May out of LD17 race

One of the masterminds of the rash of faux-Green candidacies in close races, Steve May, has withdrawn from the race for a House seat from LD17 (Tempe and south Scottsdale).

From the Arizona Capitol Times -

Former lawmaker Steve May announced Sept. 13 he is terminating his campaign for the House in Legislative District 17.

{snip}

May issued a written statement Sept. 13 about the termination of his campaign. It doesn’t give specific reasons for withdrawing, but says his pursuit of public office as a write-in helped him come to the conclusion that he is personally not ready to hold office again.


“This unique experiment in democracy has also raised my own awareness, and helped me see clearly that personal and political timing must align for a campaign to truly be successful,” May wrote. “I spoke about the need for honest leadership, and I have determined the necessary personal alignment does not exist to continue the campaign.”

Let me translate that quote into simple English.


He's saying he needs to get his s**t together before running for office again.


May's withdrawal from the race comes as a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn't - he was blasted in an Arizona Republic editorial on the faux-Green controversy that was published this weekend and looked *really* bad in an Arizona Capitol Times piece where he admitted to a reporter that he operated his Segway while under the influence, boasted about writing the section of Arizona law that exempted Segways from DUI statutes, and flipped off Tempe police officers who stopped him for operating his Segway while intoxicated.

He's got a lot of s**t to get together.

May is listed as "withdrawn late" so his name may still be on the November ballot.  A call to the Secretary of State's office to clarify that matter went unanswered (actually, I reached an operator, asked for someone who could answer a media inquiry, was transferred to hold, and was eventually disconnected without talking to another person or even having a chance to leave a message.

More later...

Q: What's the best way to get the desired results from a committee hearing?

A: Stack the committee with a membership that favors the desired outcome, of course.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m, there will be a meeting in the Arizona State Senate building (SHR1, to be precise) of "SENATE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON IMPACTS OF FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM IMPLEMENTATION."

The agenda includes presentations on areas such as "Medicaid requirements," "Insurance requirements," and impacts on healthcare providers.

The list of presenters doesn't look *too* stacked - somebody from AHCCCS is presenting on Medicaid requirements, people from private insurers are presenting on insurance requirements, somebody from the Arizona Medical Association is presenting on impacts to healthcare providers and so forth.  While I don't expect any support for federal HCR (the AHCCCS person will say whatever the Governor wants said, the private insurers hate HCR anyway, etc.), none of the presenters stands out as wholly inappropriate for this.

However, there is some eyebrow-raising stuff in the actual membership of the "ad hoc" committee.

It's chaired by Sen. Sylvia "strip-mining uranium is a good thing because the Earth is only 6000 years old" Allen.

The other senator on the panel is Sen. John Nelson (R-LD12).  His professional background is engineering, his political background is slightly to the right of Attila the Hun.  Which by the standards of the Arizona Republican Party, makes him far too moderate.  They tried to primary him out this year but failed miserably.

The members include:

Don Hughes, who looks to be a lobbyist for private insurers

Dr. Lynne Pirie, a Phoenix-based plastic surgeon

Chris Rohrer, a surprisingly poor name for a Google search.  Seems most likely to be an IT manager at SRP (of some sort).  Not totally certain about that one, though.

Byron Schlomach, a corporate lobbyist "researcher" for the Goldwater Institute.  I'd call him a ringer, but given that GI is notorious for its strong influence over the output of the legislature (GI and the Center for Arizona Policy form the two *real* branches of the Arizona Legislature, though that isn't taught in any civics classes in Arizona), his presence on the panel is hardly surprising.

Dr. Bruce Shelton, a Phoenix-based homeopath.

Bridget Gollogly doesn't have much of an online footprint, though a Google search did turn up this letter-to-the-editor of the Payson Roundup from five years ago.  Given the ideology expressed in the letter and the hometown listed as Payson, my best guess is that she is a friend of Allen's from LD5 on a road trip.

So, let's run down the roster -

Two professional lobbyists
Two not-exactly-mainstream medical professionals (with all due respect to plastic surgeons and homeopaths)
One possible IT management professional
One FOS (Friend Of Sylvia)
One Senator, who though reputed to be intelligent and knowledgeable, has an area of expertise other than health care. (Note: I've worked with and around engineers for most of my adult life, and have nothing but the utmost respect for them.  However, I would no more ask an engineer to remove a brain tumor than I would ask a neurosurgeon to build a bridge.)

