Jun 28 2007
Will The GOP Honor Representative Government?
There is a lot of speculation running out there that the immigration bill will fail its cloture vote test this morning. Clearly it will be close. But I think there are enough GOP members who honor the process of democracy more than winning on one issue. After years of bitching and moaning about how all conservatives want is an up-or-down vote on measures dear to them, and after years of Bush being in their corner for them, I think they will take salvaging the process over the immigration bill.
Why? Primarily because they are losing the battle and destroying the party. They are not convincing anybody. While Rassmussen runs polls about “amnesty” the polls about ‘guest workers’ and ‘paths to legal status’ show the same lopsided support. They know deep down the red herrings they floated failed and made them look either petty or like they keep grasping for technicalities to cover up for something. We had the canard no one does anything about the issue – while the bill’s opponents propose the “Do Nothing Now” strategy! That was irony at its best.
We had the myth we could not process criminal record checks from fingerprints in 24 hours because some people confused a passport with a fingerprint check. OK, so some are little less edcuated on the finer details of law enforcement (a surprising number of which hold law degrees – figures). We had the myth we couldn’t process 12 million fingerprint checks without serious investment. I busted that myth when I noted the FBI’s IAFIS fingerprint system, the largest in the world with connections to major international systems, had processed 100,000 prints a day. And it is easy to expand capacity. That made the check for criminal records a paltry 3 month affiar – if all the illegals came in on day one, which we know is unrealistic fantasy.
Recently a reader posted a real bizarre concern. Seems we are not a perfect species and we have imperfect systems. I guess Ted Kennedy was forced to admit our 97.5% accuracy rate in records management would create 300,000 errors if used on 12 million people. Oh well, I guess some people panic at the mention of typos. Heaven knows I create a lot of typos and I have seen the spelling police out there.
But this last example proved the silliness and vacuousness of the opponents. Some of the worst of the far right have likened illegal immigration to a cancer on our society. Hyperventilating as usual, it was a good analogy to address with the 97.5% accuracy rate. The deniers, the DO NOTHING NOW types, are pretty responding to the medicine for this supposed cancer by saying “no thanks, I will live with the cancer until I find a cure that is guaranteed 100% effective”. And people wonder why I call them ‘amnesty hypochondriacs”.
This bill will be more than 70% effective. I doubt it will reach 95% – but future adjustments can get it there. That range of 70-95% effective is damn good for new policy, but reasonable. It is not the doom and gloom fantasies of the far right and or the far left. So it is not the bane of our existence as the hypcochondriacs claim. The bane of our existence is hyperventilating exaggeration that insults wide swaths of this country who did nothing seriously wrong. THAT is what needs to deported – the unreasonable hate.
One of the worst myths from the far right is Mexico is a criminal, socialistic, disease ridden place which is trying take over this country. Mexico has its problems, but few countried on this planet have our standard of living. They are all lesser places to some degree. So using that as some reason to insult a people and a culture is the purist of the ugly American stereotypes and is why people hesitate our efforts to protect ourselves internationally. But even here at home that kind of biased rhetoric does damage. The irony of the far right’s arguments can be seen in the fact those people who left Mexico (and other places south), who left their families behind and wandered at great personal risk into a foreign land, did so because they too saw how much better America was. And they stayed and brought their family here and raised them because they wanted to share in the American dream. They were not bringing disease and crime, they were fleeing it.
So to claim those who come here illegally (and many legal residents and citizens once were here illegally) are the disease ridden criminals of a corrupt culture is as insulting and unfair as it gets. Every society has its criminals. At this point, with the ludicrous irony flying, I cannot help but note that Geoffrey Dhalmer (sp?), the human cannibal, was pure bread American. As I watch the far right turn on its own one could forgive someone from using the broad stroke exaggeration method of debate to make a connection!
But a better analogy is Tammy Faye Baker. When I hear Hannity whine about how he cannot believe what is happening in this country, and Laura Ingraham whine about process and procedure, all I see are Tammy Faye’s with dripping mascara running down their cheeks. They have cried ‘wolf’ so many times and nothing has been there that they have become comical. The ultimate irony in this comedy is the proposed solution: DO NOTHING NOW! This is such a bad situation and there is no hope in this bill the only answer is to do…..
