An inconvenient issue: illegal immigration and the GOP (RINOs fret as 2008 approaches--Must Read!)

GOPublius ^ | July 19, 2007

[2ndDivisionVet]

The GOP leadership is waking up to a persistent reality, and it's one that has fundraisers and strategists at the RNC up at night. Conservatives, the core constituency of the Republican Party, are irate. Far from a passing hobbyhorse, the illegal immigration issue has galvanized Republican voters like no single issue in recent memory, and conservatives are refusing to let it go.

The Senate's comprehensive immigration bill, backed by the President and pushed by the GOP establishment, was more than a mere legislative miscalculation, is was the straw that broke the conservatives' back. Moreover, to listen to conservatives, it wasn't merely the legislation itself, but the strategy used by those trying to sell the bill. Conservatives are hopping mad at what they regard as unparalleled arrogance on the part of their Party's own leadership--arrogance that has rank and file Republicans digging in their heels, and vowing to go all the way in their efforts to defeat anyone associated with the bill.

With an election year approaching, the GOP is anxious to patch things up and move on. As in the past, the Republican establishment knows that come what may, when Hillary Clinton steps onto the stage, even conservatives outraged by the comprehensive immigration strategy will come running home. But as they are discovering, moving on may not be as easy as before. "Not this time" say many conservatives, who regard the immigration deal as merely the final insult from a party that has lost its way, and who vow to sit out the 2008 elections rather than compromise on their values.

"Money talks" and many conservatives feel that despite relying overwhelmingly on small money contributions, the Party caters only to big business interests in its policy. As a result, many conservatives are holding back their small contributions, and a grassroots effort to starve the GOP leadership into enforcing the borders has begun.

A favorite tool for angry Republicans is the so called "Bush Peso," that longtime GOP contributors are printing out on their home printers and enclosing in all Party solicitations. It is evidence of a new attitude among many conservatives--give us genuine conservatism, or else.

And slowly but surely, the message is getting through.

The collapse of John McCain's campaign is the most visible sign of conservatives walking away from GOP leaders associated with the comprehensive immigration strategy, but as Senate Republicans gear up for an election year, many are worried about their own reelection prospects.

Conservatives, it seems, are taking names and reminding their Party that they will not allow this issue to die. Rather than contribute to the Party's machinery--the RNC, NRCC, or NRSC--contributors are taking the time to investigate how their Senator voted, or whether their Congressional Representative voiced support for the legislation, and they're contributing accordingly.

Indeed, some analysts have suggested that 2008 could be a banner year for primary challenges to sitting GOP lawmakers. From South Carolina to Nebraska to Alaska, longtime GOP Senators are closely watching the groundswell of support for new conservative leadership.

In the midst of a campaign season in which there is no sitting Republican Vice President, or heir apparent, and an angry base clamoring for government accountability, the stage is set for a conservative revolt...and if you're a pro-amnesty incumbent, beware, your days in office may indeed be numbered.

[TheRake]

I also quit donating to the Michigan GOP. The republican party in this state is weak and has been for some time. I blame a lot of it on Engler. He had a chance to promote strong conservative leadership and look what we are left with. When is a M republican going to go on the offensive with Granholm and stop the “we have to be nice to the lady” routine. She’s no lady. She’s a liberal and she wants your money. I’d like to see L. Brooks take a run one day. He’s not as conservative as I would like, but he’s a tax cut hawk.

[Beagle8U]

“The real fun is not only will they not get a dime from you butthey are also paying to get the message since it is a prepaid return envelope.”

Actually the pre-paid postage is collected when the envelope is delivered and it costs more if it weighs more.

I stuff them full of junk mail and old expired coupons.

[maxter]

While we are talkng about national elections, we also need to focus on our local and state races.

[cinives]

Funny how democrap voters don’t have any interest in the amnesty issue, according to all reports ... it’s just conservatives who are mad.

The usual MSM BS.

[TomGuy]

I was listening to talkshow host Rusty Humphries in 2001 or 2002. On one of his programs, he talked about having a ‘internal memo’ from the RNC. That memo was basically telling the GOP politicians running in elections to avoid the issue of illegals/immigration. They were cautioned that they would lose RNC support (translation: money).

The GOP has tried to bury the problem of illegals/immigration during the Bush 2 Administration, while Bush has been pushing for comprehensive immigration reform [that is amnesty for those in Rio Linda] since he took office in 2001.

The last major stoppage of the flow of illegals came under the presidency of Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, half a century ago.

The last major unimpeded invasion of illegals came under the presidency of Republican George W. Bush, who currently occupies the Oval Office and who's team has recently taken the approach that the problem is too big to deal with, they don't have the tools or capabilities to stop illegals, they need more laws (including amnesty), and those illegals are doing jobs that fat, lazy Americans won't do.

