memeorandum: Immigration "Reform" Will Be National Security Disaster (Bill West/Counterterrorism Blog)

7:25 PM ET, May 17, 2007

Top Items:

It's here: The Bush-Kennedy amnesty Report: Potential cost = $2.5 trillion Updated with GOP reax — The amnesty sellout arrives. Background at this post. — Lie of the day from Arlen "Illegal Alien Gold Card" Specter: "This will restore the rule of law."

Discussion: Townhall.com, Heading Right, National Review, Riehl World View, Reason Magazine and The Jawa Report

New York Times:

Deal Is Reached in Senate on Immigration — Senators from both parties announced an agreement this afternoon on immigration-reform legislation that would bring illegal immigrants and their families "out of the shadows and into the sunshine of American life," as Senator Edward M. Kennedy put it.

Discussion: The RBC and Althouse

Julie Hirschfeld Davis / Associated Press:

Deal Struck on Immigration Bill — WASHINGTON (AP) - Key senators in both parties announced agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border.

Discussion: Right Wing News, Ankle Biting Pundits, Donklephant, Blue Crab Boulevard, Iowa Voice and Don Surber

Bill West / Counterterrorism Blog:

Immigration "Reform" Will Be National Security Disaster — Last year it appeared we dodged the bullet when proposed immigration reforms died on "The Hill." Unfortunately, the mad rush to "do something" has taken over the common sense of too many of our political leaders and we may actually …

Discussion: Townhall.com, Washington Times, Lonewacko and National Review

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
Immigration Deal Reached

Discussion: National Review Online and Macsmind

Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
Immigration Compromise Reached by Senate Negotiators

Discussion: National Review, The Huffington Post and The Garlic

Hugh Hewitt / Townhall.com:
Stop the GOP Senate Cave-in: Call 202-225-3121 (Bumped)

Discussion: Washington Post, Right Wing Nut House, Riehl World View, Ankle Biting Pundits, MyDD, The Jawa Report and Bluey Blog

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Breaking: Bush, Senate leaders reach immigration agreement …

Discussion: QandO and National Review

Hindrocket / Power Line:
IMMIGRATION DEAL REACHED

Discussion: Associated Press and News Hounds

Think Progress:

Bush Dodges Comey's Accusations That He Personally Arranged Ashcroft Hospital Visit — During a press conference today, President Bush was confronted about recent accusations made by former Deputy Attorney General James Comey regarding the White House's shocking efforts to seek legal sanction for its warrantless wiretapping program.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Firedoglake, TalkLeft, The Mahablog, Hullabaloo, Digg, CorrenteWire and The Carpetbagger Report

New York Times:

Editorial: Mr. Gonzales's Incredible Adventure — There were many fascinating threads to the testimony on Tuesday by the former deputy attorney general, James Comey, who described the night in March 2004 when two top White House officials tried to pressure an ailing and hospitalized Attorney …

Discussion: Opinion Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Carpetbagger Report, JustOneMinute and Norwegianity

Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:

Dems Seek No-Confidence Vote on Gonzales — WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Senate Democrats said Thursday they will seek a no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over accusations that he carried out President Bush's political agenda at the expense of the Justice Department's independence.

Discussion: Associated Press, DownWithTyranny!, Slate, Washington Post and Middle Earth Journal

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
What will be done about James Comey's revelations?

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Impolitic, American Footprints, Balkinization, The Garlic, A Tiny Revolution, The Mahablog, The Road to Surfdom, TPMmuckraker, Right Wing Nut House and Daily Kos

Washington Post:
The Gonzales Coverup

Discussion: CBS News, The Carpetbagger Report, skippy the bush kangaroo and Cliff Schecter

Rick Maze / Army Times:

White House: 3.5 percent pay hike unnecessary — Troops don't need bigger pay raises, White House budget officials said Wednesday in a statement of administration policy laying out objections to the House version of the 2008 defense authorization bill. — The Bush administration had asked …

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, All Spin Zone, The Carpetbagger Report and Daily Kos

Jesse Lee / The Gavel:

White House States Opposition to Pay Raise for Troops, — Increase in Widows' Benefits — May 17th, 2007 by Jesse Lee — Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel: … White House: 3.5 percent pay hike unnecessary — Rick Maze, Army Times - May 16, 2007

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Huffington Post and Taylor Marsh

Jon Soltz / The Huffington Post:
Bush Opposes More Money for Troops and Survivors - Explain That!

Discussion: Think Progress

ABCNEWS:

World Bank Chief Paul Wolfowitz Resigns — Iraq War 'Architect' Leaves Bank Amid Controversy Over Girlfriend's Raise — World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has resigned his post, effective June 30. — An internal panel tasked with investigating the lucrative pay and promotion package Wolfowitz arranged …

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs

CNN:
Source: Wolfowitz to quit 'soon'

Discussion: The Washington Note, New York Times, Comments From Left Field, On Deadline, Slate, DownWithTyranny!, The Huffington Post and The Democratic Daily

Ed Henry / CNN:
Wolfowitz interview goes nowhere fast

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, TBogg, World Bank President and Think Progress

Carol D. Leonnig / Washington Post:

Attorneys Seek Immunity for Cheney, Top Officials — Judge Urged to Dismiss Lawsuit Filed by Former Ambassador Wilson — Attorneys for Vice President Cheney and top White House officials told a federal judge today they cannot be held liable for anything they disclosed to reporters …

Discussion: TalkLeft, Democratic Underground …, Daily Kos and The Impolitic

Ryan Sager / Latest Politics:

Ron Paul's Race Problem — For all those getting really excited about anti-war, libertarian Republican Ron Paul, it's worth noting that he's pretty racist and also an anti-Semite. — The Houston Chronicle story linked above contains quotes from a newsletter Mr. Paul put out in the 1980s and 1990s.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, National Review, The Sideshow, NewsBusters.org, Cliff Schecter, The Atlantic Online, The New Republic and The Blue State

Al Gore / Time:

Book Excerpt: The Assault on Reason — Not long before our nation launched the invasion of Iraq, our longest-serving Senator, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, stood on the Senate floor and said: "This chamber is, for the most part, silent—ominously, dreadfully silent.

Discussion: Don Surber, Shakesville, TalkLeft, Gateway Pundit, Mercury Rising, MSNBC, Macsmind, Ankle Biting Pundits, Taylor Marsh, Riehl World View, BuzzMachine, Hullabaloo and uggabugga

Rose Garden / White House:

President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with United Kingdom Prime Minister Blair — PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. I'm pleased to welcome Tony Blair back to the White House. He is a good friend. He has led the British people for a long time, since 1797. (Laughter.)

Discussion: Happy Furry Puppy Story …, IraqSlogger.com, First Draft and Gateway Pundit