Blog @ MoreWhat.com

crossposted at Maggie’s Notebook

An earlier post on Blog @ MoreWhat.com suggested Los Angeles would be the loser in a boycott war initiated by their city council in response to Arizona’s passage of a state measure to deal with illegal immigration and border security.

Looks like this blog author wasn’t the only one considering strategy in light of California’s ill-conceived AZ boycott.

Ariz. official dares L.A. to stage boycott
City would give up quarter of its electricity

The spat over Arizona’s new immigration law expanded Tuesday as a state official dared Los Angeles to follow through on its new boycott by agreeing to give up the 25 percent of electricity the city gets from Arizona sources.

In a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce said a boycott war is bad for both sides, and said he would “be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements” to end the electricity flowing to Los Angeles.

How about lights out for Los Angeles?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

There is plenty of detail in a recent story about illegal immigration that requires some sort of confirmation before drawing conclusions. What does not appear to require more supporting evidence is that the subject of the story is an illegal immigrant.

Colotl, a Mexico native, has been in the United States for much of her life, coming here with her parents when she was 10. Friends said the family moved often until Colotl graduated from DeKalb County’s Lakeside High School in 2006 with a 3.8 grade-point average.

Her troubles began March 29 when she was stopped on the KSU campus and charged with impeding the flow of traffic. She reportedly told the officer she had a Mexican driver’s license but could not find it; she offered him a Mexican passport that expired in August 2007 as identification. While driving without a license is a relatively minor offense, making a false statement is a felony with a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The open borders crowd and reconquista fanatics love making a distinction between ‘criminal’ aliens and others who are here illegally. The linked report from AJC demonstrates this point. But their point/counterpoint reference that this story ‘has sparked debate’ on the issue misses the central point.

The student is an illegal immigrant. While the portrayal at AJC suggests she is not an immediate threat to national security and that ICE focuses on ‘criminal aliens’ she is here illegally and being given at least a temporary pass on violating US immigration law.

You will get lost in the minutiae and miss this central point when the MSM and others prey on your natural sympathy for the poster child of ‘just coming here to find a better life.’ A better life should include following the rule of law. The first ‘better life’ component all illegals violate.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The city of Los Angeles, California highlights the logic of referring to the state as Americ’a Greece with passage of a nonsense boycott of the state of Arizona. California’s pathetic state of financial affairs causing it to hover over the brink of economic disaster can be linked to the stupidity of public officials. Not the least of which reside in Los Angeles.

LA Approves Arizona Boycott Over Immigration Law
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 03:57 PM

Los Angeles on Wednesday became the largest city yet to boycott Arizona over its tough new law targeting illegal immigration in a move that likely will affect some $8 million in contracts with the state.

Oh, the bold move to shore up liberal sentiment in the land of fruits, nuts and flakes relies on exactly what California cannot do. Manage the public sector or its finances. Even one of the authors of the boycott admits the move is a paper tiger.

But Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who co-authored the resolution, said it would be impractical to cancel most of those deals and only about $7 million to $8 million in city contracts probably would be affected.

If Arizona countered with a similar measure California would likely be the loser. And failing to act against illegal immigration points to a major reason California is all but bankrupt. Liberal fantasies transformed to political action are doomed to fail. History is full of examples.

So go ahead California, continue to demonstrate how incredibly feeble you are by continuing to support your nonsense agenda. But let us all know when your going out of business sale gets scheduled. Everyone could use serious discounts if you have anything of value left to sell. And we’ll pass on the cheap imported labor.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Metcalfe’s Arizona-Style Apprehension Measure Offers 140,000+ Illegal Aliens Two Options: Leave PA or Go to Jail

5/4/2010

Legislation could save PA taxpayers more than $728 million annually

Citing mounting taxpayer costs combined with the $1 billion Rendell budget deficit, lost jobs and ever-increasing crime resulting from Pennsylvania’s illegal alien invasion, Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) today introduced the newest and toughest addition (House Bill 2479) to the National Security Begins at Home legislative package.

“With the federal government currently AWOL in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities to protect American lives, property and jobs against the clear and present dangers of illegal alien invaders, state lawmakers from Arizona to Oklahoma, Georgia to Utah and now Pennsylvania are left with no choice but to take individual action to address this critical economic and national security epidemic,” said Metcalfe. “The purpose of this legislation is to offer every illegal alien residing in Pennsylvania two options, leave immediately or go to jail. Whether you came to steal Pennsylvania jobs or to leech off of our state’s fraud-ridden, ‘close your eyes and verify’ welfare system, once this law is enacted there will be absolutely no economic incentives for you to remain here.”

