"5000 Illiterate peasants"

Good freakin' God! The Colorado legislature has, in the person of State Rep. Douglas Bruce, a louder, crasser, and just plain more obnoxious bigot than our own Russell Pearce.

From his speech Monday on the floor of the House, courtesy DenverPost.com -

"We don't need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in the state of Colorado," Bruce,
R-Colorado Springs, said during debate on a bill to speed up a temporary
seasonal worker program.

At least Pearce and his ilk spout the overtly racist speech only on the campaign trail (Operation Wetback, National Alliance emails); once the legislative session starts, their main outlet for hate speech is their bill proposals (their actual speeches in support of their bills tend toward syrupy and smarmy.)

It should be noted that Rep. Bruce, in his short stint in the Colorado lege (took his oath of office in January), has exhibited a, ummm....flair for controversy (read: lunacy) that would earn him a spot in the leadership of Arizona's Republican Party.

In just a few short months, he has...

...ticked off the entire lege by delaying the start of his appointed term to lengthen the limitations on his possible terms (from 6 to 8 years);

...assaulted (kicked) a photographer on the floor of the House (censured);

...ticked off his own Republican caucus by refusing to co-sponsor or even vote for a resolution honoring the military (removed from an influential committee);

...attacked his primary opponent in the upcoming elections in fliers placed on the desks of some of his Republican colleagues (that primary opponent already has more support among the GOP faithful in his district than he does.)


In Colorado, he was kicked off of the podium for his efforts; here in AZ, they'd probably elect him as Majority Leader.


There's consideration of sanctions against Bruce for his speech, with the possiblities ranging from reprimand to outright expulsion from the House.

While his remarks were utterly vile and should be repudiated by the entire Colorado House, he should *not* be removed from office, for two reasons -

1. Free speech is a principle that must apply to *all* speech, not just *speech we like.* If it doesn't, the principle is meaningless.

2. We need this guy and the Pearces of the world to be the public face and voice of the anti-immigrant zealots. Every time they open their mouths, the bile they spew dissolves more of any veneer of civility they once covered themselves with.

Later!

Sunday Morning Crappie Award

I'm writing this a little early because of my work schedule, but we already have a "winner" for this week's award.

John McCain, patriot and veteran and alleged "supporter of our troops," earned consideration for this week's award for his opposition to the modern GI Bill (Senate version here; the Harry Mitchell-sponsored House version here).

Apparently "maverick" McCain is taking his direction from the Bush White House, which is fundamentally opposed to the bills because servicemen and women might choose to leave the service to take advantage of the education benefits instead of re-enlisting.

Desert Beacon's coverage of this issue here.

Coverage from The Nation, via Yahoo! News here.

However, in spite of the "reverse twisting pike" nature of his flip flop, it pales in comparison to the "inward reverse 3 1/2 somersault" special performed by this week's winner, everybody's favorite neo-anderthal and professional bigot, State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance).

Relax, he hasn't flip-flopped on the subject of immigrants (still hates 'em), public arts funding (bury it in a mine shaft), or government in general (only reason it should exist is to put people in jail).

Nope, he's still very consistent about all of that.

What he has apparently changed his opinion of is Clean Elections.

Clean Elections is Arizona's program of voluntary public financing for candidates for statewide and legislative offices.

It's very successful - more than 60% of currently declared candidates are participating in Clean Elections so far (that number could change as new candidates enter races and announced candidates withdraw or don't gather enough signatures to get on the ballot.)

Russell Pearce, and most Republicans, hate it with a passion.

He's campaigned on the "hypocrisy" of Clean Elections, and in 2006, Pearce proposed a strike-everything amendment to a bill to get rid of Clean Elections.

So who is shown as a participating candidate on CCEC's list of 2008 candidates?

Pearce, Russell Republican State Senator - District No. 18 Participating

:))

Don't forget to check in with Desert Beacon in Nevada to find out the winner of her "Sunday Deck Bass Award."

