Pinal County, Arizona, Deputy Shot by Illegal Immigrants With AK-47s?

by the Left Coast Rebel

Is this reasonable suspicion? According to the race-baiting far left, probably not (CNN):

A sheriff's deputy in central Arizona who was shot Friday afternoon by an alleged illegal immigrant has been found after authorities lost contact with him, according to CNN affiliate KPNX.

The Pinal County deputy, who was not immediately identified, contacted authorities after being wounded in a remote area, said Lt. Tammy Villar, a sheriff's spokeswoman. She said authorities believe he was shot with a AK-47. The deputy was being treated for the wound, but his condition was not immediately known, Villar said.

Pinal County is located between Phoenix and Tuscon and has been described as a key transit point for illegal immigrants. Sheriff Paul Babeu told CNN that an estimated 80 percent of illegal immigrants eventually pass through his county along the way to other locations.

Also, it seems that the suspect was even shooting at the police helicopter. Narco-terror and untold violence and devastation at the border? Nah....nothing to see here.....keep walking, look away:

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office dispatched a helicopter and members of its SWAT team to Pinal County to assist in the case, said MCSO Lt. Brian Lee. Lee said at 5:45 p.m. there were reports over the police scanner that suspects were shooting at a police helicopter. Lee did not know which agency was operating the helicopter.

AZCentral is the best source for up-to-date information on this story. Here's the latest:

Lt. Tami Villar told 12 News that the search and rescue deputy was investigating a load of marijuana in the desert and was confronted by five suspects.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was headed to Pinal County to assist in the investigation, Lee said. About 70 MCSO employees were responding to the scene. Lee said most were involved in a crime suppression sweep in the Maryvale area.

The Border Patrol has sent agents to assist the Pinal County Sheriff's Office with the investigation, said Mario Escalante, a Border Patrol spokesman assigned to the Tucson sector.

The nearest Border Patrol station in the area is located in Casa Grande.

Shortly after the shooting, Pinal County also requested assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which responded with two helicopters and a SWAT team.

I wonder if 'May-Day' protesters will smear refried-bean swastikas on government buildings across the nation and especially Arizona - to protest this investigation as well?

Via Memeorandum.

UPDATED: The (identity unknown) Pinal County deputy is going to be o.k., thank God:



UPDATED x2:More from Arizona's NBC 12 News:



UPDATED x3: Still searching for the suspects(s), 'raw' footage:

Wow! Arizona Also Grades Teachers on Fluency in English, Accents?

by the Left Coast Rebel

First off - what has gotten into Arizona? What's in the water as of late? What does the Grand Canyon state think it is, Texas? Also, can you imagine how the far-left groups are going to perceive this story + the illegal immigrant common sense enforcement - SB 1070 + 'ethnic studies' HB 2281 ?

Here in the People's Republic of California a public school teacher (especially with tenure) is hardly even fireable. Even then, it nearly takes a molestation case to do so and teachers, administrators convicted of such things still receive their pensions and other 'benefits'. I kid you not.

On this note and furthering a trend, has Arizona had enough of the 'progressivism' that we all live under the thumb of? Perhaps, WSJ:

The Arizona Department of Education recently began telling school districts that teachers whose spoken English it deems to be heavily accented or ungrammatical must be removed from classes for students still learning English.

State education officials say the move is intended to ensure that students with limited English have teachers who speak the language flawlessly.

Sounds reasonable enough, right? Here's a spin for you though. Arizona is enforcing this via. an interpretation of No Child Left Behind:

Arizona's enforcement of fluency standards is based on an interpretation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. That law states that for a school to receive federal funds, students learning English must be instructed by teachers fluent in the language. Defining fluency is left to each state, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education said.

Hah! I despise the George W. Bush enacted 'No Child Left Behind' legislation for myriad reasons, it's funny to see that this angle is used here.

Analysis - I come away from this simply thinking that it is more common sense from the Grand Canyon state in an (un)common sense age. Isn't it funny when a state legislature seems 'rogue' because it is the only one in recent memory in the nation to go agaist socialist-liberal-progressive orthodoxy?

Way to go Arizona!

Discussion at Memeorandum.

Arizona Passes HB 2281 Bill Banning Leftist 'Ethnic Studies' Programs

by the Left Coast Rebel

'Ethnic study' programs across the nation's campi are the most comfortable breeding grounds for raging communists, reverse-discriminationists, segregation-secessionists, American/Western culture-hating leftist loons. This has been true for quite some time - I've seen it with my own eyes. For an example look at this 'mission statement' for the 'ethnic studies' department at Colorado State University. Marxist, no? Note the Che Guevara picture that pops up in the banner.

Knowing this, Arizona has had enough of it, to the point of banning 'ethnic studies' programs, or at least certain aspects of 'ethnic studies' in Arizona's university system via HB 2281. Non-compliance means no more state funding.

Perhaps Arizona will be the next best state to raise a family, start a business and otherwise pursue the American dream? Fox News has this:

The new bill would make it illegal for a school district to teach any courses that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."

State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Horne called passage in the state House a victory for the principle that education should unite, not divide students of differing backgrounds.

"Traditionally, the American public school system has brought together students from different backgrounds and taught them to be Americans and to treat each other as individuals, and not on the basis of their ethnic backgrounds," Horne said. "This is consistent with the fundamental American value that we are all individuals, not exemplars of whatever ethnic groups we were born into. Ethnic studies programs teach the opposite, and are designed to promote ethnic chauvinism."

