Barack Obama ran as a centrist. I fail to see why voting for voting for Joe Arpaio would be better than voting for "Bush-Light" unless one thinks Bush didn't crush enough civil liberties.

Elected officials work for all the people in their jurisdiction. It's representative democracy, not direct democracy. It's not like when someone is elected they only have to work for the people who actually voted for them.

Public officials take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and the laws of their jurisdiction. Barack Obama has almost as much disdain for those laws as did Shrub.

I voted for change; Obama gave me fraud. I expected that we would honor our treaty commitments; Obama has given the law the middle finger. Give me anyone who will actually uphold the law, and we can negotiate the rest. That Obama has put ICE on ICE arguably constitutes honest services mail fraud.

How is supporting Joe Arpaio better?

You voted for a centrist Democrat. And that's exactly what you got.

The law is unconstitutional and it should have been vetoed or not passed at all. So the court will probably strike it down if not amended. Good thing we have 3 branches of government to cover our butts when 2 of them fail.

As the law is, not all state driver's licenses count as valid proof of citizenship in Arizona. So there's a Full Faith and Credit Clause issue.

"You have the right to remain silent, so we'll just hold you until we can prove you're not an illegal immigrant."

GrrlRomeo:

As the law is, not all state driver's licenses count as valid proof of citizenship in Arizona. So there's a Full Faith and Credit Clause issue.

One that loses in an instant. Drivers' licenses are not proof of citizenship per se. According to the Colorado DMV, "To be issued a Colorado Driver’s License or Identification Card, you must prove the following elements: your full legal name, identity, age, and lawful presence in the United States." Therefore, a valid Colorado driver's license is essentially conclusive proof of status. But if you are carrying a California license, it doesn't prove squat, because illegals can have licenses. As such, you should carry your passport.

Frankly, I don't see where this bill doesn't pass constitutional muster. It is modeled after federal immigration law; about the only argument you can make is that the states don't have the power to legislate under the Tenth Amendment, and that isn't going to go anywhere, given the current composition of the Court.

Boulder is right - it's been a federal offense in this country to have to show proof of citizenship for over 40 years. The AZ law that just passed only lets that state add a misdomeaner to the charge.

To Grrrl: if you truly believe Obama is a centrist...this country is further gone than I feared. If that's what you consider in the middle, what or who in the world is on the left?????

To Commonsensegal- I would consider most of the people in the congressional progressive caucus to be more left leaning then Obama. Probably the hosts of MSNBC's lineup plus Jane Hamsher, Paul Krugman, etc. there are too many to list who I would consider to be left of Obama.

And I am still waiting for someone to define what "reasonable suspicion" and "probable cause" are.

PS- By the way, I gave you that vote thingy and didn't mean to. Ha!

But if you are carrying a California license, it doesn't prove squat, because illegals can have licenses.

Wrong. You have to verify your legal presence in the US to obtain a California license, and you have to provide your social security number and give a thumb print. Try Maryland.

The REAL ID act will require proof of legal presence by 2017. Until then there's going to be citizens driving around with licenses that don't meet Arizona's requirements. And you know, there's also people who just don't drive.

As such, you should carry your passport.

Unacceptable to require citizens of the United States to carry their passport in order to travel over state lines. Passports are for international travel. We're not 50 individual nations. We are one nation.

The AZ law that just passed only lets that state add a misdomeaner to the charge.

The AZ law that just passed gives law enforcement, local and state agencies the power to demand proof of legal presence any time a person comes in contact with them. It's one thing to require people to prove they're here legally when they're getting there license or applying for some state program. But this law means you could be walking to the store and witness a crime, and if you contact police they could then ask you to "show your papers." And maybe you didn't bring your license because you were walking to a soda.

Maybe you're just sitting waiting for a ride and be asked to show your papers. Or maybe you're giving your babysitter a ride home and you don't know she's here illegally...oops, you've just been involved in human trafficking.

To Grrrl: if you truly believe Obama is a centrist...this country is further gone than I feared. If that's what you consider in the middle, what or who in the world is on the left?????

Compared to Bush, almost anyone seems progressive. That's why I suspect people assumed Obama was on the left. Kucinich is on the left, and I'd vote for him if I thought he had a chance.

This Arizona law is a right-wing social conservative law. It's even to the right of Bush. It's the opposite of civil liberty.

Grrrl - You are right on the fact that we should not have to (and are not presently required to) carry our passports here in America. AZ law does not state that either.

On your points regarding examples of running to the store or taking home a babysitter - does it register with you that if you are here LEGALLY then you have nothing to worry about? What is this with everyone wanting America to become a nanny state/country? We have laws for a reason and there are legal ways to become a citizen here - which, if you do desire citizenship, that would logically mean that you love our country (and it's laws!) so much that you want to live here permanently. It's not about, nor has ever been about, coming here to try to CHANGE our country. How do you think we've survived for 200+ years?

"That's why I suspect people assumed Obama was on the left."

You think we just "Assumed"? Have you seen who he turns to for advice on policy? Andy Stern - UNIONS, Mao followers, self-proclaimed communist Van Jones, Valerie Jarrett , and a slew of other Anti-Capitalists who would love nothing more than to grow our government more and more until we, as a people, have no say in anything in our own lives! Do your homework, I have had to, and learn for yourself. These people and their beliefs are not fiction - they've gone on record enough that you can see for yourself where they want to take this country.

You might also want to really take a look at "Progressives"...seriously. By the way - Bush was one too!

What exactly does Obama want to "transform" America into? And what are they progressing towards? I sincerely ask you these - not trying to be ugly. Think about where we'll be as a nation in 20 years if we continue with the soft or non-enforcement of our laws. And what about the media - do you want to live in a country where all the media play into the leader's hands and report only what they're allowed? We're not far from that now!

like we din't knew this.!! this what politicians care about, they are just running after the bone(check) they don't care about the ppl, nor the State, if the do they should want all the community to work together to fight crime and drug cartel, this is an issue the affect everyone, legals or illegal's no one wants to deal with that, but many ppl are so sick with hate the they forget the are ppl as any one else, they are worry about the same issues, they have families, kids the are part of the solution, and if make them get on the shadow the only whos going to get a benefit of the SB 1070 are going to be non other but the drug cartel and criminals the will know the immigrant community will not report them, cause will not wanted to get arrested trying to help the police... just whait for it an see the crime rate going up.

Here, here!