Have a good weekend!

Reminder - Early Voting For The Tempe General Election Has Begun

Important dates for the upcoming election in Tempe, courtesy the website of the Tempe City Clerk -

April 21 - Last day to register to vote in Tempe's general election

April 24 to May 16 - In-person early voting period at Tempe City Hall and Tempe Public Library

May 9 - Last day to request a mail in early ballot

May 20 - Election Day!

Candidates Corey Woods and Joel Navarro need your support; visit their websites (linked to their names) to volunteer.


On the topic of important dates for Scottsdale's Council/Mayor elections, courtesy the Scottsdale City Clerk's Elections webpage -

May 5 (8:00 a.m.)- First day that nominating petitions can be turned in

June 4 (5:00 p.m.) - Deadline to turn in petitions.

August 4 - Deadline to register to vote in the primary election

September 2 - Primary election

October 6 - Deadline to register to vote in the general election

November 4 - General Election!

Later!

News Roundup

...That title may be something of a misnomer. How about...

"Bad News For Republicans Roundup"?

Yup, that works much better. :))

All stories courtesy CapitalNews.org...

...Don't the Republicans teach their candidates that they're not supposed to get arrested until *after* they win an election (or two)?

- From AP via Yahoo! News -

House candidate in Pa. charged with burglary, other counts

CLEARFIELD, Pa. - A Republican congressional candidate was charged Thursday with felony burglary and criminal trespass stemming from an encounter last year with an ex-girlfriend.

Derek Walker, a 32-year-old financial planner, called the charges politically motivated because the Pennsylvania primary is Tuesday. The district attorney denied the accusation.

At least the likes of Rick Renzi, Bob Ney, and the others had the sense to accumulate a pension before getting busted.


...Ya see, if Walker had just waited until he was actually in office, the rest of the GOP would have closed ranks to cover for him.

From The Hill -

House GOP opposes Senate’s ‘Coconut Road’ measure

House Republican leadership does not favor a Senate measure calling on the Department of Justice (DoJ) to launch a criminal investigation on a controversial earmark sponsored by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).

Young has come under fire for his involvement with the so-called “Coconut Road” earmark language, which his staff changed after Congress approved it as part of the massive 2005 highway funding bill.


...Of course, the GOP is probably finding it tough to recruit good candidates in what is going to be a rough year for Republicans, what with the continuing corruption scandals and the tanking economy in the news every day.

- From AP via Yahoo! News -

The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits increased last week after a big decline in the previous week.

I could make a snarky comment about soon-to-be-unemployed Republican politicians and operatives having a tough time finding jobs after the November elections, but something tells me that most of them will land on their feet. Amoral people always seem to...


...Apparently, the Bush Administration isn't as fervently anti-science as previously thought...so long as the research subjects are poor and black...

- From AP via Yahoo! News -

Probes wanted on sludge research in poor neighborhoods

Three more lawmakers are seeking investigations of federally funded research in poor, black neighborhoods that resulted in sewage sludge being spread on several families' lawns in attempt to determine whether it could combat lead poisoning in children.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Rep. Elijah Cummings, both D-Md., wrote to departing Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson on Thursday asking why and how HUD picked nine Baltimore families for the study and whether they got adequate information about the potential harm. Jackson's last day in office is Friday.

{snip}

The Associated Press reported Sunday that the mix of human and industrial wastes from sewage treatment plants was spread on the lawns of nine low-income families in Baltimore and a vacant lot next to an elementary school in East St. Louis, Ill.

Why is it that we never hear of studies like this happening in Greenwich, Connecticut, San Jose, California, or even north Scottsdale?

"Amoral" is too nice a word for the Bushies...


...From the "more evidence that it's going to be a tough year for Republicans" category...

- From Bloomberg via Yahoo! News -

Democratic House Candidates Out-Raise Republicans

Democrats hold a big money advantage in this year's most competitive U.S. House races, including contests for 13 seats held by Republicans, Federal Election Commission records show.