Initially I had a 1st Amendment reservation to this bill. After actually reading the simple, one page bill, I think that it makes perfect sense. I think that the Arizona state legislature is completely within its rights to deny funding to racist, collectivist, subversive curriculum/programs on college campi.

Indoctrination tactics addressed in HB 2281 (taken directly from the bill):

Prohibits a school district or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that:

Ø Promote the overthrow of the United States government.

Ø Promote resentment toward a race or class of people.

Ø Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.

Ø Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.

Common sense, no? Many of these radical collegial communist types insulate themselves under the 'ethnic' veil, they should have equal standards applied to them.

What say you, libertarians? I'm interested to know what you think? Read HB 2281 in it's entirety here.

Via Memeorandum.

UPDATED: Jeff Goldstein at Protein Wisdom puts it well:

A sticky wicket, this. On the one hand, opponents of the legislation who argue that the legislature should not be involved in developing school curriculum would appear, at first blush, to have a valid point; putting legislatures in charge of creating curricula is a political powder keg — and, in addition to being a way to micromanage education, opens the door to all kinds of potential populist abuses from both sides of the political divide.

On the other hand, school curriculum developed by educational professionals and teachers — whose unions both support and are supported by a partisan affiliation with Democrats — is in many ways already quite politicized, with the pedagogical status quo representing a kind of epistemic closure that favors the orthodoxies of the left. That is, it institutionalizes as received truth a politicized version of knowledge built around leftist shibboleths — and in so doing, prevents parents from having much (if any) say about the content of their children’s education in the sphere of public education.

Is legislating through the thicket of a the particular political client relationship between Democrats and public educators the best answer? I can’t say

But I will say this: Arizonans appear tired of waiting around until such determinations are made — on the relatively sound reasoning that in the meantime, the institutionalization of “progressive” ideas are further breaking down the principles of classical liberalism upon which this country was founded.

Another Sign of Irrationality From the United Nations

By: Les Carpenter III
Rational Nation USA

The United Nations, in it's irrational and perverted sense of right, just elected Iran to the U.N.'s Commission on the Status of Woman.

Without fanfare or explanation the body that continues to prove itself worthless (IMO) awarded a four year seat to the the Islamic Republic of Iran. A state that denies women basic human rights, and in fact enshrines stoning a d lashings in law. The gruesome picture above is one of an Iranian women who has been abused and without any means to defend herself. But the United Nations apparently finds it sensible to reward a nation with a horrendous record on womens rights with a seat on this council.

The professed purpose of the Commission on the Status of Women is dedication to gender equality and advancement of women. Perhaps the U.N. views the denial of basic human rights to woman, combined with physical abuse to be an "advancement." This body has no shame apparently.


Read more at Rational Nation USA.


Via: Memeorandum

Obama, Congress and the $1 Billion Spent on Lobbying From January - March, 2010

by the Left Coast Rebel

More 'hope and change,' 'transparency,' not to mention broken promises of putting an end to lobbyists in Washington. As is the case with everything that the Manchurian Obamanation does, the rhetoric is the precise opposite of the eventual outcome. Via Memeorandum, Open Secrets:

Hordes of hired K Street guns are in high demand as President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats seek to implement grand legislative plans.

And a Center for Responsive Politics review of lobbying reports recently filed with the Senate Office of Public Records indicates companies, trade associations, unions and other groups spent nearly $1 billion on lobbying during the first three months of 2010. That puts the current year on an early pace toward exceeding the record amount of money -- about $3.47 billion -- spent last year on federal lobbying efforts.

The $903 million spent between January 1 and March 31 is larger than overall lobbying expenses in three out of four quarters last year, and it represents an 11 percent increase from the $811 million spent on lobbying during the first three months of 2009.

Special interests spent about $19 million per day on lobbying efforts, the Center for Responsive Politics estimates, based on the number of calendar days that either the House or Senate was officially in session.

The wholesale, fire-sale, of a nation and it's wealth. Like any Marxist leadership would do, Obama proclaims help for the 'little people' then consolidates power in cahoots with massive lobbyist interests.

Can you say 'corporatism?'

Getting Rich as a Federal Employee - Is this the new America?

by the Left Coast Rebel

It used to be that hard work, ingenuity and integrity were the keys to success in America.Perhaps plan a., b. and c. of the Obamanation 'fundamental transformation' of the United States has effectively taken place. It's all about employment - goverrnment worker employment (and pay). Wasthington Examiner:

For decades, public sector unions have peddled the fantasy that government employees were paid less than their counterparts in the private sector. In fact, the pay disparity is the other way around. Government workers, especially at the federal level, make salaries that are scandalously higher than those paid to private sector workers. And let's not forget private sector workers not only have to be sufficiently productive to earn their paychecks, they also must pay the taxes that support the more generous jobs in the public sector.

Data compiled by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis reveals the extent of the pay gap between federal and private workers. As of 2008, the average federal salary was $119,982, compared with $59,909 for the average private sector employee. In other words, the average federal bureaucrat makes twice as much as the average working taxpayer. Add the value of benefits like health care and pensions, and the gap grows even bigger. The average federal employee's benefits add $40,785 to his annual total compensation, whereas the average working taxpayer's benefits increase his total compensation by only $9,881. In other words, federal workers are paid on average salaries that are twice as generous as those in the private sector, and they receive benefits that are four times greater.

