Vince Leach believes that treaties, like promises, are made to be broken

Hey, at least he's a traditionalist.  

He wants to continue a craven tradition, but that's just a conservative value.

Historically, Native tribes and nations, by treaty, were herded onto lands called "reservations" that were usually the most barren, desolate, and worthless lands in a given area.

Until somebody wanted those lands and/or could profit from them.  Or it was simply convenient.

Then treaties were broken.

From KJZZ, written by Gabriel Pietrorazio -

Vince Leach floats making tribal land, water 'available' to Arizona amid bid for state Senate seat

Former President Donald Trump — and to some degree, Vice President Kamala Harris — have been on the campaign trail talking about federal land in Western states, including Arizona. The vast open tracts are seen as prime real estate that could help reduce a national housing shortage.

But one Republican candidate for state office has taken it a step further, promoting policy positions on land and water that would undercut tribal sovereignty.

At a candidate forum in the Picture Rocks community just south of Marana is where former state Sen. Vince Leach laid out his plan to address the affordable housing problem in Arizona, some 24 hours after he acknowledged Columbus Day.

“We got to work with the feds to get our land back. Give me my land,” Leach said during an event sponsored by the Citizens for Picture Rocks in Pima County. “We’ve got to open up more land.”

At least Leach has shown why the majority party in both the Arizona legislature and the US House should be changed.

And Election Day is next week.

R gameplan: When you can't win legitimately, lie, stereotype, and intimidate

There seems to be two basic paths to electoral victory - love and hate.  The path that Republicans have doubled down on isn't "love."

From MSNBC -

An awful lie about Haitian migrants led to this threat against citizens far away

There appears to be a campaign among some conservatives to bully everybody else into political inactivity or silence. appears 

The hateful lie pushed by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating their neighbors’ pets not only endangered those migrants, it also led to an Ohio sheriff three hours away threatening citizens who show support for the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a Sept. 13 Facebook post that he later claimed “may have been a little misinterpreted,” Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski suggested tracking “all the addresses of the people who had [Harris] signs in their yards” so that “when the Illegal human ‘Locust’ (which she supports!) Need places to live...We’ll already have the addresses of their New families...who supported their arrival!”

The hate spewed by Cheeto et. al. has traveled.

From AZ Mirror, written by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy -

In a key legislative race, the GOP candidate joked about feeding dogs to Haitians

A GOP candidate whose state Senate race could determine which party controls the legislature embraced a racist lie demonizing a group of legal immigrants, telling a room of gay Republicans last month that Pima County’s stray dogs would be fed to Haitian people if Democrats win elections.

Vince Leach made the comment at a Log Cabin Republican meeting in Pima County on Sept. 22. The former state senator, who defeated Sen. Justine Wadsack in the July GOP primary, made the comment in the midst of a back-and-forth between Republican legislative candidates and the crowd.

“At the end of the day I want every Republican up and down the ballot,” Rep. Cory McGarr, R-Tucson, told the crowd. That includes even insignificant races, and would apply to the job of “dog-catcher,” a position that isn’t elected in Arizona.

[snip]

That’s when Leach entered the conversation. “They’d feed ‘em to the Haitians,” he said.

[snip]

Leach’s comments stem from a conspiracy theory that was initially spread by neo-Nazis in the town of Springfield, Ohio, in an attempt to demonize Haitian immigrants in the community. Since then, the false claim has been spread across the right-wing media ecosystem, where it was embraced by Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, the vice presidential nominee for the Republicans, and later being promoted by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. 

In the weeks following the former President’s boosting of the claim, Arizona Republicans have fully embraced it. While appearing on Real America with Dan Ball, Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Kari Lake claimed that “cities wouldn’t want to confirm” the false rumor when responding to Ball claiming that pets were being “barbecued” in Ohio.

[snip]

Arizona Republican state Senate nominee Mark Finchem also shared a meme alluding to cats being eaten by Haitian immigrants, while Flagstaff Republican state Sen. Wendy Rogers posted multiple times on social media amplifying the false claim. 

And the Arizona Republican Party trumpeted the invented story, creating a billboard themed after fast-food restaurant Chick-Fil-A’s ads. 

Just when you believe they can't get any lower, Kari Lake give a stump speech in front of a Confederate flag

From The Guardian (UK) -

Revealed: Trump ally Kari Lake gave speech in front of Confederate flag

Video shows Arizona Senate candidate repeating election-fraud claims at event with Confederate flag behind her

The Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake addressed supporters with a Confederate flag displayed behind her during a campaign event at a Trump merchandise store in Arizona last week, where she repeated false claims about election fraud.

