Why can't these idiots tell the difference between legal and illegal?
Why is this such a hard concept to grasp?

and here I thought "the rule of law" was an American tradition.

Liberty for cheap labor. Pure racism on Little Bushie's part. DOES ANYBODY IN AMERICA BELIEVE A WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THIS GUY'S MOUTH?
And Cheney's NOT a part of the Executive Branch.

Currently, if illegals cross the border to have a baby, that infant is (becomes)a citizen. I believe this is both wrong and a sizable part of the problem.

Does anyone know whether any of the legislation now being worked on addresses this issue?

Would love to see a post from anyone with more detailed knowledge of the legislation being worked on...thanks.

If this bill is so good, why was it negotiated in secret, "in the shadows", and why are its proponents such as Dem leader Sen. Harry Reid trying to limit debate on it?

Any routine bill to rename a lighthouse goes through hearings and debate. It is vastly more important for a bill of this magnitude to be thoroughly vetted, yet the proponents wish to rush it through. Again, why?

Actually, we know why. Because the American people oppose the bill, and the more they hear about it, the less they like it.

In light of the recent toy (today), toothpaste, dog & cat food recalls etc., how about we get back to making things in this country instead of importing it all from China? It may cost a little more but at least we know what is going into the products. Just a thought.

We DO welcome immigrants. We don't welcome ILLEGALS. Is Bush telling us we should welcome people breaking into our house to rob us? The logic's the same .....

Trent Lott, GW and all the republicans that support this foolish immigration bill will suffer greatly in future elections. We as a nation need to enforce the laws already on the books. The new amnesty bill is an insult to our nation and those politicians that support it need to, and will be driven from the office, period.

Close the boarders enforce the law. What is so hard to understand George?

The only "people" who want to give illegal immigrants immunity are Big Business. Bush is thinking of his retirement and Big Business is making him promises. When you make it too easy to become a citizen, you bring in people who want a free ride. Make people EARN their Citizenship. Perhaps we should even do that for people who are born here!!

Treading a mighty fine line between the RNC & the Department of Dubya, eh?

DB,
The only "people" who want to give illegal immigrants immunity are Big Business.

One would think that would be true but, when the bill was last voted on, more Democrats indicated support than Republicans. Democrats will do ANYTHING to pander for the Hispanic vote, even if it means lowering wages for working Americans whom the Democrats claim to represent.

I'll take bets right now. When the Senate cloture vote comes, who will vote for cloture (i.e., the immigration/amnesty bill) more--Republicans or Democrats? I'm betting that the Dems support the bill more than the GOP, just as they did with the original cloture vote.

This is a Reid-Kennedy Democrat bill that Pres. Bush and some GOP senate leaders have signed onto.

Jean,

I'm not sure of the precise contents of the current bill. However, I seriously doubt that it does anything about "anchor babies" (i.e. children of illegals). I don't believe the bill can do anything about it.

You see, Section I of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constititon starts out: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." So, unless this means something other than what its plain words convey, the Constitution makes a citizen out of everyone born here. If the Constitution makes children citizens, no federal law can take that status away. The Constitution always trumps any law or treaty inconsistent with it.

I know there are some people who say that they are not citizens because they are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States. I disagree with that view. The jurisdiction of the United States extends to everyone inside its borders because its laws apply to everyone here.

The anchor-baby dilemma has sometimes been solved by deporting the child's parents. Most parents, when faced with deportation, will opt to take their children with them. But those children still have the right to demand entry into the United States when they reach adulthood. The only way to answer the issue, then, is to amend the Constitution. I don't think that will happen, at least not in our lifetime.

Here is a post on the proposed legislative trash of a bill.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-1639

This speech has to be a comedy skit for Saturday Night Live... Does Bush and his Administration not understand the concept of "Legal" immigration versus "Illegal Immigration".They keep trying to pull this "Tony Snow" job on us.. This is not that complicated... Fence the border (with razor wire on top) and then we will deal with the "12" million illegals in the Midwest and South, The "12" million illegals on the West Coast, and then the "12" million illegals on the East Coast. We are voters and we are watching.

deport the felons and get rid of the "anchor baby law", find out why the illegals from mexico are protesting in Carpentersville about the English only law, also go after the employers that hire illegals! we don't need a new set of laws...

W says: "we can ensure that our laws are respected."

