Redstate: Tactic by Cornyn, DeMint, Dole, Enzi Procedurally Doomed Immigration Bill

redstate.com ^ | 6/8/07 | "Bluey"

[Jacksonville Patriot]

Four Senators Who Deserve Our Thanks Cornyn, DeMint, Dole and Enzi By Bluey

Last night's defeat of the immigration bill came after three weeks of intense grassroots activism against the legislation. But this bill may not have gone up in flames had it not been for the craftiness of four Republican senators who voted with Democrat Sen. Byron Dorgan to sunset the temporary-worker program after five years.

The "poison pill" amendment was considered a deal-breaker by supporters of the bill. Having failed by just one vote on May 24, it came up again Wednesday; only this time, four Republicans who had previously opposed it voted the opposite way. As the Washington Post notes this morning, they realized that siding with Democrats was the only way to kill the legislation.

So who are these Republicans? Senators Jim Bunning (Ky.), John Cornyn (Tex.), Jim DeMint (S.C.), Elizabeth Dole (N.C.) and Mike Enzi (Wyo.) took a stand against the immigration bill and faced tremendous pressure for doing so. They held firm, however, and deserve credit for using a crafty strategy to sink the legislation.

[Jacksonville Patriot]

We should thank all four of these effective, patriotic senators. I never thought Libby Dole had this courage in her.

[Illuminatas]

Im proud to say that Sen. Enzi is from my state. Wyoming - Powder River! Let’r Buck!

[Shery]

Amen!

I get emails from Dole and I’d say she’s pretty right on, but this took a lot of courage because she is a Bush supporter in a lot of issues.

[dirtboy]

I never thought Libby Dole had this courage in her.

It's telling that the Bush Admin has drifted so far leftwards that Libby Dole is holding them back.

[GOPJ]

I never thought Libby Dole had this courage in her.

Hats off to Libby Dole...

[AIM-54]

Byron Dorgan!

He’s on the other suide of the aisle, but he sure showed up a lot RINO’s on this issue.

Gotta give kudos where judos are due. Killing this bill helps ALL legal Americans - even the misguided ones who vote ‘D’.

[Badeye]

‘It’s telling that the Bush Admin has drifted so far leftwards that Libby Dole is holding them back.’

Great point.

[TomGuy]

This makes it sound as if the sunset bill on guest workers was Dorgan’s bill.

I thought Obama presented that amendment, because Graham was going after Obama in a recent rant for puttimg a time limit on guest workers.

---

Whatever.

This bill isn’t dead yet. It is only severely wounded. When Bush gets back from G-8, he will be pushing for another try to get it or some semblance of it through for his signature.

[lonestar]

I’m proud to claim Cornyn.

[chesty_puller]

Texans are a pretty proud bunch, but Cornyn can make us down-right arrogant.

[elizabetty]

Jim DeMint is a national treasure!

[lonestar]

I never thought Libby Dole had this courage in her.

She's never been stupid.

[K-oneTexas]

You are correct, all valiant efforts that succeeded. Jeff Sessions needs to be added to that list, he fought valiantly with facts and hard data. Unlike the other side with worn out rhetoric and false emotions.

I am glad to see some in Congress standing for what is right. Even some Dems. It doesn't happen often.

Many senators offed valuable amendments, which shows the true way the bill should have headed. Vitter - no AMNESTY. Cornyn - no Felons & full disclosure & permanent bar on criminals and terrorists. Sessions - protecting tax dollars & no entitlements. Coubrun - enforce existing statutes & complete building fence/wall. Dorgen - sunset provisions. Inhofe - English please. DeMint - mandatory health coverage. McConnell - photo ID to vote. And other amendments that didn't get to see the light of day, like Libby Dole's.

The Kennedy-McCain bill last year was a disaster. This years Kennedy-Kyl (Specter, McCain, etc and even GW)was a close second. With all these ideas just mentioned, Reid doesn't seem to think he has any ideas to start a new bill with, cause he'll stick with the botch job he has.

Sen Sessions had it right when he said 'secret sessions' with La Raza and Chamber of Commerce and other influence groups. I do believe we'll see it again before the sessions over ... though I prefer it be dead in it's present form. I don't foresee this Congress, under Reid and Pelosi, taking on some of the major issues of the day ... Tax Reform, Immigration Reform, Social Security Reform, Medicare Reform, a viable Energy Policy just to name a few.

[Cedric]

The way I construe this, Dorgan may have cynically {at the behestof Kennedy/Reid} to curry favor in his home state, but being assured {by K & R} it would fail. They were all snookered by the alert, tactically superior Republicans.

[HerrBlucher]

Jim Bunning (Ky.),
****************
“a powerful pitcher with a hard slider and a deceptive sidearm delivery” .....one more time eh Jim?

[engrpat]

I called Cornyn’s local office last week and again this morning just to say, “thank you.” Suggest more do so. The gentleman really appreciated hearing and said it would be passed on to the Senator. They need the positive reinforcement.

[basil]

I heard on Laura Ingraham this morning that Bush has already contacted Harry Reid to get to work on bringing the bill back to the floor. Don't know if this is truth or fiction, though.

Now we should all let our congresscritters who voted the right way on this know of our appreciation, the same way we contacted them before the vote.

I'm particularly proud of my Senator, John Cronyn, and have already sent him a message to let him know.

[Cedric]

Correction: The way I construe this, Dorgan may have cynically reintroduced his amendment {at the behest of Kennedy/Reid} to curry favor in his home state, but being assured {by K & R} it would fail. They were all snookered by the alert, tactically superior Republicans.

[wildbill]

Texan ping.

Way to go, Big John Cornyn.

[kalee]

I called her office to thank her for her vote. She did the right thing and I’m proud of her.

I also called Senator Burr’s office to thank him.