Arkansas Blog

You couldn't have said it better, Max. A$AHOLT are milking a dry cow with this issue.
Maybe ol' Huckster will just pardon a bunch of hardcore criminals to make room for A$AHOLT's undesirables. Maybe our police need to quit harrassing meth dealers, gangbangers, murderers and concentrate on protecting us from people gladly willing to work at minimum wage. Does anyone else see the irony here?!

So are you saying its not law enforcements job to enforce the law?

Mike Beebe says he won't do anything, oh, Im sorry he says he'll use the governors office as a bully pulpit. What a joke.
I really like it when liberals use the "poor immigrant" defense for lawlessness.

Are we not a nation of laws?

thousands of irish immigrants came here in the late 1800's legally why can't those streaming across our border on the same continent do it lagally ?

also I find your coddling statement, "and generally law-abiding members of society who have failed to obtain proper work documents." preposterous.

If they came here illegally they are not lawabiding. They are foriegn nationals living here illegally.
That classifies them as criminals.

And as far as Asa being an undersecretary for homeland security his job was not to make policy or law it was to enforce existing law which to my dismay has not been strong enough.

now as Governor he can be pro active by submiting laws for the legislature to consider and even take the initiative to help stem illegal immigration.
The rest of the national trend shows that states are now acting where the feds have failed.

How can anyone resonably object to that ?

Looks to me that the Iraq War for Oil was pretty tough on American soldiers yesterday. Where is the news story on this disaster? Crowded out by a pedophile I'd guess.

Link to full list: U.S. Fatalities Confirmed by the DoD

All fatalities with active DOD links have been confirmed by The Department of Defense.

Total: 2729 Confirmed: 2712 Pending: 17

Date Name DOD
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/02/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/01/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/01/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/01/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/01/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation
10/01/06 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Pending Confirmation

Oh and by the way the over crowding problem in Pulaski county is really a mismanagement of county funds problem.
The government has the reponsibility to enforce the law no matter how much money has been squandered by a local judge who thought it more important to spend 4 million of our dollars on a bike bridge rather than more jail space.
Thats no excuse for not doing what they were supposed to do.

Worry not Citizen, Bush-Cheney and the bad guys in Iraq are making sure that overcrowding will be a thing of the past in the US. Well....except for cemeteries.

Jesus Citizen...

For 10 years "you people" have had control of both houses...for 6 years you've had control all 3 branches of the federal government. Where was your boy then, he could of submitted "laws for the legislature to consider and even take the intitiative to help stem illegal immigratioin". Am I right?

Of course I'm right, Hutchinson did nothing...deal with it. And now he wants to run on immigration...what an asshole - when he had a chance when he had the opportunity and the power...he did nothing.

Did it ever occur to you why the "country club" employers were never charged? Because the proper documentation was presented. They did their due diligence according to the law.

The rub here, is that the Republican held do nothing Congress and Senate have had 10 years to present a immigration policy with checks and balances available to the employer for oversight...and they haven't. Know why?
Because the Corporate Welfare/Socialism that you party has set up demands, requires and depends upon cheap "illegal" labor. Hutchinson, in particular could of been "pro active" in submitting laws to facilitate change...he didn't.
Hutchinson is and was part of the problem. Him standing on his little mole hill with Jesus Jim Holt is just about the most hypocritical and hallow act that I've seen from the Hutchinson camp.

Has he no shame?

You and your pesky logic...do you think any of that matters to people of rural values who live 1/2 mile down a dirt road?

Blue Ticker I totally agree with you that the feds have done nothing to enforce the laws.

One issue i have totally been in disagreement with the current administration.

The states as the trend shows must start doing more to combat this issue.

This issue goes beyond parties, Liberals will see the tide of immigration as more votes for them so they do nothing and republicans wont do anything because it is seen as cheap labor.

we will all suffer because of this. This has got to be stopped, no country can sustain an uncontrolled tide of immigration.

