Above: SWA-supporter Martin Chavez, left, debates SB1070 with opponent Manuel Martinez at a Monday rally outside the state Capitol.

Arizona Democrats tried to seize back the reins of the immigration issue on Monday, with legislation and a rally – and failed miserably on both counts.

Amid shouts from those on both sides of the issue, Sen. Steve Gallardo (D-Phoenix) introduced legislation on Monday to repeal the landmark immigration bill S.B. 1070 that inspired numerous state laws across the country.

And just as quickly it was pronounced dead by Sen. Ron Gould (R-Lake Havasu City), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee where it was assigned.

"I have a special drawer in my desk where bills go that are never going to come back out," Gould told supporters of the legislation approved two years ago to give police more power to detain and arrest illegal immigrants. "That's where that bill's going."

Not content with their Senate failure, the Democrats, and their open-borders allies, the absurdly-named Citizens for a Better Arizona, staged a protest outside the capitol against S.B. 1070 with the usual rantings of "racism".

But supporters of 1070 and Sheriff Joe were out in force to meet them, far outnumbering the La Raza crowd, with bodies, signs and American and Arizona flags. Members of Stand with Arizona, Arizona Tea Party, JOEPAC and other patriot groups were well-represented.

They were joined by Sen. Sylvia Allen, who led a group of other Republican Senators to defend S.B. 1070 as having pushed more than 100,000 illegal aliens out of Arizona, reduced crime, and become a model for the nation, and denounce the open borders crowd for standing with the drug cartels and corrupt Mexican government.

Silly Democrats, when will you realize that the vast majority of Arizonans – and Americans – stand with the rule of law, and against illegal immigration?