Romney wins Arizona and Michigan -- Time to Bow Down to the Nominee

Romney won Michigan and Arizona and now time for everyone to bow down to the nominee according to the Rockefeller Republican wing of the GOP.  We are now to accept he is going to be the nominee.  IOTW Super Tuesday doesn't matter as Romney has the momentum going into Virginia.  OOPS -- only Romney and Paul are on the ballot there due to an unconstitutional law signed and approved by Governor McDonnell who refused to change the way they accepted signatures for ballot access knowing the law was unconstitutional.  That's what you get from a Governor who supports Romney.

Take a look at these results.  First is Arizona who has the second largest concentration of Mormons outside of Utah and a Governor and Senator who endorsed Romney.  When you add the voting turnout which is low, Romney wins.  In one precinct 45 out of 3000 had cast their votes by 9 a.m.  Since Arizona is a retirement destination, retirees normally turn out early to vote.  The enthusiasm is not there for the Republican primary.  Maybe if Romney had not decided to spend millions in 'scorched earth' against fellow Republicans enthusiasm might be better but a lot of of us had heartburn with Romney and his underhanded tactics against our candidates in 2008 so we didn't want him to run.  We have been proven right as enthusiasm is not there for him even in states where he is winning.

You take out the Mormon support who are turning out to rallies and the support is not very deep.  When a candidate can only win their home state by 3% you have problems.  Declaring victory and momentum going into Tuesday?  Would say that is a little premature.

Arizona Primary Results »

Candidate		Pct.
	Romney	47.3%
	Santorum	26.6
	Gingrich	16.2
	Pau	8.4
	Others	1.5

 Michigan Primary Results »

Candidate		Pct.
	Romney	41.1%
	Santorum	37.9
	Paul	11.6
	Gingrich	6.5
	Others	2.9

This comment from Erickson of Red State says it all:

"a guy who can only win in states with a home state advantage, New Englanders and New England transplants, and Mormoms. There are a lot more outside those categories than inside them and that is shaping up to cause him heartburn on Super Tuesday. "

Unlike Arizona and Florida, my state of Oklahoma is going to abide by the rules to apportion delegates so it is not winner take all since we vote before 1 April.  If we can follow the rules by the RNC, why can't Florida and Arizona?  Never mind those Romney states and rules don't apply to him.  This post on Hot Air last night says it all:

 Romney attracting independents and democrats in New Hampshire primary = demonstration of appeal outside the base 

Santorum attracting independents and democrats in Michigan primary = betrayal of conservative principles and proof he can’t win against Obama. 

Romney running robocalls = Dont whine 

Santorum running robocalls = whining about dirty tactics 

I just want to make sure I understand how it works. 

MB (abbreviated screen name)

She summed up what many of us are feeling today.  Romney is free to do 'scorched earth' and we are to sit down and shut up but if anyone dares to come after Romney it is the end of the world with Romney and his supporters with their thin skin whining.  Super Tuesday is ahead and know at least one state that is going conservative and that is Oklahoma.  We don't have enough Mormons to make a real difference just enough to be annoying at the door but then so are others like Jehovah Witness.  Don't like people knocking on my door trying to sell me their religion like a door to door salesman.  Mormons are already posting on line they will use the White House for their outreach around the world.  Does anyone think that Democrats won't use that.  Worked on me so why wouldn't it work on other voters.  

This Romney mentality in using millions to buy this primary doesn't equal votes in the general election something the Rockefeller Republicans cannot seem to get through their brains.  

My attention is quickly shifting to the House and Senate races.  My biggest concern is that if Romney is the nominee iy will cause people to stay home who would normally vote for our Congressional candidates.  The Rockefeller wing has made one big mess of this primary and it is going to take a lot of hard work on the part of conservatives to get voters to the polls for our Congressional candidates. 

When you only beat a candidate who just surged several weeks ago by 3% in a state where you and your wife were raised and your Dad was Governor, you are in trouble in a lot of the Country.  If you look at Michigan and add what votes votes Gingrich received with Santorum, there are more votes than Romney.  Some media outlets last night reported Romney won one county by one vote.  Is this going to be another case of votes being checked and a different result comes out weeks later as part of the official results?  We are still waiting for the official Maine results.  

Republicans are NOT happy with our choices.  Do we think anyone would jump in this race at this late date to lose to Obama?  Probably not if they want a political life after 2012.  

