AZ Republicans taking the "3 Bs"* approach to redistricting

* = "Bluster, Bully, and Bullshit"

Arizona's Republicans, led by their officeholders, are crying "foul" over the independent redistricting process.

They've whined about all sorts of alleged misdeeds and wrongdoing on the part of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC), but mostly they're upset over the fact that, unlike the last incarnation of the AIRC, this Commission is actually living up to the "Independent" part of their name.

They started their attacks with "bluster", ranging from busing scads of "grass roots" Republicans to AIRC hearings and meetings all over the state, many of whom read, with voices filled with self-righteous indignation, from a script of fabricated talking points (seriously, many of them walked up to the microphone script in hand and read the same text over and over) to press releases denouncing the AIRC as partisan and not in keeping with the wishes of Arizona's voters.

They then added "bully" to their repertoire, first with threats from people like Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, a scam artist of long renown, ginning up an "investigation" of the Commission to the current kangaroo court conducted by the members of the Republican majority in the legislature where people like Republican state senator Andy Biggs has bullied and ridiculed members of the public who don't drink the Kool-Aid and follow the script of "independent redistricting really bad, Republican officeholders really good" (check out the video archive here; as of this writing, there are archives of four of the meetings of the Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting.  Each of them contains many examples of this behavior.  Also, Steve at Arizona Eagletarian has reporting here and here).

Note:  While I was writing this post, word came down that Horne has been disqualified from investigating the AIRC.

Also, Jan Brewer, Arizona's Republican governor is threatening to call a special session of the Arizona Senate in order to remove the commissioners for what she calls "gross misconduct" and I call "living up to the 'Independent' in 'Independent Redistricting Commission'."

As for the "bullshit" part of the "3 Bs", well, that's been an integral part of the game plan all along.

Whether it was the assertion that renowned Constitutional scholar Paul Bender was unqualified to even be nominated to the AIRC and suing to have him removed from the list of nominees, the claims that Colleen Mathis, selected as the independent chair of the Independent Redistricting Commission was actually a Democrat, the assertions that the AIRC has been too secretive in its operations and deliberations crafting the draft maps that have the Republicans so upset, or more, the Rs have been flinging bullshit against the AIRC's wall for months hoping that some of it sticks.

So far, their efforts have only left the Rs with stinky hands, but that hasn't made them less determined to undermine the AIRC and the will of the voters, who created the AIRC specifically to remove elected officials from the redistricting process.

A few facts:

The AIRC has held dozens of public meetings and hearings and accepted *hundreds* of hours of public input on the maps and the factors that should be considered when laying out the new legislative and Congressional districts.

Colleen Mathis *is* an Independent.  The issue of her husband's support for a Democratic candidate in one election ignores the fact that her husband has also supported Republican candidates, attending a Bush inauguration ball with her.

Professor Paul Bender, a true Independent (more liberal than the Rs or Ds) is so qualified that the members of  Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, most of whom are accomplished in their fields, enthusiastically supported his nomination when screening the applicants for the AIRC (except for Doug Cole, Chuck Coughlin's plant on the commission,  Cole was like Mikey of Life Cereal fame - he hates everything...that doesn't result in increased power and profits for him, Coughlin, and their clients at HighGround).

Another thing area that has sparked Republican complaints is that the draft maps have resulted in incumbents such as Congressmen David Schweikert and Ben Quayle facing off in a primary.

What they don't mention in their complaints is that both Schweikert and Quayle have freely chosen to run in a district that they don't live in (Schweikert lives in draft CD4, Quayle in draft CD9, but both would rather run in north Scottsdale, which is in draft CD6).  Something that is allowed under the US Constitution, but it is rather cynical for them to make that choice and then complain about the unfairness of the AIRC.

Note:  The draft CD9 is competitive, leaning slightly R, while both the draft CD4 and draft CD6 are overwhelmingly R.  Draft CD4 has a strong rural component though, and Schweikert is most definitely not an "honorary judge of cow milking contests at 4-H fairs" kind of guy.

