Whereas for the rest of the stupid sheeple:
Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
Still, it’s not really the Democrats doing this: they are sitting by and letting their enemy self-destruct. They are shrewd, and the GOP can’t figure it out.
Good deal. It is time to get to work.
Given the amnesty sellout (after letting the Swimmer craft the education bill, too), do you dare disagree?
Can we get Fred Thompson to go 3rd party?
**Now they’ve suckered him on immigration.**
No, we’ve been suckered.
We were going ballistic here on FR over Jorge’s immigration and amnesty proposals on the very morning of 9/11. I remember it clearly.
It has been his first priority since he sat in the Oval Office.
I meant he is an “independent” type Republican, like Smith in OR and Hagel and NE. He is just a true-blue believer in liberalism, and it shows.
You are right. Time for some politicians to be tarred and feathered. They have sold their follows citizens who put them in office to make our lives better. When the sh$thole of Mexico applaudes it, you know it’s bad for America.
I am glad that I know some Spanish after being stationed in Panama awhile back and took the class in high school and college. I guess it will come in handy. I do have to clear the cobwebs and perhaps take some more because all of us are going to HAVE to learn and speak Spanish. If you don’t want to, I don’t know what you will do when you are older and need medication, car appointments, buy a new house, etc. I recommend learning Spanish as soon as you can and learn it well. The writing is on the wall. I am not selling out, but just being realistic. It is scary that is for sure.
If he believes it he's more hopeless than I thought.
Kyls voice mail box is full... Wonder why?
While it may be bad policy, it will have make us lose.
Don’t forget....Reagan pushed even more liberal amnesty.
While it may be bad policy, it will NOT make us lose.
Don’t forget....Reagan pushed even more liberal amnesty.
“No, we’ve been suckered.
We were going ballistic here on FR over Jorge’s immigration and amnesty proposals on the very morning of 9/11. I remember it clearly.
It has been his first priority since he sat in the Oval Office.”
You NAILED it !!!!
There's a reason they're called The Stupid Party. Mark my words, five minutes after this abomination passes, all Rat candidates across the country will start referring to this as BUSH'S amnesty.
After all, there's an election next year, dontcha know.
Freepers and conservatives need to calm down and use their brains instead of their passions when dealing with the illegal immigration issue. I made my argument and provided what I believe is very good and very practical solution to the illegal immigration issue.
This great forum is going down hill quickly. People on this forum are calling for President Bush impeachment and calling President Bush a traitor and nothing is done about them. This is not Free Republic that I know. It is really sad what is going on.
Someone once wrote here that GWB’s immigration attitude is shaped by Hispanic maids, gardeners, chauffeurs, etc. that he has employed. He thinks they are all “so nice”. But he doesn’t understand long-range demographics.
Ron Paul has introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to keep people from exploiting this anchor baby loophole. Him, Tancredo and Hunter are the only candidates for prez that have the cajones to assert conservative interests on this issue, hopefully the threat of this bill passing will raise their stock among the Republican base and help us knock the front running rhinos off their positions.
Representative Hunter is a leader and certainly will oppose this bill, but I don't have much hope that he will succeed in derailing it.
While we are bombarding Representative Hunter with those pleas, it might also behoove us to bombard his campaign with a few dollars (you can contribute at this link). He only collected $500,000 last quarter, far behind the money-raising of such candidates as Governor Romney.
Our lazy stupid drunken frat boy Dubya, the DemocRATS, and the Jellyfish Republicans have just given it to the United States of America, RIGHT UP OUR COLLECTIVE REAR END. This is treason pure and simple and far more dangerous than Usama in his cave.
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