Arizona Sing-A-Long: Read Immigration Law!

Two weeks ago, Governor Jan Brewer took President Obama to task for making Arizonas unsecured borders and illegal immigration crisis a laughing matter. However, since then, Washingtons comedy of errors has grown far worse, with top cabinet officials admitting that they havent even read Arizonas new immigration law. Broken borders are not a laughing matter, but the failure by Obamas trusted officials to read Arizonas law before commenting and condemning it is laughable. Read the law for yourself at: www.SecuretheBorder.org

Miss Oklahoma in the Spotlight

Morgan Woolard on racy lingerie photos,
Carrie Prejean controversy and
Donald Trump's support

Miss Oklahoma on 'America Live'

Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard discusses her answer about Arizona law that may have cost her the crown

Miss Oklahoma USA on whether support for Arizona's immigration law cost her the crown

Miss Oklahoma USA 2010 1st Runner Up, Morgan Elizabeth Woolard speaks out about her final answer on FOX and Friends, with Gretchen Carlson, Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy

In Oklahoma, We love Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard!!!

Miss Oklahoma USA Supports Arizona Law

In Oklahoma, We love Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard!!!

"I'm a huge believer in states' rights. I think that's what's so wonderful about America. So I think it's perfectly fine for Arizona to create that law."

She was asked what she thought about the new immigration law in Arizona. The judge who asked her the question was Oscar Nunez, actor from "The Office". Nunez was initially booed when he asked the loaded question.

Sheriff Joe Would Be Leading GOP Contender for Ariz. Governor

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R) performs best among a field of Republican candidates in hypothetical match-ups for next year's Arizona governor's race, a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Nov. 18

In the survey of likely Arizona voters, Arpaio was the only GOP candidate to top likely Democratic nominee Terry Goddard, the state's current attorney general, 51 to 39 percent. Goddard led state Treasurer Dean Martin (R) 40 percent to 38 percent and incumbent Gov. Jan Brewer (R) 44 percent to 35 percent. The margin of error was 3 percent.

Arpaio, who is not in the race but has not ruled it out, benefits from the national profile he has earned by taking a hard line against illegal immigration in his county. Though controversial nationally, he remains popular in Arizona -- 63 percent of likely voters rated him favorably including 43 percent very favorably. Thirty-one percent viewed him unfavorably.

And 64 percent said they think Arpaio is doing the right thing by trying to work around federal law and track down illegal immigrants.

Goddard is the only other candidate polled who was regarded favorably by a majority of the electorate -- 51 percent to 35 percent unfavorably. Brewer, who has had a rocky tenure in the governor's mansion since filling the post in January, had a 44 to 48 percent favorable-to-unfavorable ratio.

Martin was the least known of the prospective candidates -- 32 percent had no opinion of him. Forty-one percent regarded him favorably to 27 percent unfavorably.

Brewer is the only declared candidate in the race, though Goddard is widely expected to run and Martin is actively considering it.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Letter to Al Sharpton

Click to read

David Spade Donates $100,000 To Phoenix PD For 50 AR-15s

The Phoenix Police Department has gotten some high-powered goodies courtesy of actor David Spade.

The one-time Phoenix resident donated $100,000 so that the department can buy approximately 50 AR-15 rifles.

Spade said he wanted to make the donation after seeing a TV news report about Phoenix officers having to buy their own rifles. Spade grew up in the Phoenix area and graduated from Arizona State University.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Alan Hill says the rifles will be given to patrol officers and that the agency was grateful for the gifts.

"These guys need to be able to do their jobs and I am just happy I could help," Spade said in a statement released by his publicist.

The Phoenix Police Department is out gunned, mainly because of the Mexican drug cartels presence in the city. Earlier this year, the drug cartels carried out a hit in Phoenix with what were suspected former members of the Mexican military.

Conservatives look to Flake to rescue GOP or is He ?

by Dan Nowicki
- The Arizona Republic

Jeff Flake is positioning himself as
Arizona's Republican
maverick for the future.

Once considered almost a novelty for his relentless one-man attack on House GOP spending practices and push for Cuba policy reform, many conservatives now are looking to the five-term congressman for guidance in rehabilitating the tarnished Republican brand.

