Thanks to a grass-roots effort of concerned citizens jamming Congressional switchboards, and a case of cold feet and indecisiveness in the Senate, the immigration bill that promised to grant immediate legal status to 12 million lawbreakers failed to make its way out of that august body of panderers. Senate Majority TraitorLeader Harry Reid pulled it from the Senate floor, after falling 15 votes short of the super majority needed to end debate. This is a momentous day; not only for the rule of law, but for every American who had a voice and finally decided to use it.
  There were reports of busy phone lines almost constantly. Most senators were getting an earful from their constituents, many of whom were threatening to work toward their representative's defeat in future re-election bids, after having voted for and supported them in the past. A recent Rasmussen poll showed 50% opposing the bill, with only 24% in favor and 26% undecided. In a related poll, 73% of respondents considered securing our borders a greater priority than legalizing "undocumented workers". That giant sucking sound Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) just heard is his presidential aspirations heading down the "straight talk express" to Hades.
  Why did so many of us hate this bill? Maybe it was because of a very similar misguided effort made over 20 years ago, with many similar provisions and good intentions. It's important to note that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA; hilariously called "The Cape Cod Orca" by commentator Mark Levin) was a key architect of both bills. Or, perhaps it was due to the fact that the president signed a bill into law on Oct. 26 authorizing 700 miles of fence across the US-Mexico border. Only two miles of that fence have actually been built! Maybe it's the immediate access these illegals would receive(and in many cases already do) to social services like welfare, disability, health care, and in-state college tuition benefits not afforded to legal citizens living outside of the state. Wait, I know! It must be the eight years of chain migration(meaning family members of newly legalized lawbreakers would have been able to join their loved ones here) the legislation would have allowed for!
  Here then is Perplexed's easy(but surely not simple) three-step guide to immigration success:

1. Build the stinkin' fence already. Build it tall, build it thick, build it all the way across. Augment it with electrified razor wire and the best security surveillance techno gear tax dollars can buy. Let private companies hire security personnel to guard it if you want to save the taxpayer expense of extra bodies.
2. The day after the fence is done, go on the biggest deportation spree in the history of man! Maybe we won't snag all 12 million. But with all the potential terrorists crossing over(border agents intercept many different varieties of OTM's[Other Than Mexicans] regularly), the need to clean house as much as possible is vital if we want to have a country left for legal immigrants to find their dreams in. And don't buy into this mularkey of a ruined economy if they were to leave. The majority of them are said to be low-wage and low-skilled. Since companies are breaking the law by hiring them, many of these workers are paid in cash, avoiding any tax burden. The only economy that would take any kind of a hit is the one underground.
   
3. Streamline the naturalization process for those wanting to come here legally. Speaking of those fine folks, many of them are waiting up to 15-20 years for all the red tape to clear on the road to becoming naturalized citizens. This only increases temptation to abandon the process and hop the border themselves. They deserve better, and it's time for Congress to update the antiquated system involved in gaining citizenship and dramatically reduce this window. These people are the true meaning of "melting pot", wanting to take on who we are rather than take over who we are.
   

  The president got off the horse when we really needed his cowboy diplomacy riding tall. One can only speculate as to how "compassionate conservatism" equals "reward invaders who ignore our laws and spit on our sovereignty". Changing the tone in Washington doesn't mean skinny-dipping in bipartisan quicksand. His opponents will be more than happy to hold his head below the surface no matter how much he gives them. So it's time to stop giving. Both parties are rushing to blame each other for killing the bill. Let me give them a suggestion as to where to point their fingers: right here. Yeah, us. We The People killed your amnesty Christmas present, and we will be watching. Remember that during your next re-election campaign.