Bad day for conservatives but on Super Tuesday that should change. 

Three Percent 

Posted by Erick Erickson (Diary)

Wednesday, February 29th at 4:45AM EST

When you have a candidate few people really like, whose support is a mile wide and an inch deep, whose raison d’etre (a 4am fancy word) is fixing an economy that is fixing itself without him, and who only wins his actual, factual home state by three percentage points against a guy no one took seriously only two months ago, there really is little reason for independent voters in the general election to choose him if the economy keeps improving. 

Seriously, putting it bluntly, conservatives may not like Barack Obama, but most other people do. And when faced with a guy you like and a guy you don’t like who says he can fix an economy that no longer needs fixing, you’re going to go with the guy you like. 

If Republicans in Washington are not panicked and trying desperately to pull Bobby Jindal in the race tomorrow, or someone like him, the party leaders must have a death wish.Mitt Romney continues to run an uninspiring campaign only able to win by massively outspending his 

opponents to tell voters how much worse the other guys are. That may work in the primary, but it will not work in a general election where the President of the United States won’t be outspent 5 to 1. 

Three percentage points. In his home state. In his wife’s home state. In the state his father served as Governor. Three percentage points against a guy few took seriously two months ago and who just three weeks ago no one expected to give Romney a run for his money in Romney’s home state. 

And this is our nominee — a guy who can only win in states with a home state advantage, New Englanders and New England transplants, and Mormoms. There are a lot more outside those categories than inside them and that is shaping up to cause him heartburn on Super Tuesday. 

And let me tell you what else is going to happen: Democrats sense such a strong vulnerability now and sniff a chance of a Santorum nomination, they aren’t going to wait for the general election to start dumping oppo research on Romney. Get ready Romney supporters, this is just the opening salvo. 

But I suspect he will be the nominee. At least we can be rid of him and, hopefully, his most ardent cheerleaders on November 7th when what the rest of us know will happen unless an economic catastrophe happens.  Excerpt:  Read More at Red State

Now you get the spin of the NY Times, the establishment paper of the Democrats, who really want Romney for the Republican nominee.  All the opposition research is done and Mr. Romney is going to find out what it is like to have the media and the Obama attack machine after him.  Romney is going to get payback for what he has been doing to Republicans.  Most of Romney's donors are feeling the pinch and tired of wasting millions on 'scorched earth.'  Are they going to step up to the plate and give to a candidate likely to lose to Obama?  Mostly likely not.  

Romney Regains Stride With Victories in 2 States 

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Mitt Romney fought back a vigorous challenge from Rick Santorum in Michigan on Tuesday, narrowly carrying his native state, and won the Arizona primary in a pair of contests that reasserted his control over the Republican presidential race as it advances to critical Super Tuesday contests next week.

His victory over Mr. Santorum here in Michigan was far from commanding, but it was most likely sufficient to dampen the rising clamor from across the Republican Party about his ability to win over conservatives and connect with voters. The tussle with Mr. Santorum highlighted ample concerns about Mr. Romney, but his win spared his campaign from deep turmoil. 

Excerpt:  Read More at the NY Times

Less then a week left of Romney ads in Oklahoma on my sports radio channel.  The ad talks about the companies he saved at Bain Capital -- as some have said -- saved them and sent the jobs overseas.  Not an effective ad for Romney here in Oklahoma.  I detest political ads when I like a candidate -- it is worse when I don't.  Keep turning my sound down on my radio when Romney comes on the air with his annoying ad that seems to go on forever.

House and Senate races are moving to the forefront as there has been some Romney supporter shenanigans in the South Florida races but Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio came to the rescue there for Cong Allen West and have endorsed Adam Hasner who pulled out of the FL primary for the Republican nomination for Senate to run for Congress.  Florida Senate seat is turning nasty once again.  People in Florida must be really tired of the north-easterners who have moved to Florida and brought their corrupt and underhanded politics with them.   Makes you appreciate living in a state like Oklahoma all the more!

Beautiful spring day in the Heartland which I am about to go enjoy!

Mexican Drug Cartels now control corridor from Mexican border to Phoenix

If you want to know what this Administration is NOT doing while Obama goes around the Country fundraising, take a look at this video and ask yourself why anyone in this Country would even think of giving Obama four more years as President.  Will the drug cartels next stop be in the heart of the city of Phoenix?  It is a drug corridor now run by the Mexican drug cartels that runs from the border to metro Phoenix.



