The Regime Against the Nation

By Patrick J. Buchanan

Last week, in one of the great uprisings of modern politics, Middle America rose up and body-slammed the national establishment.

The Bush-Kennedy-McCain amnesty for 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens, and for the businesses that have hired them – a bill backed by La Raza and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post – went down to crushing defeat.

Majority Leader Harry Reid fell 15 votes short (45 to 50) of shutting off debate. Like the rout of the Dubai ports deal, the victory was achieved by a firestorm of public protest, reflected in millions of phone calls and e-mails, and citizens marching to town meetings.

The capital’s capitulation to the country was unprecedented and astonishing. Not two weeks earlier, the amnesty provision of the bill had been supported by more than 60 senators.

But opponents of this bill, which would reward mass criminality with mass amnesty and eventual U.S. citizenship, ought not rest.

For President Bush is coming back to resuscitate the monster, and this bill has more support in the Senate than the 45 votes it got Thursday. Some Republicans and Democrats who voted not to shut off debate are privately committed to amnesty, if they can be given political cover and face-saving amendments to take home. (more….)