ext_38958 ([identity profile] reality-hammer.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2010-07-06 04:50 pm
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Obama sues Arizona

Just when you think the Obama administration disregard for the rule of law couldn't get any worse it sets the bar that much lower.
The government contends that the Arizona law violates the supremacy clause of the Constitution, a legal theory that says federal laws override state laws. It is already illegal under federal law to be in the country illegally, but Arizona is the first state to make it a state crime and add its own punishment and enforcement tactics.

Gosh, in the same way that states pursuing bank robbers usurps the federal laws against bank robbery?

Obama & Co. also seem blissfully unaware that there are dozens of state laws against activities that are illegal at the federal level. Are they going to argue that all of them are invalid?

Obama and holder are giving the Constitution the middle finger and violating the rights of states that are clearly defined in the Constitution as well as ignoring the duties and limitations of the federal government contained in that document.

Do Obama and Holder really think they can pull off something so egregiously anti-American?

I'd love to see counter-suits from states that recognize the federalism defined by the Constitution and which object to the callous disregard for the rule of law being perpetrated by the Obama administration.

It will be amusing to see how many people who claimed that Bush was "shredding the Constitution" stand up and object to a real raping of the rule of law.

So is this the lowest Obama and Holder can go or will we see worse by November?

ETA: court decisions and DOJ analysis. If you read carefully there's an out for Obama to play: declare that immigration laws are not being enforced at the federal level so states cannot enforce them either. It's a move that would satisfy the extremists on his side but pretty much cause a political tsunami against Democrats who continued to support Obama.

[identity profile] underlankers.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
So answer this question-if a group of blond illegal Latinas is talking next to a group of long-term citizens of the United States whose ancestors have resided here since before the Gadsen Purchase who are swarthy and dark-haired, who is more likely to be asked to show papers?

[identity profile] kenderkin.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
If the police are actually doing their job, which IMO most of them actually do, then they would question both groups.

[identity profile] underlankers.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Which IMHO will happen the day Hell freezes over. Blond people won't be nearly the targets dark-haired people will be.

[identity profile] kenderkin.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I see your side, but I just have more faith in people than that. :)
I hope I'm right and you're wrong. But I do fear about your being right.

[identity profile] underlankers.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
And I lost faith in Man a long time ago (and this is me at 20. If I live to be an old fart like my grandfather did at 90....O.o). So.....

[identity profile] miniaya.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
And I lost faith in Man a long time ago

Reading this comment makes me so sad and makes me want to give you a hug. I know people are hard to deal with sometimes, but don't lose hope in humanity. There are good people out there. :)

[identity profile] squidb0i.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
On this we can agree.

[identity profile] xforge.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
There are plenty of good people out there but very, very few of them work in government or law enforcement.

[identity profile] miniaya.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Everyone hates the cops... until they need them.

[identity profile] xforge.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
The cops are never THERE when you need them.

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[identity profile] xforge.livejournal.com - 2010-07-07 23:24 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] dierdrae.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Experience, unfortunately, tends to destroy that much faith.

My mom [petite white woman] was mugged a few years ago and didn't see the mugger's face. The police officer [white male] taking down her report kept insisting that she write down either Hispanic or Black for the mugger's race. She refused, because she didn't remember the mugger's face, and knew he could've just as easily been white. The police officer continued trying to convince her the mugger was a PoC. Result? She continued refusing to lie, and the police officer did not file her report. According to the city we live in, it never happened.

[identity profile] chessdev.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
Look up Sherrif Joe Arapio in Arizona...

then tell me if you have that same faith...

[identity profile] squidb0i.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly. And that doesn't just happen in a vacuum either.

[identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
I might have some faith, but then I actually read up on the daily abuses by policemen. Seriously, every new power police get they abuse. How can you argue otherwise unless you are blind to what is going on? I mean do you read news papers? watch the news? even if you never get beyond corporate media it is all over.

[identity profile] kenderkin.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Yes....I actually do read up on what's going on. I don't just listen to the main stream media spout their negative comments and their only reporting the negative news.
You do realize that there are a lot of really GOOD things that happen in this world. More so than the negative. But since that doesn't bring the ratings, the news doesn't cover it.

Hate to break it to you....but for every one bad cop, there are 100 doing their job to the best of their ability. Saving our lives. Protecting our streets.

Maybe YOU need to actually figure out what's going on in the world around you. There's much more good than bad if you just look.

[identity profile] miniaya.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with you! :D This comment wins the gold star for the day. Image (http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/mini852/?action=view&current=1040078pjtfxwjzwi.gif)

The existence of good does not negate the existence of evil, and vice versa.

[identity profile] squidb0i.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
And even if your estimate of 1 in a hundred is right (and I suspect that it is) it's still far too many in and of itself, much less entrusting the civil liberties and rights of an entire state to a vague new law that reads like its designed to encourage racial profiling.

[identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
That's not much comfort to those who have had their dog shot by abusive policemen. Or their grandmother tasered. Or been beaten up, and imprisoned for their trouble. Or killed for interfering with police run drug dealing syndicates

Police should be given the absolute minimum of power as they have shown they can't be trusted with it. We don't live in a happy shiny world. We cannot presume that police will not abuse powers, because it is factually evident that they do.

[identity profile] jerseycajun.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
The thing is, can you really find probable cause in someone not being able to procure a driver's license upon request? (for some other offense other than driving without a license?) I've left the house multiple times after leaving my wallet in my old pants. I've just been fortunate not to have been pulled over when that's happened, but if I had been, there's no more evidence to suggest I'm guilty of anything more than simply driving without a license, which I should be charged with.

Barring anything which can be assumed to be probable cause of being in the country illegally, other factors will filter into the estimation, and they won't be pretty. They're not going to investigate every person without ID. The good cops will avoid using the law rather than run the risk, neutering any of its intended effect, and the bad cops will abuse it, and cost the state in legal fees. This is pretty much a nightmare waiting to happen, if it doesn't get struck down first. It's an ill-conceived attempt to solve a problem.

[identity profile] miniaya.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Just because you have a differing opinion then someone doesn't mean you should be condescending and rude.

[identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
Asserting that police abuse their powers is not an opinion. It is a matter of record.

[identity profile] miniaya.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Agreed, but insinuating that someone is out of touch with reality just because they have a different viewpoint is condescending. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way, and I apologize if you didn't, but when I read your comment that is how it sounded. And by no means am I trying to imply that I am better, or have never made rude comments. Because goodness knows I've been rude to several people on here. ^^;;

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[identity profile] gunslnger.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Why is this question relevant to verytwistedmind's comment?

[identity profile] mrbogey.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
The one generating the reason for an investigation.

[identity profile] ofbg.livejournal.com 2010-07-07 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
Those that can't speak English.