How can Obama, Holdler, and Napolitano continue to let this happen not in Juarez across from El Paso, TX, but right in the State of Arizona.  No wonder Senator McCain blames the wild fires in Arizona on illegals.




It doesn't take rocket science when the Forest Service knows when and where the fires were started to point the finger at those coming across the border into Arizona illegally. Would bet Senator McCain is correct because anyone who lives in a fire danger area would never start a fire for any reason. Hispanic liberal group leaders can say what they want but illegals coming across the border have brought crime in recent years into the border states and would bet this fire is a result of that also because Senator McCain doesn't go around making rash statements about illegals. For years the Mexican Government has been happy for their people to come here illegally and send money back to Mexico straining our healthcare and other agencies put in place to help the poor.

When you can actually identify a drug corridor, why are the Feds not more involved or does Obama not want the Hispanics mad at him for his re-election bid.  Is this all about politics just like the release of oil reserves?

Pinal County Sheriff needs help today and his request for 3,000 soldiers in the middle of June along the border should be answered immediately.  In fact, they need a fence along the border like they have in El Paso with plenty of agents at guard shacks but our Secretary of Homeland Security not only sleeps through Obama speeches but seems to be asleep as the head of Homeland Security.  She was Governor of this state and what is she doing to help stop the flow of drugs into this Country through a corridor they know about?

What a totally worthless Administration.  The Middle East is blowing up, drug cartels now control land in Arizona, economy is in the tank, deficit is rising right along with home foreclosures, unemployment is still high, inflation is taking place, we are loaning money to Colombia to upgrade their refinery but none of ours, etc.  When you ask the question if the citizens on the United States are better off then when Obama took office, it is a resounding NO!

Washington Times Editorial: Go back to Mexico

Out of the editorials protesting the remarks of Calderon we have read, we believe the Washington Times has the best editorial which is clear and concise.

"Uncouth President Calderon wore out his welcome" has to be the understatement of the year. Can think of a lot of names that fit Calderon and Obama who not only listened by chimed in against Arizona. That doesn't even include the numskulls pretending to be Democrat Congressman who acted like Cheerleaders for the Mexican President against Arizona.

That outrageous display of cheerleading by Congressional Democrats agreeing with a foreign leader will make very good campaign commercials. To have a foreign president attack one of our states, and then have an American President and his Party of Democrats in Congress agreeing with the foreign leader is beyond disgusting. Calderon comes from a Country who has been cited for numerous human rights violations but he attacks Arizona? Yet Democrats applaud him?

The Mexican Government is responsible for the lack of jobs and a decent standard of living for its citizens and for years has expected the United States to pick up the slack. President Calderon needs to understand the gravy train for Mexico's citizens in the United States illegally is coming to a halt -- Mexico needs to take care of their own citizens. How many Americans want to enter Mexico illegally? We bet the number is extremely low as it is a dangerous country.

The American people have had enough of these anti-American Democrats that reside in the White House and Halls of Congress. November 2, 2010, cannot come soon enough to restore common sense to Congress and kick out the Anti-American Democrats!

EDITORIAL: Go back to Mexico
Uncouth President Calderon wore out his welcome
May 24, 2010

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon ought to know a lot about illegal immigrant abuse. His country has one of the worst migrant human-rights records in the world.
During his state visit last week, Mr. Calderon repeatedly - and with support and encouragement from the White House and congressional Democrats - made his opinions known on a variety of American domestic issues, including immigration and gun control. He took particular aim at Arizona's new law concerning illegal aliens, absurdly describing it as "violating the human rights of all people."

Criticism from Mexico on immigration issues is nothing new, but rarely has it been so bold, and such salvos have never been launched from U.S. soil. It might be considered bad manners except for the fact that the foreign leader was promoting President Obama's domestic agenda.

Boiled down in simplest terms, it is hypocritical for Mr. Calderon to criticize Arizona's law when his country has similar or more severe statutes. Article 67 of Mexico's Population Law mirrors Arizona's law by requiring federal, state and municipal officials to "demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country, before attending to any [other] issues." Mexico's constitution gives the president authority to summarily expel both legal and illegal aliens without due process. When CNN's Wolf Blitzer confronted the Mexican president with some of these contradictions, Mr. Calderon was oblivious to the double standard. Asked about Mexico's policy for dealing with illegals sneaking in from Central America looking for work, Mr. Calderon quipped, "If somebody [does] that without permission, we send [them] back." If only Mr. Obama had such enlightened views.

