Who knew???

On Saturday, the AZ Republic ran a piece with quotes from various Arizona luminaries regarding the Cardinals and the Super Bowl.

Most were lame and evidence of the fact certain politicos *really* shouldn't try to talk about sports -

- Congressman Jeff Flake's (R-CD6) "...Win or lose though, I think most Cards fans are just happy they aren't in need of a bailout, not that that would stop the federal government from giving them one."

Hey Jeff - It's a football game, not a dead-in-the-water amendment against some public service project! Lighten up and let loose a little!

The likes of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema fell into this group. Tempting though it may always be for an elected official to do so, sometimes working politics into every situation is just annoying.


Some were just plain insipid, and evidence of the fact that certain politicos shouldn't try to talk, period -

- Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' "Because coach Ken Whisenhunt runs a strict meritocracy..."

Hey Andy - Quit speaking like a lawyer! You could give the Arizona desert lessons in 'dry'!

Perhaps not too surprisingly, Joe Arpaio fell into this group.


Some were good examples of fun smack talk the way it's supposed to be - a little brash and over the top and supportive of the home team without being overly mean to the opponent -

- Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's "...the Cardinals are better than the Steelers. Our offense is better than their offense, our defense is better than their defense, our coaching is better than their coaching, and our fans are better and louder than their fans. (In a couple of days, our parade will be much, much better than their parade)."

That's more like it Phil!

However, the most eye-opening quote was from, of all people, CD5's Congressman Harry Mitchell (emphasis mine) -

"...Because nobody outside of Arizona thinks they can do it, and everybody loves an underdog. And besides, it will be fun to make the whole state of Pennsylvania cry, not just the Philadelphia half..."

That is AWESOME! Pointed yet subtle, it hurls jabs at more than one target in a single sentence. Turns out that Harry has some serious wiseass chops (and that's high praise indeed from someone who prides himself on his own wiseass chops). :))

Harry Mitchell - Husband, father, teacher, leader...wiseass???


Who knew??


Later!

Today's Education Rally At The State Capitol

Earlier today, thousands of Arizona's students and supporters of education rallied at the Wesley Bolin Plaza next to the State Capitol.

Starting with chants like "1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - we can't take these cuts no more...5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - save our schools, save our state!", "Don't hate, educate!" and more, the rally also featured the student body presidents from the state's universities and a number of education-friendly legislators (like D17's own State Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill and State Reps. Ed Ableser and David Schapira), including a few of the more responsible Republicans, today's rally was a call to action.

If you want to help fight for Arizona's future, surf over to Arizonans Taking Action and sign up for their grassroots organization.

My favorite sign, and unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of it as the holder of the sign was gone into the crowd before I could bring my camera to bear -

"ANOZIRA is backwards on education"

Contact your legislators and let them know that busting the budget by giving tax cuts to their wealthy friends and then balancing by destroying Arizona's future won't be accepted.

The crowd...

Marching on the Capitol...

The powerful voice of Students United...

Anyway, the rally seemed to go off without a hitch. Even though the area was packed with thousands of students and dozens of heavily armed and armored cops from the Capitol Police, DPS, City of Phoenix and MCSO, no arrests were reported as of the time the rally broke up (at least the police officers I spoke to hadn't heard of any).

A number of legislators and staffers did the whole "rubbernecking" thing and watched the protesters as they walked through the courtyard between the House and Senate buildings. Some stepped outside into the sun to observe; some remained safely ensconced in the 2nd floor lounge while looking out the windows.

Wherever they were, I hope they were all listening.

Anyway2, ASU State Press coverage here; AZ Republic coverage here.

Later!

Arpaio showing his true colors...yet again

From AZCentral.com -

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio unveiled a plan Tuesday to avoid airport parking fees by transporting inmates on the Metro light rail, but officials claim that parking is already free.

Arpaio said he planned to transport extradited inmates using the light rail from 44th and Washington streets to the Fourth Avenue Jail in order to eliminate parking fees at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. MCSO estimates that the new system can save about $72,000 in transport fees.

Ummm...yeah.

