Update to Committees Update: Republican going Independent to run against Arpaio

Oops.  Turns out I missed a pretty big development in campaign committees news in my last post on the topic.

From the Valley Fever column on the Phoenix New Times' website, written by James King -

Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer, the man who hopes to unseat Joe Arpaio as Maricopa County sheriff, announced Friday that he's switching party affiliation to run as an Independent.


It's probably a pretty good move -- Stauffer originally was running as a Republican, which means he would have had to face Arpaio in a GOP primary. Arpaio's brand of fruitcake, reality show sheriffin' tends to appeal to Maricopa County's far-right-wing-nuts, who would likely vote en masse for America's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff."

Stauffer, a life-long Republican, has said from the first days of his candidacy that the office of the sheriff shouldn't be politicized -- that it's about law enforcement, not political ideologies.

Stauffer's revised campaign paperwork is here.  His campaign website is here.

More updates as there is, well, more to update.  :)







 

Guest column: Lunch anyone?

By Jerry Gettinger, friend and friend of the blog

I was invited to lunch by an acquaintance the other day. I had not known this person very long. The occasion was a gathering of people who shared a communal interest. Those that were there had a common look… a look of resignation and fatigue. There was not much in the way of small talk; I imagine chit-chat had all but left their minds some time ago. I looked around the room and saw that most everyone just sat and waited, as if they had done this before and often. One person told me that it took almost an entire day to get her unemployment check. Paying the babysitter did not leave much in the way of spending money. Not if you want to feed your kids. Her husband worked two jobs. Still that was not enough.

Denny’s was gracious enough to let us use a private room. As the server took our orders, I glanced up and saw that people were concentrating on the price, not the food…the right side of the menu. No one ordered a big lunch…a plain hamburger was the usual, and for some, that was a stretch. Maybe I read too much into the body language. However, it seemed that ordering was difficult; I imagine it was the fact that eating out was a luxury that was seldom enjoyed. A different occasion that came about only recently.

 My host had been out of work over 18 months. That was not unusual. We were asked to introduce ourselves and say a few words about why we were here. The stories began to take on a rhythm. “Worked for a company for 12 years, got laid off with 2 weeks’ pay,” or “the regional came in, called a meeting, said the company was relocating to Mexico, apologized, and left.” Strangely, there was no anger from anyone, from no one but me. When it was my turn, I began speaking in a soft voice, almost a whisper. I’m not comfortable speaking in front of a large group. But then, as I began to recite why I was there, my voice began rising. “They are ruining my country, they take and never give, one word is never used, “Compassion.” By the time I finished, I was shouting, and so was everyone else. Yelling and clapping! “Yes, yea that’s right they have to be stopped.” I was astounded at how angry I was, passed anger, actually enraged and passing the emotion on. Fury started coming out. And so it was with many of the others in attendance.

 Do not misconstrue what I have said. These are good people, the kind who would pick up a five-dollar bill you dropped, they would pick it up, and made sure you got it back. After all, you might need it to feed your children. I finished talking then lunch was brought in. I could not eat. The people with whom I was eating were the kind that made our country strong and resilient. They dutifully paid Social Security and maybe, during a war (and there seemed to be many wars) purchased savings bonds. These were the same ones who were told that they would have to forgo part of their social security because...well you know the story. I wonder what they thought when they hear about someone on Wall Street making $25 million in one year with their husbands working 3 jobs and college is unreachable. They have been so beat upon; they don’t have the strength left to fight. “What do I do now? I do not have anything left. They won.”

 The sad part is, they have won. They won, even though it wasn’t much of a battle. There wasn’t much left. Our representatives don’t represent and our clergy tell us that we have to die to find God, and honestly, what has God done for me, anyway? The richest people produce nothing but money…and begat more... for themselves. They conduct themselves with impunity, thumbing their nose at laws. Laws are for people of color or those without money. Education is out of reach. I cannot better myself without an education, but I cannot afford an education: you have priced it out of my reach. And so, I will flip burgers at McD or work as a cashier at a big box store.



