Alive! It's ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!!

Comprehensive Immigration Reform, that is.

Silly, silly conservatives! You failed to see the method to the madness!

You thought that appointing Mel Martinez as RNC Chair, returning Trent Lott to leadership, and electing the same leadership team that lost the House were isolated incidents, which did nothing more than demonstrate how out-of-touch DC Republicans are.

Well, they may be out of touch. But is there a method to the madness? Were they trying to leave you numb and speechless so you couldn't respond to the real plan: the adoption of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (TM) by the Republican Congress before the Democrats take over?

That's right! Don't let the Democrats get the 'credit:'

Specter to Take Another Stab at Immigration Bill Before Year Ends
Thursday, Nov. 16; 3:01 pm
By Erin P. Billings,
Roll Call Staff

After meeting privately with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) earlier this week, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said Thursday he is moving forward with plans to resurrect the languishing immigration reform measure before the end of this year.

Specter said the three Senators, at the core of negotiations over the legislation, “decided to make an effort” to spend the next month working to bridge the divide between the House and Senate over the issue. He said the Nov. 7 elections, in which Republicans lost control of both chambers, sent a signal to Congress that voters want immigration reform now, and it is incumbent upon lawmakers to heed that call before the end of the 109th Congress.

“I’d like to do it,” Specter said. “We have time.”

Specter said he already has talked to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) about his intentions, adding that he expects Frist will discuss the matter with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) when the two leaders meet later this week. The Judiciary chairman said he is also engaging the White House on the issue...

While the Iraq War clearly was the dominant issue in the 2006 elections, immigration reform was certainly a factor in some key races, Specter noted.

“A lot of people went down [over it],” Specter said. “And, we have another election in two years.”

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), a chief backer of comprehensive reform, said Thursday he also believes Congress has time to move forward. The chamber is expected to remain in session through the end of December...

A lot of people went down over it? Go ask JD Hayworth if he thinks he went down because he was too tough on immigration - and if he thinks that passage of an amnesty would be the right way to go.

I think this is deader than dead. But it's shocking to me that some folks lack the political sense to know when to let go of the third rail.

In particular, Roll Call notes that Specter had already conferred with John McCain and Bill Frist. Does this imply that they both back this approach?

If so, McCain must be nuts if he think he can continue down this road - alienating conservatives - and still get the Presidential nomination. He isn't the only candidate.

Title Credit: Young Frankenstein

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