The American Spectator : For Their Next Act

Text Size

For Their Next Act

By W. James Antle, III on 3.30.10 @ 6:09AM

After the health care juggernaut, don't assume that amnesty or any other liberal policy initiative is off the table.

Having just steamrolled the American public on health care, our representatives who would be rulers may be about to turn their attention to "comprehensive immigration reform." That was the message sent by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Sunday as they mugged for the cameras on Meet the Press.

"We're real close," Schumer purred, suggesting he had come up with a magic bullet to pass an amnesty everyone will love: "[W]e have business and labor ready to sign on, we have all the religious community -- not just the liberals but the evangelicals -- we even have Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly saying positive things about our proposal." The lion shall lie down with the lamb, MSNBC will lie down with Fox News.

All Schumer needs, he said, was one more Republican like Lindsey Graham. John McCain is apparently otherwise occupied, perhaps by his primary opponent former Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ). Graham pledged to do his part, vowing, "I will continue to work with Chuck on immigration." But he downplayed their prospects for success.

"If a moderate Democrat got a phone call from the president, he wants you to come down to the White House and help him with immigration now, most of them would jump out the window," Graham argued. "That's just the truth." Their "political capital," as George W. Bush might put it, has already been spent on health care.

That would certainly seem to be the case. Amnesty failed when the Republican-controlled House defied a president of their own party and a bipartisan group of senators in 2006. A similar proposal stalled after the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007. The idea went nowhere at all in 2009, with Democrats in charge of all the elected branches of the federal government.

Why would a controversial bill that has failed repeatedly suddenly look attractive to congressional Democrats who've already been made to walk the plank on health care? If immigration will send red-state Democrats hurtling through the windows this election year, Obamacare should already have had them out on the ledge. That is especially true for Democrats who promised their constituents everything from the public option to the antiabortion Stupak Amendment, only to return home empty-handed.

But the conventional wisdom was that Scott Brown's election would stick a fork in the Democrats' health care plans. The logic was that if they couldn't hold onto Ted Kennedy's Senate seat by running on reform in Massachusetts, what hope was there for dozens of congressional Democrats who won in swing districts in 2006 and 2008? As Brown took office, all signs in Washington pointed to Democratic retreat and retrenchment.

Instead of reversing course, the Democratic leadership cried full speed ahead. They could afford to lose congressional seats, they reasoned, but not an opportunity to reshape one-sixth of the American economy. Moreover, they believed that if they failed the electorate would punish them anyway for not getting anything done. So Barack Obama's party used its big majorities to muscle a health care bill into law.

On immigration as opposed to health care, they can count on at least token Republican support. Ditto cap and trade, where eight House Republicans defected to help pass the Waxman-Markey bill at a minimal cost to industrial-state Democrats. Two of those Republicans may be promoted to the Senate, where -- you guessed it -- Lindsey Graham is already working to provide bipartisan cover to a revivified cap-and-trade campaign.

How many risky votes can congressional Democrats afford to take? Only three House Democrats voted against all three of the biggest liberal policy initiatives of the Obama administration: the stimulus package, cap and trade, and health care. Two of them hail from the districts hardest to keep out of Republican hands; the third is Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), who may be the last real conservative Democrat in Congress.

If you think the party leadership will be afraid to take the risk, think again. Hoosier Democratic bosses handpicked Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) to run to succeed Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) precisely because he would have the freedom to be too conservative for his party's primary electorate and maybe just moderate enough for Indiana. The national Democratic bigwigs prodded Ellsworth to vote for one version of the health care bill that contained the public option and then vote for another one lacking an ironclad ban on abortion subsidies, both political losers.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) himself has made an already precarious re-election fight even tougher through his role on health care. His is going to have to plead for another term having jeopardized state budgets, imposed an individual mandate, raised taxes, increased premiums, and gutted House language guarding against taxpayer funding of abortion.

The only thing that can stop amnesty, cap and trade, a whole host of unpopular policies in their tracks is a successful campaign to convince congressional Democrats they are doing more to endanger their standing with current voters than to create future Democratic voters through the growth of government.