Fat chance, coming from such a lawbreaker himself. He's not even covered by laws he approved, says W. Nor is Cheney!

So why should immigrants to this country behave any differently than our fearless leaders?

I think Mr. Bush has nerve and all the arrogance anyone can have. He is so wrong with his ideas and it only denotes his egotism,
He is a dictator and he completely ignores our laws that have been set down by our forefathers.
Immigration is a problem in this country because the laws that we have are not being enforced and I know this to be true. It is true that America welcomes immigrants BUT America never welcomed the criminals,sick, persons who were mentally challanged and illegal immigrants. Immigrants had
to be checked by doctors and even if one child had an earache the entire family could be returned to their homeland. People who were criminals and people who were not stable mentally were returned. What happened to these laws??
We are allowing anyone to come into this country by allowing these illegals to stay. Our crime is up so high and who are most of the crimes being committed by?? It is the illegals. All catagories of crime have increased and it has been since all these illegals have come in. Our taxes have gone sky high because of all the problems since the illegals have come in and we need to send them all back. Our country needs to clean house and get back on track. Our school systems are suffering because of the illegals attending our schools. Our standards have been lowered in our schools because of them English is our language and we need our politicians to wake up and face reality. All this Spanish crap is costing us dearly. Everything is done in Spanish but not in any other language. What is that all about?? Talk about favortism. What about all the other languages? Do you hear any other group of people demanding things to be in their languages. These Spanish want to take over this country and our politicians are allowing it to happen. Our politicians will do anything for a vote. Our health system is being over taxed by the illegals.
Our children are out looking for jobs and where are they? What about all the jobs that have been sent to Mexico and other countries? Our American citizens were put out of work and now we are supposed to cater to all these illegals. I am sick and tired with this entire mess that our politicians have gotten this country in. Bush is running this country into the ground.
He is a dictator. He has made nothing but enemies all around this world and we have lost all of our allies. We have nothing but discord in this country and if our politicians don't vote against this amnesty deal of Bush's we are going to have blood shed in our streets. Forget welcoming the illegals. They are not immigrants, Illegal means illegal

Folks while Bush and SOME Republicans support this immigration bill, it is called the KENNEDY-MaCain bill, as in Ted Kennedy. The bill would have passed over a week ago if enough Republican senators hadn't stopped it.

I'd like to know which Democratic senators are NOT in favor of legalizing the illegal. Kennedy? In favor. Feinstein: Favors. Schumer: All for it. Hillary: In favor. Kerry: All for it. Durbin: supports it. Obama: Big time support!

This is Kennedy's bill as much as Bush's. It is not a dem/rep debate but a citizen/elite debate. We the citizens are deciding if we still matter to the elites.

Bush doesn't seem to understand the term Immigrant or illegal, there is a difference. I have nothing against Mexicans, my stepfather of 45 years. was a Mexican,his family came here and raised a family of nine without asking for anything and doing very well in this country, I wish the same for any Mexican that comes here legally. Bush is worried about immigration because it interferes with his Cafta open border plans, the minute they pass that bill America is gone. All legal immigrants have always been welcome here, soon there will be no legal immigrants, we will have no borders. Where is the Judicial watch on this illegal act? we can't absorb the amount of immigrants he is talking about, we are being accused of using up our resources now, what will it be like when there are 10 million more people allowed in here and that's just for starters? Bush is making no sense at all as usual. We are not privy to his reasons for anything, we just pay the bills.

Mark Kirk certainly has a good idea to solve the immigration problem, specifically with Mexico: send them condoms.

Kirk never ceases to amuse me. But now he's scaring me. This latest grand idea of his makes him look like a xenophobic idiot, not to mention a hypocrite since he supports abstinence only sex education in America.

Thank goodness Dan Seals is running for IL-10 again. Hopefully, we'll get some adult leadership in 2008.

This immigration siuation is partly a result of Roe V. Wade.
Since 1973 abortion estimates are 40 to 70 million children,and if not terminated would now be a working,tax paying,legal part of our society.
Our economy,since Reagan was President(27 years) has had only a few quarters of zero growth and we need workers to fill the millions of jobs created,but can't be filled by America's aborted children. I believe that is why most of the politicians (Rep.and dem a-like) turned a blind eye to the situation of illegal immigration.
This is partly a reaction to the action of Roe V. Wade.
Build the fence first(which was promised) and stop the flow,then we can have discussions on what to do next!

