Bush is not the only politician sounding like Tancredo these days. ??¢â???¬?????I have a responsibility to protect our citizens, property and communities,??¢â???¬ said another elected official, speaking in Columbus, N.M., on August 12. ??¢â???¬?????The Southern border ??¢â???¬ ¦ has been devastated by the ravages and terror of human smuggling, drug smuggling, kidnapping, murder, destruction and the death of livestock.??¢â???¬ It ??¢â???¬?????is in an extreme state of disrepair and is inadequately funded or safeguarded to protect the lives and property of ??¢â???¬ ¦ citizens.??¢â???¬ This was Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who declared a state of emergency in four New Mexico counties near the border. He was immediately imitated by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, who declared an emergency in the border counties of her state. Neither Richardson nor Napolitano has never before been tough on illegal immigration. But Richardson is repositioning himself to challenge Hillary for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Napolitano??¢â???¬â???¢s move may foreshadow a more general repositioning of the Democratic Party.