The Democrats have more to spend in 26 of the 38 tightest races, as identified by Congressional Quarterly, the Cook Political Report and the Rothenberg Political Report, three Washington-based publications that track the contests.

In the Senate, Democrats have out-raised their opponents in four of the eight most competitive races, including three for Republican-held seats that are opening up due to retirements.

No, money raised is not the same as votes cast, but still...

Later!

Wow - there's a sheriff out there who's worse than Arpaio

...At least, I think that Arpaio, as vile as he is, isn't as bad as this guy...

From AP via Yahoo! News -

Oklahoma sheriff charged with using inmates as sex slaves

ARAPAHO, Okla. - Authorities have charged a western Oklahoma sheriff with coercing and bribing female inmates so he could use them in a sex-slave operation run out of his jail.

Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess resigned Wednesday just as state prosecutors filed 35 felony charges against him, including 14 counts of second-degree rape, seven counts of forcible oral sodomy and five counts of bribery by a public official.

I just hope that Arpaio views this guy as despicable, not inspirational...

Media coverage for State Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill

Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill's work on behalf of the students and parents of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe has earned some MSM coverage.

From the AZ Republic -

On behalf of the state Legislature, an Arizona senator apologized to teachers, parents, students and Tempe Union High School District governing board members at Wednesday's board meeting.

"I'm sorry. I think we at the Legislature have let you all down," said Sen. Meg Burton Cahill, D-Tempe.

Burton Cahill's presence at the meeting drew applause from the crowd of about 100 people, mostly Corona del Sol High School parents, students and teachers there to ask board members to allow an independent environmental consultant to do new and more expansive air-quality testing at the school.

It seems as it the situation between the school and the parents that are concerned about the health risks facing their children has deteriorated to the point where they *need* someone with the stature of a state senator to intercede.

From another story from the Republic -

Parents barred from Corona air-quality meeting

Parents were barred from a meeting with contractors this week at Corona del Sol High School to address upgrading the school's failing ventilation system and improving air quality, according to Corona PTO representatives.

District officials acknowledged that parents were invited to a previous meeting between district officials and contractors. But because the contractors were not comfortable with parents' questions the district decided to honor the company's wishes and not allow parents into the meeting on Tuesday. It was not "open to the public," spokeswoman Linda Littell said.

More on the Corona del Sol situation here, here, and here.

The website of the Corona del Sol PTO is here.

Later...

Events Calendar

Thursday, April 17 - Dinner and a Movie with the D17 Democrats and The Big Picture Series.

- Dinner at 6:00PM – Green Restaurant 2240 N. Scottsdale Rd in TempePlease join Rep. Ed Ableser and Local Democrats for a meal that taste good, is good for you and is good for the planet we live on.

- Movie at 7:30PM – This month's film is The End Of Suburbia: Oil Depletion & The Collapse of the American Dream. At ASU-Coor Building Room 174


Thursday, April 17 - The D8 Democrats present the film Uncounted, a startling film about election fraud and the '08 elections.

Time - 6:30 p.m. gathering, 7:00 p.m. film time.
Place - Country Inn and Suites, 10801 N. 89th Place, Scottsdale (90th & Shea).


Saturday, April 19 - CD5 Day of Action

9:00 a.m. - (LD8) Please join fellow activists and go door to door, gather signatures, distribute literature and plant the seeds for victory in November.

Pima Park, 8600 E Thomas Rd., Scottsdale (NW corner of Pima and Thomas)

Fountain Park Ampitheater, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills.

Laura Copple's House, 9274 E Desert Trail, Scottsdale.

The Hogan's, 9434 N. 125th Place, Scottsdale.

