[mckmas8808]

Scalia Likens Undocumented Immigrants To ‘Bank Robbers’
SAHIL KAPUR APRIL 25, 2012, 2:20 PM

In his fervent defense Wednesday of Arizona’s right to crack down on illegal immigration, Justice Antonin Scalia likened immigration enforcement to crackdowns on bank robbers.

“What’s wrong about the states enforcing federal law?” Scalia said during his aggressive questioning of U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli. “There is a federal law against robbing federal banks. Can it be made a state crime to rob those banks? I think it is.”

The Reagan-appointed justice mocked the Obama administration’s argument that S.B. 1070 unconstitutionally forces the federal government to re-prioritize its enforcement resources and go after undocumented people who are not dangerous.

“But does the attorney general come in and say, you know, we might really only want to go after the professional bank robbers?” Scalia said. “If it’s just an amateur bank robber, you know, we’re going to let it go. And the state’s interfering with our whole scheme here because it’s prosecuting all these bank robbers.”

The line drew uncomfortable laughter and some gasps in the courtroom. It’s the sort of analogy that makes it easier for immigrant-rights advocates to accuse their opponents of lacking humanity. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants, advocates often have to point out, are not criminals and are merely trying to make a living for themselves and their families.

Angela Kelley, an immigration policy expert at the liberal Center for American Progress, said Scalia’s analogy is also wrong.

“Justice Scalia is funny but his analogy is false,” Kelley told TPM. “As a justice, he knows that there are things only the federal government can do, things the states can do and some things both can do. In this case only the feds can deport unauthorized immigrants. In the case of bank robbers, either the states or the feds can arrest, prosecute and jail them. I don’t think Justice Scalia is advocating for each of the 50 states to start deportation programs.”

Scalia sympathized with a radical interpretation of the Constitution where states may craft immigration laws as they see fit to protect their borders — none of the other justices went so far. Immigration policy is overwhelmingly viewed as federal turf, and even Arizona accepted that premise. Instead, the state argued that it was cooperatively assisting, not encroaching on, federal immigration enforcement. But Scalia pressed on nonetheless.

“What does sovereignty mean it it does not include the ability to defend your borders? The states can police their borders,” he said, suggesting that the White House opposes S.B. 1070 because it “doesn’t want [immigration] law enforced so rigorously, and that preempts the state from enforcing it vigorously.”

The justice’s hostility toward critics of the Arizona law was on full display Wednesday.

When Verrilli argued that international concerns factor into the federal government’s supremacy over immigration policy, Scalia angrily interrupted, “So we have to enforce our laws in a manner that will please Mexico. Is that what you’re saying?”

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Are Supreme Court Justices usually this obvious with their political leanings? It's almost as if he's actually trying to run against Obama himself.

[Black Republican]

i kinda want the obama/romney debates now, who would dare first?

[Chumly]

And people complain about radical socialist justices.......... Scalia might as well start re-writing the constitution himself

[speculawyer]

Scalia Likens Undocumented Immigrants To ‘Bank Robbers’.

Oh Pffft. He was just pointing out that there can be overlapping Fed & state law. Scalia is an ass but he wasn't being one with that particular statement.

[Measley]

What are they going to do, vote for Obama?

Stay home, or vote 3rd party.

It isn't just that Romney is a Mormon or whatever, it's also that to some conservatives Romney is just like Obama in terms of policy and style.

[Black Mamba]

Scalia Likens Undocumented Immigrants To ‘Bank Robbers’ Are Supreme Court Justices usually this obvious with their political leanings? It's almost as if he's actually trying to run against Obama himself.

This article is sensationalist bullshit. TPM no stranger to total mischaracterizations.

Also, Scalia is a fairly conservative justice. What does this have to do with Obama?

It's annoying seeing the Court being accused of partisanship. As if the Justices don't vote a certain way because it's, you know, their actual beliefs?

[el retorno]

Are Supreme Court Justices usually this obvious with their political leanings? It's almost as if he's actually trying to run against Obama himself.

I was reading that even sotomayor was even questioning the governments case.

[Oblivion]

Random but serious questoin: Why should the government not enforce the teachings of Christ by taxing the rich and increasing aid to the poor, but government SHOULD be able to enforce social issues like gay marriage and abortion?

[NullPointer]

Random but serious questoin: Why should the government not enforce the teachings of Christ by taxing the rich and increasing aid to the poor, but government SHOULD be able to enforce social issues like gay marriage and abortion?

Not sure I've read the part where Jesus says we should tax the rich. But I get your general idea.

[speculawyer]

Well, if the campaign has begun, it is time for pictures.

[DasRaven]

Cross-post from the Obama 2012 thread.


Obama 2012 officially kicks off on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) in Ohio.

There are no coincidences in electoral politics.

[GhaleonEB]

Can you stop your shitty trolling already?

Seriously. PD either need to step it up or knock it off, shit's getting tiresome.

[eBay Huckster]

It would appear that PD is fast becoming the Newt Gingrich of this thread.

Will he suspend his campaign if he loses the support of Delawarean GAFfers?

