Another Garrido update. This one was pretty interesting though. One thing that comes across loud and clear....he DOES NOT like Lou Dobbs.

HISPANIC NEWS ANALYSIS

The State of Compressive Immigration Reform and a Plan of Action

PHOENIX (Hispanic News) May 16, 2006 — Bush's instincts on immigration are well known and long stated, but his political standing has reduced his leverage just as the congressional debate is nearing its most difficult moment. White House officials believe that the prime-time address reinserts the president when he is needed most, but his most challenging test will come later this summer, when House and Senate negotiators are likely to try to compromise their differences.

This clearly is the minefield and the outcome is anyone's guess. Each side now begins to play full court press.

House Republicans pushed through an immigration bill last year that was devoted to border enforcement and had no provisions for temporary workers. The Senate failed to pass a bill earlier this year.

Bush timed his speech to a renewed effort by the Senate to pass an immigration bill.

The Senate resumed debate Monday on immigration legislation that would create a mechanism by which illegal immigrants could proceed toward legal status, and eventual citizenship, by working for a number of years, paying fines, undergoing a background check and learning English.

The House and Senate now appear to be on a collision course, with the Senate aiming at comprehensive legislation that would include a path to citizenship for many of the illegal immigrants already here, and House Republicans determined to block anything that they believe smacks of amnesty. Bush insisted last night that what he supports is not amnesty.

With the Senate agreement Thursday to bring the immigration bill back to the floor Monday, Senate leaders practically guaranteed contentious, protracted negotiations with the House. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) had said he would give up parliamentary delaying tactics only if he received assurances that the conference committee would not be stacked against a final bill that tightened border security, offered a new temporary work permit for future immigrants and granted illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) had to assure conservatives opposed to such legislation that they would have a seat at the table as well.

What they agreed to was an ideological split. Senate negotiators will include some of the strongest supporters of the compromise legislation: Sens. Graham, Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) But the committee will also include three of its most ardent opponents, Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).

Across the table from them will be House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), the main author of the House immigration bill, who is considered one of the toughest negotiators the House has to offer.

"Everyone is skeptical that anything can come out of conference," conceded a House Judiciary Committee aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not cleared to speak to the media. "We've never had bills as divergent as these."

Republicans who support the president on the issue say Bush must create the momentum for those negotiations by forcefully making the case that it is unrealistic to think 12 million illegal immigrants can be deported, and by making serious commitments to seal the borders.

A tough border security bill with a temporary worker program has the support of a majority of Republicans and enough Democrats to secure House passage. But the idea illegal immigrants should also be offered a path to citizenship, embraced by most senators and by the president, will still give most House Republicans pause. Sensenbrenner has often voiced he is dead set against it.

Sensenbrenner becomes pivotal in determining the outcome of comprehensive immigration reform. He controls the House Republican Conference. With the Senate Republicans in the majority of the Senate Conference, the probability is high the Senate will move closer to the House position on approving security over a guest worker program.

This outcome needs to be influenced. The question then becomes how do we influence this outcome?

Hispanics have only one course of action available and that is to direct our actions to Sensenbrenner.

To suggest Sensenbrenner's constituents can be persuaded to pressure Sensenbrenner is not a viable course of action. Sensenbrenner is fully supported by his Wisconsin constituents.

The only viable action is to pick up the gauntlet of the Kimberly Clark boycott and not only in voice support the boycott but actually implement the boycott everywhere in the Americas.

To be successful we need to mobilize all Hispanics/Latinos in the Americas to take action. This also includes ostracizing all hate mongers who would torpedo comprehensive immigration reform.

The leaders of the pack remain the minutemen and Lou Dobbs.

Two Latino women appeared yesterday at CNN. The contrast between both women was as day and night. One appeared on the CNN Situation Room and the other on Lou Dobbs Tonight. One was polished and firm not allowing to be interrupted as she answered questions. Univision anchor Maria Elena Salinas put forth articulate answers on the need for security and how to proceed in arriving at comprehensive immigration reform. The other woman appeared on Lou Dobbs Tonight. This woman fell prey as she always does into being led by the nose to answer questions put forth by Dobbs of questions Dobbs already as a answer. Why any Hispanic would allow to be used to promote the Lou Dobbs Show is unclear other than vanity.

On April 27, 2006, Hispanic News called for national boycotts of AOL, Lou Dobbs and Kimberly Clark. We have established AX as the non profit to move the boycotts forward. If there was ever a time to support the Ax boycotts, that time is now. As always, I welcome your letters.

Read the first part of the analysis at Hispanic News www.Hispanic.cc

Regards,

Jon Garrido

www.Hispanic.cc

602.244.1000



You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire!

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."



Hispanic News, ranked number 4 by Google of 67 million websites, is the largest daily publication of news articles and editorials of interest to Hispanics in the USA and Latin America.

Jon Garrido is owner and CEO of Hispanic News and Chairman of the AX Board and executive director.