Malkin: “Senate Rejects Enforcement First”

Note: This was orginally posted early this morning but has been carried forward.
_______________________________

Of course, she’s right, and here’s why:

The Senate defeated, 55 to 40, a proposal by Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, that lawmakers demand that border-security measures be in place before beginning a guest-worker program of the kind envisioned by President Bush.

The 55 senators rejected Mr. Isakson’s argument that, if the Congress did not act now, it would have to a decade or so from now, and that “instead of 10 million or 12 million, it will be 24 million” illegal immigrants at issue.

She lists the Republican senators who voted against it (actual roll call is here). I should know better, but two of those names still hurt:

Voinovich (OH),
DeWine (OH)

DBM, IV4P.
_________________________

UPDATE: That 55-40 vote was yesterday. Today the Senate voted 83-16, with no GOP nays, to build 370 miles of fence. Fine, but the prioritization ahead of handling illegals that are already here yet hasn’t been resolved. Nevertheless, it’s a start.

UPDATE 2, May 18: Rush’s take (link provided will work until about 6 PM on May 18)

Folks, I know, it’s getting worse by the day, and it’s inexplicable. It doesn’t make any sense. What are these 18 Republicans doing? What is so difficult to understand about this in terms of the smart, sensible thing to do here? The first thing is the security of the border, and to have 18 Republicans, “Oh, nope, can’t put that in there.” Maybe they didn’t like the fact that we can’t do anything else until the border is secure. Well, what is wrong with that? I am trying to maintain my composure, but no matter where I look and no matter how deep I dig, I can’t come up with a explanation for any of this that makes sense to me.