AZ GOV SIGNS IMMIGRATION LAW / OBAMA THREATENS INVESTIGATION

If someone told you Barack Obama skipped all his classes on economics and the virtues of capitalism, it would be believable. Also believable would be the suggestion that he never learned that lesson about picking your battles. As the court cases being filed by states against the Federal Government continue to mount - last count was 20 - Arizona's governor has signed a strict immigration enforcement bill into law.

Via New York Times:

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Friday signed into effect the toughest immigration law in the United States, which President Barack Obama singled out as a "misguided" effort that showed the need for national reform.

Police in the border state with Mexico will now be required to determine if people are in the country illegally if there is "reasonable suspicion" -- which critics charge will open the door to racial profiling.

Now about that "know when to pick your battles" thing. Keep in mind that this bill went through Arizona's state legislature, passing both the House and the State Senate before getting signed by Governor Jan Brewer - ironically, the Republican Brewer replaced current head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Janet Napolitano, who would have certainly vetoed the bill.

But I digress. Obama is apparently so bitter about Arizona having the gall to write, pass, and enforce its own laws, he is going to have Eric Holder's Justice Department look into civil rights violations. Via Jim Kouri at COP Magazine:

"If we continue to fail to act at a federal level, we will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country," Obama said.

Obama also said that the Justice Department will monitor enforcement of this new law, a statement many believe is a threat aimed at Arizona cops.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs later said if the Arizona measure became law in that state, Obama has asked that the Justice Department look into any civil rights implications.

This is a fight Obama is welcome to wage. He will lose. When states begin to see the Feds send in the Justice Department to investigate them because the latter doesn't like their laws, they may just start waking up. Such a fight would make the Feds look like the bullies they are and might turn the tide of public opinion even more in favor of suing the federal government over health care.

Read it all.