The defeat of the big immigration bill in the U.S. Senate yesterday ends, for now, a saga that began last year with massive demonstrations in Los Angeles and other cities around California and much of the country and confident predictions that “the wave of history,” as one organizer put it, would sweep over the political process and create a new era. But the wave crested and broke, and the actual legislation proved toxic to key elements in both major political parties.
Last year, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke at a huge rally in LA. California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez helped lead a big march, then conferred in Washington with Senator Ted Kennedy, author with Republican John McCain of the bill to provide a pathway to legalization for 12 million illegal immigrants, increase border security, and create guest worker programs. It was a very heady time.
This year, demonstrations were much smaller, and Villaraigosa was out of town, touring Latin America at the time when police indiscriminately attacked protesters and journalists in his city’s MacArthur Park. The wheels on the unstoppable movement were coming off even before that. So what happened yesterday wasn’t much of a surprise.
After going down earlier this month on a procedural vote following the sunsetting of its guest worker program at the insistence of organized labor, the Senate comprehensive immigration revamp measure was revived, only to go down again yesterday on what most say is the final attempt before the 2008 elections. The bill needed 60 votes to end debate and move forward. It received only 46. Of which only 12 were Republican, yet another sign of the dramatically downsized influence of President George W. Bush.
Even had the bill managed to get out of the Senate, it likely would have languished in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi had told Bush he needed to provide 70 Republican votes there, as many Democratic members of Congress are opposed.
Indeed, most of organized labor — as I predicted last year when the immigration issue emerged as a frontburner matter following large demonstrations around the country — is opposed to this bill, which would provide a pathway to legalization for the 12 million or so illegal immigrants already here, some new border controls, and a large guest worker program. That ran very contrary to the claims made widely by enthusiasts for legalization and more immigration.
Although Republicans are getting the credit or blame, depending upon one’s perpsective for killing the bill, it’s interesting how little Democratic presidential candidates referred to it, much less championed it. They will all privately breathe a sigh of relief that they needn’t deal with it in their campaigns.
On the Republican side, everyone was opposed except John McCain, who co-authored the bill with Democratic Ted Kennedy. Having recovered from a poor start to this campaign, McCain saw his campaign smothered by the immigration issue. If he is to have a chance at the nomination, which he still does, he needed this bill to lose. Though I doubt he saw it that way.
McCain had seen his support in primaries around the country melt down over the perception that he was supporting “amnesty” for illegal immigrants already here — “criminal aliens” in the superheated parlance of the right and “undocumented workers” in the politically correct language of the left — and doing nothing of importance to secure the border against new illegal immigrants. Frontrunner Rudy Giuliani, a Republican moderate on the issue, piled on, noting that the bill lacked security provisions to identify and follow the movements of illegal immigrants.
On the other side of the spectrum, advocates heady with the enthusiasm of last year’s mass demonstrations claimed a united front that never actually existed. Support for humane and realistic treatment of illegal immigrants already here, many of them working jobs Americans don’t want, didn’t equate to support for a de facto open borders policy, which is how many viewed the bill. And more specifically to the point, claims of the backing of organized labor were vastly overblown.
While some unions have flourished by organizing illegal immigrants into their membership base, most of labor opposed the legislation, on account of its very liberal guest worker provisions. While these made some on the left, looking for ways to increase the number of people coming across the border, and many in the corporate world, looking for an assured supply of low-cost labor, they were anathema to most of labor.
For two reasons. First, they feared that guest workers would end up competing with their workers. Second, they believed that a larger supply of low-cost labor would have a down draft effect on wages overall.
There were other problems, of course, including the sense that the bill would make for a growing presence of unassimilated residents. Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Edwards both called for requirements that immigrants learn English.
But the deepest problem was that it was being pushed by a president, George W. Bush, who is highly distracted and lacks fundamental credibility as a leader. In order to solve this terribly complex issue in a humane and sophisticated way, serious presidential leadership will be required. With Bush’s head stuck in the miasma of his Iraq policy, his credibility burnt down to the waterline by the same, that was simply absent.