This country lied. It said we would have the same opportunity as the person next door. We did not. Once they became powerful, they made certain that we would have no chance of achieving anything. There is nothing left to do but hope for the best. Every pol sounds the same; every leader promises then lies when he (or she) discovers how easy it is to live off the voters. Just promise every two (or six) years and you can relax and enjoy life forevermore. Remember “and they lived happily ever after.” Maybe someday! It is almost too late. Too late to take it back. The dictionary defines restore as…v. re’store 1. Give something back. 2. Return something to its previous condition



Join me. Come with me on a mission, a quest, what the dictionary defines as an adventurous expedition. Come help me pull our country away from the evil and return it to the goodness it once was. This is still a democracy and we still can vote change. We must take action or else all will be lost. The country is still ours to take back.

Update: 2012 Campaign Committees+

Not just campaign committees this time around, possible ballot questions too!

...Ginger Rough of the Arizona Republic has coverage of the filing of paperwork for eight possible initiative questions by a heretofore undheard-of organization called Fox Petitions.

The initiative proposals include -

I-05-2012, Smart Prison Population Act, mandating the expansion of the practice of home detention for non-violent prisoners

I-06-2012, Supporting Adoptable Cats and Dogs Act, prohibiting the euthanization of healthy and adoptable cats and dogs in Arizona

I-07-2012, Workers' Rights Act, barring employers from firing employees for behavior outside of the employment relationship, except under specific conditions

I-08-2012, Honest Officials Act, it's too difficult to sum up in one sentence, but I call it the "public officials can't lie to the public" act

I-09-2012, No Criminal Exemptions Act, barring the enforcement of a criminal law against any person if that law exempts a person or class of persons.  The explanation says it specifically targets laws that exempt elected officials and government employees, but it is crafted very broadly

I-10-2012, Victimless Crime Act, barring the prosecution or incarceration of a person for behavior that doesn't harm another person, another person's property, or an animal

I-11-2012, Fair Crime Act, mandating that in the event that one criminal act that may violate multiple sections of law can only be prosecuted under one of those sections, the one with the least severe punishment

I-12-2012. Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act, compensating the victims of wrongful convictions and incarceration at $1000 per day of wrongful incarceration

Some of the proposals are intriguing, and I may sign one or more of the petitions if the opportunity presents itself (I especially like the one that would force public officials to stop lying to the public).

One other initiative was recently submitted.

I-04-2012, Go Solar In Arizona Economic Development Act, creating a $2.25 per watt personal solar tax credit.  I support the sentiment, but this proposal is problematical.  I don't like tax credits in general, and I don't like the idea of a specific number being protected by the Voter Protection Act (if this makes it to the ballot and actually passes, we're stuck with it, even if it turns out to bust the state's budget).  This one reeks of an attempt to create by ballot initiative another Alt-Fuels scam.

In Maricopa County news, restaurant industry lobbyist Steve Chucri has opened a candidate committee for a run at Don Stapley's seat on the county board of supervisors.  Chucri is challenging Stapley in the R primary in Stapley's heavily Republican district.  Congressman David Schweikert, whose district overlaps Stapley's in Scottsdale, is honorary chair of Chucri's campaign.

In Scottsdale news, Guy Phillips, a 2010 candidate for City Council, is now listed as a 2012 candidate.  However, the link for his 2012 committee statement of organization opens up a copy of the same form for his 2010 campaign.  Scottsdale's election information page is here.  In 2010, he ran as a tea party type with no answers for Scottsdale's problems other than stock tea party dogma.  He lost.  If he actually is running, it will be interesting to see if learned anything from the experience.

In Tempe news, Linda Spears has announced that she is running for mayor, though no campaign paperwork is yet posted on the City of Tempe's website (when I wrote the last one of these posts, she had taken out a candidate packet, but hadn't yet announced what office she had her sights on)

Let the AIRC know *now* that you support competitive districts

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) and its redistricting process is entering the "nitty-gritty" part of the redistricting process.

They're sparring over individual districts as they prepare draft map proposals for public comment hearings, starting October 10.

While I refer to them as "draft" maps, they are actually the baseline maps of the next legislative and Congressional districts.  While tweaks will be made based on public input, the basic outlines and character of the districts won't change much.

Once the "draft" maps are published, it will be almost impossible to make uncompetitive districts more competitive. Individual precincts and neighborhoods might be moved between districts, but wholesale changes are unlikely.