GWBush and the unabated massive invasion of illegals came during a time when the Republicans had control of The Senate, The House, and the Oval Office. Estimates of the flow of illegals say some 4,000 to 5,000 new illegals enter the US every day/night.

While the Senate was under Republican control in 2006, they passed the one of the most atrocious bills in history — the Comprehensive Immigration Act — which provided amnesty to millions of illegals. The Republican House did stop that idiocy.

Not to be undone, the Senate tried again to 2007 to pass a revised edition of the Comprehensive Immigration Act. The Democratic controlled Senate failed to pass it.

Bush would not let it die. He pit-bulled the bill by making a special unprecedented trip to Capitol Hill to get the Senate to revive the bill. The Senate did, in an unprecedented action, again try to push through a slightly revised edition of the Comprehensive Immigration Act — just weeks following the previous failure to pass. This edition brought out a massive uproar from the American public — millions of irate faxes that would fill a storage building, millions of emails that would fill tetrabyte-sized storage drives, and enough phone calls to cause a melt-down of the Senate phone switchboard system. This second attempt to also failed in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Of course, the Pubbie-bots rushed out praise that the Republicans stopped the bill. But, only a partial list of Republicans get the credit, with help from some Democrats who also voted against the bill. The President was for it, the GOP Senate leadership was for it, and the GOP/RNC leadership was apparently threatening members who were running in elections throughout the country with a loss of RNC support (i.e., money) if they did not support the Comprehensive Immigration Act.

The GOP does not have a pretty record on immigration/illegal immigration — not since Eisenhower was president.

If one of the major Democratic contenders claim the issue and promise better border security than the Bush 2 Administration has provided, the Dems could walk away with the issue (some 80% of the public want better border control) and walk right into the Oval Office on January 20, 2009.

The sad part is:

The apparently clueless GOP leadership continues to ignore the major problem and continues to push for massive amnesty. They are piece-parting the Comprehensive Immigration provisions by trying to attach some of the provisions onto other bills. The issue did not die with the big Senate vote to kill the bill.

[patriotspride]

” Oh, you’re a FL guy too! howdy neighbor.

I’m a little torn with Crist. I didn’t vote for him in the primary, but he is a good small government kind of guy.

Unfortunately, as we’ve seen lately, that’s not the end-all of wisdom. He’s definitely done a few boneheaded moves the past couple of weeks, that silly Global Warming thing for instance.”

Hello from a Treasure Coast Freeper.

Let’s wait and see the real net $ from Charlies Insurance & Tax initiatives.

I’m sure you’re like me, and wonder where the gap of “ fall like a rock” on insurance premiums, and major property tax reform came from ?????

[TomGuy]

We’re going after Mel Martinez here.

You better hurry.

If the big-business country-club set still control the party by the start of the election year (2008), you are going to see a big-business country-club nominee.

If you expect to get a conservative candidate, you need to to make serious changes in the RNC now by getting conservatives into party leadership positions.

The voters sent a message in 2006: They are not going to vote for the same (Republicans) and expect a different result. The Repubicans have shown poor leadership the last 8 years, and many of Republican politicians still seem clueless.

Regrettably, the only major alternative is the Democrats. And if the GOP keeps offering the same, the voters will seek the alternative. The GOP is setting themselves up for another bitter pill to swallow in 09 when "Madam President" raises her hand to take the oath.

[Guenevere]

East Central, on the coast as well...did not vote for Crist.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Glad to meet you neighbor.

[trickyricky]

"As in the past, the Republican establishment knows that come what may, when Hillary Clinton steps onto the stage,
even conservatives outraged by the comprehensive immigration strategy will come running home."

"That's what they think? We'll see about that."

I will not vote against the lesser of two evils ever again.
I berated many of my friends when they would point out GW's left leanings.
Now I'm eating my words.
And the Republican Congress outdid the democrats.

From now on, I'm voting for Conservative candidates, period.

If the country wants to take a left-hand turn, let the democrats take the wheel.

[MNJohnnie]

80% of the votes for the bill were from Democrats.

85% of the votes that killed the bill were Republicans.

So of course the rabid Know Nothings, once again, IGNORE the Democrats to scream mindless bile at the GOP.

That way the idiot wing of the Conservative Movement can keep spending all their time helping the Democrats repeat in 2008 their win in 2006. Then the Know Nothings can sit around and whine when NEXT time they don’t have enough Conservative votes in the US Senate to fillbuster Amnesty

You people are your own worst enemies. You are so politically ignorant you are the Democrats BEST allies. You never EVER seem to grasp spending ALL your time sniping your own in the back only does ONE thing. Elect Democrats who will vote 100% of the time AGAINST you.

Frankly GET off our side! You people do NOTHING but help the Democrat Party propaganda machine. Just go JOIN them.

