Through the social media such as Facebook and Twitter, one can gain a little insight into the mindset of elected officials at all levels of government.  As a New Jerseyan, I follow Governor Chris Christie through his Twitter feed, and frequently share my feelings about his actions, agree or disagree.  Another one who interests me, or did once upon a time, is Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, whom I follow via her Facebook page.

The first thing that got me interested was Governor Brewer’s rhetoric regarding the federal government’s handling of illegal immigration.  My interested doubled when SB1070 was signed into law.  The federal government was (and still is) doing little to nothing about our porous borders, and the costs were (and still are) passed down to state and local governments.  Arizona, being a border state, is one of those especially affected.  Echoes of the grievance in the Declaration of Independence, “He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection,” seem to rise throughout Phoenix, Tucson and other cities throughout the state.

The federal government’s response was to sue the state of Arizona, essentially saying, “You can’t enforce the laws we have on the books!”  Why isn’t that applied to the NDAA or drug laws?  The Obama Administration and the State Department even reported Arizona to the United Nations!  While appalling, this should not be surprising from a President who seeks UN and NATO approval for military action, but not from Congress.

After going through different levels of federal courts, SB1070 has made its way to the US Supreme Court.  Governor Brewer posted a comment on Facebook that in the next couple weeks the US Supreme Court would decide President Obama and Eric Holder’s lawsuit against SB1070.  “I believe Arizona will win, and finally states will be able to do the job that the feds refuse to do – enforce our laws and secure our border!”

Governor Brewer is confident in a SCOTUS victory.  I’m sure Dred Scott, Henry Wade, Roscoe C. Filburn and William Marbury were also confident they would win.  So I posted a reply to her comment, “If the Court rules against SB1070, do you plan on enforcing it anyway?”  I received no answer to my question, but if I may elaborate on my message to Governor Brewer, feel free to take a page out of the latest chapter in Governor Christie’s book on how he handled the state gambling issue.  Not 100% Tenther yet, but that was one of Christie’s better moments.  Even Governor Corzine signed medical marijuana legislation in the waning days of his administration.  You may look imposing with your finger pointed in the face of our Imperial President Obama.  You will look far more imposing, however, with that same finger wrapped around a pen to sign the next nullification bill that comes across your desk.  You missed a huge opportunity with the NDAA.

To the people, get on the social sites.  Make sure your state and local officials are regularly hearing about the Tenther movement.  Your comments may be seen as well by people who have never heard of the Tenth Amendment Center or nullification, opening the door to new recruits to our cause.  There still is admittedly a risk involved.  On the one hand, it may make your officials think you’re trolling.  On the other hand, it may just make your elected officials think.

Benjamin W. Mankowski, Sr.

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