I am more than aware of this dynamic in my Once Golden State of California. We are bankrupt because of it.

Via Memeorandum.

Arizona SB 1070 Fallout: More Links - Matt Welch, May Day Rallies, Buy-cott, Pat Toomey

by the Left Coast Rebel

As I am pressured for time (and hope you cannot tell per content here), I thought that I would list a 'link fest' of fallout over Ariznona's SB 1070 across the net and blogosphere.

First off, Matt Welch over at Reason, "Driving While White" writes:

I have sympathy for people who are freaked out by desperate immigrants and ruthless smugglers trampling over their property in southern Arizona, and as I’ve said elsewhere, us pro-immigrant types too easily skate over rule-of-law objections. Federal immigration policy is a failure, and poses real public policy challenges that no amount of righteous indignation and/or handwaving makes disappear.

But anti-illegal immigration crackdowns almost always end up restricting freedom for the rest of us. And giving cops more power is almost always felt more on the receiving end by people–including people just as law-abiding as you and I–who don’t look like the norm.

Perhaps this could be considered the principled, libertarian objection to SB 1070. I do cringe at the thought of giving any branch of government more power but disagree that SB 1070 does that. As Rational Nation showed SB 1070 simply allows Arizona to enforce existing law. Also, here in San Diego illegal immigration proponents are gearing up for 'May Day' protests. Do you think similar protests across the country will be peaceful? Also, do you think that illegal immigration proponents will convince 50% or more of the nation that they are correct? Gallup elaborates:

PRINCETON, NJ -- More than three-quarters of Americans have heard about the state of Arizona's new immigration law, and of these, 51% say they favor it and 39% oppose it.

Pennsylvania Senate candidate Pat Toomey came out swinging, for Arizona's SB 1070:

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey backed the controversial statute when asked about it during an interview on Glenn Beck's radio show Wednesday.

"If you have a federal government tha's not enforcing the law, and does not preserve the integrity of its own borders then naturally states are going to take matters into their own hands," the former congressman said.

Arizona's statute mandates that local police enforce federal immigration laws if they determine a suspect is in the country illegally. Critics have said it will promote racial profiling and drain resources away from local law enforcement.

"The fact is Arizona has been bearing an awful brunt of the problems that arise from the lack of federal enforcement," Toomey said. "It's recently escalated to the point where people are getting killed. So why should we be surprised that Arizona is deciding it has to take measures into its own hands?"

Leslie Eastman has a great idea too. A (buy) cott of Arizona to show our support:

I humbly request all who can read my San Diego Network News column today: Eastman: Calling for a BUY-cott of Arizona to support SB 1070. It provides some insight as to how real grassroots action is inspired by savvy leadership and legislation.

Whole Foods BUY-cott: Hat-Tip: http://wcvarones.blogspot.com/

San Fransisco leadership has called for a boycott of Arizona, and some uniformed extremists are boycotting New York-based Arizona Ice Tea. In response, there is a citizen groundswell for showing financial support for Arizona. Tammy Bruce has been voicing the need for a BUY-cott, and her internet-based talkshow features the name of quality Arizona firms. Click HERE for a detailed list of Arizona Companies to support; the firms listed are:

• Arizona Cardinals (Football)
• Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB Baseball)
• Best Western Buffalo Exchange (Second-hand clothing)
• Cable One Phoenix, AZ Source Web Form
• Circle K (Convenience Store)
• Clear Channel Outdoor
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Dial
• Discount Tire Company
• Fender Music Instruments
• Greyhound Corp.
• GoDaddy
• Harkins Theatres
• Kona Grill
• Knight Transportation
• Massage Envy
• PF Changs
• Ping (Golf)
• Phoenix
• Phoenix Suns
• PetSmart
• Ramada Hotels
• Sky Mall
• Surf City Squeeze
• U-Haul Phoenix,
• University of Phoenix
• US Airways

If you want a real 'gagger' checkout out this post and discussion at HuffPo by leftist Nobel winner Desmond Tutu. This is what the left has been reduced to. Be sure to read the rest at Temple of Mut. Check back here later today for more updates too.

Obama Prepping Military to Suppress Tea Party Movement?

by the Left Coast Rebel

James at Reaganite is warning readers of a possible follow through of yesterday's Orwellian police-state-esque 'riot police' situation at a Tea Party in Illinois. The gist - it could be the tip of the iceberg:

Yesterday police in riot gear were dispatched to a wholly-peaceful TEA Party event at Quincy, Illinois as snipers observed old ladies with cutesy protest signs through their rifle scopes... and the Secret Service insisted on trucking-in the riot squad over the protests of local police who felt there was no threat whatsoever.

Bizarre, but what to make of it...is this just more paranoia on Obama's part, as some are saying? Certainly likely, but when I read it the first thing I thought was intimidation... now this: Mark Alexander at The Patriot Post (h/t LL at Virtual Mirage) put a deeply-disturbing piece up today
Army Preps for TEA Party 'Terrorists':

Read the rest at Reaganite.

UPDATED: Although this post is but an excerpt from Reaganite's piece, it sparked several thoughts from LCR enlisted readers. For instance, Hack who blogs at Hack Wilson writes:

The US Military will never go along with such nonsense. As a whole, the majority hate Obama.

Also, Tristin Meacham writes:

If an order like that were given the chain of command would break down. Most of us would refuse.

