Here's a report from the Denver Post about progress (or not) concerning HR 4437 (The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005) [December 16, 2005, "Immigration debate illuminates rift in GOP"]. From the article, "The bill is aimed at shutting down illegal border crossings. It would order businesses to verify the legal status of their workers and would boost penalties for illegal presence in the United States from a civil offense to a criminal misdemeanor...Hard-liners like [Tom] Tancredo say that a wave of illegal immigration is straining the nation's resources and breeding a tolerance of illegality. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business interests, usually reliable GOP supporters, feel that the bill burdens employers. The bill faces overwhelming opposition from Democrats."
Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News [December 16, 2005, "Debate on immigration bill in Congress pleases Tancredo"]. From the article, "Although he has flirted with a possible presidential contest in 2008, [Tom] Tancredo often is written off as a loud-mouthed, back-bencher who wields little power. But on Thursday, he had a direct line to Republican leadership because without the support of his hard-line immigration caucus, it was unlikely they could pass anything to appease an increasingly vocal part of the Republican base."
Meanwhile Jim Spencer reports that Governor Owens has waded into the middle of the immigration issue [December 16, 2005, "Gov. Owens closes door to nativists"]. He writes, "What you saw in Owens' endorsement of a quick-turnaround, privately administered visa program was the influence of the economically conservative right wing of the Republican Party, said Frank Sharry, director of the National Immigration Forum. Economic conservatives believe in free enterprise and a global economy. Socially conservative members of the GOP want wholesale removal of illegal immigrants and quotas that sharply restrict legal immigration. They want the Mexican border sealed with troops and technology. State Rep. David Schultheis of Colorado Springs is one of them."
TalkLeft: "I wonder what former President Ronald Reagan, so famous for his 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall' statement at the Berlin wall, would think of his fellow Republicans in Congress last night passing a border bill that will result in five fences being built along 698 miles of the Mexico -United States border in an effort to block illegal immigration and drugs from entering the U.S."
New West: "Can the West squeeze its way into '08 primary?
Andrew Sullivan: "This is such a great, great day. Iraqis turn out in massive numbers to move their country forward; and America regains her honor by finally, unequivocally reasserting a ban on torture and adherence to the U.N. Convention on Torture. I'll have more to say tomorrow. But the sight of so many Arab and Kurdish Muslims having a chance to actually determine their own future is inspiring. We have so much more work to do; but now we can hold our heads up in pride. The heroes within the military and CIA and diplomatic services who resisted and finally overcame the Cheney-Rumsfeld axis of brutality deserve congratulations. John McCain has served one more mission in defense of his country's ideals. One particular vote of thanks to Ian Fishback, the young man who risked his career to end un-American abuse and torture of defenseless detainees. He's now training for the Special Forces - to go on and fight our enemy, with dignity, humanity and honor. May God protect him and all those who are protecting us. This was a fight for their honor too. And a tribute to their service and to the men and women who preceded them."
Bull Moose: "Yes, yesterday was a day of democracy for Iraq and a day of pride for America."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
5:17:59 AM 
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