Immigration Bill Dies In Senate

Supporters Fall 14 Votes Short Of Keeping Bill Alive; Major Setback For President Bush

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's immigration plan to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants while fortifying the border collapsed in the Senate on Thursday, crushing both parties' hopes of addressing the volatile issue before the 2008 elections.

The Senate vote that drove a stake through the delicate compromise was a stinging setback for Mr. Bush, who has made reshaping immigration laws a central element of his domestic agenda.

Republicans backing the bill tried to bring their colleagues on board by arguing that the president badly needed a domestic victory, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. But in the end, senators in his own party turned their back on the president.

The defeat could carry heavy political consequences for Republicans and Democrats, many of whom were eager to show they could act on a complex issue of great interest to the public.

"Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people, and Congress' failure to act on it is a disappointment," a grim-faced president said after an appearance in Newport, R.I. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find common ground. It didn't work."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., his party's lead negotiator, called the defeat "enormously disappointing for Congress and for the country." But, he added: "We will be back. This issue is not going away."

Still, lawmakers in both parties said further action was unlikely this year, dooming its prospects as the political strains of a crowded presidential contest get louder.

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CBS News Poll: Immigration

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"I believe that until another election occurs, or until something happens in the body politic, that what occurred today was fairly final," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., the GOP chairman.

"I don't see where the political will is there for this issue to be dealt with," said Martinez, who helped develop the bill.

House Democratic leaders signaled they had little appetite for taking up an issue that bitterly divides both parties and has tied up the Senate for weeks.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who heads the House Judiciary subcommittee that was to write a version of the bill, said the Senate's inability to move forward "effectively ends comprehensive immigration reform efforts" for the next year and a half.

"The Senate voted for the status quo," the California Democrat said in a statement.

The vote already had led to partisan finger-pointing.

Howard Dean, the Democratic Party chairman, said it was "a reminder of why the American people voted Republicans out in 2006 and why they'll vote against them in 2008."

The measure was the product of a liberal-to-conservative alliance led by Kennedy and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that forged an immigration compromise intended to withstand challenges from the left and right.

They advocated the resulting measure as an imperfect but necessary fix to the current system, in which millions of illegal immigrants use forged documents or lapsed visas to live and work in the U.S.

The proposal would have made those millions eligible for lawful status while tightening border security and creating an employee verification system to weed out illegal workers from U.S. jobs.

The bill also would have set up a temporary worker program and a system to base future legal immigration more heavily on employment criteria, rather than family ties.

Ultimately, though, what came to be known as their "grand bargain" commanded only lukewarm support among important constituencies in both parties. That was no match for the vehement and vocal opposition of Republican conservatives, who derided it as amnesty.

[toolmangler-2009]

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/300107Immigration.htm


I just watched it. it'll knock your socks off.

[cpaide]

The Illegal Immigration Invasion

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/300107Immigration.htm

A truthful documentary showing the people that deal with the Illegal Immigration Invasion upfront and on a daily basis. Watch what the mainstream media WILL NOT show you!!! Like hundreds of illegals streaming across the border into the back yards of U.S. Citizens while the government hinders citizens from protecting their own property.

Note: if FACTS are a problem for you, don't watch this.

[toldyouso21]

RandalDS
is one of the crazy pro-illegal immigration trolls who live under the CBS Public Comment Zones. He is an ignorant freeloader, starving for attention from anyone who happens upon him.

He lives off of his wife and has nothing to do all day long but post nonsense and read his own idiotic posts over and over, rolling on the floor, laughing is @ss off.

Pathetic. AND he is the baby of an anchor baby.

Excuse me for trip-trapping across your bridge, Master Troll. Please give us your wisdom, oh all-knowing one. No facts, please; they make my head hurt.
Posted by cpaide at 11:13 AM : Jun 30, 2007

Why lambast Randal? he does more to alienate people who do not even blog and send them into the anti amnesty camp. When they see the mindset, rationale and attitude of this person, then just like many feel about Bush; they want to run screaming in the other direction.

The Democrats and others have RandalDS and others to thank for the effectiveness of the blogs in help killing this bill. He is his own worst enemy and probably one of the best poster children for why we must not stop fighting against this bill and any like it.