As such, now is the last chance for people who are interested in helping Arizona as a whole move forward to add their voices in support of more competitive districts. 

The AIRC's online input page is here; the agenda for Monday's meeting is here (relevant info: the meeting will start at 9 a.m. at the Fiesta Inn Resort at the SW corner of Priest and Broadway in Tempe).

Earlier today, I submitted a comment in support of increasing the number of competitive Congressional districts.

Here it is -

Chair Mathis and Commissioners Freeman, Herrera, McNulty, and Stertz,

Thank you for volunteering your time and energy to helping Arizona prepare its legislative and Congressional district maps for the next decade. It may be hard to see because of the pressures brought to bear on you, but we truly appreciate the sacrifice you are making for the state.

Today, I am writing to you to urge you to create four competitive Congressional districts.
During the past few months, you have heard from dozens of people suggesting that the AIRC's highest priority should be the protection of communities of interest.

Some of those people support genuine communities of interest (i.e. - Native American reservations), some support communities that are less well-defined (i.e. - a particular neighborhood in a particular city or county), and still others support "communities of interest" that are utterly irrelevant to the factors considered in the redistricting process (i.e. - partisan elected officials looking to keep their jobs while expending the least amount of effort necessary to accomplish that goal).

What none of them mention is that Arizona as a whole is a community of interest, and it and all of the sub-communities within it benefit from having the maximum number of elected officials who consider the needs and desires of the general electorate, not just the people who vote in primary elections.

Under the most recent proposed map of Congressional districts that I've seen before the Commission, only two districts would actually be competitive. The other seven would guarantee that the winner of a partisan primary would not have to worry about the general election.

That's not a situation that benefits Arizona.

It isn't the job of the AIRC to protect incumbent officeholders.

If that is what the voters wanted, "AIRC" would stand for "Arizona Incumbent Reassurance Commission" and the members would have to spend their days holding the hands of various elected officials while saying "There, there. It's only redistricting. It will only sting for a moment, then you're home free for another ten years."

Instead, "AIRC" stands for "Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission" and the members spend their days and evenings listening to people from all over the state express their concerns, desires, and hopes for the state.

Four competitive districts is an achievable goal, and one that can be achieved while complying with the Voting Rights Act and the other factors that the Commission must consider.

Satisfied elected officials is *not* one of those factors.

Again, thank you for your time and sacrifice.

Note:  It's probably OK to be less wordy than me.  It might even be a good idea.  :)

Note2: Once the schedule of the second round of public hearings is posted, I'll post it here as will Steve at Arizona Eagletarian (he's been doing a great job of covering the AIRC; I heartily recommend bookmarking his site).

The GOP presidential debate road show is coming to Arizona; let the betting begin

...No, I'm not talking about betting on which candidate will "win" the debate.  Nope, I'm talking about what AZ tea party types will do to top previous debate audiences.

They've got approximately two months to come up with something really out there - the debate is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 1st.

So far this year they've...

...Cheered the idea of legalizing heroin.  Perhaps not so bad an idea, in a "the so-called War on Drugs is a miserable failure" sort of way, however, that was the high point for R audiences this year (no pun intended).  Since then, they've...

...Cheered the massive number of executions in Texas during candidate Rick Perry's governorship there

...Cheered the idea of letting uninsured patients die for the "crime" of being uninsured

...Booed an openly gay deployed soldier for being, well, *gay.* 


So what will the Arizona GOPers/tea party types do to surpass the other audiences?

...Cheer the mere thought of undocumented immigrants dying is the deserts of Arizona?

...Hang the President in effigy outside the venue?

...Burn a cross before the event?

...Bring assault rifles "modern sporting rifles" to the debate and start firing them into the ceiling whenever someone says something they like (and maybe aiming a little lower whenever they hear something they don't like?)?

This being Arizona, and with Arizona GOPers being what they are, I predict that whatever they do to bring shame on the state will be nativism-related...though something along the lines of cheering for Jared Loughner's mass shooting in Tucson remains a possibility.

Anybody else have predictions?  Comments are open...

The NRA leadership reaches for the crazy: true crazy or just another money grab?

...Of course, since those are hardly mutually exclusive conditions, it could easily be both...

Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) has recently ratcheted up the paranoia-speak.

