GOP Splinters

Are the Senate Republicans stalled, their leadership sails slack as they bob about in the legislative doldrums?

So says Robert D. Novak in his "McConnell's Immigration Failure." (WaPo)

While Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) was up to his elbows in dirty deeds, convoluting the rules of procedure and twisting arms trying to pass The Decider's amnesty for illegal aliens bill, Bush's Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell (KY) was not only above the fray.... he ended up voting against it, and "abandoned his post, staying off the floor during final stages of the debate."

As it turns out, the fury of the switchboard-crashing number of calls coming into the Senate, threatening to never again vote for anyone supporting "amnesty," changed the minds of some GOP senators facing reelection, like McConnell.

So it seems McConnell faced the music and voted against the bill.... music conservative columnist Novak sees as a sour note, "It is difficult to exaggerate the pessimism about the immediate political future voiced by Republicans in Congress when not on the record."

Seems like Novak needs to quit talking only to Bushistas, and instead listen to Republican senators like Jim DeMint (SC) who didn't support the legislation and exulted in an email to supporters.... "We did it."

Even Republican former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who may yet throw his hat into the presidential ring, told contributors that the vote was "a soaring victory for the American people" in the defeat of the "Bush-Kennedy-McCain bill."

These are strange times, unexplored waters for many GOP politicians.... the party of political discipline that heeded President Reagan's admonition to speak no ill of another Republican.... an open break with their party leader and president.

It will be interesting to see if GOP supporters of the legislation who didn't change their vote despite the loud and intense pressure of their constituents... Lindsey Graham (SC) who is up for reelection, and presidential candidate John McCain (AZ).... will pay the price in 2008. One can only hope so.

The U.S. voters should find joy, not the reflected dejection of Novak or the gloomy outlook of McConnell who tried to have it both ways by trying to appease Bush while justifying his defection.... "This isn't a day to celebrate.... It wasn't the people's will. And they were heard."

You bet we were heard!

Let freedom ring

Bush Flops on Hill

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) summed up the reaction of GOP Senators after a Capitol luncheon meeting with The Decider who was re-selling his immigration amnesty legislation.... "It was a good give-and-take. We didn't expect anybody to stand up and holler that they had an epiphany."

Indeed.

If the remarks by Iowa's only GOP Senator, Charles Grassley, are a sample, it was far from an epiphany. Grassley said following the meeting that he will continue to oppose any legislation that includes amnesty, and that he "didn't think the meeting changed anybody's mind."

On Tuesday, Grassley and eight other GOP senators sent a letter to The Decider telling him to enforce the border security laws already approved by Congress, as that "is the best way to restore trust with the American people and facilitate future improvements of our immigration policy."

Grassley gets it.

So why won't The Decider just enforce current laws? Why is he so insistent on a "comprehensive" bill?

Ah, the Devil is in the details.

On page 211 of the draft immigration legislation: "Sense of Congress Regarding Partnership for Prosperity - It is the sense of Congress that the United States and Mexico should accelerate the implementation of the Partnership for Prosperity....."

This partnership was embarked upon by The Decider and Mexico's former president Fox without discussion with U.S. citizens or Congress, let alone approval. But, it's a critical cornerstone of The Decider's stealth plan for a North American Union. Obviously, he's willing to tear our national house down to hammer home this policy nail.

Hopefully, our elected representatives will continue to reject The Decider's schemes, or the voters will register their grand epiphany come November 2008!