Freudian Slip? Obama : "I do Think at a Certain Point, you Have Made Enough Money"

by the Left Coast Rebel

How about this. At a certain point, a Federal government has assumed enough control over a free people. How about, at a certain point, a single President has 'concentrated' enough power and wealth?

How close is, "I don't want to punish your success, I just want to spread the wealth" to "I do think at a certain point you've made enough money?"

Different sides to the same coin of non-teleprompter moments - what do you think:

Ed Morrissey via Hot Air gives us the quote of the day:

In a properly regulated capitalist system, the natural tension of self-interests create economic growth through innovation and efficient use of capital and resources.

Put simply, a free people work for themselves, not for the government. Barack Obama seems to have a problem understanding that.

I disagree a bit with Ed Morrissey, though. I think that the Obamanation has absolutely no trouble understanding 'that.'

Via Memeorandum.

Steve Benen writes: Look at all these huge Health Care Benefits Kicking in

Please, please, please Democrats, please tell me that you not only read Steve Benen, but you plan on making the same talking points.

Democrats have been so far out of touch on Health Care, so trapped in the Washington mind set, that there is no legislation in recent memory that was passed in law and was so poorly sold to the voters in this country.  Think Obama in his ABC Health Care infomercial telling a woman that her mother is going to need to take a pain pill instead of getting life-improving surgery.  Steve Benen is in lockstep with the Democratic group-think in Washington.  Today, he dared Republicans to talk ill of health care reform, because if you do, you are going to get it!  Don't you dare talk about no benefits to the health care legislation, because we got all kinds of benefits!  Just look at these massive…huge…head turning…I'm talking everybody but the racists will be thanking Obama for these benefits:

"In recent weeks, we've seen many major insurers begin implementing a provision of the law that allows young adults to stay on their family health care plan through their 26th birthday. What's more, the industry agreed to stop denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions (after initially intending to exploit an alleged loophole in the law).

And this week, consumers and families received more good news -- the industry will scrap its "rescission" practices, four months before the new federal ban was scheduled to go into effect."

Where does this leftist myopia come from?  It's like watching a child get excited when it commands a pet brick to stay and low and behold the brick does not move.  I'm not going to argue that these provisions will not provide some kind of benefit to someone in this country, but that is not the problem with selling health care and it never was.  After all as Lincoln once said, you can please a few people all the time.

The problem the democrats had with health care was that they chose massive, sweeping legislation instead of incremental changes.  When the health care debate was raging, the democrats needed to convince 200 million Americans to let government completely and utterly change their health care plans.  The democrats failed to provide a reasonable argument.  Now, it is silly to think that sending a number of hallmark congratulations cards to an electorate that you owe an apology to is going to improve the mood of the voting populace.

Steve Benen's reasoning does little to allay this problem.  In fact, if democrats want to bring up health care and try and sell it as their big accomplishment, because your lazy, 26 your old who should have moved out of the house already is now covered under your health care plan, it's their funeral.  There is a doctor shortage, rising deficit and a health care plan that mirrors the one that is destroying MA and no amount of 26 year olds now covered under their parents is going to be a reasonable explanation.

Steve dares, "eliminate these needed, popular advances. I dare you," but Republicans don't need to convince people that health care reform is bad, the public already knows it and there is nothing that is going to change it.  

Via Memeorandum

Immigration Insecurity -- A Discussion

By: Les Carpenter III

Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation USA's post yesterday discussing Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which is a) specifically concerned with controlling and stopping the influx of illegal aliens, b) has nothing in it that is unreasonable or unlawful, and c) is not racist... was an attempt to move beyond emotionalism and political pandering that is becoming so evident.

The following video, a discussion with Hannity, Malkin, and Hernandez points up the disagreements between  those who support  rational thought and rule of law as opposed to the emotionalism and race baiting of the progressive left, and quite frankly the POTUS.

See the video and more information here.

Via: Memeorandum

Huh? Obama Riot Police Called in at Quincy, Illinois Tea Party Protest?

by the Left Coast Rebel

Gateway Pundit broke this story, Sharp Elbows has the best coverage with several videos. Here's one:

I don't have time this morning to research this as well as I would like to. Donald Douglas at American Power has this however:


Additional links at the post (via Memeorandum). But Dana (Loesch) adds:

Who gave the order to call in the riot police on protesters? Word is that Secret Service from inside the venue and the presidential team pressured local law enforcement, who were against the idea. Local cops were overruled, I’m told by various sources, including a few members of local press. Moore reported that she overheard Secret Service telling the riot squad to “push them back, out of sight.“

Intimidation tactic. Plain and simple. There was no violence, no arguments, just a couple hundred patriots who sang patriotic songs and wore red, white, and blue. Unbelievable.

*UPDATE

Doug Edelman identifies this man as the one who called in the riot squad and said to “push them back, out of sight” ...

I wonder if we will be seeing more of this kind crackdown on Tea Party events? After scanning several stories, I sure as hell could not find an 'incident' that provoked authorities to the point of calling in riot police. Illinois' Quincy Herald Whig as well mentions riot police presence but with no substantiated reason for them being there. C-Gen - perhaps you can find more information on this?

Were there Molotov cocktails thrown at authorities and rioting? No, you have to depend on the communist left for that kind of behavior.

Discussion at Memeorandum, here, here.

Update x2:

NBC coverage calls peaceful protest rowdy. Loud yes, but notice no reference of violence and certainly no need for riot police.