Paulo

The Mexican government is wealthier by far than are we as they have nationalized oil and they sell it to much of the world at a great profit. America loves to help immigrants but unfortunately at this time in our history we simply are not in a financial position to do so as we have 40 million American citizens living in poverty here at present and so charity must begin first here at home. Again, the Mexican government is extremely wealthy due to their oil profits and so they can well afford to take care of their poor. The United Nations must force them today to begin to do the right thing by their poor citizens.

These posts are extremely disturbing, and everyone is a bit paranoid. Yes this country is becoming part of a global economy, however America has never been better financially - this immigration bill proposed speaks directly to assimilation as an American, and gives those in need the same chance our immigrant forefathers had. They did not have the restrictions imposed that we do now. The majority of immigrants - legal or not - are not hard core criminals, and they contribute greatly to our economy (believe it or not they actually pay sales and income taxes - think about it) All I hear from the prior posts is a bunch of paranoid rants reminiscent of Nazi Germany. - give me your hungry, your tired, your poor. Our current immigration policies are greatly in need of reform, and our current immigration situation is a direct result of its inefficiencies. All men are created equal, and deserve equal opportunity - many have died fighting for these basic rights. Lets stop the paranoia and look for a solution.

Trash the immigration bill and congress along with it ! Anyone with common sense can tell the bill is flawed !

First off, Paulo...you are nuts! Bringing Roe v Wade into this is a shameless bait and switch maneuver.

As for the immigration debate, I could maybe buy into the amnesty thing (that is really what it is despite descriptions to the contrary) IF there could be assurances that EVERY future illegal immigrant caught would be deported immediately. No green card or worker permit and you go home, you don't get social services, and your kids don't get automatic citizenship. I fear a repeat of what happened after Reagan's grand immigration solution

tick tock, tick tock..

4...3....2...1..BOOM!

The GOP is exploding

I like how Lil Johnny Boyscout, SS Shermie and RNC Robot Bruce are trying to convince themselves that this Immigration bill that's being pushed by their Republican President, Commander Chimpy, is somehow the Democrats fault....hahaha...hoho..haha snort snort ahahahoh!=)

People risk life and limb to come here because their lives really suck there. When I say suck I mean many times more hardship than most americans will ever experience(you and I included). It's horrible and selfish to deny these people a chance at better life because we fear change in this country. We should have amnesty for everyone and open borders. Then we won't have to worry about this illegal/legal issue and we can get on with helping people in need, whatever their origin or ethnicity.

For God's sake, will somebody tell George to shut up.

We gratually giving our beautiful country away with these so called Immigration Reforms.
Have any body look closely in the malls or public places to see how these people multiplying, or look at the
gangs or public services and see at what cost people have paid so far. It is totally terrifying to imagine what we will face in next 15 years ? America wake up.Yes, according to the news papers Latino in California will be majority 15 years from now.

To say these are jobs Americans are not doing is illogical. Ours is a free-market economy, and if fruit rots on the vine then we should let it and let the economics work itself out unhindered. Thus to justify rewarding illegal behavior on such grounds as jobs Americans aren’t doing amounts to protectionism, the very protectionism the president says America doesn't need.

Do you want to live in an America of one billion people? Rationed water and electricity7 You think roads are crowded now! Immigration must stop or the quality of life for all but the richest will continue to spiral downward.

How do half of you use the internet? The problem isn't the immigrants. How many of you want to wash dishes for a living or pick fruit? How is that "taking our jobs"? NO ONE WANTS TO DO THE JOBS! These poor people are risking their lives coming here so they don't have to starve in Mexico, and they are being harassed by you arrogant snobs.

I seem to remember all these promises by Ted Kennedy in 1986 when he pushed the immigration bill back then... we have the laws on the books, they go unenforced!

Then we have had a DRUG war for decades... that and now TERRORISM... remember 911 and 9 of 12 came in from Canada? At any rate, the government is not enforcing the laws, has not build the fence it already promised...

SO WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE ALL THESE NEW LIES?

BUILD THE FENCES!
ENFORCE THE LAWS!

Then, I might listen... until then, no amnesty and stop the lies!

No George Bush YOU ARE WRONG. We do not need a new law we need to make the old laws work. Close the border-inforce the law.

WHY DON’T YOU GET THAT?

MAYBE YOU ARE AS STUPPID AS THE LEFTIES SAY YOU ARE.

