The liberal view: “If we slap you in the face, it’s justice. If you slap us back, it’s just wrong.”
I can’t help but think how liberals – who were so filled with hatred and anger at George W. Bush and Republicans that it was positively unreal – are now so utterly flabbergasted that conservatives would dare feel the same way now that a liberal guy and a liberal party has total control.
It’s like, “How can you possibly treat us the way we treated you? That’s just so immoral.”
Some in Arizona canceling trips to S.D.
Outrage over local censure votes may be a misunderstanding
By Lori Weisberg, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Friday, May 14, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.San Diego tourism leaders and hoteliers fear they could lose a sizable chunk of business this summer from valued “Zonies” who are so angered by elected leaders’ recent censure of Arizona for its illegal-immigration law that they’re mounting an informal boycott of their own.
The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and several hotels report receiving e-mails and letters from Arizona visitors saying they intend to change their plans to travel here in light of local outcry over their home state’s anti-illegal-immigration stance.
Tourism officials are striking back. In an open letter, they urge Arizona residents to overlook local politics and come to San Diego just as they always have for its mild climate, beaches and attractions. The visitors bureau, in conjunction with the San Diego County Hotel-Motel Association, plans to circulate the letter to media outlets and in advertising this weekend in The Arizona Republic.
The bureau says it has received about 25 to 30 e-mails from Arizona residents reacting to resolutions passed last month by the San Diego City Council and school board, which were little more than symbolic protests aimed at the neighboring state’s lawmakers.
Still struggling from the prolonged economic downturn, San Diego’s visitor industry can ill afford to lose any of the 2 million Arizonans it counts on annually, said ConVis President Joe Terzi.
“We’re in a very tough environment already because of everything else going on, and we don’t need another negative impact to our industry,” Terzi said. “This affects all the hardworking men and women who count on tourism for their livelihoods, so we’re saying, don’t do something that hurts their livelihoods.”
Although the summer months typically are an economic bonanza for the San Diego visitor industry, the recession and continued high unemployment have eaten away at lodging revenue as hotels have steeply discounted rates to fill their rooms. The Convention & Visitors Bureau spent $9 million last year promoting the region for the spring and summer months and is dedicating $7 million toward that effort this year.
“I’ve been approached by a number of hotels who are very concerned because they’ve received cancellations from Arizona guests,” said Namara Mercer, executive director of the county Hotel-Motel Association. “It’s a huge piece of business for not just the hotels but for all of San Diego. Everybody’s excited because they think occupancies will be stronger this summer, and now this.”
I am in Arizona as I write this, and I can assure you that Arizonans are pissed off. Even the Democrat Arizonans I’ve talked to are pissed off. 70% of Arizonans are in favor of this bill; and they feel singled out and under attack.
And Arizonans aren’t just going to take their ire out on San Diego. They’re pissed off at Los Angeles, they’re pissed off at the state of California, and they’re pissed off at anywhere else that wants to attack them with a boycott.
As I was driving from California, I ate at an Arizona Burger King. I have never seen so much stuff embracing a state on the walls of a fast food restaurant in my entire life.
Here is the text of the Arizona law. Read it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this law. All it does is make what is already a federal crime a state crime as well. It doesn’t allow racial profiling; in fact it has more stipulations preventing racial profiling than the federal law.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns. There is outrage over the fact that a Los Angeles City Council member said that the Lakers should take their own food to Phoenix so as not to spend money in Arizona.
Los Angeles announced it was boycotting Arizona. Rather than tell the Lakers to bring their own food, the city should require the Lakers to forfeit the series. That would at least have the virtue of being consistent. Instead, the message from liberals in Los Angeles is that they have no intention of hurting BIG Los Angeles issues; rather, they just want to hurt thousands of little people – in both states – who might well lose their jobs over this stupid boycott.
I’m a Californian, but in my atttitude I’m another pissed-off Arizonan. I’m buying as much stuff as I can in this state to help out a righteous cause against an unrighteous one.
Right now, it costs a full third more to drive a U-Haul truck from California to Texas as it costs to drive one from Texas to California. Do you want to know why you have to pay a huge premium to drive out of California? Because you are just one more rat fleeing a sinking ship, that’s why.
