Gov. Phil Bryant goes full on crazy, urges Legislature to ignore supremacy of federal government

If I had a nickel (okay, maybe quarter) for every time a Mississippi Republican quietly referenced the intellectual limitations of the current occupant of the Governor's Mansion, I could retire right now.  Well, here Gov. Phil Bryant (R) goes again, riding the Tea Party crazy horse one more time around the track.

This time, Gov. Bryant has "urged" Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) and Speaker Philip Gunn (R) to "immediately pass legislation that would make any unconstitutional order by the President illegal to enforce in Mississippi by state or local law enforcement".  (Click on the letter below to read the whole thing.) 

Nothing like a throwback to the days of nullification and interposition to brighten a dreary winter's day.  May I wish everyone an early happy Martin Luther King Day?

Okay, Gov. Bryant, who exactly makes the determination that an executive order of the President of the United States of America is "unconstitutional?  You, Learned Scholar?  Our state's Attorney General?  Or perhaps some guy on a street corner?  May I suggest a specialized Magic 8 Ball?  Oh, wait, I know...THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  (You've heard of it. You keep asking them to overturn healthcare reform.)

All of this stems, mind you, from word that President Barack Obama is about to issue an executive order that would require more thorough background checks for folks buying firearms.  Oh, the horror!  What if that convicted wife beater or child abuser couldn't buy a gun?  What about the poor man with schizoaffective disorder?!?

Bryant letter to Reeves and Gunn