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DEL.ICIO.USOn immigration: Isakson and Chambliss keep their distance, Trent Lott endears himself to talk radio
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stray thoughts on the immigration reform bill:
Today’s AJC and New York Times carry strong indications of how Georgia senators may vote on the immigration reform bill when it comes back up.
In the AJC:
Meeting Tuesday with Bush at the Capitol as he sought to save the bill, the Georgians urged him to send Congress a separate emergency budget bill that would guarantee immediate and continuing funding for border security measures. Such a guarantee could win over congressional conservatives and an American public skeptical that the federal government is committed to securing the U.S.-Mexico border, they said.
Bush’s support for attaching the money directly to the immigration bill — in hopes that future fees collected under the measure would be sufficient to cover the expense— makes the funding less stable.
“It’s a little disappointing that the president didn’t come out and accept our recommendation for a supplemental,” Chambliss said. He said Bush’s offer did nothing to change his mind about the inadequacies of the bill.
In the New York Times article, the immediate topic is President Bush’s infusion of $4.4 billion for border security as an inducement for Republican support.
Then there’s this:
Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, described the call for $4.4 billion as “a good start.” But Mr. Isakson said Mr. Bush needed to do more to secure the border and to show that he was serious about enforcing immigration laws.
We’re betting that both Isakson and Chambliss — despite their strong roles in the negotiations — will vote against the bill, and that it will still pass.
Whatever the two senators do, they’ll do together. This particular strategy may be the salvation of Chambliss, who’s up for re-election next year.
By linking themselves arm-in-arm on this issue, they’ve sent a message to the most militant opponents of the immigration deal: To attack one, you must attack both.
This week, state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) cited many reasons for resisting suggestions that he challenge Chambliss in next year’s primary. He didn’t say so, but the idea of running against Chambliss and Isakson had to be one of them.
Also in the New York Times piece is this paragraph:
Comments by Republican senators on Thursday suggested that they were feeling the heat from conservative critics of the bill, who object to provisions offering legal status. The Republican whip, Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supports the bill, said: “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”
Quick. Somebody call Neal Boortz.
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By Stephanie
June 15, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
?Talk show radio is running America? What kind of garbage is this from a Republican leader? That is what the problem is. Sen. Lott should listen to talk radio to know what American citizens and his constituents expect. We do not want the legalization of unknown millions of illegal aliens here in the US. The minimal projected cost based on the first 12 million aliens is 2.6 trillion dollars. That is TRILLION with a “T”. No responsible policy maker would expect Americans to buy this trade off to have a secure border in exchange for cheap landscapers and dry-wallers from the Third Wall. Connect the dots people. Our senators need to know that the “Grand Bargain” is a sell-out of America. There is a reason that President Bush has the lowest approval rating in modern times. He wants to create a legacy of selling out America for his one North America. I am disappointed that our Senators have not been outspoken about the legalization/amnesty portion of the bill. Chip Rogers would be a great substitute for Saxby Chambliss and Jeff Sessions for President!
By Elderberry
June 15, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
Our elected officials are more concerned with future voters than present ones. We have been sold out. This will be the last straw for the republican party; then finally the socialist utopia lberals crave. I will actively campaign against both our senators no matter how they vote on it. Thier stated position is amnesty. SECURE THE BORDERS DUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Charles
June 15, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
I agree with Stephanie and Elderberry. We have been sold out. Who do these elected officials think they are?
President Bush had the audacity to tell the American People and the Congress that he will secure the borders if the immigration amnesty bill is passed.
I say send the twelve million illegal immigrants back home and secure the borders. Where do people get the notion that we can’t send volumes of illegal immigrants back home? When those two objectives have been met, we can vote on an immigration reform bill.
We need to vote people into office that will honor their oath to the Constitution of the United States. Those officials who have broken their oath to the Constitution of the United States should be voted out of office and face the bar of justice.