Since 1929, crossing US border without proper documentation is a federal misdemeanor. Other misdemeanors include public drunkeness, petty theft, and some traffic violations. If you get drunk and walk home, are you "an illegal American?" If you drive wrecklessly, are you an "illegal driver?" Steal some office supplies - "Illegal employee?" Branding 12 million people as outlaws for the commission of a single crime - crossing the border without proper authorization - seems ludicrous. Furthermore, anyone who thinks we banish 12 million workers away without causing a collapse of our economic system is idiotic. America needs to confront its problems, not sweep them under the carpet as it has done for decades. Only by legalizing the foreign worker and finding a means to fill low-wage jobs by documented, official and legal processes is the only realistic pathway to solving the problem.

The balance of power between the Legislative and
Executive branches was changed when term limits were
imposed on the president only, as was done during
Franklin Roosevelt's presidency. The Founding Fathers
would not have allowed only one branch of government
to be limited, while another runs amuk with career
politicians and the establishment of their
never-ending, self-serving, power-engrained, and
corruption-tainted terms. Ironically, both parties
have decayed due to this phenomenon, and we the
taxpayers are the ongoing victims. This explains
why Senators from both parties would willingly give up
this nation's sovereignty in the current immigration
debates...in order to establish personal power and
enrich their campaign funds, these career politicians
overlook the long-term problems of not enforcing
border security. It also can explain how an outside
individual with unlimited money can actually bypass
the voters and shape a government based on his own
agenda and policy (Soros). Could this imbalance be
brought before the Supreme Court based on an
unconstitutional term limit on the Presidency without
corresponding limits on Congress? The original term
limit was imposed on the Presidency because of
Roosevelt's apparent power and popularity. Could the
same not be said about career politicians such as
Kennedy or Byrd? Many of the problems we face as
Americans could be traced to this tilting of power
towards Congress and its career politicians in place
of the former patriots who went to Washington to serve
our country.

I wish Mexico the very best in creating a better nation and a better life for its citizens. We are our own nation and face rising population pressure on our fixed land mass. Worse, our petroleum reserves are quickly diminishing, we pay massive amounts to import oil, and we can no longer afford large scale immigration because of the increased future demographic shadow. President Bush is fundamentally wrong on this issue. It is crucial to our national future prosperity that the bill be defeated.

I live near the Mexican border. Every day drugs and humans invade from the south.

In ten years there will be 50 thousand illegals in our country.

You talk about problems.

Bush and Congress can seal the border but they never will.

i have had experience with politicians - they are all liars. this bill too overwhelming to list all the concerns. also-this my first post , the rule sounds like a politician - an invitation to comment but someone must approve the response ! gimme a break.

To all ranting about "illegals" and debating legality: There is a higher law at work here. It is economic law; until migratory law is in harmony with economic law, you will see broken immigration laws.

We are not a nation built on the rule of law. We are a nation built on the constitution, which bush hates.

Freedom and justice for all!

Sad country this is.

Despite the attempts at sham enforcement to strengthen this bad bill, it all comes down to the part that nobody wants and that is the mass legalization of unknown millions of illegal aliens or, in short, ITS THE AMNESTY, STUPID!! No matter what ths President or the Grand Bargainers do to change the lipstick on the pig, we don't want the amnesty. That is the deal breaker. Our President is arrogant and defiant on this issue. That is why 4000 aliens per day are still flooding our Southern Border and why he has the lowest approval rating of any President in modern times. He is still singing kumbaya with Kennedy and La Raza and thumbing his nose at American voters. Hopefully, there will be enough no cloture votes to kill this bill on Tuesday. This President needs a a lesson for this legacy.

Bush is not popular. Paris Hilton gets more votes in jail. A proof for it is for example the homepage http://www.nr-9818783.com. 30% of the asked love Paris Hilton.

Bush, yout time is over! :o)

Pres. Bush, Ted Kennedy and others from both sides are pushing this bill, so if you are going to bash Pres. Bush on this issue, bash Ted Kennedy also. Better yet, knock off the bashing all together. Bush's disapproval rating is low, but Congress's is much lower. Defeat this bill sport's fans, it will hurt our country. Use you voting power and clean house of those that do not represent you.