A couple of points here -

- The MCSO doesn't actually pay parking fees when transporting prisoners.

From later in the article linked above -

"If they need to come to the airport and pick up or transport a prisoner, they can still do that for free,” Sky Harbor spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez said.

- "$72,000"??? The first time a prisoner gets loose and injures a civilian on a light rail car (or the first time that one of Arpaio's deputies goes Rambo in his zeal to subdue a prisoner and shoots up a light rail car and a few civilians), it's going to cost Maricopa County taxpayers one hell of a lot more than $72,000.


A couple of questions -

- Does Arpaio owe a favor to some of the anti-light rail folks? Because as heavily used as it is, nothing will destroy light rail's popularity more thoroughly than turning it into an MCSO shooting gallery.

- If Arpaio's $72,000 figure on how much he spends on airport parking is accurate, and the airport staff is accurate when they say that law enforcement agencies can park for free when transporting prisoners, what is MCSO spending the $72K on? Longterm parking for its junkets to Honduras?


Anyway, time to go to a rally. Hope to see you all there!

Favorite Bill Of The Legislative Session (so far)

In this context, "Favorite" means "vile, but at least it's honest about it."

We knew it was going to be bad, what with the Reps' gain of a few seats in the lege, the rightward shift of the Rep caucus as a whole, and the move of Janet Napolitano to D.C. and the ascension of Jan Brewer to the ninth floor.

We knew the annual three dozen or so anti-immigrant bills would be joined by anti-choice, anti-government (aka - TABOR), and anti-democratic (and anti-Democratic) bills, and they have.

Those will be covered in the coming weeks during the "Legislative Loon" competition and evaluation.

During one of my periodic perusals of bill submittals (766 and counting so far!), I came across SB1268.

It's an open declaration of war upon organized labor.

Sponsored by newby state senators Steve Pierce, Sylvia Allen, and "Cap'n Al" Melvin, along with veteran legislators Pam Gorman and Jonathan Paton, it would bar labor unions from using dues or membership fees to fund political activity, including "supporting or opposing any candidate for public office, political party, referendum, initiative, political issue advocacy, political action committee or other similar group."

Given that unions were the primary organizers behind last November's Prop 201, the Homeowners' Bill Of Rights, which was stridently opposed by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and various realtor and developer groups, it should be no surprise that legislators who benefitted from the campaign largesse of such groups are leading the effort to ensure that unions can never try that again.

Of course, the fact that this bill would also cripple unions' abilities to help out (what turns out to be mostly Democratic) candidates is just gravy.

Call the bill "The Home Builders Retaliation Act."

Wow! A whole post about a wingnutty bill in the AZ lege, and not one mention of Russell Pearce, Jack Harper, John Kavanagh, or Ron Gould to be found anywhere.

I must be slipping. :))

Secretary Bennett, somehow, I'm not reassured...

Somebody needs to tell Ken Bennett, the newly-minted AZ Secretary of State, that being frugal with taxpayer dollars is a good thing, but that using that erstwhile frugality as an excuse to take bribes contributions from lobbyists is *not* a good thing. In fact, it the badness of that idea trumps any good that might come from the saving of the public's money.

From Mary Jo Pitzl at AZCentral.com's Political Insider (emphasis mine) -

Ken Bennett was sworn in Monday as Secretary of State in a half-hour ceremony in the old Capitol. Chief Justice Ruth McGregor did the honors, making her third trip in as many weeks to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.

(Week One: Swear in new lawmakers. Week Two: Swear in Jan Brewer as governor. Week Three: Bennett. What's up for next week? Oh yeah, there's going to be a new lawmaker from District 13. See item below.)

After the ceremony, there was the reception, a nice little cookies-punch-and -ice-cream affair in the old Capitol's ice-cream parlor. The event didn't take any tax dollars, the new Secretary of State said; the money came from various lobbying groups, such as Veridus and John Mangum's shop.

To Secretary Bennett - Keep on keepin' on. Every little bit helps toward the goal of sweeping Republicans from statewide office in 2010.

Yeah, yeah - you just *knew* that I was going to work a broom reference into this post. :)

Here comes the stimulus package...

