TO: Friends

DT: June 5, 2007

SJ: Immigration bill update

Reading the tea leaves.

In the last seven days or so, the following has happened:

Price of "grip and grin" picture with President Bush at GOP fundraisers down 50%.

Republican National Committee closes fundraising phone bank (in place since at least 1984) because too many people just wanted to complain about amnesty.

Peggy Noonan, who wrote Bush I's 1988 acceptance speech, blasted both the immigration bill and the Bush family.

President Bush claimed on Wednesday that opponents of the Senate immigration bill "don't want to do what's right for America."

Senator John McCain said Monday that his fellow candidates who oppose the bill "would intentionally make our country's problems worse."

John Kyl claims support is increasing for the immigration bill, but schedules no meetings with constituents during the Memorial Day Recess.

Maryland GOP denounces Senate immigration bill.

What do all these things have in common -- you.

Because of your letters, telephone calls and e-mails, a one-time slam dunk legislative compromise no longer looks like it will steamroll over everything in its path.

Kate O'Beirne reports that "a Republican Congressman whose district was carried by John Kerry and twice by Bill Clinton told me his offices have gotten 600 phone calls against the bill and one in favor."

Senators are getting so much guff about the Senate immigration bill from their constituents that they have become more willing to stand up to the White House and the gang of 12 in the Senate.

The White House's pro-amnesty lobbying effort has not been helped by misrepresentations regarding provisions contained within the legislation, especially regarding the English requirements (or lack thereof).

Now what?

The Inhofe "English First" amendment was potentially going to be offered today or early tomorrow. The sudden death of Republican Senator Craig Thomas (R., Wyoming) last night has changed schedules for everything.

There was to be a meeting this morning of the Gang of 12 (the authors of the compromise) to determine what amendments they will accept. Both Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans will discuss their strategy at party lunches today.

The immigration debate is likely to run into next week.

A way to think about the Senate fight: the walls of Jericho

The children of Israel were ordered by God to march around the walls of the city of Jericho six times and to do so in absolute silence (Joshua 6:10, 14).

The armed men were not told on day 1 what would happen on day 2, let alone day 7.

It was bound to get old fast. Get up, armor up, march in silence, return. And this marching took place in full view of anyone guarding the walls, anyone who might have a bow and arrow and wish to strike a blow for Jericho.

Day after day, marching in silence, wondering if you are going to die and contemplating this strange way of warfare.

Then on day seven, you prepare for yet another weary walk around the same old problem. Only this time, you don't march around the city walls once but seven times. Nothing has happened yet, but you are thankful you were not shot at either.

Out of nowhere comes the voice of your commander: "And the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout! For the Lord has given you the city (Joshua 6:16)." So you shout. And suddenly down come the walls.

I cannot say if it is day 2 or day 6 (Jericho-wise) in this critical fight for the future of our nation. I do know that the walls are still standing, and that President Bush's Homeland Security Chief, Michael Chertoff told the Boston Globe that Ted Kennedy "is awesome" because he saved the Senate immigration bill.

What do you expect me to do?

As of right now, there are only somewhere between 20 and 30 Senators opposed to the bill. We need forty or more to maintain a filibuster against this bill, which would grant virtually instant amnesty to 12 to 20 million people. We don't have 40, at least not yet.

Many people have called, faxed or e-mailed their two Senators. Good. Well done. But the walls are still standing.

Those who have sent an e-mail should make a call or send a fax. And vice versa. Call your Senators again and remind them this is important to you.

Encourage family, friends and coworkers to contact your Senators too.

Senators are wondering if we will go away. What will they see? An army on the march or people who have decided they have already done enough, after marching around the wall for three days.

What about amendments? Aren't you improving a bill you are trying to kill?

There will be more amendments offered, some good, some not so good. Given that this bill may be hard to stop, we must try to fix some of its problems and force Senators to vote on the record about as many of these problems as possible.

Amendments can delay this legislative freight train. They can also allow us to see where Presidential candidates Clinton, Obama, Dodd and McCain stand.

Keep in mind that the more controversial votes Senators must cast, the less they like any piece of legislation

Please contact your two Senators right away in support of the Inhofe amendment here.

Thank you.

Jim Boulet, Jr.

Executive Director