By D
June 15, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
if it just wasn’t so sad and hurting our country is such a bad way, the Republican stance on immigration would be a great comedy. they wrap themselves in the flag, hold a cross in their hands and surround themselves with children and blow out all the hot air about how much they care about America and how they want security to protect us from terrorism, the whole time in bed with corporate America to keep bringing in the cheap labor that undercuts American workers, the worst part, so many people are dumb enough to be fooled by their manipulation, and too weak to admit they may have made a mistake when they voted for these weasels. as foolish as the person that keeps driving around with a ‘W’ sticker on the back of their car, someone who would rather run this country into the ground rather than to admit fault and move towards the center and away from polarizing politics. Republicans stand on one side of the mountain and only get to see things on that side, Democrats stand on the other side of that same mountain and see something totally different, while Centrists are at the top with a full 360 degree view, with no need to sugar-coat anything, invalidate anyone or flat out lie to cover for their misdeeds.
By D
June 15, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
we all need to stop being Republicans or Democrats, we all need to stop giving any assistance to any of these parties, and when someone asks you what political party you are for, just say the American party, I vote for America, and not for some lying corrupt con artist. as long as we say we are with one party or another, then people think they need to defend that party no matter what they do, so that they don’t look like they’ve made a mistake, that they are imperfect, afraid that someone might see that they are in fact human like the rest of us. do all your own thinking, don’t out-source any of it, and if the only way a political party can look good is by tearing down another person or political party, run as fast as you can away from those people. if you can’t build yourself up on your own merits, and you find it necessary to belittle anyone that totally doesn’t agree with you, you are a bad American and someone that is contributing to the decline of this once great country. we need to have no political affliations, then and only then, can the manipulation (BS) be controlled, then and only then can we start to hold the crooks in Washington accountable for the bad things they do. then and only then, can the truth slowly start to bubble up to the surface, clear for all to see. and if someone is different than you, that should be ok, this America, and just because someone has a different opinion than our own, it doesn’t make them automatically wrong, afterall this is supposed to be America. uniformity didn’t work for the Soviet Bloc and it won’t work here either. looking at Communism and the Muslim world we can clearly see why totalitarian state control and religious state control are horrible things. we should be allowed to be our own person with our own thoughts, and not controlled and manipulated through lies, fear, religion or out-right oppression from our own government, the one that’s supposed to be ‘of the people’.
By Jecg_97030
June 15, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Trent Lott doesn’t think we have the ability to think and we don’t have free will?
All talk radio has done for us is give us the data we need to make an informed decision. If we relied on say, the AJC, this bill would have already passed.
I hope the citizens of the US take Lott to task on this and don’t forget that he basically called us mindless robots when his next election comes around.
Michael Chertoff’s Claim:
“Failure to act on this legislation will deny the country the safety and security provided by these enhanced enforcement measures.” Chertoff wrote Tuesday night.
Democrat Senator Clair McCaskill:
“Frankly, we don’t even need this legislation to be effective. If this Administration would only enforce current law, it would make a tremendous difference.” Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill on June 8, 2007.
Who do you believe?
By Saxby
June 15, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this
I think you misquoted my good friend from Mississippi or there was a typo in his quote. I do believe “running” should read: “ruining”. That more accurately states it!
By Flip Wilson
June 15, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
“By linking themselves arm-in-arm on this issue, they’ve sent a message to the most militant opponents of the immigration deal: To attack one, you must attack both.” Huh? The only message they are sending is that they are both CAVING IN to the militant opponents. Why would the militants attack them for that? Please explain, oh wise pundits …
By D
June 15, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Chertoff like Bush is an idiot, spouting the same invalidating manipulation as always just to get what they want for their own selfish reasons, the ol’ if you’re not ith us you’re against us, and that makes you a liberal, a nut, a fool, a traitor or all of the above if you don’t mindlessly follow along with their corrupt self-serving decisions, and that’s just horrible stuff. but it was so funny when Bush tried those same tactics just a couple of weeks ago, implying that anyone that didn’t support his tainted bill was not a good American. this infuriated several Republicans who are against this bill that sells out the American people. but this issue will split up the Republican party, the lights are on and they are very bright, and the people that shamelessly support corporate America at the expense of the American people are eventually going to have to choose a side on this immigration thing, no longer will these jerks be able to play both sides of the fence, the situation has come to a head. you can no longer say you support America AND encourage droves of illegals to come here merely for profit. we don’t need immigration, period. we needed immigration in the beginning to settle this land and take it over by sheer numbers from the native people, and that is the same theory behind this current wave of immigration. Latinos do plan to make this their land, and they do plan to take it away from the Gringos. they don’t want to work with us, they are working towards making it all for themselves. in two decades they will outnumber legal American citizens. I hear all the time people saying ‘do it for the children’, well here’s your chance to do it for your children, it’s now or it’s gonna be too late.