Who strikes more fear into the heart of a Democratic congressman from a swing district? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, or that congressman's own constituents? So far, Rahm and Nancy are winning.

About the Author

W. James Antle, III is associate editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Jimantle.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (77) | Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.30.10 @ 6:47AM

Health care still has a long way to go through the courts but that's another issue.

There are too many elected members of Congress who go to Washington to do good, and stay to do well.

Very soon, the animosity amongst the voting public will be turned up another notch as amnesty for illegal aliens takes center stage and will ultimately break another Obama promise. Obama promised there would be no health care for illegal aliens, but as soon as amnesty passes, they qualify and all those phony CBO projections go out of the window.

What's the solution? All you can do is vote and keep your fingers crossed. A lot of money flows through the sewers of Washington and the sewer rats eat well.

In the meantime, don't be surprised to see high voter turn out and a massive political movement come to fruition.

Rush Limbaugh's theory is that when third political parties arise, Republicans lose and that would appear to be correct.

On the other hand, there is no braking effect on government spending with the two political parties we have now, and the public is losing anyway.

nacy| 3.31.10 @ 4:16AM

How many risky votes can congressional Democrats afford to take?

http://www.linkdelight.com

JP| 3.30.10 @ 7:21AM

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that by pushing Cap and Trade as well as Immigration, the President will lose big time. I don't think there's the energy or desire in the Democratic Caucus like there was for HRC. If the President thinks he can get Pelosi to knock heads together, think again.

The House Dems believed that had 7 months to repair thier repuations before Mid-terms The last thing they want is another bruising, highly partisan battle concerning issues that again pit them against thier constituients. And this time, events may just save them. Unemployment is likely to go up this summer, as will energy prices (mainly due to a weak dollar and not demand). The anti-incumbent, anti-liberal mood could explode into a huge grass roots movement that could threaten not only Pelosi's majority, but the President's agenda as well.

People are not talking about the exhaustion of the President's political capital. He is moving are pure adreneline now because he has nothing else.

Of course, for the GOP the greatest danger (as usual) lies with a few Senate moderates. I don't think Gramm will continue hs olive branch politics. As temper flare this summer, and pressure within his own party mounts, I do not think even Gramm will want to be the person who got tow highly unpopular bills through the Senate. I think again the Senate GOP will filibuster both bills, which will again force the Dems to take the poison pill of reconcilliation. It shall turn out to be a bridge too far.

Simon Templar| 3.30.10 @ 8:55AM

Count on it being chopped off. ..your neck that is. All of thier initiatives will be passed by this November, the same way they did healthcare...and to the feigned and limp wristed objections of the RINO party. If you want to keep dreaming..the I guess you can.. it is still a free country in that sense..then go right ahead..the Left is counting on that...

JP| 3.30.10 @ 11:03AM

Simon,
Bills like the HCR are usually one trick ponies. The President, unbeknowst to himself, has exhausted his political capital. The honeymoon is over, and as the economy continues mired in recession, forclosures, and the effects of a weak dollar, it will only take a spark. The President is again counting on Pelosi and Reid to do the heavy lifting. But, not even Madame's Speakers whips will have an effect on Dems who are filled with terror of the November Mid-Terms.

Pushing immigration and Cap and Trade on an electorate who suffered through ObamaCare may be the undoing of the Anointed One.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:32PM

I have to agree with JP. I don't think the American people give a rat's behind about immigration and cap and tax. They (we) don't want to hear anymore about how our taxes are going to go up, especially to pay for people who aren't supposed to be here in the first place. What the American people do want to hear about is what this administration is going to do about the economy and jobs. I would say if the next words out of his and/or the dems mouths isn't about jobs and the economy, the health care fight is going to look like two kindergartners fighting in the sandbox compared with how angry we are going to be if the economy keeps going the way it is and his/their priorities don't address it.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 11:05PM

MTB bloviates: "What the American people do want to hear about is what this administration is going to do about the economy and jobs. "

Dear Mr Republican Candidate for Office,

We the Tea Baggers of America want you to address jobs and the economy, but we won't tolerate you doing any heavy lifting on issues like energy, HCR, banking reform, education, infrastructure, mortgage relief, jobs stimulus, and international trade. We will not tolerate you working with Democrats for the good of the country.