9:15 a.m. - Join Congressman Harry Mitchell, your local Neighborhood Leaders, activists and other Democrats in your area to help get signatures for your local candidates and talk to voters in District 17 & 20. Meet at Bunna Coffee, 7520 S. Rural Rd. Suite #12, Tempe (NW corner of Eliot and Rural)

If interested in joining the Democrats of LD17, ld20, or LD8, sign up at the above link.


Sunday, April 20 - Join Maricopa County Democrats for a Candidates’ Brunch with special guests Earl and Mary Rose Wilcox on the Farm.

Time - 9:30 a.m.
Location - The Farm, 6413 S. 26th Street, Phoenix (one block south of Southern and one block east of 24th Street).
Tickets - $35, contact the MCDP at 602.298.0503 for details.


Tuesday, April 29 - Monthly meeting of the Arizona chapter of the National Jewish Democratic Council. This month's featured guest: Dan Saban, candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff. The meeting will be held at Country Inn & Suites, 10801 N. 89th Place, Scottsdale (90th & Shea).

Springsteen endorses Obama

I am not normally one to trumpet a celebrity's endorsement of a candidate, mostly because I don't care what Chuck Norris, Barbra Streisand, or any of the Baldwins has to think about anything other than their professional crafts. (And personally, I don't know of anybody else who really cares about celebrity political opinions, either.)


Simply being wealthy and famous enough to have a (metaphorically) bigger soapbox to spout an opinion from doesn't mean that the spouter's opinion is any more valid than yours or mine.

There are, however, a few celebrities whose opinions I *do* respect, partly because they frequently are correct (probably means that they agree with me :) ), but also partly because they don't spout off on every issue under the sun.



Bruce Springsteen is at the top of that list, and he solidified his position there with today's endorsement of Barack Obama.


The letter that was posted on his website -

Dear Friends and Fans:

Like most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."

At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams From My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.

Bruce Springsteen

AP coverage here.

Newsday coverage here.

Washington Post coverage here.


Later!

Thank you, Governor Napolitano

Early today, in a display of fiscal sanity unseen at the legislature, Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed HB2220, the bill to permanently repeal the state equalization tax, a dedicated source of revenue for education. Such a repeal would have eliminated $250 million in education funding.

From her veto letter -

Permanently repealing a tax that supports such basic needs as schools and education during a time of severe bdgetary deficits would be the height of fiscal irresponsibility.

Now if only she could write a letter to force the legislative leadership of Jim Weiers, Tim Bee, and the other Republicans to stop their ideological posturing and actually address the state's budget deficit.

Alas, she is only an elected official, not a miracle worker.

Miracles? For those to happen, voters will have to elect legislators who are more interested in representing their constituents than they are in representing special interests and party-line ideology.


AZ Republic coverage of the veto here.

Contact info for Scottsdale candidates

Per a request from a comment Joe left on my previous post about tonight's Scottsdale candidate forums, here is the contact number for each campaign from their organizational paperwork filed with the city (Joe did ask for the info for the 'good' candidates, but this is Scottsdale after all - to many voters, 'good' seems to mean 'least bad.' If a candidate changed his/her name to "None Of The Above", they'd win in a landslide :) ) -

Council Candidates

Lisa Borowsky - 480.991.3656

Joel Bramoweth - 480.946.6949

Betty Drake - 480.998.1305

Suzanne Klapp - 480.767.9660

Ron McCullagh - 480.990.9200

Richard Mueller - 480.280.1357

Nan Nesvig - 480.368.8701

Note - I've tried to contact Mr. Mueller in the past, as has an EV Trib reporter. There was no response.


Candidates for Mayor

Jim Lane - 480.483.0819

Mary Manross - 480.948.9120

John Washington - 480.229.1831.


I've linked to a candidate's website when I could locate one; the fact that I've done so is not an indication of an endorsement. If any candidate or supporter has a link to a campaign website, email the link to me at cpmaz[at]yahoo.com, and I'll be happy to add the link.

Later!