By Jerry Gonzalez
June 15, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Glad that immigration reform is back on the table. The status quo is unacceptable. We deserve real solutions, not rhetoric.
By Craig
June 15, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
Wait! Lott supports the bill? That’s funny: last year before he was up for re-ellection, he voted against amnesty. How convenient that now that re-election is 6 years away he’s suddenly changed his mind.
And Lott doesn’t like talk radio?
He didn’t mind it back in 1994, when it helped Republicans win control of Congress for the first time in forever.
And he doesn’t like voters speaking their minds?
Free speech is a b***, ain’t it Mr. Lott? Don’t like it? Move to China.
By BobG
June 15, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Jerry, if the “status quo” is enforcing current law, that’s acceptable to me.
If the “status quo” is continuing to let trespassers stream across our borders illegally then, yes, the “status quo” is unacceptable.
Jerry, you think that the opposite of passing the Shamnesty Bill is inaction. That does not have to be true and I know of no opponent of the Shamnesty bill who advocates doing nothing.
That’s your “straw man” argument, which is not reality. It’s your argument because you can’t dispute the effectiveness of attrition through enforcement.
By Phil
June 15, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
I live in Cobb but this was forwarded to me. Every County GOP should follow Gwinnett’s lead in this. A message needs to be sent loud and clear…
THE GWINNETT COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
P.O. Box 492378
Lawrenceville, GA 30049
June 15, 2007
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss
416 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson
120 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE MEMBERS PRESENT OF THE GWINNETT COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY ON JUNE 14, 2007.
THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Re: SB 1348, The “Compromise Amnesty Bill”
Whereas on June 7th the members of the U.S. Senate listened to the American People and rejected cloture on the Kennedy Compromise Immigration Bill (SB 1348) and effectively killed this disastrous bill.
Whereas President Bush and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have vowed to resurrect this “Compromise Amnesty Bill” and news outlets are reporting that another “Grand Compromise” may have been reached on SB 1348.
Whereas recent polling data confirms that the 69% of the voters prefer an approach that focuses exclusively on securing the border and reducing illegal immigration.
Whereas the enforcement only approach is preferred by 84% of Republicans, 55% of Democrats and 69% of the Independent voters. (Rasmussen Reports, June 13, 2007) rasmussenreports
Whereas any bill that does not require those presently residing unlawfully in our country to return home and take their place in line behind those that are following our immigration law is AMNESTY.
We, the members of the Gwinnett County Republican Party, resolve to urge our two great U.S. Senators to once again say no to Sen. Ted Kennedy and the pro amnesty lobby and to vote no on this Amnesty Bill.
Whereas, we resolve to urge Sen. Chambliss and Sen. Isakson to fight to prevent this bill from even coming to the floor for a vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
J. Gregory Howard, Chairman
The Gwinnett County Republican Party
770 925-VOTE (8683)
www.GwinnettGOP.org
By Craig
June 15, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
I hate to break it to you but this bill and others actually call for more border patrol, etc. to help enforce the current laws. It’s hard to enforce the current laws with what is in place and that is why some new bill is needed for expansion. Some people think we can just say ‘enforce the current laws’ as the only solution. It’s clear that 1)they have no clue and 2)it’s hard to enforce laws with what is currently in place with 12-20 million illegals floating around.
I actually wonder if those against this bill have even read it. So many are claiming how bad this bill is but I doubt many have taken the time to read it.
By ivan
June 15, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
Wow, this is one racist discussion board. The immigration bill MUST pass. And it SHALL pass, if not now, in a year, two, or three. Remember, if it was up to the “American people”, “separate but equal” would still be in place. Status quo is unacceptable. Millions of hard-working men and women deserve a chance at the Americna dream. And America does NOT mean white, anglo-saxon, protestant America any more. We do not live in the 1950s! And, while the Congress is at it, they should pass a special resolution “deporting” Senator Sessions, Lou Dobbs, and Tancredo back in time to Nazi Germany. Goebbels would love them in his Ministry of Propaganda.