Instead of amending the constitution to allow illegals to remain in our country, we should keep and abide by the laws we now have. Our forfathers had the forsight and wisdom to write a constitution to prevent what is happening now. What the AMERICAN people must do now, is to contact their elected officials and demand they do not support this immagration bill under any circumstances. It is vital for the voice of the AMERICAN people to be heard in this matter. The laws we now have need to be enforced. This immagration bill must be defeated and our borders secured. What happens when you try to enter any other country illegally? You are either deported at once, or sent to prison. Again I stress this point to you, contact your elected officials and DEMAND they DO NOT support this immagration bill. Also, what will this bill do to social security? As someone who is aproaching retirement, I see social security as not being there after they give it all out to the illegals. It is a sad day when illegal immagrants have more rights and protection under the law than our own AMERICAN people. God help us if this bill gets approved.

The economic fact is that the US economy needs the labor of the millions of illegal immigrants currently in the country. Take it away and there won't be produce in the shelves in a few weeks. Their contribution to the economy is VERY significant. Furthermore, because they fear deportation they accept less pay and substandard working conditions. This is the New American Slavery. Kick them out? Economically impractical. Allow them to stay as second class human beings, the new slaves of our new plantations? Immoral. Giving them rights is a moral imperative, and this bill may be a flawed step in that direction, but at least it's a step. These people are not criminals, they are hardworking human beings who have the same natural aspirations as anyone. They are no different from the Irish, Italians, Chinese, Indian, etc. who came here in previous waves of immigration and made this country what it has alway been: a land of opportunity. Those resisting change are motivated by racism and cultural insecurity, but the fact of life is that no country can wall itself up and remain vibrant and healthy. The great wall of China will also not work here. What we need is an intelligent system that assimilated the good and filters the bad.

NO ONE WANTS TO DO THE JOBS! These poor people are risking their lives coming here so they don't have to starve in Mexico, and they are being harassed by you arrogant snobs.

Posted by: Unbiased Human | June 24, 2007 6:00 AM
I disagree with your contention. They are jobs that Americans won't do for a less than fair wage. Every sector that illegals work in have suffered an industry wide drop in wages. It is the business that make out and average Joe has to find another living. Even if it costs more for these services, it is worth it in the long run if you count the money that is spent on the problem now and in the future. This is not a matter of what we think of immigration or not, it is stricktly about business. I am for immigration...not illegal immigration.

It is the "Amnesty Stupid". Stop attempting to reward illegal activity. If somebody broke into my home I would prosecute. If they did it again I would prosecute. Following the logic of this bill would allow me to break into your home, force you to give me a key, allow me to setup my own way of living, force you to accept and accommodate my language, ignore your rules. Bring my whole family over, have kids you have to take care of and feed, clothe, and provide health care for. Make you share your goods and services under the guise that I would do the chores your kids don't want to do.
NO THANK YOU, I'll take out my own trash and provide for my own kids. Go back to your country and talk to your government. Leave now or forever hold your peace....

This is all part of a bigger plan folks. If you haven't heard about the NAU you need to look it up.
North American Union :: here are a few links or just google it.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52684

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=14965

Farmers in Washington state lost crops this year because of a labor shortage.
Truth is, 95% of illegal immigrants are hard-working, Christian, family-values people.
You don't need a fence, that's just another excuse for Halliburton et al to rake in another multi-billion dollar contract, with our taxpayer money (a fence on only one border won't make a difference anyway).
What you need is a smart law that allows temporary workers to suit the needs of our economy.
It already is hard enough for people to come to this country legally (you have to offer proof of your bank account). That is exactly why poor workers have to come here illegally or starve, trust me, they wouldn't subject themselves to the harrassment and life-threatening conditions and humiliation they endure if it wasn't a last resort to put food on their families' table.
If there is a way for them to do this legally and go back to Mexico when they're done with work, they will jump all over it and the illegal problem is nearly 100% eliminated. Get a grip of your emotions, these poor farm workers aren't the root of all evil. They're probably more devout and true Christians than most of you out hateful people out there. What really are your values, American values?

"NO ONE WANTS TO DO THE JOBS! These poor people are risking their lives coming here so they don't have to starve in Mexico, and they are being harassed by you arrogant snobs."

So I suppose that you would stand behind slavery as well.

"A nation built on law"?
He is going to pardon "Scooter" Libby after a jury found him guilty of violating the law so why doesn't he just pardon 10 million illegals?
Bush even fails attempting to sell out his own "base".

