This page was last updated on May 19, 2010.
The curtain comes down in Arizona; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; May 19, 2010.
Most of Mr. Kislock’s 52+ letters over the last six years have been Republican-bashing exercises, though he sometimes goes after Democrats for his pet causes. Sometime during 2009 Mr. Kislock became an in-house commentator for Beaver County Blue.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“Fear has overwhelmed some Americans. Is this from the fear-mongering done on Fox entertainment/commentary for this express purpose?
“Who benefits from fear-mongering?”
[RWC] You have to laugh at this. While Mr. Kislock complains about alleged “fear-mongering” by others, this letter is an exercise in fear-mongering in itself.
“What will happen to this fearful generation? Are Americans so fearful of leaving the prison of their fortress that they must be armed to get a coffee? What a generation.
“A Cactus Curtain has fallen over America. ‘Papers, please.’
“The Iron Curtain was to keep those seeking freedom in. Arizona’s Cactus Curtain will keep many out, to the detriment of Arizona itself.”
[RWC] I’m not a lawyer, but news reports indicate the Arizona law is simply a state version of existing federal law and this allows state and local law enforcement officers to do what federal law enforcement officers already can do. In short, a person must be stopped for some other lawful reason, like speeding, before he can be asked to provide proof he’s in the U.S. legally. Even then, the officer must have reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal alien before making the request. This approach is similar to PA’s seatbelt law. If anyone in your car isn’t wearing a seatbelt, you can’t be charged unless you’re stopped for some other lawful reason.
In 2002 the evil Bush administration issued a legal opinion on this subject. According to the Washington Post, “the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, concluded that state police officers have ‘inherent power’ to arrest undocumented immigrants for violating federal law.” While the Obama administration has been bashing the AZ law, it has not withdrawn the Bush administration legal opinion so it remains DOJ official policy. Oops.
Does anyone believe Mr. Kislock ever read the Arizona law? If he didn’t, Mr. Kislock is in “good” company with President Obama, AG Eric Holder, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and so on. These folks bashed the AZ law but were forced to admit they never read it. Unlike the Obamacare bill, the AZ law is only 19 pages so they had no excuse.
“‘Papers, please,’ is a phrase I never thought I would hear in American.”
[RWC] I thought we spoke English, not American. <g>
“I guess I will never visit Arizona again. The Cactus Curtain has me shameful for Arizona and America.”
[RWC] Oh no, Mr. Kislock “will never visit Arizona again!” How will Arizona survive?
If you’re familiar with Mr. Kislock’s letter-writing body of work, you have to suspect he has been “shameful for Arizona and America” for a long, long time. I don’t believe you can be a leftist in Mr. Kislock’s class and not be ashamed (or worse) of America.
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