Topic category:  Other/General

On June 20 a UPI/Zogby poll was released that shows citizens giving the president and the Congress dismal marks for their handling of the immigration problem. Just 3% view Congress’ handling of the issue favorably. Only 9% view the president’s handling of immigration favorably. These marks are lower than a snake’s belly, and the allegory seems fit here.

Immigration is the second most important issue to Americans surveyed, behind the Iraq war.

Now, probably the thing that most politicians do well, and maybe the only thing, is getting re-elected. They know how to read polls. Besides the polls, most senate offices report their phone lines jammed with messages from angry voters and their mail boxes full with the same. The politicians know how to hold up a finger to the wind and know which way they should be leaning. That is what they do well with their hands, besides extending their palms up for money, and giving the middle finger to their constituents, when they think they can get by with it.

Too harsh? Constituents have already told them in no uncertain terms they do not want an amnesty bill. It has been defeated twice. However, as in a scary monster movie, the bill keeps being resurrected, with different senators digging it out of the ground. These powerful senators are not used to being told what to do, although they send out mail that asks all sorts of questions, pretending to want the voters’ opinions, but always ending with a plea for money so they can defeat the awful things their adversaries are trying to do to them.

The Republican Party, in particular, is seeing the funds dry up because of its stance on immigration. A popular response from those who have had enough, is “I’ll open my wallet when you close the border”. Some of their fundraisers have been dismissed. Since these people are the lifeblood of the party, it is an indicator of how unpopular the immigration stance is.

The Democrats, for their part, are not exactly beloved by the populace, either. Some polls put them at less than 10% in approval by those polled. They have short memories, it seems, as their taking over the House and Senate depended on the voters being really steamed at the Republicans for not listening and representing the people. The people said they would let the other party take the reins. Now, the same people seem to be telling them they are not doing a good job. Do the Democrats have such short memories?

As unpopular as the amnesty bill is, the leaders in both parties are full speed ahead. It is rumored that Senator Reid has dusted off some devious maneuvers to get the bill voted on as soon as possible. Might as well. The longer the bill is out there, the more people learn what is in it, and the more odious it seems.

Individual senators must now search themselves to get the right vote out. A vote for cloture will allow this bill to be brought up for a final vote, thereby ensuring that some of its provisions will be adopted. A vote against cloture will kill the bill again. The House may weigh in, but can hardly be expected to get rid of all the bad provisions in the bill.

The House killed the last attempt at amnesty and we have the Republican House to thank, but the membership has changed with the last election.

Politicians rely on the short memories of voters. They have benefited from voters losing track of records and who voted for what. That may be what they are counting on in their support of amnesty. However, many senators have been taken aback at the response of the voters against amnesty and some say it is an issue that has brought unparalleled resistance.

So, with a future election staring some of these legislators in the face soon, the question to be asked is one familiar to many American movie goers:

“Ask yourself, do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do you?”

Barbara Anderson

Biography - Barbara Anderson

Barbara regularly writes for CapitolHillCoffeeHouse. She also appears in California Chronicle, Border Patrol, and Citizens Caucus. Her primary interest is illegal immigration, but she writes about other subjects as well.

Barbara lives in a large city on the West Coast. Her loyalties are with God, family, country, heritage and borders.

She enjoys music, painting, poetry and song writing.