Edit later on 1/27 to add the results of Tuesday's House Rules Committee hearing...

I am *such* a geek sometimes.

As I type this, the House is debating H. Res. 88. the resolution governing the rules of debate for H. R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Being somewhat bored with the debate points that are meeting stereotypical expectations ("the economy sucks, government action is needed" vs. "the economy sucks, the free market and tax cuts for corporations will cure all"), I decided to check out some of the amendments proposed for H. R. 1.

I don't have time to go into all of them (over 200 were submitted!), but here are the AZ delegation highlights -

From the ever-reliable CD6 Republican Jeff Flake ('ever-reliable' = consistently opposes pretty near everything that might benefit average citizens) -

Amendment 128, "Would indicate that Members shall not influence discretionary funding by agencies or state and local officials on behalf of campaign contributors."

That actually sounded almost reasonable, until I read the actual text of his proposal.

From the .pdf linked above -

Members of Congress shall not provide executive agencies or State and local officials with recommendations, either directly or indirectly, concerning agency decisions to commit, obligate, or expend funds made available pursuant to this Act for a specific project on behalf of a potential funding recipient that is associated with a contribution to a Member's principal campaign committee or leadership political action committee.

Ummm...that language is broad enough to bar Congressfolk from talking to other government agencies and officials about projects that benefit Americans because some of those who benefit may have given to one or another campaign. For instance, I can personally testify to the fact that at least one contributor to Harry Mitchell's campaigns has utilized the light rail system in Tempe and Phoenix.

Would that fact then bar Congressman Mitchell (and his staffers) from discussing the allocation and use of some stimulus money with Valley Metro and local and county officials? That lack of communication would make for a lousy planning process.

Now, I admit that I'm not a lawyer and may be reading too much into this, but Jeff Flake has consistently opposed the idea of the public benefitting from the expenditure of public funds.

Just something to keep in mind if Flake decides to make official his long-rumored interest in the AZ governor's office.

Other Flake amendment highlights (with my comments) -

#129 would "prohibit funds from being used for any duck pond, museum, skate park, equestrian center, dog park, ski hill, historic home, ice rink, splash playground, or speaker system" (even I don't think that stuff belongs in an emergency stimulus package),

#130 would "strike funding in the bill for the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts" (Flake is consistent - he goes after anything resembling arts funding whenever an opportunity presents itself),

#131 would "strike $6 billion in funding for construction, alteration or repair of federal buildings to improve energy efficiency and conservation" (why is the "fiscal hawk" Flake opposing short term spending with long-term benefits??),

#132 would "strike funding for Amtrak" (sacrifice the already woefully inadequate support for public transit? Go after something that benefits non-corporate-jet-owning Americans? Classic Flake...),

#133 would "strike funding for the National Mall Revitalization Fund" (there's a reason that the Reps have latched onto this one as they attack the stimulus package - it's a waste of money. How does giving Congressfolk a prettier walk to work help the country as a whole?),

#134 would "strike funding for Americorps" (Cutting Americorps, an organization that fights illiteracy, helps build affordable housing, cleans parks and streams, provides disaster relief, and more? Maybe Flake would leave it alone if it agreed to help build opulent office buildings or set up training programs for minimum wage janitorial jobs.)

Jeff Flake was not the only member of the AZ delegation to submit an amendment for consideration.

Gabrielle Giffords (D-CD8) submitted #167, which would "extend the eligibility through 2012 of Section 1011(a)(1) of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003." In English, this would extend federal reimbursement of emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens. (A decent idea that would help keep many AZ hospitals solvent, but I'm not sure that it's stimulus package-worthy) and #75, which would "revise the grant program for eligible renewable energy property so that projects would be eligible for grants based on when they commence construction, rather than when they are placed in service" (not quite sure what this one does, other than to possibly get some reimbursement funds back into circulation quickly.)

Raul Grijalva (D-CD7) submitted #96, which would "increase Workforce Investment Act funding from $4 billion to $4.1 billion; increase funding for youth literacy under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act by $500 million; and provide $250 million for the Adult Education State Grants under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act" (while this isn't the infrastructure spending that I tend to prefer, it is spending "now" that has long-term benefits.)

