Oh, wonderful…

The $146 billion stimulus package intended to jolt the economy by giving taxpayers rebates up to $1,200 includes cash returns for illegal immigrants who pay taxes.

Under the plan passed by the House, illegal immigrants who qualify as “resident aliens” and earned a minimum of $3,000 would be eligible for rebates of between $300-$600, FOX News has learned.

Only those illegals who have been assigned an Individual Tax Identification Number that allows them to file income taxes would be eligible. Resident aliens are defined as people who spend a “substantial” amount of time in the U.S. and have not been deported.

The provision has irked illegal immigration opponents, who say the assigning of TINs and collection of taxes from illegals sanctions their presence in the country.

Luckily, Senator John Ensign (R-NV) is making a stink about this horrible new incentive to cross the US-Mexico border.  

CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW AND DEMAND THE SENATE REMOVE THIS PROVISION.

I wonder what GOP Frontrunner John McAmnesty thinks about this provision.   Do I have any confidence that CNN will even ask the question at tonight’s debate?

PS — Yours truly, a legal-natural born resident of the USA for 39 years, will be getting no “rebate” with my own tax dollars.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

UPDATE (from GPW): This is McCain’s chance to show that he has heard from conservatives concerned about his immigration stance. Let’s hope he supports Ensign on this.

This doesn’t come as any surprise to me.

In a recent Associated Press-Pew Research Center poll, 17 percent of likely Republican voters in the New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary named illegal immigration as the one issue they want to hear candidates talk about, making it second only to Iraq. In Iowa, where caucuses kick of the presidential nominating season, immigration was the leading issue for 18 percent of Republicans, ahead of Iraq.

The figures are somewhat surprising in New Hampshire, a state of 1.3 million people with a small immigrant population and even smaller illegal one. There were 14,000 more foreign-born residents in the state last year than in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A report last year by the Pew Hispanic Center estimated the state is home to somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000 illegal immigrants.

Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said he has believed for a year or so that illegal immigration would be important in the GOP primary because it strikes so many chords.  There’s the economic argument: Illegal immigrants are taking jobs from Americans.  There’s the legal one: They’re breaking the law.  There’s the cultural argument:  They’re not assimilating into American culture.”

The surprise is that most INDEPENDENT primary voters are also expressing support for a more security-conscious immigration policy… and opposition to blanket amnesty of law-breakers.

A sizable majority — an average of 65 percent of voters in those three states [Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania] — said that they would vote for the candidate they agreed with on other issues but not on immigration. But an average of 22 percent said that illegal immigration could be a deal-breaker for them when it comes to voting for a candidate.

That would be a significant number in a close election.  Most interesting is that 27 percent of independents — the key swing voters who decide elections — say immigration could turn them away from a candidate, more than either Democrats or Republicans.

Democrat voters, on the other hand, are content to live in their made-up land of Bush Derangement Syndromeville and cast their votes from that warped perspective.

-Bruce (GayPatriot) 

A very hearty and sincere thank you to Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) for being clear that she opposed the Kennedy-McCain-Bush-Graham Amnesty legislation from the start and consistently.    A less than hearty but still sincere thank you to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) one of the “NO Amnesty Eight” who rose to the occasion this morning to help drive a stake in the heart of this monstrous legislative attempt to undermine America’s border security and put citizenship up for sale.

If you are a fellow North Carolinian, give a call to Sens. Dole and Burr to thank them for standing up for you today.

**Afternoon Update** — It is great to have a Congresswoman like Sue Myrick!  I used to live in Jim Moran (D-VA) who was completely useless.  Myrick is great, especially on immigration!  Here is her statement on the Amnesty Crash-N-Burn.

Today, the US Senate voted down the immigration/amnesty bill 53-46.  Prior to the vote, Rep. Myrick signed onto Secure Borders FIRST (For Integrity, Reform, Safety and anti-Terrorism) Act of 2007, which was introduced in the House today by Reps. King (R-NY) and Smith (R-TX).  This legislation would take real concrete steps to secure our borders and put an end to illegal immigration. 