Metcalfe’s Arizona-modeled legislation would provide state and local law enforcement with full authority to apprehend Pennsylvania’s estimated 140,000 illegal aliens and several other sweeping reform measures, including:

• Creating a new criminal offense for illegal aliens who violate federal law by either willfully failing to register as an alien or failing to possess proper proof of such registration when stopped for another primary offense such as a traffic violation.
• Requiring law enforcement officers to attempt to verify the immigration status of suspected illegal aliens.
• Creating a new criminal offense for persons who are unlawfully present in the United States and are an unauthorized alien applying for work.
• Allowing law enforcement officers to arrest illegal aliens for any public offense which would warrant removal from the United States.
• Creating a new felony offense for intentionally smuggling illegal aliens for profit; and authorizing law enforcement officers to impound any vehicle driven by an illegal alien, or used to transport illegal aliens.

House Bill 2479 also incorporates several other previously introduced National Security Begins at Home provisions, including cracking down on “Sanctuary” cities, employers who refuse to use the federal government’s FREE e-verify system to verify the immigration status of potential employees or that knowingly hire illegal aliens; and ending access to public benefits without verification of lawful status within the United States.

Offering support for House Bill 2479 during today’s press conference included Kathleen Appell, Citizens for Immigration Control in Pennsylvania; Mariann Davies Esq., You Don’t Speak for Me; Jeff Lewis, national director, Federal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Coalition (FIRE); and Ned Pfeifer, president, Eagle Forum.

Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) was also on hand to once again highlight FAIR’s recent research on the ever-increasing taxpayer costs directly associated with Pennsylvania’s illegal alien population, which has nearly tripled since 2000:

• Pennsylvania has the 16th largest concentration of illegal aliens in the United States.
• Providing education to the estimated 48,500 illegal alien children (or 2.7 percent of K-12 students) attending Pennsylvania’s public schools costs state taxpayers nearly $660 million annually.
• Expanding this initial price tag to include unreimbursed health care expenditures and incarceration costs, total state taxpayer costs for illegal aliens increases to $728 million annually or about $150 per Pennsylvania resident household.

On the upside, FAIR’s report also concluded that the annual fiscal costs to Pennsylvania taxpayers associated with illegal aliens are not inevitable. The complete Cost of Illegal Immigration to Pennsylvanians report can be reviewed and downloaded at FAIRUS.org.

“Giving Pennsylvania law enforcement full authority to apprehend illegal alien invaders for eventual deportation has everything to do with fully restoring the rule of law in favor of tax-paying Pennsylvania citizens who are currently footing the bill for no less than $728 million annually to clothe, feed, educate, medicate and incarcerate illegal aliens,” said Metcalfe. “Most importantly, this legislation recognizes that Pennsylvania citizens have a constitutional right to expect their rights and laws to be enforced, especially against foreign invaders.”

Heads of Canadian alien smuggling organization sentenced

BURLINGTON, Vt. - On May 3, Jose Manuel Galdamez-Serrano, 56, Norvin Gonzalez-Morales, 29, Ruben Damas-Hernandez, 31, and Emmanuel Antonio Galdamez, 27, of Montreal, Quebec, were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Burlington following their guilty pleas to alien smuggling offenses. The defendants were extradited to the United States from Canada to face the charges contained in the indictment.

Chief U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III sentenced Jose Manual Galdamez-Serrano to 60 months imprisonment and three years of probation following his guilty plea to one count of bringing illegal aliens in the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. Judge Sessions ordered co-defendants Emmanuel Antonio Galdamez and Ruben Alonzo Damas-Hernandez, each to serve approximately 11 months imprisonment and two years probation following their guilty pleas to conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States.

According to court documents, the defendants, collectively known as the Galdamez Organization, conspired to smuggle aliens into the United States from Canada beginning sometime in 2004 until 2007. The Galdamez Organization was primarily consists of family members, with Jose Manuel Galdamez-Serrano as the head, his son Emmanuel Galdamez, and son-in-laws Ruben Damas-Hernandez and Norvin Gonzalez-Morales.

The Galdamez Organization offered aliens smuggling services to other alien smuggling groups and persons who trafficked in human beings and to individuals living in Canada who came from other countries, including but not limited to Central and South America, Pakistan and India, whose destination were the United States. More than 100 aliens were smuggled into the United States by the Galdamez Organization.