Nothing! But of course when people point out the flaws in the opposition, the harm they are doing to the nation and the party, and the true bigots and racists in their midsts, the opposition goes Tammy-Faye on us. “El Presidente Jorge insulted us, the triator”. The irony is so thick it is amazing. So now we will see who are Senators, and who are Tammy-Faye’s crying out because they know God put them on this Earth to save America from the evil illegal aliens raising their families down the street, and of course from the dreaded typos in the government’s records. We have a choice. Either be serious and let America’s representative bodies VOTE on these measures, or listen to the hysterics for another 10 years.
I think a lot of people realize it is better to pass this, stop the civil war, and make more changes later. But then there are the suicidal ones who would be happy to fall on their sword and leave the GOP in the minority for decades – and see real amnesty arise when Dems take control of both houses of Congress and the Oval office. Because that is the choice they fail to see. This IS the best Hutchison, Chambliss and others will see in their lifetime. It is all down hill from here.
I suspect cooler heads will prevail, they will honor their core beliefs in representative government, many will honor a promise they made to El Presidente Jorge to give this thing a fair vote, and many will realize this is the best they will see for decades to come. That might tip the GOP from disaster. But what do I know. I thought they would avoid disaster in 2006. And right now they don’t even have people like me in their corner any more.
The Klan Grand Dragon is speaking now. He voted Nay, guess the old racist roots came out.
“Just dropped in to gloat! ”
Well Thomas, you picked a fine day for it.
We, the American citizens, need to keep the pressure on this group of yahoos and force them to come up with something better.
Something workable and effective.
In the sunshine with civil debate.
Not in the smoky, dank, backrooms of the Capitol.
Through the normal process, not stuffed up our rears or down our throats.
The best way to start this whole process is to enforce the law. ETL. We have laws on the books right now, this minute, that, if enforced, would begin turning our ship of state away from the iceburg that is clearly in our path.
On one hand you have big business who wants cheap labor (essentially a slave class) and on the other you have politicians who want votes.
All the while our borders, both north and south, are being neglected during a time of war.
Who among us will be shocked the next time we are attacked and, lo and behold, we find out that those who are guilty just waltzed in unchallenged? I won’t.
Satrist, that is the question. I wonder what Thomas is gloating about….winning a battle and losing a war? Brilliant, just brilliant.
I remember Harry Reid saying regarding the Patriot act, “We killed the bill!” .
The unions are thrilled.
So we have now witnessed the pathology of the Right, imho.
My only thrill will be seeing all these angry people remain angry. What a way to enjoy life, angry and hard-hearted all the time. Glad I don’t have to live with that.
Brown:
Well, at least you mentioned our northern border. Call me stupid if you wish, but it’s the northern border that bothers me the most as far as terrorists “waltzing in unchallenged”.
Well, THAT was pretty decisive.
Now, it’s time to take this bill, take all the animosity that went with it, and use it to light our 4th of July barbecues. Considering how much heat the issue has generated, we should be able to take a grill from cold iron to ready-to-cook in about a second. 🙂
Then, after everybody has taken a nice vacation, we can start to do some serious work on an immigration bill that will meet with public approval.
Which is eminently feasible. As I’ve said before, there is trade space available.
Satrist,
You’re right.
If a guy with TB on the watch list can come on in unchallenged then who knows who is following right behind him.
The whole thing is a mess. Top and bottom.
Of course, the southern border figures in there as well. Remember the Fort Dix Six? Was it three or four of them who came in from down below?
“vote for the Dimmicrats. Legally now, they won’t be able to, but maybe a backroom deal can be worked out so they can vote for the Dimmi’s whether legal or not”.
Enforcement as has been pointed out that Vote has been trending Republican for years. Last the year the background bile caused us problems.
I suggest the over the top rants agains Hispanics stop and how they all think alike. Those attacks do produce defensive group think. Mitigating the hispanic fallout as to voting is a serious concern among those that do not want to see Hillary in 09 or more lossess in the Senate.
