About that immigration bill

Matthew Hoy
By Matthew Hoy on May 19, 2007

Here's hoping it dies. Bush has made a couple of egregious mistakes when it comes to domestic legislation during his two terms. The prescription drug benefit was one. McCain-Feingold was another. Somehow it's fitting that the next big one is going to be named McCain-Kennedy.

It should go without saying that this should be the final nail in the coffin for the McCain presidential candidacy. McCain being right on the war in Iraq doesn't cover all of his other sins. Especially when there are plenty of other GOP hopefuls who are right on the war and immigration and free speech.

Yes, I'm still peeved about McCain-Feingold. Here's hoping that the Supreme Court strikes down one of the most egregious portions of it -- the prohibition on any ads mentioning a candidate for federal office within 60 days of the general election and 30 days of the primary.

Anyway, back to the immigration bill.

First, we don't even have a copy of the dang thing yet. But, according to the talking points, it's not much good at all. It authorizes the building of only a couple hundred miles of border fence -- less than half of what was authorized in last year's bill.

Worst of all, it's amnesty for anyone here illegally or anyone who can get here in the next few months. Come on in! I'd be very curious to see if there is an upsurge in activity along the border in the coming weeks.

This is just 1986 all over again. The key to meaningful immigration reform starts with securing the border. Once the illegal immigration has slowed to a trickle -- It's impossible to stop it altogether -- then we can talk about what to do with the illegal aliens who are here now.

The goal now is to get 41 Senators to kill this bad bill. Don't expect any help from the Democrats on this. And you can probably already count Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Gordon Smith, Lindsay Graham and Sununu Jr. as lost causes -- including, of course, McCain. That's at least six votes that are lost. We can only lose two more and still kill this. With President Bush supporting the bill, along with a giddy mainstream media, holding on to the rest of the Republicans will be tough.

For other views on the issue, check out Hugh Hewitt on McCain and his overbearing arrogance. Here's KLo on the revolt on the right.

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