The 14th Amendment: "The Anchor Baby Program" was a
piece of civil war era leg-
islation passed to make
slave children who were born in America, citizens. It has nothing to do with
children of Illegal Aliens
who are born here. This is
a corruption of the Law.

Watch Lou Dobbs on CNN for a perspective on Illegal`s that few in broadcasting have the guts to convey. I think it`s amazing that American voters have elected the clowns in the senate and some there are willing to sell American citizens down the river in favor of the illegal alien lobby and big business. I hope somebody in the senate has the guts to stop this invasion of the America I fought for and love. This coming from a liberal democrat who will become an independent over the idiocy of the party I`ve supported for years. If this passes and Bush signs it into law, every person who voted for it should be prosecuted for treason against this nation. Get the message senator's, before it`s too late!!!

I agree with 'voice of reason' all men/souls are created equal. Why is there so much hate in 90% of these posts toward those that only want to provide food for their families. Why are we so concerned with 'legal or illegal' instead of what is 'moral and right'. Most of the posts here trash George W. Bush but at the same subconsciously cling to his propaganda of FEAR and INSECURITY (Divide and conquer),we're becoming obsessed with personal security and give up all of our liberties, freedoms and most important common sense to those that rule for that feeling of security. Everyone on this planet has a NATURAL right regardless of the laws of their land to improve his/her wellbeing wherever they choose to seek it (no, not at the cost of someone else's life). Legal applies only to some dumb laws written on paper, is that piece of paper more important then the wellbeing of a human being. Look at our planet from above and see if you can find any national borders, you wont. We're all in this together and should be helping each other and not trying to limit those less fortunate. How about we all start by showing some compassion to those around us.
Quote form FDR - "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance"

WAKE UP AMERICA

As the GI's in Europe after the second world war, who loved to stay would not had support from Billions of people anywhere from France, Germany, Swiss, Belgium, Italy, Spain etc.
Europe has more multicultural that any place in the world. When the American was station there many where of there people who loved to make a better living in European countries,
Companies or corporations paid a lot of money to get any US guy in his company.
Without betraying.
Here is gender bigotry, racial bigotry and religious bigotry. Those forces are very real and they first time have a fanatical bent to in this country. That it is an easy target for exploitation by unscrupulous persons as a sport, who take advantage of the aspirations of foreigners to immigrate to the United States. How many Builders, subcontractors, etc, Banks without ethics do it and did it. Scruples Billions of Dollars lost in the US because of it. It is a shame. Why no one is writing about that?

There is gender bigotry, racial bigotry and religious bigotry
Those forces are very real and they first time have a fanatical bent to
in this Country that it is an easy target for exploitation by unscrupulous persons who
take advantage of the aspirations of foreigners to immigrate to the United
States.

Some of you do not get it. They do not care what you think. Who do you think runs this country?
Some very rich and powerful
companies owned by very rich and powerful people. They are doing what is best for their interest, not yours. They have no patriotism anymore either. Now they are going global.
You cannot elect their influence out.
They pay for
the campaigns.

Obviously this
is something they want.

This is no longer a free country. This is a country of greed and absurd laws. Its a country of big brother constantly watching over you or blackballing you so that you can't push ahead. If you don't believe me, check your credit report, your driving record, you criminal record. Then apply for a job. If its not governmental big brother then its corporate big brother.

Now we want to push down the Mexicans. Mexicans GAVE us Texas. They helped to built this country. They gave us great food, great drinks, hard work, wonderful celebrations and traditions, and beautiful people.

Maybe we're doing them a FAVOR by keeping them out. Stay in Mexico where life is better!!

god, nobady believes him!!!!!!! everyone hates him!!!

Most of these comments are from idiots. The fact that people like you have the right to vote is the scariest of all.

Note to those whose ancestors came here "legally": your forefathers only had to prove they didn't have lice or other communicable diseases, nor suffer from overt mental retardation to get in this country;
Mexicans wanting to legally migrate to the US face absurd hurdles and ridiculously long waiting times; for this reason and economic reality, they enter the US "ilegally"- all the ranting, and razor wire, fences and lasers and cameras, won't keep a human in need from feeding his family.

jeanathon,

The only "idiots" here are those who throw out insults and don't explain themselves. Everyone else, right or wrong, uses their brains.

So, why don't you explain yourself? Are you afraid you might reveal your position and leave yourself open to criticism? Or, perhaps, you think that it is better to give insults than to receive?