And lastly, the entire motley assortment is chaired by a Senator whose displays of (a lack of) intellectual depth have brought repeated ridicule upon Arizona (i.e. - she backed up the "6000-year-old Earth" comment with things like "we don't do enough for our rich people."

There isn't any question what the committee will determine - they will say that Health Care Reform is un-American, un-Constitutional, a Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all our precious bodily fluids, and worse.

Nope, the main question here is how long will it take before they realize that they could balance the state budget by recording meetings like this and marketing them as broad farces.

We're talking Academy Award material here...

Edit on 9/14 -

State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema has issued a statement on the hearing -

“This meeting will only reaffirm the positive impact that federal law will have on Arizona after Republicans, including Gov. Jan Brewer, took it away,” said Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema. “Under the law, insurance companies that prey on Americans every day won’t be able to take advantage of them anymore. Some of those Americans include children with autism and women who have survived breast cancer.”


Brewer and Republicans kicked nearly 400,000 seniors and adults off of health care and eliminated federally mandated and funded health care for nearly 40,000 kids, making Arizona the only state in the nation to do so. (Democrats then restored health care for kids.)


“Arizonans are used to Sen. Allen’s wasteful committees on federal, not state, issues — her ad hoc climate initiatives committee last year solved nothing, but reminded us that she believes the Earth is only 6,000 years old,” Sinema said. “Perhaps Sen. Allen should stop creating government waste and start being a part of the solution.”

Later...

9/11 One time only ad

Arizona Republic blasts Steve May and the AZGOP over faux Greens

From an editorial in the Arizona Republic -

Beware of May's, Pullen's phony Green candidates

Steve May, a Republican activist once considered someone worth taking seriously, has performed the second-most obnoxious act of this election season.

May recruited a group of at least nine people, nearly all identified as Mill Avenue drifters and homeless people, as fake Green Party candidates - ballot place-holders who May hopes might steal votes from legitimate Democratic Party candidates, thus improving the chances of GOP opponents.

{snip}

So, illegal? No. Obnoxious? Certainly. But it was not the most obnoxious act of the political season.

No, the dubious award for Misplaced Chutzpah in a General Election Cycle goes this year to Randy Pullen and the Arizona Republican Party. Pullen and the party not only did not have the decency to be embarrassed by May's chicanery, they defended it.

{snip}

Steve May, Randy Pullen and the rest of their band of merry pranksters may be willing to pretend that toying with voters is all in good fun. We suspect the rest of Arizona takes its democracy more seriously than that.

It's a pretty strong condemnation of May and the AZGOP by the Rep's editorial board, far stronger than anything that they usually put out regarding Republicans.  I don't expect that to be part of a pattern (even when the Rs wholly deserve it, as frequently happens) because the AZRep doesn't like messing with the status quo power structure, and the AZGOP is that in Arizona. 

However, I'll savor this moment while it lasts.

This week's debate/event schedule

Most of this info is from the website of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.  They seem to be the only group that Republican candidates will pay attention to when they come calling regarding debates this year.  Maybe it has something to do with legal requirements for campaign funding.

Not that Carl Seel (R - LD6 ) cares about minor details like that, but more on that in the near future...

On to the list of debates -

Statewide race:

Superintendent of Public Instruction
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Televised on KAET
Horizon Channel 8

 
Legislative races:
 
LD11
Monday, September 13, 2010
6:00 PM
Embassy Suite Paradise Valley
4415 E Paradise Village Parkway South
Phoenix, AZ 85032


LD10
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

6:30pm
ASU West Campus, La Sala Ballroom
4701 W Thunderbird Rd
Glendale, AZ 85306

LD19
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

6:00 PM
Country Inn and Suites
6650 E Superstition Springs Blvd
Mesa, AZ 85206

LD28
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

6:00 PM
Pima Community College District Office
Community Room
4905 E Broadway
Tucson, AZ



LD23
Wednesday, September 15, 2010

6:00 PM
Holiday Inn Casa Grande
777 N Pinal Ave
Casa Grande, AZ 85122



LD9
Thursday, September 16, 2010
6:00 PM
Library
Thunderbird School of Global Management
1 Global Place
Glendale, AZ 85306


LD20
Friday, September 17, 2010

6:30 PM
ASU Research Park, Marco Technology Works Building
Room FDC #1408
7700 S River Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85284


Other events:

- Penny Kotterman, Democratic nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction, has a calendar entry on her website for "ASA Event" on Monday morning, 8:30 a.m., at Metro Tech High School, an entry that includes a "forum" component.  Not sure what it is about, since "ASA" could refer to both "Arizona School Administrators" and "Arizona Students Association" and both would work for this race and for holding events in a school.  Since the event *is* at a school, it probably isn't open to the public anyway.

