Don't Mess with the US

Victory! We did it!

Thankfully, the Amnesty bill has been voted down:

WASHINGTON - The Senate drove a stake Thursday through President Bush's plan to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, likely postponing major action on immigration until after the 2008 elections.

"Unlawful immigrants"??? That's sort of like saying "unlawful life-removers" (aka murderers). Call a spade a spade: these people are, legally, illegal aliens, not immigrants, not "undocumented workers," not "unlawful immigrants."

And, actually, the Senate didn't drive a stake through the Amnesty. We the People did that.

It was a victory for Republican conservatives who strongly criticized the bill's provisions that would have established pathways to lawful status for many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They were aided by talk radio and TV hosts who repeatedly attacked the bill and urged listeners to flood Congress with calls, faxes and e-mails.

Excellent work, Americans!

After the stinging political setback, Bush sounded resigned to defeat.

"Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people, and Congress' failure to act on it is a disappointment," he said after an appearance in Newport, R.I. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find common ground. It didn't work."

Yes, We the People are concerned about legal immigration, but this Amnesty had nothing to do with that, and our top concern (in the realm of immigration) is illegal immigration, illegal aliens, and the amnesty that the President and our other elected "representatives" were shoving down our throats.

And, to the contrary, we are in no way disappointed that Congress failed to pass this travesty of an amnesty, but rather euphoric that we have been victorious.

The bill's Senate supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate and clear the way for final passage of the legislation, which critics assailed as offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate.

And how did our "representatives" vote?

From the beginning, the bill's most forceful opponents were southern Republicans. GOP Sens. David Vitter of Louisiana, Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Jeff Sessions of Alabama led the charge, often backed by Texan John Cornyn.

Two southern Republicans — Lindsey Graham, S.C., and Mel Martinez, Fla., who was born in Cuba — supported it.

Also crucial to the bill's demise was opposition from three Democrats recently elected from GOP-leaning states: Jon Tester of Montana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Jim Webb of Virginia.

All the Democratic presidential candidates in the Senate voted to end debate and advance the bill. Among the Republican candidates, only Sen. John McCain of Arizona voted to keep the measure alive. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., at first voted with McCain, but switched his vote when it was clear the bid to end debate would fail.

Wow, Senator Brownback, way to go with the flow. Nothing wishy-washy or indecisive about him. His new nickname is Senator Switch-back. Fits, doesn't it?

UPDATE: The people at Hot Air created this great ad:



Here is the cloture vote roll.

We should take time to celebrate, but then we need to make sure that this Amnesty stays dead and that our laws and borders are enforced.

This just goes to show that We the People are invested in our government, that we care what happens in our country, and that we have the power to make changes. The lesson to all in Washington, D.C. ought to be: DON'T MESS WITH THE US. WE are the United States. WE are the ones in charge. WE are the ones who will decide what happens here. And no one better try to force such a travesty on us against our will. We won! Thank God!

On a humorous note: I love this e-mail sent to NR editor Rich Lowry. Hilarious!

More from:
Michelle Malkin
Hot Air
Amanda Carpenter at Townhall.com
Today in History by Mark Krikorian (at The Corner)
Cop The Truth: Immigration Bill Bleeds Out on Senate Floor

From Bear Creek Ledger: A Little Music to encourage our Senators to vote no on cloture today

Here's a couple songs to get y'all in the mood for today:
Illegals…..the song by Dan Demay
Press 1 for English

The CAII members have been a very prolific bunch in the last day:
CAII Alert for June 26, 2007
Gwinnett County Georgia Fights Back
How the Presidency and America Will Be Changed by Immigration Fraud
President Eisenhower Put Americans First and Closed the Borders
Showdown In San Antonio-Hey Johnny We Are Coming
`Amnesty' fake papers pledged in wiretap
The Sellout Of America
George Voinovich on Sean Hannity: Arrogant, Imperious, and Ignorant
As True Today As In 1907
Amnesty Fence-Sitter Blackberry Addresses (Staff Included)
Senate Will Attempt to Invoke Cloture Again Today

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

We're In Full Revolt!

CNN has noticed that Conservative Bloggers are in a Full Revolt over the Amnesty Bill! That's Right!

It's increasingly clear from Web postings and interviews with top conservative bloggers that the immigration bill has done serious damage to the president's credibility among the conservative netroots, the grassroots bloggers on the Web.

Erick Erickson, managing editor of the popular conservative blog RedState.com, says he receives between 800 and 900 e-mails a day from readers, most of whom are "enraged" by the White House's immigration efforts.

"Of all the issues the president has picked to make his hill to die on, he has picked the one that has divided his base," said Erickson, who lives in Macon, Georgia. "I am shocked by the anger and outrage out there ... You've got war against the president within the Republican party."

When details of an immigration compromise were announced this spring, conservative bloggers were immediately incensed. Michelle Malkin labeled it "a White House betrayal."

