I’m still a little bit uneasy about some specifics of the new Arizona anti-illegal immigration law. I haven’t read the entire thing yet, but unlike some careless and impudent public figures who also haven’t read it, I’m not going to come out and talk it down out of hand. That said, I’m gratified that some changes have been made to clarify and discourage misuse and misunderstanding. (Natch, the old-school press still insist upon distorting (lying?) the actual narrative about the law.) The immediate action by the Arizona legislature and executive to address legitimate concerns should show those watching that law-makers of the Grand Canyon state are earnest in their efforts not to be racists, but rather to ensure that the spirit of our Nation’s immigration laws is alive in well in the state, especially considering the Federal Government has chosen not to enforce them themselves.
It’s striking how eager the inky-fingers of the old-school media are trying to destroy this incredibly popular (and necessary!) move toward national sovereignty. In the immediate aftermath of its passage, the then-new law enjoyed the support of 51% of Americans. Since then, the media, illegal-immigrant activists, and even the President of the United States (talk about unprecedented!) have done their best to undermine support for the new law.
The result? That support is even higher now (at 59%), and Governor Jan Brewer’s popularity has enjoyed a boost. Seems the more the elites of the Left demonize the measure, the more popular it gets.
Perhaps there’s something to learn from dismissing the nay-sayers and just unapologetically doing what’s right, and damn the chattering.
Last night at my Congressional District’s Republican Assembly I was joking with a fellow delegate that if I ever ran for office, my stump speech would be something like: “Vote for me and you’ll get less from the government. I’m not going to bring any money back to the district, I’m not going to fight for our ‘fair share’. I’m just going to return your own choices and leave the spending of your money to you rather than run your life from Washington (or Denver).”
Fat chance winning with a platform like that, but maybe Christie and Brewer are starting to realize Americans are pining for straight-forward, common-sensical leadership and are ready to embrace someone who simply solves problems. Is there a new yearning in America for politicians who simply do what they think is right and dismiss their detractors? And if so, why does it only work when it’s conservative ideas (Christie’s budget cuts and the new Arizona law) and not Leftist ideas (SoHCA2010, Cap-and-Trade, bailouts, etc.)?
-Nick (ColoradoPatriot, from HQ)
As a long-time Arizona resident (moved here from San Francisco), when I first learned the legislation passed, I had misgivings. It was only after much reading and researching, as well as listening to debates that I’ve decided it’s not such a bad thing. I can understand that some of our hispanic citizens may have misgivings. Some of the more rabid far-right Republicans are racists, unfortunately. Arizona has been hard hit by being the primary entry point from the south, without any serious federal attempts to stop the flow.
The Arizona legislation merely brings into state law what already exists in Federal law, and with fewer penalties than the Federal penalties. For too long, federal laws have been wilfully ignored.
If the Feds won’t protect America’s borders, who will?
Let’s examine the position of the law’s opponents: The Police are allowed to check anyone’s identification *except* that of suspected illegal aliens.
That is a pretty ludicrous position, and by large majorities (73% according to Pew), the American people get that.
Yes, I think the AZ law is brave and necessary. And I applaud AZ government for doing what’s necessary to address concerns without backing down from defending the state.
As for your “smaller government” platform, I always tell my liberal friends: Imagine the federal government expanded to suit your WILDEST dreams. Now, imagine Karl Rove is president. (With apologies to Mr. Rove for using him as the liberal bogeyman.)
Los Angeles had decided to boycott Arizona as result of this. How do ordinary angelinos feel about that?
If it drives the liberals apeshit, it’s gotta be the right thing to do.
I get the frustration with illegal immigration. I wonder though 1) how this will actually be implemented and 2) if this will have any effect at all. I suspect it won’t make much of a difference and that the people who passed it knew that all along.
I keep saying this but I’ll say it again. As long as employers large and small continue to hire workers they know or at least suspect are not here legally, this problem is not going away. It’s already illegal to hire workers without citizenship or a work visa. If we started enforcing the current law it would make a big difference. We need to enforce the laws we already have.
Every relative I have who mouths off about illegal immigrants has at some time or another hired some to do yardwork or odd jobs. They brag about going to the Home Depot parking lot and hiring a few *delete racist term* s to clean up the damage from a storm. It doesn’t occur to them that they are creating the problem they constantly complain about.
I am a 4th generation Arizona native. My family first arrived here in the 1890s. Throughout its history Arizona has had a close relationship with our neighbor to the south. In the last few decades that relationship has been strained to the breaking point due to a lack of opportunity for the citizens of Mexico and a complete disregard to the simple concept of the Right to defend your own property from the US government.
A great deal of the southern border of this state is either federal property (forest service, Barry Goldwater Shooting Range, Organ Pipe National Monument, Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, etc…) or Indian Reservation. The properties that are privately owned are mostly open rangeland. Most of this public and private land is invaded by armed men smuggling drugs and people across the border. This traffic has actually resulted in many parts of the border region to be deemed too dangerous for the public to enter.
The Organ Pipe National Monument has had the large loop road closed to the public for several years. This is public land that was set aside by congress for the use of ALL the people to enjoy. It was to be faithfully administered so that the public could enjoy the natural surroundings of a unique part of the Sonoran Desert. The drug runners have shot at both government and private vehicles. The result has been the complete failure of the federal government to protect its citizens and preventing all of us from enjoying it. Imagine Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Smokey Mountain Park or any other national treasure taken over by criminals. I wonder what kind of outrage would ensue?
Organ Pipe is just a sliver of the day to day on-going problem that Arizonans have been dealing with for many many years. No property owner withing hailing distance of the border leaves their home without protection. All homes have extra security on the doors and windows to prevent break-ins at night while folks are home.
As a native I’ve come to the conclusion that the federal government has deliberately and systematically allowed this problem to persist. I cannot imagine that the neglect and disregard to basic law enforcement to deal with this problem can continue. I recall a discussion with some local police about how best to protect your home from intruders. He said that yes, call the cops. But until they get there you need to do what’s necessary to protect what is yours. In Arizona we’ve exhausted ourselves calling the cops. With the passage of this law we’re taking the first step towards protecting ourselves. We have done WHAT WAS NECESSARY.
To me, the only way you can be against the law is if you think our police are racist, foaming at the mouth bigots who will use the law to deny civil rights to some people.
Of course there are some who would, if they could. But the vast majority are people we trust every day to do what’s right. And they do.
To say that all hell is going to break loose because of this one law simply isn’t true, imho.
It’s nice to see ordinary Americans and legal immigrants ignoring the hysteria from the left.
The way I read it Az passed the federal law and put in it they could not just profile people for an extra measure so they/the state could enforce the law because the feds won’t do it. How is that racist? You have the fed condemning their own law that they won’t follow. How screwed up is that! The people of AZ have been waiting for the feds to do their job but they won’t. In the mean time the AZ people are just sitting ducks. Since when is the government supposed to be there for the criminals, I thought it was the other way around. It’s like they are importing poverty to make sure their utopia policies are justified but they imported criminals instead. But their farce of the utopia was just a front to embezzle our money so they could get rich and powerful. But the criminals broke the system before they could enjoy their power. That they cannot hide as you see what is happening today in our country. That’s why you see all the screeching and the bogus race claims, it’s so pathetic.
The first attempted spin of the Obama Party and gay liberals:
The reality: The Obama Party and its puppets, the gay and lesbian community, adamantly oppose ANY enforcement of immigration laws.