Greetings from Arizona, where we have a brand new immigration law. It's been called many things, a few of them even printable. But here's what I call that law: a sham.
It's a sham because the Republicans who drafted the bill, SB1070, know it does nothing to protect Arizona. They know it doesn't help secure the border. And they know it makes law enforcement's job even harder. Local police who are busy solving crimes and catching criminals will now have to enforce federal immigration laws. But Republicans passed the bill anyway - it's an election year, after all -- and Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed it into law on Friday.
Brewer says she did "the right thing" for Arizona. I say she did it for the right-wing in Arizona. After all, the governor is locked in a race to the right with a handful of GOP primary challengers.
Arizona is a border state -- it's no secret we have a serious crime problem at our border. Over the decades, the federal government has neither secured the border nor passed comprehensive immigration reform to protect our families and our economy.
But let's be clear: SB1070 is a sham. The real public-safety threats to Arizona are border violence, drug cartels and human smuggling. This new law does nothing -- I repeat -- nothing to secure our border, make us safer, or put a dent in the cartels' operations. Instead, it diverts law enforcement's attention from more serious crimes. It forces police to defend frivolous lawsuits. It creates fear among Hispanic communities. And it puts a black mark on Arizona nationally at a time when our state needs to attract businesses and tourism.
Despite all their chest-thumping about being tough on immigration, the Republicans could take a lesson from a Democrat -- Attorney General Terry Goddard -- who takes on the drug and human smuggling rings every day in his job. His work keeps Arizona safer, unlike the empty GOP grandstanding. Our state party is working hard to help elect Democrats up and down the ticket in November, starting with Terry Goddard at the top. He called on Brewer to veto SB1070, but she caved in to the right wing.
We love Arizona, and we're angry about what's happening here. We know people across the country are angry too. So what happens after the protesters and the TV trucks go home? We register voters. We boost community outreach. We raise money. We spread our message in every way, across every form of media. In other words, we use all of our resources to elect strong, common-sense Democrats. It's the only way to get Arizona back on track. If you're angry too, we invite you to join us.
Unless we win this fight, Arizona is stuck with this sham of a law - and sham of leadership.
They used this money to hire their cronies as campaign advisors. These consultants were arrogant, knew little about the districts and the voters and refused to listen to the rank and file precinct workers and volunteers.
The AZ Democratic Party actually LOST SEATS in the last election because of their incompetence and their choice to funnel all the money raised to their friends instead of to candidate support.
The AZ Democratic Party has been raising very little since then, as most of us realized the money was wasted. There was some hope of new leadership, but the newly elected Party Chair was convinced to resign by the powers that be so that the former, completely ineffective leader, could be returned to the post.
That's one reason that AZ is SO screwed: the Republicans saw this show of incompetence and were emboldened to execute their extremist policies in immigration, education, health care and other key areas.
The AZ Democratic Party is NOT the answer under current leadership. Too bad for the state.
http://www.azag.gov/meet_the_ag.html
As the State’s chief legal officer, the Attorney General has many duties,
but at the heart of my mission is an unwavering commitment to:
* promote justice
* protect all Arizonans by aggressively enforcing the law
* safeguard Arizona’s economy, environment and heritage for our children
So Goddard can spew euphemisms about supporting or enfocement -- but he said he won't enforce it. Brewer should fire him immediately unless he kisses her boots with an apology.
If a conservative christian fundamentalist was the AG and he said that about a popular liberal law you guys would be saying off with his head.
Do you think a liberal democrat is always going to be there?
The Bologna family in San Francisco won't be that lucky. Edwin Ramos, 21, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, gunned down the family when they were returning from church. He was a known member of MS-13 but SF let him roam free. So far they haven't been able to sue because of that city's sanctuary policy.
I think the Democratic party leaders like yourself should explain your lack of compassion for these Americans, and should explain why you believe cities should get away with this lack of regard for its citizens. Your irresponsible behavior and attitudes puzzle me.
Of course you don't fee compassion even though the family is first generation American. For some reason liberals have a mind block that prevents them for feeling compassion especially if the victim is a whitey.
Nathan Deal, in the Georgia race for governor, says he’d implement Arizona-style immigration laws http://bit.ly/c6R7p1
http://www.csdaley.com/2010/04/papers-please.html
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In the meantime, there are 15,000,000 unemployed American workers
8,000,000 illegals earning $10 an hour, equals $20,800 a year, that's 8,000,000 X $20,800 equals $166,400,000,000; that's $166.4 billion that American workers aren't taking home for their wives, and children.
Remember all of those jobs that used to be available for teenagers.
But wait there's more; let's suppose 1/2 of those unemployed American workers, are drawing unemployment, at a very modest $300 a week, $15,600 a year times 7 million American workers; that's another $109.2 billion dollars out of taxpayer pockets. (Most of the state unemployment funds are broke).
So those 8 million illegally employed illegals are costing us $275.6 billion;...but wait there's more, they send $65 billion dollars home every year, so that money isn't even spent in our United States to support businesses.
How come it is just the people being offered the jobs that are being hit and not the owners?