And Flake, 45, recently laid the preliminary groundwork to follow two other Arizona Republican mavericks - John McCain and Barry Goldwater - into the Senate if McCain decides to retire instead of seeking re-election in 2010 or Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., chooses not to run again in 2012.

In recent years, Flake has grown closer to McCain and is a loyal ally of the 2008 presidential candidate on priorities such as comprehensive immigration reform and in the battle against pork-barrel politics. He also hasn't ruled out a possible 2010 run for governor.

"I don't think I'm heir apparent to anything, though," Flake said.

Flake is taking on a more prominent role in statewide politics, partly because he is dismayed by the single-minded obsession some of his fellow Republicans continue to have toward illegal immigration.

Like McCain, Flake is a strong supporter of a comprehensive reform approach that would include a temporary-worker program and the legalization of undocumented workers already in the country. That stance has drawn Flake the enmity of GOP immigration restrictionists.

"I've been concerned about where the state is going and our inability to attract votes statewide. My fear is the tone, particularly on immigration, is relegating us to minority status for a long time unless we change it," Flake said. "Unless we get off that kick, we're doomed as a party statewide. ."

GOP 'star power'
Flake would hardly be a shoo-in GOP successor to Kyl or McCain. Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., another McCain ally, also is interested in moving to the upper chamber, and other Republicans likely would consider entering a competitive primary for what would be the first open Senate seat in Arizona since 1994.

But some local Republicans already acknowledge the easy-going and good-humored Flake's "star power," or at least the potential for it.

"He embodies what a lot of people are looking for in Republican leadership right now," said Jaime Molera, a senior consultant to Kyl's successful 2006 bid for a third term and a McCain supporter. "Here's a guy who is incredibly intelligent, who brings a strong vision of a real conservative and who is just very charismatic. A lot of people have thought about Jeff as a gubernatorial candidate, as well."

Flake toyed with the idea of running for governor in 2004 and recently demonstrated an acute interest in state politics. Last month, Flake took the unusual step of inserting himself into the internal machinations of the state House Republican caucus. He made calls to GOP lawmakers lobbying for the election of state Rep. Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, as Arizona speaker of the House. Adams unexpectedly ousted incumbent House Speaker Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix.

"We needed a change in focus and a change in tone and a change in just about everything," Flake said. "And I think that Kirk will do a better job."

In McCain's footsteps
Besides representing McCain's old congressional district (though hardly recognizable after two rounds of redistricting), Flake from the start of his congressional career displayed not only an independent streak reminiscent of McCain's but also similar reformist tendencies.

They have teamed up on McCain's long crusade to end the murky budget process known as earmarking, and they have united in the bipartisan push to revamp U.S. immigration policy.

More often, Flake has gone off on his own:


• He drew the ire of House GOP leadership and President Bush's White House with his vocal opposition to the decades-old ban on U.S. travel to Cuba. A free-trader, Flake still wants to dismantle the economic embargo on Cuba and hopes President-elect Barack Obama will take a fresh look at U.S.-Cuba relations.


• In 2006, he was instrumental in stopping disgraced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, from returning to his leadership post.


• Flake sharply criticized McCain on campaign-finance reform, and McCain foes within the party tried to draft Flake to take on McCain in his 2004 Senate primary.

By constantly blowing the whistle on dubious spending projects and refusing to pursue any for his own constituents, Flake has long annoyed and even angered GOP appropriators and other colleagues who believe bringing home the bacon is a way to ensure re-election.

Flake is continuing to rattle with another request for assignment to the House Appropriations Committee, arguing that Republicans have become "indistinguishable" from Democrats on federal spending and "voters simply no longer associate us with limited government."

"With the executive and legislative branches under Democratic control, the primary focus of Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee needs to be on the oversight of federal expenditures, rather than merely the dispensation of them," Flake wrote in a letter to House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. "Wouldn't it make sense to have at least one member on the Committee who doesn't seek earmarks?"

Fiscally conservative activists and bloggers are championing Flake's cause, but few seriously expect him to get a seat when new committee assignments are announced in January.