We just want you to be ideologically pure, and don't let no dark-skinned people mess with our white women.

c. j. acworth| 3.30.10 @ 6:27PM

Remember when our Dear Leader said he was going to focus on jobs, as soon as his health care package got passed? When are we going to see any action from congress on the one issue that is foremost in the public's mind? Like lowering the corporate tax rate for instance? Oh, wait. We have to raise taxes to pay for Obamacare. Silly me. Sorry I spoke up.

JP| 3.30.10 @ 7:26AM

And one last thing concerning Brian Elsworth. He will likely get buried in the Senate contest this November. I predict he could lose by as much as 10 percentage points to whomever the GOP nominates. He polls behind all 3 GOP contestants, and along with Hill and Donnelly, he is one of the Stupak 11 who made ObamaCare reality. The Hoosiers are perfectly aware of this. As it stands, there is a more than 50/50 chance all 3 of these politicians have sacrificed thier political career over ObamaCare. -they just don't know it.

JamesJ| 3.30.10 @ 7:49AM

Obama, swelled with bravado from his health care "victory," will certainly push for more unpopular legislation, like immigration and cap and trade. Like so many through history, his undeserved arrogance will be his downfall.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:35PM

You're right, but keep on eye on what he's doing behind the scenes. Like a good magician, while everyone is watching what the one hand is doing, no one is watching what the other one is up to. All of this may just be a ruse to something bigger that he's trying to pull off while our attention is diverted.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 11:10PM

MTB fears "You're right, but keep on eye on what [Obama's] doing behind the scenes. "

What Obama is trying to do is to put an orderly end to the Era of Reagan before this country flushes itself down the toilet.

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:10AM

Hey KY

I'll take the "Era of Reagan" over the "Era of The Kenyan" any day of the week.

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:08AM

MTB,

Don't worry--we have little Barry Sotero "in our sights." Thanks Governor Palin for that little gem.

Bilwick| 3.30.10 @ 8:31AM

Statists always want more power and less individual liberty. That's why you should never believe them when they say, "Oh, we just want to enact A. No use getting into a tizzy about it. It's not like we're planning to enact A plus B." At that point they're probably already dreaming of the day when they can enact A plus B plus C. As the bumper sticker says: "If you want to disarm me, why would I trust you?"

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:38PM

Reminds me of a comment my 16 year old son said to me once. He was a compulsive and chronic liar. We had made agreements with each other to bring peace to our lives, again. Of course, he violated every one of his agreements, but he wanted me to keep up my end. When I pointed out that he had violated his agreements he said, "Is it my fault that you're so stupid you believed me?" That's how the liar-in-chief and his lying, weasley, two-faced, back-stabbing cohorts in the demo-rat party is treating the American citizen. They are lying. They know they're lying. But they are telling us that it's our fault that we're so stupid that we believe them.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:41PM

Sorry, one more comment: Vote them out! Vote every single democrat out--all of them! Each and every one of them! A message needs to be sent to this party that we are not stupid. That we gave them a chance and they lied. They will never get back into office if they lie to us again. I know it's a dream, but I'd love to see a day when the Congress is filled with nothing but Rs.

Margie| 3.30.10 @ 5:04PM

I share in all of your sentiments and you've said it so well.
Repeal the Democrats! Every last one of them!

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 10:31PM

MTB says:
"...I'd love to see a day when the Congress is filled with nothing but Rs. "

Well, MTB, isn't that a definition of one-party rule? Sounds unAmerican to me..