[KevinDavis]

That is how Reagan felt about the “Know Nothings”.. He felt they helped the Rats more than the GOP... Thank you for telling the truth...

[MNJohnnie]

On Judges alone the GOP has done more in the last 4 years to move this country to the Right then all the lunatic loser screamers whining because they cannot ONLY get 100% of what they personaly want.

Grow up. NOTHING in Life is perfect.

Frankly this “Betrayed Conservative” posture with it continual excusing of Democrat Party misconduct in order to perpetually whine about the 30% of the Republican glass that is empty makes most of us wonder JUST which side these perpetual whiners REALLY are on.

Cause the way you all spend all your time doing the Democrats PR work sure makes it look like you all are Democrats in everything but name.

[TomGuy]

You are still being duped and you can’t see it.

The Pubbie Senate passed the monstrosity in 06.

The Dem Senate defeated it — twice — in 07.

Yet, the loudest voices FOR it were from some of the Republicans: Graham, Lott, Specter, McCain (sort of).

That is reality.

If that means we are better off under gridlick, I am all for it.

The monstrosity is not completely dead yet, however. The Bush Admin is continuing to push piece-part provisions by having them attached to other bills.

[B4Ranch]

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00206

[trickyricky]

"Frankly GET off our side!"

If there were a viable conservative party, the GOP would be in the dustbin of history, where it belongs.

I'm not on your side.

Moderate and liberal republicans are every bit as much my enemy as democrats.

[B4Ranch]

This is the crowd that we need to reject.

Grouped by Home State
Alabama: Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Nay Stevens (R-AK), Nay
Arizona: Kyl (R-AZ), Nay McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Nay
California: Boxer (D-CA), Nay Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado: Allard (R-CO), Nay Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut: Dodd (D-CT), Yea Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Delaware: Biden (D-DE), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida: Martinez (R-FL), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia: Chambliss (R-GA), Nay Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Yea Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Nay Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Illinois: Durbin (D-IL), Yea Obama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana: Bayh (D-IN), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa: Grassley (R-IA), Nay Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas: Brownback (R-KS), Not Voting Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky: Bunning (R-KY), Nay McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana: Landrieu (D-LA), Nay Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine: Collins (R-ME), Nay Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Maryland: Cardin (D-MD), Yea Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts: Kennedy (D-MA), Yea Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan: Levin (D-MI), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota: Coleman (R-MN), Nay Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi: Cochran (R-MS), Nay Lott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri: Bond (R-MO), Nay McCaskill (D-MO), Nay
Montana: Baucus (D-MT), Nay Tester (D-MT), Nay
Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada: Ensign (R-NV), Nay Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Nay Sununu (R-NH), Nay
New Jersey: Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico: Bingaman (D-NM), Nay Domenici (R-NM), Nay
New York: Clinton (D-NY), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina: Burr (R-NC), Nay Dole (R-NC), Nay
North Dakota: Conrad (D-ND), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Ohio: Brown (D-OH), Yea Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma: Coburn (R-OK), Not Voting Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Oregon: Smith (R-OR), Nay Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania: Casey (D-PA), Yea Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island: Reed (D-RI), Yea Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina: DeMint (R-SC), Nay Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota: Johnson (D-SD), Not Voting Thune (R-SD), Nay
Tennessee: Alexander (R-TN), Nay Corker (R-TN), Nay
Texas: Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Nay Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont: Leahy (D-VT), Yea Sanders (I-VT), Nay
Virginia: Warner (R-VA), Nay Webb (D-VA), Nay
Washington: Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia: Byrd (D-WV), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Wisconsin: Feingold (D-WI), Yea Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming: Enzi (R-WY), Not Voting

1,034 posted on 06/07/2007 6:53:16 PM PDT by angkor
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1846351/posts?page=1034#1034

[Hostage]

Thanks for the ping.

Priorities:

1. Purge the current GOP leadership and replace with persons of strong conservative convictions and deep connections with rank and file conservatives.

2. Run unwavering conservative candidates in primaries against every supporter of CIR.

My thoughts:

I am warming to Duncan Hunter but not as President, not as SecDef, or SecDHS and so on but as RNC Chairman.

I am also hoping we can get Tom Delay back in the game.

Senator Inhofe also is on our side. Why isn’t he in a Republican leadership position?

As for FDT, he listens and he will be with us and us with him. There is no doubt that he will stand on a conservative foundation as President.

[Borax Queen]

...and that’s just from the ones who 1> fully know about it and 2> have the guts to openly talk about it. I would imagine that many, many people are willing to stand up and be counted, if there were others to fall in behind.

I hope you're right! From talk I hear, I would agree... course we are right down here in the thick of things in AZ.

[Borax Queen]

From now on, I'm voting for Conservative candidates, period. If the country wants to take a left-hand turn, let the democrats take the wheel.

BTTT and me too.