He's been telling people (not just the NRA's "true believers") that President Obama is coming after their guns.  His evidence for coming to this conclusion?

Obama has NOT put forth any kind of policy to exercise more control over guns.

Seriously.  That's it.

From Jay Bookman at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution -

Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, gave me a call at home the other day. In the taped message, my friend Wayne warned me that unless I and other patriotic Americans stepped forward to stop it, the dastardly United Nations, with Iran, China, North Korea and other evil countries behind it, would soon come into our country and into our very homes, strip the Second Amendment out of the Constitution and “take away every pistol, and rifle and shotgun” that we owned.

{snip}

...[W]hy is Wayne LaPierre calling me and others to pretend otherwise?

Money is part of the reason. The United States accounts for 40 percent of the world’s exports of conventional arms, and the U.S. arms industry is nervous about legislation that might curtail their right to sell arms to whomever they wish. Those manufacturers, not coincidentally, are also heavy donors to the NRA, which is trying to whip up hysteria on their behalf.

In addition, such hysteria is part of the NRA’s own strategy for raising money for its coffers. Once the LaPierre robo-rant about the UN finished, for example, an operator quickly came on line to ask me to donate money to the NRA. I politely declined.

In case someone is wondering how much LaPierre earns as a lobbyist for the gun industry the conspiracy theory spouting head of the non-profit NRA, it's nearly a million dollars per year, according to the American Institute of Philanthropy.

That compensation, plus that of the other high-ranking officials of the NRA (here, starting on page 13 of the linked .pdf - the numbers are a couple of years old, but still eye-opening), requires a constant flow of contributions from members.

While some may think that LaPierre is crazy, maybe he's crazy like a fox - the best way to keep his followers' wallets open is to keep those followers utterly frightened.

And crazy or not, he is working overtime in that regard.

PS - Some days, I find Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball to be a little grating.  Other days, he is spot on.  The LaPierre story was one of his good days.

This post is written as part of the Media Matters Gun Facts fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship is to further Media Matters' mission to comprehensively monitor, analyze, and correct conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Some of the worst misinformation occurs around the issue of guns, gun violence, and extremism, the fellowship program is designed to fight this misinformation with facts.

Question for the GOP: How does mounting an Inquisition against Planned Parenthood help Americans find jobs?

The American economy is still in the tank - millions of Americans are un- or under-employed, most of those who still own their own homes owe far more on those homes than they are worth, even assuming they could find a buyer, and the economy as a whole is teetering on the precipice of a second dip into a recession (personally, I don't think we ever left the first one), but Congressional Republicans are spending their time working on keeping their base distracted with dog whistles.

The latest tune:

A renewed attack on Planned Parenthood.

From AP, via Yahoo! News -

A Republican-led House panel has asked the Planned Parenthood Federation of America to hand over more than a decade's worth of documents in a probe of whether the organization improperly spends public money on abortions.

Democrats and Planned Parenthood supporters say the 90-year-old group is audited regularly and publicly and that the probe is the latest Republican run at shutting it down.

The committee that is going after Planned Parenthood now is the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

That doesn't seem like a committee that has a lot to do with health issues or health care, but one that should have a LOT to do with trying to improve the economy.

Of course, if the GOPers in charge of that committee were to actually start doing their jobs, their base (and the rest of America) might notice that they haven't been doing their actual jobs.

BTW - I had a thought (yes, that happens occasionally.  Don't laugh.  Or get used to it. :) ).  Planned Parenthood is so far declining to hand over their records,  Maybe they should make a deal with the GOPers.

How about this:  PP will give over their records (excluding patient medical records and anything that could identify patients) if the GOP, in the forms of the RNC, RSCC, RNCC, FreedomWorks, Club for Growth, and a couple of the others, hands over the real books (not the BS reports that they give to the FEC and IRS)

Think the GOPers would go for it?  Anybody?

Don Bivens, first official Democratic candidate for US Senate

There are a few Democrats who are "exploring" a run, or are talking about one, or are being talked about, but the first to officially get into the race is attorney Don Bivens, the former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.



From the announcement that was sent out today -

I wanted you to be the first to know that today I'm officially announcing my campaign to represent the people of Arizona in the United States Senate.

