The Middle Road On Immigration?

I'm not sure wheither I should be happy or upset about
the latest defeat of the immigration bill. After all I and my
ancestors have spent tha last 450 years trying to get our
just due and respect from this nation and still the struggle
continues. But on the other hand I find it hard to be against
thoses that have come to this country to try and build a
better life for themselves. So on this issue I think I'll just
sit back an let this one play itself out. What do you think?


The Senate on Thursday resoundingly defeated a bill that would have overhauled the nation's immigration laws for the first time in two decades, crushing the chances of settling the contentious matter in the next few years.After a rancorous final debate on the bill, lawmakers on both sides pledged to deal with illegal immigration and secure the southern border — but they disagreed not only on why the legislation failed, but on what to do next

The 46-53 rout was 14 votes short of the 60 needed to end the debate and move the bill forward. It was a major defeat for President Bush, who had pushed hard to achieve his last major domestic initiative. It was also a bitter finale for the bipartisan team of senators and two Cabinet secretaries who worked for months to craft the intricate bill.About two-thirds of the Senate's Republicans joined almost a third of the Democrats to kill the bill, which had been carefully constructed to appeal to both parties, but also drew bipartisan opposition.Supporters appeared grim and subdued after the vote.

They expressed regret at the bill's demise and warned of the consequences."What occurred today is fairly final," said Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), a member of the coalition behind the legislation. The Cuban-born Martinez spoke of his deep disappointment and that of people "who share my background as an immigrant to this country, many of whom were looking to this effort as a way to improve their lives."With defeat of the legislation, cities and states will certainly feel pressure to come up with their own solutions to a national problem.

The vote also revealed deep fissures within the GOP.Republican senators who backed the compromise measure said its loss shifts the onus to their opponents to offer proposals. The Republicans who led the charge against the bill have offered no new plans and said they would continue to urge the administration to enforce existing laws. And they portrayed Thursday's vote as a victory for the American people, a characterization the bill's supporters flatly rejected.





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