In footage obtained by the Guardian, Lake is seen speaking into a microphone, surrounded by a group of supporters, at the Trumped Store in Show Low, Arizona. Behind her, a Confederate battle flag and a yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” flag are affixed to the wall. Both flags are available for purchase on the website of Trumped Store, which sells an array of merchandise with the former president’s name and likeness.

I admit it - I've got nothing to add here.

The indicted Sen. Anthony Kern (R-Christian Taliban) isn't shy

Generally speaking, people who are under indictment don't publicly associate with convicted felons, but State Sen, Anthony Kern is "special."

From the AZ Republic via MSN, written by Laurie Roberts -

Arizona senator puts ignorance on display with stunning call to put Jesus in government

Surprising to see Sen. Anthony Kern coming out today for Donald Trump’s Town Hall in Phoenix.

Kern, as you may recall, is Arizona’s speaking-in-tongues state senator, the indicted fake elector who wants the Ten Commandments posted on classroom walls.

His Ten Commandments bill, SB1151, was vetoed by the governor.

He may like the Ten Commandments, but they include a rule against lying.  Which is interesting, since that was what he was indicted for.

Even though he considers lying to be wrong...under specific circumstances.  His SB1144, which added to those circumstances, passed the Senate but was never heard in the House. 

Of course, the reason he was on stage because of his very public fealty to Cheeto.  

His SB1475, proposed by him but never even considered in the Senate.  It specified that someone convicted under criminal law or found liable under civil law could still be a candidate for POTUS.

It seems prescient, almost as if he *knew* that Cheeto would become a convicted felon and someone who was found to be liable for sexual assault.

AZ's legislative Rs try to boost the turnout of their base by putting hate on the ballot

From The Guardian (UK) -

Arizona legislature overrules governor on proposal criminalizing non-citizens

The Republican-controlled Arizona legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a proposal asking voters to make it a state crime for non-citizens to enter the state through Mexico at any location other than a port of entry, sending the measure to the 5 November ballot.

The vote came as Joe Biden unveiled plans Tuesday to restrict the number of people seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border, saying: “This action will help to gain control of our border, restore order to the process.”

[snip]

The proposal bypasses the Democratic governor Katie Hobbs, who had vetoed a similar measure in early March and has denounced the effort to bring the issue to voters.

House Republicans closed access to the upper gallery of the chamber before the session started Tuesday, citing concerns about security and possible disruptions. The move immediately drew the criticism of Democrats, who demanded that the gallery be reopened.

“The public gallery should be open to the public. This is the people’s house,” said the state representative Analise Ortiz.

[snip]

The proposal is similar to a Texas law that has been put on hold by a federal appeals court while it’s being challenged. But the Arizona ballot proposal contains other provisions that aren’t included in the Texas measure and aren’t directly related to immigration. Those include making it a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison for selling fentanyl that leads to a person’s death, and a requirement that some government agencies use a federal database to verify a non-citizen’s eligibility for benefits.

The measure passed by the Republicans in the legislature (and have no doubt, that one was passed with only Republican votes) is HCR2060 and is here.

Who would have suspected that Tennessee was more advanced than Arizona?

From an opinion piece in the Tennessean -

Franklin voters give Mayor Ken Moore and aldermen a mandate for civic action and sanity

Franklin, Tennessee voters sent a strong message Tuesday that they want good governance based in substance and reality.

A vast majority of citizens re-elected a mayor and selected aldermen who are serious about finding solutions to complex local problems.

They aren’t dabbling in conspiracy theories or associating with neo-Nazis.

They aren’t spreading misinformation about voting machines or voting centers that the City of Franklin had to challenge with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the label “Rumors.”

They are doing the work of trying to bring the community together on issues ranging from traffic mitigation to affordable housing to responsible planning for rapid growth. They are working to create a Franklin that is welcoming to diverse groups of residents, workers and visitors.

[snip]

With eight of eight vote centers reporting, these were the unofficial results from the Williamson County Election Commission:

Mayor

• Gabrielle Hanson: 3,322
• Ken Moore: 12,822
• Write-in: 65

Alderman At-Large

Position A

• Clyde Barnhill (incumbent, unopposed): 11,837
• Write-in: 639

Position B

• Brandy B. Blanton (incumbent): 10,946
• Gary Moore: 4,666
• Write-in: 22

Position C

• Greg Caesar: 10,336
• Patrick George: 4,249
• BK Muvvala: 825
• Write-in: 36

Position D

• Jeff Feldman: 4,243
• Ann Petersen (incumbent): 10,961
• Write-in: 42

Hanson, Moore, George and Feldman are MAGA types.