Tom Colton:

The Fourteenth Amendment wasn't just a "piece of legislation." It was an Amendment to the United States Constitution. That means it had to first be approved by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, and then it had to be ratified by three-quarters of the States, either in convention or by their legislatures. It is, thus, part of the Constitution now, and not some ordinary law that can get repealed by congressional vote or thrown out by the Supreme Court.

And, yes, Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment was largely directed at making citizens out of black people. But that doesn't change the fact the wording of the Amendment is both unambiguous and broad enough to encompass making citizens out of anyone born here.

The Constitution, just like any law, must be read and understood to mean what the words say, and not for intent not expressed in the words themselves. It is only when the wording is ambiguous or uses technical language (e.g. “ex post facto”) that it is proper to read the history to determine what the writers had in mind.

But there is nothing ambiguous in Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment. In which case, “anchor babies” are made citizens by its operation. Anyone wishing to change that must seek to amend the Constitution. There is no way around that.

TRENT LOTT NEEDS TO GO! He is not good for America!

CAN YOU IMPEACH A SENATOR?

The government was unable (or unwilling) to enforce the existing immigration laws as they exist and tries to assure us that more laws will solve our so called "Immigration Problem". The so-called Immigration Reform (Amnesty) bill is unenforcable at best, it will only legalize the illegals. It brings to mind a recent tragedy in Wisconsin where one of our fine new hardworking illegal immigrants from Mexico went out drinking all day, snorting cocaine and found it necessary to buy a handgun and blow the head off a brave decorated Deputy of the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department over a minor traffic stop. He leaves a widow and child.. (still wanna talk about broken families?)It took awhile for the police to identify him as he had approximatly 5 alias's and 8 social security cards in his possesion at the time of his arrest so much for trying to keep track of who's coming and going.. Bush is right when he say's that they are only here to take the jobs no American's want to do as I can pretty much assure him that the job he did on that Deputy that night is one that no American would want to do. There is no law in this country against Hatred, or aginst being a racist... It is our right as "Legal" Americans provided we do not break the law in doing so.. Being here illegal is well, Illegal! Secure the border and then we can truly start to deal with this problem once and for all...

Joe Stirumup asks: "Can you impeach a Senator?"

The answer: No.

Impeachment, conviction and removal apply only to the President, Vice President and "civil officers." (U.S. Const. Art. II, Sec. 4.) The wording of the Constitution makes it clear that congressmen are not “officers.” Article I, Section 6, for instance, prohibits “any person holding Office under the United States” from serving as Senator or House Representative. Since congressmen cannot be “officers,” much less “civil officers” the impeachment provisions do not apply.

This is consistent with the debates in the 1787 Convention in which the delegates always spoke of impeachment as a remedy against the “Executive.” The Federalist Papers, which were written in support of ratifying the Constitution, expresses the same idea. History also shows that the only Senator to be impeached had his case dismissed because the Senate voted that he was not a “civil officer” subject to the impeachment provisions of Article II.

The good news is that you don't need to impeach a House Representative or Senator to get rid of him (or her). Each house has the ability to expel its own members without involving the other house (as would be the case in Impeachment). (See Id., Art. I, Sec. 5.) The Senator who didn’t get impeached, as described above, did get expelled under that provision.

Clearly immigration reform needs to happen, but until some compromise is reached I don't think the American people will support this bill. The issue must be addressed though. Hopefully our elected officials can find some common ground on this very important problem.

Maybe people need to do some research into La Raza, a participant into the development of this bill and a group that receives tax dollars in support:

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El Plan de Aztlan (El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan)

In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal "gringo" invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny.

We are free and sovereign to determine those tasks which are justly called for by our house, our land, the sweat of our brows, and by our hearts. Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent.

Brotherhood unites us, and love for our brothers makes us a people whose time has come and who struggles against the foreigner "gabacho" who exploits our riches and destroys our culture. With our heart in our hands and our hands in the soil, we declare the independence of our mestizo nation. We are a bronze people with a bronze culture. Before the world, before all of North America, before all our brothers in the bronze continent, we are a nation, we are a union of free pueblos, we are Aztlan.

