Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West apparently considers size of the Mexico border an important immigration consideration. Image from Flickr.
The debate over Arizona’s immigration bill has often been heated on both sides, and Peggy West has reignited the debate. The Milwaukee, Wis., County Supervisor, an elected Democrat, made a few major mistakes in her speech against the measure, raising questions of basic geography, education and the election of officials. The reality of Peggy West’s comments are that she, like every other politician, should read up before speaking her opinion.
Peggy West’s Milwaukee comments
In a debate over a possible Milwaukee boycott on Arizona, County Supervisor Peggy West spoke out in support of the bill. Her comments, however, were based on the idea that Arizona simply does not share a border with Mexico. As video of the meeting shows, Peggy West stated
“If this was Texas, which is a state that is directly on the border with Mexico, and they were calling for a measure like this saying that they had a major issue with undocumented people flooding their borders, I would have to look twice at this. But this is a state that is a ways removed from the border,”
In interviews later, Peggy West did try to defend her statements and understanding of geography, saying
“I did get a passing grade in Geography in high school and in college and I do obviously know that Arizona is on the border… Had Texas come out with the legislation, having the largest border, I think that I would be more receptive to the fact that there was a problem. But having it be Arizona, having it be the second largest boarder and knowing there are troops on the border in Arizona, it didn’t seem to me that this legislation was particularly necessary at this moment in time,”
Some of the other members of the Milwaukee County Board did speak up during the meeting, assuring the observers that the board did, in fact, have a basic understanding of U.S. Geography.
The bill being debated
Since Arizona passed S.B. 1070, which makes it legal for police officer to request documentation from people they believe might be in the country illegally, many locales have reacted strongly. Many cities and counties, though no states yet, have passed so-called “Arizona boycotts.” The basic argument is not that Arizona’s bill is unfair and indefensible. Other states, however, are considering similar bills. There are also citizen’s initiatives seeking signatures in states such as Washington. In short, reactions across the country to Arizona’s step into immigration reform have been strong in both directions.
What do you think? Should cities and counties be stepping into the immigration debate?
I'm from Arizona and I have just one question and a comment after that. How is it physically possible for you to be that stupid? You have no right to comment on something that you dont know about, even if you had the facts correct, you dont live here and you have no idea what we deal with.
http://www.milwaukee.gov/West – She is the stupidest woman in America. here is the explanation: Active in her community, Supervisor West was named the 2004 Hispanic Woman of the Year by UMOS, Inc. A committed believer in community service, Supervisor West volunteers for UMOS, Inc. and Mexican Fiesta. Was it one of those groups who paid her to say that?
http://www.milwaukee.gov/West/Contact.htm
this is a direct contact form for the ignorant Ms West. PLEASE contact her and demand her resignation!
http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/ETHICSBOARD8460.h… – want to make a complaint about this anti-american pig?
I live in Wisconsin and I am SO sorry and SO embarrassed by her remarks. Believe me, the people of this fine, patriotic state do NOT share her views!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11626368508…
Stand with Wisconsin (And Against ILLEGAL Immigration) on Facebook.
Peggy West is the pits. What a bonehead! I am glad that the party that she is affiliated with paid her to say this, they obviously know that she cannot read a map and is as dumb as a box of rocks, Oh wait, she is a box of rock! How can anyone with any common sense put their political a** on the line and speak in public like this. Her party and her constituents want her out of office. So people of Milwaukee, do her and yourselves a favor and show her the door. Make a big door and close it fast.
The Mexican border is 71 miles from my front door and I will not go there, ever again. Our beautiful mountains and desert along the border is filled with empty plastic water bottles, clothing and backpacks, abandoned by illegals. My Grandparents immigrated to Tucson, before Arizona became a state, my father was born here in 1911.
Repatriating Arizona to Mexico is out of the question. Arizonans would much rather go to war with Mexico, while Obama hides and watches from a far, and that is Okay with us. Rese por nosotros, Americanos libres.
Pray for us, Free Americans.
A famous person once said it is better to be quiet and ignorant, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt…guess Peggy West would have been wise to follow that wisdom…
and from Forest Gump…stupid is as stupid does..