The aliens were housed at Galdamez Organization members’ homes while awaiting transportation into the United States. They were later driven to areas near the border between Canada and the United States. Galdamez Organization would guide the aliens across the border by foot and at night or directed them where to cross. Other coconspirators involved were from Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

U.S. Attorney Tristram J. Coffin commended the efforts of special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson.

– ICE –

April 30, 2010

596 criminal aliens arrested in targeted ICE operation throughout the southeastern U.S.
Operation Cross Check yields the largest-ever number of arrests

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its law enforcement partners arrested 596 foreign nationals with criminal records during a three-day enforcement surge throughout the southeastern United States, making it the biggest operation targeting at-large criminal aliens ever carried out by ICE in the region.

During the operation, which concluded late last night, ICE officers and agents worked in teams with the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton cited the operation – which involved nearly 400 federal and local law enforcement officers and agents – as another example of ICE’s focus on indentifying and removing criminal aliens from the United States.

“We are a compassionate nation with a proud history of immigration,” said Morton. “But we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect its citizens and residents. Those who come to the United States to prey upon our neighbors and communities will be prosecuted for their crimes and ultimately returned to their home countries. The results of this week’s operation demonstrate ICE’s commitment to that principle.”

Arrests in Florida and Puerto Rico accounted for the largest number of apprehensions during the operation where a total of 258 aliens were taken into custody. The Atlanta Field Office recorded the next highest number of arrests with 232. The arrestees, 544 men and 55 women, represent 60 different nations, including countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Because of their serious criminal histories and prior immigration arrest records, at least 12 of those arrested during the enforcement surge face federal prosecution. A conviction for felony reentry carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Some of the worst of the offenders caught this week during Operation Cross Check include the following case examples:

• Oriel Bernard McCarthy, of Jamaica, was arrested Tuesday by the Atlanta Fugitive Operation Team in Jonesboro, Georgia. McCarthy was recently arrested for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. McCarthy’s criminal history includes convictions and arrests in four states, including New York, South Carolina, Maryland and Georgia for crimes including felony forgery, stalking, criminal domestic violence, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and manufacture, aggravated assault, sexual abuse and forcible contact, possession of stolen property, and robbery. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge on October 21, 2009 in New York City.
• Jose Oscar Avalo-Molina, of El Salvador, was arrested Wednesday by the Miami Fugitive Operations Team in Pembroke Park, Florida. Avalo-Molina’s criminal convictions include first degree murder for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On Feb. 28, 1991, he was ordered removed to El Salvador by an Immigration Judge. Avalo-Molina was removed on Aug. 13, 1997 and subsequently illegally re-entered. This case has been accepted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution for the crime of re-entry after deportation.

Any of the foreign nationals arrested during this operation who have active warrants will be referred to the associated local law enforcement agency and ICE will place detainers to ensure they return to ICE custody following disposition of their criminal cases. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future.

This week’s special enforcement action was spearheaded by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for locating, arresting, and removing at large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives — aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by the nation’s immigration courts. ICE’s Fugitive Operations Teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders. This week’s operation focused on the apprehension of criminal aliens, which are not necessarily fugitives.

The officers who conducted this week’s special operation received substantial assistance from ICE’s Fugitive Operations Support Center (FOSC) located in South Burlington, Vt. The FOSC conducted exhaustive database checks on the targeted cases to help ensure the viability of the leads and accuracy of the criminal histories. The FOSC was established in 2006 to improve the integrity of the data available on at large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives nationwide. Since its inception, the FOSC has forwarded more than 550,000 case leads to ICE enforcement personnel in the field.

This week’s enforcement operation is just one facet of the Department of Homeland Security’s broader strategy to heighten the federal government’s effectiveness at identifying and removing dangerous criminal aliens from the United States. As a result of this strategy, ICE removed a total of 136,126 criminal aliens from the United States last year, a record number.

For more photos from Operation Cross Check, visit the ICE media gallery.

– ICE –

related:

Jury hands down 1st conviction in Newark illegal alien gang massacre

Real Immigration Reform Starts with Border Security and Stronger Enforcement
Published in the Ramona Sentinel

Now that health care legislation has been finalized, the Obama Administration and Congressional leaders have hinted at the possibility of moving forward with illegal immigration reform sometime this year. The prospect is still uncertain but one thing is clear. Any attempt at reform that does not make enforcement a priority will fall short in addressing the real problems with illegal immigration and should be opposed outright.

The more responsible approach is straightforward: secure our nation’s borders, starting with the U.S.-Mexico land border, and strengthen the enforcement of existing immigration laws.

