Posted on 09/04/2006 6:57:46 PM PDT by Shermy
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 — As they prepare for a critical pre-election legislative stretch, Congressional Republican leaders have all but abandoned a broad overhaul of immigration laws and instead will concentrate on national security issues they believe play to their political strength.
With Congress reconvening Tuesday after an August break, Republicans in the House and Senate say they will focus on Pentagon and domestic security spending bills, port security legislation and measures that would authorize the administration’s terror surveillance program and create military tribunals to try terror suspects.
“We Republicans believe that we have no choice in the war against terror and the only way to do it is to continue to take them head-on whether it is in Iraq or elsewhere,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the majority leader.
A final decision on what do about immigration policy awaits a meeting this week of senior Republicans. But key lawmakers and aides who set the Congressional agenda say they now believe it would be politically risky to try to advance an immigration measure that would showcase party divisions and need to be completed in the 19 days Congress is scheduled to meet before breaking for the election.
President Bush had made comprehensive changes in immigration laws a priority, even making the issue the subject of a prime-time address, but House Republicans have been determined not to move ahead with any legislation that could be construed as amnesty for anyone who entered the country illegally. They held hearings around the country in recent weeks to contrast their enforcement-only bill with a Senate measure that could lead to citizenship for some.
“I don’t see how you bridge that divide between us and the Senate,” said Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York and chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It's dead, Jim, for the moment. The corpse cannot remain forever dead, however, because it gets getting electric shock treatments, aka as reality.
Here's the article, go to the link for the full story.
Hard to say if it is true or not. It's plausible, but the supporting quotes are either not sourced or seeming non-sequiturs supporting what NYTimes is suggesting what should be the reality. Trend journalism.
The admission that the Frist quote might not be relevant is funny.
Good, kill the damn thing instead of passing more laws that won't get enforced.
REPUBLICANS IN HOUSE PUT IMMIGRATION ON HOLD; WILL FOCUS ON ANTI-TERROR BILLS
I suggest reading the whole article. There is not one quote in there that says this is happening. It reads like editorial content supported with possible out-of-context quotes. But it could be true.
The War on Terror is certainly a better issue to go into the Midterm elections with, as compared with Immigration which is just a divisive issue.
This is a smart move politically to address Immigration in the next Congress rather than now..
We are going to see a lot of articles like this one between now and election day.
Everybody better just strap in.
Its time for the "demoralize their base" agenda from the NYT.
They will try to convince conservative voters that they have nothing but traitors representing them and that showing up to the polls is a complete waste of time.
Turnout will likely favor Republicans and the NYT knows this. So everyone needs to have a skeptical eye for articles like this.
Personally, I think immigration is part of the war on terror.
Me too. Having a virtually open border really undermines a lot of our work in the WOT.
"The War on Terror is certainly a better issue to go into the Midterm elections with,"
War on terror a better issue? Not divisive? Not as long as Bush makes embarassing claims the Sunni-Shiite clashes are about "islamofascism" against the West.
The best thing the Repubs can do know is to firmly announce this election is not being run by Rove and run out of the White House.
I don't want ANY bill! I want enforcement stepped up! I want the illegals protesting in the streets with their Mexican flags stopped by ICE and deported!
I want that Arrellano illegal alien gal in Chicago hauled out of that church by her ear and deported!
They don't need any new laws to do all that.
"Its time for the "demoralize their base" agenda from the NYT."
It's possible that's what this is. The attributions, except for the anonymous ones, could have been pulled from any where.
It could be Boehner's office though.
You are right for 2006. 2007 is another year, another Congress, different members. There are certain pressures here, that will not go away.
"“Anything’s possible,” said Mr. Pence, Republican of Indiana, “but that’s probably not likely.”"
The New York Times is not a credible news source any longer, especially releasing news reports supposedly attributed to the GOP.
"Its time for the "demoralize their base" agenda from the NYT."
That's exactly what this is. The NYT wants you to stay home.
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