Update x3:

Via A Traditional Life Lived

LCR has obtained a video of the protesters singing the song that local Quincy paper said was in protest to complying with the secret service. Obviously, the reporter had not actually been at the protest because they reported the song as "God Bless America," when in actuality it was "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Video also does not show any noncompliance from the Tea Partiers that were reported and parroted by hacks like Huffington Post.

Quote Quincy Herald Whig:

There were a few tense moments when the crowd moved west down York toward Third Street after the president's motorcade arrived. A Secret Service agent asked the crowd to move back across the street to the north side.

When the crowd didn't move and began singing "God Bless, America" and the national anthem, Quincy Deputy Police Chief Ron Dreyer called for members of the Mobile Field Force to walk up the street.

The officers, mainly from Metro East departments near St. Louis and dressed in full body armor, marched from the east and stood on the south side of York facing the protesters.

Arizona Pima County Sheriff:SB 1070 "Stupid," Will Not Enforce

by the Left Coast Rebel

I guess there are moonbats in Arizona, after all. According to Arizona Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik SB 1070 is 'racist' and 'profiling' and he will not enforce it. Also, you have to love how he references the November election as retribution. Also, will illegal immigrants vote with their feet? I would love to see California's economy if an additional 500,000 illegal immigrants come here from Arizona, as the A.P. suggests.

Really? What about the fact that 7 out of 10 Arizona residents support SB 1070?

Via Memeorandum

Judge declares that Ayers has the right to speak at University of Wyoming

By Conservative Generation for Left Coast Rebel

What could be more insane than a Clinton appointed judge overturning the defund ACORN law passed by a clear majority in congress?  How about Clinton appointed Judge William Downes declaring that Bill Ayers has a right to speak at the privately endowed University of Wyoming?  

CNN reports:

Former Weather Underground militant Bill Ayers will appear at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday after a federal judge ruled he can't be barred from speaking on campus.

The Associated Press has a little more on the details of the story that evolved:

Ayers is now a professor in the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Education.

He initially was invited to the Wyoming campus by the UW Social Justice Research Center, but the privately endowed organization canceled the invitation because of hundreds of critical phone calls and e-mails.

Student Meg Lanker then invited Ayers to speak on campus, but the university refused to rent out space for the event, citing safety concerns because of threats the school received.

Oh, it gets better folks.  Not only must UW must allow Mr. Weatherman himself to speak at the college.  The court ordered the school to provide and pay for special security measures so that he could do so.  From the CNN report:

U.S. District Judge William Downes ordered Tuesday that the university must take "all prudent steps" to guarantee Ayers' security at his lecture.

The university had argued that "serious threats" prompted it to cancel the appearance by Ayers, who is now a University of Illinois education professor.

Downes' two-page order requires university officials to take "all prudent steps to maintain order and provide for the security of participants and spectators." University officials won't appeal the order, said spokeswoman Jessica Lowell.

University President Tom Buchanan said the school "will do everything in our power to provide a safe and secure environment for his visit."

The moral of the story?  Court appointments matter.  If this is how Bill Clinton appointments are turning out, can you even imagine what rulings we will get 16 years from now from Obama bench picks?  Obama has promised to transform this country and his policies speak to his sincerity of that mission.  Likewise, his court appointments will be just as committed, if not more so, to the same type of leftwing legal lunacy.

Anti-RepublicanCulture has an interesting take on this same story by comparing how blessed Ayer's first amendment right is to the left while conservatives like Tom Tancredo are silenced. Read here.

Boycott Arizona Iced Tea Over Arizona Senate Bill 1070! (ARIZONA ICED TEA BOYCOTT)

by the Left Coast Rebel

I left a message today with good friend and fellow LCRer C-Gen today. We were playing a bit of 'phone tag' and discussing possible strategy coming up with exposing the left in their nefarious movements to counter the Tea Party movement. Stay posted.

Anyway one thing that I mentioned to C-Gen was the fact that one should never 'mis'underestimate just how flatly stupid some on the left are. Sure, there are smart people that reside there but it is typically the 'book smart' kind of folks. Street smarts, often - not so much. Today's most funny example of just that heralds from the liberal mass-coronation over Arizona's Senate Bill 1070.

At least it points to just how ridiculous and brain-dead the far-left has become over a simple matter of law enforcement in a border state.

NYDailyNews:

Opponents of Arizona's new anti-immigrant law are calling for a boycott of the state's products - including the popular Arizona Iced Tea.

The problem: Arizona Iced Tea is actually brewed in New York.

Online, misguided tea fans vowed to switch to Lipton or Snapple.

"Dear Arizona: If you don't change your immigration policy, I will have to stop drinking your enjoyable brand of iced tea," Twittered Jody Beth in Los Angeles.

"It is the drink of fascists," wrote Travis Nichols in Chicago.

The company did not return messages asking if they planned to set the public straight.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1992, the firm was based in Queens before moving into a new $35 million headquarters in Nassau County last year.

The new state law allows cops to demand citizenship papers from anyone they think looks illegal.

Yes, it really has come to this. I think I will enjoy a good brew tomorrow, after a hard day's work - just to spite the illiterate leftist trolls among us:

Also on the docket of discussion over Arizona's Senate Bill 1070:

RightKlik - Arizona Cracks Down on Murderous Greed of Foreign Criminals.

Rational Nation - Great analysis of the law.

Reaganite - Full text of the new law.

