Grass Roots Roared and Immigration Plan Collapsed

[didymus]

tinyurl.com/ys62a3

** Grass Roots Roared and Immigration Plan Collapsed**

By JULIA PRESTON

     	 WASHINGTON, Mich., June 8 — The undoing of the [immigration](http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/immigration_and_refugees/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) bill in the Senate this week had many players, but none more effective than angry voters like Monique Thibodeaux, who joined a nationwide campaign to derail it.

Mrs. Thibodeaux, an office manager at a towing company here in suburban Detroit, became politically active as she never had before. Guided by conservative Internet organizations, she made calls and sent e-mail messages to senators across the country and pushed her friends to do the same.
“These people came in the wrong way, so they don’t belong here, period,” Mrs. Thibodeaux, a Republican, said of some 12 million illegal immigrants who would have been granted a path to citizenship under the Senate bill.

But the legislation sparked a furious rebellion among many Republican and even some Democratic voters, who were linked by the Internet and encouraged by radio talk show hosts. Their outrage and activism surged to full force after Senator Jon Kyl, the Arizona Republican who was an author of the bill, suggested early this week that support for the measure seemed to be growing. The assault on lawmakers in Washington was relentless. In a crucial vote Thursday night, the bill’s supporters, including President Bush, fell short by 15 votes. While there is a possibility the legislation could be revived later this year, there was a glow of victory among opponents on Friday.

“Technologically enhanced grass-roots activism is what turned this around, people empowered by the Internet and talk radio,” said Colin A. Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, a conservative group.

I get a kick out of “technologically enhanced”. Yeah, it’s a pity that constituents should have access to their Senators – they could conduct business so much more smoothly without such interference.

I’m glad the bill is dead for now but I’m sure they will try to sneak it thru in bits and pieces, probably attached to unrelated bills. I’ve lost what respect I had left for Pres. Bush, claiming that if you’re against the bill you’re against “what’s good for America”. Arrogant little twit.

 

[Melvin]

tinyurl.com/ys62a3

I get a kick out of “technologically enhanced”. Yeah, it’s a pity that constituents should have access to their Senators – they could conduct business so much more smoothly without such interference.

I’m glad the bill is dead for now but I’m sure they will try to sneak it thru in bits and pieces, probably attached to unrelated bills. I’ve lost what respect I had left for Pres. Bush, claiming that if you’re against the bill you’re against “what’s good for America”. Arrogant little twit.

Now, Didymus…you should show more respect for El Presidente!

 

[gnjsdad]

tinyurl.com/ys62a3
I’ve lost what respect I had left for Pres. Bush, claiming that if you’re against the bill you’re against “what’s good for America”. Arrogant little twit.

I also am glad this bill was defeated, but Bush has been dishing out that kind of stuff for years.

 

[KathleenElsie]

After the border and employment verification situations are taken care of is the time for immigration reform. Borders and security first.

I don’t believe we can deport 12 or more million people. But, it is my hope that we can deport those that have broken our laws, continue to do so and those that don’t want to assimilate into our society. (a society inside of another society causes problems for all)

I can in no way blame men and women for trying to make a better life for their families. But, IMHO those that get to stay must want to become Americans and not make the USA into another smaller version of where they came from with their own laws.

 

[rlg94086]

After the border and employment verification situations are taken care of is the time for immigration reform. Borders and security first.

I don’t believe we can deport 12 or more million people. But, it is my hope that we can deport those that have broken our laws, continue to do so and those that don’t want to assimilate into our society. (a society inside of another society causes problems for all)

I can in no way blame men and women for trying to make a better life for their families. But, IMHO those that get to stay must want to become Americans and not make the USA into another smaller version of where they came from with their own laws.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to effectively take care of employment verification, unless we pass a bill with a new method of employment verification. The current system is a joke.

 

[mary_bobo]

After the border and employment verification situations are taken care of is the time for immigration reform. Borders and security first.

I don’t believe we can deport 12 or more million people. But, it is my hope that we can deport those that have broken our laws, continue to do so and those that don’t want to assimilate into our society. (a society inside of another society causes problems for all)

I can in no way blame men and women for trying to make a better life for their families. But, IMHO those that get to stay must want to become Americans and not make the USA into another smaller version of where they came from with their own laws.

I agree very much. Of course we can’t deport that many illegals, but AFTER the border is secured as promised twenty years ago. I, too, welcome those who come legally who want to make a better life for themselve. They need to learn to speak English, they need to assimilate into OUR culture, pay taxes, etc. I am certain if we wanted to we could round up the gang members, those who committed crimes while here and send them back where they came from. That means the border has to be secure before that.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I agree very much. Of course we can’t deport that many illegals, but AFTER the border is secured as promised twenty years ago. I, too, welcome those who come legally who want to make a better life for themselve. They need to learn to speak English, they need to assimilate into OUR culture, pay taxes, etc. I am certain if we wanted to we could round up the gang members, those who committed crimes while here and send them back where they came from. That means the border has to be secure before that.

 

[rlg94086]

I agree very much. Of course we can’t deport that many illegals, but AFTER the border is secured as promised twenty years ago. I, too, welcome those who come legally who want to make a better life for themselve. They need to learn to speak English, they need to assimilate into OUR culture, pay taxes, etc. I am certain if we wanted to we could round up the gang members, those who committed crimes while here and send them back where they came from. That means the border has to be secure before that.

All of the things you and Kathleen have enumerated were in the collapsed bill - deportation of criminals, English language requirements, taxes, improved employment verification, even a provision to having the border secured before most of those items could be triggered.

That being the case, what did the (possibly temporary) collapse of this bill accomplish exactly? Has anyone presented a better plan? Nope.

 

[mollydoggie2]

The best solution for the illegal immigrants is as follows:

1 Register
2.Get a job and pay taxes for ten years.
3.Do not use any social services free for ten years…Pay your own way. This includes education, medical and retirement services for ten years.
4. All able bodied young people serve a tour in the military.
5.Learn English.
6. Get in no trouble with the law.
7. Apply for citizenship after ten years.

 

[mary_bobo]

All of the things you and Kathleen have enumerated were in the collapsed bill - deportation of criminals, English language requirements, taxes, improved employment verification, even a provision to having the border secured before most of those items could be triggered.

That being the case, what did the (possibly temporary) collapse of this bill accomplish exactly? Has anyone presented a better plan? Nope.

You may be right. I have not read the 800+ pages of the bill. My complaint is that whatever they do, and I agree they need to do something, THEY NEED TO CLOSE THE BORDER FIRST. While the politicians are arguing among themselves, thousands more are pouring across the border. If they close the border first, and do the other things I suggested, I could look favorably on it. But I am tired to have to indicate what language I want my phone answers in, or what language I want my bank transactions in. The language here is English, for better or worse.

 

[melensdad]

I get a kick out of “technologically enhanced”. Yeah, it’s a pity that constituents should have access to their Senators – they could conduct business so much more smoothly without such interference.

WARNING OFF TOPIC COMMENT

Well maybe we Catholics can exploit technology a little better to push our faith back into the halls of congress more effectively than we have been doing!?! It might be nice to get the FCC to stop swearing on TV during prime time. Maybe turn up the heat on pro-abortion Catholics in Congress? Just a couple quick thoughts!
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