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Senate to America: Assume a compromising position. Smile! (Updated)
I'm too pissed off to even think straight. For right now I'm going to settle for posting some links and excerpts and put off trying to write down my own thoughts till later.
Michelle Malkin: The Definition of Amnesty
Paul Mirengoff: The not-so-great compromise
David Frum: This Is A Compromise?
(Later, after a major argument with Charter Cable about whose fault it was I couldn't connect to the net):
Dafydd ab Hugh (who's a much nicer guy than I am): Breaking: Senate Compromises On Immigration Reform
Patterico's Brilliant Idea
The most optimistic view I can take on this right now it that there's still hope for the House to stand up for the American people and refuse to go along with the Senate's sellout on this. John Hinderaker agrees there's still hope on that front:
Speak Up On Immigration
The Senate compromise that apparently was agreed to today is only one step in the legislative process. The House and Senate bills will have to be finalized and reconciled in conference, and the resulting bill voted on in both chambers. So the battle is far from over. Now is the time when we need to make ourselves heard.
[Read on here.]
Don't miss Greyhawk's latest Open Post.
*** Update 2006.04.07.01:04
Immigration Reform: Less Is ... Well, Less
Ed Morrissey
In the hours after the announcement of a compromise on immigration reform, it seems that details have been might scarce -- never a good sign when legislators announce an agreement. If the deal actually satisfied anyone, the politicians would have had the wonks out in force in an attempt to impress the media and calm the passionate. The lack of detail signals that the compromise may be little more than an easy way out of a contentious battle.
[...]
Let me be very clear on this point. I have no real problems with a program that identifies existing migrant workers and puts them on a citizenship track, assuming they pay their back taxes and a fine for breaking the law, once the border is secured. But security has to come first. It's the primary reason for government to exist! ...
The House has to stand firm on this point. Securing our border has to be the prerequisite of any reform effort. If the Senate cannot rise to the defense of American sovereignty and the security of our borders during wartime, then let the entire Congress come to a standstill until they discover their testicular fortitude. Nothing they will consider jointly has any higher priority than this issue, and if they cave this badly on this, God help us on any other part of the conservative agenda.
[Read the whole thing here and don't miss the link to Mark's RedState post here.]
This from Reuters:
Senate immigration overhaul in doubt
By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate compromise on an overhaul of immigration law appeared to get bogged down late on Thursday in the face of opposition by some Republicans who say it would give amnesty to lawbreakers.
It appeared unlikely the Senate would approve before a two-week congressional break on Friday the radical immigration reform that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to earn U.S. citizenship.
[Read on here.]
Maybe there's still hope for enough Senators to listen to the people they were elected to serve and get serious about this after all. Let's hope so.
***
Hugh Hewitt: Not Good. Bad. Very Bad.
*** Update 2006.04.07.02:50
Senate GOP votes down 'amnesty' bill
By Charles Hurt, The Washington Times
Senate Republicans killed an immigration bill yesterday that they said would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and then cast doubt on the fate of a new bill that would grant the same amnesty to a slightly smaller portion of illegals.
"We've made huge progress," Majority Leader Bill Frist said of the new bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida, that would give a direct path to citizenship for workers who have resided illegally in the U.S. for five years or more.
But by nightfall, hopes for a deal had dimmed considerably over Democrats' refusal to consider Republican amendments.
"I believe there are some people who would rather have no bill," said Mr. Martinez, whose compromise bill had visibly thrilled Democrats earlier in the day.
[...]
If the compromise does not garner enough votes to move forward, senators will have an opportunity to give conservatives what they've always wanted by voting on a border-security-only bill introduced last month by Mr. Frist. Unlike other Senate proposals, such a bill would meet little resistance from the House, which approved a similar bill last year.
[Read the whole thing here.]
I can't think of anything I'd rather see happen than for an effective barrier to be built at our southern border before any discussion of any sort of amnesty in any form even gets started. Maybe there's hope yet.
Creeping amnesty
By Diana West
So there I was, thinking that the only "imminent" threat was the Islamization of the Western world, a historic shift well underway in Europe. Yes, it remained clear that out-of-control immigration in the United States jeopardized the future of our nationhood. But after September 11 the present danger had become creeping Shariah: the gradual -- and-not-so-gradual -- acceptance of Islamic law by Western and, therefore, non-Islamic societies.
But then came last month's massive, mainly Mexican street protests against border control and in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens, mainly Mexican, who have crossed into this country since the last time Uncle Sam granted amnesty in 1986. Back then, it was amnesty for under 3 million. Today, 20 years later, these protesters, along with George W. Bush, want to see some 12 million illegal aliens "earn" citizenship (amnesty). In another 20 years, will a new, amnesty-seeking illegal population number 48 million? In light of the post-protest retreat -- I mean, "deliberations" -- in the U.S. Senate, such a colossal figure looks increasingly plausible. After all, what does an illegal alien or two (or 48 million) have to lose? We are, as we are repeatedly lectured, "a nation of immigrants" who do the work that "Americans" won't do. In fact, maybe just forget about "Americans." If we, the people, get anything like Amnesty 2006 -- with provisions to attain an increasingly Hispanic demographic -- the United States will change from being a neighbor of Latin America to becoming a part of it.
All of which is to say that creeping Shariah, both at home and abroad, is still a present danger. ...
[Read on here.]
See also: Another attempt at amnesty
Sessions/Sensenbrenner '08!
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