By Marge
June 15, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Jeff Sessions for President! Lou Dobbs for Vice President! Tom Tancredo for Speaker of the House!
Take the vote to the people, not to La Raza where Lindsey Graham and Ivan are special guests who think anyone who is law abiding is a bigot. Lets get immigrants who respect our laws, speak our language, uphold our values and share our culture. There is no need to apologize for loving my country.
By Montezuma
June 15, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this
Oh stop the whinning! This immigration bill is an honorable, medium term solution and payback to thousands of immigrants that have come here to work hard and make this country what it is now. It also provides justice to Mexicans and other Latin Americans deprived by the U.S. of their lands (California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, New MEXICO, Nevada and Florida) through trcks and artificial conflicts of the past. Sooooo…let’s look to a brighter future, a diverse society with multiple languages and cultures living in poeace, side by side (look at Europe). That is the future, not nativist, bigotted views that deny the sacred human (and divine) right for men to roam the earth and be able to choose where to live and raise a family.
By Brad
June 15, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
If you don’t like this bill then y’all are going to love the Kennedy bill that passed the Senate last year with 55 votes when republican were in charge. The Democrats are laughing at talk radio and all of its follwers because they know the reality of the situation which is, if this bill dies the Kennedy bill is waiting and it has more votes than it did last year when it passed and a house of representatives that would love this bill and a president who was ready to sign it last year. Conservatives kill the bill that they have been invited to participate in or they accept the bill that passed the senate last year that does not even address border security. Ideally it would be great to ship everyone back, seal the border, etc…Unfortunately, we have to deal within the realistic political dynamics.
By Tim
June 15, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Montezuma. Stop the whining? I have earned the right to whine. I pay a crap load of taxes and that entitles me to complain and whine. Me, my family and generations before me have made this country what it is today. My family came here in the early 1700’s and has worked, and fought in most every war to build this great nation called America. So I don’t where you get off claiming these illegal immigrants have made the country what it is now. These illegals are doing nothing more than coming to our country to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It was said that if you build it, they will come. Well guess what, we don’t you to come here anymore. We built it. It should be ours to enjoy. How about staying home and working on changing the political environment in your own corrupt homeland.
Cultures living in peace, side by side in Europe. Yeah. France hasn’t had problems with a bunch of Muslim immigrants trying to burn down Paris. The Netherlands hasn’t had any problems either. Can you say Theo Van Gogh? And don’t try to claim that I am comparing Mexican illegals to Muslim immigrants in Europe. I am just rebutting the statement that you made that Cultures are living in peace, side by side in Europe. They are not.
By andy
June 16, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this
I am sick of both Iakson and Chambliss. They both lack any conviction or leadership skills. Does Chambliss really believe that he can run for re-election as Johnny’s side kick? Get a clue this is not a high school election. JohnnyIsakson belongs in U.S. Senate as much as my mutt dog belongs in the Westminister dog competition. Chambliss on the other hand would sell his own mother to keep his job in the senate. p.s. this comment is from someone who actually voted for both of you. If either men think that the conservative wing has no where to go but to stay with them, they are grossly wrong. Granted we won’t vote for a liberal Dem. but we just simply won’t vote. Good luck without us, if you continue to support the immigration policy.
By McVelJen
June 16, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
Better look in Sen. Lott’s refrigerator for the payoff money for his threat against talk radio. Or maybe he ought to check into a rehabilitation center for drug abuse. Either way, he and each and every other “Republican” traitor should be voted out of office.
By Craig also
June 16, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
I do find the comments from Senator Lott fascinating - conservative Republicans have used the wackos of talk radio to secure their brief hold on power. Now that the wingnuts are turning on them, and criticizing this bill, they’re all of a sudden going to “deal with the problem.”
The Republican elite decided to get into bed with Boortz and Hannity and Limbaugh, now they’re catching the fleas. Serves ‘em right.