Another popular blogger, Hugh Hewitt, called the bill a "fiasco" and wrote: "this push for this bill is a disaster, Mr. President."

Read the rest and then let your Senators (actually, let them all know) hear your anger and frustration over this giving-away of our beloved country.

It's Coming Back!

We knew it wasn't dead.

Fox News: Majority Leader Reid Close to Reviving Senate Immigration Bill---

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will approve a new deal on immigration on Thursday and move to bring the once-dead legislation back to the Senate floor next week, Democratic sources told FOX News.

Details of the immigration compromise remain to be finalized, but top Democratic sources say Reid has closely monitored the behind-the-scenes dickering over policy changes and a finite list of amendments due for consideration. Based on the latest updates on the policy and amendments, Reid will approve the compromise and move late Thursday to put the bill back on the calendar for Senate consideration in the middle of next week.

"He's going to bless it and he's going to get the Senate back in the business of dealing with immigration," said a source in the Democratic Senate leadership.

The principal change to the bipartisan immigration compromise that Reid shelved last week is the addition of $4.4 billion in added border security spending. That money will be added to the base bill to return to the floor. Any other changes to the immigration bill will have to be made through the amendment process.

Oh, joy!

And, of course,

Earlier in the day, President Bush agreed to the plan in hopes of winning over fellow Republicans.

"We're going to show the American people that the promises in this bill will be kept," Bush said in a speech to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

I will not be bought. I will not change my opinion on this matter just because they promise to add money to enforce the border security.

GOP sources tell FOX News that the new bill has enough support from Republicans for Reid to prevail on a procedural vote to get the bill to final passage.

As Michelle Malkin notes,

It's do or die time, people.

The GOP elites have chosen. If you have an objection, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Speak up now! Let them know we aren't stupid and that we aren't going to fall for false promises of enforcement.

More at Hot Air.

And don't forget to read "The best way to restore trust", from some anti-Amnesty Senators.

Let the Amnesty Crowd know you aren't going to stand for this:
The Senate
The White House
The House (Let them know they can expect lots of angry calls & e-mails if they fall in line with this shamnesty.)

"The best way to restore trust"

More on the Immigration Amnesty bill from Michelle Malkin and Hot Air.

From Michelle: Kill the Bill: Exposing the dirty deal
Update- Senators to Bush: Enforce the laws first

From Hot Air: Video: Sessions to Bush — “Back off”---Excellent.

Here is the letter from 9 Republican Senators, telling President Bush: Enforcement First!

Border Security Can Be Implemented Without Senate Bill

June 12th, 2007 - Today, nine U.S. Senators wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to fulfill the border security provisions listed in the Senate immigration bill whether the legislation passes or not. Each border security trigger in the bill can be implemented under current law without any need for new legislation from Congress.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Mr. President:

We respectfully ask that your Administration enforce the border security laws that have already been authorized by Congress regardless of whether the Senate passes the immigration reform bill. The bill assumes that several critical border security benchmarks can be achieved within 18 months. These security triggers are already authorized under current law and can be completed without the immigration bill. We believe these enforcement measures are vital and should not wait until Congress passes additional immigration reforms.

Securing the border is the best way to restore trust with the American people and facilitate future improvements of our immigration policy.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R – South Carolina), Tom Coburn (R – Oklahoma), Mike Enzi (R – Wyoming), David Vitter (R – Louisiana), Jim Inhofe (R – Oklahoma), Jim Bunning (R – Kentucky), Charles Grassley (R – Iowa), John Ensign (R – Nevada) and Jeff Sessions (R – Alabama).

The Senate immigration bill calls for the following security benchmarks to be completed as a “trigger” before other parts of the bill go into effect. Bill proponents claim these provisions can be implemented within 18 months. All of them can be implemented under current law:
• Bill Trigger #1 – 18,000 agents border patrol agents;
--- This is already scheduled under current law: Customs and Border Patrol Press Release 8/4/2006: “In May, President Bush announced his commitment to hire an additional 6,000 agents by the end of 2008, bringing the Border Patrol’s total strength to 18,000 agents.”

• Bill Trigger #2 – 200 miles of vehicle barriers, 370 miles of fencing, and 70 ground-based radar and camera towers, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles;
--- This requires less than is already required under current law. The Secure Fence Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in 2006, already requires 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing along Southwest border, mandates DHS achieve operational control over entire border through “virtual fence” that deploys cameras, ground sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and integrated surveillance technology.

• Bill Trigger #3 – End “catch and release” and provide ICE 27,500 beds for immigration detainees;
--- According to DHS, both of these triggers have already been accomplished. DHS Press Release 10/30/2006: “Ended ‘Catch-and-Release’ Along the Borders: In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE re-engineered the detention and removal process to end this practice along the border… ICE also increased its detention bed space by 6,300 during the fiscal year 2006, bringing the current number of funded beds to 27,500 immigration detainees.”