And what does California want to do? Cut off its damn nose to spite its face, that’s what.
Well, in that spirit, allow me to stick a fork in your eye, too, California.
Tags: angered, Arizona, boycott, California, counter-boycott, hotels, hurts livelihoods, illegal immigration, industry, law, San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, SB 1070, tourism
Start Thinking Right 
May 19, 2010 at 9:53 am
The boycott is a red herring for California’s real problem-California owes money to a number of states. California owes about $56 million dollars to Arizona. So you might as well call out California for being a deadbeat on top of its looney politics.
Go ahead Arizona cut the power to California!
May 19, 2010 at 11:19 am
Arizona is looking better and better all the time. Stay strong Arizona!
P.S. I’m a Californian.
May 19, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I’ll look for that debt.
Wouldn’t it be funny if Arizona said, “Go ahead and boycott us, California. I’m sure you’ll want to immediately repay us our money, so you won’t have it contaminating you, too!”
That’s just hilarious.
May 19, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I’m from California, too, Bryan. I bought a bunch of stuff in Arizona so I could support the economy. Heck, I even bought all my non-cold groceries in Arizona.
Just got back from Arizona today. It’s a beautiful state that has the advantage of doing the right thing against a climate of lies that represent the REAL hate in our society.
May 21, 2010 at 5:15 am
It is the city officials that are causing all this so what all Californians need to do is next election remember who voted for this boycott and this will start to turn your state around because guess who will be getting all the illegals now…
May 21, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Oh, yeah. In the words of the famous Led Zeppelin song, they’ll be “Going to California.”
One study showed that each illegal immigrant on average costs the American people $19,000 each more than they contribute to the country. And that kind of drain is just what California needs.
I said that ironically. But factually, I say it’s just what California deserves.
So, by all means, Arizona illegal immigrants. Come to California. Burden our schools; overwhelm our hospitals with health care you won’t pay for; drain our various social welfare programs. Literally, take food out of the mouths of our citizens’ children.
And be smarter than we moral idiots here in California. Whereas we are too blind and stupid to take care of ourselves, continue to drain our economy by sending the (mostly underground) money you earn home to take care of your families. We don’t need those dollars here to help our economy, after all.
May 26, 2010 at 1:59 am
I have been watching all of this in the headlines. And am appalled that any state or city would take a stand against another for doing what it deems necessary to protect its citizens. Much less for passing a law only states that they will be enforcing a standing higher ranking law. When Austin Texas announced their intentions to join in a boycott of Arizona, I immediately contacted them gave them my opinion and promised not to be doing any of my business with them till they formally repeal their opinions. The little two or three thousand dollars I spend there a year isn’t going to put any one out of business but I certainly hope that combined with the efforts of others it will give them reason to start thinking.
As I understand it, all polls show that the majority of the U,S, population is in favor of the newly passed Arizona law, so I have to wonder by whose authority these so called servants of the people are imposing these boycotts, unless all the Americans who oppose this law are located in these half a dozen cities, they must be acting against the will of the people. Isn’t that “anti American” activity ? As well as intentionally trying to damage the economy of a U.S. state ?
I am sure Arizona will miss the 45 people that Austin sends in a year for training not nearly as much as Austin will miss the tourists that they have alienated with their decision. As well as wondering just how much San Diego, and L.A. will lose from Arizona tourists, as opposed to how much Arizona will lose from their cities.
So this year if you live in Arizona, vacation in Arizona, and if you just happen to be from out of state and want a vacation, Well, I bet the Grand Canyon is beautiful this time of year.
May 27, 2010 at 12:22 am
Way to go, Angry Texan. My ten-gallon hat is off to you!
Obama promised to heal the planet and lower the oceans, along with restoring bi-partisan cooperation. What we have under the misrule of his regime is North Korea and Iran on the verge of creating global catastrophe, an oil slick for an ocean, and a nation – complete with cities and states – at each other’s throats in the worst divide in my lifetime (including anything we ever saw during either Clinton OR Bush).
These stupid cities want to boycott Arizona? Every decent American should start boycotting THEM.
And blaming Obama for the whole stupid mess. He’s the one who couldn’t wait to demonize one of the “57” states of the union!!!