Like middle-class families throughout America, our families here in Arizona are struggling.

But back in Washington there are leaders that have let extreme ideology stand in the way of solving the complex problems we face.

Instead of ideas about how to get our country back to work, or to strengthen vital programs like Social Security and Medicare, we hear dangerous rhetoric about ending Medicare as we know it and privatizing Social Security.

Arizona has been one of the hardest hit states during these difficult economic times. We’ve faced one of the highest foreclosure rates and continue to rank at the bottom for job creation.
Enough is enough.

The needs of hard working families can't continue to be ignored and overlooked.

That's why I'm running for the United States Senate. I grew up in a middle class family and have spent my career in the private sector working with some of America's most successful businesses, helping solve complex problems.

Like you, I know if we're going to get America back on track and restore and strengthen the opportunity that has made our country great, we need leaders who will focus on tackling complex problems, not extremist policies that weaken our future.

With your help this campaign will be about how we keep the needs of Arizona's middle class families front and center.

Please Click Here to view my short announcement video and 'Like' my Facebook page for updates.

We have a lot of work to do, but families across Arizona are counting on us.

Onward,

Don Bivens

More updates as more candidates enter the race...

Rep. Jack Harper: not one to let personal animosity to get in the way of the basest partisanship

It was just a matter of time, since even the least-qualified Republican legislator can do basic math.

It takes a 2/3 vote of a chamber of the Arizona legislature to expel a member of the chamber, and the Republicans control 2/3 of the seats in each chamber (can you see where this is going? )

LD4 legislators Sen. Scott Bundgaard and Rep. Jack Harper may both be Republicans but they aren't exactly friends (for example, Bundgaard was "rumored" to be behind the the website Crazy Jack Harper.)

However, Harper isn't one to let their dislike for each other get in the way of partisan attacks in support of Bundgaard as he schemes to keep his seat in the senate.  Bundgaard is facing an ethics inquiry into his violent assault on his girlfriend (something about "bring discredit to the Senate" or something like that)..

Nope, not at all.

From Harper's Twitter feed (emphasis mine)-

@HarperForAZ

JackWHarper St Sen David Schapira wanted "lawsuit-style" burden of evidence against a Republican. I say let's have an up or down two-thirds on DEMs.

20 Sep via web

A snapshot of the entry in case Harper gets clever and removes his Tweet -
 



So Bundgaard, his political enemy, assaults his girlfriend by the side of a Phoenix freeway and Harper supports him in his attempt to stay in the Senate. 
 
Interesting. 
 
Harper doesn't think that reprehensible, violent and illegal behavior is grounds for expulsion from the legislature, especially if the bad behavior is from a fellow Republican.
 
However, Harper advocates removing Democrats from the legislature simply because they are Democrats, and some of them have dared to criticize Bundgaard.
 
Now, I don't think that Harper's wish will get far, for at least a few reasons.
 
1.  While the other members of the R caucus on West Washington is just as partisan as him, there are at least a few that haven't quite stepped over the line into becoming "bay at the full moon" crazy.
 
2.  Even if all of his fellow Rs drink the same Kool-Aid as Harper, he's a state *representative*, not a state *senator*.  He has no say in the internal operations of the state senate.  He can lobby/beg the members of the senate to come around to his way of thinking, but that's about it.
 
3.  Even if all of the other Rs went along and expelled all of the Democrats, under Arizona law, those Democratic members would have to be replaced by other Democrats.  Harper may not like sharing the Capitol with Democrats or even non-Republicans in general, but the voters decide that, not him.
 
 
Still, I have to thank Harper for one thing -
 
He can always be counted on to supply blog post subject material.
 

The COINS Act and David Schweikert: Funnelling taxpayer money to mining industry interests under the guise of reducing federal spending

To great fanfare (and ridicule) earlier this week, Rep. David Schweikert introduced H.R. 2977, the COINS Act.  If enacted into law, it would end the printing of $1 bills, instead replacing them with $1 coins.

He claims that the measure will save the taxpayers billions of dollars over the next 30 years.

What he doesn't mention is that his measure will give billions of taxpayer dollars to mining industry interests over the same period.