Scottsdale Candidate Forums on Wednesday

I won't be able to attend either event due to a prior commitment (City Government 101 class), but each event should be interesting and informative.

Both events will be held on Wednesday, April 16.

Info courtesy an email from COGS.

The forums:

MAYORAL CANDIDATES: Villa Monterey Unit III clubhouse 7702 East Highland Avenue begins sharply at 6:30 PM. Bring a lawn chair. Candidates: Mary Manross, Jim Lane, and John Washington

COUNCIL CANDIDATES: Scottsdale Community Council hosts at the Granite Reef Senior Center beginning at 7 PM. Candidates: Betty Drake, Ron McCullagh and Suzanne Klapp.


I'll do a more complete events post later today...

Have a good night!

Quarterly FEC Reports Are Pouring In...

They're not all into the FEC yet, so I'll update over the next few days.

The quarterly numbers so far -

CD1 (open seat)

Shanker (D) (challenger) - Total raised $33,688.73; $31,354.75 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $34,320.21 cash on hand. Note: Shanker's committee has $9,367.88 in outstanding debt (credit card statement).

Hay (R) (challenger) - Total raised $98,618.19; $88,118.19 from individuals; $10,500.00 from PACs; $222,334.01 cash on hand. Note: Hay's committee has $70K in outstanding debt (loans by the candidate).

Kirkpatrick (D) (challenger) - Total raised $257,400.17; $194,650.17 from individuals; $62,250.00 from PACs; $465,464.68 cash on hand. Note: Kirkpatrick's committee has $20K in outstanding debt (loan).

Riley (D) (challenger) - Total raised $15,825.00; $15,825.00 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $216,165.31 cash on hand. Note: Riley's committee has $205K in outstanding debt (candidate loan). Note2: According to PolitickerAZ, Riley has dropped out of the race.

Titla (D) (challenger) - Total raised $39,114.05; $39,114.05 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $48,321.07 cash on hand.

Korn (R) (challenger) - Total raised $14,567.00; $12,266.00 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $10,494.16 cash on hand. Note: Korn's committee has $3,185.36 in outstanding debt (candidate loan and credit card).

Renzi (R) (outgoing incumbent) - $0 raised; $3966.46 cash on hand; $456,073.37 in outstanding debt (legal fees, candidate loans).

CD1 note: According to Tedski at Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion, rumored Republican candidate Ken Bennett has chosen (again!) to pass on the CD1 race.


CD2

Franks (R) (incumbent) - $88,386.00 total raised; $53,261.00 from individuals; $35,625.00 from PACs; 129,774.83 cash on hand. Note: Franks' committee owes $304,100 in outstanding debt (candidate loan).

Thrasher (D) (challenger) - Total raised $3,023.50; $3,023.50 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $12,512.49 cash on hand.


CD3

Lord (D) (challenger) - Total raised $220,166.47; $163,116.47 from individuals; $51,550.00 from PACs; $632,485.41 cash on hand.

Shadegg (R) (incumbent) - Total raised $150,716.41; $163,516.41 from individuals; $47,000.00 from PACs; $937,672.59 cash on hand. Note: The reason that the total raised is less than the combined totals of individual and PAC contributions is that Shadegg's committee refunded nearly $60K in contributions.

Annie Loyd (I) (challenger) - Quarterly report not posted yet.

Shadegg's flirtation with retirement may have cost him some contributions - Shadegg outraised the incumbent, even when ignoring the refunds (which included a refund of $10K in illegal contributions from his own PAC.)

From a Lord press release -

“We could not have come this far or raised this much without the support of the over 1,000 Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who have contributed to my campaign,” Lord said. “I’d like to thank everyone for their continued support. We will change Washington – together.”

CD4

Pastor (D) (incumbent) - Total raised $260,827.71; $164,020.98 from individuals; $96,306.73 from PACs; $1,266,599.90 cash on hand.