Simon Templar| 3.30.10 @ 9:01AM

Was I hallucinating but was there not a statement from Gramnesty last week that the illegal alien reform issue was now not negotiable and that he pledged no cooperation given the way health care was handled? Does this filthy RINO just change his position every 48 hours? The bribes must now be coming in the RINO direction.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:45PM

I don't know about that, but I am very disappointed in Lindsey (sp?) Graham. He was just re-elected, but he needs to not win another election again. I think he's from SC, so please SC, don't put him back into office. He's a turncoat and no better than "Jumping" Jim Jeffords and Arlen Specter.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 10:34PM

MTB says: "...I am very disappointed in Lindsey (sp?) Graham."

Lindsey Graham actually wants to do something with his elected office for the people of his state, not just be part of a rump neo-has-been outfit of patriotic whiners..

davelnaf| 3.30.10 @ 9:02AM

It’s absolutely galling that you have twenty-five million people come here illegally and the way the politics of this thing goes down it’s not the illegals’ problem but our problem. Forcing Americans to suffer the consequences of legalizing twenty-five million people, the vast majority of whom think of Mexico, a country that would give them nothing, as their true home, is a travesty. It’s also useful to mention that these first generation Mexicans do not like Americans and it annoys them to pieces that it is, after all, our country. But, like the Democrat Party prayer books says, they are entitled to all kinds of benefits simply because they are here. Democrat empty suits believe they can operate with impunity in the current climate because they also believe they have gotten away with forcing an even bigger travesty, Obamacare, down our throats, but only their stupidity informs them that there will be no consequences to any of it.

clayusmcret| 3.30.10 @ 9:03AM

The immigration issue is nothing more than a desire to create millions of voters tomorrow where law breakers are found today. And cap and trade is a mix of crippling energy policies, crippling financial policies and crippling employment policies. Why Lyndsey Graham continually wants to hang his hat on either of these two travesties is a mystery. If he continues along this path, he should be shunned.

PolishKnight| 3.30.10 @ 10:27AM

This is precisely what's scary about "comprehensive immigration reform." For the Dems, it's a long term win-win: Most moderate senators and congressmen who voted for healthcare are already walking dead. What do they have to lose? For the party, it means millions of socialist, racist entitlement voters who will vote Democrat in minimum proportions of 65% to up to 95%.

This raises an interesting question that the Rockefeller Republicans haven't touched: What to do with the millions of illegals already here? Eventually, they'll have anchor children who will have citizenship and with it, racist and socialist entitlements. The Republicans have only "stopped the clock" so far and are allowing the Dems to win by default. The left won't get their utopia, in the states at least, they'll get a South American socialist banana republic that will stop embarrassing mostly white Canadian and European socialist nations that have been in stall mode for decades.

Just as a plan needs to be put forward to repeal, or at least re-reform healthcare, the Republicans need to have a plan to reform immigration. I propose amnsty for illegals with certain skill and educational level sets but ONLY if they turn in at least 5 other illegals similar to the witness protection program. Birthright immigration for illegals' children is unconstitutional and should be reflected in law (although the wise latina will probably say otherwise.)

And finally, the Republicans should address the elephant in the room: Racist and sexist entitlements based upon a false premise of shared victimhood. Cosnervatives should sponsor a bill to ban them and to guarantee equal rights under the law for ALL citizens. Propose it under Abraham Lincoln's statue on his birthday (that is no longer celebrated as a federal holiday.)

This ALL NEEDS to be done.

Jane Marple| 3.30.10 @ 1:16PM

Yes, but ever since W, no one's helped the democrats toward electoral success more than the GOP.

It really is long past due for the GOP to fall on its sword and clear the way for its conservative replacement.

Chuck| 3.30.10 @ 1:37PM

I hope rank & file conservatives in the Republican Party realize the conservative replacement is NOT Romney.

Alan Brooks| 3.30.10 @ 3:09PM

"It really is long past due for the GOP to fall on its sword and clear the way for its conservative replacement."

You are right, we need a third party that will conserve, not just be a platform for rightwing careerists delivering soundbites on the EIB-- and all that.

Celebrity culture has merged with politics.

Balckwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:22AM

The 3rd party route absolutely guarantees 100% Democrate hegemony for decades. This is a winner take all system. Whoever wins by 1 vote gets the seat in congress. The libtards won't split their vote because they are in the "game" for the long haul. IF Conservatives want to stop these fascist/socialist/communist/progressives we need to be able to influence the GOP by participating in the GOP.

Anyone who doesn't vote or votes for a 3rd party should just register and vote Democrat because that IS the result of YOUR actions. This is not a parliamentary system with percentage representation.

Please THINK about this now and in November. You can't punish the GOP by not voting. That's dumb. Punish them by attending your monthly County meeting. Show up. Be a pain in the ASS to the RINO's. Get on a committee and let your voice be heard.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:51PM

I disagree, Jane. I don't believe the Republican party needs to be replaced as much as it needs to return to its original roots. The problem with the Party is they tried to be too much like dems and moved to the left too far. We need to get back tot he right of center and STAY THERE! We need another Ronald Reagan. He (or she) is out there somewhere, and I hope they show up soon, because the party needs their leadership.

Margie| 3.30.10 @ 5:11PM

I STRONGLY agree and am glad you said it. Please, fellow Americans~ do not go the 3rd party route! Remember the robot in Lost in Space?
Danger! Danger!
Voting 3rd party will ENSURE Obama II. There is NO doubt. The same thing will happen if you don't vote at all.
The plan is to start finding those conservatives in your areas that want to run and back them to be the nominees in the Republican party!
Remember, like Rush said~ "There are no Marxists or Communists in the Republican party." There are in the other party.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 10:39PM

MTB says: "We need another Ronald Reagan. "

Why get another Reagan when the first will do nicely? Just dig him up, dust him off, put a stick up his *ss, and hey presto: Morning in America again.

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:26AM

KY3,

After you die I hope you are forgotten by everyone. Including your children & grandchildren. I hope they change their names do to what an embarassing vile little coward you are.

Margie| 3.31.10 @ 1:29PM

Hey, just remember~ he's a useful idiot, and Obama thanks him for his vote.

Chalkdust| 3.30.10 @ 2:20PM

Why wait for Lyndsey Graham to commit still more RINO betrayals? The people of the great state of South Carolina have their work cut out for them.

Jobe| 3.30.10 @ 9:08AM

Why can't people realize that these leftists are not going to stop? They want a socialist utopia and they are going after it full speed ahead. Stopping this juggernaut is eventually going to become a violent reaction, perhaps a revolution. If the states can, in groups, defy the federal government, we might possibly be able to avoid a physical confrontation, but that is unlikely.

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:33AM

well said. so be prepared. organize off the net with your friends and stay off the phone. Auntie Janet's minions monitor EVERYTHING.

Like the leftists say "Think Globally---Act Locally" So keep an eye on DC but learn ropes in your town. A really clever fellow who posts here often noted that if push comes to shove we have millions more trigger fingers than they do--and more than half of "their" trigger fingers won't follow illegal orders. We can find comfort in that. The ObamaZombies can't.

Siegfried X| 3.30.10 @ 9:19AM

The issue is not the Democrats, it is the left-wing Republicans, the RINOs. The Democrats always push for left-wing stuff -- that's what they are. The only answer there is to defeat them in the elections.

But the fact now is that Republicans have the votes to filibuster anything and everything in the Senate. Obama can only pass major legislation with Republican votes. ObamaCare only was able to pass through reconciliation because the Dems had already pushed a health care bill through the Senate when they had 60 votes.

The solution is not to beg the Democrats to stop acting like Democrats, as this article suggests. It is to try and force Republicans to start acting like Republicans. We need a campaign to install Lindsay Graham and a credible primary opponent to start raising money to run against Graham. Graham needs to feel the same political heat that McCain is getting now.