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I don’t think even a popular President could pass that bill.
You’re being a racist again, Bill. lol
But of course. Last year I was a “racist” for calling illegal immigrants “illegal immigrants” and pointing out that it wasn’t a terribly clever idea to march around waving Mexican flags.
NWN:But the deepest problem was that it was being pushed by a president, George W. Bush,….who lacks fundamental credibility as a leader.”
So true. But along with hardline conservatives, and elements of labor, the left were determined to defeat it also…from day one the entire coalition of very left organizations “claiming” to represent the best interests of illegal immigrants were determined to defeat this…I stopped reading the e-mail alerts…now they very happily say “we will get a better deal with a Dem Pres in 08″ …similar to last year at this time when they did not support last year’s bill…”we will get a better deal with a Dem congress”…Immigration and immigration patterns are topic 1 in Europe and GB among policy makers and people in cafes and pubs…not the Iraq War…the left is going to regret its total rejection of support for a compromise…
I beleve the Innagration bill should be up held and the borders closed because we have more than enough illegels here and our borders should be closed to all no matter what nationality they are.
Close borders and send the illegals back with no aministy.
I beleve the Innagration bill should be up held and the borders closed because we have more than enough illegels here and our borders should be closed to all no matter what nationality they are.
Close borders and send the illegals back with no aministy.
Fabian Nunez got his shot of the limelight last year.
Well there may be another (second) bomb in London per cable news…
immigration is a national security issue …and the left do not get that…nor do the right get it that climate change/anti global warming should be viewed as a national security issue also…
If no Obama for Pres …I hope there is a independent candidate to consider…
Glenn – thanks for your valuable insights into innagration, illegels and aministy.
History shows that no place on earth has multiculturalism worked.
Forget the ancient past just look at the 20th and 21 centuries…Lebanon, Cyprus, Thailand, old Yugoslavia, Spain, nearly all of Africa, Iraq, Israel, the Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Canada, and the United Kingdon and now you can point to the United States. Minority groups must assimilate or there will be trouble for the whole group is what history teaches.
I am tried of calling the bank or any company and hearing,FOR ENGLISH PRESS 1.Every group that has come here had to learn to speak English.Thier children had to learned english.This is an english speaking country.I am tried of being politically correct.You either part of the system or part of the problem.
As a ‘legal’ immigrant I’m disgusted -along with many of my legal immigrant friends- that there is even a consideration about legalizing anyone who is in this country illegally. What is the point? Why have borders? Just open airports, ports and crosswalks and whoever wants to be here, ‘come on down.’ I’m equally disgusted with people who ‘claim’ they want a better life here but continue to live the life they lived before, never assimilating and attempting to be part of the community. On the other hand, we export our intelligence (outsourcing) to other countries and have products and services made there and shipped (beamed) here! Sounds like a double whammy to me for those who live here.
This is not being a “racist”! this is about taking the proper channels to living in the US. As an owner of several apartment complexes, I have seen 1st hand what happens when the immigration comes for a family. Right now, we do not check for residency due to laws. We do have a social security/ID # but more often than not it is someone elses(we are not authorized to check for sure).When immigrations comes and removes 1 or more families in the complex, the managers (and I) are stuck with an apartment that is not paying rent. We don’t know when or if they will return. We then have several apartments vacated during the night by others that fear being picked up. So the apartment complex looses money. The belongings are still there since they are now covered by law. In some states I have to wait over 3 months before opening the door. And only then we have to have a court order. 3 months for 1 or more units is a hardship on our making the mortgage payments. Even the utility companies can turn off service in 60 days. We have to wait another 30 days. (Some states it’s even longer). I am looking forward to some sort of universal law to work for all.
