Liberals in Pima County (Arizona), Disgusted With Their State, Prepare to Start a Better One

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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."

...

Baja Arizona (the working title) will almost certainly remain a dream, but it suggests the growing chasm between the state's Republican leaders and its frustrated liberal minority.

For decades, there has been friction between Pima County and its more conservative northern neighbor, Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. Residents of Pima County (pop. 1 million) have often joked about forming their own state. The chasm yawned last year when Gov. Jan Brewer approved an immigration law that prompted a legal battle between the state and the federal government and made the state the target of boycotts. A new batch of immigration bills followed this year, along with a Republican-sponsored state Senate bill to let Arizona nullify specific federal laws.

Supporters of the nullification bill, which was defeated last week, said it was an attempt to curb federal overreaching. It was also the final straw for Mr. Eckerstrom, former Pima County Democratic Party chairman and an attorney in the county's Legal Defenders Office.

"That's basically a secession bill," Mr. Eckerstrom said. "I just couldn't take it anymore. We actually want to stay in the union. It seems Arizona doesn't." In February, he suggested facetiously on his Facebook page that southern Arizona become its own state. Thousands of supporters answered his call.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703726904576192873017215458.html?mod=e2fb

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

They are just like militia groups.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Pima County should merge with California and start an entire new country.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They could run away to a sympathetic state, like California.

So much beer talking, since Congress would have to establish the requirements of how such a state would be created.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

They could run away to a sympathetic state, like California.

So much beer talking, since Congress would have to establish the requirements of how such a state would be created.

It's easy. Just cut them loose, and at the same time boost the economy by creating jobs building a gigantic wall around it with only a few ways in/out. Make strict visa laws and it's a done deal imo. The US would be way better off, and California could go and cry the blues to the EU or some other sap who gives two craps about what they think and say.

[Zero Sum 305]

Kind of along the same lines of the 'states rights' issue here... to those that support those 'rights'- is it fashionable to envision 50 states each with diverging statutes that would make interstate legal application a nightmare? Or is that OK? Just curious here. Or are the kind of 'rights' being fought for more mundane? Thanks for thinking about these questions.

[Ban Hammer 13,545]

They could run away to a sympathetic state, like California.

maybe they were from out east, did that and got lost.