[RustyNails]

Cross-post from the Obama 2012 thread. Obama 2012 officially kicks off on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) in Ohio. There are no coincidences in electoral politics.

OSU represent!

[eBay Huckster]

OSU represent!

...god DAMN it I'm probably going to be busy all day working at the Cap City marathon too

[hydragonwarrior]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...s&ref=politics

So the obstructionism was planned that early? Have to hand it to the GOP for thinking that far ahead.

[Learn2read]

It's annoying seeing the Court being accused of partisanship. As if the Justices don't vote a certain way because it's, you know, their actual beliefs?

Bush v. Gore

[markatisu]

Yup and that is how its going to stay, old, white, and disinterested

[GhaleonEB]

Bush v. Gore

....and, scene.

[PhoenixPause]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...s&ref=politics So the obstructionism was planned that early? Have to hand it to the GOP for thinking that far ahead.

This is nothing new, the losing party always does this.

[DeathbyVolcano]

Gah! I might be in Columbus on May 5th. Gonna see if I can attend the ralley.

[Dr. Pangloss]

I seem to have forgotten the ability of Obama to generate buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again:
.
If he can generate at least 60% of that excitement, then he is going to crush Romney. I have never seen Romney with anything like those numbers.

[SouthernDragon]

This is nothing new, the losing party always does this.

uh huh

right

Does someone need to post that chart showing the ridiculous growth of filibusters during Obama's tenure, or do we need to post quotes from GOP/Republican leadership stating that their intent is not to help the country but to deny Obama any successes or ability for re-election?

[gcubed]

Is he in a sorority house? Trolling for young chicks? Pervert

[RustyNails]

I seem to have forgotten the ability of Obama to generate buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again: . If he can generate at least 60% of that excitement, then he is going to crush Romney. I have never seen Romney with anything like those numbers.

Can't wait for PD to dampen your spirit, Pangloss

[Dr. Pangloss]

Can't wait for PD to dampen your spirit, Pangloss

I will not go gently into that good night. I will rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[GhaleonEB]

This is nothing new, the losing party always does this.

Seriously dude, this is sub-Kosmo level trolling.

[markatisu]

I seem to have forgotten the ability of Obama to generate buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again: . If he can generate at least 60% of that excitement, then he is going to crush Romney. I have never seen Romney with anything like those numbers.

His visit to University of Iowa was pretty impressive today, almost 500 people in standing room only space for a small stump speech

But you know young people don't care according to PD ;)

[Oblivion]

I seem to have forgotten the ability of Obama to generate buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again: . If he can generate at least 60% of that excitement, then he is going to crush Romney. I have never seen Romney with anything like those numbers.

Misleading image. Forced attendance via Obama's union thug army.

[leroidys]

So both Britain and Spain are officially back in recession. Sarkozy is likely going to lose the presidential election which is probably good for the citizens of France, but it will be horrible for the EU and the Franco-German leadership that has quieted the markets up until this point. On top of that, we will have another ~million college grads dumped into the fray. I think that we will see a summer of misery part 2, and it will be Mitt's only shot to harp on that non-stop.

[MrPliskin]

This is nothing new, the losing party always does this.

No.

Between 2009 and 2010, cloture was invoked 63 times. That's more than the sum total from 1919 to 1982. Think about that for a bit.

[sc0la]

http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2012...ld+Thoughts%29

this is the first time we are aware of that a President of the United States has played with a robotic ball controlled with an iPhone.

they must not be familiar with the top secret death orb project

[Sirpopopop]

Not sure if already posted, but there is some good news:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/us...th-law.html?hp

WASHINGTON — The defeat of two conservative House Democrats by more liberal opponents in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary illustrates the strong hold the new health care law still has over committed Democratic voters and foreshadows an even more polarized Congress next year in the aftermath of the latest round of redistricting.

Looks like the Democrats are waking up and fighting back against the rot in their party.

[zargle]

Cross-post from the Obama 2012 thread. Obama 2012 officially kicks off on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) in Ohio. There are no coincidences in electoral politics.

That's a terrible day to pick, same day as Kentucky Derby.

[PhoenixPause]

buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again: .

Maybe at an unemployment line

[cartoon_soldier]

Maybe at an unemployment line

Gold Jerry Gold

[gutter_trash]

Not sure if already posted, but there is some good news: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/us...th-law.html?hp Looks like the Democrats are waking up and fighting back against the rot in their party.

blue dogs have no place in the party, they should all be replaced

[speculawyer]

Cross-post from the Obama 2012 thread. Obama 2012 officially kicks off on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) in Ohio. There are no coincidences in electoral politics.

Cinco de Mayo in Ohio. Well played, sir.


Didn't Romney recently get caught admitting that if he couldn't improve his Latino numbers, he was toast?

[AlteredBeast]

Cinco de Mayo in Ohio. Well played, sir. Didn't Romney recently get caught admitting that if he couldn't improve his Latino numbers, he was toast?

Romney will just bring up his vacation homes in Mexico. "That'll make me fit in! Hey, my servants are Mexican!"

