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This blog recently criticized Arizona US Senators Kyl and McCain for their pathetic performance on the issue of illegal immigration.

Senators Kyl and McCain: Shamnesty Fiasco

There is also a post here supporting Arizona Gov Jan Brewer and AZ State Senator Russell Pearce for their efforts resulting in SB 1070.

Jan Brewer, Russell Pearce: Arizona Takes a Stand

A H/T to Newsmax for the heads up on an editorial from the Arizona Republic on the same topic.

Arizona’s Largest Newspaper Slams McCain, Kyl

Arizona’s largest newspaper criticized U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl and a host of other elected officials in a rare front-page editorial on Sunday, saying the politicians have failed to find solutions to illegal immigration.

But the Arizona Republic is as guilty of self-serving motives for their issue positions as they claim the same about those with opposing positions.

The federal government is abdicating its duty on the border.

Arizona politicians are pandering to public fear.

The result is a state law that intimidates Latinos while doing nothing to curb illegal immigration.

This represents years of failure. Years of politicians taking the easy way and allowing the debate to descend into chaos.

The Arizona Republic has been calling for comprehensive immigration reform continuously since 2002. For a brief time, our congressional delegation led the nation on this front. But no more.

Now, it seems our elected officials prefer to serve political expediency instead.

AZ POLS are not ‘pandering to public fear’ nor have they passed a ‘law that intimidates Latinos.’ On the one hand shamnesty advocates call it unfair to blame Latinos for the illegal immigration problem and on the other criticize efforts to end illegal immigration as racist for targeting Latinos. That’s tantamount to saying it was unfair to blame the Japanese for attacking Pearl Harbor then calling the US racist for declaring war on Japan for the attack.

The Arizona Republic was originally called the Arizona Republican. And while they supported George W Bush at one point and of course McCain and Kyl at others their current and past calls for ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ are support of shamnesty and nothing more.

The paper has been owned by Gannett since 2000 and supporting shamnesty since 2002. There is nothing Republican or Arizonan about the paper. It serves its corporate master who belongs to that perverse subculture within the free market that shamelessly pursues cheap labor by exploiting those who violate US immigration law.

Saying Jan Brewer has other motives for signing SB 1070 while criticizing the law for ignoring ‘Arizona’s Latino heritage’ and creating a ‘backlash that will hurt the state’s economic development’ betrays the paper’s argument. The only heritage being ignored by those who support shamnesty is our nation’s founding documents and principles including the rule of law. SB 1070 merely responds to a federal failure of the government’s duty to protect the nation, its sovereignty and citizens.

The Arizona Republic liked McCain’s sellout to shamnesty as well as Kyl’s and lauded Napolitano for her contribution to their effort. Now that Kyl is viewed by them as abandoning this stand they are not pleased. McCain avoids it for re-election purposes and Napolitano is beholding to a new master in the White House and no longer needs Arizona.

And the AZ paper of course attacks those fighting the good fight like Sheriff Joe. They bash the fed for dropping the ball and bash the sheriff for picking it up. Proof positive the Arizona Republic is bought and paid for by Gannett’s shamnesty support.

The decadence of mainstream media is alive and well in Arizona. BTW, so is illegal immigration and those who benefit from it…. corrupt business interests, criminals including drug cartels and, go figure, illegal immigrants.

There are other Arizona publications which seem to support the rule of law and SB 1070. Obviously seventy percent of voters in Arizona do. So maybe another post about these other pubs will be forthcoming.

As for the Arizona Republic you can file it with the NYT fish wrap.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

update May 22, 2010:

Mexico Tourism Promoter Running Threatening Ads in Arizona Newspaper?

There’s more to the story than these videos.

This video exposes more than its producers may realize. Do you see what it is?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A recent post on this blog expressed disdain for the two US Senators from the state of Arizona. The primary reason for the post AND the expression of discontent for John Kyl and John McCain was none other than the issue of illegal immigration. Their call for 3000 troops to Arizona to deal with the result of ignoring the enforcement of US immigration law highlights their pathetic records on the issue.

Now Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer have become targets of liberals for doing what Kyl, McCain and so many others in Washington including George Walker Bush and Barack Hussein Obama have failed to do. That is of course to respond appropriately to illegal immigration.

What many fail to understand is in fact a very simple concept. There are laws. Laws are necessary to assist the orderly flow of human interaction within a society. To ignore the laws places the society at risk of failure e.g., anarchy. Immigration law is no exception.

