The Flawed Logic of the Lawsuits Against Arizona’s S.B. 1070

We’ve all heard about the Obama administration’s (DOJ) lawsuit against S.B. 1070, the one by the Phoenix Police Officer, the ACLU’s lawsuit, among several others. But each particular lawsuit is inherently flawed for fairly different reasons.

The DOJ suit is playing the supremacy clause card, stating the Feds have plenary jurisdiction over creating and enforcing immigration laws. If this is the case, why do municipal and state police also enforce drug laws? Is the DEA supreme in creating and enforcing illegal drug laws? No, I don’t think so. What about bank robbery? That’s a federal crime. Are local and state cops not allowed to arrest bank robbers? Of course they are. Illegal firearms? All the cops I know arrest folks for illegal possession of weapons all the time, even though there’s an ATF. Honestly, the DOJ is acting like Illegal Immigration laws are the only federal laws on the books. If this is their reasoning, I’d have to say their agenda is different; they just can’t state it out loud.

Phoenix Police Officer, David Salgado, joined with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for his lawsuit. They are claiming, as the DOJ is, that S.B. 1070 was pre-empted by federal law. However, his other reason is that he believes the new law would violate plaintiffs’ First and Fourth Amendment rights. The First Amendment issue makes no sense to me, because how does this law infringe upon anyone’s right to speech and/or assemble? As far as the Fourteenth Amendment rights go (“equal protection” clause), this could be claimed for any law on the books. Drug dealers claim this, prostitutes claim this, shoplifters claim this, and on and on, ad infinitum. I wonder if Officer Salgado has ever arrested any drug dealers, bank robbers, or any other kind of criminals that violate federal laws? By the way, Officer Salgado might want to clean up his own house before crying foul.

New Chief of Medicare & Medicaid Is a British Knight…Wait, What?

Yesterday at my day job, I attended a webinar hosted by our health insurance carrier, Cigna, for them to brief us about the effects the new Healthcare Reform Act will have on our benefits. The first speaker, a Cigna government liaison, gave attendees an overview of the politics of the new law, upcoming eletions, the possibilities for changes, and just general uncertainty about what the future holds.

I was kind of shocked that he was talking politics at all, but it was really apropos due to the subject of the webinar. During his spiel he went over the recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by President Obama. He duly noted the controversy surrounding this pick for that position, citing Berwick’s well-documented affection for the British National Health Services (NHS), Berwick one time referring to it a “seductress,” and saying that any good health care system was, by nature, redistributive. He’s also famous for saying this: “The decision is not whether or not we will ration care–the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.”

It was then that the speaker said something I hadn’t heard before. Because of his praise of the NHS, Dr. Berwick had received a Knighthood by the Queen of England.

A Knighthood? Really?

He was correct. After the webinar was over, I went straight to Google, and lo and behold, this was reported; even by the New York Times (although they try to dismiss the criticisms of Dr. Berwick’s aforementioned positions on health care). He was, indeed, given an honorary Knighthood in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II. Check out this portion of the NY Times piece:

Want To Win a Chance to Dine With Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama? Papers Please!

I find it highly ironic that just one day after U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton enjoined the most important sections of Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration bill, S.B. 1070, the D.C.C.C. sends out an email, ostensibly from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to everyone on their mailing list with an offer to enter a sweepstakes where the grand-prize winner “could be part of our historic gathering in Los Angeles.” The fabulous package includes the following:

“(T)wo round-trip airplane tickets from the major airport closest to your address within the continental U.S. to Los Angeles, CA, one night’s hotel accommodations for two, and attend a dinner with special guest President Obama (approximate retail value $1,250).”

What’s so crazy about that, you ask? Well, the official rules state the sweepstakes are “only open to citizens of the U.S. and lawful permanent U.S. residents who are residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia and 18 or older (or of majority under applicable law).”

Here are the official rules as listed in the email:

Sweepstakes Information: You may enter by contributing. Alternatively, you may enter without making a contribution by clicking here and following the directions to enter. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on August 9, 2010. Sweepstakes only open to citizens of the U.S. and lawful permanent U.S. residents who are residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia and 18 or older (or of majority under applicable law). Prize consists of the following prize package: two round-trip airplane tickets from the major airport closest to your address within the continental U.S. to Los Angeles, CA, one night’s hotel accommodations for two, and attend a dinner with special guest President Obama (approximate retail value $1,250). Winner’s guest must be 18 or older (or of majority under applicable law) and meet other requirements as described in the Official Rules. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Promotion is subject to Official Rules. Click here for full Official Rules and details. Sponsor: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Cop Unloads Clip on Perp After Perp’s First Shot Fails (VIDEO)

A police officer in Hamilton, Montana, was recently cleared of charges following a fatal shooting during a traffic stop. The details from the Missoulan:

A coroner’s inquest found Tuesday that Hamilton Police Officer Ross Jessop was justified in shooting Raymond Thane Davis to death after the Hamilton man opened fire during a late-night traffic stop in January.

It took a six-woman jury one hour to make its ruling following nearly five hours of testimony, which included a video that showed Davis pointing a pistol inches from Jessop’s face and pulling the trigger.

The click of the revolver’s hammer hitting a previously fired round was audible in the recording.

Davis fired a second time as the officer fell back and drew his own weapon.

Jessop fired his pistol 14 times into Davis’ vehicle as it sped away. One round hit Davis, 36, in the back and he died at the scene.

Davis’ .41 caliber revolver was recovered from the floorboard of his vehicle. Its hammer was cocked and ready to fire.

Don’tcha just love a good DRT story?