McCain gets promoted during his health care forum

During John McCain's forum opposing the health care reform proposed by President Obama, Shirley McAllister of Sun City asked a pointed question (emphasis mine) -

"Why are so many people opposed to a government-provided health care option? I believe you, Senator Kennedy...[crowd laughs]...I just promoted you...[more laughter]...Senator McCain, I'm sorry...I believe you have had access to government-provided health care for most of your life, and I would imagine that most of us here are on Medicare, and there may be some who would like to give up their Medicare. [shouts of "NO" from the crowd] No, none of us do, so what is so wrong with government-provided health care?"

President Obama to visit Arizona next week

Let the screaming begin...

From AZCentral.com -

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha plan to spend the day in Arizona on Sunday, Aug. 16, White House officials said today.
The Obamas will visit the Grand Canyon and Phoenix, said Adam Abrams, western regional press spokesman for the White House. Details of the president's public appearances are not yet available but will be released closer to the trip.

The Republicans in Arizona (and as you may have noticed, there are a few here :) ) will scream.

If not over the audacity of one of his programs to help the average American or some of their patented feigned outrage at some manufactured slight, then over the fact that someone who isn't an old white Republican dares to occupy the Oval Office.

Still, the Reps' cries will be thoroughly drowned out by the rather loud expressions of indignation that will reverberate across the state (and country) from the denizens of Tucson once they realize that President Obama would rather visit a big hole in the ground than the Old Pueblo.

:))


One point in defense of his choice of tourist destinations -

Average August high temperature at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in August - 82F

Average August high temperature in Tucson - 97F


Any other questions? No? Class dismissed.... :)))


Later...

And here I was, thinking that the Reps had completely sold out years ago..

But it turns out that after selling off their souls to corporate interests, they plan to officially sell off the infrastructure of government too...

From AZCentral.com -

Call it a sign of desperate times: Legislators are considering selling the House and Senate buildings where they've conducted state business for more than 50 years.

If successful, by this time next year we could have -

The Arizona Community Financial Services Association House of Representatives Building

The Home Builders of Central Arizona Arizona State Senate Building

The Pinnacle West Executive Tower

Maybe we could sell off

...the state's parks and ADEQ to mining interests (Sydney Hay needs a job, doesn't she?)

...the Department of Education and the state's universities to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (bonus - AACS is based in Scottsdale)

...DPS could be sold to Redflex Traffic Systems

...the county jails in the state to the Mob (the state's prisons are probably going to The GEO Group, AZSOS filer ID 201000125, as soon as the Reps pass their budget)

...and the list goes on.

Of course, a lot of this, especially the stuff involving the Capitol buildings, would just be officially acknowledging what most people know is currently reality.

Maybe Visa executives need the money for this year's bonuses?

From AP via AZCentral.com -

MANCHESTER, N.H. - A New Hampshire man says he swiped his debit card at a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes and was charged over 23 quadrillion dollars.

Josh Muszynski checked his account online a few hours later and saw the 17-digit number - a stunning $23,148,855,308,184,500 (twenty-three quadrillion, one hundred forty-eight trillion, eight hundred fifty-five billion, three hundred eight million, one hundred eighty-four thousand, five hundred dollars).

You know, I poke fun, but this scheme would balance the federal budget ($1 trillion deficit), California's ($26 billion deficit), Arizona's ($2.6 billion deficit remaining), the rest of the state government budgets (as well as county and municipal budgets) and have enough left over to fund health care reform *and* permanently fund the Republicans' Forever Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And make Social Security solvent.

And maybe even allow us to establish a "rainy day" fund of a measly trillion or two.

Hmmmm...something to think about here...

Time for a new tobacco tax? Make it big enough and we'd only have to sell one or two packs to balance *everything.*

Hmmm....

:))

Dear Republican Activists And Primary Voters:

Hi. Your snarky (but oh-so-friendly and helpful) neighborhood liberal blogger and Democratic activist here. I don't normally write for you folks, but this one is for you.