Harry Mitchell (D-CD5) submitted #60 which would "make current capital gains and estate tax cuts permanent" (OK, Harry and I disagree on this one, but more importantly, it seems unlikely that Congress will approve a measure that almost exclusively benefits the wealthiest 1% of Americans when the working and middle classes in this country are suffering so much) and #61, which would "prevent the automatic pay adjustment for Members of Congress from going into effect in 2010" (a great idea that probably wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Phoenix of passing as a stand-alone measure. It may have a chance here though.)

Note: Mitchell's press release on the anti-pay raise amendment is here.

Now there's no guarantee that all or even any of these or the other proposed amendments to H.R. 1 will be considered by the full House. The House's Rules Committee will meet in less than an hour (3:30 p.m. Eastern, 1:30 p.m. AZ time) to determine which amendments will be in order.

BTW - looking at the amendments and the underlying bill, there's a *lot* of pork attached to this bill that doesn't seem to be "stimulating", and before you ask, it's from both parties.

It would be nice if these folks could focus on the task at hand; "business as usual" (as much as that itself should be changed) can wait until after the heavy lifting of addressing the economic crisis is done.

...In other Mitchell-related news, The Arizona Guardian reports that Seth Scott, Harry Mitchell's spokesman since his first run for Congress, is moving on and will announce his future plans shortly.

I've known Seth since 2006 when I first walked in to the Mitchell campaign office to volunteer. His intelligence, friendliness and calm perspective will be missed, and I wish him well (and expect him to *do* well) in his future career wherever that may take him.

Later!

Edit to add -

Well, I was right - most of the proposed amendments weren't found to be in order (only 11 out of over 200 were so found, in fact). The only AZ delegation submittal that will receive floor consideration was Flake's anti-Amtrak one.

A number of the other amendments were simply added to the bill by the Rules Committee, including Flake's move to strike funding for the National Mall Revitalization Fund.

Expect a Flake press release touting that one. :)

I'm pretty sure (though not absolutely sure, given the disregard for public and mass transit by the bill's authors) that Flake's anti-Amtrak amendment won't pass, but the underlying bill will pass. The only question will be how many Dem members representing Rep-leaning districts will be released by the Majority Whip to vote against the measure.

End edit...

The lege's plan for education in AZ...in pictures

Call this one the "before" pic, as in "before" the likes of Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh get their hands on it

(Pic of the ASU campus courtesy the blog Ten Car Train. BTW, the blog entry it's attached to is funny as hell. :)) )

Call this one the "after" picture.

(Pic courtesy of Visitors Memories, this one is of an abandoned one-room schoolhouse in Canada [I think])

For anyone who might think this is a little over the top, the word of the day today is "metaphor." Look it up, but do it quickly before they can add dictionaries to their 'banned books' list.

At noon on Wednesday, there will be a noon rally at the State Capitol to protest the plans to gut education funding in AZ. In addition to students from all over the state, there will be a large contingent of East Valley Democrats in attendance.

Democrats To Hold Public Hearings On State Budget

There will be a series of public hearings across the state so that members of the public talk to their legislators about the state's budget crisis and the proposed solutions to it.

From a joint press release from both the House and Senate Democrats -

Legislative Democrats to hold budget hearing in Phoenix

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Jan. 26, 2009) – Legislative Democrats invite members of the public to a budget hearing in Phoenix, the second of five hearings that will be held statewide.

Members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees will be in attendance to hear citizens’ concerns of the deep cuts in the state’s budget.

When: Thursday, Jan. 29, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Grace Lutheran Church, 1124 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

Legislative Democrats will also hold hearings in Yuma on Feb. 2, 7 to 9 p.m. at Arizona Western College, 2020 S. Ave. 8E, Yuma, Ariz., in the College Community Center, in Tucson on Feb. 4 (location to be announced) and in Flagstaff on Feb. 9 (location to be announced).