CD5

Mitchell (D) (incumbent) - Total raised $321,160.18; $209,028.59 from individuals; $112,110.00 from PACs; $1,121,680.84 cash on hand.

Schweikert (R) (challenger) - Total raised $175,210.23; $171,941.95 from individuals; $2,500.00 from PACs; $514,092.21 cash on hand. Note: Schweikert's committee has $250K in outstanding debt (candidate loan).

Ogsbury (R) (challenger) - Total raised 40,421.17; $37,921.17 from individuals; $2,500.00 from PACs; $353,094.41 cash on hand. Note: Ogsbury's committee has $250K in outstanding debt (candidate loan).

Hatch-Miller (R) (committee terminated) - Owes $17K; cash on hand $245.20.

Knaperek (R) (challenger) - $49,618.00 total raised; $49,518.00 from individuals; $100 from PACs; $44,471.84 cash on hand.

Anderson (R) (challenger) - $55,115.00 total raised; $55,115.00 from individuals; $0 from PACs; $69,985.52 cash on hand.

CD5 Notes: Susan Bitter Smith (R) is still 'exploring', but given the facts that the signature deadline is fast approaching (early June) and that her name is dirt with many of Scottsdale's grassroots Republicans (see: Hanover Project, The), my guess is that she isn't going to jump into the race.

Oh yeah - that Schweikert guy has the money race locked up, if not the balloting race. I don't know what the polling numbers among CD5 Republicans looks like, but Schweikert looks like the frontrunner based on contributions from individuals.

Oh yeah2 - Mitchell has more cash on hand that all of his Republican challengers combined. Mitchell still faces a Republican registration advantage in his district, but he is well-positioned to face whichever Rep makes it out of the primary.


CD6

Flake (R) (incumbent) - Total raised $58,342.00; $52,742.00 from individuals; $6,000.00 from PACs; $974,536.74 cash on hand.


CD7

Grijalva (D) (incumbent) - Total raised $91,312.93; $54,296 from individuals; $37,010.00 from PACs; $139,670.64 cash on hand.


CD8

Giffords (D) (incumbent) - Total raised $466,786.20; $333,616.20 from individuals; $138,070.00 from PACs; $1,672,821.88 cash on hand.

Bee (R) (challenger) - Total raised $466,092.60; $406,992.60 from individuals; $40,000 from PACs; $525,439.88 cash on hand.

The Rep's columnists show their colors

The AZ chapter of the right-wing blogosphere loves to claim that the Arizona Republic is a 'liberal' newspaper. They're wrong.


It's not a 'conservative' paper, either.

It's a 'corporate' paper. They support profits, and the highest profits always seem to be available with the social and political status quo.

Don't believe that? Google their endorsements in the 2006 general elections - the only significant non-incumbent endorsements were Tammie Pursley over Russell Pearce in the LD18 AZ House race and Harry Mitchell over JD Hayworth in the CD5 U.S. House race.

Those two (Pearce and Hayworth) were/are too extreme for even the Rep to endorse. Something of an accomplishment that ('too extreme') - the Rep is so status quo-oriented that they even endorsed the wholly corrupt incumbent Rick Renzi in the CD1 U.S. House race that year.

Overall, while these days the news sections are pretty much puff pieces, press releases, or, in the case of most non-Phoenix based community stories, wire service reports, such as those codged from the East Valley Tribune, the editorial page *is* predominantly conservative (with an eye toward keeping advertisers happy).

That's OK; the editorial pages are intended to express opinions, even (or especially) opinions that generate disagreement and discussion.




On Sunday, two of the Rep's columnists showed their true conservative colors. That fact alone wouldn't normally rate a post, but the fact that they did such a poor job of it does.



In Doug MacEachern's case it wasn't much of a surprise - readers can always count on him to be anti-Democrat, anti-worker, anti-public education, anti-etc.



In Sunday's column he went a little farther out on the fringe than he normally does.