“The Secure Borders FIRST Act is what Congress should pass before we consider anything else.  I have said it before, and I will say it again…if we don’t secure the borders and enforce our laws, nothing else we enact will work,” said Rep. Myrick.  “The common sense policy of ‘enforcement first’ is what the American people want, and that’s why I support this bill”.

The Secure Borders FIRST Act mandates that DHS gain operational control of all our borders within the next six years, authorizes additional border-security personnel, requires expedited removal for any illegal aliens apprehended within 100 miles of the border within two weeks of entry, and makes alien street gang members deportable and inadmissible. The bill also includes strong worksite-enforcement provisions and requires tamper-resistant biometric social security cards to minimize fraud.   

Regarding the defeat of the Senate amnesty bill, Rep. Myrick stated: “The American people killed this bill.  They want secure borders and they want our laws enforced.  It is that simple; until we know these things are done, amnesty bills will continue to fail.”

FINAL ROLL CALL ON CLOTURE

The one sane Senator left from the state of South Carolina sums up my feelings after this political disaster given to us by President Bush, John McCain, Harry Reid and Lucy Lindsey Graham.

“When the U.S. Senate brought the Amnesty bill back up this week, they declared war on the American people. This act created a crisis of confidence in their government. Thankfully, the American people won today,” said Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC).

“This is remarkable because it shows that Americans are engaged and they care deeply about their country. They care enough for their country to get mad and to fight for it, and that’s the most important thing of all. Americans made phone calls and sent letters, and convinced the Senate to stop this bill.”

“The Senate rejected this bill and the heavy-handed tactics used to ram it through.   Americans do not want more of the same – amnesty and broken promises on the border.   Americans want legislation to be written in public – not in secret – and they want Congress to engage in an open and fair debate.”

“There is a better way forward without this bill. The President has said that the border security measures can be implemented over the next 18 months, and they can be done under current law.  Now the Administration needs to prove it and stop holding border security hostage for amnesty.”

“Once we have secured the border and restored trust with the American people, we can begin to take additional steps.”

For today, at least… We, The People have reclaimed our role.  There is much more work to do in order to fully restore our place in this Republic.

In closing…. I hereby nominate Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) for Senate Minority Leader!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Why is it that the most common sense approach to grappling with the immigration problem that I’ve seen comes from a RedState blogger… and not a Senator or the teeming Senate staff that buzz around writing “clay pigeons” in the dark of night?  Maybe it is because sometimes (if not all the time) We, The People “get it”.

We Want Latinos In The GOP – St. Louis Conservative at RedState.com

While I agree that this bill is not a good one and shouldn’t become law, we need to tone down the rhetoric and instead propose our own, principled bill that will work. I propose:

1. Secure the border and institute tamper proof employer emforcement provisions with REAL ID.

2. Offer a period for illegals to come forward and declare that they are here. Those with no criminal background and solid work history can apply for a probationary visa. If they elect to pursue citizenship, they can reapply for their visa when it expires without going home. There would then be a significant time period and several hurdles to pass through to eventually become citizens. Those who don’t elect to pursue citizenship can receive a probationary visa (if they are law-abiding and are gainfully employed), but it is temporary and they must “touch back” every few years or so. Further, make English the national language and make learning it a requirement for a green card or citizenship.

3. Introduce a merit system that encourages high-skilled and highly-educated immigration and puts those immigrants on a fast track.

4. Institute a guest worker program for low-skilled labor needs such as agriculture.

It’s funny to me that the same people who say that people who are against this bill are “anti-Hispanic” also say that these Hispanics are here doing jobs “Americans won’t do”. That, to me, is the height of racism, for by that statement, they basically say that these are crappy jobs and we need second-class citizens (the Hispanics) to do them. I LIKE Hispanic people, and I want them to come here and be upwardly mobile, not relegated to cleaning bathrooms all their life. Yet that is what this bill encourages. It’s not right, and it doesn’t benefit Hispanics in the long term.

Well, this can’t possibly work — it is common sense and simple.  No wonder no one in Washington, DC came up with it!

St. Louis Conservative argues his approach is good policy because it is good politics — bringing Hispanics into the GOP.  Frankly, I could care less about the political argument.  I think St. Louis Con’s approach is good — because it is the right thing to do!

