Sunday, September 17, 2006

Lyin' Ass Bitch

Much snippage from the ever-reliable and forthright pages of the online Arizona Republic:

Here speaks Governor Napolitano on border issues:

"I have been fighting for several years for the federal government to reimburse Arizona’s expenses related to the illegal immigration trade and its impact on our state. It is also why Republican Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah and I drafted and sent to Congress a comprehensive blueprint for immigration reform that had been endorsed by the bipartisan Western Governor’s Association. And, it is why when President Bush implemented my plan to use the National Guard to help secure our border, I demanded and the Federal Government agreed, that the bills should be paid by the Federal Government."

(snip)

"On August 15, 2005, I declared a state of emergency in our four border counties along the Arizona-Mexico border to free up $1.5 million to alleviate the financial burden absorbed due to criminal activities stemming from illegal immigration."

(snip)

"I have also directed the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to implement a comprehensive enforcement strategy to interdict criminal activity along the border region. Particular attention has been focused on disrupting the organized criminal enterprises involved in drug and human smuggling, vehicle theft and financial crimes. Under my direction, DPS utilizes the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC), to trace and take-down human smuggling organizations and their financial trails. The creation of ACTIC was one of my first Homeland Security goals and it is now not only nationally-recognized but serves as a prototype for other states in how to establish a combined federal, state and local intelligence center."

(snip)

"As Arizona Attorney General, I drafted anti-terrorism legislation that is now being used to intercept the flow of money used to finance illegal operations, including human smuggling enterprises. As of today, this law has led to the seizure of almost $18 million and resulted in 221 arrests.

DPS also began the Southern Arizona Auto Theft Task Force, which has recovered almost 200 stolen vehicles. Along with the Auto Theft Task Force, the state has recently installed license plate readers in the southern part of the state. The license plate readers take a photo of a license and match it to the stolen car database. If the car turns up stolen, DPS or local law enforcement are able to seize the vehicle before it is taken to Mexico. This is just another great tool used in the interdiction of stolen vehicles.

Under my direction, the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control created the Fraudulent Identification Task Force to identify, investigate, and prosecute the manufacturers and sellers of all fraudulent identifications in the state. Since its inception, 117 felony arrests have been made and 950 fraudulent documents have been seized."


(snip)

"...By Executive Order, I have already imposed restrictions on companies who do business with the state from employing undocumented workers. Last January, in my State of the State address, I called on the State Legislature to do its part by passing a state law sanctioning employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. Sadly, rather than pass meaningful, workable legislation, the Legislature watered-down a bill to such an extent that it would have provided amnesty to employers. Rather than make current law even worse, I vetoed the bill; however, I will not give up on the fight for an Arizona law – with teeth – that holds employers accountable when they hire illegal immigrants."

Now let us see what her opponent in the upcoming election, Len Munsil, has to say by way of comment:

"Well, after four years as Governor, we know Janet Napolitano’s answer. She believes we should do nothing. She believes the border cannot be secured. She has watched 5,000 people each day cross our border illegally and still she does nothing. She has watched Arizona citizens forced to flee their homes near the border and still she does nothing."

Nothing?

Really?

You know what, Munsil's comment makes him a LAB. Fishbone long ago wrote a song with lyrics that would seem to apply to Munsil's totally inappropriate characterization of Governor Napolitano's efforts regarding the difficult control of the Arizona border with Mexico.

More snippage from Governor Napolitano:

"The Federal government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities in securing our border and providing for a realistic and functional immigration policy for this country have been immense detriments to the State of Arizona."

And detriments to national security, I would add.

One last snip from the Governor's words:

"It is the primary responsibility of the federal government to secure our border with Mexico and provide for a sound immigration policy. No state or local official should forget that, nor let the Federal Government off the hook."

Munsil isn't just running against a very successful and popular incumbant governor. He's running against the failed border policies of a president from his own political party. How ironic.

1 comment:

Eli Blake said...

I wonder....

Suppose that Munsil were elected and took it upon the state of Arizona to absorb this Federal responsibility without reimbursement, as he seems to want.

Will he raise taxes to pay for it, or will he cut something else, and if so shouldn't he be honest enough right now to say what will be cut to pay for it?

Funny how Republicans always like to talk about cutting budgets and 'leaner government' but somehow before any election they lose their list of exactly what it is they plan to cut.