The local governments will not be able to sustain a largely poor demographis filing for social security, welfare emergency medical treatment, and things of the like.
We all saw signs of the impending problems in our own state with the tyson fiasco and the maumelle drivers liscense scandal.

Arkansas needs to wake up.

Max, you said the same thing that I posted here and elsewhere a few days ago about the inconsistency in Asa's ads. How can he do more to impact illegal immigration as Governor than he could have done (and didn't) while he was at Homeland Security? Also, is he saying that the Huckabee administration is currently hiring illegals in state government? If so, I wish he would call names and let us know the details. No, all he wants to do is throw out a curveball and intimate that Beebe intends to do it. Nothing could be further from the truth, either about the Huckabee administration and Mike Beebe's future plans as Governor.

Asa is a hypocrite. Purely and simply, he says one thing and does another. It's typical of his "holier than thou" brotherhood of cretins in the far Right Wing of the Republican Party. I want him to actually show up at an event with Jim Holt and take him by the arm and call him "brother." Maybe they could prevent the advancement of socialism (Russian style) in Arkansas by suffocating early childhood education as an option no, (I didn't say "requirement") for the underclass of our society who cannot provide enrichments opportunities for their children either out of ignorance or ability. Maybe Holt and Hutchinson could prevent the working mothers of Arkansas from getting their pittance of a minimum wage hike in order that the business community not suffer any discomfort. I want to hear them tell those working mothers that they could simply negotiate with Wal-Mart's powerful team of litigators as to whatis their worth per hour.

Yeah, I could go on and on as to what a hypocrite Asa and the other Republican team members are, but I think you get the drift.

I'm like DBI, may the Republican Party finally RIP. The sooner, the quicker!!!!

Also think of the ridiculousness of the above quote in the post ;

"the state's Attorney General - says the state shouldn't get involved in enforcing the law. "

Thats the freaking attorney generals Job as the states top law enforcement official !

You guys gotta be kidding me !
Are you actually with beebe on this ? Can the hypocisy be any clearer?

A man charged with enforcing the law says we shouldnt enforce the law ! And you want him to be our Governor?

What a riot !

For any Republican to talk about illegal behavior is hypocritical in the extreme.

Once you have purged your party of criminals, then you can say something.

At least the aliens aren't living on Daddy's money like rich silver spooned GOP kids. They crossed the desert in search of a better life and I admire that. And they have no blood of innocent women and children on their hands.

However, I do understand that in your Big Brother world, where all our actions are subject to governmental oversight, you'd have issues with anyone who claims a God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Ask Asa (the palindromic candidate) how he did enforcing the law with the Mena Airport/Seales/North/Poindexter crimes when he was P.A. in Fort Smith.

No Citizen...Congress needs to wake up. Congress needs to fix this. Arkansas cannot...period.

We as a state cannot take on the additional financial burden of being the "immigration police".

"The states as the trend shows must start doing more to combat this issue."

You are right, states are trending...but...unless the do nothing Republican controlled Congress sets in motion a substantive immigration plan, all we'll end up doing is buring up local tax resources that should be used to protect the local citizen's. And that in itself will become a legal nightmare. Racial profiling...lawsuits from families that could of been helped by the local police...who unfortunately were doing immigratioin police duties at the side of the highway.

We simply cannot fix this...it's a fed's issue and it's got to start there. How the hell do you enforce an immigration policy - when we don't have one that works and hasn't worked for years? We can't.

You, Hutchinson and Holt are beating the wrong yard dog here. Call your Republican Congressional Leardership and demand they do something.

States have got to have a policy to follow...States cannot lead this battle on the ground. If you knew anything about immigration and the gapping holes within the current policies...you'd know this.

Hutchinson knows this, I hope, and that's why I think this is hyperbole at it's finest.

To Citizens Journal,

You ask why the Irish came in legally and why can't current immigrants do the same?