- Manny Cruz is running for State Mine Inspector.  Right now, no events are listed on the calendar section of his website for this week.  However, if his campaign updates the website or sends a list of events to me, I'll update this post.

- On Wednesday, September 15, a group called "Scottsdale Residents and Business Owners for Open, Clean and Efficient Government" will be holding a forum for candidates for Scottsdale City Council at 11 a.m. in the City Hall Kiva.  The group is run for Mayor Jim Lane by R. Lamar Whitmer and is expected to craft an event that favors Lane's selected candidates.  The group was formed on August 5, 2010 as a $500 Exemption Committee by Whitmer.

- On Thursday, September 16, the Community Council of Scottsdale will hold a forum for Scottsdale City Council candidates in the Granite Reef Senior Center from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Updates as they become available (will add without noting the edits)...

9/11 Tribute: The Healing Field in Tempe

The flag honoring the sacrifice of Rev. Mychal Judge, one of the most famous of the many victims of the 9/11 attacks.  He was a chaplain in the New York Fire Department and was killed by falling debris shortly after administering last rites to a fallen firefighter.

From the Mill Ave. bridge

The breeze ruffling the flags...


Arizona Republic coverage here.

Terry Goddard's statement on the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks

Terry Goddard, Arizona's Attorney General and the Democratic nominee for Governor of Arizona, issued the following statement on the 9/11 anniversary -

"As we remember the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our country, join me in taking a moment to honor those who lost their lives on that tragic day in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Let's also keep in our thoughts and prayers the survivors whose lives will never be the same."


"All Americans - even those of us thousands of miles away - felt pain, horror and anger over the attacks on our nation. Let us resolve that this tragedy we share will unite us as a country and continue our commitment to freedom, not drive a wedge of fear and hate between us. As proud Americans and Arizonans, we can recognize on September 11 all that we have in common - our great country and state, our love for our families and the chance to work toward a better future in a free country."

"Today, we also remember and honor our law enforcement and first responders, who perished while performing their duties. Whether we take part in commemorative events or set aside a few moments during the day, we must never forget the heroes of 9/11."

For those readers in the East Valley, take a few moments out of your day to visit the Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park.

Well, that explains the "Segway Steve" sightings

Steve May, one of the masterminds behind the faux-Green write-in candidates scandal that has gained national notice and a Republican candidate for the legislature in LD17, is regularly spotted cruising Mill Avenue in Tempe on his Segway.  Actually, he's been sighted all over Tempe on it, and was even seen arriving at the hearing on the Green candidates' ballot eligibility in U.S. District Court in Phoenix on it.

Turns out that the reason for his "green-consciousness" may be less motivated by high-minded concern for the environment and more by his more mundane legal troubles. 

From the Arizona Republic -

Steve May, a candidate for the state House of Representatives, spent 10 days in jail and is on probation for three years on a conviction for drunken driving last year.

Court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic show that May was arrested on June 26, 2009, and charged with the most extreme possible DUI while driving 83 mph on Interstate 17 in north Phoenix, where the speed limit is 55 mph.

May was charged with a "super extreme" DUI, reserved for people driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.20 percent. A reading of 0.08 percent is considered legally drunk.

While the story goes on to say that May pled guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, court records tell a somewhat different story.

The case in question looks to be TR2009-136015, involving one Stephen Timothy May, date of birth 11/29/1971, and adjudicated in the Moon Valley Justice Court.  According to court records available online, May pled guilty to "DUI-LIQUOR/DRUGS/VAPORS/COMBO." 

A specific charge made all the curiouser given the following passage from later in the story -

A March letter from an official with the treatment center [Scottsdale Treatment Inc.] states that May, 38, was attending the program twice weekly and that a "specialist in addictive medicine has been treating Mr. May for coexisting issues."

