Posted on 03/08/2006 10:05:47 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she signed an executive order to expand the Arizona National Guard's presence at the state's porous border with Mexico to support federal efforts to combat undocumented immigration and other border problems.
The governor also said she would veto a bill in the Legislature requiring her to send troops to the border, but wants lawmakers to pass a proposal to pay for the expanded National Guard role.
She said the Legislature's pending bill requiring additional deployment as a result of her declaration last summer of an immigration emergency in four border counties appeared to be an attempt by critics to score political points at her expense.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Puzzling. While it's good that she's signed the executive order to enforce the law, why is she pledging to veto a bill that seems to accomplish the same thing?
A liberal Democrat respnding to the handwriting on the wall. JD Hayworth has done his job and John McCain better learn, holding hands with Fat Ted Kennedy on the immigration issue won't win you any conservative support come 2008.
Yea, sounds like she wants credit and authority in the move.
No, the GOP/RINO establishment gave it away.
Richardson is next in the spotlight, I'd bet. The lib-dems smell blood in the water, and face-time on the TV cameras.
That is typical Napolitano behavior. She talks a good game, says she's for something, but when the actual legislation gets passed that does exactly what she and her office said it had to do, she vetoes it and makes up stupid reasons to do so. She's done this with a number of bills and it would not surprise me if she got out her playbook and did it with this. Like most Democrats, her primary constituency voter demographic are the gullible and stupid.
I stand corrected.
And you can be assured he'll use it during his '08 Pres. run.
"Napolitano has stolen the border issue ... "
Call it like it is... it's not theft, she was GIVEN the border issue by one George W. Bush. Apparently Napolitano is more interested in votes than providing cheap labor for friends and contributors.
Can W say the same?
Look out in '06. Most people I talk to have come to the conclusion that one party in control of the presidency AND congress is a bad idea. Would be difficult to argue that point in today's environment.
Now to see if she carries through with more than a signature.
If this happens, the MSM will of course cover for Janet and ignore the lack of action and results by the troops. But over time, this could backfire badly on Janet and the Dems as the truth emerges that this is nothing but an expensive political stunt. This is going to be interesting to watch, and if the troops actually start arresting Mexicans at gunpoint then this stunt could backfire badly on the Dems and drive more Hispanics into the GOP. The Dems may have just shot themselves in the foot here and put themselves in a no-win situation in their eagerness to attack Bush.
I'll be waching this closely and give you some reports from local Arizona media.
The answer to that probably lies in the details. Maybe there was something in the other bill that would conflict with getting a new voter base.
I expect tthat by killing the bill (which could make the NG stationed there permanently, she loses the capability to withdraw them after a few weeks/months and declare "Victory".
The GOP is all but begging to be flanked on this issue.
There was a vote in the Senate last Spring as part of the Iraq War Supplemental Funding Bill where Robert Byrd sponsored and amendment to add 500 Border Patrol Agents and was supported unanimously by all 45 RATS. About 20 Republicans got on board at the last minute.
After the recent drubbing the RATS have given President Bush on Port Security, they would be well positioned to repeat that victory and totally finish the GOP advantage on National Security when Arlen Sphincter's Gold Card Illegal Alien Shamnesty hits the Senate floor. I doubt they will take advantage of this golden opportunity to flank the President but it would be damn smart for them politically. If they pushed through a bunch of tough enforcement amendments and killed the amnesty it would solidify the black vote and shore up the blue collar vote and make them look much more attractive to all of the 85% of Americans who want that problem solved. All while sticking a thumb in President Bush's eye.
But I doubt they are smart enough.
As discussed in post #16, the Dems may have just shot themselves in the foot here and put themselves in a no-win situation. If the guard troops just sit at the border, the inaction by the AZ national guard troops definitely needs coverage.
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