Posted on 06/11/2007 1:38:54 PM PDT by 300magnum
WASHINGTON - President Bush is putting his influence within his own party to the test Tuesday as he pleads personally with skeptical Senate Republicans to resurrect his immigration bill.
Despite his confident tone Monday about the measure's fate, Bush is facing a hostile audience that has shown little appetite for following his lead on the contentious issue.
Bush left no room for the possibility that his bid to legalize up to 12 million unlawful immigrants while tightening border security might die. "I'll see you at the bill signing," he said while traveling in Bulgaria.
Still, weakened by his sagging poll numbers and a sense within GOP ranks that the president has lost touch with his core supporters on immigration, Bush may well lack the clout he would need to persuade Republicans to back the measure, say lawmakers and strategists.
"Each time this debate comes up, the president's approval ratings go down, and that's not a positive in terms of (lawmakers') willingness to listen to him on the issue," said independent pollster Scott Rasmussen.
"What happens when the immigration debate becomes dominant in the news is that the Republican base begins to have doubts, and the president's support among them drops as well," he added.
Bush, who helped shape the bipartisan immigration compromise that collapsed in the Senate last week, will huddle with Republicans on Tuesday at a luncheon in the Capitol aimed at persuading them to give the measure another chance.
The bill exposes deep divisions among both parties, but it was solid GOP opposition that stalled it when all but seven Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to put it on a fast track to passage.
Senate Democratic leaders wrote Bush on Tuesday saying it was up to him to lean on Republicans to back the measure.
"It will take stronger leadership by you to ensure the opponents of the bill do not block the path to final passage," said Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev.
Reid said he would be willing to bring immigration back to the Senate floor in coming weeks if he could be assured enough Republicans would support the bill.
So far, however, the president's efforts to give the bill a personal boost — most visibly in his recent harsh criticism of its opponents in speeches during Congress' Memorial Day break — appear to have had the opposite effect.
Some Republican supporters of the bill said those remarks — when Bush accused those who dismiss the measure as "amnesty" of trying to frighten the public — cost the president sway among Republicans.
With the measure facing a critical test last week, Sen. Trent Lott (news, bio, voting record), R-Miss., joked that Bush should stay out of the debate and instead focus on the annual G-8 meeting of industrialized nations he was attending in Germany. "His comments last week were not helpful," Lott said.
On the other side of the Capitol, some Republicans say that on immigration, Bush lacks the strong influence that helped him muscle through other signature initiatives that divided the GOP, such as the No Child Left Behind education law and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
"President Bush is a force of nature on Capitol Hill," said Rep. Mike Pence (news, bio, voting record), R-Ind. "But on this issue, the president has certainly been downgraded to a tropical storm. He doesn't have the gale-force winds of previous years of his administration."
That's true because Bush is out of step with Americans — not just Republicans — on the issue, added Pence, a conservative who is pushing for immigration changes but opposes the Senate bill.
Still, even with his stature diminished, supporters of the measure say a strong nudge from Bush could give Republicans the political protection they need to back the contentious bill.
"It makes a difference to members of Congress that the president is pushing all-out for it, not because they want to do him a favor, but because it gives them cover," said Tamar Jacoby of the Manhattan Institute.
Jacoby said the immigration measure is "dangerously close" to being killed by a small but vocal conservative minority that is incensed at Bush for his position and fighting to keep Republican lawmakers from following him.
"The president is trying to tip the balance the other way," Jacoby said.
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The bill is S 1348.
Let the beast die already...
Love that picture. Thats back when they thought they had this sham in the bag.
Did anyone else but me notice that Lindsey Graham or Chambliss were AWOL
on all the Sunday Morning talk shows? AWOL.
Just last year, we were promised a fence. Where’s the fence? Bush
Old Saxby Chambliss is laughing it up in that picture.
Thats before he got BOOED at a Georgia GOP convention about a week later.
“ut the reality is GWB takes on big issues. He doesn’t push them off....he tries to address them.”
He has failed to take on border security. He could build the wall. He won’t do it seriously. He could take out amnesty and support ‘enforcement first’, but he wont. Why? Because he’s not in the right place on this issue.
Bush will never fix the problem because he doesnt even understand it.
” Reality is we have a 30 year in the making problem on immigration.”
... based on Kennedy written bills and failure to enforce the law. More of the same - more Kennedy amnesty bills and lack of enfrocement - will make the problem worse.
“We have a terribly flawed guest worker program (where a large % of those currently here illgeally now started from).”
Most illegals these days just cross the border or overstay visas.
You obviously don’t live in Southern California. We are overrun with illegals. We have been promised enforcement before and nothing happened. We have been promised they would build a fence...2 miles have been built. Our roads are clogged and they are getting more clout each and every day. La Raza is a real force to change this nation. You need to wake up!
So Bush is determined to completely implode before his term is over... And possibly take 2008 with it... I don’t understand this foolish behavior...
You know, I could have probably lived the rest of my life without ever hearing your peach-pit story. Thanks a lot, I will never be able to eat a peach nor play with a beautiful Irish setter again without remembering your thoughtful words.
Really, thanks a lot!
Regards,
GtG
” Therefore, counting illegal aliens ADDS to the people in normally democratic bastions of the poor and overcrowded. Of course, every House seat that is in a safely democratic (minority/low income area) ELIMINATES a (probably republican) seat that might otherwise go to a more conservative (non-minority!) area in the west or south.
It is estimated that 1-2 Mass. House seats are democratic now because of illegals in Boston. 4-5 House seats in NY. 1 in PA. 1-2 in IL. 2-3 in FL. 2-3 in TX. 4-5 in CA.
THAT difference is Pelosi’s power.
Now - WHY is Bush pushing a democrat agenda?”
GOOD QUESTION.
What I don't understand is who anointed this gang of 12 to come up with a bill in the first place, as if they were the chosen ones and everyone else was supposed to fall in line.
“He’s like an Irish setter trying to pass a peach-pit ...”
OUCH!
And while I don't agree with GWB completely on immigration...on the whole he has been a damn fine CinC/POUTS. He has led this world in the WOT like very few could have or would have.
Condsider this:
Reagan strengthened the GOP while he was in office.
Bush has damaged it badly if not destroyed it.
Reagan made plenty of mistakes. Only a fool repeats those mistakes. Instead you learn from them.
lack of border control will lead to devastating attacks here on our soil as the MS-13 gangs have reportedly been working with Al Quaeda to bring in nukes. Will anyone hold Kennedy responsible for this travesty when it happens? No but he is the architect of the last two failed immigration bills. Bush’s policy makes no sense to any conservative. It’s like he is on Fox’s (former Mexican President) payroll. Close the border, impose penalties on employers for hiring illegals and then we will talk. Do you live in a border state??
A sad state of affairs. He’s done it to himself. Self destruct mode in action. As Glenn Beck said to day, “Bush is having a love affair with Mexico”. Truer words were never spoken.
“There is another number by illegal activists and that is 800-417-7666”
Thanks - this one got thru.
Got both Boxer and F’stein offices.Had to leave a message at Boxers - leave your zip code along with your message.
:) It’s dead Jim.
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