By Montezuma
June 17, 2007 1:35 AM | Link to this
Tim, We all pay taxes, even when we buy a Coke froma machine. The bill will just make it easier for immigrants to fulfill this obligation. I am glad to hear you come from an immigrant family, so you’re part of the bunch, the 12 million just happen to be the latest of that magnificent flow of people to this land of opportunity. As for fighting wars, I’d recommend you take a closer look at the roster of those giving their life for America in the botched Iraq war, you will find a disproportionate number of Hispanic names, a lot of these soldiers are not even citizens, but immigrants that so love this country that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. These immigrants have not come here to just enjoy “the fruits” of your labor, the have come here to work, and work they do, much more than the average American, with a willingness to be underpaid and mistreated by doing jobs you won’t do. They built your house, they take care of your lawn, they babysit your children, they clean your house, they pick up the vegetables and fruits you eat, etc, etc, etc. It’s time to give them a break and make justice. This is America, where labor exploitation bordering slavery should exist no more. Again, look at the future. They are here to stay, they are not going anywhere, on the contrary, more will come, so you better learn Spanish and educate yourself in multiculturalism, or make yourself comfortable and emigrate to Norway.
By Rick in Lawrenceville
June 17, 2007 7:12 AM | Link to this
Lott is a traitor just like McCain. They both have been Senators during this invasion by illegals and they did NOTHING to stop it!
By Bitter EX democrackkk
June 17, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this
‘Now is the time for ALL good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country!’ Its not just a bumpersticker slogan …
DO YOUR PART!!! Get to your local election board office and CHANGE your VOTER AFFILIATION to Independent or Libertarian. (UNaffiliated in some states! Tell everyone you know to renounce the demopublicans and RE register INDEPENDENT!
By James
June 17, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Bitter EX democrackkk - here in Georgia, there is no partisan registration for voters. We become “partisans” on primary election day when we must ask for either a Republican or Democrat ballot.
This will become problematic come July 2008 - do we ask for the Republican ballot to vote A.B.C. - “anybody but chambliss” or the Democrat ballot to keep the Dekalb Democrats from voting somebody ridiculous.
By Steve
June 17, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
My dear friend “Montezuma” …
You are either blind to reality by your obvious bias or you are unable to understand the word “illegal.” When others post that their ancestors came to this country as immigrants, nowhere in that did I see “illegal” pointed out. My ancestors came to this country legally. I consider myself an American, a Citizen of these United States. I am not hyphenated in any way. (There would be too many hyphens to make the whole thing make any sense, anyway! It’s ridiculous!)
As for this, “Why can’t we all just live together in peace and harmony” thinking and pointing to Europe … again, ridiculous! They haven’t lived together in harmony since the beginning of time!
My ancestors spoke all manner of languages, and none of them were English! It was considered an honor to learn and speak English! I believe you should learn German, Turkish, Greek, Japanese, Tagalog, or Gaelic, all of which I have spoken at one time or other in my life, rather than wasting my time learning English.
Again, I say to you and to others who would post and say otherwise, what is so difficult about understanding the word illegal? I don’t give two hoots in a tin tumbler how hard someone works. If that person is working at slave wages and exporting that money to their real home, they are hurting the U.S. and their own country as well! They aren’t interested in being citizens of the U.S., in most cases. They are interested in working and supporting their families whether those families are in some south of the border country or illegally here in the U.S.
Please don’t waste my time telling me that we in America won’t do those jobs. The truth is, we can and would.
If I were to go across the border to Mexico and try exactly the same thing by crossing the Rio illegally, how long do you think that I would last before I ended up in some stinking prison? After all, I would be there illegally. I would be entitled to nothing and would be supported by no one on either side of the border. So, don’t start yammering on about how “magnificent” or wonderful this new wave of patently illegal migration is. Better you should get off the sauce or the wacky-weed and get plugged back in to reality.
By Rick
June 17, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Oh boo-hoo!
Saxby votes for taxcuts, partial birth abortion bans, and anything our troops need.
He then gets a candid picture taken with Ted Kennedy (there are only 100 senators, it was going to happen sooner or later). After that he says he is “initially supportive” of some of the provisions in the immigration bill, but won’t vote for it unless the border is secured first.
These things make him a traitor to conservative ideals? These things begin an “anybody but chambliss” movement?
If he is such an awful guy, then who is your ideal candidate and why?