**Amnesty Watch GP programming note**  I’ll be waiting stranded punished on a US Airways flight back to Charlotte this morning.  So I won’t be able to catch up on the cloture vote until it is probably over.   Please use this space to keep each other up-to-date on the vote.   And someone please tell me how Sen. Richard John Kerry Burr votes!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

If I were not working on two short papers and revising my dissertation concept paper for school, I might have more to say on the Immigration Debate in the Senate–and other matters. But, before I go to bed, I do want to offer a few thoughts on the process of trying to pass this ball and explain (a bit) my opposition.

As I said earlier (in an update to one of Bruce’s posts), I don’t oppose the bill with his vehemence. But, while I think it offers a few good reforms, I oppose the bill in its present form, primary for the reason I articulated in my post on its apparent defeat earlier this month. The bill is a mess and should be divided up into his component parts, with the first component being a bill to close and secure the border. Until that happens, se shouldn’t even consider “amnesty” or its equivalent.

The latest debate confirms what a mess this proposal is. Captain Ed noted that members only got the bill at about 2PM on Wednesday and now “have to decide whether they want to close off debate on a 400-page bill that they’ve had for less than 24 hours to review.” And it appears that there are errors in the actual bill, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid seemed determined to have his massive “Clay Pigeon” Amendment debated “without the Republicans seeing the language.” When Senate “Republicans objected to waiving the reading of the bill. . . [,] the Senate Clerk had nothing to read.” (H/t: Captain Ed.)

Simply put, on a subject of this magnitude, backers of the legislation should have made available a reliable version of the legislation, long before the debate even began, allowing Senators time to return to their respective states to discuss its provisions with their constituents.

I’m not as irate as some are at those who voted Tuesday to bring the bill back to the floor. Maybe some of the Senators who voted in favor of debating this controversial bill thought its flaws could be mitigated by amendment. Because there are some good aspects to this bill.

But, to end debate with some good amendments defeated and others not to be considered on their own merits, means considering too complicated a bill in too compressed a time frame.

The bill’s good components notwithstanding, I hope Senators will have the sense to vote against cloture on this bill. It’s too important an issue for such a hurried piece of legislation.

-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

**UPDATED AT 6:45PM**

Item #1 – At the top of the six o’clock hour, FOX News’ Major Garrett just reported that three Senators that voted “YES” on cloture yesterday will vote “NO” on cloture tomorrow. He further said the White House and Senate leaders say the Kennedy-Reid-McCain-Graham-Bush Amnesty is in “serious peril tonight”.

Item #2 – PatriotPartner John has debunked an earlier report today from Michelle Malkin that Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) has definitely committed to vote “NO” on cloture tomorrow.

Just got off the phone with a Burr DC staffer. He says Burr will vote”No” on cloture IF there are no significant changes to the bill through amendment this evening. Keep calling!!!!! I urged a statement issued by Burr saying he is voting “No” on cloture tonight if he wants this believed.

Call Senator Richard Burr (he’s one of the “Amnesty 8″) to urge a “NO” vote on cloture and not to pull a John Kerry on Amnesty.

Burr’s DC number – (202) 224-3154
Burr’s NC number – (800) 685-8916

Here’s the text of the email I just sent to Senator Burr on his Senate website.

Senator Burr -

I have called your office several times to express my wish that the Kennedy-Graham-McCain-Bush Amnesty Legislation be killed for good.

I just noticed this statement on your campaign website:

“My work in the Senate is focused on building a stronger economy for everyone, addressing the health care needs of Americans, making our country safer from the threat of terrorists….”

You must know that as a native-born, legal resident of the United States that I believe the Amnesty legislation is designed to build the economic security of illegals on the backs of the middle class, address the healthcare needs of illegals on the backs of the middle class, and makes our country less safe from the threat of terrorists.

Based on your own principles of why you say you are representing me in Washington, DC…. you must vote “NO” on cloture tomorrow.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

UPDATE (from GPW): Just learned via Drudge that Burr now opposes “permitting a vote on final passage.” And he’s not the only one. Others who had previously voted for cloture intend to oppose the motion or are “leaning that way.” While I don’t oppose the bill with the vehemence that Bruce does, I see this as good news.

Looks increasingly likely that they won’t get the 60 votes needed.