Simple Answer: The Irish came in legally because they could.

Except for medical restrictions, the US TOOK ALL OF THE IRISH THAT SHOWED UP. The ones turned away often went to Cancada and came in illegally.

This is a bad comparison.

Immigration laws need to adjust to the current situation. By the current rules we have lost all control. It is obvious that a fence is not going to stop ANY flow, only move it side to side.

If a person is walking and hitching from central Mexico, a small course adjustment will lead them to where a fence ain't so 700 miles worth is worthless. They can walk around it faster thane we can build it.

Prosecute those hiriing illegals is the only way to kill the attraction.

Citizen Anderson,

You don't seem to understand the responsibilities of a state vs the federal government. Laws governing immigration are federal therefore the federal government has responsibility of enforcing them. Likewise state laws are enforced by the state. For example, prostitution is not against federal law. The FBI, CIA ATF etc. couldn't care less if a hooker practices her profession. Murder, except in specific cases, is not a federal crime. You won't see the FBI and other federal agencies trying to solve any of Little Rock's 50 murders so far this year.

Reading your blog I see that your main interest is the "gun issue". I'm curious, what current firearm laws you think should be repealed?

Citizen Jeneral,

Methinks thou doest protest too much. You worry about the illegal going liberal and voting.....don't they have to become citizens first??
If anyone has contributed to the Republican vote count, it has been the Hispanic voters.

It's not like they're taking over the high-dollar jobs. Worse than that, they seem to have better work ethics than the Americans whom they supposedly compete with. You yourself have argued at times about how good the economy is and all this time the they've been here doing there part for our economy.

Seems to me they've contributed far more than you give credit for and are far less a disruption than you want us to believe.

What do you want us to do? Quit consuming tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, Doe Equis?

I'm afraid you don't give this country enough credit for incorporating such into our system and benefiting from it. We've done so in the past.

If we're so godallmighty great, then where's the goodness and justice in denying someone the chance to become a citizen here?

Contrary to popular belief most migrant workers support mexicos economy when they send their paychecks home to mexico.

Im not against immigration, we are a country of immigrants, Im against illegal immigrantion it has nothing to do really with wich way they might vote.

coincidentally some have argued maybe correctly that they would be a conservative vote mainly because most hispanics are widley considered to be catholic or at least people of faith. Some say that that would mean they are pro life, against gay marriage and those sorts of things.

some say that they would be largely Democratic votes maybe because they percieve them to be low income and might rely heavily on social programs and would thrive with things like affirmative action.

None of that matters to me,

We are a nation of laws and immigrants ought to be held at least to the same standard that law abiding citizens are.

If i broke the law nobody would cry about me " just trying to make a better life for myself", Thats not a defense. id rightly have to answer for my crime or whatever.

thats not bigotry, thats not racism, its just lawful. thats all i want for the laws to be enfoced.

And there are things that the state can do to make it un accomadating for illegals in this country.

And to answer your question LAJ-Hillcrest i could spend all day on the subject of unfair gun laws. But i would probably start with the repeal of most of the 1968 guncontrol act.

The State needs to stay out of INS business. We need to let and demand the Feds do their job. We have enough problems enforcing our own laws. We don't have jail space for our violators. We don't need to do their job.

Right you ar LRONE.

Citizens, you are missing the context of the argument.

We've had the same immigration policies for what? 20 years? Are they working? Hell no? We've got to demand a comprehensive overhall of our immigraton policy. You and Asa think the states can fix it? Ya - Right

The Republican Congress last week passed a bill to the tune of 7 billion dollars to build a 52 foot wall on the border. And there's a 1000's busy Mexican's with $25.00 worth of 2x4's hammers and nails, building 53 feet ladders...what sense does that make?

Comprehensive, workable and fair immigration policy - it's the only way we can fix this.

Sorry about the lateness of this post, but I've been out most of today. I'm responding to Citizen's Journal's post around 1:30 pm - "Thats the freaking attorney generals Job as the states top law enforcement official !"

