Alaska Senate Sends Sovereignty Bill to Sarah Palin

Earlier today, Matt Lewis took us to a magical future where Sarah Palin is the President, but I'm starting to think that Palin already thinks she's President...of something.

First, there was her strange statement a few weeks ago, in which she seemed to be offering the United States some sort of treaty of protection with Alaska. Now, Alaska has become the latest in a spate of states passing, or trying to pass, state sovereignty resolutions.

Texas' sovereignty resolution has even led to talk of secession.

I have to say, although secession is crazy talk, at least that would mean that Texas was doing something. The rest of these resolutions are a waste of time, a way of spamming the federal government with notes that say, at great length, "See? I read the Constitution! Or at least part of it!"

By definition, these resolutions are meaningless. The Constitution already provides a remedy for overreaching federal powers, and it's not a state hissy fit.

So, what's behind this trend?
Critics of a similar, defeated measure in Montana see this movement as an attack on the legitimacy of the federal government, and a way to whip up right-wing anti-government sentiment:

Democrats chided the nonbinding resolution, arguing that it is part of a growing national right-wing movement to declare the federal government illegitimate.

"Interestingly, I found that eight states were considering resolutions just like this," Rep. Franke Wilmer, D-Bozeman, said. "When New Hampshire debated a version of this resolution the headlines read, 'First shot in the Civil War.'"

Wilmer said former President Andrew Jackson's vice president, John C. Calhoun, wrote a similar resolution in the early 1800s that some historians consider a precursor to the Civil War.

"We don't serve the constitution or our government well at all by passing antigovernment resolutions like this," Wilmer said.

Republicans in the state have a different interpretation, one that's much more similar to the theory of the co-equal pissy pants branch of government:

Rep. Kraton Kerns, R-Laurel, said he was surprised More's resolution elicited such a strong reaction from Democrats. He called the measure "a federal-government-be-good stick."

I grant the Republicans the benefit of the doubt that they are merely wasting time with these resolutions, but whatever it is they're trying to say, they should keep in mind who's listening.

Tommy on: Daily Dose:

Top Posts

• * New York Times: Ann Coulter's Makeup Takes 40 Minutes
• * Who's Afraid of Sarah Palin? The GOP
• * Newt Gingrich Nailin' Sarah Palin's Political Coffin Shut
• * Redstate Gets Down and Dirty: Raises Incest in Defense of Sarah Palin
• * DC Tea Party Video Exclusive: Clash with Counter-Protesters


Tommy on: Twitter