The Arizona Family Project: A study in irony and self-dealing

The Arizona Family Project, a low-profile conservative/anti-choice organization started by Republican consultant Constantin Querard in 2003, apparently for the purpose of saying nice things about the candidates who hired him, has given out annual Friend of the Family Awards to the legislators it feels are the most pro-family (hint:  Democrats need not sit around, waiting for the phone call notifying them of the award.  It just ain't coming.)

At first, I was going to write about how it would have been easier to list the legislative Republicans who didn't win the award - only eight out of 61 were snubbed.

Then I noticed two of the names on the list of "winners."

One was Sen. Scott Bundgaard (R-LD4).

The same Scott Bundgaard who used legislative immunity in late February to avoid arrest for assaulting his girlfriend by the side of a freeway in Phoenix.

Ummmm, I have to ask - since when is domestic violence a conservative family value, officially anyway?

The other interesting name?

Rep. Jeff Dial (R-LD20).

Why would anyone find the fact that Dial's name is on the list sent out by The Arizona Family Project to be interesting?  After all, he maintained a fairly low profile during what was his freshman year in the lege (something that most freshmen are wont to do), so what's the big deal?

Well, according to records found on the website of the Arizona Secretary of State, Constantin Querard is no longer the chairman of The Arizona Family Project.

Dial is, and has been since 2005.

Well, I guess Dial giving an award to Dial helps his organization in at least one way - it saves on postage.

And based on the organization's IRS form 990 filed last October, they need to pinch every penny. 

They have a financial profile that may actually be lower than the group's all-but-nonexistent public profile - they reported $115 in net assets at the end of their last fiscal year.

Schweikert to hold foreclosure prevention workshop

Edited on 7/27 to reflect a change in location.  There are rumors that it may change again before the event takes place.  Check the latest entries in this blog before going out to the event...

...which would be fine in a "constituent services" sort of way, except no one is sure if the priority will be helping CD5 residents keep their homes, or helping "Foreclosure Dave" scope out future targets...

Courtesy the Republican site Intellectual Conservative Arizona, the details of the event -

When: Saturday, July 30, 2011
Time: 9:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Where:
Tempe Public Library
3500 S. Rural Rd.
Tempe, Arizona 85282

...While the pace of acquisitions and dispositions of foreclosd properties by Schweikert and his partners (through corporate entities Swartz and Brough, Sheridan Equities, and MasFundAZ) has slowed somewhat since the election, it *has* continued.

As have the neighborhood-blighting code violations at some of the properties they've grabbed up.

If you go, be cautious with how much information you give to the staffers at the event...

Pearce and Tancredo: Putting The "F" Back In Freedom

Wonder if Pearce et. al.  understand that his acting as if he is above the law just reinforces the reasons that people want to recall him?  He and his ilk would have everyone (especially their nativist followers) believe that it's all about immigration.  They want everyone to forget the arrogance, corruption, and the simple meanness that are the hallmarks of his Senate presidency.

Moves like this one won't help him.

From the Arizona Republic, written by Mary K. Reinhart -

A national fundraising effort to fight the recall against Senate President Russell Pearce may be running afoul of state campaign-finance laws.

Team America, a political-action committee headed by former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., sent an e-mail blast Friday soliciting corporate and private donations for Citizens Who Oppose the Pearce Recall.

"Russell needs a quick infusion of funds to get his campaign started," said the e-mail, from Team America co-chair Bay Buchanan.

"Because it is a recall effort corporate funds are welcome and contributions are unlimited!!"

But state elections officials say Arizona law bans corporate and union donations to influence an election, and that includes opposing a recall effort.

Really?!?  Sure Russell "The law is the LAW" Pearce and his supporters wouldn't do anything illegal, would they?

From ARS 16-919 -

A. Except as provided in section 16-914.02, it is unlawful for a corporation or a limited liability company to make an expenditure or any contribution of money or anything of value for the purpose of influencing an election, and it is unlawful for the designating individual who formed an exploratory committee, an exploratory committee, a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee to accept any contribution of money or anything of value from a corporation or a limited liability company for the purpose of influencing an election. This subsection does not apply to political committees that are incorporated pursuant to title 10, chapters 24 through 40 and political committees that are organized as limited liability companies.

B. Except as provided in section 16-914.02, it is unlawful for a labor organization to make an expenditure or any contribution of money or anything of value for the purpose of influencing an election.

{snip}

1. "Election" means any election to any political office, any election to any political convention or caucus or any primary election held for the purpose of selecting any candidate, political committee or other person for any political office, convention or caucus.

Seems pretty clear to me, but I don't expect Pearce and his allies will let minor details like the law get in the way of their grasping for money.

Tedski at R-Cubed has his take, with a copy of a fundraising email from Pearce, here.

David Safier at Blog for Arizona has his take, with a tie in to the movie referenced by the title of this post, here.

BTW - That referenced movie, Team America: World Police, is perhaps the single funniest movie I've ever seen.  It is also almost certainly the single filthiest mainstream movie ever made.  It is from the creative minds behind the TV show South Park and showcases what they would do if they didn't have Comedy Central's censors looking over their shoulders.

I heartily recommend the movie, with one caveat - don't be fooled by the presence of marionettes in the movie.  In no way, shape, or form is this a movie for the kids.

Arpaio refuses to show his documents

And the "delicious irony" series continues...

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is one of the most ardent supporters of the Fourth Amendment-overriding SB1070, the new law in Arizona that requires folks to produce documents proving citizenship/legal presence in the U.S. whenever a law enforcement officer demands that they do so.

Turns out he isn't so enthusiastic about the production of documents when he's the one expected to produce them.

From the Arizona Republic -

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on Friday refused to turn over financial documents the Board of Supervisors requested in a subpoena, saying officials were abusing their power.

The supervisors served the subpoena last month seeking documents dating from Jan. 1, 2005, including credit-card transactions, work assignments, a list of all detainees or defendants extradited by the office, expenditures from various funds and a complete list of all bank accounts.

BTW - "delicious irony" is a euphemism for "raging hypocrisy."

Just in case you didn't figure that one out on your own... :)