Guess I'll have to forgo my TN jokes for the time being; at least AL, MS, and TX are still themselves.

So's AZ, for that matter.

Congressman Paul Gosar again brings notoriety to Arizona

And again, cements his hold on the title of "Most Bigoted Member of Congress."

From Media-ite

Republican Congressman Calls For General Mark Milley to Be Executed in Shockingly Homophobic Screed

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) published a shockingly violent and homophobic tirade against General Mark Milley, suggesting the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff be put to death.

Gosar’s Congressional office released a newsletter on Sunday which claimed that the FBI, the DHS, and other federal agencies allowed the U.S. Capitol to be attacked by Donald Trump’s rioting supporters on January 6. From there, the newsletter blasted Milley for speaking with Nancy Pelosi after the riot, agreeing with her that Trump was “crazy,” and assuring the former House speaker that Trump wouldn’t be able to seize control of America’s nuclear arsenal during his last days in office.

TX is looking to unseat AZ as the "it's a dry hate" champion

Personally, I've always thought they had a ways to go, but the difference isn't as much as it used to be (FL is in the race, too, but I believe, though it will usually be bad, the worst of the worst there will go by the wayside when Ron DeSantis is no longer governor there).

From AP -

Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravels

Texas A&M University on Friday announced the resignation of its president in the fallout over a Black journalist who said her celebrated hiring at one of the nation’s largest campuses quickly unraveled due to pushback over her past work promoting diversity.

President Katherine Banks said in a resignation letter that she was retiring immediately because “negative press has become a distraction” at the nearly 70,000-student campus in College Station.

[snip]

But McElroy said soon after her hiring — which included a June ceremony with balloons — she learned of emerging pushback because of her past work to improve diversity and inclusion in newsrooms.

[snip]

American Association of University Professors President Irene Mulvey criticized Texas A&M’s handling of McElroy’s hiring, and called efforts against diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education a “misguided culture war.”

“This will surely result in chilled conditions for academic freedom in teaching and research,” said Mulvey, a mathematics professor at Fairfield University.

Tender sensibilities and hypocrisy: a primer on the behavior of the legislative majority

First, the Rs in the House tried to expel Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, a Democrat and an ordained minister and, failing at that, censured her instead.  Her offense, something that so ruffled the feathers of the Rs?

She hid some Bibles.

From KJZZ, written by Ben Giles [clarification/correction added by me] -

AZ Republicans try to and fail to expel Democratic lawmaker over Bible prank

Arizona House Republicans tried, but failed, to expel a Democratic lawmaker who admitted to a Bible-hiding prank caught on hidden camera.

Instead, GOP representatives could only muster a 30-28 vote to censure Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton on Tuesday.

Stahl Hamilton, a Tucson Democrat and ordained Presbyterian minister, has never disputed the facts of the matter — on three separate occasions, swiping Bibles from end tables in the Arizona House members’ lounge and hiding them under cushions, and in one instance, a nearby refrigerator. She has described her actions as a playful commentary on the separation of church and state and a protest against the weaponization of religion in politics.

But many Republicans were outraged by what they called the “desecration” of scripture — some commented that they may have unknowingly sat on the Bible when it was hidden under seat cushions.

“To do so is flagrantly offensive, and something the House needs to take seriously,” said Rep. Justin Heap, one of three Republicans who filed an ethics complaint against Stahl Hamilton over the incidents.

Heap, who voted for expulsion, said the matter “really comes down to a simple question: What do we as a body value more? The reputations of Arizona politicians or the reputation of God in the world?” 

The vote for MIS013, the motion to expel -

The vote for MIS014, the motion to censure -

Turns out that there is an explanation for the hurt feelings of Heap and the others.  

From the AZ Mirror, written by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy [emphasis added by me] -

Flag flown by extremists posted on AZ Senate security desk

A flag flown by extremists and Christian Nationalists that was quietly removed from a Senate security desk last session has been put back on display on a security desk out of public view, the Arizona Mirror has learned. 

The white flag with a pine tree on it and the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” was originally used by George Washington and the Continental Army. It was later adopted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as its naval and maritime flag from 1776 until 1971, when it was replaced by a similar flag that did not include the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven.” 

.

.

.The Secular Coalition of Arizona sees the flag as a violation of the constitutional doctrine requiring a separation of church and state. 