By Tom Jones
June 17, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
“Jeff Sessions for President! Lou Dobbs for Vice President! Tom Tancredo for Speaker of the House!
Take the vote to the people, not to La Raza where Lindsey Graham and Ivan are special guests who think anyone who is law abiding is a bigot. Lets get immigrants who respect our laws, speak our language, uphold our values and share our culture. There is no need to apologize for loving my country.”
Marge: there is a need to apologize for only caring about ONE ISSUE in your country. Tom Tancredo for Speaker of the House?? Are you kidding me? Tom Tancredo who took a flier and missed the vote to fund body aqrmor for our troops? Tom Tancredo who took a flier and missed the vote to ban partial birth abortion? Tom Tancredo who took a flier and missed the vote to FUND ADDITIONAL BORDER SECURITY MEASURES?
Maybe you should move to Colorado Marge…because as a Georgian I sure wouldn’t want him representing me.
By Craig also
June 17, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
Rick said “Saxby votes for anything our troops need”?
Nonsense.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a D- score. Just one vote - to authorize money for enhanced armor for Humvees, Saxby voted no.
Saxby only votes the way his masters in the White House tell him to vote. The heck with our soldiers….
By Rick
June 18, 2007 12:29 AM | Link to this
Craig,
It’s easy to cite interest group ratings as a way to “prove” something. As long as we are going to throw around report card grades, he got an A+ from the Non-Commisioned Officers Association. He also received a 100 from the Disabled Veterans of America. Yep, he really hates our troops.
As far as voting against the up-armored Humvees, he had a pretty solid reason. The Army didn’t want them! In fact, Congress gave the Army so much money in 2004 they could have bought an additional 266 up-armored Humvees!
—When this amendment was considered in 2005 several Army top brass sent Congress a letter telling them that their Humvee needs were taken care of! Why? Because they were too slow to move through the mountains of Afghanistan and they wanted much quicker Striker vehicles for Iraq.
—At the time the Senate considered this amendment, contractors were pumping out 550 armored Humvees a month!
—Kennedy offered the amendment to make Republicans look bad, and Saxby didn’t take the bait. He was merely following the wishes of our military commanders. Doesn’t that make sense, giving the troops what they want and saving the taxpayers $213 million?
Yep, Saxby is an awful guy.
By Craig also
June 18, 2007 2:52 AM | Link to this
Rick actually I pretty much agree with your original point. If you’re a conservative, the level of hysteria over this one topic - immigration - is pretty silly. Saxby is a very conservative senator - and votes that way. If a conservative is going to toss him under the bus over this one issue, then that seems shortsighted to me.
As to your other points, things like Senator Kennedy pushing a bill to arm Humvees just to embarrass President Bush? Come one, you listen to too much talk radio.
By Rick
June 18, 2007 7:04 AM | Link to this
I never said anything about President Bush or talk radio. I just did my homework on the amendment in question.
All I said is that this amendment was designed to put senators, Republicans in particular, between a rock and a hard place:
On the surface voting for it would appear to the average individual as “supporting the troops”. However, voting against it fulfilled the wishes of military commanders and that $213 million could have been sent somewhere else.
By Jimbo
June 18, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
A vote for this amnesty bill is a vote to sell out our country to Mexico and Central America. That trumps any other right vote that Chambliss has made. Chambliss will be doing detrimental harm to our nation and culture.
Some may argue that Benedict Arnold did a lot of good during the the American Revolution and was a hero in some battles. In the end it was the one bad decision he made to sell out our country that did him in. It will be interesting to see if Saxby is a Benedict Arnold….
He deserves to be voted out of office if h e votes for this amnesty bill. I am a lifelong Republican, but value my country over the GOP. I will send a message and vote against Chambliss if he betrays our country and our values by voting for this bill. I don’t care if a Democrat is elected or not.
GOP elected officials take our votes for granted. They make bad votes then say you have to vote for me, where else are you going to go? Are you really going to vote for a Democrat that does not share your values? My answer will be hell yea! I will vote Democrat in order to send a strong message!!!
By Tom Jones
June 18, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
“He deserves to be voted out of office if h e votes for this amnesty bill.”