Illegals in Mexico are lucky if deportation is all that happens to them. An April 2010 report from Amnesty International entitled "Invisible Victims: Migrants on the Move in Mexico" called the trip from Central America to the border with the United States "one of the most dangerous in the world."

According to Amnesty researcher Rupert Knox, "Migrants in Mexico are facing a major human-rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses." The report says that "Mexico's irregular migrants are condemned to a life on the margins, vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and corrupt officials and largely ignored by many of those in authority who should be protecting them from human-rights abuses."
Common abuses committed by Mexican officials include extortion, excessive use of force and violence against women. Arizona is a paradise by comparison.

Mr. Calderon's government recently issued a travel advisory about the "dangers" Mexicans might face in Arizona, but being there is much safer than staying home. In February, the State Department issued a travel advisory regarding Mexico that noted drug gang conflicts resembling "small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades." The circular also warns against robbery, kidnapping and other relatively common crimes. Meanwhile, gang-related beheadings are virtually unknown in Arizona, which is more than Mr. Calderon can claim for his own country.

America doesn't need self-righteous lectures from officials from the developing world. Mexico has its own problems, including pervasive violence, openly armed drug cartels, pollution, widespread institutional corruption and lack of economic opportunity. If Mexicans are flooding north over our border, it is for many very good reasons. Mr. Calderon should stick to trying to fix his own basket-case country, if he can.

Read more on the visit at Washington Times

Congressional Democrats Applaud Mexican President Caldern for his Attack on AZ Immigration Law!

One word to describe the Democrats applauding Calderon's attack on AZ during his address to a Joint Session of Congress -- Despicable!

Here is the video of the Democrats in Congress agreeing and applauding a foreign leader's attacks on one of our States. American people better wake up to who these Democrats are who are representing them and decide to send them to the Unemployment line on Nov 2, 2010, starting with Pelosi! Wish I could vote against them but I glady will be voting for my Republican Incumbent Congressman Tom Cole who has received the American Conservative Union award for his Conservative voting record and supports tough immigration law.

Never thought we would see the day when Democrat House and Senate Members put a foreign leader ahead of a state which they did today. Arizona had every right to pass their Immigration Law but probably most of the Democrats standing have not read the law.

Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl 10-Point Plan for Border Security

We keep reading articles that reference the McCain/Kyl 10-Point Plan for Border Security but had not seen the details until we decided to find it today.

This was announced on April 20, 2010, and has received very little comment around the net. Why? Is it because some conservataive blogs don't want to admit that Senators McCain and Kyl have a plan as the blogs push their own agenda against Sen McCain and for his opponent in the primary. We don't understand how any blog could be pushing Sen McCain's opponent, Hayworth, when he was in the back pocket of Abramoff and lost his Congressional seat because of lack of ethics not to mention he is a bully. That seems to be ignored on some blogs and websites.

SENATORS McCAIN AND KYL ANNOUNCE BORDER SECURITY PLAN
10-Point Plan To Better Secure The U.S.-Mexico Border In ArizonaApril 20, 2010

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) were joined today by Arizona Sheriffs Larry Dever, Cochise County and Paul Babeu, Pinal County in introducing a 10-point comprehensive border security plan to combat illegal immigration, drug and alien smuggling, and violent activity along the southwest border.

Senators McCain and Kyl’s Ten Point Border Security Action Plan:

1) Immediately deploy 3,000 National Guard Troops along the Arizona/Mexico border, along with appropriate surveillance platforms, which shall remain in place until the Governor of Arizona certifies, after consulting with state, local and tribal law enforcement, that the Federal Government has achieved operational control of the border. Permanently add 3,000 Custom and Border Protection Agents to the Arizona/Mexico border by 2015.

2) Fully fund and support Operation Streamline in Arizona’s two Border Patrol Sectors to, at a minimum, ensure that repeat illegal border crossers go to jail for 15 to 60 days. Where Operation Streamline has been implemented, the number of illegal crossings has decreased significantly. Require the Obama Administration to complete a required report detailing the justice and enforcement resources needed to fully fund this program. Fully reimburse localities for any related detention costs.