Flake's needling of the big spenders could help distinguish him in a future race.

"Not being well-liked by appropriators isn't a bad thing in a GOP primary," said Jennifer Duffy, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report's senior editor.

A new media darling?
It also didn't take Flake long to learn from McCain's example that there is always media demand for a Republican who takes on his own party's leaders.

For Flake, it's paying off.

In its November issue, Esquire magazine named Flake one of the 10 best elected officials in Washington.

"A true conservative, Flake is as rare as the dodo. Republicans should learn from him, and liberals and libertarians will find in him a strong privacy-rights ally," Esquire said. On Nov. 5, the day after McCain lost the White House and the Republican Party lost multiple Senate and House seats, the Washington Post published an opinion essay by Flake in which he called for fresh House Republican leadership and a return to the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets. Its headline was, "A way out of the wilderness."

Flake said he was disappointed with the re-election of Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as House GOP leader.

"I said in 2006 that it's not impossible that the same leadership will have an epiphany and know where we've gone wrong but that it's highly implausible that you'd see the same leadership go in a different direction. And that's proven to be the case," Flake said. "Let's face it, we've really not run on a message for years."

Making fans, enemies
Like McCain, Flake's maverickism has drawn criticism from local Republican factions, particularly those who consider his support for a guest-worker program and other immigration reforms as too liberal.

"Jeff has not been one of my favorite people because of his stand on illegal immigration, which I think would hurt him around the state unless he decides to change that," said retiring veteran state Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa.

Flake's anti-pork stand and vote against the economic bailout legislation could help him with some conservative activists, while his support for international free trade agreements could hurt him with others, Johnson said.

"That, to me, is sovereignty-destroying stuff. He continues to get re-elected, but I oftentimes think it's because he has never had anybody of real substance run against him," Johnson said.

Flake's public persona has taken some dings, as well.

He originally ran for Congress with a promise to limit himself to serving only three consecutive terms but broke that pledge since taking office. "As much as I hate to admit making a mistake, I made a big one here," Flake said in announcing his bid for a fourth term. Flake faced no retribution from voters; he didn't even have a Democratic challenger in the general election in 2006.

Test driving the Web
This year, faced with a weak Democratic opponent, Flake had the luxury to experiment with advertising on political-junkie Web sites such as the Drudge Report, RealClearPolitics.com and Townhall.com. He also advertised on the Web sites of the Tucson-based Arizona Daily Star and other newspapers, putting his name and face in front of potential voters far outside his congressional district.

Those people who contributed money or signed up for additional information would become part of a fundraising base for a statewide run.

"I tell you, that's one area where we (Republicans) just got slaughtered in this election: technology," Flake said. "We have so far to go. I thought it would be better to spend money actually building the infrastructure to take advantage of that. A lot of it was testing it, too, to see how we did. We're pleased with the response."

Court has no ban on terms like 'illegal aliens', But...

A Hispanic lawyers group has asked Arizona's chief justice to end state court use of words its members consider inflammatory, such as "illegal aliens."

A court spokeswoman says there has been no ban on words, nor is Chief Justice Ruth McGregor considering one.

Arizona Supreme Court communications director Cari Gerchick says McGregor gave top judicial officials statewide the request to let them know of the concerns of the Phoenix-based Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association.

However, the Washington-based watchdog organization Judicial Watch insists McGregor's letter replying to the bar group supports a ban.

But Gerchick said there was no subliminal message. She says McGregor issues policy decisions only through administrative orders, and there is no administrative order on the issue.

Mexican soldiers enter Arizona, hold border agent at gunpoint

Mexican soldiers enter state,
hold border agent at gunpoint
by Sean Holstege
The Arizona Republic

Four Mexican army soldiers entered southern Arizona and pointed their rifles at a U.S. Border Patrol agent early this week, the Border Patrol said.

The incident Sunday was the Mexican military's 43rd incursion across the U.S. border since October, the agency said. However, it was unusual because firearms were involved. The Border Patrol and the Mexican government are investigating, Border Patrol spokesman Mike Scioli said.