Rather than criticize the state of Arizona for its passage of SB 1070 to address illegal immigration President Obama and others would do well to follow their lead. In her remarks about the passage of the law Governor Jan Brewer stated repeated attempts (five or more) to get the federal government to act on illegal immigration. She further states they had no choice but to do what ‘leaders’ at the national level refuse to do. Enforce the rule of law.

Reports indicate Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce is the ‘prime sponsor’ and the ‘most ardent supporter’ of SB 1070. What the reports do not tell you is he is his family’s fifth generation in Arizona. His resume’ includes law enforcement in Maricopa County that is the home of another controversial figure, Sherriff Joe Arpaio. One of Pearce’s sons was critically wounded by an illegal while performing his duties in law enforcement in 2004. Some media accounts portray Russell Pearce as a villain when it is more likely he is a patriotic American merely trying to protect the nation as well as Arizona.

Governor Jan Brewer has done what few other government executives have done. Signed a bill designed to address illegal immigration. Given immigration enforcement and national security are tasks for federal entities it should not have been necessary for her to do so. Yet here we are. A state doing what the federal government refuses to do….. its job. And leaders in that state being criticized by some for the courage to act.

This blog supports the actions of Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer regarding illegal immigration and SB 1070. That extends to all those who contributed and will continue to support the effort. It’s about time.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Cleaning up our trashed border

Comments have been expressed that based on actions taken by President-elect Obama’s transition team the campaign slogans of change or change you can believe in were nothing more than that, slogans. This would be in keeping with related commentary that mystery man Barack Obama presents a wide range of unknowns for anyone attempting to predict the agenda or path to be taken starting in late January 2009.

Those supporting the new President-elect most heartily urge others to withhold judgment at least until his first official day in office. But that may be the only urging his support can muster as nothing since the election suggests an Obama Administration will be change outside of the fact that President Bush will be leaving office and Barack Obama will be entering.

The report below states Napolitano, picked by Obama for Homeland Security, has been praised for her efforts related to that job. A little more detail might make that statement useful. And mention of what the Governor’s own website states would be expected to be positive. And advocating for the federal government to take responsibility for anything can be viewed as Governor-speak for the state does not want the expense so let federal tax dollars cover it.

Based on the nickname, Rhambo, it is not unrealistic to suggest a meeting between GOP leaders and Rahm Emanuel may be nothing more than the new Chief of Staff dictating how things will go if Emanuel has anything to say abou it and he probably will.

Selecting Tom Daschle for HHS chief appears to contradict the Obama claims of ousting lobbyists from politics since Daschle and his whole family seem to be involved in the activity. And there is the addition to current equations of Congressional Democrats trying to convince Hillary Clinton to remain in the Senate. One suggested offer has her leading a working group for health care. With Daschle as HHS and dealing with health care, any inclusion of Hillary in the mix would suggest there will no success on that front in the foreseeable future.

That leaves one more Clintonista in this report, Gregory Craig, who assisted former President Bill Clinton through troubled waters. Does that mean Obama is planning ahead for expected troubles as President? Probably not, but the addition of more former Clinton Administration ‘employees’ gives support to the notion little will ‘change’ with an Obama Administration.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Democratic Party sources say U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has picked Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to lead the department of homeland security.

Napolitano presides over a southwest border state and has been praised for her handling of immigration and homeland security issues. The governor’s Web site says Napolitano is a national voice in calling for the federal government to take responsibility for securing the nation’s borders.

Sources say the Democratic governor was selected pending the results of a vetting process.

The Cabinet negotiations are expected to continue as Mr. Obama holds private meetings in the midwestern U.S. city of Chicago Thursday.

In Washington, incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is to meet with Congressional Republican leaders to discuss how best to work together. Emanuel has said Mr. Obama plans to govern in a bipartisan fashion during his term in office.

In other Cabinet selections, Democratic officials say Mr. Obama’s pick for the Department of Health and Human Services, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, has accepted the job.

The Obama transition team has not confirmed the report, but did say the South Dakota Democrat will lead a team of health policy advisors.

Separately, there is still speculation that Mr. Obama’s former Democratic rival for the White House, Senator Hillary Clinton, will join his Cabinet as secretary of state.

Reports say her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will submit to an extensive ethics review if Senator Clinton is nominated as the top U.S. diplomat.

Mr. Obama’s transition team has also announced the appointment of Gregory Craig as White House counsel. Craig served as special council and lawyer to former President Clinton during Mr. Clinton’s impeachment proceedings.

It certainly is early in the campaign season and no one ever goes crazy over polls. Except for candidates and their staffers, the attraction of campaign polls is more akin to the Vegas line… on anything. Reviewing the stream of polling data appears to show significant swings in the numbers from release to release. But again, it is early and the poll results are of limited value right now at least.

