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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who last month signed into law a controversial immigration measure that some critics fear encourages racial profiling, said that meeting with President Obama at the White House today left her "further ahead" than she was yesterday in seeking federal immigration assistance.
Last month, Obama announced he would send an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, which the White House characterized not as a reaction to the Arizona law, but an effort to stem the violence from Mexico's drug trade that was spilling over the border.
Brewer said the president provided no definitive answer on how many of the 1,200 Guardsmen would be deployed to the Arizona border, but expressed optimism that she would know in a few weeks.
"People from the staff are coming out to Arizona in a couple of weeks to brief us on what their projections are going to be," Brewer said, adding that Obama assured her that the majority of those resources will be coming to Arizona.
When asked what developments she would like to see a month from now, Brewer responded that she hopes to see construction started on a fence on the border. "I tried to get that information today. I was not successful," she said.
Brewer also said she would be open to discussing comprehensive immigration reform, but that previous attempts to enact sweeping reform had been unsuccessful.
"We talked about a pathway maybe to better immigration reform that he feels very very strongly about," she said. "I've indicated at that point in time we've been promised that information previously and it wasn't successful and amnesty was instilled upon people, but we never secured the borders."
In a readout of the meeting, the White House press office characterized President Obama's dissatisfaction with the Arizona law.
"The President reiterated his concern with the measure, including that a patchwork of different state immigration regulations around the country would interfere with the federal government's responsibility to set and enforce immigration policy," the readout said in part.
Brewer was asked whether she believed President Obama understood the law she passed last month.
"He's a well-learned man and a lawyer," she said, "If he read the law, sure, he understands the law."
Brewer -- and other Republicans -- have criticized some Democrats for not reading the bill. Brewer, in fact, has a Web video featuring a dismayed puppet frog lamenting the reactions of Democrats who say they haven't read it.
Asked today whether she thinks President Obama has "read the bill," she said nothing and smiled.
Leave a Comment:
If border control is a federal responsibility, is the AZ state law akin to vigilantism?
wrong. The states have a responsibility to assist with immigration.
"to assist" would mean to act in concert with the federal government - not independently.
The state law in arizona is a slap at the current administration. but i have to look at the former presidents bush's administration they could have solved this problem years ago. after 911 the bush administration should have secured the borders them, for the sake of national secerty. so what i don't understand is why didn't the gov of arizona get Bush to get troops there as he did, but keep them there untill the wall was finished.
oha thats right, he needed the national guard to go to Iraq, like the lousiana national guard was when katrina hit.
The Gov's of AZ during the Bush years were Jane Hull (R) and Janet Napolitano (D) both are progressives like Bush was.
john: this land was built from immigrants. where did you migrate from? yes immigration needs to be reformed. no we do not need to be pulled over like we are in s. africa checked for our i.d's. its cruel and unconstitutional being that we are a land built on diversity. so lets see lets kick the mexicans out and put the unemployed whites blacks and other races to pick the crops, watch your children, cook your food, clean your home, mow your lawn, and all the hard work no one else will do for cheap. not everyone comes here and gets on welfare they work they cant pay taxes but they do buy from our local businesses, they pay rent and bills like us and contribute to the economy....
As a black man what you just said insult me!!!!
the very things you mentioned is what blacks did during slavery. back then we picked cotton. the country had civil war because of it. after the war techonology made it possible to harvest cotton with out needing slaves. if there were no illegally the companies that harvest graps, apples, oranges would be made to find other ways to harvest there crops. just like the south found a way to pick cotton with out slaves. Now as far as the day care, and maid services its because illegally come here and take the very low wages is why people take advantage of illegalls. again if the illegalls were not here then the wages to do there jobs would be higher or the people would do there things there selves.
ILLEGALLY immigrants are breaking the law. if some one here Illegally there are breaking the law.
there is no way to get around it, to accept it, breaking the law in a counrty you do not live in is wrong. there is no way to explain or except that!!!
as far as contributing to the economey, your dead wrong, because 70% of the money illegally make here goes back to there home. i use to live next to a mexican family, there worked the jobs you just mentioned, there wre 9 people living in a 2 bed room apartment the reason why they lived like that is because all the money there made went back to mexico. i'm sick of people like you that think this is ok, its not. its ILLEGAL!!!!!!!
Some blame HAS to go to the companies that LOVE illegal aliens for the cheap labor which is also wrong and not to mention we send as many guns their way...
Immigration (legal or illegal) is a Federal Government responsibility. Our tax dollars pay them to do this. The problem is that enforcing existing immigration laws is a political hot potatothat Congress nor Obama really want to touch during and election year(please note that I am not placing the blame for the illegal immigration invasion totally on Obama, this is a problem that has been ignored by several of our past POTUSs it is just that Obama is POTUS now so it is currently his responsibility to do something about it). When the Federal Government FAILS in their responsibility to protect the states from illegal immigration, then the states have two choices. The can set back and let the illegals invade and bankrupt their state(s) as California has done or they can take steps to protect their citizens as Arizona has done. The existing Federal Immigration laws do not go as far as the Arizona law does to protect the civil rights of Hispanic people as they do allow for racial profiling (indirectly of course). They allow ICE officers to enter a work place and request proof of citizenship or a valid work visa from anyone who even looks like they may be in this country illegally. Yet Obama has the nerve to say he is worried that Arizona's law may lead to racial profiling? Clearly he does not have a working knowledge of Federal Immigration law nor has he read Arizona's law.