Peggy doesn't care about this issue, she's jumping on the bandwagon. Her concept of research is googling. Other than not knowing Arizona is a large border state, she doesn't understand the bill, that much was clear. All she seemed capable of doing was poorly parroting random talking points.
She reminded me of that rather dim-witted Miss USA contestant.
I love how people who don't live in an area where the illegals are over running the system. In Texas(Houston), our healthcare, education, and penal systems are sucked dry, and we are 7 hours from the border. The US spends 15 BILLION per MONTH…..yes MONTH on illegals. I would rather pay $.50 more per orange than have people break the law. They do not want to come in and adapt. In Mexico, this is called the "reconquista". They want(and you can look in the areas of Houston that they live in) to turn us into Mexico………a country they cannot wait to escape.
It's straight out of the Aztlan playbook.
How typical, calling for a boycott when she doesn't have a clue about the facts, or even where the state is located…
John Q, since when did "knowledge" become a requirement of America's elected officials? Since so few voters have it, it's no wonder they vote for the people who mirror them, but wrap it up in a pretty bow.
She's an a**hole government worker, what do you except? BURNSIDE
Thanks, Ms. West. You have made the point against illegal immigration far more eloquently than anyone has. Also, you reinforce the complaints with the educational system, politicians who shoot off their mouth without understanding the issues and Americans becoming obese.
By the way, Ms. West is a “Latina.” No bias here.
Wow… this woman made a serious fool out of herself. Brings back one of my favorite quotes from Mark Twain: The more you explain it, the more I don't understand it. Sometimes less is more, Ms. Peggy.
Cities and states have no reason to boycott anything. the people in the cities have the say as to whether they want to boycott something. I am personally against any boycott against Arizona as all they are saying is that as long as the US government says that they are illegal then arrest them.
NOTE go and read the treaty between the USA and Mexico at end of the Mexican American war. It says that the people of Mexico can work and travel freely in any territory what was formerly a Mexican territory. This provision was unilaterally annulled by the democratic President in 1940 and approved by the then democratic controlled congress and senate.
Don
yet another fat *%&@ political bureaucrat who couldn't find her considerably large (%% in the dark with a flashlight and directions! When are we going to stop putting people like this into public office? Are we all asleep at the polling booth on election day or what?
I agree with the previous comment. For everyone that lives elsewhere in the country educate yourself on the situation and the bill BEFORE you comment. Find out how much it costs the state per family of illegals. Find out how much ofthe drugs in the US come across the Arizona border. Find out how overburdened our socia services are and what this does to medical costs for legal citizens around the country. I have seen many comments on the internet from people like the woman who did not realize that AZ is a border state. People are supporting a boycott and condemning Arizonas actions but dont even know why. If you do not like this plan,then come up with a better one. If the only thing you have to offer is criticism and condemnation, then you have nothing to offer. When you have abetter idea,then get back to us.
Until then, Arizona needs busses. Send us your busses so we can send you our illega lpopulation. Since so many people and states seem to think they know how to do this better, we will gladly share our problem with you then watch and learnas you show us how it should be done. For all the people planning to boycott Arizona,come down and pick up a family or two or three and take them back to your state.
One more thing,this is already a federal law. Arizona is making it also a state law so state law enforcement officers can do something about it. The federal government made it a law, and ignoring the enforcement of that law could be considered aiding, which is a felony under the FEDERAL law. Perhaps the president should read the law BEFORE he plans legal action.
So what peggy west basically said is that: "If Texas "they were calling for a measure like this saying that they had a major issue with undocumented people flooding their borders, I would have to look twice at this."
THEN she would take a second look at the problem that does indeed exist!
So she DOES agree with what Arizona is doing, except that it ain't Texas?
“I did get a passing grade in Geography in high school and in college and I do obviously know that Arizona is on the border."
I wonder if she knows where "NEW" Mexico, or California is?
I wonder if she knows that Wisconsin is close to the Canadian border, 'ceptin' Michigan an' a lot of water is in the way.
Peggy made a huge mistake because not only does she not know what she's talking about, but then she is stupid enough to think her obvious LIE that she actually did know that Arizona bordered Mexico would be believed is laughable.