“Though this was originally a revolutionary war flag, it’s been co-opted by white Christian nationalists, and was prevalent in DC on January 6th, 2021 To deny this is willful ignorance,” Secular Arizona Executive Director Jeanne Casteen said in a statement to the Mirror. “One’s governance should not be based on biblical principles or any other religious principles. The Constitution should guide one’s governance, and this flag is a signal that notifies people that any elected official who displays it will push evangelical extremism and the will of the few over what’s needed for the Common Good.”

.

.

.

The flag was seen carried by a number of individuals during the violent events of Jan. 6, 2021. The flag has also been heavily adopted by hate groups and other extremist groups. The flag is mainly popular with Christian Nationalists and Christian Dominionists. 

So does the R caucus in the Arizona Legislature qualify as a "hate group" or an "extremist group"?  Or both?

Either way, if someone were to send them copies of the Koran and Torah (and other books considered to be holy in faiths of Islam and Judaism), the Rs would just consider them to be fuel sources for their book burning party.

Arizona getting (mostly) national exposure, and (mostly) not in a good way

...First up, the national debt ceiling, something used by MAGA types and other ideological terrorists to threaten America.

From Politico -

Biden beware: Manchin and Sinema align with Republicans in debt negotiations

Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema saved the filibuster and cut down President Joe Biden’s agenda, delighting Republicans. Now they’re breaking with Democrats on the debt limit, and Republicans hope they keep it coming.

The two centrists, who spent Biden’s first two years in office at odds with the left, are glaring outliers on the debt drama in the party’s 51-member Senate caucus. While their Democratic colleagues insist on no negotiations until the debt ceiling is lifted, Manchin and Sinema are not only pushing for a bipartisan deal but positioning themselves as potential players in any future Senate talks on a way out of the crisis.

Referring to Manchin and Sinema as "centrists" is mislabeling them.  Better to refer to them by what they are - "Republicans in everything but name."

...Why do we keep electing Paul Gosar?

From the Southern Poverty Law Center -

CONGRESSMEN TO MIX WITH LEADER OF FPÖ, A PARTY 

FOUNDED BY NAZIS

At CPAC Hungary this week, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Rep. 

Barry Moore of Alabama will speak alongside a global collection of 

radical-right figures, including the leader of an Austrian political party 

founded by Nazi SS officers.

CPAC Hungary, an offshoot of the U.S.-based Conservative Political Action 

Conference, puts that country’s autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in a 

global spotlight for a second consecutive year, surrounding him with 

like-minded figures from across the world. Orbán is an authoritarian leader 

whom Tucker Carlson regularly lauded on his show before Fox News 

canceled it last month. In addition to Orbán’s history of corruption and 

hostility to press freedom, he has given voice to the great replacement 

conspiracy theory espoused by radical-right extremists.

...Arizona, back to being punch line material for the rest of the country.

From the NBC series Night Court, broadcast on May 2, via TVFanatic, emphasis added by me -

Olivia: Where do you feel most safe?
Gurgs: Uh, the basement level of Bed, Bath, and Beyond; the world of aquatic birds at the Bronx Zoo; and this court.
Olivia: Yes! You love this court! It’s the thing I understand least about you, and you love Daylight Savings Time.
Gurgs: Well, I love anything that Arizona is not involved in.

Olivia is played by India de Beaufort and Gurgs is plated by Lacretta

...There's one good thing; at least, the geek in me thinks it's good. :)

From KPNX, written by Kevin Reagan -

Fontes officially declares Thursday as 'Star Wars Day' in Arizona

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has officially declared Thursday as "Star Wars Day" in the Grand Canyon State. 

The proclamation coincides with May 4, a day often associated with the beloved 1977 film due to a classic line spoken by Alec Guinness' Obi-Wan Kenobi character. 

The line was "may the Force be with yo."

Dear ticket splitters: Don't lie to yourself. You may think that you will vote only for "sane" Republicans...

....but there's no real space between extremist Republicans like Kari Lake and Mark Finchem and establishment (presumably saner) Republicans.

Ticket splitting, by definition, happens when a voter votes for candidates of more than one political party.

From Yahoo! (emphasis added by me)-

Pence support for election deniers raises question of where GOP stands on 2020 lies

As he lines up a possible bid for the White House in 2024, former Vice President Mike Pence is campaigning with the strangest of political bedfellows, throwing his name and his money behind candidates who supported the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that put the Indiana Republican’s life in danger.