For Obama is is clearly not about enforcing the law and keeping Americans safe. It is about politics and making himself look good. Arizona's law makes him look bad, because if the Federal government were doing their job of securing the borders and arresting & deporting illegal immigrants, Arizona's Immigration Law would have never been necessary.
She would just need to meet with the President since she will coming to him soon to beg for some stimulus money. Apparently the economic reality of driving the Mexicans out of AZ has come up against the stunt she just pulled with the "where's your papers" law and now AZ will be several billions dollars in the hole.
Love it!
Illegal immigrants take so much more that they give. The state budget is busted in large part because of the criminals. They get free medical, education, welfare, pay no taxes, no social security, the money they earn goes on Western Union express to Mexico. Then again, I'm sure the 500,000 illegal immigrants you have in Maryland have given your economy a huge boost. Please feel free to provide transportation to your area.
Sheila,
The deficit that Arizona is experiencing has nothing to do with the new immigration law that was signed, that law doesn't take effect until late in July. The deficit has to do with a consistent disconnect between available funds, and expected cash outflow. You might be able to make the case that the deficit may be smaller as a result of the law, if you assume two things:
1. Illegal immigrants will move out of the state and thereby reduce overall costs for the state.
2. The boycotts proposed by various cities have little or no impact on the overall state budget.
I don't know enough to assert whether either one, much less both, of those statements are true.
California has a similar issue (significant deficits) as does Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, but none of these states has such a law statewide. In each case, it generally boils down to politicians not having the backbone to either raise taxes, or cut spending. I assume that you live within your means, unfortunately states don't have to, they borrow money, or use creative accounting to provide the appearance of covering the deficit, which just means that the solution becomes more difficult, and the willingness of the politicians to make the hard choices necessary, becomes non-existent.
John, I can understand your frustration but you make it sound as if ALL the AZ criminals illegals which is simply not true. Criminals are a burden to state budgets and taxpayers everywhere. In addition, in 2009 AZ had the lowest crime rate there in a decade. I don't have the numbers but it is my understanding the biggest share of illegals are not criminals. The problem isn't entirely illegals, the entire border's biggest problem is drugs.
The term "Illegals" is interchangable with "Criminals"...You break the law...any law...you are committing a crime, thus you are a criminal.
What's the word alien interchangable with John?
Out of this world.....I have no problems with legal aliens...in fact the quota should be increased.
To John, Tucson, AZ: I am going to keep your comments (about how the illegals take more than they give) for a bit. You live there in AZ, so you have a decided edge over what I would say. However, in all of the places that I have checked who have this law, they ALL - every single one of them - experienced a precipitous drop in their revenues. The drop in revenues was more than expected, as this was the 'unintended consqequence' of the law.
Let's just hope that you are CORRECT in your assessment, for Arizona's sake. If not, we will have another crisis that the Federal Government will have to step in to fix.
It's kinda like shooting off your own foot and then crying about how bad the medical care was when you were treated.
John,
Too funny! Up the quota why...
Of course... who will you get to clean your pool or mow your grass once you send all the illegals back is what it sounds like...
This is Arizona, we don't have grass, just rocks. Anyhoo, I was referring to the outer space aliens quota to be increased (Per your joking note below). Note that I did not use the word aliens. On a serious note, the quota for "immigrants" should be increased...I am all for the land of opportuninity being a melting pot.
John... not sure where that response was coming from... all I can say is you are starting to sound a hell of a lot like George Costanza with all the YADA...YADA... YAdA...
In the meantime have a good nite! :0)
Sort of a condescending ad there. It does not look like it's really designed to do much of anything other than anger her political opponents and reinforce the impression in the minds of people who already support the law that their opponents are stupid.
If it is designed to accomplish anything other than that, well, treating your opponents like they are 5 years old probably isn't the most persuasive of tactics.
Whether it is immigration reform, healthcare reform, financial reform, political reform or whatever reform there are those who are totally polarized on each issue and who express strong emotions for/against the reform. It is a clear indication of the real and drastic problems this country now has and of the significant challenges at hand. One disturbing confusion, which is very apt to inhibit any progress, is that while Obama is really not responsible for any of the problems and his critics literally offer nothing, only find fault and obstruct efforts, there are those who aggressively reject his intent to address problems and instead rationalize accepting and supporting the mentality that caused the problems. The Obama administration is obviously not perfect but to ever return to more of the same would be to continue the catastrophe for the vast majority (>90%). What we really need is honest bipartisan conscientious cooperation and without that, we then really need to avoid being conned into returning to more of the same that got us all of the problems. There simply are those who are focused only on their political ambitions above all else and on placating and patronizing their strong supporters without ever responsibly considering the costs to the country and to the majority. Scare tactics (re taxes) and appeals to selfish interests (re government spending) are the subterfuge they use but their direction is totally clear in wanting to return to more of the same that is then far more costly to the American people. It isn’t ‘conservative v liberal’, rather it is stubbornly continuing to only benefit the few, while arrogantly manipulating public opinion, versus honestly and responsibly regaining balance and a stable economy for everyone. Will getting all incumbents out of office solve the problems? Not if their replacements are again ‘puppets’ for the influential, powerful and extremely wealthy few.
Exactly right!