On Friday, May said he has been honest with his supporters about the DUI conviction. Asked what the "coexisting issues" were - and whether they involved treatment for drug abuse - May declined to comment.

"I'm not going to go into detail," he said. "It's not relevant. I've been honest about the things I've done."

I admit, I *really* wonder what the "vapor" or "combo" with alcohol in the charge was.  And whether or not May's addiction "treatment" has taken.

A little light reading for a quiet Friday night

...and no, it's not all going to be about partisan politics...


...During a week filled with anti-Muslim hysteria in Florida and a summer filled with anti-Muslim rhetoric emanating from New York City, CNN brings us a story that shows that not all Muslims are plane-hijacking fanatics and not all non-Muslim Americans are hate-mongering demagogues.

From the story -

2 Muslims travel 13,000 miles across America, find an embracing nation

The blue Chevy Cobalt broke down amid the mountains of Montana in an area where there was no cell phone reception. The Muslims in the car, on a cross-country journey for the holy month of Ramadan, approached a bushy-bearded fisherman.


It would be another test of a question they wondered when they first set off from New York three weeks earlier: Is America still the accepting nation that embraced our forebears or has it reached a new level of intolerance?

...For those of you who need to be reminded about Tom Horne's financial "indiscretions."  Horne is the Republican nominee for Arizona Attorney General.  The Securities and Exchange Commission isn't one of his biggest fans.

...Not reading, per se, but still great entertainment to close out a Friday -





Later...

Many of the faux-Green candidates dropping

From the Arizona Capitol Times -

Less than a day after a federal judge said they had the right to stay on the ballot, three alleged “sham” Green Party candidates withdrew from their races.

 

Christopher Campbell, a Senate candidate in Legislative District 10, Clint Clement, a House candidate in Legislative District 17, and Ryan Blackman, a candidate in the 5th Congressional District, officially withdrew from their races the morning of Sept. 10, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.

Three other faux-Greens had previously withdrawn (name and office [allegedly] sought):

• Matthew Shusta, LD23 State Senate
• Drew Blischak, LD20 State Representative
• Michelle Lochmann, Arizona Secretary of State

As near as I can tell, that leaves four suspect Green candidates still running - one each for Arizona State Treasurer and LD17 State Senator, and two for Arizona Corporation Commission.  Each has strong ties to one of the primary people behind the scheme, Steve May, a Republican candidate and operative.  In addition, they all share one PO box as a campaign committee address.

Even though the three mentioned in the Cap Times article have withdrawn from the race, the damage could be already done.  From later in the above-linked article -

Ironically, all three could still end up on the ballot. Maricopa County began printing ballots at 7 a.m., before the candidates withdrew. Depending on which district’s ballots were printed first, one or all of them could still be on the ballot, though votes for them in the November general election would not count, said Assistant Secretary of State Jim Drake.

 

“I can’t guarantee that they won’t be on the ballot,” Drake said.

Pardon my cynicism, but given the track record of Ken Bennett, I won't be surprised if the ballots of the affected districts were earmarked to be printed first, just in case one or some of the faux-Greens got cold feet.

Since I live in an area affected by the deception (LD17/CD5), I'll find out definitively in a few weeks when early ballots go out.

Either way it goes, I'll update at that time...

Rotellini skewers Horne during Attorney General debate

First, her opening statement -



The complete debate can be found here, courtesy KAET and Horizon.

My favorite line, and there were many good ones, came during Felecia Rotellini's opening statement:

"...look at our track record - I've prosecuted securities fraud, he's committed it..."

Personally, I think that sums up the choice for Arizona in the race - both are lawyers (Horne - private practice, Rotellini - assistant Attorney General in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions),  and both have headed state departments (Horne - Department of Education, Rotellini - Department of Financial Institutions). 

However, one has the tenacity, fairness, and integrity to do a job right, and one doesn't.

The whole debate is worth watching, and at a running time of a little more than 25 minutes, most folks can fit it into their schedules.

Later...

Crickets chirping

There's been a lot of bluster and name-calling from Republican candidates during this year's election season -

"Obamacare!"

"Immigrants!"

"Cut taxes!"

"Immigrants!!"

"Unions!"

"Immigrants!!!"

"Lather, Rinse, Repeat!"


