In pathetic, cynical move, Mitt Romney wants state police to arrest illegal immigrants

[Bluebear]

I wonder if the Staties will be stationed at the governor's lawn to arrest the illegal immigrants who serve as his gardeners?

====

BOSTON -- A new policy from Governor Mitt Romney would allow state police to arrest illegal immigrants.

Previously, state troopers couldn't detain a suspect for immigration violations alone, someone could only be detained by federal officials.

The governor is expected to announce the new policy this week.

Critics of the agreement say it will lead to racial profiling and mistrust of the police.

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO35878/

[nam78_two]

1. This guy almost makes McCain look good/nt

[rpannier]

2. Mitt Romney...

the michael weiner...er...savage candidate.

[LittleClarkie]

3. Way to go Mittens

I'm sure the wingnut vote will take you straight to the top.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. Police arresting criminals? What's the world coming to?

For the record, I don't disagree with the law, nor do I disagree with the practice of enforcing it.

[Bluebear]

6. This has always been a federal function.

But I suppose if you want to appear to be a tough guy on immigration you do shit like this. And as I mentioned, Romney has no problem hiring illegals. Why does he want to arrest them?

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. Is he a hypocrite for enforcing the law?

Perhaps. Nevertheless, it IS the law, and he's the guy that voters hired to assure that the job gets done.

I'm not going to defend Romney, but I will ask rhetorically who verifies the work status of their contractors employees.

If I were to hire a licensed contractor to do work on my house, is it reasonable to assume that his employees are legal? Do I have a responsibility to verify that?

[Bluebear]

18. 'he's the guy that voters hired to assure that the job gets done.'

Please. The "guy that voters hired" has done nothing but campaign out of state, making fun of his constituents and raising wedge issues all around.

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. If nonfeasance is the issue, it seems like it would be effort better spent...

Criticizing him for that.

[Marrah_G]

31. I can explain this to you

Mitt Romneyhas used our state as a springboard for a presidential run. He despises our state, our culture and is rarely here. Now when he does decide to visit occasionally it is ONLY to try and further his standing with the religious right by trying to force things on us that will make his base think he is just wonderful.

If this were a real Governor who was asking his state police force to enforce laws they previously couldn't for theright reasons that would be one thing. The ONLY reason he is doing this is to try and look "Tough on Illegal Immigrants", the same way he tries to look "Tough on gay marriage". He knows it, we know it and we are pissed off.

If it weren't illegal I think the populace of Mass would have stormed the Governors Mansion, pitchfork in hands and escorted him to the state line years ago. I am counting the days until Deval Patrick is sworn in and sanity is returned to my state.

[Armstead]

33. Ditto -- You hit the nail on the had

I just hope that as Mitt steps onto the national stage, that all voters see through his nice smile and hair.

he's as phony as a three dollar bill.

[lumberjack_jeff]

35. Thanks, this helps. n/t

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

7. In my town I want the police arresting real criminals

Not people working hard to just exist.

[Bluebear]

8. Thank you. nt

[ComerPerro]

9. no kidding

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. I've known a number of criminals who rationalized their behavior...

... in just that way.

Lot's of crime is done for the purpose of "just existing".

[Bluebear]

14. Well I defer to your criminal circle of friends then.

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

20. I have to remember not to cross you again, Bluebear.

lol

[Bluebear]

21. =)

Maybe I am getting more post-assertive in my dotage.

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. Perhaps you can test that assertiveness...

against the burglar "just trying to survive".

Perhaps he'd be concerned about it to a greater degree than I.

[Bluebear]

24. Whatever, Mowing lawns = burglar in your world.

Immigration is a Federal function. I want the police in my community to go after said burglar, not somebody from Guatemala picking apples.

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. Law enforcement is a law enforcement function.

I want the police in my community to not equivocate which kinds of crimes are worthy of their attention. If the law is unjust and the borders should be open to everyone, fixing it is a political function.

It's not, but at least that's an honest debate. Asking law enforcement to ignore lawlessness is not.

Another basic assumption behind the alternative viewpoint is the belief that a person who broke the law to surreptitiously come here would choose a life of law and order the next day.

[EFerrari]

27. So, you'd want your local police to break the law to enforce the law?

And that's your honest debate?

And you have no idea what hungry people do, do you? Your head is full of this baloney "people who broke the law" as if.

Do you have any idea of where you live or how this country came into being?

:wtf:

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. Uhhhh...

[EFerrari]

29. Exactly. You don't know the difference between the feds and the locals.

You spout bullshit about obeying the law as if there is a law more urgent than hunger.

And you seem to be clueless that this country you live in was founded on principles of social justice, not by the book correctness. Because, like, dude, starting a revolution was so against the law.

[lumberjack_jeff]

32. There is no law that is more urgent...

Than protecting the citizens interests. That's what society is about; collective interest. Those that come here illegally have a society back home to protect their interests. Whether those societies do it adequately is only my business to the extent that central american governments maladministration encourages their citizens to profit by taking a piece of the economic pie that sustains me.

There is no law that forces law enforcement to ignore law breakers. It's why city cops can (and should) arrest people who violate county, state and federal law. The only question is court jurisdiction.

Because dude, you like, don't get to decide who's jobs will be given away to feed someone you consider more deserving. Y'know?

This country, like every country, was founded on the idea of collective self-protection. I know that some are uncomfortable with the concept of boundaries, laws, "us" & "them" and self-interest, but be aware that you are the beneficiary of centuries of regulating immigration to promote the interests of those already here.

And, uh, "book correctness" is exactly what this country was founded on. We are a nation of laws, not men.

[EFerrari]

25. Yet another reason to appreciate the aging process.

I do.

:)

[Lasthorseman]

5. Let's announce

for example a policy that specifically says we are going to enforce the law but not really.
Contracts for the Trans Texas Corridor are out with construction starting now.
http://www.nascocorridor.com/
http://www.scl.cc/home.php
http://www.theamericanresistance.com/articles/art2005mar23.html
When that is complete then we get paid in Ameros, worth about ten cents.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Why not "welfare queens" and "illegitimate" children while he's at it.

Not to mention, Godless Liberals, Dirty Hippies, and jaywalkers.

What a courageous guy Mitt is.

[ContraBass Black]

11. How will the police know who is legal and who isn't?

[WilliamPitt]

13. Easy

If they're mowing Mitt's lawn, they're illegals.

[EFerrari]

19. Bingo.

Good timing, Will.

[MountainLaurel]

17. Barney Fife will have access to federal databases

If memory serves correctly.

[EFerrari]

16. We're watching a shorter and shorter fuse.

Let's hope it won't finally involve nudity.

[countryjake]

30. I hope the lawsuits this brings bankrupts his state coffers...

how exactly does one tell who might be undocumented? First pig that asks anyone I know for their "papers" will find out good and quick the difference between what is legal under the constitution of this country and what is not.

Every person living in the state is an illegal immigrant unless they are of the Wampanoag, Mohegan, or Mahican.

What a friggin' joke...the irony that the government responsible for the massacres and genocide of the peoples that lived for thousands of years around Plymouth Rock and "New England" are now gonna tighten up "the law" regarding immigration. That's rich!

I wish this spirit to walk the shadows of that governor's mansion to bring the man to his senses...

[Hippo_Tron]

34. Governor-elect Patrick's inauguration cannot come soon enough