On Wednesday, Pence raised money for a former aide now running for Indiana’s secretary of state, who called the 2020 election a “scam.” On Thursday, Pence will headline a fundraiser for one of the fake electors enlisted by Donald Trump and his allies in Georgia. And Pence has recently given his endorsement to top Republican candidates in New Hampshire and Arizona, despite their prior support for Trump’s 2020 election lie.

Yes, Pence is supporting those that wanted him dead on January 6, 2021.

Guess for him anyway, being called "Mr. President" is more important than being called "Mr. Alive", 

It's not just national Republicans who are kissing up to extremists, either.  It happens here in Arizona, too.  From the website of the FEC -

Ragan was a staffer for Jon Kyl, has close ties to Kirk Adams and/or Doug Ducey, and was even the treasurer for Karrin Taylor Robson in the R primary.

In short, she's as "establishment GOP" as establishment gets.

Yet, now she's tied to The Center for Arizona Policy, which was extreme long before Cheeto came along.

It's even fronted by a Cheeto-like bigoted grifter.

In short, supporting any Republican means supporting means supporting vileness and extremism, no matter how much that Republican says that they're one of the "good" ones.

Well, I know who Paul Gosar will be dining with on Thanksgiving

From 12News, dated 7/14/2022 -

'Clearly unhinged': 3 of Paul Gosar's siblings endorse his opponent in Republican primary

Three of Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar’s siblings are endorsing one of his Republican primary opponents, Adam Morgan, declaring in a statement that their brother is “completely unfit for office.”

The three siblings say in a statement released Thursday that this is the first time they have endorsed a Republican. They are among several of Gosar’s nine siblings who have scorched their brother in videos, op-eds, and interviews in recent years.

He shares three things with Adam Laxalt, the R nominee for US Senate in Nevada:

1.  They both hail from states in the Desert Southwest.

2.  They're both dyed-in-the-wool trumpkins.

As for number 3, well,  from The Nevada Independent -

Fourteen members of Laxalt family endorse Democratic rival, Cortez Masto, in Senate race

Fourteen members of Republican Senate candidate and former Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s family announced Wednesday that they would collectively endorse his Democratic opponent, incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, in the heated race for Nevada’s U.S. Senate seat. 

The three-page letter, obtained by The Nevada Independent, does not mention Laxalt by name or his Senate campaign, focusing instead on praising Cortez Masto. That includes her positions on women’s issues, opposition to a proposed federal mining tax, public land preservation and her record as the state’s attorney general from 2007 to 2015. 

Should be interesting dinner conversation - 

Both have family members who believe that they belong to the "anyone but" club

Sometimes, R writings are horrifying lies. These qualify as horrifying truths.

It's not often that I republish material from Republicans, other than to mock said material, but this stuff I'll just leave here.

Got this in my email yesterday -

Joint Statement from Chairman Bill Gates and Recorder Stephen Richer on RNC/AZ GOP Lawsuit

"The idea that a Republican Recorder and four Republican board members would try to keep Republicans out of elections is absurd.  

We contact everyone on the lists the parties provide us.  Maricopa County’s temporary election worker hiring practices ensure bipartisan representation throughout the election process and follow requirements established in state law and the Elections Procedures Manual.  

Notably, the RNC's lawsuit doesn't allege any violation of election laws or procedures; it's sound and fury about a public records request that was made a mere three business days ago.

This is a political stunt.”

For factual information about how Maricopa County hires election workers, the party break down of hiring for the August Primary, and additional context, visit JustTheFacts.vote.

Got this today, from county supervisor Clint Hickman -

Statement on Election Threat Arrest "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that voicemail.  It was chilling.  This wasn't a prank call.  This wasn't protected speech.  This was a serious threat to me and my family.  I'm grateful to the Department of Justice and the FBI for taking this case seriously and making an arrest, and I'm pleased the U.S. Attorney General has set up a task force to address increased threats of violence to election workers and elected officials.   I can tell you, though, that is not enough.  I've received numerous threats over the past two years.  My colleagues on the Board have as well.  The Recorder.  And worst of all, county elections staff doing their job honorably are getting calls and emails threatening violence, calling them traitors.  It's despicable.   And by and large, people in positions of power, in positions of leadership, in positions of influence here in Arizona are silent.  How can you be silent? So I'm speaking out today in hopes that others will follow.  Whether it's a person who shares your politics or your worldview or not, no one should be subjected to this kind of hatred.  And if we truly want to keep our country great, we will do everything we can to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy."

The AZ Mirror has a longer story on the arrest, written by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, is here.

The man arrested is named Mark Rissi.