Someone needs to point out that there are far more distressing state laws existing right now that actually deserve questioning and a visit from the Feds. One of them (in Obama's own Illinois!) makes filming an on-duty police officer a felony. Unbelievable, but true. How can these laws be justified? It's a blatant attempt to thwart citizens proving police brutality!
http://gizmodo.com/5553765/are-cameras-the-new-guns
Every person that hires an illegal should be thrown in jail, not just the businesses that hire them but the cheap a$$ that hires them to mow their yard or watch their kids, the illegals will continue to come as long as there is work and dead beats will continue to hire them, slave wages and no benefits is too good a deal for the greedy to pass up, meantime wages are driven down for Americans, diseases that were extinct return, social services are overwhelmed, crime goes up, property values go down. The people that champion the illegals don't have a houseful of them living next door, had a family member hurt or killed by an illegal, or lost their job to one, nothing positive will ever come from an open border, sorry.
Many of you clowns insist on perpetuating the LIE that the law calls for "racial profiling" and targets Hispanics. Nevermind the FACT that nearly all the illegal aliens are, in fact, Hispanic. The law specifically states that ID can be asked for AFTER the cop has the person stopped for another reason. You all have been told this a million times but ignore it. That's you're choice, but it makes you all rather um...disengenous. Or maybe just ignorant liars. AND the law prohibits profiling anyway. But since when have liberals let a little thing like a fact get in the way of a good ole' fashioned sob story in your quest to destroy the United States as we know it.
And as for the "nazi" and "racist" thing. You all can stick that charge in your socialist rear-ends. Please show me evidence of "all them Jews" (to quote your hero Rev. Wright), sneaking into Nazi Germany in the 30s.
I was going to take a vacation from here, but you cretins are just too easy to "F" with.
Interesting how you right wing nit wits get off throwing the word alien out and about!
Alien (n) extraterrestrial - creature from outer space - space invader - Martian
Last I check these are human beings not something from outer space there Chuckles (btw... you're starting to closely resemble the mangy mongrel & the gang of eight... perhaps you're related no?)
Or possibly you're just that transparent... cause Lord knows you've proved to us your IQ rivals that of a turnip... stick around Chuckles... by the time we get done with you you'll wish you never heard of FR my 'friend'!
No one is ignoring that part of the law but any person stopped for speeding who has dark hair, dark eyes, and an accent must have proof they are a citizen if if they're legally here. It is my understanding that the police already had the right to ask questions when they stopped someone for another issue. Plus, how do you explain the fact that so many police and sheriffs in AZ do NOT support the bill because they feel it will hurt their ability to solve crimes.
You could have made your point without calling people clowns. Liberals have absolutely NO desire to destroy OUR COUNTRY--it is afterall, our country too. In my view, Bush/Cheney and the GOP Congress did a grand job of practically destroying the country.
Chuck, it ISN'T amazing that you continue with the TIRED diatribe about 'illegals'. The fact of the matter is that AZ is going to face a HUGE economic downfall and I agree with the poster that the Governor of AZ is putting her 'chips' in place for when she has to ask for FEDERAL monies to bail out her state. I am CONVINCED that the Governor has NO IDEA that this issue would be this 'vitriolic'. When the state starts tanking economically - and it WILL, no matter what you 'believe', given the history of this law in other places that tried it - we will see Arizona QUIETLY rescind this law.
For your information, 'Chuck', the law empowers the Police Officers to ask when there is a 'lawful contact'. A 'lawful contact' may be you asking a police officer for directions!! If a person sees that the Police Officer does NOT ask the person with whom he has a 'lawful contact', then the Police can be sued. The current misconception is that a person can be asked if they are stopped for another reason. That is NOT true in the AZ law, but it IS true in all of the other places that I researched and ALL of them rescinded this provision after a short time.
This law is RIPE for abuse, and it WILL BE ABUSED before someone does something. So, Chuck, I ask you - how can you tell by LOOKING AT A PERSON if they are a citizen or not?
We are waiting, Chuck...
Hey Redhead, perhaps you should actually look up the definition of 'alien'....
Main Entry: 1alien
Pronunciation: \ˈā-lē-ən, ˈāl-yən\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin alienus, from alius
Date: 14th century
1 a : belonging or relating to another person, place, or thing : strange b : relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government : foreign c : exotic 1
2 : differing in nature or character typically to the point of incompatibility
synonyms see extrinsic
— alien·ly adverb
— alien·ness \-lē-ən-nəs, -yən-nəs\ noun
http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/alien
Feisty,
You're not that far away from me. Would you like to borrow my Webster?
Alien: (noun) a foreign born resident who has not been naturalized. (adjective): not naturalized, foreign.
Pietro,
As previously stated, Arizona already has a huge budget deficit, the issue with illegal immigrants most likely won't have a significant impact on the size of the deficit. Take a look at the states mentioned in my previous post, all of them are suffering from a political issue, the state representatives can't or won't make the choices necessary to fulfill their obligations as our elected representatives. Whether or not Governor Brewer asks for federal money is immaterial, and I expect that the legislators in Arizona were very aware of the vitriol that would spew forth. The state has already tanked, as have California, New York, New Jersey and Illinois. Of those mentioned, only California has the same type of illegal immigrant issue as Arizona, and while we (California) previously had a law similar to Arizona's, ours was determined to be illegal, and was abolished. Perhaps that will happen to Arizona's law as well, but I expect that they have used the California experience to more carefully craft their law, so that it withstands a federal challenge. Living in California, and listening to the posturing of L.A.'s mayor, and various other politicians that want to boycott Arizona, I have to laugh. We Californian's use Arizona's allotment of water from the Colorado river, we purchase significant amounts of electricity from Arizona utilities, and we threaten to cut off our (public officer) travel and entertainment to the state of Arizona. I don't know which official it was in Arizona, but the gentleman that said "okay, we'll just cut off your power purchases", hit the nail on the head.