UP-UPDATE (from GPW); Michelle Malkin, who has been liveblogging the Senate debate has a good post today on the bill, notes that the debate this evening is “good news for our side, bad news for the open-borders brigade.” Now read the whole thing, including her link to the Politico on why the bill is struggling.

PatriotPartner (John) wanted me to pass along some news to all of you who used to support the Republican Party before the Party left us and sold out America’s national security and citizenship to illegal invaders.

He called the Republican National Committee today and they are, in fact, giving him a refund of the entire amount of his donations to the party in the past twelve months.   He also tells me that the RNC staffer is getting a lot of refund calls this week.

So now it is your turn to join in the cash-out of the Republican Party.   CALL NOW!

Republican National Committee – 202-863-8500
National Republican Senatorial Committee – 202-675-6000
National Republican Congressional Committee – 202-479-7000

CALL FOR YOUR REFUND NOW!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Nothing has troubled me more since the Illegal Amnesty debate (or lack thereof) began in the Senate, than the “we know best” attitude taken by Sens. Reid, Lott, Graham, McCain, et. al. 

Why for example, Senator Reid, do you claim the high ground on Iraq because public opinion polls show frustration with the war…. yet you tell us meaningless peons outside the Empire walls to hush-up when public opinion is dramatically opposed to the Senate Amnesty bill?  Are public opinion polls only useful when they are on your side of an issue?

Stanley Kurtz at The Corner expresses my disgust with the Elitist Disconnect Syndrome more eloquently than I can.

For all the bitterness of our political battles, there’s at least the sense that the government responds to the drift of public opinion. The Republicans in Congress turned into big spenders and the war in Iraq went poorly. As a result the Democrats prospered in 2006, if narrowly. That’s how democracy works. Our politics are often angry and ugly (and that’s a problem), but this is because the public is deeply divided on issues of great importance. Deep down, we understand that our political problems reflect our own divisions.

Somehow this immigration battle feels different. The bill is wildly unpopular, yet it’s close to passing. The contrast with the high-school textbook version of democracy is not only glaring and maddening, it’s downright embarrassing. Usually, even when we’re at each others’ throats, there’s still an underlying pride in the democratic process. This immigration battle strips us of even that pride.

Supporters of this bill sell it as a compromise that will heal America’s divisions. I fear it’s quite the reverse. This bill is infuriating the public and undermining faith in government itself.  You can see it in the polling on confidence in Congress and the President. If this bill passes, it’s going to aggravate and embitter politics for years to come.  Passing a measure over such overwhelming opposition is like slapping the public in the face.

Precisely.  I’d recommend we all take a moment and reflect on the wise of our Founding Fathers as they stared down an oppressive Empire in our now distant past.  It is almost eerie how these words from our own Declaration of Independence seem to have a renewed meaning in today’s fractured American Republic.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

<…..>

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

<…..>

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

In this case, the political bonds have been broken by our very own elected representatives in Washington, DC.  From campaign finance reform infringing on our First Amendment rights…. to out-of-control and unaccountable earmark spending…. to undermining our troops during wartime…. to rewarding illegal immigrants by selling American citizenship… and by threatening our national security through misguided policies, neglect and incompetence.  They have broken the bonds with us through their arrogance and disrespect of us.

We, The People need to take our Government back.  It is that serious.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

UPDATE (from GPW): I may have more to say on this later as I have scribbled a number of thoughts on the issue. Before bed last, I read a post on Powerline, reproducing the justification Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) offered for his vote for cloture. Commenting on that statement, John Hinderaker wrote, “This bill should be broken up into its component parts, there should be hearings on each, and there should be an open amendment process as to every individual bill.” Which pretty much sums up my view — as I expressed in a post after it seemed the bill was defeated.

Agreeing with the Stanley Kurtz (whom Bruce quote above), Mark Steyn (via Instapundit) writes:

There’s something creepy about a political class so determined to impose a vast transformative bill cooked up backstage in metaphorically smoke-filled rooms on a nation that doesn’t want it. It’s an affront to republican government and quasi-European in its disdain for the citizenry.