Warrior| 3.30.10 @ 9:57AM

Well said. In my opinion what proves this point is that in the health care debate, Olympia Snowe could have prevented this bill from getting to the floor. She reasonsed that it deserved to be debated and considered so she voted for it to move when she could have blocked it. Now she hides behind her R by saying she didn't vote for the bill.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:53PM

Absolutely. That's like the boy king trying to say "on with his head" after the head has already been chopped off. It's too late once it's done. Snowe is no Republican and she needs to go, too.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 10:41PM

MTB says, typically: "Snowe is no Republican and she needs to go, too. "

Mr. MTB,
If you get rid of all the Republicans, you'll be the last RINO standing!

Siegfried X| 3.30.10 @ 9:21AM

I meant "a campaign to RECALL Lindsay Graham"

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:55PM

I thought I heard on the radio that SC doesn't have a recall provision in their law. However, nothing would stop them from petitioning for a recall and then send the petition to Graham and show him what would have happened if they did.

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 11:19PM

MTB legally opines: "I thought I heard on the radio that SC doesn't have a recall provision.."

Mr MTB,
Don't let the lack of a recall law stop you from doing your American duty. Just stand outside Graham's office and spit on him. Just hawk up a big green Tea Bag special and let fly..

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:36AM

Projecting again libtard? spitting on opponents is a socialist/democrat tactic.

Margie| 3.31.10 @ 1:31PM

Perhaps Ky3 is an SEIU or ACORN member useful idiot.

Louis Jenkins| 3.30.10 @ 10:11AM

Well, why not? While the Liberals are raping this country with Pretender n Chief health care why not overload it with a new voting constituency? These brigands and thieves are never satisfied with taking care of the country’s business, creating jobs, making the nation prosperous, nor ensuring real border security.

Be honest you people in the District of Criminals! (Oh, I forgot. Honesty requires principles.) You are on the verge of creating another burden for the American taxpayer. Our treasury is busted! We don’t have two dollars to rub together unless it is freshly printed and backed by China. Twenty million immigrants will not assimilate into our culture. It will carve out the entire SW USA into an enclave of Mexican culture/territory. The Californian state govenment is already overburden with social program costs and heavily predicted to default. If states rights is such a poisonous word what will be your reaction when the SW secedes to join Mexico? What are you trying to do? Answer-Treason.

Tim| 3.30.10 @ 10:53AM

The Deconstructionists ' Agenda is to tear down American Culture,Traditions,Affiliations and with it they tear down The American Economy.

March,25th ,2010
" American Jewish groups were among 200,000 protesters in Washington demanding comprehensive immigration reform in the United States.

Under the banner of We Were Strangers, Too-the Jewish Campaign for Immigration Reform, Jewish groups including the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism were among the marchers on March 21 from the Hillel International offices in Chinatown joining the protesters on the National Mall.

The rally was organized by Reform Immigration for America Campaign, a coalition of immigrants’ rights groups that want to make immigration reform a top priority for lawmakers in 2010. The cause was put on the back burner as U.S. lawmakers tackled the health care debate.

HIAS and the American Jewish Committee have voiced their support for the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 introduced earlier this month by U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Carl Levin ( (D-Mich.). The legislation is aimed at improving protections and rights of refugees and asylum seekers."

DatsunMark| 3.30.10 @ 11:10AM

This was the plan all along....to ram through their socialism and set the path for destroying the private insurance industry while re-gaining political control by providing amnesty and creating 15 million new democratic voters. You're an idiot Senator Graham.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.30.10 @ 12:18PM

For their next act..............EXIT STAGE LEFT!
with the aid of the "hook" if necessary.

blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:39AM

hook for the crook!

Rick Saunders| 3.30.10 @ 12:56PM

I think Republicans and conservatives underestimate the feelings of moderates and even, gasp, some liberals when it comes to immigration and regularlizing and enfranchising 15 million foreign criminals, especially during an economic climate that just seems to be getting worse rather than better.

The only Democrats and liberals who I know that are pushing for amnesty for illegals are those on the far fringe left that despise America and think the United States is the illegitimate power in the American Southwest.

If conservatives really want to stop "immigration reform" and Grahamesty, the layfolks need to have a word with the evangelical leadership in this country that is pushing for it and the US Chamber of Commerce that is lobbying hard for it.