I'm suprised at the lack of faith in our public servants, and in the general populace, evidenced here. I expect that the Arizona law enforcement people will be very careful in the utilization of this process, especially in light of knowing that the federal folks will be looking over their shoulders, and I expect that the citizenry of Arizona will be supportive in the application of the law, and be unlikely to file suit against the police. Maybe I'm naive, but if Arizona LEGALLY creates a law that emulates federal law, out of staters have the right to boycott and comment on that law, but it's Arizona's law. If the illegal immigrants don't like it, they do have the right to go home, or to move to another state that's more accomodating. Right now, their next door neighbor, California, is still open.
Living in LA - I am not so sure that the 'illegal immigrant' issue will NOT affect AZ. In fact, I am pretty sure that AZ will experience a precipitous drop in revenues once the law has been enacted. The ironic thing is that California may be deluged with these 'refugees' from AZ. Maybe that's what AZ wanted. Maybe not. However, I predict that this new law will not last a year before it is QUIETLY rescinded or modified.
I think that Mayor Villagroso knows that this money is headed for his city, and he is prepared to take the political credit (and cover) for it. Los Angeles will all of a sudden get an infusion of cash that was not expected.
As with any law like this, the citizenry will be GLAD about the application of the law until they find out that there is no money flowin in their community. This is what happened in Riverside, NJ, that had a law similar to this. The same thing happened in Prince William County, VA. The same happened in Oklahoma City. In ALL cases, the people who supported the law initially were BEGGING to have the law rescinded because they were losing too much money. AZ will be NO different. I posted some of my research in this thread.
The unintended coinsequence of this law will be how law enforcement handles this issue. Although you are confident that the law enforcement officials will apply the law without profiling. I am not. I am not confident that there will NOT be incidents of racial profiling since there is NO WAY to be sure someone is illegal or not by looking at them (I challenged Chuck U. Farley earlier to provide us with a method of telling a 'legal' person from an 'illegal' one. Notice he hasn't responded.). AZ has no idea of the extra costs of law enforcement and the current slim budgets will be blown out of the water.
Finally, the noise we are hearing from the right about 'how this law mirrors Federal Law' is just that - noise. Unbeknownst to our right-wing friends, the Federal Government has the budget to deal with sort of thing; AZ does not. It will be fun to sit back and watch while AZ scrambles to handle the multi-million-dollar deficits that WILL come because of this. And you have heard it here first - AZ will QUIETLY rescind this law, just like California did.
I'm not so sure AZ will be quick to rescind like CA. California is the land of fruits, nuts, vegetables and lily-livered liberals who don't believe in America anyway. San Francisco anyone? Arizona is a conservative state with a history of sticking up for itself.
Jan Brewer for president! I hope she tells Hussein that she's gonna do what she wants to protect her state.
Brewer for prez. I don't think so:
Gov. Jan Brewer said in a recent interview that her father died fighting Nazi Germany. In fact, the death of Wilford Drinkwine came 10 years after World War II had ended.
All that AZ's governor is doing is enforcing Federal Law. Something that our Federal government is not doing. There are a couple of important points that backers of this administration are not pondering: Mexico's immigration law is far harsher than ours ... where was the outrage when Mexican President Calderon entered our halls of Congress and chewed out the USA, and AZ in particular, for enforcing a law that is mucho milder than his country's? Who was complaining about what happens to illegals in Mexico? Where was the anger when the Democrats literally stood up to applaud Calderon as he chided the USA? I suppose the fact that the Dems stood up will not be forgotten by the illegal immigrants who, along with Mickey Mouse and Jesus, voted for Obama in 2008, and will again in 2012. What a disgrace.
Where have we heard this before, it's the government's fault--they aren't doing enough, they must fix it, ignoring the fact that the GOP broke the government's bank and failed to fix it while they had the chance.
If the Government is as evil as the republicans claim, why do they now demand the government do more?
This is a common argument that I hear from those who like this law. Let me be succinct - we are talking about the United States of America, not Mexico. It does not matter what Mexico's laws are because we are subject to AMERICA's laws. The fact of the matter is thatthis law violates the 4th Amendment because it is requiring a citizenship check for EVERYONE. Since when do we have to 'show our papers' in America? Why is that OK with you?
I have stated this before - you may not care about your rights as an American citizen, but I do and I will VIGOROUSLY protect my rights. If you choose to throw away yours, that's on you.
I will NOT disrespect the founding fathers who had the foresight to HAVE a 4th Amendment in the first place and the countless number of people who have bled and died for YOU to have these rights.
Governor Brewer might as well do that. She is a member of the party that shows no respect whatsoever for the President so why be any different from them. She would be, shall we say, considered an ALIEN in her own party..
Pietro,
Do you remember the first time you were legally able to purchase smokes or alcohol? Did you feel the same way about being carded when you were underage as you do about this immigration law? I remember being proud to throw my i.d. on the counter and take my legal purchase out the door with me. And another beautiful thing our forefathers set up was state rights as well as federal rights. This is the same thing that governs abortion, pot, studded tires, state aid etc. If you like or dislike either of those, then appreciate the statutes.