Temple of Mut - Lots 'o Links on the Arizona Illegal Immigration situation.
Also, trending at Memeorandum:

A.P. - Illegal Immigrants Plan to Leave Over Ariz. Law (that's a bad thing? Methinks this 'news' will motivate other states to send illegals to California).

Think (Un) Progress Wonk Room - Seven States Contemplate 'Anti-Immigrant' Legislation (beware, dear reader - this is a loaded liberal article).

Fox News - Sanctuary Cities that Aren't.

Have a great evening all.....

Charlie Crist the 'Independent': Who's Surprised?

by the Left Coast Rebel

Frankly I wasn't surprised to read today that ever-the-political class opportunist, RINO Governor Charlie Crist (R-Florida) is 'going there' and running as an indpendent as a last ditch effort to save his political life.

A teachable moment:

Close advisers expect him to say tomorrow that he looks forward to caucusing with Republicans but that is not a certainty, there are still some issues being worked out and discussed.

Tea Party, limited government activists - the above, in bold, cements the 'R' vs. 'D' sham-paradox. George W. Bush and the Republican Congress of the 2000's prolifigate spending should have been the final straw for this nation.

If this man turns out to be the spoiler in the upcoming Senate race in Florida, Charlie Crist can enter the annals of history right next to Arlen Specter.

Reaganite Republican has some great analysis on this as well.

A match, made in heaven (not quite), get a room, you two:

Via Memeorandum.

Legalizing Marijuana More Popular Than Obama, Health Reform, and War on Terror

From the California Independent Voter Network:

"You read that right. Legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults has more widespread support than President Obama's administration. Pot legalization is also more popular than the recent health care bill that passed in Congress and has higher approval ratings than our handling of the Global War on Terror...

On page four of AP/CNBC's poll report, respondents were asked if they thought the U.S. should treat marijuana and alcohol similarly. 44% thought that marijuana shouldn't be treated any differently than alcohol, while another 12% even wanted less strict rules for marijuana than for alcohol- making a whopping 56% in favor of pot legalization."

Read how marijuana legalization ranks against Obama's approval ratings, our handling of the War on Terror, and the number of Americans who support the new health care law here.

Arizona Immigration Law - Senate Bill 1070

By: Les Carpenter III

Rational Nation USA

Arizona's new immigration bill recently signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer certainly has created a firestorm. 

Politicians from both the progressive and conservative sides of the political spectrum seem to be at least in partial agreement, that the bill is ill advised.

Of course with all the media attention being given to this what is really a rather mild law, (more on this later) and Obama criticizing Arizona legislatures for doing something to control their huge illegal immigration problem , something the feds have neglected for years with a wink and a nod, I decided to do a little research. In a matter of a few minutes, after a Google search,  I had the  full text printed out to review.

I was moved to look at the Arizona law after visiting the typical off the wall emotional driven leftist blogs to see what truth there may be in the allegations of that the law would turn the state into a Nazis right wing fascist camp of racists. Not surprisingly I found nothing to lead one to believe the outrageous claims some of the really wacko progressive blogs are making.

First before discussing the highlights of what I believe pertinent in the bill a few links to articles addressing the issue...  followed by a couple personal observations. Feel free to take issue with them and comment. 

The Government's Justice Department it appears is lining up behind a challenge to the new law, read more on this here. The President has weighed in on the matter with his usual rhetorical flair, here. And the ones you might expect most likely to support tougher immigration laws in border states seem to be a bit tepid as well. Read what Governor Jeb Bush and Karl Rove have to say on the issue.

I have always found it funny that everyone professes to want secure borders and effective immigration control. Yet in the final analysis nothing has been done by either side to craft a successful plan to accomplish the stated   desire. In my opinion this is because no one has really wanted to solve the problem. These are the simple reasons, and as always they are political and economic.

Read more here and get the full text of Arizona Senate Bill 1070.

Via: Memeorandum

Greece Reduced to 'Junk,' Is America Doomed to Follow Suit?

by the Left Coast Rebel

Every time I read about the financial crisis in Greece, I think of the United States. Essentially, in my opinion - the only difference between American statist/Union racketeering/Marxian-spread the wealth types and the Greek leviathan government/union/welfare state is time.

Greece is simply farther ahead on the fiscal path that we are on and that is why it must be stopped. We are America and not 'doomed' to this fate:

April 27 (Bloomberg) -- Greece’s credit rating was cut three steps to junk by Standard and Poor’s, the first time a euro member has lost its investment grade since the currency’s 1999 debut. The euro weakened and stock markets throughout the region plunged.

Greece was lowered to BB+ from BBB+ by S&P, which also warned that bondholders could recover as little as 30 percent of their initial investment if the country restructures its debt. The move, which puts Greek debt on a par with bonds issued by Azerbaijan and Egypt, came minutes after the rating company reduced Portugal by two steps to A- from A+.

Via Memeorandum.

Nanny State: Happy Meal Toys to be Banned in Santa Clara, California?

by the Left Coast Rebel
It's all about the chillrens, right? A nanny state is as a nanny state does, coming to an Obamanation near you (L.A. Times):

Convinced that Happy Meals and other food promotions aimed at children could make kids fat as well as happy, county officials in Silicon Valley are poised to outlaw the little toys that often come with high-calorie offerings.

The proposed ban is the latest in a growing string of efforts to change the types of foods aimed at youngsters and the way they are cooked and sold. Across the nation, cities, states and school boards have taken aim at excessive sugar, salt and certain types of fats.