I'll try to attend the Phoenix meeting (schedule permitting) but urge everyone who is concerned about the draconian budget cuts proposed by the Republicans in the lege to attend the meeting closest to you. It is vital for all of us to let our legislators know that sacrificing the future of Arizona on the altar of blind ideology is *not* an option.

Congratulations to the new officers of the Arizona Democratic Party

Lost amid the many accounts of the surprise ascension of Paul Eckerstrom to the state chair's seat was the fact that an entire slate of officers was elected.

Congratulations go out to -

CHAIR: Paul Eckerstrom
1st VICE CHAIR: Harriet Young
VICE CHAIRWOMEN: Josephine Kelleher, Bree Boehlke, Mohur Sidhwa
VICE CHAIRMEN: Vince Rabago, Ruben Gallego, Matt Capalby
SENIOR VICE CHAIR: Ken Smith
SECRETARY: Lois Pfau
TREASURER: Rick McGuire
EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Anne Greenberg
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COORDINATOR: Gerald Richard

The future of the ADP is in the hands of smart, dedicated, and energetic leaders as we work toward a future Arizona led by professional, responsible, and Democratic elected officials.

Later!

Arizona's week in Congress...

Just passed and upcoming...


In floor votes -

- The House passed H. J. Res. 3, " Relating to the disapproval of obligations under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" by a vote of 270 - 155. Among Arizona's delegation, Flake, Franks, Kirkpatrick, Mitchell, and Shadegg voted yes, Grijalva, Giffords, and Pastor voted no. (According to the CRS summary for the proposal, the resolution "Declares that Congress disapproves the obligation of any funds that exceed specified amounts authorized for the purchase of troubled assets by the Secretary of the Treasury under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.")

- The House passed H.R. 58, "Commending the University of Florida Gators for winning the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game." Normally this sort of motion is passed by voice vote or unanimously, but for this one, five Congressmen, including AZ's Jeff Flake, voted against it.

- The House passed H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act of 2009, by a vote of 260 - 166. AZ delegation: Giffords, Grijalva, Mitchell, and Pastor voted in favor; Flake, Franks, Kirkpatrick, and Shadegg opposed.

...In an almost unheard-of development, a Jeff Flake-sponsored amendment was actually added to H.R. 384, by voice vote of all things. The amendment clarified "that the TARP Special Inspector General has oversight power over any actions taken by Treasury under this legislation that he deems appropriate, with certain exceptions."


Floor speeches -

- Jeff Flake spoke in favor of H.J.Res. 3 and in favor of his amendment to H.R. 384 (yes, he later voted against the underlying bill, but let's not quibble - Jeff Flake got an amendment passed!

- Trent Franks was one of a number of Republican Congressmen who took 40 minutes of floor time to reminsce about the recently ended presidential administration of George W. Bush.

-Raul Grijalva participated in a "special order" speech on the Congressional Progressive Caucus.


Sponsorships -

- Jeff Flake (R-CD6) sponsored H.R. 640 ( To require the President to transmit to Congress a report on every program of the Federal Government that authorizes or requires the gathering of information on United States persons in the United States, established whether in whole or in part pursuant to the "all necessary and appropriate force" clause contained in the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40) ), H.R. 641 (To limit the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land located in a State in which 25 percent or more of all land in the State is already owned by the United States, aka the No Net Loss of Private Land Act) and H.R. 642 (To provide opportunities for continued recreational shooting on certain Federal public land, aka the Recreational Shooting Protection Act ).

- Gabrielle Giffords (D-CD8) sponsored H.R. 662 (To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries, aka Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2009).

- Raul Grijalva (D-CD7) sponsored H.R. 644 (To withdraw the Tusayan Ranger District and Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the vicinity of Kanab Creek and in House Rock Valley from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, aka the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act of 2009).


Upcoming week - The highlights of the coming week are the Senate version of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, S. 181, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The last vote is expected on Wednesday due to the Republican Issues Conference on Thursday and Friday. There will also be votes on creating a "National Data Privacy Day" and "Honoring the heroic actions of the pilot, crew, and rescuers of US Airways Flight 1549" (aka - The Hudson River landing folks).