And for all the Calinfornians that think they will receive the influx of revenue if illegals move over the border...good perhaps you can spend it on the AZ power your receive.
Hey Dan, your argument would be good except for one thing. When I go for smokes or something that I may LIKE, it is NOT compulsory for me to purchase or obtain what I want or need. This new AZ law is COMPULSORY, which means you HAVE NO CHOICE. As some other poster (Kevin) has mentioned, there are countless other issues with the law and at least 5 amendments. My biggest beef with this law is the 4th Amendment, which is there for a REASON. The founding fathers made SURE that there would be NO power - foreign or domestic - that would run roughshod over people's rights to exist and live.
I have said this before, and I'll reiterate - you REALLY should take a hard look at this law and note the slippery slope that many are heading towards. If this law is allowed to stand, others will follow and they will TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS as an American Citizen. This is just the dress rehersal to see if you are paying attention.
Pietro,
I have talked to several LEGAL citizens of the US and none of them have indicated they will be bothered of they have to show their proof of citizenship in context with some kind of legal incident situation. Matter of fact, the only ones who seem to have a problem are the illegal aliens who do NOT have any proof of citizenship. Otherwise, Pietro, you can always go back to Mexico if you don't like it.
You really didn't think you posted would go unchallenged, did you?
First of all, I am an AMERICAN citizen. Secondly, I really don't care one way or another if a person is illegal or not. I believe that it is their issue that THEY have to resolve. Third, If you frame the question as showing citizenship in a legal situation, then OF COURSE they would not have a problem with it.
I am stating that in AZ, if I am minding my own business and a Police Officer decides to roll up on me and ask for my 'papers', I have NO RECOURSE. If I don't have my papers on me (and what American citizen travels in the US with his/her passport on them), then I can be detained - without a warrant, without due process. THIS is what I have a problem with.
Go back and talk to your 'LEGAL' citizens and rephrase the question in the manner I described above. If they are willing to giveup their rights afforded them by the 4th, 5th, 10th, 14th, 15th Amendments of the Constitution, then fine. I choose NOT to.
It's always a good idea to listen to the other side, and Pres Obama is a good listener. I understand the concerns about the stream of illegals entering the country, it bothers me too. Like the outrage about Obama's deficit spending, the GOP ignores their own 90% contribution to the national debt, they also have done nothing about the immigration issue, illegal or legal. The GOP was in power in Congress from 1995 through 2006 and had the WH as well for 6 of those years yet just once did the subject come up for discussion. Both Bush and McCain were shouted down by their own party. Republicans fuss about illegals but did not fix it; they would have had plenty of support from democrats.
My opinion, which has no proof or substance to back it, is that Gov Brewer signed the legislation to win election this fall. In AZ it was the popular thing to do or at least it appears that way. I still say that the polls showing support of the bill actually only reflect that people support the concept of fixing the illegal problem. I seriously doubt that most of those polled understand what is in the legislation and the impact it has on every dark haired, dark skinned American citizen living there or traveling through who gets stopped for speeding.
Keith O gave some great statistics about the dilemma now facing AZ. If all the illegals in AZ are rounded up and deported, it will cost AZ citizens 140,324 jobs; the AZ GSP (gross state product) will decrease by $11.7 Billion; lost dollars to the AZ economy will be $26.4 billion.
Off topic. As reported on Countdown, former Pres Bush (43) has a facebook page. Wonder how long that will last. Keith read some of the posts to it; my favorite was: "We really miss you. The new guy's not funny at all and he speaks in complete sentences."
Speaking of Keith, his Friday nights with James Thurber are great, a perfect close to the wild, political ride the rest of the week. Countdown and Rachel Maddow are my two favorite MSNBC programs. Ed is good, too, and last night was good.
Rachel Maddow's report on the wetlands of LA last night was excellent as were the previous ones. Great show. Over the nearly two years Rachel has been on, her show has evolved into a substantive one. Yes, there's the fun stuff, the discussion of politics but there's been a lot of thorough investigative effort into many stories. C-Street and the Family and many others. Her report a couple weeks ago paralleling the efforts to stop the oil flow in 1979 Gulf off-shore explosion with the Deep Water Horizon's was so informative that Congress used it last week when questioning BP officials. And Geek Week was fun.
I wonder if Ron, Red and others will demand an apology from Mr. Olbermann. Was he insinuating something negative about our former President? Has he no respect for the office of the Presidency?
Best suggestion that I've heard is: Arizona buy one-way bus or plane tickets for all illegal immigrants to the sanctuary city of their choice. Give them a free lunch also if they choose a sanctuary city that is also "boycotting" Arizona (like Los Angeles and San Francisco). Sanctuary cities have so much to say, then they can take the illegals.
As long as we can bus out all of you rightwing racists from our cities that would be a workable idea. We get real workers and we ship out the lazy loudmouthed malcontents like you, yeah not a bad idea at all!
Fan that Eric!
The right wing rasicts NO longer come out at night!
In Eric Salinas WE trust!
Ps: Seems another rookie has joined the ranks as in Candice or something like that... when she earns her merit badge then maybe WE will kick her ass! Until then ignore the right wing nit wit! Like every one else around here you have to earn some respect... as of now she's nothing more than ANOTHER wannabe... Keep up the good work there Candy some day you may be able to run with the big dogs... until then you're relegated to the piddle pads... see the CHEEWOWHAA's there hon!