The headline for this report from Rasmussen would not be shocking to most. What, John McCain’s approval rating is down? So is most of Congress. What, John McCain’s campaign numbers are falling? Taking firm stands on major issues at the beginning of a campaign is risky. You may be able to do it but don’t pick more than one and don’t hype your position. His position and involvement on the amnesty bill could be his largest mistake if he is serious about spending other people’s money for a Presidential campaign. But politicians are always spending other people’s money.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

McCain Favorables Continue Downward Trend

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Arizona Senator John McCain is now viewed favorably by 48% of Americans. Rasmussen Reports polling this week found that he is viewed unfavorably by 45%. Those figures reflect a continuing downtrend for the Republican Presidential hopeful. In December, 59% had a favorable opinion. Two months ago, 55% offered a positive assessment and our previous poll found 51% of voters with a favorable view. A separate Rasmussen Reports analysis takes a look at what happened to the McCain campaign for the White House.

McCain is now viewed favorably by just 55% of Republicans.

Senator John McCain’s constituents shed some light on why he favors amnesty. Maybe he is aware that he has little or no chance to be President so pandering to Arizona illegals and the greed behind them suits his political ambition.

And some are still trying to convince us that there is something noble in being an illegal immigrant. You really should read this article. If this doesn’t convince you that illegal immigration has nothing to do with altruism then you do not want to face facts.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Businesses say immigrants crucial to state’s economy

Business leaders say immigrant workers are crucial to the state’s economic viability. The hotel, restaurant, construction and agriculture industries, among other business sectors, depend on them. But no one has any reasonable idea of how many illegal immigrants are in the shadow work force.

“Most employers in the state of Arizona unknowingly are hiring people who are not legal,” said Jason LeVecke, CEO of LeVecke and Co., a Guadalupe-based family business that operates dozens of Carl’s Jr. and Pizza Patron restaurants, and two Bill’s Ghost and Spirits convenience stores, statewide

Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, , Webloggin, Faultline USA, Jo’s Cafe, Maggie’s Notebook, and Adeline and Hazel, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Campaigns Pause for Senate Vote

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton rushed to Washington yesterday afternoon to join the Senate fracas over an Iraq war resolution after telling a New Hampshire audience hours earlier that she would rather lose support for her presidential bid than apologize for her vote in 2002 authorizing the military action….

Hillary Clinton almost made an intelligent choice in handling the question of her 2002 vote on Iraq. But then she made a crucial mistake. She kept talking. You have to know when to stop talking. As for others mentioned in the piece above, Brownback scored a point. McCain loses one. Biden and Obama are Biden and Obama. Lindsey Graham merely told us what we already know, so dock him a point. And everything else about this story is meaningless. Ok, everthing about this story is meaningless.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Minuteman Project to Probe Prosecution of 2 Border Agents

The founder of the Minuteman Project may soon announce a citizens’ investigation commission to look into the prosecution of two former Border Patrol agents now in prison for the nonfatal shooting of a Mexican drug runner in Texas.

This could be one of the most political criminal cases in a long time. Opinions are plentiful and varied. With the strange twists and expositions of other scandals and civil and criminal cases in recent memory, it is not difficult to believe there may be more to this than has been indicated thus far.

The detachment that some people express coupled with the passionate opinions of those on either side of the issue is a strange thing to observe. But politics and crime are often bizarre events. The crime is either in the way this case was handled or what is offered at face value. That being the guilt of the defendants. No conclusion drawn at this blog.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

In Exchange for Records, Fewer Immigration Raids

Over the past seven months, Bush administration officials have quietly toured the country, trying to persuade businesses that rely heavily on immigrant labor to join a little-known program that would spare them from embarrassing federal raids if they voluntarily handed over their workers’ documents so the government can scan them for fraudulent information….

The existence of the report above should be sufficient evidence that President Bush’s quiet tour is in the past tense. Raids are not the important part of the issue. The issue is the important part of the issue. It is called immigration. And every last politician can’t stop counting the money long enough to discharge their responsibility and correct border control and other national security problems including immigration.

If business wants to avoid raids by doing what they should in the first place, that is fine. Straighten out your obligation to protect this country and also stop violating laws. You forget that along with the need to have a profit in a busienss you have other obligations, not the least of which is to the country in which your business is located.

Stop the insanity and correct national security, including, but not limited to, defense, border control and immigration.

Staford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Romney Wants Anti-Gay Marriage Initiative
Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney wants the state’s
highest court to order an anti-gay marriage amendment onto
the ballot if lawmakers don’t vote on the issue in January.

