To see why the president might be considering tackling immigration reform this year you need look no further than Arizona. I refer you to Man Eegee’s write-up because he does a much better job than I could. The Arizona legislature has passed a law (awaiting the Republican governor’s signature) that makes it possible to arrest people without a warrant on the mere suspicion that they are an undocumented worker.
E. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
Obviously, a lot can hinge on what constitutes ‘probable cause,’ but the certain byproduct of such a law would be routine harassment of Latinos, including full citizens of this country.
Not content to be intolerant, the Arizona government also decided to demonstrate their insanity yesterday.
The Arizona House on Monday voted for a provision that would require President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate if he hopes to be on the state’s ballot when he runs for reelection.
The House voted 31-22 to add the provision to a separate bill. The measure still faces a formal vote.
It would require U.S. presidential candidates who want to appear on the ballot in Arizona to submit documents proving they meet the constitutional requirements to be president.
Phoenix Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said the bill is one of several measures that are making Arizona “the laughing stock of the nation.”
It was quite a two-fer.
On the good side, for me anyway, at least it wasn’t Oklahoma again.
you are not off the hook.
Anything new out of Virginia? LOL! I feel like once every two weeks McDonnell and the Cooch make us the next national embarrassment.
I finally escaped Florida, and, while I developed a deep hatred for the DC area, I’d been able to count on the state government in Virginia being far less embarrassing than the one God’s Waiting Room.
Then this clown show came to office in Richmond.
Fortunately, they seem to be less concerned with actual policy — not that Virginia has actual policy anyway (beyond the apparent illegality of paving the damned roads more than one a millennium) — and more focused on making asses out of themselves by dog-whistling the sheet-wearers.
At least Obama avoided the indictment for the death panels.
so far…
Ah, Arizona. The Alabama of the West.
Orly rides again.
if you ain’t White, get ready to carry papers in Arizona.
Thanks for the linkage. Many, many groups have been working to put pressure on the Governor to veto. I will be shocked dead if she actually does it, my prediction is that she’ll sit on her hands and let it become law without her signature after the five-day window (ends Saturday).
Here’s the money quote from today’s write up in the Arizona Republic:
Please help us continue the pressure – you don’t have to be an AZ resident to call or email.
(602) 542-4331 or Toll Free (800) 253-0883 or email azgov@az.gov
I guess by Arizona standards, McCain really is a “moderate”, and relatively sane. Sort of a senile maverick in a vast feedlot filled with Mad Cows.
he’s off his rocker, too.