Pps: Candy.. if you're really good you'll get Lizzy Short Pump to lick your wounds...
"get Lizzy Short Pump to lick your wounds.."
What does that even mean.......???
The only true American Governor Ms Brewer, who obeys the constitution and laws not the hypocrites loud mouth of the government who ignores the law and try to divide and protect the country. God Bless Arizona.
The American Eagle is proud of Arizona.
Allowing ILLEGALS to get away with being in the country ILLEGALLY is what is a slap in the face!!! If a person's here legally, I and others have no problem with it. But if you're here ILLEGALLY - that's a different story. For all those who think that this Arizona law is so wrong and a 'civil rights' violation answer this: If a person is pulled over now, you have to show your Drivers' license and proof of registration. Is that a 'civil rights violation? Why should asking a person to prove that they're in the country legally be any different? To our 'great' gov't and people who want to give amnesty to those who are here ILLEGALLY, then fine - let our 'great' gov't give amnesty to people here ILLEGALLY. But with that, then let our 'great' gov't close down all the court systems, from the Supreme Court all the way on down to small towns courts. Let our 'great' gov't let out all inmates currently doing time in our prisons - including those on death row, sex offenders, and let them close all prisons, jails, detention centers, juvenille prisons/centers etc. Let our 'great' gov't legalize things that are now considered illegal, like drugs, prostitution, etc. Let our 'great' gov't do away with the agencies that are protecting the USA, like the FBI, CIA, our police/sherrif's departments, etc. Let our 'great' gov't give amnesty to all ex-offenders by shredding their records and making it illegal for businesses to use background checks to discriminate against ex-offenders. In fact, let our 'great' USA gov't do away with all the laws of the land altogether. Bottom line: if those who are in this country ILLEGALLY can get away with coming in ILLEGALLY, then neither should the USA taxpayers, who pay our 'great' gov't's programs/salaries have to follow any laws either!! Also, since our 'great' gov't want to listen to activists that support ILLEGALS, then let our 'great' gov't get the taxes out of them and from other counries that condemn this AZ Immigration law. Time for a revolt if this country allows ILLEGALS to be here ILLEGALLY!!!
Ancient Wrinkle Queen Brewer needs to get a dose of reality that securing the border will never stem the flood of illegal immigrants as long as they can find jobs here. We need to secure our businesses before we secure the border. We need to stop the conservative business owners from hiring so many "guest" workers which is nothing but bringing back slavery, you know the southern business model that went bust thanks to the Civil War.
Time for President Obama to send in the federal troops to secure the capital of arizona and arrest all of the deadbeat state politicians that voted for this racist profiling law. Time to put that Ancient Methuselah Brewer in prison for her wicked racist ways. Nope they've done nothing but lie about how illegal immigrants cause so much crime, crime statistics show that over the past decade crime has gone down in arizona because of the influx of illegal immigrants who are actually more law abiding than our own citizens.
All Sieg Heil Brewer is doing is trying to score cheap political points because before that racist profiling law was passed she was as insignificant as Simpleton Sarah Palin was before Crash Dummy McCain plucked her out of obscurity. Time for the Wicked Witch of arizona to get back on her Jet Broom and fly back to her wicked hateful home.
The American Eagle Drops on arizona!
I am now dumber after reading your rant.
Just read an interesting article on msnbc.com that the border area is safer than anywhere in America. The 4 safest large cities are all border cities like San Diego and Phoenix. All of this repugnant one whining about crime being so bad in arizona has been a total red herring lie promoted by the Impotent Minority trying to steal back power by lying, cheating and stealing their way back. Border Patrol agents have a 3% violent incident rate while cops in cities have an 11% violent incident rate. Yeah it's safer to be a Border Patrol agent than a big city cop away from the border.
It's way past time for the media to bring out the real truth behind all the lies of the racist dopes of nope, time to prove to America that Sieg Heil Brewer and her Neo-Nazi Bircher White Supremacist crowd is really just trying to purify arizona for white people only. The only reason that we have an illegal immigration problem is that the repugnant ones have prevented the government from cracking down on the conservative business owners who want to hire their "guest" workers so they can rake more money into their pockets. Time to end this new form of slavery by cracking down hard on businesses who hire illegals, not just slap the company with a puny fine but put the business owners and Personnel managers in prison for hiring illegals.
The Repugnant One's Whine About Crime is a Great Right Lie!
2nd Highest kidnapping rate in the world sounds like an impotent lie now doesnt it you bonehead. Liberals and facts, the king of all oxy"morons",
Not a Republican here Eric. However, when our country creates a bill and passes it as law and that law or laws are not enforced. Whether it be because of unpopularity or a systemic break down through years of complacency, you will have all laws mean little more than just writings in a book. What does that do to future laws that have recently been passed? (The healthcare reform bill comes to mind) As for businesses that hire Illegal immigrants and pay them sub minimum wages? You're damn right they should be fined and heavily. But I have to ask pro illegal immigrant activists if they themselves are not promoting such exploitative behaviors? And Amnesty will not help the problem because in another decade or so we will be facing these same issues again. If a State feels that the federal government is not taking responsibility for their own laws, then more power to that state for making a decission. Right or Wrong.
