What's the message when many states want an immigration law like Arizona's?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While the federal government twiddles its thumbs concerning the issue of illegal immigration - states across the country are following Arizona's lead.
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The Washington Post reports that five states - South Carolina, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Michigan - are considering laws like Arizona's. And lawmakers in 17 other states, including Virginia, have expressed support for similar measures.
It seems pretty clear that people are sick and tired of waiting for Washington to act on this crisis.
Consider that the National Conference of State Legislatures reports nearly 1,200 bills or resolutions dealing with immigrants were introduced in 45 states in the first three months of this year alone.
1,200!
These include both pro and anti-immigration measures.
For example, in Massachusetts the Senate has required state contractors to make sure their workers are legal.
This week the small town of Fremont, Nebraska - not exactly a border state - voted to ban the hiring of illegal aliens or renting property to them.
Supporters say Fremont is an example of "if Washington won't, Nebraskans will," while critics like the ACLU suggest there's "no rational reason" for Fremont to worry about protecting our border.
One reason that could prevent activity at the local level may be the economy. With many state budgets in crisis, they may not have the money for additional law enforcement or to fight the court challenges that would likely follow passage.
As for the federal government, instead of protecting our borders, they might sue Arizona for trying to protect itself. And by the way, almost 60 percent of Americans support the Arizona law.
Here’s my question to you: What’s the message for the federal government when states across the country want to adopt an immigration law like Arizona’s?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How much confidence do you have in Pres. Obama?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's only 17 months into Barack Obama's presidency... and the American people seem to be losing faith in him.
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows Americans are more pessimistic about the state of the country... and less confident in the president's leadership than at any time since Mr. Obama took office.
The poll finds 62 percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track - that's the highest level since before the 2008 election... and only one-third think the economy will improve in the next year... the lowest in Mr. Obama's presidency and a seven-point drop from one month ago.
It gets worse - support for the president is not only declining among independents... it's also dropping among his base. And, the president has lost support among Latinos, small-town residents, white women and seniors.
What's more - the poll shows a big jump in people who say they don't relate to President Obama... less than half say he has strong leadership qualities... and only 40 percent rate him positively on his "ability to handle a crisis."
Meanwhile, Roger Simon of Politico wonders if President Obama has run out of luck. Simon writes the President "used to be one lucky guy," describing his meteoric rise to power from the Illinois statehouse to the White House in 12 years.
He also points to the president's ability to escape several issues - like the preacher Jeremiah Wright - that might have derailed another candidate.
But now with the unstable economy, high unemployment, the Gulf oil spill, the "runaway general" Stanley McChrsytal and international threats like Iran and North Korea, Mr. Obama's luck is mostly bad.
Here’s my question to you: How much confidence do you have in President Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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