As for the whining that the AIRC has sacrificed "communities of interest" to bolster "competitiveness" -

The AIRC's competitiveness analysis of the draft maps are here (legislative) and here (Congressional).

Based on the voter registration numbers, only one of the 30 legislative districts is truly competitive and maybe four others have a realistic chance of breaking that way.  Otherwise, 18 LDs will be solidly R and seven will be solidly D.  Even if all five of the competitive and quasi-competitive districts go Democratic (possible, but not likely), that would result in 18-12 and 36-24 splits (favoring the Rs) in the AZ Senate and House respectively.  Not exactly leading to a positive change in AZ there.

Also based on the registration numbers, the Congressional districts wouldn't be much better.  Two of the nine Congressional districts would be competitive, while four would be solidly R and three would be solidly D (one of the D districts would be poachable by the Rs, but it would be an uphill battle).

Based on the numbers, about the only real "community of interest" whose interests have been sacrificed  is the community called "Arizona", which stands to gain the most from having districts competitive enough to force candidates and officeholders to actually represent their constituents, not just their friends at country club cocktail parties and tea party "Kool-Aid" drinking sessions.

Of course, the draft maps *do*protect the "community of interest" that least needs protection -

Republican officeholders.

And that fact won't change no matter how much they whine about things in an attempt to intimidate the AIRC into making the maps even less competitive than they are already.

The second round of hearings is winding down, but there is still time to add your voice in support of an increased number of truly competitive districts.

The AIRC will travel to places like Yuma, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Marana, Casa Grande and Cottonwood in the next week.  Make plans to be at one or more (if possible) hearings.  If that isn't feasible, the AIRC accepts public input via phone, email, or through their website.

...In a related matter, some pics from the AIRC hearing held in Mesa on Wednesday evening (note - the overall turnout was light, but out of two dozen speakers, only one or two came out against competitive districts):

Commissioner Scott Freeman, the commissioner in attendance Wednesday

Korinne Kubena Belock of Strategic Telemetry giving a overview of the redistricting process

Tempe Democratic activist  Lauren Kuby speaking in support of competitive districts

State Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, advocating for keeping Yuma and La Paz counties together, and out of a Maricopa County-dominated LD

Jay Schlum, mayor of Fountain Hills, testifying in favor of changing the maps to put FH together with other northeast valley communities like Rio Verde.  Other local elected officials there, from places like Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Chandler, and more similarly spoke on behalf of issue relevent to their particular communities.

AIRC hearing in Mesa Wednesday evening

It's fairly short notice, because it wasn't on the original list of the second round of hearings announced by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC), but on Wednesday (tomorrow as I write this, "today" as many of you read it), the AIRC will hold a meeting to solicit public input on their draft maps for the next decade's Congressional and legislative districts.

Details:

Time - 6 p.m.

Place - Mesa Convention Center, Palo Verde I Building B Main Campus, 263 North Center St., Mesa, AZ 85201

If you are travelling to Mesa from the west, the easiest route is Loop 202 east to Country Club/SR87, turn right/south on Country Club to University.  Turn left/east on University, travelling to Center St.  Turn right/south on Center, travelling approximately 1/10 of a mile to #263.

Less easy (but not difficult) is US60 east to Country Club, turn left/north on Country Club.  Travel to Broadway, turning right/east on Broadway.  Travel east to Center, turning left/north on Center.  Travel to #263 (approximately .9 miles).

Or you can just use the GPS system in your car or on your phone.  :)

However you get there though, it's worth a couple of hours of your time.

Interesting phone call for a Sunday evening...

The district lines haven't even been finalized yet, but I received my first polling call of the election season.

Six potential candidates were mentioned, but only three were the focus of the call.