What part of "in the country illegally" don't you understand, Air-Wreck? "Illegal immigrants who are actually more law abiding than our own citizens." Really? Show us the stats on that, Mr. Open Borders. So this means, what? Illegal aliens only killed 15 people last years instead of 17? Again, what part of "in OUR country illegally" don't you get? I know it's hard for you. So you can take some time to think about it.
And did it occur to you that a large percentage of Arizona cops are probably Hispanic? Aw hell. Why would you let a little thing like that get in the way of a good "America is a facist Hell-hole" rant.
I'm sorry, Air-Wreck, your race card has been declined. Would you like me to ridicule it again or would you like to try another card...like maybe your It's Bush/Cheney's Fault Card?
It's funny reading all the rants about how bad the law (patterned after the federal law BTW) in Arizona is. But all of you people in Arizona trashing the law? Why don't you just leave? Several have come out with your same position, so why don't you all just go where you illegals are so fondly welcome. "Wonderful" places like LA, San Francisco, Wash. DC, New York, etc. You will be happier there and the rest of us will be happier with you there.
I did a blog on this not too long ago in FR-Midterms: Sex scandals and Nazis, so I'm not going to go into detail about what I wrote, so I'm going to "cut" and "paste" just two things:
4th Amendment: Search and Seizure.
5th Amendment: Due Process.
6th Amendment: Right to a fair trial.
8th Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
14th Amendment: Citizenship.
15th Amendment: Suffrage.
These are some of the Amendments that this anti-immigration law that AZ passed has violated. I also listed some good examples. Please feel free to look them up.
I'm just going to come on out and say it, and I'm going to direct it at Governor Brewer:
Governor:
Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, that of the counties that border Mexico with your state; did it ever dawn on you that the Drug Cartels and Coyotes are getting help from an inside source? That's right, Governor. Some of your deputies and local cops are probably on the take, and giving the current situation, it wouldn't surprise me if they have a secondary bank account. Did it ever dawn on you that if you bust some of these employers that hire illegal immigrants, you could could send a clear message to them?
I'm not against going after illegal immigrants; in fact, they should be deported because they drain the community and social resources that Americans, BOTH NATURALLY BORN AND THOSE THAT CAME HERE LEGALLY, need during these turbulent times. I know the people who blog here understand that point, but this law that is about to take effect on 29 June 2010 IS NOT THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT; in fact, it is going to do MORE HARM than good.
Count on it.
I realize we don't have a 'fanned' capabilty yet (?) here @ FR...However your post was SPOT ON and I voted!
Kevin, it seems like you 'get it'. This law is NOT about illegal immigrants; it's about an erosion of our rights as American citizens. If Americans are so foolish as to throw away their rights, then the deserve what they get.
Should immigration laws be changed to allow more foreigners to legally come experience what the United States has to offer?
Take an action. Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Share Your Opinions at http://immigration.civiltalks.com
Hey FR, about this Az law, it seems to me that there are more illegals in the country from all over the world, who came here legally (i.e students visa, holiday visas etc) and decided to stay when there time was up, the Mexicans coming over the border are just a drop in the bucket of the overall illegal problems. It seems to me that the Mexicans are just being targeted because they are of Spanish descent. Thank you.
If you don't want stray cats to congregate at your back door, DON'T FEED THEM.
If you don't want illegal aliens in your state, STOP HIRING THEM!!
If Arizona is REALLY serious about keeping illegal aliens out of Arizona, it should enthusiastically prosecute all of the companies and individuals who hire them. Then they wouldn't need troops or a wall or profiling. They won't come if they aren't fed.
Unfortunately, the rich fat wingnuts don't to mess with their own. They prefer to screw with someone else's life.
I agree. it's THAT simple.
So can you tell me WHY would I have to PROVE I am a citizen? What purpose does that serve?
Good grief. You all are so under-informed. (You must be getting all your news on the National Broadcasting Company's super-duper news outlets!)
When you are caught speeding, you are asked for license and registration. We have to PROVE our right to drive in such an instance. Is that purposeless?
When you choose to buy alcohol or smokes, you are asked for your license. We have to PROVE we are old enough to use such substances. Is that purposeless?
Well, if you commit a crime or are involved in illegal activity (which is - if you read the AZ law - the only instance in which police can legally detain anyone), you are asked for your license or identification. This is necessary to check for outstanding warrants and - gulp - legality of citizenship. We have to PROVE that we are legal citizens in order to be here.
The word LEGAL should mean something, even in liberalese. Those of us who are not on the left - who are, pardon me, on the RIGHT side of things - think that legality means something, and that those doing something illegal - a crime, a rape, extortion, living here when they shouldn't, et. alia - are committing a crime, and shouldn't drain our nation's resources by being here.
So, to answer Pietro - why anyone needs to escapes me, but I will - we all need to PROVE that we are citizens in order to serve the purpose of federal law: If you're not here legally, you are committing a crime. Crime in our country should not be tolerated. Why anyone here (or elsewhere) is supporting anything illegal is a prime mystery, and something that definitely separates left from right.
It's THAT simple.
Annie, thanks for responding to my post. I KNOW you didn't think you were going to post what you did and not be challenged, correct?
First of all, I HAVE read the law. The law states that if there is a 'lawful contact' - and a 'lawful contact' may be ANY contact that a person has with a peace officer - that officer HAS to ask for proof of citizenship or if he/she is found to have NOT done that, the Police can be sued. The law does NOT state that you have to have committed a crime or are involved in illegal activity before the Peace officer verifies citizenship.