3) Provide $100M, an increase of $40M, for Operation Stonegarden, a program that provides grants and reimbursement to Arizona’s border law enforcement for additional personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs related to illegal immigration and drug smuggling along the border.

4) Offer Hardship Duty Pay to Border Patrol Agents assigned to rural, high-trafficked areas, such as the CBP Willcox and Douglas Stations in the Tucson Sector.

5) Complete the 700 miles of fencing along the border with Mexico and construct double- and triple- layer fencing at appropriate locations along the Arizona-Mexico border.

6) Substantially increase the 25 mobile surveillance systems and three Predator B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in place today along the Arizona/Mexico border and ensure the border patrol has the resources necessary to operate the UAVs 24 hours a day seven days a week. Send additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to the Arizona-Mexico Border.

7) Increase funding for vital radio communications and interoperability between CBP and state, local, and tribal law enforcement to assist in apprehensions along the border.

8) Provide funding for additional Border Patrol stations in the Tucson Sector and explore the possibility of an additional Border Patrol sector for Arizona. Create six additional permanent Border Patrol Forward Operating Bases, and provide funding to upgrade the existing bases to include modular buildings, electricity and potable water. Complete construction of the planned permanent checkpoint in Arizona. Deploy additional temporary roving checkpoints and increase horse patrols throughout the Tucson Sector.

9) Require the Federal government to fully reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. Start by at least funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) at its authorized level of $950 million.

10) Place one full-time Federal Magistrate in Cochise County and provide full funding for and authorization of the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative to reimburse state, county, tribal, and municipal governments for costs associated with the prosecution and pre-trial detention of federally-initiated criminal cases declined by local offices of the United States Attorneys.

Arizona Sheriffs Larry Dever, Cochise County and Paul Babeu, Pinal County, joined Senator McCain in this video of the announcement:



John McCain and Jon Kyl are doing something about Border Security, but where are the Democrats on this issue? Head of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, former AZ Governor, seems to not be able to hear Senators McCain and Kyl. Where is Obama on this 10-Point Plan? It looks like this Administration has ZERO intention of strengthening Border Security so it is up to the States along the border to pass the tough laws it seems because the Federal Government controlled by Democrats would rather not lift a finger and allow more illegals in this Country.

This 10-Point Plan for Border Security needs adopted like yesterday and the necessary resources given to Border states to fight their huge illegal immigration problem.

A carefully crafted immigration law in Arizona

This is one of the best written articles we have seen on the recently passed and signed immigration law in Arizona. Before getting to the article by Byron York, we want to share the history of the Oklahoma immigration bill to show what happens to states passing tough immigration bills.

Oklahoma had similar threats made against the state after passing a tough immigration bill and actually had two parts of the law overturned dealing with employers and identification after the National Chamber of Commerce filed suit against the state with other groups. Tells you something about the National Chamber of Commerce and it is not good when you look at the list of cases from the Chamber's lawsuits. Is the National Chamber of Commerce going to join in filing a lawsuit against Arizona next? They led in filing the lawsuit against the Oklahoma Immigration Bill so we would expect them to be in the forefront of the suit against Arizona.

The 10th Court of Appeals Decision was issued on Feb 2, 2010. The Oklahoma Attorney General asked for the full Court to hear the case but was turned down on April 19, 2010.

This is now back at the District Court level according to the Tulsa World article for the District Judge to make a decision on a permanent injunction for mandatory use of E-Verify. With the ruling the temporary injunction on this part was lifted. The two provisions that were overturned of the 2007 state law are described in the Tulsa World article:

The decision concluded the 1986 federal Immigration Reform and Control Act preempts two provisions in the 2007 state law.

Those provisions prohibit firing workers legally in the country while retaining workers illegally in the United States, and require businesses working with contractors to obtain documentation that workers are legally in the country or, without documentation, withhold taxes at the top rate.

The Attorney General of Oklahoma who is now running for Oklahoma Governor has to make the decision whether to appeal to the Supreme Court but there has been no word about an appeal. Frankly we don't expect any appeal with his Democrat primary election looming.

Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill raising the cost of wire transfers of money last year and now the Mexican Congress has threatened a Trade War with Oklahoma. What does that tell you about the support of Mexican illegals in this Country by their Government? The bill was passed to cut down the wiring of money by illegals and for drug deals. The raise in the wire transfer fee does not apply to wire transfers where banks are used. Because of the raise in fees, the Mexican Government now wants to boycott Oklahoma products coming into Mexico?