My ‘cup runneth over’ after I heard that a town in Texas (USA) made spanish the official city language and all city council meetings are held (mandatory) in spanish! This does it!!! It is high time to make English MANDATORY and the OFFICIAL language. As a taxpaying, legal immigrant I will support any candidate that demands that any illegal immigrant is deported AFTER paying a fine for each day they are in this country illegally, just like I have to pay a penalty every day when I’m late paying taxes.
That would be another Barbara, not the customary NWN Barbara.
Yowser Barbara, your vacation seems to be quite invigorating and inspirational. An illegal immigrant tax is one that just might gain GOP support.
I thought maybe that was the case. Thanks for the clarification Bill.
Face it people, we are all immigrants (unless your a native american). So why do you hate against yourselves?
Interesting swarm of new posters.
It was in the cards all along. It would take a great communicator to sell the Republican base. Mr. Bush is not that man.
We just don’t need Millions of Illegal free loaders, we already have millions of legal free loaders.
Time for a bit of a reality check.
1. Millions of people are not going to be deported.
2. Most illegal immigrants come here to work, and perform jobs that most Americans don’t want.
If you don’t recognize those obvious facts, you’re indulging in fantasy.
” Support for humane and realistic treatment of illegal immigrants already here, many of them working jobs Americans don’t want…”
So it’s inhumane to enforce immigration laws? I can’t imagine how those laws can be effective without enforcement. I guess those illegal immigrants aren’t taking the jobs of self-important bloggers and that’s all that matters. Illegal immigration “creates” jobs Americans don’t want and makes other less desirable by reducing what employers have to pay to fill those jobs. Legal workers work in all jobs held by illegal immigrants and those are mostly service jobs that can’t be exported. The market determines compensation for most jobs people hold. The same economic forces that unions worry about in regards to guest workers also applies to allowing illegal immigrants to work in this country with practical impunity.
The people supporting the bill were part of an unholy alliance that share almost nothing in their vision of what kind of society we should be except that it would include vastly more immigrants. One side properly recognizes the economic forces in play that will keep labor’s share of the economic pie down and enhance the value of capital. That includes the value of fixed capital like land and we have certainly seen that. The rise in the value of land due to demand from immigration was cited by the White House Council of Economic Advisor’s study last week that touted the economic benefits to natives from immigration. Raising land and housing prices creates nothing but does entail massive shifts in wealth from the land not-haves to the land haves, which the study rightly notes, are mostly natives.
The supporters on the left envision the aggrandizement of ethnic identity along with its nexus of enhanced political power of the Democratic Party. They envision using government controls and the increased use of labor trusts, i.e. unions, to counter market economic forces. That’s exactly what the candidates said in Tavis Smiley’s “All American Presidential Forum” at Howard University before a black audience. Not a mention of the how blacks are being displaced and disadvantaged by mass illegal immigration. The elites, whether they are on the left or right, don’t really care.
By advocating “humane treatment,” Jeff, as should be obvious, I mean not being foolish enough to imagine rounding up and deporting millions of people.
That simply is not going to happen.
It is difficult to discern the dividing lines between racism, xenophobia, and the legitimate sociological concern that the trend away from assimilation leads to a fractious society lacking a sense of commonality. The label “racist” is often thrown, and sometimes applies, but I think a lot of it is more xenophobic, this discomfort about push 1 for English, unintelligible clerks, loss of “American” identity etc., aggravated by demagogues who blame the immigrants for all that ails you.
Re:”Police indiscriminately attack protesters”
I disagree.
Don’t change the quote, Carole.
The LAPD attacking TV news crews was kind of not smart. lol
Wilbur — thanks for bringing up the difference between xenophobia and racism. This is a distinction that goes unnoticed a lot. Although the barrier between them permeable and the two can mix freely, they are two different things. We would do well to understand both.
When a cop tells me to do something for example get out of the way or you will go to jail…my common sense tells me to move….very fast. If I saw some idiot throwing a bottle or a rock at a cop…I would leave the area …very fast. If I saw a line of cops dressed in riot gear and they were walking towards me…I would run very fast. It is quite simple. If I was a juror on that civil case… I would guess the tv reporters new they were in danger and should have left the area very fast. It reminds me of when reporter Chuck Henry was reporting on the OLD Fire and his tv news van caught on fire. I bet you he was told to leave the area and the ran very fast.