The composition of dollar coins, courtesy the US Mint's website (Cu = Copper, Zn =Zinc, Mn = Manganese, and Ni = Nickel) -

88.5% Cu


6% Zn

3.5% Mn

2% Ni

Weight of each coin: 8.1 grams, meaning that each coin contains 7.1685g of Cu.


Current production level of dollar coins - 258 million
 
Projected production of dollar coins over 30 years, at current annual production level (258 million times 30 years) - 7.74 billion
 
The 30 year projected dollar coin production needed to replace paper bills, according to a study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) - 41 billion
 
Difference:  33.26 billion (4.3X as much as would be needed under the current system of paper bills and metal coins)
 
Additional pounds of copper (Cu) needed over the next 30 years, based on Schweikert's plan and GAO estimates (assuming no wastage or change in the composition of dollar coins): 525,635,627
 
Current price per pound of copper, courtesy CNN - $3.28
 
Net increased revenue for the copper industry over 30 years (basic math):  $1.724 billion
 
Likelihood that the increased demand for copper will result in higher prices for copper over the next 30 years, meaning the above figure is a conservative one (my estimate):  nearly 100%
 
Oh, and by the way, there are provisions in Schweikert's bill that would require the Federal Reserve to take the dollar coins issued since 1979 (Susan B. Anthony, Native American, and Presidential) out of circulation, likely increasing the production needed to meet the currency needs and making the above numbers conservative estimates.
 
Interesting campaign contributions to Schweikert this year (and I haven't yet thoroughly examined individual contributions as yet), courtesy the FEC:

FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC. CITIZENSHIP COMMITTEE 1/28/2011 $5000


KOCH INDUSTRIES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KOCHPAC) 6/10/2011 $1000

KOCH INDUSTRIES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KOCHPAC) 6/10/2011 $2000

FYI - Freeport-McMoran is one of the largest copper mining companies in the world, and Koch Industries is a huge conglomerate with its fingers in many areas, including mining and minerals.

Schweikert's bill has been assigned to the House Financial Services Committee (note: Schweikert is a member of that committee).

Number of Republicans on the committee: 34

Number of Republicans on the committee who have received campaign contributions from either (or both, as in the case of Schweikert) of the above PACs: 25

Generally, Financial Services Committee members receive bribes "campaign contributions" from insurance, banking, investment, and real estate industry PACs.  It's more than a little unusual for them to receive mining PAC money directly (their normal benefactors may benefit from investments in mineral resources, but investments are their business, not mining). 

However, when a bill like this comes along, apparently, so does the money.


Green PS -

While the exact composition of the paper used for federal reserve notes (dollar bills) is confidential, it is still basically *paper* and paper is made from trees, a renewable resource.  If done properly, trees and other plants can be harvested, replanted, and reharvested several times during a typical human lifespan.

They only way that metals could be considered "renewable" is if human lifespans were measured not in years, decades, or even centuries, but instead in *epochs.*  It takes millions of years for geological forces to create more ore once ore is removed from the ground.

Schweikert's bill is short-sighted - it generates relatively immediate profits for his campaign contributors, but at the cost to Americans of the permanent use of limited natural resources.

Notes and caveats:

The above estimates and calculations are based on current prices, which are subject to change (I expect them to change, but have no idea how much, so there is no way for me to include those changes in calculations), on an assumption that the composition of dollar coins remains unchanged for the next 30 years (again, I expect changes, but cannot even begin to guess what they will be, or when they will occur), and that there is no waste in the coin-making process that would necessitate the purchase of a greater quantity of metal than would theoretically be needed to manufacture the coins in a perfect production process (all manufacturing processes have waste, but again, I have no knowledge of the wastage rate in the Mint's processes, so that number cannot be included in calculations here).

Also, there would be a benefit to the mining companies of Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), and Manganese (Mn) (the other elements in a dollar coin), but because those metals currently make up such a small percentage of the composition of dollar coins, I didn't include them in the calculations.

Later...

The Pearce/Cortes scam in graphic form

I can't take credit for putting this together (but wish I could! :) ), but here is a great graphical summary of some of the ties between recalled state senator Russell Pearce and his supporters and the "campaign" of Olivia Cortes, one of the other two candidates on the ballot in November's recall election (the other being Jerry Lewis).

