The Immigration Bill

The Senate voted in favor of cloture on the immigration bill this afternoon.  That doesn't mean the bill has passed, but it is an attempt to keep the momentum for its passage going.  A whole passel of Republicans are in for a rude awakening if it passes.  It could mean the cementing of the Democrats' future majority and possibly the presidency just because Republican voters will stay home out of frustration.

Or, it leaves the way open for a Republican presidential candidate who will vow to fight it.  So far, that looks to be Romney or Thompson.  Giuliani and McCain are close to official toast status on this very important issue for primary voters. The RNC doesn't admit it,  Bush won't admit it and neither does the Wall Street Journal editorial page -- but they're out of touch on this one.

At one point, I'd been of the "well, we can't deport 12 million illegals so we have to give them amnesty" frame of mind.  But over the last couple months, we've seen how some well-targeted raids on businesses known to hire illegals have worked out.  Many are heading home and many others aren't attempting to come in because the atmosphere's suddenly perceived as less friendly.

A strong policy of discouraging illegal immigrants might take care of the problem without the need to deport them.  They'll go home on their own and apply to come back here legally.  No need to "encourage" them to do so.  The current bill sounds just like an encouragement to break the law.

This immigration bill looks to have a life of its own now, but if it isn't squelched, the presidential race just took on a whole new life.