[cpaide]

RandalDS
is one of the crazy pro-illegal immigration trolls who live under the CBS Public Comment Zones. He is an ignorant freeloader, starving for attention from anyone who happens upon him.

He lives off of his wife and has nothing to do all day long but post nonsense and read his own idiotic posts over and over, rolling on the floor, laughing is @ss off.

Pathetic. AND he is the baby of an anchor baby.

Excuse me for trip-trapping across your bridge, Master Troll. Please give us your wisdom, oh all-knowing one. No facts, please; they make my head hurt.

[toldyouso21]

Here is the irony, after the venue change, progress was made and the person who finally, really treated us like human beings instead of a traitor or worse and an infiltrator (yes it can get really bad) was a Hispanic man. It's like he knew this entire game and he treated us with dignity and respect--we expected more innuendo and sarcasm and hold ups--he gave us none. Instead, at that point, he told my husband he would get a residency card. This is after fighting deportation and YEARS of other issues. More to this--but the point is--if you can, do it the right way. It is worth it to hold your head up and to know, that no matter what anyone said, you showed the proper respect to your new homeland from day 1 and try to learn the language, it is always easier to live where you don't but it causes suspiscion and resentment when people create their own enclaves. English is not my husband's native tongue; but his fluency and vocabulary are on par or better than most Americans. Won't be blogging much today--my hubby says I need to cut back. He's right.

[toldyouso21]

A lot of my family has come through that line fairly recently (within the past 30 years) with my husband being one of the most recent. We lived for years married but with him living in Europe and me traveling to see him. When he finally got his chance, we walked the walk. I am not going to lie. It was ugly and arduous. I think it all depends on the person you get to process your case. It was even inferred that there must be a monetary reason for someone like me to seek a husband outside of the states....I had to prove that I mostly financed him and not the other way around. That was just the beginning. Lots of hoops. do I wish that on anyone? No. Do I condone sneaking in? No. One person's wrong will never justify our personal wrong. They held my husbands app up for years. NOthing changed for me until I got a new venue and another lawyer. The man who had been my processor was livid and tried to fight the switch. Frankly, I think he had let all of it become too personal. He would say stuff like "he could never understand why women like me went for guys in another country"...here is some advice--if you are ever given comments like that--do not complain, not even to your lawyer. It will hold the app up longer and it is just your word against his. end of part 1

[toldyouso21]

On this issue, the war, etc I hope people will consider this: The day we stop growing or changing is the day we die, (either physically, intellectually, emotionally, morally or spiritually) my views are fleshed out and either gradually reshaped by data or even further solidified--but no matter how sure I think I know where I stand on any subject, those views are still not absolute, given more info, or convincing info, We must not afraid to evolve or change, the operative words is convincing.

I will not/cannot deny there are merits and real concerns and caring on both sides of this debate, I choose on this occasion to side with the rule of law and the ramifications to my fellow citizens. If laws were passed to hunt and kill people based on illegality, I have no doubt I would become disobedient to the law. It is all about parity. I believe in immigration and that immigration line. I won't bore you guys to tears with my entire story--but on the next post, I hope there is something there you can come away with in a positive way.

[toldyouso21]

To me, racism is a focus on race, color, creed, religion or gender. it does not have to be negative-- it is a prism, a way of interpreting or reading actions, words or gestures then labeling a person based on what is perceived. Racism is not only something visited on others, we can practice it when we receive treatment or information from someone. (not saying you do) I have so many races and nationalities within my own family that we have a hard time trying to side with any one group and we would not dream of hating or persecuting another race. On the other hand, our multicultural plurality allows us not to be afraid to say what we like and if we are called racists--to laugh it off. I do know that I would not only never harm or participate in any way with the harming of someone due to race/gender/religion etc but I also would do my utmost to stand up and protect anyone I saw mistreated regardless of who they were. Guess in the end, I am for the human race--and such a stance means that at any one time or the other--I will appear to be against another race. I'm against no one--but I will rail against certain circumstances and I am not afraid or ashamed to share my personal experiences of why I feel this way. Is that fair? Probably not, but my views are not static.

