Redstate

Posted at 10:35am on Jun. 25, 2008 Phoenix has a good Sheriff, Part LXVII

By Neil Stevens

A few years back, dominant NBA basketball center Shaquille O'Neal took all the training he needed to become a Sheriff's deputy, and served as one while playing for the Miami Heat. He did work where his unusual size and notoriety would not hinder the job, which meant much Internet-based work. But sometimes his size and strength would come in handy on planned operations, so he'd come along and help.

It was good for Shaq, good for the county, and good for the community. Everyone gained, so naturally when Shaq was traded to the Phoenix Suns, he entered into the same kind of relationship with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Shaq wrecked it all this week, though.

Read on...

Posted in Arizona | Joe Arpaio | Kobe Bryant | Law | Phoenix | Shaquille O'Neal — Comments (39) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:32pm on Jun. 19, 2008 Enumerating the Power of Congress

By Erick

John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) are at it again on behalf of constitutional principles.

On a blogger call this afternoon, they announced that they are introducing into the House and Senate the Enumerated Powers Act; a worthy piece of legislation that will cause Congress to slow down and think before passing legislation. Nonetheless, the legislation is fatally flawed because of the length of the bill. At only two pages, the rest of the Congress is going to spend the next year looking for the other three thousand pages before considering it.

But should the legislation make its way through the legislative process and get to the President, the nation would be better off.

Introduced several times over the past few years by Congressman Shadegg, but never in the Senate, the Enumerated Powers Act (H.B. 1359) would require Congress specify, in each piece of legislation, which one of its Article I, Section 8 powers the Congress is using to legitimize the law.

Right now, many people think Congress has near plenary power under the "general welfare" clause of Article I. However, as James Madison, the author of the constitution, made clear, "With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of [enumerated] powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."

Likewise, even Thomas Jefferson noted that, "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.

Right now the legislation has 52 co-sponsors in the House and 23 in the Senate, the most it has ever had. No Democrats have signed on.

The GOP would be wise to make this a red meat issue for the base.

You can see an overview of the legislation here. The text is here.

Posted in Arizona | Congress | Enumerated Powers | John Shadegg | Oklahoma | Tom Coburn — Comments (7)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 5:36pm on Dec. 22, 2007 Leaving Arizona

Attrition By Enforcement

By California Yankee

Illegal Aliens are packing up and leaving Arizona.

Arizona enacted a new law in an attempt to lessen economic incentives for illegal aliens. Under the new law, which takes effect January 1, businesses found to have knowingly hired illegal workers will be subject to sanctions from probation to a 10-day suspension of their business licenses. A second violation would bring permanent revocation of the license.

Arizona employers have started to fire workers who can't prove they are in the country legally. As a result illegal aliens are returning to their home countries or moving other states.

The departure of the illegals from Arizona proves that attrition by enforcement works. When illegal aliens don't have jobs, they don't stick around.

Fred got it right.

Posted in Arizona | Attrition By Enforcement | Fred Thompson | Immigration | Immigration — Comments (71)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:18am on Apr. 18, 2007 Them Targetted Dems

By Erick

How are the Freshman Democrat Blue Dogs doing? These are the men and women who beat Republicans in Republican leaning seats and promised to be Republicans without the corruption. Well, Robert Novak has a report card.

Thus far, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Mitchell, Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, Nancy Boyda, Heath Shuler, Charlie Wilson, Chris Carney, Jason Altmire, and Nick Lampson have disappointed. In fact, Lampson failed to vote on either the GOP proposed budget or the Democrat budget. And sadly, Gabrielle Giffords, Nancy Boyda, Chris Carney, and Jason Altmire voted in lock step with the Democrats from embryo killing research to eliminating the secret ballot in the workplace.

Chris Carney, whose district gave Bush 60% of its vote and Nick Lampson whose district gave Bush 64% of its vote have both voted in lock step with Nancy Pelosi on every issue, other than Lampson bailing on budget votes.

As Robert Novak notes

By winning a term in 2006 to represent a Republican district, each of the Democratic moderate freshmen earned two years to convince GOP voters that Democrats can look after their interests just as well as Republicans. But to the extent that each votes and thinks Democratic, each also risks a short career that could be over as soon as 2008.

You can read the whole article here.

Posted in Arizona | Indiana | Kansas | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Targets | Targetted Seats | Texas — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »