Amnesty passes the first hurdle

The Senate has defied the American people and passed the first cloture vote 64-35. Here's the roll call of who voted which way.

They, and the political-media-business elite which supports this bill, think they can just ignore the firestorm of protest. They think this is still the same world as it was back before the organizing and empowering force of the internet. They think we'll have forgotten all about this by the time they come up for re-election. They don't realize it doesn't work that way any more.

The giant meteor has hit, the dinosaurs are being pelted with fallout, and the tiny mammals are chowing down on their eggs, and they're still too dumb to realize the game is up.

I think this posting sums up the situation well:

Senators who believe that by passing this bill they will at least be getting a divisive issue out of the way are making a serious mis-take. This is not 1986. The immigration issue is far more promi-nent now, and it will only grow in importance. Demographics, and the problems of assimilation in a globalized world of satellite dishes and easy travel will see to that. Look at how votes on the war have come back to haunt Democratic politicians. Votes by legislators of both parties on this bill will be haunting them–and all of us–for years to come.

Supporters of this bill sell it as a compromise that will heal America’s divisions. I fear it’s quite the reverse. This bill is infuriating the public and undermining faith in government itself. You can see it in the polling on confidence in Congress and the President. If this bill passes, it’s going to aggravate and embitter politics for years to come. Passing a measure over such over-whelming opposition is like slapping the public in the face.

Meanwhile, there's still that second cloture vote, probably on Thursday. The amnesty bill can still be stopped if just five Senators who voted yes today can be persuaded to vote no next time.