There are enemies on the Rino right that need a good licking if we want to stop amnesty from getting pushed through.

The Democratic leadership are traitors to this country, no doubt, but we can't completely blame them for the political activities of the Rino right that are pushing the amnesty bill just as hard.

This is why Juan Amnesty needs to be soundly defeated and prevented from pulling a Lieberman to send a strong signal across the Republican landscape.

MTB| 3.30.10 @ 3:58PM

There were a lot of them against the HC bill, too, but they either caved to pressure or were bought off. I read somewhere that one dem rep said there were several House members who wanted to vote against the bill, but were too afraid of Queen Nancy's "punishment."

KY3 Democrat| 3.30.10 @ 10:50PM

MTB writes: "There were a lot of [Democrats] against the HC bill, too..."

True enough, but post-HCR vote, some Republicans are wavering. For example, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) signed the GfG pledge to repeal HCR, but now will not publicly repeat that oath.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c.....?ref=fpblg

Post HCR vote, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) took credit for a provision in the bill.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c.....utzpah.php

You better keep your RINOS off my lawn, son..

Margie| 3.31.10 @ 1:34PM

Wishful thinking useful idiot.

Jane Marple| 3.30.10 @ 1:12PM

Any Republican who supports Miss Lindsey's plans for a national ID card or immigration reform will be toast next Fall. They have not only the democrats to worry about but former Republicans who left the party after its leftward slither under W as well. Their erstwhile comrades in arms will not vote Republican but either stay home or vote for candidates that still espouse conservative principles.

Bruce| 3.30.10 @ 5:30PM

"Miss Lindsey" ....

LOL - good one, Jane!

ncatty| 3.30.10 @ 1:33PM

Anything coming out of Washington with the words "comprehensive" and "reform" attached to it is bound to be a disaster.

hunter| 3.30.10 @ 1:40PM

We have had a day without a immigrant a few years ago, where they carried their mexican flag and thought they had a powerful impact on industry in our country. How about a day (or week) without a American? Don't work, buy anything, write a check, mow the yard, anything for a day, or a week. See if they ( the arrogrant democrats) hear that.

Oldefarte| 3.30.10 @ 1:48PM

This editorial is the ACCURATE TRUTH. If Democrat and Republican voters in each/all states do not WAKE UP to what is now happening in this country, they might as well kiss it goodbye after November [which will be the very last chance for American taxpayer-voters to salvage this country]. There will be no other opportunities after November. WAKE UP AMERICA AND VOTE IN NOVEMBER FOR TRUE CHANGE AWAY FROM THIS SOCIALISTIC GOVERNMENT!!!!

KyMouse| 3.30.10 @ 2:00PM

Good article, Mr. Antle. One note about paragraph two, however: The lamb is BFF with the wolf, not the lion, in the Bible. Isaiah 11:6: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb...
'and 65:25: "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together...." The lion is paired with a calf, and eats straw.

Still, I like Woody Allen's line -- the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, but the lamb won't get much sleep. Neither shall we, as long as Obama's in the White House.

W. James Antle III| 3.30.10 @ 4:27PM

That's very true, it isn't a direct quote from Scripture but it is a popular saying -- perhaps to simplify Isaiah, perhaps because of its alliterative quality.

KyMouse| 4.1.10 @ 1:58PM

Very true, Mr. Antle. Another of my favorite entries is the Mizpah Benediction (Genesis 31:49), which is almost always presented as a declaration of close friendship. If I'm reading the chapter correctly, Jacob and Laban are warning each other that God will see any mischief they commit while they're apart. But it's still a pretty verse.

Seek| 3.30.10 @ 2:22PM

Can someone please tell me what's gotten into Lindsey Graham? He's a Republican from South Carolina, one of the most conservative states in the U.S. And yet he's been the biggest booster of amnesty this side of Specter, McCain and the late, unlamented Ted Kennedy. Is he in the hip pocket of the textile millowners in upcountry?

