Sure, there are investigations, and investigations of investigations, and that is fine. But children such as Catherine need the Obama administration to act, and act now. How should the feds start kicking that can down the road? Immediately terminate Arpaio's 287(g) agreement. That's something Obama's Homeland Security czar Janet Napolitano could do with a quick snap of her digits.
ARIZONA'S APARTHEID
Dennis Gilman
Sheriff Joe, seen palling around with a bearded supporter (right), who was sporting patches for two extremist nativist groups: Riders U.S.A. and Riders Against Illegal Aliens.
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The process of ethnic cleansing in Arizona moved a step closer to fulfillment, thanks to neo-Nazi-hugger and state Senator Russell Pearce and his allies. Pearce's Senate Bill 1175, which the Senate approved this week, would force law personnel in all cities, towns, and counties in the state to enforce federal immigration law, inquire about an arrestee's immigration status, and turn over undocumented people to the feds if local charges are dropped.
Even more insidiously, the bill would make it "unlawful for a non-U.S. citizen to enter into or be on any public or private land if the person is in violation of federal immigration law."
Essentially, the bill would criminalize an entire class of people and would, de facto, make everyone with brown skin a suspect. Actually, anyone could hypothetically be asked for their papers under this legislation, but in practice, no one expects the local constabulary to be interrogating Irish bartenders or Canadian grad students.
Hispanics are already second-class citizens in this state. This bill would codify the notion and make the parallels between South Africa under apartheid and modern-day Arizona even more blatant.
Another worrisome piece of lawmaking is SB 1280, which would make it a felony to "conceal, harbor or shield from detection in any place an illegal alien." Republican state Senator Jonathan Paton was the prime sponsor of this bill. Paton added an exception for family members, but the legislation is still so broad that it could possibly affect landlords and carpoolers. SB 1280 also passed the Senate and now goes to the state House and, potentially, Governor Jan Brewer's desk.
For both bills, there was precious little debate or discussion in the Senate's Committee of the Whole. State Senator Leah Landrum Taylor had a question for Pearce on the jurisdictional problems inherent with SB 1175, and Minority Leader Jorge Garcia offered a floor amendment to hold employers accountable under criminal law, but it was summarily voted down.
As to why the Dems were not more vocal in opposition to these two bills, Garcia suggested that in the case of Pearce's 1175, there had been more opposition last year. But this year, with a new political reality in Arizona and a new governor, fewer members were passionate about the issues involved.
"When you don't have the votes to stop it," said Garcia, "there's nothing you can do."
Garcia said that the bills were essentially giving "myself and my granddaughter more reasons to hate Republicans."
Garcia comes across as a likeable guy, but he and his fellow Dems need to grow a pair of hind legs when it comes to racist legislation like this. For crying out loud, there was more debate on a bill dealing with non-partisan elections in towns and cities than this modern-day Jim Crow bull.
Not having the votes is no excuse. You have to make the Republicans pay a debt of shame for passing such bigoted legislation. Show you have some fight left in you, otherwise not only do the GOPers win, they figure you for milquetoast in the bargain.
The Dems need to learn that even if you go down, you need to get your licks in. In other words, if the Arizona Democratic Party cannot pitch a fit over such odious legislation, it is worthless as a political entity, and doesn't deserve anyone's vote.
