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| G.O.P. Sets Aside Work on Immigration | |
| 2006-09-05 | |
With Congress reconvening Tuesday after an August break, Republicans in the House and Senate say they will focus on Pentagon and domestic security spending bills, port security legislation and measures that would authorize the administration’s terror surveillance program and create military tribunals to try terror suspects. “We Republicans believe that we have no choice in the war against terror and the only way to do it is to continue to take them head-on whether it is in Iraq or elsewhere,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the majority leader. A final decision on what do about immigration policy awaits a meeting this week of senior Republicans. But key lawmakers and aides who set the Congressional agenda say they now believe it would be politically risky to try to advance an immigration measure that would showcase party divisions and need to be completed in the 19 days Congress is scheduled to meet before breaking for the election. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 I'm happy about this. The border is slowly being fenced at the state and local level anyway, and the current Senate effort at legislation is considerably worse than useless. Let them re-address this after the election, by which time President Bush will have finished the series of speeches clarifying who and why we are fighting the War on Terror, all the television and newpapers will have done their reminiscences on the 9/11 attack, and quite probably another major terror attack will have been averted. It keeps getting harder for those with their heads in the sand to ignore the sharp pains in their upraised posteriors. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-09-05 19:01 |
| #8 As they prepare for a critical pre-election legislative stretch, Congressional Republican leaders have all but abandoned a broad overhaul of immigration laws and instead will concentrate on national security issues they believe play to their political strength. Bingo, ed. They wouldn't want to alienate their campaign funding base by restricting the pool of cheap illegal labor, now would they? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-05 16:06 |
| #7 I heard a pundit state that the republicans will cream the donkeys this election if they do one thing only. Seal the southern border. Screw amnesty and build a fence. After the election, they can debete all they want about who stays and who goes. They had better wise up and build that fence, and talk about it and get pissed about all these wetbacks. Buy a clue here, one penny. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-05 12:12 |
| #6 Ed, absolutely true & I couldn't agree more. However, the gov't has done a horrible job wrt taxing businesses to the degree where illegal labor is worth the risk. Bottomline, IMHO - we need to do two things. One - seal the border & cut off immigration. Two - go to the fair tax to help our small business folks and spur entrepreneurism. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-09-05 11:31 |
| #5 Good idea to punt. Voting tough now won't turn out another vote for trunks and would give donks a great opportunity to moan and wail about the mean spiritedness in the weeks up to the election. Let the winner of the elections enact their program. turnout will be the key and trunks do a much better job unless they give the MSM a bloody shirt to wave. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-05 09:24 |
| #4 The protests this weekend were very revealing. 50 to 100 'protesters' at most rallies, where there were thousands just a few months ago. They're starting to figure out that Americans are a generous lot, but we don't like being told what to do by people who have no right to be here. The wind is blowing the other directions, and even otherwise stupid politicians are getting the message. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-09-05 09:10 |
| #3 Too many businessmen rely on cheap illegal labor, without whom the same businessmen could not live the lifestyle they have become accustomed to. They are the ones who also contribute the election campaign funds with 3 or 4 zeroes. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-09-05 02:08 |
| #2 yeah, what flyover said. |
| Posted by: newc 2006-09-05 01:43 |
| #1 Maybe they're starting to pay attention. The "broad" overhaul BS is code for the various amnesty programs (carrot) layered onto some enforcement (stick) in the form of the wall and more Border agents. Do the enforcement bit now and the voters will reward you. We can get around to WTF to do with all of the illegal invaders AFTER we stop the goddamned flow. Enforce the fucking laws with much more barrier building, sensors, and boots on the border. Reap the benefits of voter approval. |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-05 00:40 |