Perhaps Ms West would appreciate Arizona's input on how to run their snow removal systems and ice storm emergency plans. It makes as much sense.
Unless you are dealing with the ACTUAL problems that the affected states are dealing with, SHUT UP and SIT DOWN. Ms West obviously doesn't have a clue about geography OR the illegal immigration problem.
Try going into Mexico and forcing THEM to print everything out in English to accommodate *you*. Try breaking THEIR laws. Sis lived there, I've been there. They are more racist and punitive against us than we are here to them.
Bingo, IndyMom. Run afoul of the law in Mexico and you've earned a harsh dollop of reality that no bleeding heart river of tears can wash away.
Flagstaff, AZ made me a Certified Desert Rat when it was 32 Below Zero in January 1971 for 10 tens. Snow removal, yeah, Arizona gets its fair share of snow, even here in Tucson, we get snow. It may not stick on the ground for days, but we do know a little something about snow. Some of our winter visitors get a little upset, but this is the best city in the world. We just don't want to let it out
Ms. West obviously has an opinion. She has her predisposed ideals. She has no wisdom, no brains, no sense, and like a typical Wisc. Duhmocrat, can't admit her stupidity. Typically, rather than admit her lack of substance, she tries to talk her way out of her huge lapse in intelligence.
George III of England had nothing on today's tyrannical idealistic Marxist Duhmocrats.
Peggy West is just ignorant of the situation. If you are going to air comments about illegal immigration, please don't give ignorant people a platform or media outlet. That only inflames the situation. I, for one, am embarrassed by Ms. West. She needs to go to private school where she can learn geography.
I am from Arizona lived there until I moved to Hartland, Wisconsin last year. I am truly in awe of all of the people who have something to say when they are clearly ignorant on what the facts are in Arizona. Arizona is over run by "Illegal" border crossing criminals. I say criminals because it is against the law to do what they do. They have used my Social Securit number which I am sure they paid someone for to get medical attention at a hospital which I ended up needing to go to. They have caused an accident that my husband was in and they ran ofcourse no insurance so guess who pays for that bill. They have brought guns to my sons school (Check it out Queen Creek Middle School Illegal brings gun to school). I am so happy to be in a community where I am no longer the odd man out. Ms. Peggy West…my advise to you is go live in ARIZONA put your SS # on the side of your vehicle oh and make sure your HIGH COST auto insurance is in effect before you drive..YOU WILL NEED IT!
I say we sell peggy west to the highest federal prison bidder. The she can ponder borders and rights and boundaries, and American Wrath.
Being from Oconomowoc originally and now living in Phoenix may I say Ms. West has no idea what she is talking about. Illegal is Illegal is Illegal. I’ll stay out of Milwaukees politics if you stay out of ours. And yes we need help. The drug cartel in Mexico have flat out said they will kill our police. Would Ms. West like a drop house full of scared Mexican and South American people under guns by Coyotes to be in her neighborhood? They pack 40 to 50 people in one house. We have had running gun battles on Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix. You have no idea what it is like here.
The new AZ law mirrors the federal law. Therefore, the potential for ethnic profiling exists whether local, state, or federal agents are enforcing the law. Furthermore, profiling of various forms (age, gender, race, height, etc.) are, of necessity, used in all areas of law enforcement as part of the screening process. The solution in this case is a national identity card. Sure, they can be forged, but even 70-80% effectiveness is better than what we have now.
Being from Oconomowoc originally and now living in Phoenix may I say Ms. West has no idea what she is talking about. Illegal is Illegal is Illegal. I'll stay out of Milwaukees politics if you stay out of ours. And yes we need help. The drug cartel in Mexico have flat out said they will kill our police. Would Ms. West like a drop house full of scared Mexican and South American people under guns by Coyotes to be in her neighborhood? They pack 40 to 50 people in one house. We have had running gun battles on Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix. You have no idea what it is like here.
I am British and even I know the basic map of the US. Of course, Hawaii has a border with Puerto Rico.
…..which is next to Maine. Me an' Ms. West was their. O', we was has sober on Tequila. Empity bottles are no fun……