Wednesday, July 07, 2010

The first battle

Stand your ground, don't fire unless fired upon,
but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.

— Capt. John Parker, Lexington, 1775


Washington Post, July 7:
The Obama administration sued Arizona over the state's new immigration law on Tuesday, an assertion of federal power that sets up a rare clash with a state on one of the nation's most divisive political issues.
The lawyers on both sides will argue precedents and technicalities, but the people of Arizona, as well as many Americans, understand the real meaning of this act. The federal government under Mad King Barack has asserted its power to stop a state from protecting its citizens from illegal immigration unofficially sanctioned by Washington. Worse than that: it has declared that no state — and by extension, no individual or locality — can insist that Washington fulfill its own duties required by the Constitution.

Mad King Barack understands nothing about the United States, not its history, not its constitutional principles, not separation of powers, not limits on authority. For him, the United States is a prize he's won. Anyone gets out of line, his enforcers will pay a visit.

He thinks of himself as an "organizer," but he's cruder than any old-time political boss or ward heeler. They cared only about obtaining the votes of their vassals, and made sure to give favors in return. Not our Barack. He believes he has the votes, thanks to his base of federal employees, teachers, ethnics, union goons and Black Panthers. His goal is to crush opposition.

Well, there's going to be no sweeping this under the rug. Stain Man Clinton and George Doofus Bush II kept the immigration invasion quiet, out of sight, out of most minds. Population replacement went largely unnoticed, like the body replacing old cells with new ones. That won't work anymore. From now on, Washington's grab for absolute rule will play out on center stage.

We need to establish, through a constitutional amendment, a process for peaceful secession. We already know the price of un-peaceful secession.

Photobucket

9 comments:

Ilíon said...

"Worse than that: it has declared that no state — and by extension, no individual or locality — can insist that Washington fulfill its own duties required by the Constitution."

Federal courts have already ruled that mere US citizens do not have "standing" to petition the courts to order that the Constitution's provisions be enforced.

Martin B said...

As I understand it, the Arizona law only mandates that police officers check for proof of citizenship (and only in the course of the normal discharge of their duties) when they have reasonable suspicion that someone is here illegally. At which point they may detain them and, presumably, hand them over to the Feds. Arizona is not claiming the right to deport illegal aliens. Arizona state troopers will not be depositing bus-loads of mexicans in Nogales. They are only proposing to help enforce federal laws already on the books.

Well, if the Federal government says that Arizona should not be allowed to, then I propose that Arizona abstain from enforcing ANY federal law. Don't want to pay federal income taxes? Come to Arizona - our state won't cooperate with the IRS. Federal Drug Laws? Never heard of 'em. Federally mandated affirmative action? We won't participate.

Rick Darby said...

Ilion,

But U.S. citizens have the privilege of supporting a federal government that regulates or owns almost everything.

Martin B,

I propose that Arizona abstain from enforcing ANY federal law. Don't want to pay federal income taxes? Come to Arizona - our state won't cooperate with the IRS. Federal Drug Laws? Never heard of 'em. Federally mandated affirmative action? We won't participate.

If a serious secession movement gets going, it would be great if Arizona were the first to declare its independence — from Mexico.

Ilíon said...

"But U.S. citizens have the privilege of supporting a federal government that regulates or owns almost everything."

The only thing a man ever really owns is his tax liability.

Ilíon said...

Amusingly enough, that horrendous Kelo decision can be used to assert State sovereignty-within-federation without going so far as secession from the federal union.

Ses here for some detail on what I mean.

Ilíon said...

It seems to me that Martin's point is not that any State ought to contemplate secession from the Union, but rather that the "logic" of alleged-President Obama's suit against Arizona implicitly dissolves the Union.

Ilíon said...

In case you're interested, I've written a post on my blog expanding upon the above post.

Rick Darby said...

Ilion,

I'm not sure if you disagree with me (or Martin B). My remarks addressed to you and him were meant as thanks for and acknowledgments of your comments. I was being a little flippant in a way that maybe didn't come across.

Ilíon said...

So far, I wasn't disagreeing with anyone.