[dez]

Just got off the phone with Sen. Bond’s local office, which told me the reason for his vote was because he was given the opportunity to introduce an amendment that would remove the Z-visa provison from the bill. If the amendment fails, I was told, Sen. Bond would vote against the bill.

While it’s not over until it’s over, this is a better explanation than I feared I would be given.

[bleach]

So our two democrat senators from Ohio voted in favor of amnesty. George had better think of this as his last term or he is going to end up like Mike DeWhine. He might as well go ahead and retire.

[Defiant]

If the amendment fails, I was told, Sen. Bond would vote against the bill.

If that was his reasoning, then Bond is stupid. And Bond is not stupid.

To give an analogy, it would be like failing to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, because you want to give them the opportunity to be responsible with them. If they are not, then you agree that you will retaliate. Which is, by the way, the way Bush is handling Iran.

Of course, if you could have stopped something early, before it had a chance of success, you will wish you had done that at your earliest opportunity. Bond knows that, and so it is plain that he doesn't want to stop amnesty. He knows that if it gets to the Senate floor, the Dems will pass it by a majority vote, even if he votes against it. He is looking, Kerry-like, for the ability to say he was for it before he was against it, and play both sides.

A vote for cloture makes passage possible and reveals the true motive and desire of the Senator. This is a list that we need to keep handy. It is a sad day, a day of shame. Many formerly reputable men have sullied their names.

[goldfinch]

If the amendment fails, I was told, Sen. Bond would vote against the bill.

Did he say he would vote against cloture? Or is he trying to fool people by voting for the second cloture vote and they voting against the bill?

[Mamzelle]

re: Just got off the phone with Sen. Bond’s local office, which told me the reason for his vote was because he was given the opportunity to introduce an amendment that would remove the Z-visa provison from the bill.)))

Really? That's the whole guts of the bill.

This bill is primarily amnesty for employers of illegals. Right now, several states are beginning to write their own anti-illegal legislation and the Chambers of Commerce are putting the guns to GOP Senators' heads.

The Z Visa would let these employers off the hook--it's the Z Visa which is the very thing we need to defeat--

[Waryone]

I’m sorry to say it but Kit Bond is either the dumbest person on the hill or he thinks we’re all stupid. It does not matter what amendment gets attached to the bill. THE POWERS THAT BE will strip away any amendments they don’t want when they get into conference with the House. He knows this, I believe Lott even stated this, and Fat Teddy is counting on this fact.

For him to be saying he’s voting for a chance to amend this bill is beyond ignorant.