Mentioned only:

Harry Mitchell, the former teacher, mayor, city council member, state senator and current husband, father, grandfather, icon and mentor (geez, is it too obvious that I really wish Harry would reconsider his decision not to run next year?  :) )

Neil Giuliano, the former Republican mayor of Tempe and current Democrat

David Schapira, the current state senator from LD17 and Senate Democratic leader


Focused on:

Kyrsten Sinema, current LD15 state senator and author (and many other things).  Easily the most liberal member of this field

Andrei Cherny, current chair of the Arizona Democratic Party and former staffer in the Clinton White House

Jon Hulburd, a lawyer, businessman, and 2010 candidate for Congress in the current CD3.  Easily the most conservative member of this field


The call was pretty standard with questions about if I thought the country/state/my area was headed in the right direction, rating the importance of certain issues in next year's election and general impressions some potential candidates (the six named above), voting habits, and so on.

Then the call moved into thoughts on potential matchups between specific candidates.

The potential matchups named were Sinema-Hulburd, Hulburd-Cherny, Harry-Cherny (I think.  My notes went kind of fuzzy here.  Turns out I have trouble taking good notes while keeping one eye on the baseball game, posting my status on Facebook, holding my cell phone to one ear and typing one-handed.  Who knew? LOL), and Sinema-Cherny-Hulburd.

Then it moved into a sorta-push poll/testing possible negative messages section, reciting a list of negative statements about Sinema and Hulburd and asking me if the statements impacted my opinions of the pair.

Obviously, I can't state definitively who put the poll in the field, but given that the surveyor focused on three candidates, and only tested negative messages about two of them...well, I'm an Occam's Razor kind of guy (not necessarily a perfect approach in assessing political developments, but it'll do this far out from the election)...

What I can state definitively to the folks behind this poll, and to anyone else considering entering the race is that my support and vote won't go to the candidate with the strongest progressive bonafides or who runs as the most Republican-lite or has the most polished professional resume.

The candidate who I think will work hardest for the district and the state will get my support and vote.  I certainly had my disagreements with some of Harry Mitchell's votes and positions on individual issues, but his votes and positions were what he thought was right for the best interests of his constituents.

He may have chosen to forego another campaign, but I expect no less from any candidate that wants my support.

 I know, that attitude may be a little naively idealistic, perhaps surprisingly so for someone as cynical as me, but that's the way it is.

Let the infighting begin...

Edit on 10/24 to add:

Last night I received a phone call from someone who is in a position to know about these things (aka - someone who is more of a campaign insider than me), and they informed me that Occam's Razor is a little dull.  They informed me that the campaign that I hinted may have been behind the poll in fact wasn't, and that it was one of the other two candidates.

Since paying for polls is generally listed as a campaign expense (though it is an expense that is frequently is not listed directly but is buried in "consulting fees"), I did a little research on the FEC's website and found that only one of the three, Jon Hulburd, has an active campaign committee.  In fact, that candidate's committee just filed a Statement of Organization on September 9, 2011.

FWIW, while this news doesn't raise or lower my opinion of any of the candidates, it is research I should have done before posting.  I promise to do a better job in future coverage.

End edit...

A little politics, a little wine: Just another Thursday night in Scottsdale

Thursday evening, Zocalo Public Square, along with ASU, put on a panel about how Arizona has moved to the forefront of America's political discussion.

The panel was led by Marc Lacey, Phoenix bureau chief for the New York Times, and included Jennifer Steen, a political science professor at ASU, Art Hamilton, a long-time figure on the Arizona political scene (including more than a quarter-century in the Arizona House of Representatives), and Tom Zoellner, an author, former journalist, and fifth-generation Arizonan.

(left to right - Lacey, Steen, Hamilton, and Zoellner)








The event took place at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).

Zocalo Public Square has its report on the event here, and some brief offerings on the topic from a group of observers of the Arizona scene here.

ZPS's write-up is decent (if a little too "cheerleader"  for my taste), but it did leave out a few important things...like my impressions.  :)

Lacey








...Lacey and the panelists, as expected, knew their stuff, but they made a couple of factual errors, the most glaring of which was Lacey's statement that the US Supreme Court has overturned Arizona's Clean Elections system.  If fact, as bad as their decision was, they only set aside the matching provisions section of the law.