Bruce| 3.30.10 @ 5:33PM

Seek| 3.30.10 @ 2:22PM
"Can someone please tell me what's gotten into Lindsey Graham?"

uh .... Barney Frank?

Blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:42AM

He has short lawyers syndrome.

Northern Rebel| 3.30.10 @ 2:26PM

Louis Jenkins:

You again, have it right. "President" Anti-Christ must ram through amnesty, in order to be re-elected. He has disgusted blue collar democrats that are obscured by the labor unions that purport to represent them. He needs grateful foreigners to vote for him, just in case ACORN has lost some of it's mojo.

With the help of the doddering old fool in Arizona, and weasels like limpwrist Graham, he will work fast before McC-anal loses his primary, and becomes "officially" ineffective.

Cap and tax must follow soon, before the disengaged see what's behind the curtain of corruption that surrounds this madministration.

I am reminded of an album called 2112 by the great progressive (I've learned to hate that word) rock band Rush, where at the end you hear over and over,

"WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL............"

whyyeseyec| 3.30.10 @ 4:25PM

Lindsey Graham is a total 100% backstabbing phony. I wish he would quit the republican party an go marxist with the dems.
There is not one democrap that would `cross the aisle` to join Graham or any other republican in a conservative venture. Not one!! Apparently nobody the the republican party knows how to twist arms and get Graham to knock off his amnesty hijinx. Either they are incapable or they agree and won`t admit it....

Speedypete| 3.30.10 @ 9:13PM

I travel to Mexico and I have a little more understanding than 90% of the U.S. Congress, maybe more. When they provide amnesty to what they think is a set amount, let's say 12 million, it will turn to 30 to 40 million showing up for amnesty and needing assistance in a heartbeat. Just for the votes they will just bring disaster that much faster.

ATLmedia| 3.30.10 @ 9:16PM

The American people overwhelmingly elected the Democrats to do, ...what they are doing.
No mystery, no surprise, just dragging the USA into the 21st century.BHO just keeps on ,victory after victory, & rtwing folks just can't deal w/ it. I look forward to his re-election so we can see what 8 years of repairing the damage from the Bushists really looks like. Happy camping y'all ;-}

blackwatch| 3.31.10 @ 1:49AM

The Kenyan won't last. He has run out of Chinese Dollars already. By 2011 they won't be lending us any money---so unless you want Little Barry to print fiat money uber alles--he's toast.

Welcome to the hard reality of running out of other peoples money chump!!! Do you really think that the laws of commerce have been repealed? You can't run unlimited deficits forever. Take a look at whats happened in Greece in the last two weeks. We are months behind them financially. Have fun on the ash heap of history libtard. When the Federal Government bankruptcy happens the "compact" between the states is broken and the Citizens will take back our country. The Constitution is NOT a suicide pact. We won't always be docile.

The Clintidote| 3.30.10 @ 10:34PM

That poopusher Lindsey Graham needs to be marginalized, checkmated, ignored, ridiculed, laughed at and thrown out on his ass.

With "men" like him, it just proves the GOP has no immutable principles, only a mad desire for power and money.

nograhamnesty| 3.30.10 @ 11:04PM

Why do I see stupid people??? grahamnesty is a joke. What S. Carolinians voted in this RINO? Pass grahamnesty and you might as well dissolve the Republican party. Importation of poverty is an aye to increased taxes and massive spending. Way-to-go, big tent republican followers.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 3.31.10 @ 3:40AM

...Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Sunday as...
Well whaddya know? Meet the Press managed to have as guests one idiot from either side of the aisle.

jess wolfsoul| 3.31.10 @ 11:50AM

i guess we're going to be a nation of american tent cities.i am for reform,but not obama's.i am not for amnesty.we are already a sinking ship in our nation sense the kenyan took oval office on fraud pretense.taxes will hike and guess what?we have to pay for all the welfare and hand outs to those that cant or dont work.why should america pay more and for those that arent legal?why make them legal when we have already lost one leg on the ground?obama needs IMPEACHMENT,or put in PRISON for terrorist attack on our nation.