"A kleptomaniac is a person who helps himself because he can't help himself." - Henry Morgan

from my friend Jen

I watched Meet the Press yesterday, or as much as I could before it was time to leave for church. The segment I caught was an interview with Florida Senator Marco Rubio. I was impressed, and found myself wishing he had consented to participate in the primaries. The pool of people reportedly under consideration for the Veep nod is much stronger than those who were in the primaries, IMHO. Were they hanging back, waiting to participate in the next go-'round when there won't be an incumbent?

Condi Rice's name popped up this weekend as a VP possibility. I think that would be outstanding. She's impressive. 

6:30 p.m. and the temp is 104. The humidity is hovering at 16%, downright steamy by local standards. The overnight low will be 84, a prep for tomorrow's 109. 

We've begun assembling the things we'll take on vacation. The table has a growing stack of "kitchen" things that will go into the galley, while the guest room collects cabin things - bedding, Oregon-weather clothing, etc. That's also where Pam's putting the things I'll have in the car with me when I drive from here to Seattle, the cookies, chips, candy, chips, cookies....

Of course all the talk here is about the Supreme Court ruling on SB1070. It's interesting to read the press analysis and watch the pundits on TV. Some say the court overturned the majority of the bill and imply it was a defeat for its proponents. Others say the main element is the one left standing, suggesting it was a victory for the law's supporters. 

Everyone agrees that since the bill was passed by the legislature, even though it never took effect because of court challenges, the number of illegal aliens (or undocumented residents if that suits you better) in AZ has dropped drastically. At one point CA complained about the number of illegals they had to deal with because the AZ law was driving them west. New Mexico also saw an uptick, as did Texas.

I think the best thing I heard about the law came yesterday from Rubio, 24 hours before the ruling. He said he'd come to realize how unique the situation in AZ is, saying it's completely different than the problems they have in Florida. He now sees how the porous border (which also exists in CA, NM, and TX) combined with drug trafficking, creates unique dynamics the Feds have been either unwilling or unable to deal with. 

Yep.

So now (as I understand it), at least until further court challenges and lawsuits, law enforcement can ask those they pull over or detain for some offense if they have proof of citizenship. If they don't the cops call the Feds and turn them over.

Several years ago when I was still driving the cargo van (aka "Stealth Reliabity") I got pulled over on Camelback Ave., which surprised me because I knew I wasn't speeding. The deputy said he stopped me because I had a "dangerously cracked windshield." OK, it was pretty badly cracked and I figured I would get hit for a Fixit Ticket and a new windshield. Then he asked if he could look in the back of my van. "Sure. There's nothing back there but the church sound equipment." 

So he looked in back, saw church sound equipment, came back up front, told me I should probably get that windshield fixed, and sent me on my way.

We were pretty new to AZ and it took my kids to explain the whole thing to me. Cargo vans are used to transport illegals. I got profiled because of my vehicle. And he'd have followed me as long as it took to find a reason to pull me over. I just made it easy. 

A cop I know here told me that if he can't find a reason to pull a car over he's not doing his job well. 

Now that deputy can ask me for proof that I'm in the country legally. If not he can call the Department of Homeland Security. But he probably won't bother. That's because the DHS announced this afternoon, after the Supreme Court verdict, that they will no longer respond to calls from AZ officers who call about an illegal alien unless that alien has committed a serious crime. 

So I guess the verdict didn't really mean anything because local authorities can't detain people for federal crimes and the feds say they won't participate in the enforcement of SB1070.

I'm not smart enough to understand all of this.