Someone has to be concerned about it and work on that
Ivehadit:
I always enjoyed your posts at Lucianne’s site. I would spend hours reading there but it’s more like minutes that I spend there now. Was thrilled to see you posting on AJ’s site when I began visiting here.
It’s ironic that Rush is the one that pointed me to AJ’s web site and now I don’t listen to Rush anymore. Medved is the only one I listen to now and my day is much more pleasant.
I am just testing the waters. I submitted a post an hour ago and it has not made it up. Perhaps I said something (again) that was true that AJ could not dispute?
Testing……………testing
keep testing. you’re still not getting through (smile)
Thank you, Satirist. And, I am with you…hardly anywhere to go to read intelligent discussion anymore….Thank goodness for AJ.
And I think now, I have solidly become a Rudy fan!
Wonder what the future holds….
And I want to see what legislation Rush and Sean and Laura and Mark get put into LAW. Stop the talk. Make it happen…
I’m waiting…
And you all better not EVER WHINE about cloture being SIXTY VOTES. Ever.
Sixty=a Majority. Who’d a thunk it.
This is my last post here, AJ. It is a gloat post, straight up.
Coleman. No.
Nelson. No.
Webb. No.
Burr. No.
Those are the ones I mentioned so I’ll stop there. I will note that 14 democrats voted no. Keep that in mind when you trash republicans for killing this bill. And also remember that today’s vote is “just some realism from the Hill and how it works”.
Later.
Ouch!
That’s gonna leave a mark.
Well. So the status quo won today. Now what? I guess we build the wall. Oh wait, that’ll still take a long while. How about enforcing the laws? Oh wait, they weren’t being enforced (supposedly).
Wait, what did we win again?
(underwhelmed and shaking my head with bemusement)
Kay Bailey Hutchison is now asking the Senate to continue to address the problem of illegal immigration by stopping the flow of illegals, drug runners, human smugglers, etc.
She is drawing the line between terrorists, drug dealers and honest immigrants. “Just because this effort failed, doesn’t mean we did not make progress. If we start fresh we can come up with a better approach. American people do not believe there is a effort toward security”.
Catch and release shut down. OTMs now being held and not released. BP agents tell her OTM entry is down.
Progress made, not enough. A renewed commitment to border security is needed. She is asking for the $4.4 billion for border security. Universal agreement on this. Americans demanding “absolutely, first committment, border security”.
Tamper proof I.D. for employers. Need to work on guest worker program immediately.
Problem with this bill. Tough issue about those that are already here. Enforcement not done, blind eye turned. That was the hang-up.
Hutchison trying to keep the argument for reform going. But not until we secure the borders. And end illegal immigration. Then handle people here illegally. Some of whom have homes, etc.
Take time; look at consequences of doing nothing; have fresh approach that would secure borders then follow up with dealing with illegals.
OT – Rumsfeld’s negotiating with publisher regarding his book. I don’t read political books but this is one I will definitely read.
Aitch, who is responsible for the status quo? Kennedy, who pushed for legislation to deal with this in both 1965 and 1986 and then did nothing toward forcing administrations to follow the laws? The current administration under whom illegal immigration has rapidly increased? Lawyers who have tied up the deportation orders of criminals in the courts for 20 years?
You cannot lay the “status quo” at the feet of the current GOP. Billy Bob was president for 8 years. What did his administration do? Zip.
Ivehadit & Satirist – I am with you too. Lucianne has deteriorated into some sort of tinfoil manufacturing plant. It’s embarrassing. Did you notice the photo yesterday – I think it was Soldiers Field – Go Bears! But the imagery of a giant mob was right in sync with the moment, and with the intoxicating pleasure of this “kill.”
I’m a Rudy fan too. But so far he has tried to have his immigration stance both ways and I’m not sure that will hold up. I think he’s right in line with you and me, but he is certainly reading the tea leaves and must now be wary of “the base.” If he starts pandering in that direction, I will be distraught. What I worry about is this kill portends a huge push for Fred, who seems to be mouthing the hard line position on immigration. I do not think Fred is smart enough to beat Hillary. He seems to have cast his lot with the “net roots” or nut roots, as has John Edwards. I would surely vote for Fred if he’s the nominee, but my enthusiasm will be zilch.