Now don’t get mad at me for my comment. I am just telling you how I would react.
First, the order to disperse was improperly given. A lot of people couldn’t hear it.
Second, the dispersal was improperly carried out. You don’t tell people to leave and then immediately start clubbing them. This isn’t Stalin’s Russia.
Third, I’ve been in the military and a protester, and I am a journalist, and it’s my observation that cops who beat on TV news crews are too idiotic and undisciplined to wear a uniform.
Of course nobody is advocating the mass roundup and deportation. It is the classic straw man argument. However that doesn’t mean that some deportations shouldn’t be part of the mix. As the late Barbara Jordan said as head of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform,
“… deportation is crucial. Credibility in immigration policy can be summed up in one sentence: those who should get in, get in; those who should be kept out, are kept out; and those who should not be here will be required to leave.”
The willingness to deport sends a message and makes life uncomfortable for those in the country illegally. People need to fear consequences for breaking laws or those laws become meaningless and undermine the respect for law in general.
Of course the obvious and essential element to deterring illegal immigration is to cut off access to jobs. Half or more of illegal immigrants now work at jobs that are on the books. That means that the federal government is getting payroll tax submissions from employers that don’t match their records or indicate identity theft. The elite media has used the “suspense file” fund to tout the economic benefits that come from illegal immigration. But their proper assumption that the fund comes overwhelming from illegal immigrants means that the government knows where illegal immigrants likely are working and does nothing about it.
If the government would just tell employers to not fire but rather to submit the wages of “no match” employees to the government where they would be held pending resolution of the records, a huge chunk of the employment problem would disappear. Illegal immigrants, knowing they couldn’t fix the problem, would leave their jobs and those who are entitled to work would be properly credited in the system as the SSA’s charge. The initial errors in records would soon dissipate.
The reality is that a huge portion of the citizens of this country rightly believes that our government lacks the desire to enforce our immigration laws and is in the hand of the special interests that cause and want illegal immigration. This was a bill crafted by just those people in government and the special interests they represent. Defeating it is just one battle victory in the war between these forces and the non-elite majority.
Of course, it’s not a straw man. Many people advocate mass deportations, including on this thread.
>Jeff :
Of course nobody is advocating the mass roundup and deportation. It is the classic straw man argument. However that doesn’t mean that some deportations shouldn’t be part of the mix.
Is it any wonder this bill went down in flames?
Nope.
Bill: ” Of course, it’s not a straw man. Many people advocate mass deportations, including on this thread.”
And “many people” advocate returning the Southwest to Mexico. The proper question is what are the positions being taken by the principal actors in a debate. Name the Congressmen who advocates for mass deportation? Does FAIR, CIS, Numbers USA or any other mainstream group take such a position? And yet those who advocate for amnesty present mass deportation as the alternative instead of confronting the genuine arguments of mainstream, illegal immigration control advocates, which is to set up an viable enforcement regime that would be necessary anyways to deter future illegal immigration and allow it to create attrition in the current illegal population. I think that pretty well qualifies it as meeting the definition a straw man argument.
And since when does posting on this blog or any other carry any weight? I’ve yet to notice that.
Regarding illegal immigrants–I’m now living in the Pacific Northwest. Yesterday there was a story in the local paper about farmers plowing under the asparagus crops they had no one to harvest. The cherry harvest this year will be less than it could have been because there is a shortage of pickers. What’s changed this year? The highly-publicized raids on illegals. People, obviously illegal, who had been showing up for years aren’t around.
I’m not arguing for illegal immigration, just pointing out that a functional system had been in place, and has now been disrupted, with consequences.
You know perfectly well that mass deportation is the grassroots mass message of your side of the debate.