24 Republican Senators, urged on by President Bush, have joined 39 Democrats to move forward the despicable immigration bill. Democrats everywhere should celebrate because now is the time for Republicans to metaphorically slit their own throats and walk away from the GOP at the polls next year. Whomever gets the presidential nomination may be able to save their hides by coming out against the bill, but these Senators who have turned their backs on the security of this nation and the NRSC which prostitutes itself for money can forget any support from a large number of their conservative base. GOP Congressmen had best take all this anger under advisement before they cast their votes, because this isn’t a joke, will not be forgiven by election time and will put their seats into serious jeopardy. As of this moment, my own Senator, John Warner, is as dead to me as Hillary Clinton and I will vote Democrat or third-party before I ever vote for that man again. I contacted both Senator Warner’s office and that of my Congresswoman to let them know exactly what I think of all this. Congrats Majority Leader Reid & Speaker Pelosi, odds are that you both will retain your positions next year which I truly hate saying.

Letter to Senator John Warner (R-VA):

Dear Senator:

Your vote today to move forward the immigration bill is beyond contempt. You have turned your back on the security of this nation by doing this. Amnesty I can live with once the border is secured FIRST yet this bill is nothing more than another sham that will do nothing. I have had it with the Republican Party, their lies and betrayal of principles it supposedly espouses. Please remove my name and address from any mailings immediately as all correspondence will be tossed unopened into the trash. As of this moment, consider my vote lost to you for re-election and I will vote for anyone else other than you in 2008.

Letter to my Congresswoman (R-VA):

Madam Congresswoman:

I am beyond outraged by today’s vote in the Senate on the immgration bill. This is a betrayal of Republican principles and ignores the security of this nation. Amnesty I can live with once the border is secured FIRST yet this bill is nothing more than another sham that will do nothing. I have had it with the lies from elected Republican officials who say one thing and vote a different way once in office. If you vote for this bill when it comes to the House, than I promise you I will vote for anyone else regardless of the issues that come up in 2008. Please do what is right for this country and vote to reject this bill. Thank you.

– John (Average Gay Joe)

Looks like all eyes are on my Senator from North Carolina, Richard Burr.  I have always liked him from his days in the US House.  He is smart, informed and always seemed to do the right thing.

But he is teetering into John Kerry territory with his position on the Senate Amnesty legislation:  “Voting for it before voting against it.”

Interestingly, The Corner earlier reported that Burr seemed to be committed to a “YES” vote on cloture tomorrow (which would keep the demon alive).

A North Carolina NRO reader reports:

WBT-AM in Charlotte (our eeeeevil talk radio station) is reporting that Burr will vote YES on cloture tomorrow.   I just called his Winston-Salem office and expressed my outrage in the strongest (non-foul languaged) terms.  The staff person at the W-S office claims he hasn’t decided.

I called up WBT and they confirmed that host Jeff Katz did report that at the top of the hour.

Hmmmm.   Now just who in Charlotte could have possibly emailed The Corner that piece of information? 

*thinking*  *thinking*

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

(h/t – Michelle Malkin) 

Want to guess which state I’m two miles away from… that I’ll be spending a lot of time in… during the GOP Senate Primary next year?

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

The more we learn about the Kennedy-McCain-Bush Amnesty legislation, the less we like about it.  Support for the legislation has hit an all-time low.

Among the public, there is a bi-partisan lack of enthusiasm for the Senate bill. It is supported by 22% of Republicans, 23% of Democrats, and 22% of those not affiliated with either major party. It is opposed by 52% of Republicans, 50% of Democrats, and 48% of unaffiliateds.

Call your United States Senator NOW.  

The “swing Senators” appear to be Burr (R-NC), Bond (R-MO), Ensign (R-NV), Cochran (R-MS), Hatch (R-UT) and Coleman (R-MN).  If you live in any of those states, you have a duty as an American citizen to stop this sell-out of legal Americans in favor of amnesty for law-breakers.  I can personally vouch that the phone line is continuously busy this morning in the office of US Senator Richard Burr of NC!

Call your Senator NOW.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

The American people once again need to step up and rebuke the political and chattering class in Washington, DC.   But you need to take action NOW to stop the Senate Amnesty For Illegal Invaders Act of 2007.

Send a FAX to your Senator NOW via NumbersUSA to urge them to VOTE NO on the entire Amnesty legislation.