Program

El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan sets the theme that the Chicanos (La Raza de Bronze) must use their nationalism as the key or common denominator for mass mobilization and organization. Once we are committed to the idea and philosophy of El Plan de Aztlan, we can only conclude that social, economic, cultural, and political independence is the only road to total liberation from oppression, exploitation, and racism. Our struggle then must be for the control of our barrios, campos, pueblos, lands, our economy, our culture, and our political life. El Plan commits all levels of Chicano society--the barrio, the campo, the ranchero, the writer, the teacher, the worker, the professional--to La Causa.

Nationalism

Nationalism as the key to organization transcends all religious, political, class, and economic factions or boundaries. Nationalism is the common denominator that all members of La Raza can agree upon.

Organizational Goals

1. UNITY in the thinking of our people concerning the barrios, the pueblo, the campo, the land, the poor, the middle class, the professional--all committed to the liberation of La Raza.

2. ECONOMY: economic control of our lives and our communities can only come about by driving the exploiter out of our communities, our pueblos, and our lands and by controlling and developing our own talents, sweat, and resources. Cultural background and values which ignore materialism and embrace humanism will contribute to the act of cooperative buying and the distribution of resources and production to sustain an economic base for healthy growth and development Lands rightfully ours will be fought for and defended. Land and realty ownership will be acquired by the community for the people's welfare. Economic ties of responsibility must be secured by nationalism and the Chicano defense units.

3. EDUCATION must be relative to our people, i.e., history, culture, bilingual education, contributions, etc. Community control of our schools, our teachers, our administrators, our counselors, and our programs.

4. INSTITUTIONS shall serve our people by providing the service necessary for a full life and their welfare on the basis of restitution, not handouts or beggar's crumbs. Restitution for past economic slavery, political exploitation, ethnic and cultural psychological destruction and denial of civil and human rights. Institutions in our community which do not serve the people have no place in the community. The institutions belong to the people.

5. SELF-DEFENSE of the community must rely on the combined strength of the people. The front line defense will come from the barrios, the campos, the pueblos, and the ranchitos. Their involvement as protectors of their people will be given respect and dignity. They in turn offer their responsibility and their lives for their people. Those who place themselves in the front ranks for their people do so out of love and carnalismo. Those institutions which are fattened by our brothers to provide employment and political pork barrels for the gringo will do so only as acts of liberation and for La Causa. For the very young there will no longer be acts of juvenile delinquency, but revolutionary acts.

6. CULTURAL values of our people strengthen our identity and the moral backbone of the movement. Our culture unites and educates the family of La Raza towards liberation with one heart and one mind. We must insure that our writers, poets, musicians, and artists produce literature and art that is appealing to our people and relates to our revolutionary culture. Our cultural values of life, family, and home will serve as a powerful weapon to defeat the gringo dollar value system and encourage the process of love and brotherhood.

7. POLITICAL LIBERATION can only come through independent action on our part, since the two-party system is the same animal with two heads that feed from the same trough. Where we are a majority, we will control; where we are a minority, we will represent a pressure group; nationally, we will represent one party: La Familia de La Raza!

Action

1. Awareness and distribution of El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan. Presented at every meeting, demonstration, confrontation, courthouse, institution, administration, church, school, tree, building, car, and every place of human existence.

2. September 16, on the birth date of Mexican Independence, a national walk-out by all Chicanos of all colleges and schools to be sustained until the complete revision of the educational system: its policy makers, administration, its curriculum, and its personnel to meet the needs of our community.

3. Self-Defense against the occupying forces of the oppressors at every school, every available man, woman, and child.

4. Community nationalization and organization of all Chicanos: El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan.

5. Economic program to drive the exploiter out of our community and a welding together of our people's combined resources to control their own production through cooperative effort.

6. Creation of an independent local, regional, and national political party. A nation autonomous and free--culturally, socially, economically, and politically--will make its own decisions on the usage of our lands, the taxation of our goods, the utilization of our bodies for war, the determination of justice (reward and punishment), and the profit of our sweat.

El Plan de Aztlan is the plan of liberation!

Logic Prisoner,

Can't you see the fuming being done by RNC strategists.

Before the '06 election cycle, immigration wasn't on many people's top ten list of priorities.

Then Dubya, Darth and RNC poohbahs decided illegal immigration fit neatly into their "Dems are soft on terror" campaign. The RNC made what was mostly a non-issue into a major one that is mostly a negative for Republicans. Rebulicans from farmers to corporate CEOs must be pulling their hair out.

In the end though, I don't see this legislation mustering a cloture vote in the Senate.