However, the few errors were very minor.  My biggest quibble with the session was that it was so short.

While the discussion was nearly 90 minutes long, the topic can barely be skimmed in that time.  They tried, but most of the more in-depth talk was during the after-event wine social.  I didn't stay for more than a few minutes of that, so I can't really write about that part of the evening.  Maybe if it had involved beer... :)

The topics covered in the main discussion included the immigration debate, the state's gun culture, the decline of civility in in politics and other civic matters, electoral demographics and more.

Of course, my guess is that both the organizers of the event and the panelists understand that an in-depth analysis was impossible to achieve at such a short event, but also realize that the discussion needs to start somewhere.

Hamilton










...Hamilton delivered the best observations, and the best one-liners, of the evening, illustrating both his long experience with Arizona's politics and his quick wit.

- "The ultimate affront was when a friend of mine, the just-past speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, told me he was glad we were in the news because it made him feel better about Mississippi." (from Zocalo's report on the event; I noted the quote, but my notes sucked :) )

- SB1070 was an "E-ticket ride" to a full term as governor for Jan Brewer

- "If you think the cost of education is high, consider the cost of ignorance."

- When Lacey asked Hamilton to "psychanalyze" the legislature and other leaders of Arizona's politics, Hamilton responded with "I would suggest 'psycho' without the 'analyzing.' "

- One subject area where Hamilton was far more tactful than most other observers (including this one) would be was on the topic of the influence of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, on public policy proposals in Arizona.  He said that ALEC may have a conservative bent, but it is a legitimate organization.

I would have said that ALEC exists mostly to put corporate interests with deep pockets together with legislators with shallow morals.

Steen









...Steen, the ASU professor, brought an outsider's perspective (formerly on the faculties of Boston College and Yale) and has some experience in partisan activity (former PC, delegate to a national convention and member of the Electoral College).  However, it was easy to see her academic background - while she made some dead-on observations, she loves statistics and wants to see some hard numbers of the effect of SB1070 on the number of Hispanic residents in Arizona.

Zoellner










...Zoellner, an author and former journalist, has worked for Gabrielle Giffords and is a fifth-generation Arizonan.

- I don't know Zoellner, but he won my respect early on when he mentioned (and gave credit to) Jon Talton's term about the Arizona economy, the "Real Estate Industrial Complex."

- He noted that in 2010 when he returned to help with the Giffords campaign, he almost didn't recognize his hometown (Tucson) because the political environment there and statewide has become so toxic and "nasty."

- He also noted that much of the contentiousness/increase in nativism in AZ may be due to the generational shift of the state's demographics.  A majority of the state's older (>65 years old) is white/Anglo, while a majority of its younger (<18) residents are Latino/other ethnic or racial group), and the older folks are *not* happy about that reality.

Overall, while it wasn't an occasion where most experienced observers of Arizona politics would learn something new or gain some heretofore unknown insight, it was nice to just sit and talk about politics without the shouting of tea party/Republican types.  It was a serious discussion for serious people with a serious interest in public policy, and more of this is needed.


There were a few members of the audience that I knew - Steve Muratore of The Arizona Eagletarian was there, asking the question about ALEC that brought forth the tactful response from Art Hamilton.  I'd have taken a picture of him asking the question, but it would have been a pic of the back of his head. 

Probably not a pic that would add to the story.  :))

Also at the discussion was Jerry Gettinger, a friend and occasional contributor to this blog.

Jerry asking a question

The audience.  Note the TV cameras.  The event was recorded for a November broadcast on C-SPAN.










Later...

Republican-led legislature going after Independent Redistricting Commission

...Once again, "the law is the law" types in the legislature show their true colors - the "law is the law" - except for them.

At least the members of this committee haven't assaulted a woman by the side of the freeway or aimed a pistol at a reporter.

Yet.

From the Arizona Republic, written by Mary Jo Pitzl -

Legislative leaders want to take a good, hard look at the draft redistricting maps. They've scheduled a Friday meeting for the newly formed Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting.