In a column supporting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and lamenting Congress' delay in approving it [let's face it - it is *only* a delay; the agreement will be approved...the only question is whether it will be approved before or after the November elections], MacEachern used most of his column to blame unions for economic protectionism in particular and for all that ails the American economy in general.



From the column -

...but the fact is unions never have been especially keen on the subject of free trade, a facet of their job-protectionism mentality that may have done more to bring about their private-industry demise than anything else.

This graph from MSN Encarta on rate of union membership illustrates how well labor unions can influence public policy these days -












If that isn't enough to give lie to MacEachern's position about how union influence is hurting America's economy, this Harris poll from 1994 regarding people's opinion of unions after the passage of NAFTA should get the job done.

Perhaps more accurately, he should say the *waning* of union influence has hurt the American economy; it's certainly hurt the American worker.


MacEachern's canard about unions was annoying, but not too surprising. It's a rather well-used one in the right-wing echo chamber

Sunday's column from his editorial page-mate Robert Robb *was* a major surprise.

Don't misunderstand - he is normally a totally pro-corporation, laissez-faire libertarian sort of writer, and Sunday's column was no different in that regard.

He is also normally a very good writer - clear and logical in the structuring of his arguments, and temperate in his choice of language.

He's always readable, just usually wrong. :))

On Sunday, though, he dropped this whopper in a column about the comparative merits of the lege's plan to repeal the equalization property tax (cutting a source of revenue dedicated to education funding to the tune of a quarter billion dollars) versus a $1.4 billion university construction program -

...[The idea behind spending on public education and infrastructure is that] College graduates make more money than non-graduates, so the state's economy will be larger.

College graduates, however, are mobile, so the economic benefits of their higher productivity don't necessary accrue to the state that subsidized their education.

Yup, he just argued against spending money on public universities because educated people might leave Arizona.

I'm not sure which he has a lower opinion of -

Arizona, or the people who call it home.

Either way, it's rather ironic that he is one of the lead opinion columnists for a newspaper named the Arizona Republic.


And the cons of AZ used to complain about Jon Talton badmouthing Phoenix...wonder if they have anything to say about Robb's insult?

Russell Pearce - the gift that keeps on giving

Edit on 4/17 to update the committee's actions, at the end of the original post...

Here I was, all set to write a post on the inanity of a couple of the AZ Republic's columnists (not unusual) and another on the Obama/'bitter' dustup (overblown), but those can wait - State Rep. Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance) is at it again.

Last week, he was cutting arts funding; this week, he's micromanaging public education.

He has introduced another 'strike-everything' amendment to a bill to be heard in his own committee, House Appropriations. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

As noted in this post from last week, he introduced an anti-arts education funding amendment to SB1192. Joining it on Wednesday's Appropriations agenda is an amendment to SB1108.

This new amendment would, among other things -

- - bar a public school from offering "any courses, classes or school sponsored activities that promote, assert as truth or feature as an exclusive focus any political, religious, ideological or cultural beliefs or values that denigrate, disparage or overtly encourage dissent from the values of American democracy and western civilization, including democracy, capitalism, pluralism and religious toleration."

- - give the Superintendent of Public Instruction the authority to review a school's curricula and course materials and to withhold state funds if he finds that there are any violations.

- - bar public schools, community colleges and universities from allowing "organizations to operate on the campus of the school, university or community college if the organization is based in whole or in part on race-based criteria."


Something tells me that he's not targeting campus chapters of the KKK, the College Republicans, or similar organizations with that last. :)


Anyway, perhaps one of Rep. Pearce's colleagues should let him know that one of the character traits of most Americans is that we do NOT like being told how to think -

His attempt to stifle dissent may actually *encourage* it far more than any class that discusses a system that is something other than "American democracy and western civilization" ever could.

Edit on 4/17 -

As expected, the Appropriations Committee passed Pearce's amendment to SB1108 to restrict public school curricula and extracurricular activities.

