DREAM ACT FAILS TO PASS IN SENATE

60 votes were needed out of 100 to stop debate and vote on the bill. 52 votes were secured. Some Republicans are suggesting they would support a watered-down DREAM Act bill. That may not be necessary since many GOP Senators will likely will be gone after 2008 when Hispanic voters have their say.

Comments

[Beppe]

Guys, don`t get me wrong. I undestand that this was a crucial vote for the Immigration Agenda and it surprise me that they put on the floor when Kennedy was not there.
Probably Greg will knows more of the behind the scene, Graham and Specter vote nay and this is really surprising.

[drew from immigrants list]

He had a blocked artery in his neck.

[USC]

"Besides, I can't hate Kennedy. He's one of my favorites"

Mine too. If Kennedy knew that he was the 60th vote he would have had himself carried in on a stretcher/guerney!

I didn't know that he was in surgery. I wish him a speedy recovery!

[Dream Act guy]

I like all 4 of them. I was just explaining why they weren't there. Besides, I can't hate Kennedy. He's one of my favorites.

[USC]

"Boxer was in California for the wildfire. I dont know where Dodd went, and Kennedy is recovering from surgery.

McCain was probably out campaigning."

I posted this late last night (I had learnt of this earlier yesterday evening):

http://blogs.ilw.com/gregsiskind/2007/10/and-now-for-the.html#comment-87453514

I am sure that Seantors Kennedy, McCain, Dodd & Boxer had access to more accurate information than I did about the lack of the required 60 votes. I am not making excuses for them not being present for the vote but if it was a foregone conclusion they are not the ones who let us down. These Senators are all friends of the pros. I know that some of you are disappointed but let's not dump on our friends.

[Dream Act guy]

Boxer was in California for the wildfire. I dont know where Dodd went, and Kennedy is recovering from surgery.

McCain was probably out campaigning.

[Beppe]

it`s clear that pres Bush trheat a veto, i am surpised that Kennedy was not present.

[Legal and waiting]

"Maybe, we should have an I/Q test as well. "

Did anyone watch Idiocracy? Yep, they had this brilliant idea implemented, too.

[just me]

Maybe, we should have an I/Q test as well.

i would be very careful what you ask for...in case it came true...hey you may not have a candidate lefy to vote for...:-)

[Dream Act guy]

From JD Hayworth's website:

"I propose the following plan:

1. Seal the border.
2. Take, Secure, Lease, or Grab large tracts of Mexican territory, land in geographical locations where border crossings are most egregious and areas where the land is industry friendly.
3. These tracts may be 100’s of square miles in areas that may even include current towns and villages.
4. These tracts would become U.S. Territories where rights are extended but limited.
5. Upon possession of these territories we impose some form of martial law and open them to U.S. and international industry that will lease or purchase and invest in these areas where they can take advantage of cheap labor and offer minimum but better than current benefits."

There's a reason why JD Hayworth lost in 2006.

[drew from immigrants list]

JD Hayworth lost.

[Ronald W. Cowan]

Before the fall of the Republican Party over illegal immegration, you will see a Revolution within the United States take place.

Lets get this problem resolved once and for all. JD Hayworth has the right and fair idea for illegal immigration on his website.

Let's also take note of the politicans that are not representing the people who are electing them. Maybe, we should have an I/Q test as well.

[Dream Act guy]

Sessions corrected himself on the Senate floor and said that Bush did not issue a veto threat unlike SCHIP.

[LegalImmi]

" If these kids are given an oppurtunity there will not be any need to import more h1b workers who are clueless about culture and values of this country. "

First close the borders to stop illegal immigration and then talk about H1Bs. You have no clue on what you are talking about. H1Bs are just less than 1% of total US workforce. So, they are nothing like that H1Bs are posing any problems to US workers. You seems to have little knowledge and then you are exaggerating that.

To the best intertests of US, first action item is stop illegal immigration and then take any other actions after that. Then you will see no problems to your job. After that, You only ask more H1Bs and Permanant immigrants.