The committee will be chaired by Rep. Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Pierce, R-Prescott. Six others also will serve on the panel. No meeting time has been set.

AZBlueMeanie at Blog For Arizona has a post here, with a few more details from an article in the Arizona Capitol Times.

The meeting notice isn't posted on the lege's website as yet.

On November 7, 2000, the voters passed an amendment to the Arizona Constitution removing the legislature's ability to create its own districts and instead creating an *independent* redistricting commission.

Since November 8, 2000, the members of the legislature have been working to undermine the will of the voters and the independence of the redistricting commission.  This is just the latest gambit in a long line of schemes.

They were successful in subverting the process and the commission a decade ago.  One of the ways to stop them this time around is to keep the bright glare of sunshine on them.  As soon as I know the time of the meeting, I'll post it here.

Arpaio Testifies At Thomas' Ethics Hearing

Most of the time, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio likes to portray himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff" or something similarly grandiose and self-serving.

However, when he testified before the panel investigating former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, he portrayed himself as something else. 

I'm just trying to figure who or what he was playing.

From the Arizona Republic, written by JJ Hensley -

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio does not recall many of the details related to the investigations that have threatened the careers of former County Attorney Andrew Thomas and one of his top prosecutors.

{snip}

"I don't recall" was Arpaio's most common answer when attorneys pressed him for details.

Upon reading the srory and watching the video (embedded in the Republic story), I had to sit back and figure out what role Arpaio was playing on Tuesday.

Was it -

Ronald Reagan?  The former president may have been best known for evading questions about his involvement in the Iran/Contra scandal with "I don't recall".  However, while Reagan's politics were almost as abominable as Arpaio's (in a different way, however), I can say one positive thing about the man -

He could deliver a punch line.

And Arpaio doesn't have a funny bone in his body.

pic courtesy IMDB


Alberto Gonzales? The former US Attorney General is famous for his use of "I don't recall" to protect himself (and others) from an investigation into the firing of US attorneys who refused to trump up cases against prominent Democrats and other critics of his former bosses, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove.

Hmmm...probably not.  Even though Gonzales was a fan of torture and an enemy of civil rights, I can't see Arpaio ever acting like someone named "Gonzales."

pic courtesy OnePennySheet.com

So, if Arpaio wasn't doing his best Reagan imitation and he wasn't doing a Gonzales imitation either, who could it be?

Hmmmm...........I've got it!

pic courtesy KickingTheCanDownTheRoad.com

 

 

Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann could be showing off their physical flexibility by Wednesday...

...because they could go from kissing Joe Arpaio's butt Monday to kicking themselves Wednesday...

Republican Presidential candidates Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain spent time in Arizona Monday, kissing up to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and other local nativist bigwigs in separate smoochfests.

On Tuesday, Arpaio is scheduled to testify before the ethics hearing looking into the conduct of Arpaio's long-time ally, former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

Given the not-insignificant possibility of perjury or Arpaio invoking his right against self-incrimination, the people who spent Monday trying to get closer to Arpaio than the other R candidates could ending spending Wednesday trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and him.

Since after February (maybe sooner!) neither one is likely to have much to do, Bachmann and Cain should plan to put out a new workout DVD - "Kissin' and Kickin'!"

Cain and Bachmann could lead their followers in an elegantly simple five-step routine -

1.  Bend over and pucker up.
2.  Stand up quickly and administer a palmsmack to their foreheads.
3.  Jump up, whirl in the air, kicking their own butts in mid-whirl (and mid-air).
4.  Upon landing, run a full speed away from the spot where they puckered up.  One possible variation:  if there is a full moon out, howl at it while running.
5.  Repeat until exhausted or the soft-spoken folks in white coats come to take them away, ha haaa!

The NRA, Fast and Furious, and Wide Receiver: What a difference a few years makes

By now, most people have heard of the "Fast and Furious" scandal, stemming from an operation conducted out of the Phoenix office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE).  During that sting, a number of guns were allowed to "walk" across the border to Mexico in order to allow BATFE to track an organization of "straw" gun buyers.