Politics are a funny game, though. Cinco de Mayo in Ohio? Guaranteed he is drinking a Corona or Dos Equis or something in public on that day. Don't worry, that logo will be in full view, too.

[NullPointer]

"That'll make me fit in! Hey, my servants are Mexican!"

Genius.

"I'm not as ardent a fan of Mexicans but I do have friends that own some".

[Black Mamba]

Bush v. Gore

Which was 7-2 as an equal protection violation. hardly partisan. The 5-4 was regarding an injunction on the recount that was totally in line with their approach to law. Would have been the same vote in the opposite scenario.

Just because a decision came out the same way a party line might vote doesn't mean that's how it went down.

[Black Mamba]

I seem to have forgotten the ability of Obama to generate buzz. I wonder if Bams can pull crowds like this again: . If he can generate at least 60% of that excitement, then he is going to crush Romney. I have never seen Romney with anything like those numbers.

[speculawyer]

[empty vessel]

Which was 7-2 as an equal protection violation. hardly partisan.

It was thoroughly partisan. Two dissenters thought the recount had problematic implications for equal protection. But only five justices decided to stop the Florida recount and install Bush as president.

The 5-4 was regarding an injunction on the recount that was totally in line with their approach to law.

Not at all in line with anybody's approach to law. No credible legal minds believe Bush v. Gore legitimate. Justice Souter, a Republican appointee who was one of the Justices who thought there was an equal protection violation, almost resigned over it because he thought it made so much a mockery of the court.

Would have been the same vote in the opposite scenario.

No way in hell.

[Al-ibn Kermit]

It's a pipe dream, all Mitt might be able to do is get a few young voters to kind of feel apathetic enough not to vote for Obama, but he won't actually get their votes.

On this you're wrong, if PD is registered to vote.

Well I mean sure, now it looks like there might have been consequences for Romney tacking hard right on immigration and offering to destroy planned parenthood during the primary, but once he tells voters that he was just kidding, it's a whole new ballgame!

Unfortunately, Santorum broke Romney's etch-a-sketch. And then Gingrich farted on it.

[Oblivion]

Not at all in line with anybody's approach to law. No credible legal minds believe Bush v. Gore legitimate. Justice Souter, a Republican appointee who was one of the Justices who thought there was an equal protection violation, almost resigned over it because he thought it made so much a mockery of the court.

Is that why Erick Erickson called him a child molesting goat fucker?

[Oblivion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZtSE...layer_embedded

:usacry

[Diablos]

Two blue dogs down ... Jason Altmire (to fellow Rep. Mark Critz).

You're welcome.

And yeah, Critz isn't that great himself, but Altmire basically votes like a Republican. Good riddance.

[Black Mamba]

It was thoroughly partisan. Two dissenters thought the recount had problematic implications for equal protection. But only five justices decided to stop the Florida recount and install Bush as president.

One would have to demonstrate the justices came to a conclusion contrary to their judicial beliefs. The Georgetown SCOTUS project (or whichever school it was) guessed the case exactly right. It was a computer program that would input the type of case into its database to spit out who would vote what based on their previous cases and was over 90% accurate, IIRC.

Not at all in line with anybody's approach to law. No credible legal minds believe Bush v. Gore legitimate. Justice Souter, a Republican appointee who was one of the Justices who thought there was an equal protection violation, almost resigned over it because he thought it made so much a mockery of the court.

Except many legal scholars agree it was correct while many don't and others say the outcome was right for the wrong reasons. And Toobin's book was sensationalist to sell copies. It was also denied by others close to Souter. Yeah, I'm sure the dude literally spent nights weeping. :rolleyes:

No way in hell.

I've never seen any evidence to the contrary. I've seen legal scholars demonstrate that ruling right in line with each justice's legal beliefs. But this is already so long ago and Gore was trying to cheat his way into election, anyway.

People want them to be partisan because it sounds better. Truth is, they have their own beliefs and follow it. The notion that these justices just opted to go against their entire belief system for an election seems bizarre.

[Copernicus]

Rolling Stones article with Obeezy, didn't see it posted, faux apology if posted already.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics...0120425?page=1

You've shied away from demanding marriage equality for all. Are you at least willing to say that you support it on a personal level? I'm not going to make news in this publication. I've made clear that the issue of fairness and justice and equality for the LGBT community is very important to me. And I haven't just talked about it, I've acted on it. You'll recall that the last time you and I had an interview, we were getting beat up about "don't ask, don't tell" in the LGBT community. There was skepticism: "Why's it taking so long? Why doesn't he just do it through executive order?" I described very specifically the process we were going to go through to make sure that there was a buy-in from the military, up and down the chain of command, so that it would be executed in an effective way. And lo and behold, here we are, and it got done. Ending "don't ask, don't tell" has been the dog that didn't bark. You haven't read a single story about problems in our military as a consequence of the ending of the policy. So whether it's on that, or changing the AIDS travel ban, or hospital visitation rights, or a whole slew of regulations that have made sure that federal workers are treated fairly in the workplace, we've shown the commitment that I have to these issues. And we're going to keep on working in very practical ways to make sure that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are treated as what they are – full-fledged members of the American family.