[Sid]

"If these kids are given an oppurtunity there will not be any need to import more h1b workers who are clueless about culture and values of this country."

You may be right. I've lived in this country for over 7 years and I'm still clueless about the culture and values of this country. I see a lot of different cultures and values depending on the demographics and location. I'm very confused. Maybe you can fill me in before I take the citizenship test after 10 years.

"Bush did not issue a veto threat (according to Sessions) although he did have some issues with the bill."

He would only veto bills that help poor american kids such as SCHIP.

[Dream Act guy]

Bush did not issue a veto threat (according to Sessions) although he did have some issues with the bill.

"See this whitehouse response to DREAM act. Bush is anyway going to veto it as it may create a huge document fraud to get fast track GC and Citizenship."

There is no evidence that Dream act will create a huge document fraud. This bill is supposed to help people who are more assimilated than many prospective immigrants. If these kids are given an oppurtunity there will not be any need to import more h1b workers who are clueless about culture and values of this country.

[LegalImmi]

See this whitehouse response to DREAM act. Bush is anyway going to veto it as it may create a huge document fraud to get fast track GC and Citizenship.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/110-1/s2205sap-s.pdf

[Beppe]

I am upset. I think that it`s very stupid to introduce this bill if they are not sure to have enough vote to defeat the cloture.
Gregg, don`t be too much optimistic about 2008, if you check out the vote of who defeat a repubblican opponent in the 2006 you will notice that the result is the same (NAY).

[tancredo]

"next day there would be no waiters, office clerks, babysitters, A+ students, or future community leaders. Let's see what Tancredo would then say."

Yes America will go deep down because you guys are gone. A bad decade ahead of us kids !!!!.

[worldEB]

guys,
this was wrongly executed plan. It is ofcourse sad to hear dream act failed. I am sure this will come up again and will pass. there are some lessons to be learned out of this.

1.Legal are not enemies of illegals, but this smart move to go ahead of legal is wrong. you really dont stand a chance if people cant accept legals. first create a climate to accept a legal immigrant.Belive me then ofcourse they will accept an illegal immigrant.
2.most republicans stood well against your bill. show your support so that they won't show up again there after the election. democrats are very keen to move illegal immigrant bills.
3.most importantly you got that many votes. It is very encouraging. There is a room for a quick turn around.YOu really dont have to say this is end for anyone.the climate looks good for both illegals and legals

[Beppe]

so, it`s over? It`s over for the others piece, as the extend date of 245(i)?
Nice.

[Another voice]

Hopefully those that can vote can give a voice to those that can't on 2008. GET OUT AND VOTE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Heartbroken]

It is unbelievable and definitely discouraging to see the lack of interest from the senators' side to fix this situation. After all, I think these kids do deserve a chance since they had no say in the decision of coming to America. I was wondering what would happen to this country if all those people who would have benefited from the DREAM Act would be deported... the next day there would be no waiters, office clerks, babysitters, A+ students, or future community leaders. Let's see what Tancredo would then say.

[George W. Groovy]

Richard Nixon was once asked why he didn't support immigration reform. His answer was "because there's not a vote in it."

This government has no intention of supporting any meaningful immigration reform, not now and probably not ever. Voter sentiment may be generally pro-immigration, but most voters typically don't care enough to worry about it one way or another.

Anti-immigrant forces on the other hand, are fully mobilized against what they view as a life and death issue. Most Americans favor gun control too, but not as much as the NRA opposes it.

In my view, the current Rube Goldberg immigration system was not designed to encourage legal immigration but to obstruct it. So in that sense it's working quite well. The new $3,500 H1-B fee is just another brick in the wall.

How come Senator Spector ended up on the Nay list? I guess "masters of the universe" were playing the same game. They were not letting any amendments.

[USC]

Actually, Greg it was 52. However, the absent 4 would have voted for cloture so DREAM really had 56. It failed by 4 votes. This was doable. The roll call is below:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00394

[TX]

"That may not be necessary since many GOP Senators will likely will be gone after 2008 when Hispanic voters have their say."

Amen to that. Can't wait to see the fall of the Republican party. This will be one for the history books.