Meantime, in a rare and stunning move, House Republicans discovered a backbone today…

Immigration Reform Caucus Chairman Brian Bilbray (R-CA) joined Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, to unveil two new border security and immigration initiatives—a comprehensive border security and immigration reform bill as well as a resolution calling for full enforcement of all current immigration laws. The two new measures represent a strong ‘Security First-No Amnesty’ alternative to the Kennedy-Bush Senate Amnesty bill.

“We decided to take action today rather than wait for the Senate to pass an amnesty bill the American people clearly do not want,” Bilbray said. “There is no reason why Congress shouldn’t take immediate action to secure our borders, strengthen our immigration laws, implement true interior enforcement and establish a working employer verification system.”

The Secure Borders FIRST (For Integrity, Reform, Safety and anti-Terrorism) Act of 2007 will mandate operational control of all our borders and ensure better enforcement of current U.S. immigration laws.

Hallelujah!

Whatever you do on Wednesday and Thursday, take time out to get involved in the future of your nation.  Call your United States Senators and tell him or her to VOTE NO on the Senate Immigration bill.  No Amendments!  No Passage!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

In her column this morning on OpinionJournal, Peggy Noonan shows (once again) that she gets it on immigration and demonstrates through her wise words (yet again) why she is the Athena of political punditry. I noted last week how she called the bill “a big and indecipherable mess” and favored dividing it up into smaller bills, with one securing the border to be considered first.

This week, she’s back on her game (when is she not on her game?), first making this wise observation about the “American mood” on immigration: “Anti-immigration and for the immigrant. Against the abstract and for the particular.” This American Athena gets her homeland.

And she loves that homeland and is, like her humble servant, eager to integrate immigrants into our culture, but reiterates that we must first secure the border:

We should close the border, pause, absorb what we have, and set ourselves to “patriating” the newcomers who are here. The young of AmeriCorps might help teach them English. Those reaching retirement age, who happen to be the last people in America who were taught and know American history, could help them learn the story of our country. We could, as a nation, set our minds to this.

Exactly.

Not only does she gets America, but, like the real Athena, who restrained Achilles from rash action in The Iliad and helps guide nearly all the Greek heroes, understands that young men must learn to control their passions. Observing the Puerto Rican Day Parade in the Big Apple, she observed two young men behaving badly and comments:

We’re going to have to work on that young man, on both of them.

But we always have to work on young men, don’t we?

And so she writes truly in the spirit of her divine namesake, understanding that we have to work on young men. For, as I will attempt to show in my dissertation, the Greeks understood (primarily through the gray-eyed goddess) that young men need feminine guidance in order to fulfill their role as responsible adults. With the anecdote in her column today, Peggy follows in the footsteps of that armor-clad Olympian. A woman recognizing the needs of young men.

Don’t take my word for it, just read the whole thing!

- B. Daniel Blatt (GayPatriotWest@aol.com)

UPDATE: Charles Krauthammer (whom I believe Bruce or I once called the Apollo of political punditry) offers a perspective on immigration nearly identical to Peggy’s. He notes that only one provision of the immigration bill garners “unanimous support: stronger border enforcement.” He concludes with a point that echoes one Peggy made two weeks ago:

Comprehensive immigration reform has simply too many contentious provisions to command a majority of Congress or the country. We all agree on enforcement, don’t we? So let’s do it. Make it simple. And do it now. Once our borders come visibly under control, everything else will become doable. Including amnesty.

Now that I’ve whet your appetite just read the whole thing, especially as he makes a great case for a border fence.

I may have more to say later on the defeat yesterday of the immigration bill. While I welcome its failure, I found much to like in the bill (and a lot to dislike). Still, I was rooting for its defeat for two primary reasons, both of which my Athena articulated (giving words to my thoughts, helping me express ideas with which I was struggling — as do all great writers*) in her column last week (which I have already noted and praised.

I think more conservatives might have supported the bill had it been less unwieldy and had it focused more on securing the border, making that a necessary first step before all other reforms.