It is no surprise that proponents of immigration reform have focused their energy on pushing an agenda that encompasses amnesty and open borders. What they seemingly fail to recognize is that the violence and destruction that is common along the Southern border is often the result of inadequate enforcement and policies that encourage illegal entry – including the prospect of amnesty.

More than 8,000 people were killed due to violence on the U.S.-Mexico border last year alone, far surpassing the number of deaths attributable to insurgent activity in Iraq and Afghanistan since the start of combat operations.

Click here to read the rest….

from Hunter’s bio….

Hunter is a strong conservative who is committed to strengthening national security, enforcing our borders, creating opportunities for American workers and protecting the interests of taxpayers. He is also a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, protecting traditional marriage and the rights of the unborn.

Click here to read the rest….

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?

A stop at Google News to see what the MSM offers today starts out with US considers Goldman Sachs criminal charges. You have to ask yourself if that includes suspects like former employees of Fannie and Freddie as well as their co-conspirators in Congress, then and now? The push to place everyone in a home of their own whether they could afford it or not started the whole mess. It took years of quiet meddling by POLS and regulators as well as those who made a bundle in the market to lift regulations designed to avoid such problems. But the liberals need a villain to cover their tracks and apparently Goldman Sachs will suffice for their witch hunt and slight of hand redirection of blame.

And you have to wonder if BP is stepping up to pay for the spill in the Gulf of Mexico now that the slick is reaching shore and conspiracy theories abound? And it is reasonable that the Obama administration would postpone offshore drilling plans due to the incident. But that delay plays well into the liberal agenda in the first place. Another set of villains to be targeted by the left for political purposes rather than pursuit of justice.

Economic growth is slower than expected according to a report at WaPo. Again you have to wonder who really expected it to be above a 3.2% annual rate in the first quarter of 2010? The public opposition to continued fiscal irresponsibility likely includes business leaders and those who do the hiring and manage the risk of whether or not to expand. That is if they even have access to the resources (funding) to do so.

You would be hard pressed to find examples exhibiting effective leadership in government these days. When the taxpayer via government entities should be partnering with the private sector to improve the economy and resolve issues across the board little evidence exists that anyone is prepared to do just that.

That leads well into a sentiment expressed frequently on this blog. Come November, throw the bums out. Continue natural term limits through 2012. Repeat as necessary.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

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

Looks like T Woods can take a short break as there is never a shortage of bad behavior in professional sports. A dominant feature in the news this past week has been the ‘exploits’ of Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Reports indicate Big Ben has two sexual assault allegations against him. One is recent and one is from 2009.

On July 17, 2009, a civil suit was filed in Washoe County, Nevada District Court accusing Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting Andrea McNulty, 31, in June 2008 in his hotel room while he was in Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament.[89] Roethlisberger is one of nine defendants listed in the docket report. McNulty did not file a criminal complaint and no physical evidence was collected.

Since it is not uncommon for celebs to be targets of, shall we say, shakedowns one may have wondered if the first case was such an event given the absence of a criminal complaint and collected evidence. That suspicion is weakened by the second allegation. And being skeptical is only fair when information is limited.

The second allegation has been taken more seriously by others. Roethlisberger faces a six game suspension and rumors of a trade, etc. One of his former teammates weighed in on a morning network television program.

Bettis told CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor on “The Early Show” Friday the accusations against Roethlisberger “came as a shock” and are out of character. They’re not the Roethlisberger he’s known, Bettis said.

He added that a two-game suspension would serve notice on Roethlisberger and the rest of the National Football League that these types of actions are unacceptable, adding that Roethlisberger “understands” that now - and may not have before.

Roethlisberger’s accuser in the second allegation describes part of the incident below.

In her statement, the accuser said Roethlisberger encouraged her and her friends to have numerous alcoholic drinks before she was escorted by one of Roethlisberger’s bodyguards — identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Coraopolis, Pa., police officer Anthony Barravecchio — into a hallway, where Roethlisberger later exposed himself to her.

Unlike the throngs anticipating the return of T Woods after exposure of his sexual lifestyle Steeler fans exhibit a contrast in reaction to the story. Granted, T Woods’ ‘exploits’ appear to have been bad choices between consenting adults whereas that is not the case with these allegations.

23% of people identifying themselves as Steelers fans said they wanted the quarterback traded.

Also, 61% said he should be fined or traded, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Only 9% favored no disciplinary action, and the rest were undecided or refused to answer.

