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DEL.ICIO.USThe Isakson solution
For those who say Republicans gotta have an immigration bill, this may be the only way out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Monday, a weary Johnny Isakson capped a weeklong tour of veterans’ memorials in Europe with a speech to the Metro Atlanta Rotary Club on the hottest issue of the day.
No, not gay marriage.
Georgia’s junior senator has become perhaps the only path through which Republicans can escape the rock and hard place posed by immigration.
“I was kind of glad to have the Memorial Day break. Two weeks straight of debating Ted Kennedy is about anyone can take,” Isakson said.
He’d just touched down in Washington, and was on his cell phone. Another meeting on immigration lay between him and his bed.
Isakson hadn’t done any vote-counting, but said he could feel the ground shifting. The math is relatively simple.
Last month, listening to business interests, the Senate passed out a bill that backed President Bush’s comprehensive approach to immigration, including the creation of a guest worker program, and a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
House Republicans have declared their opposition to anything smacking of “amnesty.”
During the Senate debate, Isakson pitched a third approach. It would forestall the granting of any kind of legal status to illegals currently inside the country — until the borders have been declared secure.
Isakson won 40 votes, and was defeated. But four senators who were absent would have sided with him, the Georgia senator said. And Isakson says other senators are giving his approach a second look.
”We’re in striking distance,” Isakson said. “Now that all the other things have been debated and the public has been engaged, [other senators are] looking back and saying, ‘You know, we might should rethink.’”
What senators? Isakson didn’t say. We’ve heard the name of Lindsey Graham of South Carolina mentioned.
Isakson said his approach has had “unanimous” support from House members. And he openly says that his version of immigration reform — “or something like it” — is the only solution.
“I don’t think any bill comes out of a conference committee that doesn’t incorporate securing the border first,” he said. “It ain’t happened yet, but I’m working on it.”
Comments
By Dave
June 5, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this
Johnny continues to be the only Republican that is truly concerned about solving REAL problems and doing the right thing for the average American.
By TitletownUSA
June 6, 2006 01:53 AM | Link to this
This is one Democrat that’s never voted for Isackson before. But he may very well be voting for him next time around. I like people who use common sense and put their consituents before anything else. Well done Johnny!
By Earle
June 6, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this
Regarding Isakson and the Latin Invasion. As usually happens THE SENATOR from Georgia proves himself as the full bucket of water from a almost empty well. His proposal to secure the border with Mexico before any other action is not only logical but practical. The CITIZENS do not trust or believe the Congress or the GovMint are able to handle simple problems, much less infiltration of OUR great nation.
By Van
June 6, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this
After the last Senate vote on immigration, I can understand why Congress has lower approval ratings than the President.
The senate, with the exception of our two, seems to not believe in or listen to the people that elected them.
At least some in congress have that rarest of commodities, common sense.
By Tony
June 6, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
Our two? Who Saxby? The man who tests the wind direction or someone else to take the lead? The senior Senator is as junior as they come.
By lucky
June 7, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this
My question to each of them would be: How much have you contributed to the fence building of the Minuteman? We proudly own a foot.
Wish there was a way to fund benefits for illegals from the private retirement plans that Congress is entitled to instead of our taxpayer funded plan.
By Van
June 7, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this
Tony ,
Thats right, both of our senators voted against the Senate bill. My thanks to both of them.
By Van
June 7, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this
lucky,
You can sponsor them to live in your house, with your own money.
Think what would happen if we told the world, you don’t need papers to work or vote(like that California Democrat Rep) in the US.
By Tony
June 7, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this
Yeah…nothing better than Saxby. Good to know the senior senator follows rather than leads. Also good to see them both rake in money from companies prospering from that act. If they had guts, they’d go back and demand some stiff punishment especially from all of these GA businesses breaking US and state law. If they were true about the issue, they’d end this whole issue by making the penalties so high and harsh, companies would be afraid to even LOOK at an illegal alien.
By Jim
June 7, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this
Tony,
Is your last name Cleland? Or somehow related? I’m just happy that our Senators voted the not to support a bad bill. Our Senators saw these bills as amnesty and I am glad they voted against it.
And last time I checked, Chambliss has done alot more in his short time more than the likes of Wyche Fowler or Cleland.
By Tony
June 7, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this
Why is it that any time a conservative is fed up with the sniveling DC bought and paid for cronies, their little minions have to call them Democrats or liberals? Jim can you think of antyhing besides that? Come up with something a little more creative. Sorry that all you can think of is calling someone Cleland or spout out Democrats’ names if a conservative thinks his elected representatives are weak or pawns of DC. Jim, why don’t you check again and tell me what all Saxby led on. You can start with that hideous farm bill he shoved down our throats that the Secretary of Agriculture is now calling attrocious. And what happened to all of the wonderful advice Saxby had on national security? Was he the one who advised Bush on border security? What of those bases in Atlanta he kept open? Dubai? No Child Left Behind? Anyone?
By Jim
June 8, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this
He has led on more than any politician in GA since Nunn, and is certainly cut from the same cloth. We will have to differ on Ag policy, becuase I think he had brought common sense and has protected Georgia’s farmers. But I guess that you feel as though it is important to have Brazil be responsible for the United States’ Cotton production. We have all seen how well it works with energy not to protect our own resources. I guess you think that our nation’s greatest asset, our farmers, shouldn’t be the ones to feed our population either?
One other thing, I don’t think you want to talk about the Atlanta bases since Georgia was actually a winner overall in BRAC. Ask the folks at Robbins, Benning, and Marine Corps Logistics Base (where civilian jobs were saved and added) and they will tell you that we did quite well in BRAC.
However, I turn the question to you, please name me one, just one, thing that Cleland did in his 6 years of service. I certainly can’t think of one, and thankfully, neither could Georgia’s voters and that is why we Georgians sent him home.
By Tony
June 8, 2006 09:48 AM | Link to this
Jim, you’re killing me. You are truly a spinner in typical Democratic fashion. You still don’t name a single accomplishment or something he led on and you manage to try to make me out to be some lover of Brazil? If you can’t do any better than that, you and Saxby are ‘cut from the same cloth’…both full of fluff and no substance.
As for the bases, so a few jobs get shuffled around with people moving here rather than Georgians getting the jobs plus a large amount of empty bases here in Atlanta and we win? Our state went from heart of planning and execution of Desert Storm to ghoast town. Nunn managed to keep all bases open did he not? These guys watched half of them wither away.
And why do you keep bringing up Cleland with me? You are a fool for implying I love Cleland. Or are you just assuming again? You know what happens when you assume don’t you Jim? Better read up. Homework: find me some accomplishments that makes Saxby anywhere close to Nunn, Coverdell, Russell, and any of the other greats of GA. Heck, find me accomplishments in general.
By Ugotta B. Kidding
June 8, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this
You’ve got to be kidding??? Right? Isakson and Chambliss have done what about this ILLEGAL INVASION? All I can see is a smoke screen in the Senate to have amnesty for these illegals, though they’re so very careful NOT to call it that. And they voted against an obvious anmesty bill. Boy that took guts. When our Senators take a stand like that of the House, let me know!