leader for MS13, the middle a crack whore, and the youngest a multiple rapist?
You can bet the farm that if Mexico officials approve of the Senate version, it's a sell out to the American people. Mexico - Si; Americans - NO!
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