Some of you have signed nominating petitions for one John Huppenthal for next year's race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Under normal circumstances, a voter can sign the petitions of only one candidate per office. As such, normally you wouldn't be allowed to sign nominating petitions for Margaret Dugan, Mary Lou Taylor, or Gary Nine, the declared candidates for the Republican nomination next year. (State Rep. Rich Crandall is rumored to be interested in the race as well, but has not formally announced his candidacy.)

Under the laws of Arizona and the rules from the Arizona Secretary of State, a candidate must form a committee (file paperwork with the state formally declaring the candidate's interest in a particular office).

From the Secretary of State's candidate handbook (page 29 of the .pdf) (emphasis mine) -

4. Statement of Organization OR $500 Threshold Exemption Statement.
A Statement of Organization registering the candidate’s campaign committee OR a $500 Threshold Exemption Statement must be filed before making any expenditures, accepting any contributions, distributing any campaign literature or circulating any petitions. If the candidate has an exploratory committee open at the time of filing, then the candidate, chairman and treasurer must file an amended Statement of Organization to change the committee to a candidate’s campaign committee.

So far, Huppenthal has only formed an "exploratory" committee - filer ID 201000065, formed and last amended on March 16, 2009. As such, any signatures he has collected to date are invalid.

While there is some discussion going around about whether or not Huppenthal's signature collecting activities mean that he is now an active candidate under Arizona's "resign-to-run" laws and must now resign his seat in the legislature, this much is clear -

Whether or not he actually has to resign from office immediately, he will have to redo his petitions completely. All he's accomplished so far is to put together a list of folks to hit up for donations...once he gets around to forming an actual candidate campaign committee.

So take heart, loyal Republicans. If this dust-up, or perhaps the court hearing for his assault case later this month, causes you to feel a little "buyer's remorse," you have the option of rebuffing Huppenthal when he comes calling again and signing the nominating petitions for another candidate whose deportment and professionalism is more to your liking.

Just trying to help,

Craig at Random Musings


:)

A Dark Horse Candidate For The Supreme Court Emerges

...A dark horse, but still a candidate who is familiar to most Americans...

With the announced retirement of Justice David Souter, speculation has been running rampant on who President Obama will nominate to fill the vacancy (no specific early favorites have really emerged, though most 'experts' expect that the nominee will be a woman and an ethnic minority).

All of that speculation ignores a candidate who is nearly perfect -

- This candidate is used to judging under a national, even worldwide, microscope...

- Supreme Court Justices, in addition to their court duties, have to dance through the minefield of the D.C. political and social scene. This candidate's "non-judge" professional background speaks to the ability to dance through or around anything...

...Speaking of professional background , some Senators have called for a nominee who has a wide range of experiences that don't necessarily include service on the federal appellate bench. This candidate fully meets that standard...

...President Obama has pledged to nominate an empathetic justice. This candidate is known for being empathetic, perhaps for being *too* empathetic at times...

- A successful Supreme Court Justice has to be able to work productively with various personality types, and this candidate has shown the ability to win over even the surliest of co-workers...

...As mentioned above, many folks have suggested that the next Supreme Court Justice should be a woman and ethnic minority. This candidate is a woman with a Sephardic Jewish background (dad is of Syrian descent, mom is Canadian)...

- In fact, this candidate has only one flaw, and it's a minor one at that.

She's not a judge in a court. She's not a lawyer. Actually, her only legal experience has been from appearing in court on charges relating to a hit-and-run.

The candidate is, if you haven't guessed already, famed singer, choreographer, and American Idol judge Paula Abdul (IMDB page here).





(pic courtesy Abdul's American Idol bio page)

:))

To certain way-too-serious readers - it could be worse. If I was in a meaner mood, I could have written a post putting forth a solid case for Obama to nominate Bill Clinton or Janet Napolitano.

But, as much as I enjoy watching Republicans tear their hair out (and the thought of Clinton or Napolitano sitting on the USSC would cause them to do just that), I'm in too good a mood from last night's Chili for Change cookoff to go there.

Plus there's a responsibility to being able to write that effectively - one shouldn't abuse the skill.

I mean, Bob Burns used to have hair like Jerry Garcia. Then I started writing this blog.

:))