[toldyouso21]

ozilot at 03:00 PM : Jun 29, 2007:

I rarely say anything I do not mean, and when I do, I do admit it was in jest or sarcastic.
I have to agree with most of what you posted here. I am a realist and DO understand that there will be some who merit keeping in America despite their being illegal, however; that will be a difficult line to draw and is sure to raise the ire of absolutists who want all out or who want all in. Security is first and paramount. Any other issue brought to the table prior to that only compounds the problem. (ie., after the amnesty, others will come in for the next wave, no matter if a fence is being built or not--it is human nature to take advantage of an established and working trend) Eventually, this issue will be back. We can all crow or be mad but we really would get further if we all started to try to understand where the other was coming from--and how we can meet each other halfway.

[menofoz]

So many good people all over the planet want desperately to come to the USA, and would take any job to get a foothold. So why should we take in just Mexicans? There is no reason. It's a buyer's market, we the people of the USA are the buyer, and yet the vocal, visible pro-Mexican agitators would have you believe there is only one good choice: Mexicans. It's a deception.
Compare the hardworking, peaceful immigrants from China, India, Africa, or Europe to people so many illeal aliens from Mexico.

In the old days, immigrants were strongly encouraged to become just like all other Americans, and initially even Mexicans complied with that, but today that is not only not the case, but they are in many instances directed, under the brainwashing campaign known as "Diversity", to show their contempt for the country, people, and culture of tolerance that have given them so much. Thus their racism, nationalism and bogus cultural-supremacist ideas are today flourishing.

The message should be, "This is America: integrate or go the hell back home. No Neanderthals wanted."

[nottellin1]

The 1986 law states that the must be a 'secure employment verification system' to monitored by the President and fixed if not secure. This is the major piece of law that is missing today. As it stands, an employer is given a false SSN, 18 months later SSA may notify the employer that it doesn't match. By then, often times, the employee has moved on. This is not secure. If we had a secure 'EVS', then we could cite the employers that disregard it. Both Bushes and Clinton let us down on this one.

[cpaide]

I see that President Bush and the pro-illegal immigration crazy-trolls in the CBS Public Comment Zones are having a hard time accepting the defeat of "immigration reform."

At least Bush has something else to focus on now. Wish you trolls did as well.

[nottellin1]

Aren't you always preaching that posters shouldn't insult one another, but focus instead on making meaningful comments and intelligent debate?
Posted by ozilot at 12:02 PM : Jun 29, 2007

No sir. You must have me confused with someone else. I tried bing nice for a while, but it just gets you walked on. So I abondoned it in favor of "to thy known self be true."
Posted by infidel_us at 12:51 PM : Jun 29, 2007


Oh, Oh, that would be me.

[klingon69]

sorry Klingon--this post is definitely not for you-you can have this one, ozilot.
Posted by toldyouso21 at 02:25 PM : Jun 29, 2007
'sniff''sniff', nobody loves me.

[toldyouso21]

"Disrespect for laws ESPECIALLY, DISRESPECT FOR LAWS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY--should never be rewarded not in any way, not now, not later--illegal aliens should be denied citizenship forever with no chance to redeem themselves--to do anything less is to make sneaking in an incentive and therefore, it will never cease. "

consider we have so many here now, because of how great sneaking in and waiting was for the ones of 1986. If we let these stay and get citizenship, we'll have an even larger number in 2026. Businesses and others may like that, but many of us will be hurled into a nightmare scenario and by then, due to the change in voting demographic (as RandalDS pointed out) our voices, concerns and needs will be irrelevant.

Fight against this while you can, for tommorrow may be too late!!! Or...take the road of others and think: "resistance is futile" and just flow with it--learn to like a lot of things that are anathema to the avg. American......and descend to a new standard of existence. (not going to call it living--cuz it's just hanging on)

[toldyouso21]

Posted by penskeone at 08:57 AM : Jun 29, 2007
I think I figured it out. You must have some pretty little senorita across the border (or maybe already here) that you are sweet on and looked forward to this bill helping her out.
Posted by Klingon69 at 01:11 PM : Jun 29, 2007