You sound like an elitist.
Bill Bradley wrote
Time for a bit of a reality check.
1. Millions of people are not going to be deported.
2. Most illegal immigrants come here to work, and perform jobs that most Americans don’t want.
Response
Now it is time for a second bit of reality check.
Correct: America’s political elite lack the will to enforce the borders so noone should expect them to have the will to deport illegals. Other than taking money from one group and giving it to another the political elite have the will to do next to nothing.
Half correct: Many illegals do come here to work. However, there is almost no job that some American will not do if given enough money. For unskilled jobs in American there is no shoratge of potential workers. Name a single job the majority of Americans would not do for say the wages and benefits of a Congressman or Senator. Name a single job performed by illegals where the taxpayer is not paying in welfare related services the extra wages rather than the employer. Moreover, is it now the case that if a person is willing to work then the rule of law does not apply? Why is an American working and not paying taxes different from an illegal working and not paying taxes? Why if importing millions of unskilled and uneducated nonEnglish speaking people is such a good thing for America we as a nation spend so much taxpayers money attempting to do just the opposite?
As far as the illegals are concerned as long as they are free to leave and are protected from criminal harm why do we as a nation have to insure anything more? If they want to be legal they can follow the normal path to citizenship.
As far as the jobs illegals perform if employers do not want to pay wages high enough to attract legal workers then those jobs simply do not need to be done. If we can burn corn as fuel we clearly have enough food. People can mow their own grass, clean their own homes, and care for their own kids.
As far as the political elite they have no desire to stop the flow of illegals. Our immigration laws have been a shame since 1965.
Moreover, laws are only intended to apply to average working law abiding Americans. The political elite can in general lie under oath, steal secure documents, drink and drive, and funnel large sums of money to friends and supporters with little fear of punishment. Laws concerning licenses, insurance, taxes, identify thief simply do not apply to illegal immigrates.
John Perkins
When did compromise become a dirty word in this country? If it was good enough for Madison, Washington et al I think it wouldn’t hurt us to do some. These extreme ends come off as noise and fury, signifying nothing but their own extremeness.
I’m sure that a majority of Americans would strongly oppose any mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
It’s political fantasy to suppose otherwise.
I’m also sure that a majority of Americans thinks that our current border controls are a joke.
Yeah, it’s kind of amusing I have to spend any time defending myself for writing that illegal immigrants should be treated “humanely.”
that second barbara was not me . it is disturbing that someone did that… I won’t post if people are here to play fucking games. I almost fell on my horse..i understand mr bradley can’t police the plce but kk use yr head does that sound like me?
that second barbara was not me . it is disturbing that someone did that… I won’t post if people are here to play fucking games. I almost fell on my horse..i understand mr bradley can’t police the plce but kk use yr head does that sound like me?
That was a new person who doesn’t know about you. (You HAVE been gone for weeks.) I also made it clear that wasn’t you.
well Mr. Bradley I stopped reading after kk …so thank you…but now what …did you tell her about me ? because if she comes back as barbara then I have change my post name to something else! I hve to stop now still on my horse.
Not to worry, it’ll be handled.
To me a big story about the defeat of this immigration bill turkey was that it happened purely from a grass roots and blogoshpere effort. The citizenry got rather amped up about this bill and seemed to have made sure their elected officials knew about it, but at the same time, the cable, broadcast and print media all pushing this, calling it a “reasonable compromise” that would fix things and be fair, among other empty platitudes.
I see it as a major defeat for the old guard of the Senate, like Kennedy, Lott, Lugar, and Graham, and the absolute death knell for McCain, who has recently epitomized the consummate inside Senate player, who seems to care more about preserving his position and “stature” there that than about any presidential aspirations.
Nobody seems to grasp that border security really is important to people.
Barbara – we won’t allow her to take your “handle”. I try not to respond to onetime “trolls”, especially on issues like immigration. If she comes back though…
We’re never going to get anywhere if either extreme takes over the issue.