May 18, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- We're Legally Here
The immigration bill dominated last night's TV talk:
ABC's Raddatz: "This is a giant step toward immigration reform but what was perhaps most remarkable about today is the Democrats, Republicans and the White House came together" ("World News," 5/17).
CBS' Attkisson: "Compromise, the bill's strength, is also it's weakness. For every point that pleases someone, there's another that angers someone else" ("Evening News," 5/17).
FNC's Garrett: "This deal already under attack from left and right. Conservatives announced what they see as amnesty and reckless increase in future legal immigration. Liberals think the temporary worker program is too restrictive and oppose new green card rules that say only spouses and minor children can legally enter the country, no more aunts, uncles, cousins, and in all but a few cases, no grandparents" ("Special Report," 5/17).
CNN's Dobbs: "It's very hard to tell whether there is real sincerity, real backbone on the border security provisions, and whether there are real and determined, sincere efforts to bring enforcement of U.S. immigration law to bear. Without those two things, this deal, no matter how ballyhooed the result today on Capitol Hill, it hasn't got a chance in the world" ("AC 360," 5/17).
DHS Sec. Michael Chertoff: "I understand there's some people who expect anything other than capital punishment is an amnesty. The reality is the proposal here requires people who came in illegally who want to stay to pay a penalty. Like a fine. That's a punishment. That's not an amnesty" ("Situation Room," CNN, 5/17).
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI): "I think the bill stinks" ("Evening News," CBS, 5/17).
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), asked if the new immigration bill will stop illegal immigration: "I don't think it will, because the bill cuts my fence in half. ... You have to put that fence in place. When we put that fence in place in the number-one smuggling corridor in California, it worked great. It has knocked down smuggling in that sector by more than 90 percent. So, the Senate bill, off the bat, more than cuts the Hunter fence in half. I don't like that. And, so, you're going to have the same porous border" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 5/17).
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO): "It is amnesty. And, if they want it, just say it. They're just afraid of the word. But they're not afraid of actually doing it" ("PZ Now," CNN, 5/17). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 08:40 AM
Comments
Is this end of McCain campaign?
Why are Giuliani, Romney and Thomson silent on the immigration bill?? Are they for it or against it? I hope Romney does not flipflop as usual.
Sam | 05.18.07 09:08 AM
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To ALL Those that OPPOSE this bill,
ANSWER ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHAT IS "YOUR" SOLUTION? lets hear it...........
Caring Human | 05.18.07 09:19 AM
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Want to know the grassroots politics of this, Sam?
One of the most visible local politicians on this issue is Lou Barletta, Mayor of Hazleton, PA, tirelessly promoting local laws to limit the number of illegal immigrants in local housing. Tuesday he won the Republican nomination for re-election. He ALSO won the Democratic nomination by write-in.
Echoes last year's Arizona ballot results. Those who claim immigration opponents lost in Arizona ignore the fact that all four anti-illegal immigration ballot initiatives in Arizona were passed overwhelmingly last year. Don't know which side McCain and Kyl were listening to. Interesting to note that Bill Richardson declared an imimgration emergency last year on the NM border.
Big question is whether Lindsay Graham can survive this in next year's SC race. If McCain goes down for this, can Graham be far behind?
pining for chuck todd | 05.18.07 09:26 AM
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I find it hysterical that on O'Reilly last night they were calling this bill the end of the Republican party because so many Hispanics will become legal and they will all vote Democrat. The problem of course, is that the Republicans have been fighting against immigration reform for so long and have done nothing about it that they've basically dug their own hole. Their own inaction put them in this place. If this really does result in the end of the Republican power grab (which it won't), then they only have themselves to blame.
james | 05.18.07 09:29 AM
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As a Republican, I have the right to state outright that the conservative Republicans whining about this bill have a death wish. The demographs published this week from the census show that the younger the age group the greater the % of Hispanics and other minorities. In the youngest group they are a majority. Only the over 65s have a significant majority white. President Bush has the correct, adult approach to this. Far from destroying the Republican party, his support for comprehensive immigration reform may be the one thing to insure its ability to compete in the future. I am embarassed by the knee-jerk, foolish reaction of those on the right over this.
