R.I.P. Immigration Bill
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Immigration, Polls
WASHINGTON, June 7 �The sweeping immigration overhaul endorsed by President Bush crumbled in the Senate on Thursday night, leaving the future of one of the administration’s chief domestic priorities in serious doubt.After a day of tension and fruitless maneuvering, senators rejected a Democratic call to move toward a final vote on the compromise legislation after Republicans complained that they had not been given enough opportunity to reshape the sprawling bill. Supporters of cutting off debate got only 45 of the 60 votes they needed; 50 senators opposed the cutoff.
And it seems like Bush doesn’t care that much…
The collapse of the measure came as Mr. Bush was in Europe for an international economic summit, and it was not immediately clear how hard he would fight to resurrect the bill upon his return next week.Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman, said the White House still held hope that a bill could be passed.
“We are encouraged that the leadership of both parties in the United States Senate indicated that they would bring this legislation back up for consideration,� Mr. Stanzel said. “And we will continue to work with members of the United States Senate to make sure this process moves forward.�
But is McCain in as much trouble as people are saying? Public opinion polls suggest maybe not…
Public opinion suggests an electorate open to, but by no means wildly enthusiastic about, comprehensive change that provides the 12 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, but only if there is an effective border security plan in place.Republicans are clearly divided, but perhaps not as the heated rhetoric of the campaign trail suggests. The most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that, on the question of a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, the public narrowly approves: 52 percent to 44 percent. Democrats back such a plan 57 percent to 38 percent and independents 51 to 45 percent. Republicans are opposed, 53 to 43 percent — significant but not overwhelming.
It’ll be interesting to see what the fallout is from this.
(Picture created with the Tombstone Generator.)
This entry was posted on Friday, June 8th, 2007 and is filed under 2008 Election, Immigration, Polls. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 8th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I’ve heard so many Republicans say, at the end of the day, the party loyalists will “come home” to John McCain.
They may be flirting with Rudy Guiliani and now, Fred Thompson, but neither man is far enough to the right to satisfy the base. This is especially true of Guiliani.
The sense I get is, the GOP isn’t particularly fond of anyone in their ranks.
Unlike the Democrats, where you have a hugely popular Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
All I can say is that I did a little dance when that news rolled across my desk.
The only depressing news is that the politicians involved aren’t going to let something like this die… the bill WILL be back.