Trotting out the 'I' word

For the past couple of years I’ve avoided the subject of Sarah Palin. Admittedly I do occasionally lapse into the “fish in a barrel” ease of targeting our abbreviated governor, but in general I try not to enable her insatiable need for attention. However, there are times when even the most self-obsessed public figures deserve the spotlight.

This past week our governor-lite has suggested that President Barack Obama should face impeachment for his lawlessness, ineffectiveness, efficacy (insert derogatory verb here). It seems the last straw for Palin is the crisis on the border. Not for the humanitarian disaster of thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing to a foreign country. No, apparently it’s because the Obama administration is inviting this crisis by a criminal disregard for the law. It’s either that, or, because Obama isn’t personally drop kicking 5 year olds back across the fence. In either case, Palin is the most notable political figure to introduce the “I” word into the conversation and for this she deserves a response.

In a recent piece for Breitbart Palin writes: “Enough is enough of the years of abuse from this president.” She goes on to say: “His unsecured border crisis is the last straw that makes the battered wife say, ‘no mas.’”

All right ex-guv; let’s try to sort through the mangled metaphors and focus. Shall we? In the first place, Obama has detained and deported more undocumented immigrants than any president in recent memory. The numbers are certainly higher than the last five presidents and probably outpace the last 43. They have also earned Obama the moniker “Deporter in Chief” from immigration activists.

Secondly, Obama is merely enforcing a law signed in 2008 by George W. Bush. The law states that unaccompanied children entering the United States illegally from countries other than Mexico or Canada shall be given certain protections that slow the deportation process. It was meant to safeguard minors from human trafficking, but unintended consequences have helped lead to this flood of desperate children.

Next up is the notion that Obama has somehow put a big welcome mat out on our southern border. After Congress has repeatedly refused to pass any immigration reform that doesn’t involve rounding up 11 million people and shipping them south, the president resorted to executive action. Part of that came in the form of “deferred action,” which is essentially a two-year moratorium on deportation proceedings for children whose parents brought them to this country illegally. So far, more than 500,000 have qualified, none of who are members of the recent exodus.

The “deferred action” order by the President is a temporary measure put in place because of Congressional inaction, but again unintended consequences have helped fuel this immigration crisis. That, and only that, is the thing that can placed at Obama’s doorstep.

So, drop out governor, here are the facts. Under this president we have built the Not-So-Great Wall, increased the Border Patrol twofold, pumped more money into border security than any other section of the department of Homeland Security, and deported more people than any other administration ever. In addition the President has repeatedly asked for immigration reform. The Senate did pass a bipartisan bill 68 to 32 but it died in the House. Obama has also asked for an additional $3.7 billion to address the ongoing problem, but Boehner and his gaggle of malcontents have not yet seen fit to help.

For this and the glaringly unspecific “many impeachable offenses” you think it’s time to impeach the President. Really Governor Palin? Really?! Do you remember when you had “actual responsibilities?” Do you remember a governor who presided over a bipartisan coalition in the Legislature and was able to work with both sides to actually get something done for the state? You know, the person who existed before the 2008 presidential campaign.

Personally, I think you should sue McCain and his minions for taking a constructive, albeit ultra conservative, politician and turning you into a babbling, incoherent, egomaniacal shill for the dictatorial crazies that have hijacked the GOP.

My point here is that even though you no longer hold office, you still have responsibilities. Not just to the teatotalers, but to the rest of us in the state and nation. When you say things people listen. For better or worse you still have influence and when you say the President should be impeached for following the law and for resorting to his constitutional prerogative when dealing with the worst Congress in history, some people buy into it.

Next time get your facts straight before you give voice to whatever comes tumbling out of your brain. If you can’t manage to do this. If you can’t manage to resist throwing red meat to the mob then I along with a majority of Americans and a sizable number of Alaskans say “no mas” Ms. Palin. For the love of God and country, “no mas.”

Chuck Legge is a freelance political cartoonist and community columnist who lives in Sutton.