"Baja Arizona": An Idea Whose Time Has Come!

TUCSON, Ariz.—On the patio of a downtown bar here last Wednesday night, a handful of people gathered over pitchers of beer to plot the creation of America's 51st state.
With copies of the Arizona constitution before them, they debated how to turn Pima County—a liberal southern swatch of Arizona that borders Mexico and includes Tucson—into "Baja Arizona."

"What's the objective?" one member asked the group, Start Our State.

"Becoming our own state and making our own decisions," said organizer Paul Eckerstrom.

I personally say: Let them try! I think "Baja Arizona" should start small, though, and then, if they show the capacity for good governance, give them a larger territory. First, let's give them that area along the border identified by our government as a place where US citizens shouldn't go. All Arizona liberals should move there, and then after successfully dealing with the problems of illegal immigration and drug smuggling, give the survivors a crack (pun intended) at governing a larger territory.

Problem solved!

H/T Rob Port

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot and Killed in Arizona

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot and killed during an open meeting with her constituents today. Already, recriminations are echoing through the blogosphere, although motive has not yet been established for the shooting.

The shooting is to be deplored, regardless of the motivation. If the shooting was political in nature, it needs to be shouted from the rooftops, that in our country, political differences are settled by the ballot box and not the barrel of a gun.

Dr. Steven Rayle, a former emergency room doctor who now works in a hospice, said that he had witnessed the shootings. He said the congresswoman was standing behind a table outside the Safeway greeting passersby when the gunman approached her from behind, held a gun about a foot from her head and began firing.

I fully expect the knee jerk, gun ban crowd to be out shortly. As horrific as this crime is, there is no harm in waiting until all the facts come out before anyone starts assessing blame, other than that which would naturally fall to anyone who would commit such a vile and evil act as this assassin did.

Ms. Giffords was a motorcycle enthusiast, married to a former NASA astronaut and Navy pilot, Cmdr. Mark E. Kelly. Rest in peace, Ms. Giffords. Our prayers go out to her family and friends.

Update: According to a hospital spokesperson, she is alive but in critical condition.

H/T Memeorandum