R.I.P. Jennifer Dunn

This is shocking and very sad news from my state.

Seattle Times: Jennifer Dunn, former congresswoman, dies---

Former Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, one of the state's most prominent Republican figures for more than two decades, died unexpectedly Tuesday night. She was 66.

Ms. Dunn suffered a pulmonary embolism and collapsed in her Alexandria, Va., apartment and never regained consciousness, her family said in a statement. She died later at the hospital, where she was surrounded by family members.

"We're just trying to pull ourselves together," said her son, Reagan Dunn, a King County councilman. "It was a total shock.

"She gave her whole life giving to other people. She touched a lot of lives and did a lot for her country."

Ms. Dunn served six terms in the U.S. House, from 1993 to 2005, representing Washington's Eighth District, which includes Bellevue, much of east King County and part of Pierce County. She became the first woman to serve on the House Republican leadership team.

She retired from politics in 2005 and went to work for a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.

My prayers are with the Dunn Family.

Photo: Seattle P-I
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen:

R. Subveníte, Sancti Dei, occúrrite, Angeli Dómini, Suscipiéntes ániman ejus, Offeréntes eam in conspéctu Altíssimi. Suscípiat te Christus, qui vocávit te, et in sinum Abrahae Angeli dedúcant te. Suscipiéntes ánimam ejus, Offeréntes eam in conspéctu Altíssimi.
R. Come to her assistance, all you Saints of God: meet her, all you Angels of God: receiving her soul, offering it in the sight of the Most High. May Christ receive you, who hath called you, and may the Angels conduct you to Abraham's bosom. Receiving her soul and offering it in the sight of the Most High.

V. Réquiem aetérnam dona ei, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat ei. Offeréntes eam in conspéctu Altìssimi.
V. Eternal rest give to her, Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon her. Offering it in the sight of the Most High.

Kýrie eléison.
Christe eléison.
Kýrie eléison.
[Pater noster (silently)]... Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
[Our Father (silently)].....

V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem. V. ...and lead us not into temptation.
R. Sed libera nos a malo. R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Réquiem aetérnam dona ei, Dómine. V. Eternal rest give to her, Lord.
R. Et lux perpétua lúceat ei. R. And let perpetual light shine upon her.
V. A porta ìnferi. V. From the gates of Hell.
R. Erue, Dómine, ánimam ejus. R. Deliver her soul, Lord.
V. Réquiescat in pace. V. May whe rest in peace.
R. Amen. R. Amen.
V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. R. And let my cry come to Thee.
V. Dóminus vobiscum. V. The Lord be with you.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo. R. And with thy spirit.
Orémus. Tibi Dómine, commendámus ánimam fámuli tui (fámulae tuae) N.____, ut defúnctus (defúncta) saéculo tibi vivat: et quae per fragilitátem humánae conversatiónis peccáta commìsit, tu vénia misericordìssime pietátis abstérge. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Let us pray. To Thee, Lord, we commend the soul of your servant Jennifer Dunn, that being dead to this world she may live to Thee: and whatever sins she has committed in this life through human frailty, do Thou in Thy most merciful goodness forgive. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen. R. Amen.

GOP Bloggers' Twelfth 2008 Straw Poll

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.

Amnesty Cloture Passes

The cloture vote today passed: 64-35. SEVENTEEN Republicans switched their votes. Shame on all of them. This is amnesty and this is wrong.

Lots more at Hot Air and Michelle Malkin.

House Conservatives Warn Bush

At least someone in DC is still sort of listening.

Washington Times: House conservatives warn Bush of immigration's cost---

Conservative leaders among House Republicans say that President Bush's upcoming showdown with them on immigration could threaten support for the Iraq war as well as for the president's other top policy goals.

"The White House should keep in mind that if they have a direct confrontation with House Republicans on [immigration], it could affect the vote on the Iraq appropriation in September," said Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican. "It will not affect me. I intend to stand by the president. But I do think it is something they should keep in mind for other Republicans who are borderline."

Rep. Adam H. Putnam, Florida Republican, warned that a lackluster immigration bill could do "irreparable harm" to House Republican support for the president.

"If the president makes it clear he'll sign any immigration bill that gets to his desk, no matter what it looks like, then it certainly will do more harm than good," said Mr. Putnam, who as chairman of the House Republican Conference is the third-ranking House Republican.

Mr. Putnam said that a speech by Mr. Bush in Glynco, Ga., last month — which the president's conservative base perceived as harsh criticism of its opposition to the immigration bill — was a "major step backwards."