bio mom | 05.18.07 02:30 PM
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This devastating proposal, if passed, will not only be the destruction of a political party, it will be the destruction of this country. If we are thinking only of illegal aliens overpopulating this country, we haven't counted the strange wet-foot, dry-foot policy that allows any Cuban who touches land, a home free ticket. Then there are the Somalies we take in as well as the thousands of Iraqis Bush plans to bringing in and the many refugees who are escaping terrorists regimes. The list is long, but the illegals who will suddenly be put on a path to sainthood, will top the list. The face of America will change, just as Europe's has. More's the pity.
June | 05.20.07 08:15 AM
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Solution?
Simple.
Attrition through enforcement.
Stop handing out goodies to aliens and make it uncomfortable for them to be here. Enforce the law, and the 25-35M invaders will start to deport themselves.
The Kennedy-McCain Amnesty provides instant legal status for millions upon millions of invaders. Who cares about citizenship? Certain not the aliens.
Fonz | 05.20.07 08:26 AM
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"Capital Punishment" ?!? What kind of nonsense were you raised on, Mr. Chertoff?
No, Mr. Chertoff, contrary to the blood libels you were taught growing up, Evil White Gentiles in America do not lust to kill illegal imigrants.
One would have hoped that you, as a Jew, would be much more careful about spreading such hatred against the very people who welcomed you and your family into this country just a handful of years ago.
If we really wanted to kill immigrants (illegal or otherwise) we would have done it way back then, don't you think?
You have lived here for a goodly portion of your life. You really ought to get to know us, assimilate, and leave that hatred and those lies back in Europe where your family came from.
A polite "thank you, America" wouldn't be out of line.
Hadley | 05.20.07 10:31 AM
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Ummm, I live in Arizona and "pining for Chuck Todd" has things a bit mixed up. Arizona voters want something done about immigration. Hayworth and the Republicans had refused to do anything but scream at the top of their lungs. And yet, conservatives haven't learned the lesson and are still advocating nothing more than "NO." If conservatives block this, they will pay the price yet again.
joe | 05.20.07 12:09 PM
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Jorge W. Bush: Senator Kennedy, th' Republican Base is sayin' I sold them out with our immigration compromise, I don't -
Sen. Kennedy: Mr. President, politics isn't about policy. It's about the political.
And Mr. President, will be your great political legacy.
Jorge W, Bush: I guess your right Donkey.....
News By Us, not news bias.
Jack | 05.20.07 05:20 PM
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For "Caring Human"
Want to hear MY solution?? Here it goes:
1. ENFORCE CURRENT LAWS!!! It's not that hard to do.
2. PUNISH EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Current law calls for a $10,000 fine PER ILLEGAL. Enforce it. IN EVERY CASE. And use the money to DEPORT ILLEGALS. It CAN be done.
3. CHANGE NATURALIZATION LAWS!! So that birth within our borders alone does not make someone a legal citizen of the United States. Just because some child's mother was able to make it across the border before she gave birth should NOT mean that the child is automatically a US citizen. The parent should have to first prove they are in this country legally before their child is considered a legal citizen. Most other countries do it this way, we should, too. The current law made sense at the time. Now it's only being exploited, and no longer makes sense. Time to change it.
4. STOP ACCOMODATING PEOPLE IN SPANISH!! If they want to live here, they learn English. Period.
In short, STOP MAKING IT EASY...STOP GIVING THEM HANDOUTS...STOP ACCOMODATING THEM. STOP MAKING IT EASY, AND THEY WILL STOP COMING.
Opposition | 05.20.07 07:34 PM
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CARING HUMAN: SOLUTION? HOWABOUT LET THEM ALL
MOVE INTO YOUR HOUSE...YOU IDIOT.
JWM | 05.31.07 01:10 AM
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