Nonetheless, bad behavior, sexual or otherwise should not be tolerated in public or in private. Token consequences combined with a muted public response reflect the conditions in society suggesting a decline in moral standards. And if your response is ’so what’ you serve as the case in point. We should be better than this.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Senators Kyl and McCain, both with less than admirable performances during the illegal immigration debate in the summer of 2007, now want US troops on the border in Arizona. If they expect anyone to take them seriously now they should have taken illegal immigration seriously in 2007 and anytime before now.

The call from Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, both Republicans, was made the same day Arizona’s Legislature approved a bill to make it a state crime to be an illegal immigrant. The measure now goes to Gov. Jan Brewer, who has not taken a position on the measure.

“It’s a very important step forward,” said Mr. McCain, who in the past had fought for a broad bill legalizing illegal immigrants but who on Monday said illegal immigration has led to deteriorating security in Arizona.

During the 2008 presidential campaign McCain stated his support for shamnesty was a mistake and he had learned his lesson. Not exactly. And the other Senator in this story, Jon Kyl, is equally misguided on the topic. And calling for troops to protect Arizona borders obviously ignores other states along the US southern border and the rest of this nation. These are US Senators, Kyl and McCain. How about thinking NATIONAL SECURITY!!!

And of course, the Democratic party has nothing to brag about on the matter either.

Last year, Ms. Napolitano, who was governor of Arizona until joining the Obama administration, said the U.S. border was secure enough that Congress should enact a bill to legalize the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and provide a way for more foreign workers.

Do voters in Arizona really need another reason to support J D Hayworth?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Yes, it’s early yet. But you can always count on an abundance of opinion, speculation and concern when it comes to judicial nominations especially for SCOTUS. This time out is no exception. So where are we at rignt now? Who knows?

Here’s a recap of recent predictions or at least a not so short list with some, shall we say, historical notes.

It appears the replacement for Justice John Paul Stevens may come from a list of ten candidates.

elena kagan
merrick b garland
diane wood (of chicago)
sidney thomas
janet napolitano
martha minow
elizabeth warren
leah ward sears
jennifer granholm
hillary clinton (now, reportedly, off the list)

Ah, the speculation….

…since Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement from the court, speculation has centered on three contenders from the last round, including Solicitor General Elena Kagan, U.S. Appeals Court Judge Merrick B. Garland of Washington, D.C., and U.S. Appeals Court Judge Diane Wood of Chicago.

Let’s start with Wiki on Elena Kagan.

Kagen ‘is the Solicitor General of the United States. She is the first woman to hold that office, having been nominated by President Barack Obama on January 26, 2009, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 19, 2009. Kagan was formerly dean of Harvard Law School and Charles Hamilton Houston Professor of Law at Harvard University. She was previously a professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School. She served as Associate White House Counsel under President Bill Clinton.’

Imagine that. Clinton and Chicago in her history.

How about Merrick B Garland being on the ’short list’? The Wiki data will be skipped. Why? Clinton and Chicago in this potential nominee’s resume’ as well.

Diane Wood is another Chicago connection. Go figure, the University of Chicago is in her resume’. At least she was born in New Jersey rather than Illinois. But this one also is a Clinton nominee from 1995. And these three figure as top nominees to replace Stevens. BTW, you might want to check Wiki for Wood’s ‘noteworthy rulings.’ There is more than one of interest.

As for the remainder of this list, a humble opinion from this blog author. Judge Sidney Thomas is another Clinton nominee from 1995. This criteria for Steven’s replacement is laughable. Can Obama not draw on something other than political considerations? Oh, excuse me, we’re talking about a community organizer here.

Martha Minow gets no pan on this blog…. yet. A brief review of the Wiki data suggests this potential nominee may not have the typical resume’ of other Chicago or Clinton tainted cnadidates. Nonetheless there is reason to be concerned. A later post will be needed to expand on this list member.

Leah Ward Sears presents another unknown quantity and her ‘decisions’ may provide some troubling analysis. Like Minow, another post will be required to explore this candidate.

Hillary Clinton appears to have been dropped from the list if she in fact was ever on it. As for Granholm, Napolitano and Warren only the last name presents an interesting choice. Some information related to Elizabeth Warren is promising. But then, if she is on the Obama ’short list’ one has to be suspicious. But there are acceptable choices in Obama’s list. Given you cannot expect the Messiah to nominate a conservative.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

BTW, here’s an interesting opinion from the WaPo report…..

When the openings on the court come in consecutive years, said David Yalof, a political scientist at the University of Connecticut, the nominee is almost always drawn from the previous pool.

Especially when the president otherwise has a full agenda, they’re going to rely on the research done the previous year, for better or worse,” Yalof said.