Details remain sketchy, but the incident occurred at 2 a.m. on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation about 50 miles southeast of Ajo. The incident took place just north of the border in sight of the new border fence.

In Washington, D.C., State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the encounter "stemmed from a momentary misunderstanding as to the exact location of the U.S.-Mexican border."

The Mexican army has told the Border Patrol it knew of an incident involving its soldiers, but it did not confirm the details. In years past, the Border Patrol has arrested Mexican soldiers who crossed the border, then typically released them back to Mexico.

Kidnap Capital, USA - Phoenix, AZ

Arizona Legislature Says No to Real ID

Arizona Legislature
Says No to Real ID

6/13/2008

Arizona legislature votes by overwhelming margin to oppose federal efforts to turn driving licenses into a national ID card.

The Arizona state legislature has made it quite clear that it wants nothing to do with the federal Real ID drivers' license plan. Lawmakers on Wednesday sent a bill to the governor prohibiting the state from implementing the proposed national ID card program. The legislation had sailed through the state House on a 51-1 vote after clearing the state Senate last month by a 21-7 vote.

The federal Real ID Act was designed to force states to use their drivers' licenses to create a form of national identity card. The Department of Homeland Security has threatened to deny access to airline travel to residents from states that fail to adopt the national ID standards. Arizona lawmakers took issue with this and included a provision that requires state officials to report any attempts at coercion by DHS employees over Real ID.

It is uncertain whether Governor Janet Napolitano (D) will sign the bill. Last year, Napolitano moved to create a driver's license that complies with Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative standards as a precursor to compliance with Real ID.

"Arizona has been a leader among the states on issues related to border security and immigration," Napolitano said in a 2007 statement. "My hope is that this project will lead to an effective permanent program that can be implemented nationwide."

DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff praised Napolitano's initiative.

"I applaud the leadership of the state of Arizona who came forward to join us in our effort to bolster security through secure identification," Chertoff said. "This partnership helps us strike the right balance between security and facilitation, incorporating 21st century technology and innovation."

The legislature passed the Real ID ban by a margin sufficient to override a veto attempt by the governor.


Text of legislation --

State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Forty-eighth Legislature
Second Regular Session 2008

HOUSE BILL 2677

AN ACT amending title 28, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 28-336; relating to the REAL ID Act of 2005.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 28, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 28-336, to read:

28-336. REAL ID act; implementation prohibited

This state shall not participate in the implementation of the REAL ID act of 2005 (P.L. 109-13, Division B; 119 Stat. 302). The department shall not implement the REAL ID act of 2005 and shall report to the governor and the legislature any attempt by agencies or agents of the United States DEPARTMENT of homeland security to secure the implementation of the REAL ID act of 2005 through the operations of the United States department of homeland security.

(Arizona) Opinion - Napolitano should oppose Real IDs, keep government out of residents' lives

Napolitano should oppose Real IDs, keep government out of residents' lives
June 12, 2008

The Arizona House of Representatives has joined the State Senate in making it clear it wants nothing to do with the federal government Real ID program.

It is a decision that is welcomed by privacy advocates and those of us concerned about the continuing power grabs by the federal government in the name of security.

The near unanimous vote Tuesday to approve HB 2677 was essentially a rejection of the idea of a national identification card that would be achieved by co-opting state driver's licenses.

The law would prevent Gov. Janet Napolitano from fulfilling an agreement she reached with the Department of Homeland Security to provide an alternative to the Real ID. The federal government wants state to produce tamperproof driver's licenses. The governor agreed to create a "3-in-1" license for Arizona residents that could be used for driving, as proof of citizenship and for border crossing instead of a passport. However, that requires legislative approval.

Lawmakers say the "3-in-1" license is just a temporary delay to the Real ID requirement, which Homeland officials said all states would eventually have to meet. Instead of an alternative, they want the state to say no to the Real ID, as nine other states have done.

The hope is that if enough states resist, the federal government will back down. Homeland Security has already delayed implementation of Real IDs - which would include links to individual private information in a federal database - from last month until the end of 2009.

Americans have long viewed the ability to travel within our borders without government interference or monitoring as a basic right. Driver's licenses were intended only to offer proof of driving ability, not as an identification.