Stacy at AZ Congress Watch has been doing great work on the Congresscritters' press releases/media coverage, and those who want issue-specific quotes should check it out.

Later!

Elections have consequences...

On Saturday, hundreds of AZ Democrats gathered at the Wyndham in Phoenix for the biannual reorganization meeting of the Arizona Democratic Party.

From the opening remarks of Attorney General Terry Goddard (who received a standing ovation), Congressman Harry Mitchell, and newly-minted Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy, things looked like they were going to proceed as expected - some pro-forma grumbling about the performance of the state party during the last election cycle, followed by the reelection of Don Bivens, the incumbent chair of the state party, since nobody was running against him.

Paul Eckerstrom, former chair of the Pima County Democrats, threw a wrench into the works when, earlier in the day, he journeyed from caucus meeting to caucus meeting announcing his candidacy for chair of the state party.

However, an unexpected candidate doesn't mean that a change was in the offing.

That is, until it did.

Eckerstrom told the assembled state committee members of his frustration at arriving back in AZ after attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama only to find the AZ Republicans blaming Janet Napolitano for all that ails Arizona. Even more frustrating to him was the near total silence from the AZ Democratic Party as the Reps trashed former Governor Napolitano and her tremendous accomplishments over the last six years.

He hadn't been happy about the state party's failed annointed candidate "targeted district" strategy last cycle, and this was the last straw, one that galvanized him into action.

In a development that surprised almost everyone present, he defeated Don Bivens 324 votes to 255, signaling a change in the direction of the AZ Democratic Party to one that is more focused on grass roots activism and not surrendering any district or statewide race to the Reps (something tells me though that there may be an exception to that plan for State Mine Inspector. Just guessing... :)) )

In another sign of change at the state party level, Harriet Young defeated incumbent Charlene Fernandez for the position of 1st Vice Chair. Young is the former chair of the Coconino County Democratic Party. Because of Party rules that state that the chair and 1st vice chair must be from different counties, Donna Branch-Gilby withdrew and threw her support to Young.

Tedski at R-Cubed has a play-by-play of the meeting here.

Edit on 1/25 to add...

A couple of more meeting-related notes that don't rate a post of their own -

- One of the biggest cheers of the day (not the biggest, but definitely in the top five) came when it was announced that the AZ Republicans had reelected Randy Pullen as the chair of the state GOP. While the continued rightward marginalization of the AZGOP is going to lead to a *lot* of pain for the residents of Arizona over the next couple of years (their intended gutting of K - Grad School education, healthcare, infrastructure, and more will cause damage that's going to take a generation or more to repair), it will only help show that AZ's Democrats are the party of responsible governance. 2010 could be ugly for the Reps - John McCain's U.S. Senate seat and six statewide offices (seven if you count State Mine Inspector. I don't. :) ) on the ballot, and currently only one, is held by a Democrat (AG Terry Goddard).

Republican canidates all over Arizona will be in perfect position.

Perfect position to take the blame for the devastation to Arizona caused by their ideology.

- In a post-meeting note, attendees who used light rail to get to downtown actually had a slight delay in getting home.

Because the light rail was packed, even beyond SRO. The cars were so full that people were advised to walk over to the station in front of Chase Field to try to find space. There was an monster truck event at the field, and many light rail users were going there.

There *was* some room, enough for folks to board the trains, but the cars were still SRO, even heading out from Chase Field.

The light-rail naysayers must be fuming over its continued popularity.

Fume away.

...Gerald Richard, former candidate for Maricopa County Attorney, ran for Affirmative Action Coordinator and won handily. Most people that I spoke to thought his interest in the job was two-fold - to help bring involve more African-American activists and candidates with the Party and also to keep his profile up in preparation for another run at a public office. I like him for County Sheriff, but with his background and energy as a candidate, he could end up going much higher than that.

...The Arizona Guardian has more coverage of the election of Eckerstrom here.

Later!

End edit...

A good set of questions...

...so good that I wish I'd thought of them.

I'm shamelessly stealing this from a Massachusetts blog, "Speak Out Southbridge!" (a conservative/Republican blog, BTW).

