Arizonans Gettin' All Moderate When it Comes to Illegal Immigration?

Arizonans Gettin' All Moderate When it Comes to Illegal Immigration?

By James King Fri., Nov. 11 2011 at 7:00 AM

The "meth lab," it seems, just blew up.

A poll released Wednesday shows that the vast majority of Arizonans prefer a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who've been in the United States for an extended period of time, and can meet reasonable criteria for citizenship -- as oppose to simply booting them back to their native countries, where many have them have never set foot.

Believe it or not, even the majority of Arizona Republicans polled favor a pathway to citizenship -- which goes against the old Arizona tradition of deport first, discuss morality later.

According to the survey, 78 percent of Arizonans would support legislation allowing undocumented "long-time" residents to become citizens "if they pay a fine, pass a criminal background check here and their nation of origin, get a taxpayer I.D. number and demonstrate they can speak English."

Of Republicans polled, more than 66 percent supported a pathway to citizenship.

Additionally, as you probably know, Arizona's biggest advocate for kickin' out those pesky messicans, now-former state Senate President Russell Pearce, was booted from office Tuesday night (compliments of his LD 18 constituents), which likely had something to do with his out-of-touch, unreasonable, and flat-out cruel policies when it comes to solving the problem of illegal immigration.

Call us optimists, but Arizonans appear to be turning over a new (more moderate) leaf in terms of how they deal with illegal immigrants.

We want to know what you think, though: are Arizonans really lightening up when it comes to immigration reform, or are recent events just a fluke for the state dubbed the "meth lab of democracy?"

Cast your vote below.

Tags:

arizona, comrehensive immigration reform, illegal immigration, joe arpaio, russell pearce, russell pearce recall

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restitutiontouscitizensfirst

I don't think that AZ lawmakers are unique in the sense that you write - it appears to be a nationwide affliction. This same lack of oversight apparently lead to the need for taxpayers to bail-out police and fire-fighter pensions while the perpetrator receives something in the order of $18,000 per month and NEEDS every penny of it to maintain his family? (yeah probably for the security detail he has had to hire) And I seem to recall that a certain politician who went from state to national employ . . . his family's extensive property holdings were never checked on or regulated and after a dam burst and destroyed the homes and falls of Havasupai - what punishment was exacted? We got stuck with that one too.

http://www.dankat.com/mstory/h...

The members of the club have always exhibited a painful amount of privilege in their exemption from laws, common courtesy or even good sense. Painful for the rest of us.

Regarding the rancher . . . despite his and his family's long local reputation, I think that all too often group say-so creates law and I do not think that it is correct. There was no proof of his behavior. Anybody could have coached that group to keep their story straight with each other. Meanwhile we have many women with class action against Walmart and they lost. They were also a group with a cohesive message. So, no, I do not think he should have lost his ranch based on a group say-so, a group who had nothing to lose but everything to gain. So to the casual witness, such as myself, it is still clear that there is no justice but powerful forces want the outcome.

OCCUPY!

PTCGAZ

I answered no on the poll because at least in my small AZ town people are as racist as ever. I would like to see Sheriff Joke gone too, so I almost answered that way, however I do not think of AZ as a moderate state. It is chock full of ignorant, white, morons that do not like certain people because they aren't like them and do not conform to what they want them to be.

restitutiontouscitizensfirst

Oh you mean Guadalupe?

Bobby

John Stewarts show is one big Meth Lab.

Dumoudan

How about a constitutional amendment allowing 12,000,000 Chinese to illegally enter the US? How about 12,000,000 Iraqi, 12,000,000 Nigerians, 12,000,000 from Zimbabwe. If you only allow the Mexicans, you are probably a racist.

Follower_of_the_ONE

12,000,000, that's odd you should use that number, that's the number of illegal Mexicans who gained citizenship under Reagan in the 80's. It was great for the Republican voter base for a couple of decades. So what's the problem with Obama and the Democrats adding 20million to the roles?

restitutiontouscitizensfirst

We have many here that collaborated with the US war machine and had to come here after US success in liberating their homeland. They hate us. They suckle at the teat of the US taxpayer but they kick every US citizen that they can. For these stupid farming methods we are a divided nation which was the intent as the power and the money goes global with the help of our poor who sign up for the only job around.

lsslaa37

tinyurl.com/3j5ovpk

Zeitawnkwa

I did another informal poll and I found 99% of Arizonan's want to round up all illegals, and those who resemble them, and have them shipped to Africa via a large uncomfortable ship without comforts, or restrooms, or food, or water. My poll has a plus or minus 3% margin of error.

Tommy Collins

I will guess that 99% of what you're involved in has to do with one type of 'pole' or another, amigo.

Walter Concrete

Well, it's just his opinion Tommy. Just like you say when you defend the New Times staff. You seem to have become the righteous moderator of this forum lately. What happened? Did one of the staff write you a personal note of appreciation for all your efforts in the forum or something?

Royalphoenix2

Doesn't seem to be sound reckoning to pay to educate people, then run them off. peace

bigriggs

Great idea, Just forget about laws and those sorts of things. Just pander to the illegals. Just give them what they want....everything. Do not uphold laws, Do not require people to actually go thru the proper process of becoming a legal citizen. Forget about doing the right thing. Fuck it all.

Tommy Collins

Really? Where did you read all that?

Tommy Collins

Moderate? I don't think so.

Open minded and humane? Perhaps.

Other than Mrs. Brewer and a few of the right tards still floating in the porcelan bowl, most Republicans have seen the reality of the damage done to the state because of the likes of Mister Pearce (a disgraced former senator from Arizona) and his ilk.

Interestingly, more folks are actually taking the time to validate information that has been spewed incessantly by pearce and company. Now they are seeing the jazz he has been playing to the audience is simply canned music, not fit for dogs to listen to, much less we humans.

It's become painfully obvious to most voters of all parties that Comprehensive Immigration Reform IS NEEDED.

Let's hope senate president Steve is listening. I am not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen, however.

restitutiontouscitizensfirst

If things were right south of the border all those people would not want to come here. Occupy perhaps is diverting attention to the more real issues that need to be addressed? I don't think that CIR is going to make that much change worth anything in the long run. The PTB just want more eager debt slaves, ownership of whom they can sell in private markets and they care nothing for color, ethnic or national origin.

Hock

I've been thinking for quite a while, that a true moderate Republican...economic conservative, social liberal...would dominate Arizona politics.

PTCGAZ

Hock, it's impossible for anyone to be that. Economic conservative/social liberal are opposites, due mostly to the fact that economic conservatives tend to be socially conservative as well to conserve the money for themselves and not spend money for others.

maybe368

We are starting to walk the walk, so next would be a REAL lawman in the sheriff's position. How about a constitutional amendment (or whatever it takes) to remove all law enforcement positions from being elected positions. Time to come into the 21st century and dump the old west system...