Note: for those who prefer words to pictures, Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times has been doing a great job of covering the Pearce camp's dirty tactics.  His latest:  Lester Pearce, Russell's brother, has been campaigning for Russell.  Which wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that Lester is a sitting Justice of the Peace and is barred from engaging in such activities by the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct.

Quick Fists, Tin Ear: Bundgaard files ethics complaint against Ethics Committee

From the Phoenix New Times, written by Stephen Lemons -

State Senator Scott Bundgaard, facing an ethics complaint and possible expulsion from the Senate for his roadside fracas with his now former girlfriend and his invocation of legislative immunity, has filed an ethics complaint against three members of the state Senate Ethics Committee, which is currently set to hold hearings on Bundgaard in October.

A letter that Bundgaard sent to Sen. Ron Gould, the chair of the Ethics Committee, one of the three senators targeted by Bundgaard, and one of Bundgaard's fellow Republicans. detailing Bundgaard's allegations against the three senators is here, courtesy the Arizona Republic.

It's a rather curious tactic for Bundgaard - he's attacking his colleagues, colleagues whose support he needs to keep his job.

What's even more curious is that his fellow Republicans were/are predisposed to giving him a free pass on this.  Attacking one of them, even one who can be a thorn in the side of the rest of the R caucus (Gould thinks most of them are too liberal.  Go figure) may be ill-advised.

Gould may be known as a major pain in the {pick your favorite body part to complete this particular metaphor}, but he is also viewed as a "what you see is what you get" kind of guy.  You may see a raging Confederate apologist, nativist and worse, but he's honest and open about it.  I may never again write anything remotely complimentary about him (his politics are profoundly appalling), but he's straight up about certain things.

And one of those things is that it is wrong to assault women.

With every move that Bundgaard or his PR advisor (Jason Rose?) come up with, it becomes easier for his fellow senators from both sides of the political aisle to oust him.

Meet the "Mr. Flexible" of Arizona politics, Wes Gullett

..."Mr. Flexible", as in "flexible enough to speak out of both sides of his mouth"...

Wes Gullett, the long-time lobbyist who now looking to become mayor of Phoenix has a problem. 

During the initial part of the campaign, there were six candidates.  Five of them, including Gullett, were Republicans trying to pull votes from the same base.  One of them, Gullett, decided to troll for votes in anyway that he could.

Including telling different audiences completely opposite things in order to curry favor with them.

From the May 26th African American Democratic Caucus at the Greater Bethel AME Church -



Relevent quote: “We need to go to Washington and get that Head Start money and we need to make sure that we get the money that we need for our schools from the federal government as well,”

From the August 15 Phoenix Chamber of Commerce debate -



Relevent quote: “We don’t have to go to Washington to get money for early childhood education.”   He argued that instead, the money from First Things First should be taken and given to the state government so that the state doesn't have to spend so much money on education.

Gullett now has to try to explain his conflicting statements to the various groups he has pandered to.

By contrast, Greg Stanton's position on education has been consistent, and is here.

Time to get social with your favorite Democrats

The Democrats in LD18 (West Mesa), LD17 (Tempe and South Scottsdale) and LD8 (North Scottsdale and Fountain Hills) have event coming up, including two this week.  Each event will offer good food, better refreshments, and great conversation...as well as the chance to help local Democrats get ready for next year's elections.

- In west Mesa, the LD18 Democrats are holding Dinner at Dusk on Thursday from 6 - 9 p.m.

Info and guests:

Beer & Wine, Silent Auction, Dinner catered by Oregano's and Live Music by Jay Taylor.  Scheduled speakers include State Sen. David Schapira and former State Sen. David Lujan.  Other invited guests include Arizona House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell, former Congressman Harry Mitchell, and Police Chief Dan Saban.

Location:

The Wright House
636 W. University Drive
Mesa, Arizona
 
Tickets:
 
Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. To purchase ticket contact


Andrew Sherwood
sherwood.andrew@gmail.com

or Sarah Moorhead
sarahemoorhead@yahoo.com

- In Tempe and south Scottsdale, the LD17 Democrats are holding their 2nd Annual Beer Summit on Saturday from 4 - 7 p.m.