Ok, Mitt Romney for President as a single issue candidate.

Pentagon: No Easy Answers For Iraq War
A secret military review of the Iraq war commissioned by the
Joint Chiefs of Staff has devised three alternative strategies: put
more troops in Iraq, take some out but stay longer, or pull out,
according to a newspaper report.

Someone needs to write better headlines. Even with that the story
is rather absurd. Translation from the paragraph above should
read ” more troops, less troops and stay or leave.” Isn’t that what
has been the argument now for months? Maybe we should send
Michelle Kwan to Iraq to do some PR. Why is the US developing
the habit of starting things and not finishing? Maybe the remainder
of the world is right, we’re all screwed up.

GOP Fundraiser Gets 18 Years In Prison
Former Ohio GOP fundraiser Tom Noe was sentenced to 18
years in prison for embezzling from a state investment in rare
coins, part of a scandal that contributed to Republican Party
losses in the midterm elections.

And Jack Abramoff got what?

Kerry Says He’s Not Out Of The ‘08 Race
Sen. John Kerry said he is still considering another run for the
White House. The 2004 Democratic nominee said he won’t decide
until early next year whether to run for president, adding, “Right
now, my focus will be what happened on Election Day.”

Fortunately, Kerry is not the one that decides whether he’s in or not.

Welcome To Hazleton
The real battle over illegal immigration is not at the Mexican
border, it’s in small cities like Hazleton, Pa., where Steve Kroft
finds a town divided over its new Spanish-speaking residents.

Hazelton is my kinda town.

Protests Mark Bush Visit To Indonesia
President Bush’s unpopularity in the world’s most populous
Muslim nation made security jitters and angry protests the
hallmarks of his six-hour trip to Indonesia. Mr. Bush shrugged
off the demonstrations, saying it was a sign of a healthy
democracy.

Like this is a big surprise. It has been mentioned often enough
that radical islam, or whatever you want to call it, demands sll
convert to islam or face death. So why is the reaction to a visit
by the US President making headlines other than anything any
Presdient does will make headlines. SSDD

Rangel Will Push To Bring Back The Draft
“I don’t see how anyone can support the war and not support
the draft,” says Rep. Charles Rangel. The New York Democrat
believes a draft would force decision makers to think twice
before putting people from their own communities at risk.

The party power brokers should put a muzzle on this. What an
idiotic political move to discuss the draft during a time overloaded
with hot button issues. I no longer wonder about Rangel.

U.S. To Unveil New Citizenship Test
Starting this winter, the U.S. government is throwing out the
boring historical questions (like, “What color are the stars on
the flag?”) on its citizenship test and is introducing questions
about American ideals instead.

New citizenship test: if you can get in undetected, you’re in.
Period!!!!!!!!!

GOP Picks Boehner As House Leader
House Republicans elected Ohio Congressman John Boehner
as minority leader, succeeding Speaker Dennis Hastert in the
top GOP leadership post for the new, Democratic-controlled
House.

Too proud to pick a new leader after getting your ass kicked?

Gonzales Attacks Anti-Wiretap Ruling
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales contended Saturday that
some critics of the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance
program were defining freedom in a way that poses a “grave
threat” to U.S. security.

Does your mother know what you do for a living? So Alberto,
how goes the rest of the security effort? That would include the
borders and immigration. Understand you toured the border but
only the northern one. Why’s that? Race card works both ways.

McCain Vs. Giuliani: Tale Of The Tape
They’re emerging as the two heavyweight contenders for the 2008
Republican presidential nomination. How do Sen. John McCain
and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani stack up?

Contest cancelled due to lack of interest. For both of them the best
days are gone.

Back later with some more, we know you can’t wait.

Stanford Matthews & C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Arizona’s Giffords Prepares to Serve in House

Melissa Block talks with Gabrielle Giffords, representative-elect
from Arizona’s 8th district. She’s a Democrat elected in a
conservative-leaning district; Giffords ran as a moderate. At 36,
she will be one of the youngest House members on Capitol Hill.

Arizona is a bit of a mystery. Senator John McCain has always
been something of a question mark. The State developed clean
election methods for leveling the playing field and reducing the
influence of big money contributors. Arizona is often mentioned
as the one that struggles most with the burden of immigraion of
the illegal variety. And yet they elect the opponent of a candidate
vehemently supportive of strict border security and immigration
controls. This is a peculiar set of characteristics that should be at
least entertaining to watch over the next months. Entertaining to
everyone who does not live there.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com