I think Citizen's Journal is totally incorrect. The Attorney General's job is to act as the chief legal officer for the state of Arkansas. Under the Arkansas Constitution, the AG has no enforcement authority. All enforcement authority is delegated by the Constituion to the local prosecuting attorneys. Of course, this is my understanding, only. I'm willing to be corrected if someone has better information. Certainly, if you go to the AG's web site, you don't see anything about him being responsible for prosecution of criminal suspects.

Wow. Such vitriolic attacks on folks who will have no power over the National Congress. Why?My tax dollars are going to illegal folks for food, housing, medical care and sometimes citizens are denied the same amenities. Your tax bucks. How do you want to use them? Personally, let's do away with welfare, medical care, food stamps for anyone who is not a citizen. IChurches want to sponsor or harbour these folks until they become citizens, I am all for it,. The day they have EARNED legitimate status here, benes to follow. Do the candidates in Arkansas have tany influence over the national policy? Just wondering why y'all are wasting time.

I think it would behoove all participants in this debate to go the Center for Immigration Studies website and look at the article entitled The High Cost of Cheap Labor. It certainly opened my eyes to the impact of this problem.
Legally, the bottom line rests with the Federal boys. They make the rules but the states must pick up the tab. Governors & Lt Guvs have nary to do with the policy. Senators & reps, however.....

"My tax dollars are going to illegal folks for food, housing, medical care"

Liar. I am surrounded by Mexicans...hundreds of them. They work. They pay taxes. They take good care of their families. They shop at Wal-Mart and the Chevy dealer. They go to church. They don't cause any trouble. They cost you nothing. Turn off Fox News, it's made your brain soft.

To illustrate the states trending on cambating illegal immigration ill submit this Washington Post article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700365.html

Police here operated for years under what amounts to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward illegal immigrants.As elsewhere in the United States, law enforcement officers did not checkthe immigration status of people they came into contact with, and in thevast majority of cases, a run-in with the law carried little threat of deportation.But that accommodation for the burgeoning illegal population ended abruptlyin April, when the Mecklenburg County sheriff's office began to enforceimmigration law, placing more than 100 people a month into deportation proceedings. Some of them had been charged with violent crimes, others withtraffic infractions."

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph says there should be littlesympathy for illegal immigrants caught by his program: They have alreadybroken the law once by being here illegally, and then been arrested on suspicion of another crime."When any of them cross that border without proper documentation, they'veviolated the law -- however insignificant it may seem to some people," hesaid. "I've heard sad stories about folks wanting to come up here and have a better life and earn money for their family. I've arrested bank robberswho've had the same excuse......In Mecklenburg County, about 1,200 foreign-born people have been arrested since April, on charges ranging from traffic violations and trespassing tosex crimes, and nearly 600 have been found to be here illegally.Philip Turtletaub, a Charlotte immigration lawyer, says he sometimes receives six or seven calls a day from relatives of illegal immigrantscaught by the program. He tells them not to waste their money."

And as far as the Attorney Generals job waterboy just take a look at the definition of attorney general,

attorney general  1. the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department.

Along with his responsibility of legal adviser he is the top law enforcement official for the state. In charge with ultimately enforcing the laws of the state.

Again, missing the point. States can burn all the resources their little hearts and pocket books desire. All they'll be doing is spending money they shouldn't and at best treading water.

Oh and on the AG - In charge with ultimately enforcing the laws of the state. They gotta be a state laws before they can be enforced - try and not keep the cart before the horse in you analogy.

I knew someone would try and say that law enforcement officials only enforce state laws.
You must have immediately regretted posting that comment when you saw how absurd it was.

So Police officers only enforce state laws?

How about local law enforcement arresting people on federal gun and drug crimes ? To say that they only enforce state laws is absolutely ridiculous. They can and do enforce both state and federal laws.