• Bill Trigger #4 – Secure identification documents with photo and biometric information and operational employment verification system to determine work eligibility
--- The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in 2005, already requires secure identification documents with photo and biometric information.
--- The Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2006, already provides $113 million to fully expand the Basic Pilot / Employment Eligibility Verification (EEV) system to be a national employment database.

Other Border Security Provisions of Current Law
• Achieve and maintain operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States as required under the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-367)

• Fully integrate all databases maintained by DHS which contain information on aliens as required by section 202 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1722).

• Fully implement US-VISIT program to record the departure of every alien departing the United States and match records of departure with the records of arrivals in the United States as required by section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1221 note).

• Enforce the provision of law that prevents States and localities from adopting ``sanctuary'' policies or that prevents State and local employees from communicating with DHS as required by section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373).

• Fully operational equipment at each port of entry and uses such equipment in a manner that allows unique biometric identifiers to be compared and visas, travel documents, passports, and other documents authenticated in accordance with section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1732).

• An alien with a border crossing card is prevented from entering the United States until the biometric identifier on the border crossing card is matched against the alien as required by section 101(a)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(6)).

• Any alien who is likely to become a public charge is denied entry into the United States pursuant to section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)).

Let's All Be Illegals!

Apparently the White House has forgotten who the American people are . . . and who the illegal foreign aliens are.

From the AP:

WASHINGTON - Even as it bowed to complaints about vacation-ruining passport delays, the Bush administration insisted Friday it is pressing ahead with restrictions next year that could mean even bigger travel headaches.

Responding to protests, the State Department and the Homeland Security Department said they would temporarily relax a rule requiring passports for air travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
[. . .]
The application surge is the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, in effect since January, which required U.S. citizens to use passports when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean by air.

There are so many applications that the State Department is very, very, very backed up on passports. Even though they knew this was going into effect. Brilliant bunch of people there.

And, worse:

Despite that [. . .], security officials said they would proceed, as of January, with a requirement that passports be presented at all U.S. sea and land border crossings. Homeland Security plans to offer a draft in two weeks that spells out how the new rule would be implemented, said spokesman Russ Knocke.

(emphasis added)

How do you like that? We might as well all become illegal aliens. They obviously can move freely through our borders, through our society, but we Americans can't!

Several members of Congress were incredulous, and pledged to force a change in the January deadline.

"They have got an awful mess that they can't handle and they're going to have to put this whole notion off for another year," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., whose district lies along the U.S.-Canadian border. "If there is a mistake to be made, I'm sorry to say DHS will make it."

I couldn't agree more! And the biggest mistake is confusing American citizens with the illegal aliens! We aren't the criminals. We aren't the ones sneaking across the borders. We aren't the ones who should have to deal with all of this.

Maura Harty, the assistant secretary for consular affairs, acknowledged the department did not adequately anticipate "the American citizens' willingness and desire to comply" with the rule "in the timeframe that they did."

Last year, the agency processed 12.1 million passports. This year, officials expect to process about 18 million, she said. The department received 1 million applications in December, 1.8 million January and 1.7 million in February.

And look at that: last year they processed 12.1 million passports. This year, probably 18 million. The number of illegal aliens in this country is as low as 12 million and probably higher than 18 million. Why can't we process that many right out the door?

But the mess only gets bigger (not even considering how big of a mess DHS will have if the Amnesty is revived and passed):

Harty said the department had hired 145 people last month to work on the backlog and would hire 400 more this quarter. Target turnaround times for passports were bumped up from six to 10-12 weeks after the surge, but 500,000 applications have already taken longer, she said.

Those numbers pale in comparison to what lies ahead.

According to government estimates, about 6 million Americans will need formal documents to travel to the Caribbean, Canada or Mexico by air or sea. The estimated need for land crossings is more than four times that: 27 million Americans over the next five years. Those numbers do not include the regular year-to-year demand for passports.

The State Department is still working on creating a cheaper passcard alternative for land crossings.

Isn't this fabulous?

I really just can't get over the fact that DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and President Bush have been trying to reward illegal aliens with citizenship, not seeming to understand that there are probably terrorists in that group, but want to force more requirements on American citizens. I just want to scream sometimes. I don't want to pay for a passport in case I want to go to Canada (cause I'm never going to Mexico).

I really just can't wrap my mind around it. They are trying to improve border security. To do so, they are requiring American citizens to have passports to cross, but people who came here illegally, basically as invaders, are being rewarded for doing so. Does that mean I should just say "Screw it, I'm going over and back without a passport?" Does that mean they will allow me to get away without paying fines, facing jail time or being deported? Does that mean I don't have to pay taxes?

Sounds like a great deal. Let's all be illegals!