We have a cause to celebrate, the so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill has been defeated. In an uncanny alliance, between grassroots efforts from conservatives and true progressives (immigration movement), the bill was defeated on a 45-50 vote; however, I highly doubt the conservatives will ever acknowledge it was both camps who defeated the bill.

“If so, this represents a major victory for the conservative grass roots. There is no doubt that immigration needs Congressional attention, but it is far from clear that a grand, comprehensive compromise is the way to go. In practice, that approach is basically an excuse for slipping key provisions into the bill that the political class wants, but the American people do not.”

Then again, when you have faux progressives like Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller at MyDD who kept their mouth shut until now because “it’s not a priority,” for them, I can why conservatives are patting themselves on the back for a job well done.

The fact is both groups had one goal in mind, that was to defeat the bill other than that, the alliance ends. Let’s face it, there was nothing to see eye-to-eye about when it came to defeating this bill. Every bottom-tier Republican presidential candidate and racist xenophobic nativist were screaming “Amnesty!” just at the thought that one person of the 12 to 14 million undocumented workers in the US might actually become a citizen someday under a new immigration law.

The Republicans were playing their role as the party of big business while playing up to the hard right, which continues to cling to immigration as one issue that could avert a total electoral meltdown in 2008. That is why Sen. John McCain, a prominent backer of the pro-corporate, was “stung” and speechless after immigration bill hit a dead end. The Arizona Republic wrote Sen. McCain wouldn’t answer questions about the outcome. ” ‘I don’t have anything to say,’ he said five times before stepping into an elevator in the Capitol. ‘I apologize, I do not have anything to say.’ “

As for the Democrats. they don’t get a pass. They too were trying to work both sides of the street. They want to prove themselves worthy of the continued corporate donations that have surged to party candidates as CEOs seek an alternative to a Bush-lite White House.

It looks like there wasn’t enough arm twisting by big business to get the immigration bill through Congress. If it wasn’t for the immigrant rights movement and histrionic alarmism coming from the nativist, the bill would surely have passed. Never Underestimate the power of the people! SI SE PUEDE!

For now, let us enjoy the moment and celebrate this short victory. Viva la raza, cabrones!

Related posts

• Reinstituting The Military Draft (2)
• Keepers of the Gate In the Land of Lost Hope (3)
• America’s Immigration Endgame (6)
• The Immigration Human Zoo (9)
• The Immigration Bill is Defeated Again (10)

Tags: conservatives, Immigration, immigration bill, progressives, Raza |  Print This Post |
functional