If the Mexican Government has threatened a Trade War against Oklahoma over raising wire transfer fees, what are they going to threaten Arizona with after the passage of their immigration bill?

Instead of the Obama Administration worrying about an immigration bill in Arizona they should be questioning the Mexican President about his support of illegals in this Country. The Mexican Government is doing zero, zip, nada to stem the flow of their citizens into the United State illegally. That would required Obama and his Administration to take a stand against illegals which we don't believe will ever happen as he panders for votes.

We wish the Governor of Arizona good luck in defending this immigration bill. It is time American citizens stood with the Governor against the groups that are attacking this bill, and the people who protested with violence after the bill was passed. Read the description of the bill from Byron York and then tell us why people are so up in arms.

A carefully crafted immigration law in Arizona
By: BYRON YORK
April 26, 2010

The chattering class is aghast at Arizona's new immigration law. "Harkens back to apartheid," says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cynthia Tucker. "Shameful," says the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne. "Terrible…an invitation to abuse," says the New York Times' David Brooks.

For his part, President Obama calls the law "misguided" and says it "threaten[s] to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans." Obama has ordered the Justice Department to "closely monitor the situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of this legislation."

Has anyone actually read the law? Contrary to the talk, it is a reasonable, limited, carefully-crafted measure designed to help law enforcement deal with a serious problem in Arizona. Its authors anticipated criticism and went to great lengths to make sure it is constitutional and will hold up in court. It is the criticism of the law that is over the top, not the law itself.

The law requires police to check with federal authorities on a person's immigration status, if officers have stopped that person for some legitimate reason and come to suspect that he or she might be in the U.S. illegally. The heart of the law is this provision: "For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency…where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person…"

Critics have focused on the term "reasonable suspicion" to suggest that the law would give police the power to pick anyone out of a crowd for any reason and force them to prove they are in the U.S. legally. Some foresee mass civil rights violations targeting Hispanics.

What fewer people have noticed is the phrase "lawful contact," which defines what must be going on before police even think about checking immigration status. "That means the officer is already engaged in some detention of an individual because he's violated some other law," says Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri Kansas City Law School professor who helped draft the measure. "The most likely context where this law would come into play is a traffic stop."

As far as "reasonable suspicion" is concerned, there is a great deal of case law dealing with the idea, but in immigration matters, it means a combination of circumstances that, taken together, cause the officer to suspect lawbreaking. It's not race -- Arizona's new law specifically says race and ethnicity cannot be the sole factors in determining a reasonable suspicion.

For example: "Arizona already has a state law on human smuggling," says Kobach. "An officer stops a group of people in a car that is speeding. The car is overloaded. Nobody had identification. The driver acts evasively. They are on a known smuggling corridor." That is a not uncommon occurrence in Arizona, and any officer would reasonably suspect that the people in the car were illegal. Under the new law, the officer would get in touch with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check on their status.

But what if the driver of the car had shown the officer his driver's license? The law clearly says that if someone produces a valid Arizona driver's license, or other state-issued identification, they are presumed to be here legally. There's no reasonable suspicion.

Is having to produce a driver's license too burdensome? These days, natural-born U.S. citizens, and everybody else, too, are required to show a driver's license to get on an airplane, to check into a hotel, even to purchase some over-the-counter allergy medicines. If it's a burden, it's a burden on everyone.

Still, critics worry the law would force some people to carry their papers, just like in an old movie. The fact is, since the 1940s, federal law has required non-citizens in this country to carry, on their person, the documentation proving they are here legally -- green card, work visa, etc. That hasn't changed.

Kobach, a Republican who is now running for Kansas Secretary of State, was the chief adviser to Attorney General John Ashcroft on immigration issues from 2001 to 2003. He has successfully defended Arizona immigration laws in the past. "The bill was drafted in expectation that the open-borders crowd would almost certainly bring a lawsuit," he says. "It's drafted to withstand judicial scrutiny."

The bottom line is, it's a good law, sensibly written and rigorously focused -- no matter what the critics say.

Byron York, The Examiner’s chief political correspondent, can be contacted at byork@washingtonexaminer.com. His column appears on Tuesday and Friday, and his stories and blog posts appears on www.ExaminerPolitics.com

Read more at the Washington Examiner