The operation became a scandal when some of the guns started turning up at Mexican crime scenes, and even were involved in the killing of a Border Patrol agent in southern Arizona.

The operation has come in for criticisms from many quarters and is the subject of Congressional investigations.

While some of the criticisms are certainly justified, the loudest critics seem to have selective memories.

Just a few years ago, during the previous presidential administration, another very similar BATFE effort called Operation Wide Receiver did much the same thing - allowed weapons to cross the border with Mexico, ostensibly to use the weapons to track criminal organizations there.

It failed, not as spectacularly as Fast and Furious, but it still failed miserably.

At the time in 2006, it pretty much escaped notice.  Certainly, many of the critics of Fast and Furious now ignored Wide Receiver then.

The NRA is a good example of this. 

They started criticizing BATFE and the Department of Justice over this in February, following up in February again, February (yet again!), March, March (again), April, May, June, June (again), June (yet again!), July, July (again), July (yet again!), July (one more time for good measure), August, and September.

That list is just the NRA's press releases that directly reference the operation.  It doesn't include the anti-Mexico/Central America propaganda spouted by the NRA's communications shop.  They spent the spring trying to deflect attention from the inconvenient fact that most of the crime guns in Mexico come from the United States.

In addition to the press releases, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president and the primary voice and face of the NRA has been ranting into any microphone that somebody puts in front of him ("Biggest cover up since Watergate" is my personal favorite).

By comparison, the NRA's press releases on Operation Wide Receiver -





[crickets chirping]





Now, I'm not accusing the NRA of engaging in anything illegal here.  However, if they ever want to regain some credibility in civil society, they need to become more than a partisan press release generator/marketing agency for gun manufacturers and retailers.

Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution has a more in-depth column on Fast and Furious here.


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.

Campaign committees update...

...and some sad news in the "he's not running" department..

First up, the sad news - Harry Mitchell, the long-time Tempe (and Arizona) icon announced that he will NOT seek election to Congress next year.

From his Facebook page -

"While having the confidence, energy and strong support for a successful campaign in a new Tempe-centered district, I’ve decided against pursuing it. While my life in public service has taught me that positive change – no matter how difficult – is possible, I’d rather spend my energy here at home than be steeped in the partisan infighting, gridlock and subsequent dysfunction that has overtaken Washington. I, like many others, simply do not have the patience for that anymore."

While the selfish part of me hopes that he reconsiders his decision, the part of me that is in awe of his more than four decades of public service (teacher, councilman, mayor, state senator, U.S. Congressman) only says -

THANK YOU HARRY!

I respect his decision, but fervently wish it was otherwise. 

There will be more (lots more!) written about this at a later time.  Right now, on to the rest of the post.

Note:  Where a legislative or Congressional district is specified, that number is likely to change once the redistricting process is complete.

In U.S. Congress campaign news, Tucson lawyer Christopher Scileppi has formed a committee to run for CD7 as a GOPer.

Seriously, where the FEC's form asks for partisan affiliation, he entered "GOP".

 
...Warren Petersen of Gilbert has formed a committee for a run at the Republican nomination for Arizona House of Representatives in LD22.  I think he's a real estate agent (his name doesn't make for the best search terms).
 
...Chris Schaffner of north Scottsdale has formed a committee for a run at Scottsdale City Council.  The forms on Scottsdale's election website aren't linkable, but he lists his occupation as "account manager" at Milliken.
 
...In Tempe, Derek Deutsch and Joseph Pospicil Jr. (exploratory) have formed $500 Threshold exemption committees for runs at Tempe City Council.  Deutsch ran as a Libertarian for the Kyrene Justice of the Peace job last year (he never made it on to the ballot).  Couldn't find out much about Pospicil, though I *think* he's a Libertarian, too, but I'm not absolutely sure about it.
 
Later...

Light posting for the next few days...