Well, it turns out there is a quick and efficient way to get Republicans to shut up - challenge them to stand up and actually explain their positions civilly.


- Candidate for governor Terry Goddard has challenged Jan Brewer to a series of debates all over the state, but she has refused to participate in any more than the one that she was required to participate in as a condition of accepting Clean Elections funding.

She has refused to do so, but given her thorough faceplant of a performance in the CE debate, her reluctance in understandable.  Though not acceptable.

- Treasurer candidate Andrei Cherny has challenged Doug Ducey to a series of debates, but thus far, he has also declined to participate, perhaps out of fear that his financial misdeeds (here and here) would become a topic of discussion.

- Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick has challenged Republican nominee Paul Gosar to some debates, but the career dentist and tea party favorite is avoiding a direct confrontation with the incumbent in CD1.

- Jon Hulburd, the Democratic nominee in CD3, has challenged Ben "Dirty Scottsdale" Quayle to some debates, but apparently, the Republican nominee is hoping Daddy's name recognition and money connections will keep him from having to mount an actual campaign.

- CD2 Congressional candidate John Thrasher reports that Republican incumbent Trent Franks has agreed to a debate.  Just not to "minor" details like a place and a time...


In fact, the only R candidate who has accepted a debate challenge outside of one required by Clean Elections rules is John McCain, who will be debating Democratic challenger Rodney Glassman on September 26.

Other than that one example, however, the only sound one hears when the R candidates are challenged to put up or shut up is the sound of

Crickets chirping.

Fun with campaign signs - lessons not learned edition

A mere few weeks after the end of the primary season, one that saw a one of the far right's fair-haired sons (J.D. Hayworth) fall far short in his challenge to one of the far right's pet targets, John McCain.

The biggest reasons for Hayworth's failure were his glaring character defects and unsavory associations (such as with the Abramoff corruption scandal, "free government money" hucksterism, etc.).

...OK, and the fact that McCain could spend $20 million telling people about Hayworth's failings.  But I digress... :)

You'd think that other candidates, especially Republicans, would have learned the lesson.

For instance, David Schweikert, the R nominee in CD5, probably shouldn't be calling attention to his unsavory, even predatory, financial dealings by associating with other predatory financial players.

But he is...

Pic taken at a car title loan operation on the east side of Scottsdale Road, between Curry/Washington and Loop 202. (note: while the link above is to an article on the predatory nature of auto title loans, it isn't meant to state or even imply that this particular business at this particular location is a bad actor.  It may, in fact, be such, but I don't know that.  What I do know is that the industry *is* predatory, and this is part of a chain that has been involved in some shady activities.)

Just in case someone claims that the above photo is an optical illusion or something - the sign is clearly on the business' property.

I truly don't know if the sign was put up by a business owner/manager who wanted to enthusiastically express his support for Schweikert, or if one of the Schweikert campaign's hired hands thought this would be a good place for a sign.

Either way, though, it illustrates the tin ear shown by Schweikert toward the economically stricken district and state.  As bad as the economy has become, as slow as it has been to recover, as much as families are hurting, Schweikert would rather support and be supported by the same sort of people who helped to crash the economy. 

And who profit from the agony that they've caused.

Obnoxious speech is also free speech

Regarding the Florida pastor (of a "flock" of 50 or so) who has grabbed nationwide and even worldwide over his plans to burn copies of the Quran this weekend:

There are worries that the planned book-burning could incite more violence against Americans abroad (both military and civilian), but let's be honest here - the sort of people who will judge all Americans by the worst example of one are the sort of people who don't really need an excuse to hate.
In other words, people who are non-American versions of this pastor.


Bottom line regarding what the pastor is threatening to do:


It's reprehensible, hateful, ignorant, spiteful and worse.

It's also free speech.

Attorney General Debate Tonight

From the Arizona Capitol Times -

A debate scheduled Wednesday evening between candidates for state attorney general is still on though it no longer is sponsored by the state’s public campaign finance system.

Since both candidates, Democrat Felecia Rotellini and Republican Tom Horne, are utilizing "traditional" campaign financing, the debate isn't sponsored by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.  Hence the reason that I missed this one when in the post earlier this week listing debates and events (it wasn't on CE's list of debates.)

The debate will air at 7 tonight on KAET (PBS 8).