Info:  Beer Tastings, Bratwurst, & Good Times! Beer-Tasting competition with prizes.  Celebrating our local brews:  Beer from Papago Brewing, Dave's Electric Brewpub and Four Peaks. Prizes from Tops Liquors and Casey Moore's Oyster House.

Location:

Barnes House
1104 S Ash (11th and Ash)
Tempe

Tickets:

Tickets are $20; $10 for Young Democrats. 
RSVP: RandyKeating@gmail.com

- In north Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, the LD8 Democrats will be holding a 2010 Candidate Reunion on October 15 at 5:30 p.m.

From the event's flyer:

Candidate Reunion


Join the District 8 Democrats on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 5:30pm

Enjoy a relaxing evening with our 2010 candidates, friends, food and fun at the Scottsdale home of Andy & Bryn

Suggested Contribution: $25.00

RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/D8Reunion

Address and Directions will be emailed to you
 

 
...Hmmm...looking at these three events, can you guess which of the three districts is home to ASU?  LOL

The NRA Board of Directors: time for a little sunlight

A new website, Who is on the NRA Board?, from the the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, highlights backgrounds of the members of the Board of Directors.

Some of the names on the board are very familiar to the nation -

Grover Norquist, the anti-tax zealot/corporate lobbyist

Oliver North, one of the primary players in the Iran/Contra scandal

Ted Nugent, the "gonzo" 70s rock star and current "gonzo" radio talk show host

Tom Selleck, the famous actor

There are also a number of former and current politicians as well as former professional athletes, most of whom have fame of a more regional nature (though NBA Hall-of-Famer Karl Malone's fame is somewhat greater than "regional").

However, the majority of NRA board members have public profiles that a low or nonexistent outside of the gun culture.  Still, they have an outsized influence on politics and legislation, especially in comparison to average citizens.

In many cases, they have more political influence than most of their more well-known colleagues - with the notable exception of Grover Norquist.

Here in Arizona, we have seen prime examples of that phenomenon in action.

- For instance, last year, wealthy businessman and NRA board member Owen "Buz" Mills is well-known as the owner of Gunsite Academy, a financially lucrative weapons training school near Prescott.

- Former NRA president and current board member Sandy Froman has been very active in certain circles, and, even after her term as NRA president, has frequently served as the face of the NRA when it needs to project a “softer” image.

In other words, while both Mills and Froman are low-profile, they do have some notoriety outside of the NRA.

The "big gun" for the NRA in Arizona, however, has received almost no public notice.

Board member Todd Rathner's low name recognition in Arizona belies his influence, particularly with the Arizona Legislature.  He has helped turn the state's legislature into an ideological petri dish, promoting the passage of extreme gun "rights" laws and blocking the passage of common sense safety regulations.

Like Mills above, he has profited from promoting the NRA's ideology.

In addition owning and operating a company that sells safari hunting trips to Africa, Rathner is the owner and primary employee of a lobbying firm, Rathner and Associates.  The name says "Associates," but according to the Arizona Secretary of State, Rathner is the only active employee of his company, in terms of lobbying activities.

His lobbying activities have included working for the NRA in pushing for the passage of 2009's SB1113, the infamous "guns in bars" bill (passed just in time to commemorate a 2009 NRA meeting in Phoenix).

This past session, he worked for Colt's Manufacturing to help pass SB1610, naming the Colt Single Action Army Revolver as the state firearm.

Rathner has such a low profile that the website doesn't include any "colorful" (read: "contoversial") quotes or activities for him the way that it does for most of the other board members, but that doesn't mean his views and actions aren't as extreme as the other members of the NRA board.

Witness his Twitter feed.  Not something he uses frequently (19 tweets total), but what it lacks in volume, it more than makes up in "interesting."

He has used it to bring attention to an Arizona Republic article that covered how much influence that the gun lobby has in Arizona.  Being a gun lobbyist, he seems rather pleased with that. 

He has used it to criticize Tucson Unified School District over its ethnic studies program.

He has used it to spout other opinions that are, well, "interesting" -

This post is written as part of the Media Matters Gun Facts fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship is to further Media Matters' mission to comprehensively monitor, analyze, and correct conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Some of the worst misinformation occurs around the issue of guns, gun violence, and extremism, the fellowship program is designed to fight this misinformation with facts.