From the AZ Republic -

Arizona public schools would be barred from any teachings considered counter to democracy or Western civilization under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by a legislative panel.

Additionally, the measure would prohibit students of the state's universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their members, such as the Black Business Students Association at Arizona State University or Native Americans United at Northern Arizona University. Those groups would be forbidden from operating on campus.

The brainchild of Rep. Russell Pearce, the measure appeared as an amendment to Senate Bill 1108, which originally would have made minor changes to the state's Homeland Security advisory councils. The House Appropriations Committee approved the new proposal on a 9-6 vote.

It may be too late in the session for this to be more than a little showboating by Pearce - the amended bill still has to be passed by the full House, returned to the Senate, heard in committee there, and passed by the full Senate...and if all of that happens, it would still face the Governor.

I won't say that all of that can't happen, but it's unlikely.

On the other hand, enactment of the measure may never have been Pearce's intent (though he certainly wouldn't object to it!) -

For a day or two, people will be distracted from the fact that Pearce's committee still hasn't done its work on dealing with the state's budget deficit.

End edit...

Short Attention Span Musing - Congressional Edition

...In the "big" news this week, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes announced that she would not run for the Republican nomination in CD1 (PolitickerAZ).

This may actually help not the other Republicans running, but instead it may aid the Democrats' chances of taking Renzi's seat. While Mayes may be too moderate and too conscientious a public servant to suit the power structure of the Arizona Republican Party, it's precisely those qualities that would have made her a formidable candidate in a general election.

As for the other major Rep candidates, Sydney "my soul is owned by the mining industry" Hay (already in the race) and Ken "broomstick" Bennett (rumored to be entering the race)?? Not so much.

Follow the links - each one has major weaknesses as a candidate, weaknesses that the eventual Democratic nominee will be certain to bring to the attention of CD1's voters.


...Over in CD5, while the Republican challengers to Harry Mitchell were making nice with each other, in an "aww shucks, isn't that cute" sort of way (and taking shots at Democrats in general and Mitchell in particular) on Monday, Mitchell was sponsoring a 21st century version of the GI Bill (H.R. 5740).

No AZ Republicans in Congress signed on as cosponsors of the bill to support post-9/11 veterans.
No Republican challenger in CD5 has issued a statement that they support H.R. 5740 either, and a quick perusal of their campaign websites finds far more support for the war in Iraq than for the servicemen and women fighting and dying in the war.


...In CD3, Republican John Shadegg had a mixed week -

First, he found out that the U.S. Chamber of Congress loves him (no word though on what Paradise Valley thinks of him or if he understands that PV is part of his district, and the US CofC isn't) and he loved them right back - attacking Congressional Democrats for delaying a vote on the Colombia Free Trade deal.

Later in the week, however, his constituents found out that alleged "taxpayer watchdog" Shadegg (as well as CD6's Jeff Flake) has no problem with taking international trips at taxpayer expense.

Then there was the whole "Shadegg was recorded by the FBI on a Renzi wiretap" news, too. :)

Oh, and challenger Bob Lord raised more than $220K during the first quarter and has more than $630K on hand.

All in all, *not* a good week for Congressman Shadegg.


...Of course, while Shadegg's week fell into the "not good" category, the week of Tim Bee, Republican challenger to Gabrielle Giffords in CD8 had an "absolutely lousy" week.

Tedski at Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion broke the story of a taxpayer-funded campaign...errr...'thank-you' ad for Bee. In his update on the original post, Tedski found that the source of the funding for the TV spot was a bunch of school districts and that the ad aired not in his legislative district, but in CD8. Hmmm...

Now that the DCCC has filed a complaint over the spot, Bee may learn the hard way that he's trying to step up to the big leagues.

Part of that lesson will be understanding that the FEC is going to hammer him for stuff that AZ's Secretary of State Jan Brewer would turn a blind eye to (at least for fellow Republicans, anyway.)


Later!