Give credit where credit is due. Governor Jan Brewer, the same Arizona governor who became famous for signing that state's controversial anti-immigrant law, yesterday vetoed a bill that would have made the Arizona Secretary of State the arbiter of whether a candidate meets the qualifications for running for President of the United States. Standing up to the loony right, she sensibly refused to put Arizona in the middle of a distracting and ridiculous controversy. At the same time, Governor Brewer vetoed another bill that would have allowed guns to be carried on campus at public schools and universities. You have to wonder that the majority of the state legislature thought that was a good idea.
I know there are people on the left who would welcome presidential candidates like Michele Bachman or Donald Trump. I am not one of them. It's really not better from the standpoint of improving the quality of our national political debates if the right is dominated by people who think that every state election official should examine the birth certificates of presidential candidates, or who want to turn public universities into the Wild West. We are better off with sensible Republicans. We should be glad that Governor Brewer showed some common sense yesterday.
The imagery that popped up in my mind when you said "Wild Wild West," was great.
ReplyDeleteWell done =)
Thanks Jack. Here's the imagery that came to my mind. A couple of Arizona legislators are sitting around. One of them says, "you know what the biggest problem we have in our state right now? We don't have enough guns on campus. All the students should be armed, so whenever a couple of students get in a fight, they can shoot it out instead of just using their fists like wimps. Or whenever a student doesn't like what the teacher is saying, BAM! Bye, bye, teach!" And the other one gets really excited and says, "yeah you're right, that's just what we need. Let's introduce a bill right now to get more guns on campus!"
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts of the Wild Wild West were of James West and Artemus Gordon (Robert Conrad and Ross Martin) seen as two Secret Service agents set on protecting President Ulysses S. Grant. Perhaps before the time of you two young whippersnappers!
ReplyDeleteThe Wild Wild West had it's version of high speed rail where Jim West lived aboard The Wanderer.
ReplyDeletehttp://web.me.com/varnishcar/All_Aboard_The_Wanderer%21/WANDERER_GALLERY.html
You probably didn't know she vetoed them because they were badly written. When they are better written she'll sign them into law (as she should).
ReplyDeleteBrewer did say that the gun bill was badly written. I guess we'll find out if that was the only reason she vetoed it. On the birther bill, however, she showed some understanding of how unworkable it would be if 50 different election officials each had to examine documents to determine the eligibility of candidates, and make decisions that might be seen as political. Why would a state want to get into that business? But if she signs bills like this into law, I guess I'll have to take back my congratulations and write a post saying how disappointed I would be in Governor Brewer. That ought to scare her into sticking by the smart decision she made yesterday!
ReplyDeleteAnd Kevin, of course I'm old enough to remember the Wild Wild West TV show
Actually I think she said with the Birth Certificate bill 1 person would decide who can run or not.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Harrison. One person in Arizona. And there are 49 other states. Hopefully not too many of them would be be dumb enough to pass such a law.
ReplyDeleteEverybody loves the old trains. Maybe some Agatha Christie / Hercule Poirot mysteries.
ReplyDeleteGonna have to part ways with you on the gun law thing, Harrison.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that guns and drunk college kids is a good mix. I'm definitely sure that guns and teenagers is not a good idea.
Jack, look into CCW and crime rates. Or, better yet, how about this?
ReplyDeletehttp://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/1/25/153427.shtml
Comments concerning guns on campus make me feel the same way as watching a play with adults acting like children. I guess I have no sense of humor left. We need to think about the way that the Columbine, Virginia Tech, and other school shooting victims and families would feel about this.
ReplyDeleteI am not in favor of legalized guns on capuses. However, if my daughter was in one of those classrooms I know she and I would rather she had a weapon to defend herself over cowering as she was executed. I don't understand your position? Criminals can always get guns.
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