I believe Penskeone is a hispanic--possibly an illegal hispanic. Perhaps it is even deeper than that, perhaps HE was at stake or some of his family and now he still has to worry about them oned day getting deported. Feelings run high when a person's family and plans for them are on the line. That is why so many Americans are reacting so negatively to this bill--we see the detriment for our own families and the fact it is built on rewarding (In any way) those who break the law is galling. WE don't see drug dealers getting time, then be offered an extra perk for being good sports about it. Disrespect for laws ESPECIALLY, DISRESPECT FOR LAWS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY--should never be rewarded not in any way, not now, not later--illegal aliens should be denied citizenship forever with no chance to redeem themselves--to do anything less is to make sneaking in an incentive and therefore, it will never cease.

[toldyouso21]

Yesterday was truly a remarkable day. almost as grand as the day after the 2006 elections. I keep thinking that I must have been extra good or something ---for such a wonderful and unexpected turn of events to occur. Truly tickled.


And yes, ozilot, I do know it is temporary and I do know the numbers of illegal are still increasing...but I also know that number would have increased at the same rate or worse if the bill had passed as millions tried to get in for the big amnesty fest. To remind us of how precarious the victory is ----only means we must use the momentum, not stop and try to get some real teeth and a real barrier in place before the next onslaught.

I hope all for illegal immigration and amnesty, put as much energy in for those who follow the law (legal immigrants) as they do for those who wilfully break the law. And we welcome the day when you all decide that not only George Bush is NOT above the law--neither are millions of illegal immigrants--and then act like it, when you promote something.

[toldyouso21]

Klingon69: if they were legal we could not even have one deported --but since they are still illegal, if an American needs a job and an "illegal" has it, the illegal can be deported and the company can get in trouble--they are still in limbo and still subject to any and all laws against them being here--and if they get caught with forged papers, that is a felony since it would be fraud and forgery charges.

We know you guys think you can fool us with reverse psychology--but the fact is, there are probably already over 20 million and counting illegals here and this bill would not stop that. We already knew this--you should figure out by now that no body fell for the reverse psychology of why they should be here, why they must stay and why --WE CAN N---E---V---E--R--D--E---P--O--R--T--T--
H--E--M--ALL so resistance is futile ************. That is why YOU LOST and why they did too. Now we can still go after them--if they were legal, we couldn't.
Posted by toldyouso21 at 02:06 PM : Jun 29, 2007


sorry Klingon--this post is definitely not for you-you can have this one, ozilot.

[toldyouso21]

Also consider that the Scandinavians and most of western Europe but the world to shame when it comes to social welfare states and benefits!
Posted by ozilot at 12:36 PM : Jun 29, 2007


LOL. they do indeed. but also consider that Hispanics have an easier time sneaking across the Rio Grande than trying to ford the ocean and sneak in Scandinavian countries. (I volunteered for years in many social programs and can vouch for not only the number of Hispanics, before the numbers were cut (early 80s) but also that they really needed this help due to them not getting any benefits and often, being stiffed on their pay. My information seldom is postulated from a vacuum or a guess.

[toldyouso21]

Aren't you always preaching that posters shouldn't insult one another, but focus instead on making meaningful comments and intelligent debate? Kind of a flip-flop don't you think?
Posted by ozilot at 12:02 PM : Jun 29, 2007

No...this would be a flip flop if I (meaning toldyouso21) engaged in name calling, slurs or denigration/castigation-- and I don't believe the poster called you names, they basically made fun of the bill, the inference was rather cute and debatable that it actually applied to you, but I certainly would not have applauded or even laughed if you had been denigrated outright.

You should research my posts (I know you already have) I rarely waste my time going back and forth in inanities with anyone--though even I can lapse and say unkind things. I DO believe it destroys not only dialogue but alienates people. You never know who is reading and who may be swayed or repelled not only by our comments but also by the delivery. I seem to get denigrated almost daily when certain posters are around--I try not to go that way....but unlike the comments of infidel, the remarks are not inferred nor are there double entendres---just down and dirty. I consider the source. Then try to move on. Some people are doing the best that they can, and really are not capable of much better.

YOU are capable, I know that from the tenor of your posts now and before. Radio is also. You are held then, to a higher standard because of that.