I think nanny-staters focus on the latter, not former - emphasized above. How can welfare statists control the masses if they are happy, let alone bothered by 'too many' unhealthy food choices. Whatever happened to personal responsibility in this country? Whatever happened to the responsibility that parents have to raise their children - including feeding them? Very Orwellian.

via Memeorandum

Texas Governor Rick Perry Shoots Coyote on Jog Near Austin

by the Left Coast Rebel

Could Governor Rick Perry take this skill with him to Washington? With words and ideas, of course - instead of bullets. Look out, Wily Coyote:

AUSTIN, Texas -- Pistol-packing Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a message for wily coyotes out there: Don't mess with my dog.

Perry told The Associated Press on Tuesday he needed just one shot from the laser-sighted pistol he sometimes carries while jogging to take down a coyote that menaced his puppy during a February run near Austin.

The first thing I thought after reading this was, 'I wonder what caliber the pistol was.' WaPo fills us in:

Perry said he will carry his .380 Ruger - loaded with hollow-point bullets - when jogging on trails because he is afraid of snakes. He'd also seen coyotes in the undeveloped area.

He's a good shot, that's a very small pistol:

EconomyPolitics Asks - Where's the Hate?

by the Left Coast Rebel

LCR reader Taylor at EconomyPolitics wrote up a great post today that highlights the disparity between what the left/lame stream press paints conservatives as versus the actual, legitimate rhetoric and actions of the left. Taylor writes:

When GEICO T.V. voice talent Lance Baxter, better known as D.C. Douglas (I call him Geico Voice), called Freedom Works, a Tea Party group, and left voicemails insulting Tea Party members and accusing them of promoting violence, GEICO did what any responsible company should do – they fired Baxter.

In case you weren't following, Geico Voice called Freedom Works with a nastygram and asked "What are you going to do when someone from your movement kills somebody?" or something to that effect. The poor sap left his return number. Then, Freedom Works posted his number on their website and website readers started calling Geico Voice. Then, Geico Voice called him relieving him of his duties as their spokesman.

The whole exchange led to a flurry of nastygrams from both the right and the left. Since both sides recorded the calls and put them into their own videos we have a rare opportunity to compare and contrast the hate. You make the call.

Go to EconomyPolitics to see both videos side by side and then vote on which one you think displays the most hate. Thanks for this great post, Taylor!

Obama Calls Arizona Immigration law 'poorly conceived'

by the Left Coast Rebel

Another offense, another day - Chancellor Obama knows better, and it is up to you to 'get it,' even if eventually. CNN:

Obama criticized the recently passed Arizona immigration bill, calling it "poorly conceived."

"You can imagine if you are an Hispanic American in Arizona, your great grandparents may have been there before Arizona was even a state, but now suddenly if you don't have your papers, and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you're gonna be harassed," Obama said. "That's something that could potentially happen. That's not the right way to go."

Another pathetic, ridiculous statement from the (once) silver-tongued post-racist. I think Obama was 'poorly conceived' in so far as his vision to 'remake' America in a socialist (dys) topian vision.

"And now, if you took your kid out to get ice cream, you're gonna get harassed."

Truly pathetic, of a small, little man.

Via Memeorandum

UPDATED: Also, isn't it interesting to see the neocons come out of the woodwork and decry Arizona's illegal immigration bill?

Exhibit a). Jeb Bush

Exhibit b). Karl Rove

Update x2: C-Gen's take

Define irony: A man who just passed a law that requires everyone to purchase and produce a piece of paper or be fined or jailed (health insurance) calls a law requiring one to produce a free piece of paper or be fined or jailed, harassment (Arizona Immigration Reform).

So, by this logic, the flaw in Arizona's "poorly conceived bill" must be that everyone should have to pay a fee to produce identification.

At least with Obama's ice cream example, the people are getting hassled for doing something. Every year millions of Americans are hassled for no other reason but that it is April 15th.

Noah's Ark Found in Turkey?

by the Left Coast Rebel

The Biblical story of Noah was always one of the most fascinating to me as a child. Noah, the coming flood, a man on a mission - one of each species of animal in the world, think about all of the angles to the story that have fascinated for centuries.

Do you think the 'Ark' existed? Do you think that scientists may have proven to the world just that? Fox News:

A group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers say wooden remains they have discovered on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey are the remains of Noah's Ark.

The group claims that carbon dating proves the relics are 4,800 years old, meaning they date to around the same time the ark was said to be afloat. Mt. Ararat has long been suspected as the final resting place of the craft by evangelicals and literalists hoping to validate biblical stories.

Yeung Wing-Cheung, from the Noah's Ark Ministries International research team that made the discovery, said: "It's not 100 percent that it is Noah's Ark, but we think it is 99.9 percent that this is it."

There have been several reported discoveries of the remains of Noah's Ark over the years, most notably a find by archaeologist Ron Wyatt in 1987. At the time, the Turkish government officially declared a national park around his find, a boat-shaped object stretched across the mountains of Ararat.

Nevertheless, the evangelical ministry remains convinced that the current find is in fact more likely to be the actual artifact, calling upon Dutch Ark researcher Gerrit Aalten to verify its legitimacy.