Unfortunately, the misuse of driver's licenses for ID purposes has grown over the years. But that does not justify even further and more extensive violation of Americans' privacy by transforming it into a national ID card.

That is especially true because the licenses, if embedded with electronic chips, could be used to monitor and track the activities of Americans without their knowledge. Their private information would also be stored in a national database, putting it at the fingertips of federal officials and others who might breach security.

Whether the governor will go along with the Legislature's opposition to the IDs is not yet known. She should sign the law so the federal government will get the message that Arizona won't accept this intrusion into our private lives.

Legislature votes to opt Arizona out of Real ID program

Legislature votes to opt Arizona
out of Real ID program
The Associated Press

PHOENIX - Legislators on Wednesday sent Gov. Janet Napolitano a bill to make Arizona the latest state to refuse to implement new "Real ID" security standards mandated by the federal government for driver's licenses.

House approval of the bill (HB2677) on a 51-1 vote with no debate Wednesday completed legislative action on the bill. It was approved, 21-7, by the Senate on May 6.

What happens next with the bill is unclear because Napolitano hasn't indicated whether she'll sign or veto it.

The bill would have no immediate impact even if it becomes law because Arizona has already received a federal extension on Real ID compliance to 2009.

However, its passage is clearly trouble for Napolitano's own proposal for an enhanced "3-in-1" driver's license. She needs legislative authorization for that. A bill to provide that approval was introduced but not heard during the current session.

At least eight other states have enacted legislation refusing to implement the Real ID law, which was enacted in 2005 military spending legislation and proposed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

It requires all states to bring their driver's licenses under a national standard and to link their record-keeping systems.

Implementation of the law would require the public to show Real ID-compliant driver's licenses or other identification in order to enter federal buildings or board airplanes.

While the Bush administration says the law will hinder terrorists, illegal immigrants and other wrongdoers, Real ID faces criticism from states and others because of the federal mandate, costs to states and privacy concerns.

The Arizona bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Judy Burgess of Skull Valley, said it represents "a Real ID tea party at the statehouse."

Burges said she's particularly concerned that database connections could ease identity theft.

"What happens is the database would be shared clear across the United States and we would be subject to the weakest link in other states," she said.

States that have rejected the Real ID act, some with conditions, include Idaho, New Hampshire, Montana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Oklahoma and Maine. Minnesota's governor vetoed a prohibition bill on April 25.

The National Conference of State Legislatures' president, state Rep. Donna Stone of Delaware, told a U.S. Senate subcommittee in April that the Real ID law should be repealed and replaced with a negotiated rulemaking process that would include state lawmakers.

Napolitano on Dec. 6 signed an agreement with U.S. Homeland Security Michael Chertoff on development of an alternative 3-in-1 driver's license with enhanced security features that could also be used to cross borders and verify employment eligibility.

Key Arizona legislators vowed to fight the proposal, calling it a step toward compliance with Real ID and an infringement on the Legislature's policy-making role.

Napolitano calls the deal with Chertoff a realistic and appropriate means to do employment eligibility checks and meet tough new federal ID requirements to enter the United States from Canada and Mexico.

As described by Napolitano, Arizonans could either get the 3-in-1 license or the current license.

Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, cast the only Arizona House vote against the bill on Wednesday, saying later that he favored authorization for the 3-in-1 license instead.

Real ID "could change dramatically next year - it has to," Konopnicki said. "But we have to be able to board airplanes."

Arizona Senate approves proposed prohibition on REAL ID standards

The Arizona Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would prohibit Arizona's participation in new federal security standards program for driver's licenses.

The 21-7 vote sends the proposal to the House, which had approved a milder version of the bill in March but will now consider a key change made by the Senate.

The House version would prohibit the state's participation in the "Real ID" program without the approval of the Legislature. The Senate made it a flat prohibition that doesn't require the Legislature's approval.

The Real ID law requires all states to bring their driver's licenses under a national standard and to link their record-keeping systems. It draws criticism because of the costs. Other criticism centers on the federal mandate and whether it'd be effective.