How is it amnesty. I’m sorry, everyone keeps calling it amnesty and by any definition of the term it isn’t. Amnesty, as defined in law, is a blanket abolition of an offense by the government, with the legal result that those charged or convicted have the charge or conviction wiped out.
That is not the case here. Illegals are required to plead guilty to a crime, which carries a penalty, and stays on their criminal record.
If you don’t like the fact that they have to leave then that is a completely legitimate, albeit totally different, argument. However, to call it “amnesty” shows your lack of understanding of the term, and hurts your argument.
By jimbo
June 18, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
IF they don’t have to return home and get in line behind those following our laws, it IS AMNESTY. They would be benfitting by breaking the law and those following our immigration laws would be punished.
There are thousands wanting to come to our country that would be more than willing to pay a fine and plead guilty to a crime in order to come here and work. Many of these have job skills and would make a contribution to society not be a burden to the taxpayers by relying on public assistance programs .
It is amnesty, amnesty, amnesty. The Gwinnett GOP defined it well in their resolution.
By Mike Green
June 19, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
Arm and arm as a defence? Why would that work? It just makes them BOTH vulnerable. It’s not like one can’t vote out Chambliss in favor of an enforcement first Republican primary challenger or a conservative enforcement first Democrat. In fact that might teach Issacson a lesson that a tranparantly dirty backroom immigration bill ( which happens to be dreadfull policy) is also political poison.
A sane proposal would actually enforce the border ( as the fence bill thusfar still hasn’t) and then the actual results, not triggers, vote again, when fences and enforment have actually been emplaced and enforced in a few years on what should be done with respect to illegals who have flouted existing law.
The priority of enforcement must be real, that is, truly first. Most voters will accept nothing less and will punish politicians who attempt to trick them with a bill that grants amnesty ( non enforcement of existing law) in the absense of any record of honest enforcement.
By Mike Green
June 19, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
Arm and arm as a defence? Why would that work? It just makes them BOTH vulnerable. It’s not like one can’t vote out Chambliss in favor of an enforcement first Republican primary challenger or a conservative enforcement first Democrat. In fact that might teach Issacson a lesson that a tranparantly dirty backroom immigration bill ( which happens to be dreadfull policy) is also political poison.
A sane proposal would actually enforce the border ( as the fence bill thusfar still hasn’t) and then the actual results, not triggers, vote again, when fences and enforment have actually been emplaced and enforced in a few years on what should be done with respect to illegals who have flouted existing law.
The priority of enforcement must be real, that is, truly first. Most voters will accept nothing less and will punish politicians who attempt to trick them with a bill that grants amnesty ( non enforcement of existing law) in the absense of any record of honest enforcement.
By Ronald matheson
June 26, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
Any elected offical that votes in favor of this AMNESTY bill should be ashamed. As an American citizen that his put his life on the line for my country will do my best to oppose those elected officials. This is totally a sell out. It reflects who really controlls America and it is not the people. All us us share a responsibility for allowing this to happen. We must do out best and correct the cancer that our political system has been infested with. If we do nothing and let this action fade into yesterdays news then we have no one to blame but ourselves.
By Craig
June 26, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
No actually AMNESTY is what you guys are calling for which is not allowing ANYTHING to get passed. So all of you advocating “secure the borders” you have pushed the greatest form of amnesty there is. Because if you do nothing about the broad issue, you’ve allowed more fraud and more taxpayer money to be spent on the illegals. So while you sit back and trash this bill, think on this. By holding Congress hostage like you’re doing, nothing repeat NOTHING will get passed. Nothing being passed means more come into the country. It means more jobs taken. It means more healthcare fraud, more tax fraud, more education fraud. So sit back and be spoonfed the garbage by Boortz and think on that. You’ve singlehandedly given the illegals what they want and need which is a continuation of the status quo. Thanks you you “secure the border” crowd, I have to dole out more of my money. So thank you for pushing the biggest AMNESTY out there. As Boortz would say “stick that in your ear!”
By edward
June 26, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Whenever you hear a politician say “we have to do something because the status quo isn’t working,” run the other way.
By Earl Quinn
June 26, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this
I will not vote for you again, and I will enscourage others to do the same. We need jobs for Americans not AMNESTY. SEN. LOTT you have let a lot of people down. I am a REP. Earl Quinn