The questions asked in this post are extremely timely, given that both the AZ Democrats and the AZ Republicans are holding their biannual reorganization meetings this weekend.

From Speak Out Southbridge! -

Conservative or Liberal

These are honest questions, because I am sincerely past the point of being confused. I hope that those who respond will speak from their hearts.

Do you consider yourself a liberal or a conservative? Why? What do you think defines you as a conservative/liberal?

To what do you most object about those who identify themselves as liberals if you are a conservative or about conservatives if you are a liberal?

Again, to both sides, what could the other side say that would make you listen to them and open a real conversation?

I hope that we can, indeed, “put away childish things” and start a conversation. Perhaps our differences are not as great as our aspirations.

Kenneth M. O'Brien

Like Mr. O'Brien, I'm not confused - I'm a liberal and proud of it. I'm curious, though, about why other people are liberals/conservatives/whatevers. Please feel free to respond in a comment. It doesn't have to be a complete answer, in fact, a complete and honest answer would probably be too nuanced and long to fit in this forum.

And even if you the reader don't respond in writing, this sort of question and the introspection it provokes is wholly appropriate as our state parties and indeed, our country, try to chart a new course as we enter the Age of Obama.

Oh yeah - and as we enter the 2010 election cycle. :))

Oh yeah2, try to keep it civil. :)

Later!

The George W. Bush Presidential Library

I don't normally post email jokes here, but this one was just to pointed and too funny to resist...

Dear George W. Bush supporter:

Please contribute to the Presidential library for George W... they need the money!

The George W Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.

The Library will include:

The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.

The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.

The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.

The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.

The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)

The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shotgun gallery.

The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.

The Supreme Court Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.

The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.

The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and view the President's accomplishments.

The library will also include many famous quotes by George W. Bush:

'The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."

''If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

''Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

''No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs and medicine."

''I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change."

''One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and tha tone word is 'to be prepared'."

''Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."

''I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.''

"The future will be better tomorrow.''

"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world.''

"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." (during an education photo-op)

"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."

''We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.''

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.''

"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.'... George W. Bush to Sam Donaldson


PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY !

Later!

Arizona Democratic Party Reorganization Meeting

On Saturday, January 24, the AZ Dems will be holding their reorganizational meeting at the Wyndham in Phoenix (50 E. Adams). The activities (caucus and committee meetings, etc.) start at 8 a.m. with the full meeting starting at 1 p.m.

The reorg meeting website is here. It contains the complete agenda and more, including a list of candidates who are running for the various offices.

The candidates thus far (number to be elected) -

(note: the links lead to letters from the announced candidates) -

Chair (1) - Don Bivens (incumbent)

First Vice Chair (1) - Charlene Fernandez (incumbent), Donna Branch-Gilby, and Harriet Young

Senior Vice Chair (1) - Ken Smith (incumbent)

Vice Chairman (3) - Matt Capalby, Ruben Gallego, Harold Holmes, Todd Landfried

Secretary (1) - Lois Pfau

Vice Chairwoman (3) - Josephine Kelleher (incumbent), Bree Boehlke, Mohur Sidhwa

Treasurer (1) - Rick McGuire (incumbent)

Education Coordinator (1) - Anne Greenberg (incumbent)

While these are the announced candidates thus far, other candidates can and will be nominated from the floor and some of these candidates won't go forward with their own candidacies for many reasons (not the least of which are the ADP's geographic distribution rules for Vice Chair positions).

I don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, but the candidate(s) who get my vote will utter the following words in some combination or form -

"50 State Strategy," "30 District Strategy," "No incumbent, theirs or ours, is 'safe'," and "Governor Howard Dean, Thank You!"

See you Saturday...

President Barack Obama

Today when Barack Obama took the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States, it was a moment that generations of Americans will recall vividly.

Just over seven years ago. we experienced the first 'where were you when' moment in over a generation when 19 terrorists flew commercial airlines into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.

Today's events won't make us forget the grief and anger of the aftermath of those horrific hours, but just may add a little hope to the mix.


The text of President Obama's Inaugural Speech, courtesy AP via Yahoo! News -

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.

We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

More later...