A Not Surprising Great Divide

MSNBC has this list of journalists who have donated to political causes.

Drudge's big headline: THE GREAT DIVIDE: REPORTERS GIVE DEMS MONEY OVER REPUBLICANS 9 TO 1!.

It really isn't surprising, is it, that the MSM supports Liberals? I don't find it shocking. Anyone watching/reading the MSM and has half a brain knows this.

More over at Michelle Malkin (she's got a new layout and comments are open for registration!).

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.

"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)).

And The Winners Are . . .

The latest Vent with Michelle Malkin over at Hot Air is all about The First Annual Open Borders Oscar Awards. Go find out who the winners are!

Amnesty Bill Dead?

Both Fox News and CNN are reporting that the Amnesty bill is dead, as a second vote this evening failed.

Good news, but will it stay dead?

Colluding With The Enemy . . .

. . . makes you the enemy.

Via Michelle Malkin (who has done a ton of liveblogging on the dark and dirty deeds going on in the Senate Chamber):

From the Washington Times Insider Politics Blog:

Stephen Dinan, our excellent national political reporter who has led the way for months on coverage of immigration legislation, captured this priceless moment in his story this morning as the supporters of the bill struggled to keep it together.

The late-night vote was on an amendment that would require illegal aliens who get legal status to have a minimum level of health insurance. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who is the chamber’s most liberal member, was — not surprisingly — opposed.

Writes Mr. Dinan: “Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona both went to check with Mr. Kennedy before casting their votes to match his. Soon after, (Arizona Republican Sen. Jon) Kyl also switched his vote to match Mr. Kennedy’s.”

The amendment was defeated.

All three of these Republicans proudly claim to be conservatives. Strange bedfellows indeed.

(emphasis added)

With "representatives" like these, who needs the Democrats to oppose us?

(Visit Hot Air to see Lindsey Graham having a temper tantrum like a thwarted 7-year-old---hilarious.)

Michelle wrote:

Readers are e-mailing that they are having trouble getting through to their representatives. Just a reminder that the amnesty hotline set up by open-borders activists is still working.

Just ignore the propaganda and you should be connected quickly to your senators:

1-800-417-7666.

Call or e-mail!

Blogs for Borders Video Blogburst

The Blogs for Borders Video Blogburst:

In this week's edition...

Johnny Sutton puts another Border Patrol agent behind bars, wait till you hear why!

A gangbanger responds to MJ!

And three horrific crimes that would have been prevented had our president done his job!

Our lead story this week is about Border Patrol agent Noe Aleman, yet another victim of prosecutor Johnny Sutton. We are part of an effort to help the family hang onto their house while he is in jail. You can read more about his story here and here.


We will have a Paypal button on our site as soon as it is available, the family needs a thousand dollars a month to scrape by during his incarceration, that works out to a hundred people contributing ten dollars a month, it seems like a pretty doable goal. If you'd like to host the paypal button on your site please send me an email and I will send you the code as soon as it's available.

Update: Noe now has a site of his own and you can read more about his story and donate there.

Also, if you're not already please consider joining NumbersUSA and calling and faxing congress about the unbelieveably bad amnesty bill that is currently being debated.

All the best,
Jake Jacobsen
7732941940
Freedom Folks
Blogs For Borders:
The Future Of Illegal Immigration News!

"A Grass-roots Donors' Rebellion"

Via Drudge---

Washington Times: RNC fires phone solicitors---

The Republican National Committee, hit by a grass-roots donors' rebellion over President Bush's immigration policy, has fired all 65 of its telephone solicitors, Ralph Z. Hallow will report Friday in The Washington Times.

Faced with an estimated 40 percent fall-off in small-donor contributions and aging phone-bank equipment that the RNC said would cost too much to update, Anne Hathaway, the committee's chief of staff, summoned the solicitations staff last week and told them they were out of work, effective immediately, the fired staffers told The Times.

Good for us.

There has been a sharp decline in contributions from RNC phone solicitations, another fired staffer said, reporting that many former donors flatly refuse to give more money to the national party if Mr. Bush and the Senate Republicans insist on supporting what these angry contributors call "amnesty" for illegal aliens.

"Everyone donor in 50 states we reached has been angry, especially in the last month and a half, and for 99 percent of them immigration is the No. 1 issue," said the former employee.

The RNC spokeswoman denied that the committee has seen any drop-off in contributions.

They can deny it all they want, but We the People are angry and not going to give money to a party that wants to give amnesty. I will not give money to a party that wants, and actively pursues, amnesty. Not one red cent.

**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, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.