Peggy called the bill “a big and indecipherable mess.” Such legislation can lead to much mischief, particularly by activist courts. Peggy’s solution to this mess was to divide up the bill into several smaller pieces of legislation — and to first secure the border:

If they’d really wanted to help, as opposed to braying about their own wonderfulness, they would have created not one big bill but a series of smaller bills, each of which would do one big clear thing, the first being to close the border. Once that was done–actually and believably done–the country could relax in the knowledge that the situation was finally not day by day getting worse. They could feel some confidence. And in that confidence real progress could begin.

In the wake of 9/11, we have to think differently that we did beforehand. That is why (and for other reasons) securing the border is so important. Peggy’s right; if we’re serious about immigration reform, we have to first secure the border. At that point, we’ll be ready to confront the difficult task of how to deal with the millions of illegals who are already here.

And we should do so in legislation that is more concise, easier to understand, with fewer loopholes which would only serve to pass the problem onto future generations — as have previous reforms.

*UPDATE: Of course it’s Peggy who’s the great writer; she helped give words to my thoughts about why this bill troubled me so.

Nope, not Iraq.  Nope, not Philadelphia.  Nope, not New Orleans…

Mexico.  It sounds like a reign of al-Qaeda-like terror is breaking out south of our border!

A combination of “explosive devices”, 9mm pistols, AK-47′s and AR-15′s have left 21 dead and 10 wounded throughout Mexico in the past 24 hours.

8 in Guerrero
5 in Chihuahua
3 in México State
2 in Sinaloa
1 in Tlaxcala
2 in Tijuana
21 Total

In addition, 3 police stations were attacked with explosive devices, 2 in Guerrero and one in Tecpan de Galeana, leaving 2 police officers wounded.

Some notes of prurient interest:

In Apizaco, Tlaxcala, a fellow waited for his appointment in attorney Joaquín Suárez García’s office, chatting with Suárez García’s secretary. When the counselor arrived, they went into his office where seconds later his client left him slumped over his desk, dead.

Of the 21 executed, 4 were taxi drivers. One of them died in a hail of bullets from several masked men wearing body armor and weilding AK-47′s. A protest over high taxi fares, perhaps? What’s with this, anyway? They’ve been machine gunning taxi drivers all over the country since the first of the year. The authorities haven’t said much, so I’ll have to assume that the drug cartels use local taxis to ferry shipments and money from point A to point B. Then they come back to eliminate the drivers — loose lips sink ships — or as punishment for inventory losses.

But this story wasn’t in the New York Times today.  Nor did Ms. Couric report it last night.  But it sounds very much like the kind of “end of the world” reporting we get from Iraq every day doesn’t it.

And Senator Lucy Graham (D-SC) wonders why conservatives want to seal the border FIRST.

By the way, the Drive-By Media isn’t reporting this news much either…

New Orleans’ 162 murders last year made the city the nation’s murder capital, with a murder rate that was anywhere from one-third again to two-thirds-again higher than the next-highest, in Gary, Ind., and Detroit.

“We have to look at what this does to the city, what it does to the economy, and what will happen if we don’t get it under control,” said Anthony Radosti, vice president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a watchdog group that often critiques the New Orleans Police Department. “These homicides are striking fear into certain communities.

“By year’s end, the population will be increased; the National Guard and the State Police may be gone,” he said Monday. “We have to ask, ‘What is the plan of action for the remainder of the year?’”

Hey…. I’m all for imposing the Pelosi Doctrine for New Orleans, too.   Let’s withdraw our troops from the civil war so we can fight the real terrorists.  Unless the duly re-elected government of Mayor Ray Nagin meets some political benchmarks, of course.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Just moments ago, the United States Senate voted down the cloture vote which has effectively killed the Kennedy-McCain-Bush-Graham amnesty legislation.

Be proud America, you have rallied in the face of the obstinate political elites in Washington who have forgotten us.

A defeat for President Bush?  Yup, who cares.  Biggest loser:  John McCain.  Pack it up, bro… you are done.

Thanks to everyone who got involved and called their Senators in the past few weeks.

Real people can make a difference!

