The immigration debate has been interesting. It failed today when it did not get enough votes (60) to limit debate. The cloture vote was 45 for the bill, 53 against it.

Montana’s Senator’s Max Baucus and Jon Tester (Democrats) voted with the 53 against the bill.

Majority Leader Harry Reid did say the immigration debate would be back. To add a little levity to the stiff and starchy senate, Reid could have used his Arnold Schwarzenegger voice and said, “I’ll be back.”

The bill was resurrected this week to give it one more chance. It also failed to pass a few weeks ago.

The Senate switchboard was shutdown today because there were so many calls. Probably most senator’s offices are overwhelmed with calls, too. I guess the senators finally realized there was a super majority of their constituents who don’t like this bill because it gives the illegals here in the country a form of amnesty.

It reminds me of the David Bowie song:
Ground control to Major Tom: Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong.
Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you hear me Major Tom?

I guess they heard “Major Tom.”

They basically wrote a novel when all they needed was a short story. They might have stood a better chance if they would have done just four things:

1. Decide on how to seal the borders
2. Decide on how to deal with illegal aliens who are already here
3. No Amnesty
4. Develop a better guest worker program

The hardest part of the four simple ideas is dealing with illegal aliens who are already here.

So now the “excitement” in seeing our U.S. Senate at work is over. Soon, they’ll be on their extended Independence Day recess, traveling around the world, visiting their states, shaking hands, kissing babies, and holding fundraisers.