Due to the fact that there aren't 48 hours in a day (meaning that I've had a busy schedule for the last few days and will be busy tomorrow night), posting will be light to nonexistent until Friday night or maybe even Saturday.  :((

Until then, here's a little light reading -

...The Republicans in AZ's Congressional delegation are looking to use the Grand Canyon, one of the country's national treasures (and Arizona's crown jewel) to help mining companies socialize costs and risks while privatizing profits and benefits by opening up the Grand Canyon area to uranium mining.  The Cronkite News Service has the story here.

...The New York Times published an editorial exposing the Republicans myth of "voter fraud."  Definitely worth a read.

...Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times lends some insight into the shenanigans of some of Russell Pearce's supporters/paid consultants here.

...In non-political news, Theo Epstein, GM of the Boston Red Sox, is taking a position with the Chicago Cubs.  He worked miracles in Boston (first World Series championship in 86 years!!!) but if he can right the ship at Wrigley, he should be named Secretary of the Treasury. 

It's getting to the point where only a miracle worker of the first class will be able to fix the mess that is the American economy.

Later...

Stalking state laws: the NRA and its lobbyists work slowly but inexorably

The NRA is proving that when it comes to lobbying state legislatures, persistence is almost as important as money, as is the patience to take small bites.  (Not that lots of money hurts. :)  )

Perhaps it's the old saw about repeating a lie often enough that it becomes fact (Goebbels?) or maybe it's just familiarity breeding...familiarity, but persistence and patience have worked very well indeed for them.

When they try to grab a big bunch of policy ground in one chunk, that is when they experience most of their setbacks, as happened in Arizona this year where a governor who is a strong supporter of the NRA vetoed a "firearms omnibus" bill that contained all sorts of NRA wish-list items (like allowing guns in schools).

Many of its recent legislative successes, such as the raft of "guns in bars" bills that have passed state legislatures in recent years, are rooted in efforts that began years ago.

Here in Arizona, the first "guns in bars" bill (that I can find, anyway) first appeared in 2003.

Then in 2004.

And in 2005.

And, after a couple of years to catch their breath, in 2008.

And again in 2009.

Finally, later in 2009, the measure was passed and signed into law.


Of course, that doesn't compare to efforts to weaken local control of firearms.  In many states, the ability of local municipalities to pass gun control measures to bolster public safety has been curtailed or even eliminated.

Those efforts have been relentless, starting in the mid-1990s.

Despite the fact that municipal governments are the "retail" level of government and know best what works for their cities.

Here in Arizona, the legislature passed or considered measures affecting local firearms control in...

...1999.  The measure was vetoed, but would have barred political subdivisions (aka - counties and municipalities) from enacting ordinances affecting or participating in lawsuits against firearms manufacturers

...2000.  Decreased the ability of political subdivisions from enacting ordinances affecting firearms.  Enacted into law.

...2001.  Failed in the Arizona House, but would have completely removed the ability of political subdivisions to enact or enforce *any* rule or ordinance relating to firearms.

...2002.  In a switch, the NRA lobbied against a bill.  They killed a measure that would have required the establishment of a task force of local, county, state and federal agencies to trace crime guns.

...2003.  Barred local regulation of gun sales in their jurisdiction.  Enacted into law.

...2006.  Barred political subdivisions and state agencies from enacting ordinances and rules relating to the storage of firearms.  Enacted into law.

...2007.  Barred a political subdivision from prohibiting a peace officer from carrying a firearm, except under very specific conditions.  Enacted into law.

...2009.  Barred employers, both public and private, from enacting or enforcing policies prohibiting their employees from storing weapons in the cars.  Known as the "guns in cars" bill.  Enacted into law.

...2010.  Further diminished the ability of municipalities to enact any ordinances or rules relating to firearms.  Enacted into law.

...2011.  Barred political subdivisions from restricting hunting within city limits.  Enacted into law.

That pattern of diminution of local control was also evident in the firearms omnibus bill mentioned earlier.  It featured a clause barring universities and other schools from adopting and/or enforcing policies restricting the possession of weapons on their campuses.