I think YOU need to at LEAST read the law and stop taking the 'talking points' you are spouting as the truth.
Next, I have no problem with illegal immigration being dealt with. This is the point of my post. If the problem was ACTUALLY solved by the powers that be, we would NOT HAVE TO prove anything. The mere fact that you have to 'prove' you are a citizen - in the United States with 'papers' - is offensive to me. The mere fact that if I didn't have my passport on my person when I was stopped, then I could be detained without a warrant and without due process. This is a violation of my 4th, 5th, 10th, 14th and 15th Amendment rights.
All of thar drivel about having to prove who I am for something I want - that is a CHOICE that I CHOOSE to provide. I do NOT have to purchase the item(s) if I feel that the merchant(s) wanted too much information. With this law, it is COMPULSORY - that means I do not have a choice. I have a HUGE problem with that.
As far as me being caught speeding, driving is NOT a right - it is a priviledge. I can CHOOSE NOT to drive if I want to. I can CHOOSE to drive where I want, when I want. I have to show that I have permission to drive as that is what I CHOSE to agree to when I got my driver's license. By the way, if you DID not know, your driver's license is NOT proof of citizenship, so if you were thinking that having a driver's license was enough to prove you are (or are not) a citizen, then you are mistaken - AGAIN.
So, Annie, if you are so ignorant of your rights as afforded you by the Constitution, then you would be one of the people who would GLADLY give up your rights because someone asked you to. I choose to NOT do that. I choose to closely guard my rights as an American Citizen. I choose to challenge anyone who decides that they want to repeal or STEAL my rights from me.
Finally, Annie, we DON'T HAVE to prove anything in this country. We are presumed INNOCENT until proven guilty... remember? However, if you are accusing me of something, you had BETTER bring your 'A' game because my citizenship is PRECIOUS to me. Just because you have decided to throw away your rights for a wink and a nod, that DOESN'T mean I have to as well.
It's THAT SIMPLE.
Sheila, MD (Mind Deficiency?)
Well, if you think some jerky places like California, NY, etc. boycotting AZ are going to matter, think again. 70% of the population of about 375 million favor upholding and inforcing the laws of the US. (Actually, if you exclude the 20 million illegal aliens, it works out to about 74% - do the math - of the CITIZENS of the United States that are in favor of upholding and enforcing the laws of the US.)
Here is my proposal:
I call upon that 70% of the population to boycott the places that are boycotting Arizona and come to Arizona for your vacations, etc. The list includes (sorry, not complete):
California (and several specifics such as LA, San Gaysisco, Oakland, etc.)
Colorado
New York
Washington D.C.
Hartford, CT
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
etc. Stay AWAY from those places.
And you will be doing yourself a great favor. For example, consider a very relaxing vacation the the Grand Canyon. Will cost much less than, say, Disneyland where all you will get are long lines with the additional irritation of seeing the "elite" line going into all the attractions ahead of you, rude people, everyone trying anything they can do to extract your money from you.
And who would want to go to filthy places like New York City, Wash. DC, Boston, etc. anyway?
Some other places you can vacation, spend your money, etc. that have come out in SUPPORT of upholding and enforcing the laws of of the US include:
Utah
Texas
Georgia
Ohio
Maryland
etc.
And to you, Sheila, and the other 30% of the population (including the 20 million illegal aliens), please, please, please do as you speak and do NOT come to Arizona. We do not want you here.
Okay everybody, that's it. Lets ALL play the boycott game.
IndependentThinker-796986
why should we punish arizona, i don't agree with that at all. for me this is about illegalls. if your a illegall they don't go to arizona plain and simple.
Jeff:
Did you actually READ my post?
I suggest we (legal citizens) boycott the places that are attempting to punish Arizona. How did you get that there was a suggestion to punish Arizona?
sorry, your right some times i have to read things twice to understand what people are saying.
my bad.
See righties... this is how you do it.... own up to your mistakes - it will make you much more credible in the future...
Thanks Jeff!
Paying attention there Jill?
Don't agree with all the comments, but glad people get involved and speak up. Anyway, amnesty is not the only magnet for people to come here from other, poorer countries. A huge magnet is JOBS. There is not enough focus or real effort put into identifying and penalizing companies and employers who povide jobs to illegals. Lets get employer info from illegals before they are returned to their own country (Mexico or otherwise); lets investigate those companies; lets reveal the names of the employer companies so consumers can make their choices; lets demand of our elected officials that they enforce and strengthen laws against hiring illegals. They claim they will but do they really do it? NO. This is a huge issue that is not adequately address by govt officials so it continues and entices illegals to come here and to stay here
I think a point that people are missing with this immigration law is "remember Hitler and the jews...." I feel that yes we have a problem with illegals....but the American businessman is just as much to blame for the problem...they hire these people knowing full well they are illegals so they can pay them peanuts for the work they do...they dont hire Americans because they couldnt pay them the shameful wages they pay and make big profits off these people...so until this country gets to the root of this problem there will be no stopping it. I mean if an illegal comes here and cant work how will he survive here??? It''s going to take more than just blocking the borders...our own people have to search their conscious and not hire anyone who is an illegal. But to check people to see if they are illegal..randomly...to me interferes with constitutional rights and is not the answer to the illegal question. I mean is this just the start...do we Americans wear armbands that have a flag on them so we wont be checked out?????