Conservative AZ Newspaper: "Arizona politics hits a low point"

[kpete]

Arizona politics hits a low point

26 comments Apr. 24, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

A fundamental principle of law is that it should protect the innocent. Of all the damage made possible by Gov. Jan Brewer's signature on Friday to Senate Bill 1070, the worst is not the harm to the world's judgment of Arizona or to this law's economic consequences.

The worst effect is its grave potential for causing harm to innocent, taxpaying American citizens who no longer can feel certain of the law's blindness.

That is the terrible harm of it. SB 1070 lifts the blindfold of Lady Justice and commands her to see one different from the other, irrespective of innocence. Brewer's televised signing ceremony for this harsh, unnecessary legislation constitutes the low point of an administration we have come to admire for its often surprising grit in the face of hard times. We held out hope for more.

Whether Arizona pays a price for indulging the whims of state Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is no longer the issue. We are paying a price. Not since the dismal days of our nationally infamous fight over a holiday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has the profile of Arizona descended this low.

more:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/04/24/20100424sat1-24immigration.html

[alstephenson]

1. The "unrec" trolls are lurking about.

Racists.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Not racist. They're combatting "reverse racism"! See the difference?

I hope you do, because I sure don't.

[redqueen]

4. Yep.

Too cowardly to speak up though, of course. Only when they're assured they're alone with people like them will they dare to speak up.

[Xipe Totec]

44. It's the hate that dares not speak it's name nt

[AnArmyVeteran]

2. I remember the Arizona racist attack against MLK day. Racists there are up for another round...

[lonestarnot]

22. Any time there are pugs at the helm, we have a fucking disaster! ANY TIME!

[Union Yes]

5. So they're saying rethugs are low? Welcome to Earth. knr nt

[jillan]

6. Here in Az we call the 'Arizona Republic' the Arizona Republican &

the Editors have been writing AGAINST 1070 almost daily.

[drmeow]

39. I call it the Arizona Repulsive :)

[struggle4progress]

7. There are lots of good old-fashioned conservative arguments against

SB1070:

it's more big government

it's financially irresponsible

every time we get together to pray before dinner, the phone rings and we have to take Diego Jr's birth certificate downtown to get him out of jail

But of course, the wingnut Republicans own this now, so they can't spout off against it. With any luck, some Dems will pick up seats, by pointing that (among other things) they don't like wasting local and state monies on a big pointless ineffective show of "enforcement" that doesn't actually accomplish anything

[druidity33]

8. the comments are appalling...

i know it's a conservative newspaper, but damn...

ugly.

:(

[SargeUNN]

9. Shocking but thank goodness

Shows how not all in Arizona or even as many as are being said, backs this new police state law.

[aikoaiko]

10. I lived in AZ during the MLK day resistance and this is much much worse.

Its good to see the Republic do the "right" thing and speak out.

[SnakeEyes]

25. I'm surprised.

Considering how unpopular the MLK Day resistance was and how popular this law is.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. Maybe this law is not as popular as you think it is. -nt

[Scurrilous]

11. K & R

:thumbsup:

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. They are already feeling the effects of this

[Divine Discontent]

41. exactly... it'll be a very very bad thing for AZ to have so ignorantly approved - shame on the gov

[saracat]

13. In fairness, the Arizona Republic has pursued Arapaio for years and it is in part due to their

efforts that Joe is under federal investigation. They are not as consevative as they were years ago. They helped elect Harry Mitchell and called Hayworth a buffoon and bully. They also helped elect Janet , Terry and many other Dems with their endorsements..

[GoCubsGo]

15. They have also long carried Steve Benson's cartoons

And, Ed Montini's column. Both are usually just to the left of center. Compared to the rest of the state, they are flaming liberals. Heck, compared to the papers in my region, the Arizona Republic is a liberal rag.

[sweetloukillbot]

23. I was a reporter for the Republic for about 10 years...

The paper is strongly conservative, but ironically most of the reporters are staunch Democrats. The editorial board is very much to the right though. My personal favorite endorsement was in 2004 when they endorsed Lieberman, essentially saying they endorsed him because he was most like a Republican. Richard Ruelas and EJ Montini are liberal voices, but the rest of the columnists, not so much.

[saracat]

35. When candidates ran for office in 2008 and 2006, the board was

split between Liberal leaning Editors and Conservatives.And there is no question they have been hounding Arapaio, which has been wonderful. Of course some of that began with his treatment of reporters. However , many of the arch conservative candidates now refuse to give interviews to the Republic. I will say that since 2008 several of the liberals have retired and it may be turning back more conservative again. But they still are taking up the cudgels against Arapaio and seem to like Terry Goddard.

[sweetloukillbot]

42. Not necessarily retired...

Some moved on willingly, others were forced out in layoffs (Jon Talton and Richard DeUriate, IIRC). But Dan Nowicki, Robert Robb and Doug MacEachern are still there. Ugh.

[CreekDog]

48. I thought Symington and McCain have at various times refused to speak to the Republic

:shrug:

[itsrobert]

14. They don't want to lose all that cheap labor

They are just doing the big corporate farmers and other companies that hire these workers that don't pay a fair wage.