PS – On the bright side, Senate “Leader” Harry Reid finally kept one of the Democrats’ promises… he moved on after the cloture vote failed the second time.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

I keep hoping that the thousands (if not more) of calls to Capitol Hill that I know have been happening the past few weeks will wake up a US Senator who is an actual defender of this country and our Constitution.   But as I wake this morning, it still appears that the Senate will pass their Illegal Invader Amnesty Act of 2007.  What I do know is that my efforts have helped a bit in that Senators Dole and Burr have been voting correctly on amendments to the McCain-Kennedy-Bush Amnesty Act this week.

If you support the rule of law, oppose amnesty for illegal invaders, and want border control first…. then call your United States Senator today and tell them to vote NO on the so-called “immigration compromise.”  The main US Capitol Hill phone number is 202-225-3121.  Here is a listing of all Senators and their direct office phone numbers.

If this legislation passes, we will see even more examples of illegals murdering our citizens like this doozie reported on by Confederate Yankee.

The Republican Willie Horton – Confederate Yankee

This is Michael Caldera De Latorre, or as fingerprints taken from when he was twice captured trying to sneak into the United States from Mexico in 2004 indicate, Ricardo De Latorre.

He is one of the millions of undocumented illegal aliens George W. Bush and many Congressmen and Senators would like to grant amnesty.

Yesterday morning, while driving a Chevy Tahoe reported stolen in Charlotte, Latorre careened across the median of I-40 in Raleigh, and stuck a Kia driven by George Alwyin Smith, a 54-year-old computer programmer at Duke University, before slamming into a car driven by Carolyn Hageman.

Smith died in the wreck, and Hageman was injured. Pulled from the wreckage reeking of alcohol, De Latorre has been charged with DWI, felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, no operator’s license and careless and reckless driving.

Perhaps if our federal government had done a better job securing our southern border, Latorre would still be in Mexico, and George Smith would still be alive. But our President, our Congress and our Senate seem primed to allow De Latorre and millions more illegals like him to slip across a border they refuse to defend.

Amen.  And President Bush dares to say that *I* don’t have the best interests of American in mind when I oppose this sham legislation designed to reward those who break our laws.  How dare you, Mr. President.

Call your Senator NOW!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Dear Senators Burr & Dole: 

As a natural-born American citizen and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance.  I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stems from the bill which is being debated this week in the United States Senate.  If my understanding of this bill’s provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out.

Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I’m excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me because I paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year.

Also, as a natural born citizen I seem to be saddled with the burden of following all of the laws of this nation.  Illegal aliens have the luxury of ignoring all of those laws, including those governing driving, murder and burglary.  That sounds like a fine set-up for me.

Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver’s license and making those burdensome car insurance premiums.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative.

Sincerely,

Your Consitituent,
Bruce Carroll
Charlotte, NC

(Note: This letter was adapted from a similar letter emailed to me from a friend.  My apologies for not noting that when I first posted it.)

No folks, this isn’t a joke.  I just hope our glorious state elected officials in Raleigh have the sense to nip this idea in the bud. 

Latino advocates say they’ll start lobbying N.C. legislators for driver’s licenses, in-state tuition and wage enforcement for those who are undocumented, likely heating up the illegal immigration debate.

It’s the first time advocacy groups across the state have created one agenda, which was released Tuesday by El Pueblo, a Raleigh-based nonprofit.

The agency’s top priority is to push for a special driver’s license for illegal immigrants. Several states already use such an alternative.

After North Carolina started requiring a valid Social Security number or a valid visa to obtain a driver’s license, many illegal immigrants chose to drive without one because they still have to work and take their children to school, said Zulayka Santiago, El Pueblo’s executive director.

“When you have drivers on the roads not fully informed of our traffic laws, that puts all our communities in danger,” she said.

Testing 1-2-3… Hello… *taps screen* … anyone with a brain out there? 

How about the fact that people entering this country illegally are automatically breaking the law (that is kind of what “illegal” means).  And the fact that most of the reported deadly accidents on the roads these days in Charlotte are caused by undocumented aliens behind the wheel.

The American community is already in danger.  Here’s a wild idea… have the illegals learn English in order to get a job, and apply for citizenship through existing law.  That way when they are here legally, they will be fully informed of our traffic laws because they’ll be able to hear them in English, read them in English, and comprehend them in English.

This dopey concept by El Pueblo is nothing more than a license to encourage more law-breaking by illegal aliens.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)