Friday, April 23, 2010

Arizona Govenor Signs Immigration Law

I didn't think it could get worse than the House passing the Birther Bill. But I turned on the news today and saw that the Governor of AZ actually signed the Immigration Reform Bill into law.


Well, they call it immigration reform. Here is what it really is: A law that legalizes racial profiling and makes not having your ID on you grounds for being arrested. It also makes being a passenger in a car with someone who forgot their ID grounds for being arrested as well.
I usually don't care for the ACLU (they think every little thing is racist or sexist) but I think they have a valid reason to step in and fight this law. Every police officer in AZ can now pull a car over just because the driver is Hispanic. Or Asian. Or "insert ethnicity here". No probable cause is needed, no justification, just a "feeling" that the driver (or passenger) might be illegal. And if he/she can not prove that they are legal, they get to go to jail. Along with any friend or relative that happens to be with them. What happened to being innocent until proven guilty?
I honestly do think that we need some type of immigration reform. Throwing anyone who is illegal (or looks like they might be, whatever that means) in jail is not the answer. I have my own ideas on what the foundation of a good plan would look like, but I will post that on a later date. It involves registration and illegal fees though. I think its a good plan. I'll give details on my next post.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Birther Bill

Conspiracy theorists rejoice!  Someone is actually listening. And not just anyone, but the Arizona State Congress.

The Arizona House of Representatives voted 31-22 in favor of a bill that would require any presidential candidate to submit proof of US citizenship before being allowed on the ballot in the state.

This sounds kind of harmless on the outside. One of the requirements to be President is to be a natural born citizen, so aren't they just enforcing an already existing law?

Let us dig a little deeper. First, this has not been an issue since 1788, when the constitution was ratified. So why is it an issue now?  My guess is that it is an issue because there are a lot of people who do not like having Mr. Obama as president.  Many of them will do anything they can to challenge his legitimcy, even when proven wrong over and over again. Drop it people. He is president. It is over. You lost. Look towards 2012 and offer a better candidate (please not Palin, pretty pretty please)

Next, Let's talk about the individual states infringing on the rights of the federal government. Is it constitutional for a state to interfere with a federal campaign?  Is it a violation of the powers reserved to the state to have restrictions in place as to who may run for a federal office?  I don't think this is the state's place. If any governing body would be justified in making this type of law (for presidential elections) it would be the federal government.

And finally, let's talk about what the tax payers of Arizona are paying for. Legislatures who make laws based on conspiracy theories?  What about all of the real issues that the state is facing?  Illegal immigration, the economy, education, poverty...these are real issues that the state legislature should be trying to find solutions to. I would be pissed off if I were an Arizona tax payer, paying for a legislative body to come up with these types of off the wall laws.

Now, let's get back to the real reason for this law: President Obama. How many different ways does this guy have to prove that he's a citizen?  He submitted a copy of his birth certificate, and he found 2 Hawaiian newspapers that listed his birth announcement. Also, let's just say for sake of argument that he was born in Indonesia. His mother is an American citizen. Maybe I'm just not well ad versed in law, but isn't there a clause about being a citizen if born to an American citizen traveling abroad?  And if not, his mom brought him back to the states when he was a baby, so he wouldn't even know if he wasn't a true citizen. Should that be held against him?

I was really just venting in the last paragraph, I think this whole thing is incredibly ridiculous.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Parents Stranded in Europe Rush to Get Back to Kids

I am sure that everyone has heard about the volcano that erupted in Iceland which grounded all flights out of Europe.  But now, the big story that all the media channels are covering is of these unfortunate American parents who are stuck in the Netherlands away from their 4 children in the states, all who are under 9 years old.

Ok, so I know it sucks being stranded at the airport. I know it sucks when travel plans get disrupted, and it must be hard when it takes a few days or even a few weeks to get it straightened out. But you should see these people. Crying and bawling on the webcam because they are away from their precious babies.

I don't understand what they are so upset about. It's not as if they were kidnapped and taken away from their children. They chose to spend the first week away, and all of a sudden a second week is so much that they are bawling on the news?  Also, its not like the kids are home alone. They are being cared for by family members and friends, just like they were the first week.

I see this as a pathetic attempt to claim their 15 minutes of fame. It's even more pathetic that the public is eating this story up. I don't get it.

But maybe I'm just callous and insensitive.