[pampango]

16. And the republican legislature and governor do want to lose cheap labor?

They haven't pushed this legislation because they are crusading against big corporate farmers and other companies. The newspaper may be opposing the legislation (and Arpaio) for reasons other than promoting cheap labor.

[happygoluckytoyou]

17. IN A RELATED STORY... hotels losing business BUT doesn't matter ...NOBODY THERE TO CHANGE THE LINENS

come on... it is pretty funny...
the CRYBABY GOP wants to ...... HAVE the cheap labor..... REMOVE the brown people..... HAVE tourism..... EXCEPT for brown people

IF THE HISPANICS WANT TO WIN THIS ONE.... REGISTER AND GET TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS....
WE HAVE THE POWER
WE HAVE THE NUMBERS

WE NEED LAWS TO PROTECT US FROM UNDOCUMENTED CANADIANS.... ARREST AN UNDOCUMENTED WHITE GUY TODAY ! ! !

[Ken Burch]

32. Would an undocumented Canadian be an "Iceback"?

n/t.

[political_Dem]

18. The headlines are a little too late for that. Most of us caught the whiff a long time ago.

Remember the Maverick and his run with Caribou Barbie for the White House?

And even before then, as well.

[uponit7771]

19. Understatement of the month nominee, that law is disgusting on all points

[happygoluckytoyou]

20. RELATED STORY arizona changes motto... see EMAIL LIST ====>

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

THESE ARE THE TOURISM AND SUCH PEOPLE FOR THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA

-------------NEW MOTTO---> DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP ALABAMA FROM LOOKING LIKE THE DUMBEST STATE IN THE UNION

[alp227]

21. So I take it this newspaper might as well have a LIBERTARIAN conservative bent? n/t

[MajorChode]

33. If so, it's still pretty bad when you have to look to looneytarians as the voice of reason

One thing interesting about the Arizona law in question is it demonstrates the GOPhers' bigotry trumps any libertarian leanings they may have.

[AllyCat]

24. I disagree with Norman Goldman on this. He is a lawyer, and I'm not, but

I don't see how this law can be constitutional. It assumes guilt before proven innocent. It treats some people differently than others BY LAW. I am firmly in the camp of "Boycott Arizona".

[LynneSin]

26. I would have to dig a 50 foot deep trench even come close to sinking as low as AZ pols

probably more like a 50 mile deep trench

[newtothegame]

28. This is your government people. Enjoying that "Change?" nt

[Ken Burch]

31. Uh...what are you talking about?

It wasn't Obama that pushed 1070 through. And why are you recycling Sarah Palin lines?

[newtothegame]

34. Who said anything about Obama?

:shrug: We spend one day on here singing the praises of the government, and posting about all the benefits we love, and the next day calling them racist Nazis.

[Ken Burch]

36. I just wasn't sure of what point you were making.

And your use of "Change" seemed to tie your post to Obama-bashing.

The Arizona state government is actually an example of what happen when NOTHING changes.

[cstanleytech]

29. Ya know, while I do not support illegal immigration

this just is not the way to fight it, all its gonna do is end up costing the state money both economically due to loss of tourism and legally because its bound to be challenged and thrown out not to mention the potential number of lawsuits for damages the state faces by those they arrest.

[sweetloukillbot]

43. The supporters talk up how this will cut down on drug trade and kidnapping...

But no one can tell me how harassing day laborers and deporting families will accomplish that...

[cstanleytech]

45. Oh I very much doubt it will have much if any effect with the drug trade or the kidnappings

as for the harassment issue that is gonna be a problem I agree but as for the deporting of families I dont have to much sympathy for them if it turns out their illegal, they would after all be breaking one of our laws.

[sweetloukillbot]

46. I have no qualms about deporting someone who is caught breaking the law.

And I'm all for capturing the human traffickers and the drug smugglers, who are the real culprits when it comes to the shootings and such along the border. The people who are trying to escape the poverty in Mexico by trudging across the Sonoran Desert to help their family survive seem to be more refugees than criminals to me.
Just looking Mexican isn't probable cause that someone is breaking the law. We can't just stop people for looking illegal and then deport them. And there has to be some sort of consideration when it involves breaking up a family.

[cstanleytech]

47. I almost would agree with the refugee angle except for the fact that there is

a way setup for people to come here completely legal, mind you it could perhaps be more streamlined but nonetheless there is a way that is legal for them to do it.

[Angry Dragon]

30. They have so much fear and hate in their hearts

that they can not see past it and understand they are just taking their own freedoms away and giving it to the money people.

[mrfocus]

37. From "We the People" to "Papers, please"

Arizona is leading the time travel back to the 1800s

[elias7]

38. of course, McCain is saying that they had to sink so because Obama not doing enough.

[Divine Discontent]

40. lots of cancelations WILL take place.. .they're gonna deeply regret this...

as they should. sorry to all the good folks in AZ, but they need to stand up if they're not already.

[JonLP24]

49. People here have been doing demonstrations

even before the bill was signed.