I'm perfectly skeptical, to be perfectly honest. The story is still incredibly fascinating though. Bungalow Bill had this video:

Instead of Goldman Sachs, Obama and the Administration Should be Hauled Before Congress - Obama Admin Buried Obamacare Cost 1 Week Before Vote

by the Left Coast Rebel

The real threat to our economy, our freedoms and way of life reside in Washington DC. The instigators of our malaise and socialism - of the bleeding of our vibrant economy and way of life are commandeered straight out of the Oval Office. As the worm turns, Democrat statists (and some GOPers like McLame) use Goldman Sachs to whip up populist fury to ram through yet another disastrous 1,000 + page bill that no one in Congress will read.

And you know what? The lame stream press covers the circus and misses a story that truly points to just who we are dealing with in the power structure in America today. We shouldn't be surprised at any length they will go to. Listen to this from Ace of Spades:

Whoa! That report from the Medicare actuaries released last week that concluded ObamaCare would raise premiums? The Obama Administration had it a week before the final vote...and sat on it:

The economic report released last week by Health and Human Services, which indicated that President Barack Obama's health care "reform" law would actually increase the cost of health care and impose higher costs on consumers, had been submitted to the office of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius more than a week before the Congressional votes on the bill, according to career HHS sources, who added that Sebelius's staff refused to review the document before the vote was taken.

"The reason we were given was that they did not want to influence the vote," says an HHS source. "Which is actually the point of having a review like this, you would think."

As Malor at Ace of Spades points out, Obama sat on reports that flat-out showed that Obamacare would raise premiums. Recall what he was saying at that time? The precise opposite. It's plain as day for all to see what Obama and his henchman are doing to this nation.

I vote for Obama, Sebellius and anyone else in the power structure that 'sat' on this information as bribes, threats, strong-arming and other nefarious pre-vote activity to be hauled before Congress for a show trial.

Think that will happen? Truly a teachable moment:

Andrew Breitbart: Beer Summits, Tea Party 'N'-Word...

by the Left Coast Rebel

Andrew Breitbart coming out swinging again in a piece up at Biggovernment.com. Here's a bit of it:

Rep. Andre Carson wants to change the subject. I don’t blame him.

On April 13, 2010 he told AP reporter Jesse Washington, “I think we need to move toward a dialogue that explores why this kind of divisive and reprehensible language is still making it into our political debate.”

The “divisive and reprehensible language” that Rep. Carson is referring to is his claim that while he left the Cannon office building on March 20 with Rep. John Lewis, they were verbally assaulted by health care protesters hurling the “N-word” at them. He said the scene was so hostile he “expected rocks to come” when he was coming out of Cannon.

I wanted to see the evidence. I wanted the truth. In the course of our search we have actually uncovered further video evidence that casts serious doubt on Rep.Carson’s claims:

Now this story is much more important than the accusation of fifteen racists among the thousands of protesters that day. This is now about the accusers.

It’s not just that Congressmen Carson’s accusation of an extraordinary racist verbal assault by the tea party participants on March 20 doesn’t appear to have occurred, it’s that the accusers have now gone into the bunker and, having raised the incendiary subject, are doing everything they can to avoid the discussion. Why? What’s changed?

When the accusation was made, the mainstream media made it the number one topic on every news show. The Democratic Party was leading the discussion. But when confronted on the baseless accusation, without even a modicum of evidence that it actually happened, other than an assertion, the Democratic Party, and its symbiotic allies the mainstream media, want to have another “beer summit.”

No. The Democratic Party and the political left cannot use the race card to shut up its opponents based upon pure fabrication any longer. This failed tactic ultimately serves to mitigate accusations of real racism — which we are not saying doesn’t exist.

When I offered a reward of $100,000 to be donated to the United Negro College Fund if anyone produced video and audio evidence that this occurred, I was accused of a publicity stunt (because everyone knows that the best way to get publicity in America is to accuse a civil rights icon of lying about racism). Rep. Carson himself suggested that my challenge was “a veiled attempt to justify actions that are simply unjustifiable.” Get it? He calls protesters racist and if you ask him to prove it, you’re a racist, too.

Needless to say, no one has claimed the $100,000.

Read the rest, via Memeorandum.

The Simpsons Stands Behind South Park?

by the Left Coast Rebel

At least Bart Simpson does on the chalkboard. We'd support you if we weren't so scared. That sums it up:



I guess you could say 'we'd support you if we weren't such cowards' as well.

Via Memeorandum

UPDATED: Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes in the Wall Street Journal:

'South Park" is hilarious, right? Not any more.

Last week, Zachary Adam Chesser—a 20-year-old Muslim convert who now goes by the name Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee—posted a warning on the Web site RevolutionMuslim.com following the 200th episode of the show on Comedy Central. The episode, which trotted out many celebrities the show has previously satirized, also "featured" the Prophet Muhammad: He was heard once from within a U-Haul truck and a second time from inside a bear costume.

For this apparent blasphemy, Mr. Amrikee warned that co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone "will probably end up" like Theo van Gogh. Van Gogh, readers will remember, was the Dutch filmmaker who was brutally murdered in 2004 on the streets of Amsterdam. He was killed for producing "Submission," a film that criticized the subordinate role of women in Islam, with me.

There has been some debate about whether Mr. Stone and Mr. Parker should view the Web posting as a direct threat. Here's Mr. Amrikee's perspective: "It's not a threat, but it really is a likely outcome," he told Foxnews.com. "They're going to be basically on a list in the back of the minds of a large number of Muslims. It's just the reality." He's also published the home and office addresses of Messrs. Stone and Parker, as well as images of Van Gogh's body.

Read the rest, via Memeorandum.