Meanwhile, the reasoning behind Republican Governor Jan Brewer's carefully considered decision to sign the bill into law has emerged:
"She really felt that the majority of Arizonans fall on the side of, 'Let’s solve the problem and not worry about the Constitution.'"But the right loves loves loves the Constitution, except, of course, when it inconveniences them. Governor Brewer has not explained why this law is the only means of resolving the immigration issue. It is more than past time for the MSM to point out the discrepancies (some might say hypocrisies) between the right's abstract reverence for the Constitution and their disregard of it when the rubber meets the road...
Andres Oppenheimer explains why the law is bad for Arizona and bad for the country:
- It won't work because of the income disparity between the United Stated and Latin America.
- It will discourage undocumented immigrants from reporting crimes.
- It will hurt Arizona's economy via costly costly lawsuits and the exodus of immigrants from the state.
- It courts a tourist backlash.
- It is "morally wrong and profoundly un-American."
Check out Democracy Central, an open forum for those who can think liberally...
Here's a good blog called My Life in the Quarter, a personal photo blog recording one person's daily life in the French Quarter...
Memories of the Katrina tour bus...
Imagine (thanks, Birdsonawire):
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters—the black protesters--spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protesters--these black protesters with guns--be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic?
Texas Hill Country and the Willow City Loop...
Nest serendipity...
Wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country: The most beautiful time of the year in one of the most serene places on earth...
I got a feelin', something that I can't explain. Like dancing naked in that high Hill Country Rain:
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12 comments:
Of course this law is unconstitutional. Aside from the money it's going to cost the taxpayers to fight all the lawsuits that surely will arise, it can take years to move it up to the Supreme Court and who knows how the hell they will rule.
I'm usually a pretty optimistic person and not given to paranoia, but I really feel there's something horrendously sinister going on in our country - something bigger than anything we've ever known before. And it ain't good.
I finished both the Lemann and the Budiansky books about the Reconstruction era this weekend, and the point they make about about the post-Confederate opposition to enactment of the 13th and 14th Amendments applies to Arizona as well - whoever insists that it isn't about race is an effing liar!
Ditto the "Imagine" essay on Facebook. Did you read some of the comments after it? The denial is certainly in evidence; I love it when they accuse him of racism and of attempting to start a race riot. These people are truly clueless!
Love ol' Jerry Jeff. That's a musician who's best seen live.
I'm afraid I agree with tnlib; there's something blatant, raw, and very, very ugly a-brewing in my country. What Brewer's administration has produced is not right. Hell, it's not even WRONG!
Thanks for the ref. Someday, i'll write about Jerry Jeff Walker.,. an old friend, of sorts.
The Arizona law is wrong, discouraging, hopefully not the shape of things to come--thanks for the write up. But the bright spot was Jerry Jeff--I've always liked that song, & that's a fun version. Still, I think someone should tell the bass player not to tuck his jeans into his cowboy boots.
tnlib: It's sinister, but it's not new. As Roy is discovering from the reading list I gave to him, this racist-paranoid strain has infected the body politic for a long time. We have to do our best to shine a light on it and oppose it.
Roy: I'm glad you're reading the books! Re the comments, the way they miss the point is so willful that you have to think that they actually get and want to change the subject. I've had exchanges with 'baggers who simply deny that an affiliation with states rights is and should be a factory full of red flags to African-Americans.
Nance: Welcome! We just have to make our voices heard. It's what we can do. And vote, of course.
Paula: I'd like to hear about Jerry Jeff!
John: My favorite JJW song. I wish that the album it appeared on originally would either come out on CD or be available from download. And Pants In Boots = No No!
Not all Arizonans have lost their minds. As a Tucsonan I wrote a blog on this odious piece of legislation titled 'Arizona Shame'.
Contrary to what the polls show, I do not believe that most Arizonans approve this law. If so, I may be living in the deep South and didn't realize the amount of racism present here.
Phoenix, and particularly Mesa, are known to be ultra Conservative. Mesa is largely populated by Mormons, and the legislators that introduce this type of radical garbage come from Mesa. I do not mean to disparage the Mormon religion, but it is very conservative and Republican by affiliation.
Thankfully, the liberals in Tucson (Democrats) try to inject a little common sense in the legislature; sadly, to no avail.
Please do not stereotype Arizona as being populated by mostly wingnuts. Unfortunately the wingnuts control the power. When Obama chose our former governor, Janet Napolitano, to head up Homeland Security, Jan Brewer, Republican, was chosen to replace her. She is not an elected official.
so, if I were to visit Arizona, which I will certainly not, am I supposed to carry some sort of papers? Of course not, I'm white and not the target of this bill. This country is in the throes of great change brought about by our diverse population -- the old white guard is freaking out. I've been reading about this for years -- it may get more ugly before it gets better.
Remember the Black Panthers? Remember how white people freaked out about them? Of course, they were black people carrying guns and talking about protecting themselves. Whole 'nuther story I guess. Yet another example of the old guard going down....
great link to the wildflowers Killian
Darlene is right and so is the lady I heard on NPR today - also from AZ. She said she was ashamed of her state, and as D says, not everyone is like that. She also said something I had forgotten - 80% of the population is from out of state. Her figures may be a little skewed but basically she has a valid point - especially in the Phoesnix/Scottsdale/Paradise Valley (aka known as your final resting place)/Cave Creek, Carefree, areas. Most residents are very wealthy snowbirds who live there in the winter.
Darlene, tnlib: I've been to Arizona and liked it. This bill didn't pass unanimously; many officials, Republicans as well as Democrats, urged Gov. Brewer not to sign it for myriad reasons. But she listened to the loudest voices and opened up the entire state to a volley of understandable criticism. Incidentally, my take on her is that she has not educated herself at all on this issue.
TD: I'd bring my passport just to be sure.
NM: The Texas Hill Country in early spring is worth a trip from Australia! You can find out all you want to know about Texas wildflowers here.
And thank you NM, for that link.
It's about these single column comment forms. Since they cannot be maximized, you cannot use spell-check or link to something and get the full screen. At least not that I know of.
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