The NRA, through its lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), regularly rallies its members to swamp state legislators with phone calls and emails in support of (or opposition to) legislative proposals.

They also aren't shy about directly lobbying legislators.

From the Arizona Legislature's events calendar -

And that wasn't an isolated day - the NRA, its proxies (like the Arizona Citizens Defense League above), or both, lobby the legislature on a nearly daily basis.

Above, Dave Kopp of the Arizona Citizen Defense League, testifies February 14, 2011 before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of a "guns in schools" bill.  A short while later, a lobbyist directly employed by the NRA spoke in favor of the same bill.

Kopp is so friendly with the people running the Senate that when he walks into the Senate building, its almost like he entering his own office.

Seriously.  I've seen it many times.

He walks behind the reception counter, puts his briefcase on top the counter, and starts going through papers and agendas and other things back there like he owns the place.

And given how successful the NRA and its proxies have been at the Arizona Legislature and in many legislatures across the country, maybe they do.

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.

Schedule For The Second Round Of Redistricting Hearings Announced

In addition to its business meetings, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) holds two series of public hearings all over the state.

During the first round of hearings, they solicited public input on what the AIRC should consider when drawing up maps.

Now, they've completed a draft map of Congressional districts and will have a draft map for legislative districts by the end of the weekend.

During the second round of public hearings, they'll accept feedback on those draft maps, and suggestions for changes to the maps.  Most of the suggestions won't be turned into changes to the maps (if only because many will be contradictory), but some will.

The schedule of hearings (start time 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted),  All are subject to change, so check 48 hours beforehand before making travel plans:

Tuesday, October 11 -

Phoenix College
Auditorium
1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85044


Wednesday, October 12 -

Best Western Payson Inn
801 North Beeline Highway 87
Payson, AZ 85547


Thursday, October 13 -

Flagstaff City Hall
Council Chambers
211 West Aspen Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ 86001


Friday, October 14 -

Navajo Nation Museum
Highway 264 and Loop Road
Window Rock, AZ 86515
Start time: 1 p.m. MDT/Noon MST


Saturday, October 15 -

Navajo Nation Museum
Highway 264 and Loop Road
Window Rock, AZ 86515
Start time: 9 a.m.


Saturday, October 15 -

Hon Dah Resort – Casino
Mt. Baldy Room
777 Hwy 260
Pinetop, AZ 85935
Start time: 3 p.m.


Monday, October 17 -

Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites
Junction Hwy 160
Tuba City, AZ 86045
Start time: 10 a.m. MDT/9 a.m. MST

Prescott Valley Public Library
Council Chambers/Auditorium
7401 E. Civic Circle
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Start time: 6 p.m.


Tuesday, October 18 -

Chandler City Hall
Council Chambers
175 S. Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ 85244


Wednesday, October 19 -

Bullhead City Council Chambers
1255 Marina Boulevard
Bullhead City, AZ 86422


Thursday, October 20 -

Maryvale High School
Auditorium
3415 N. 59th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85033


Friday, October 21 -

Apache Gold Casino Resort
5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70
San Carlos, AZ 85550
Start time:  11 a.m.

City of Globe
Location TBA
Start time: 6 p.m.


Saturday, October 22 -

West View High School
10850 W. Garden Lakes Parkway
Avondale, AZ 85392
Start time: 1 p.m.


Monday, October 24 -

Tohono O’odham Utility Authority Conference Room
Hwy 86 Mile Post 112
Sells, AZ 85634
Start time 11 a.m.

University of Arizona
Student Union Memorial Center
North Ballroom
1303 E. University Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85721
Start time 6 p.m.


Tuesday, October 25 -

Buena Performing Arts Center (Buena High School)
5225 Buena School Boulevard
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635


Wednesday, October 26 -

Holiday Inn
777 N. Pinal Avenue
Casa Grande, AZ 85122


Thursday, October 27 -

Eastern Arizona College
615 N. Stadium Ave.
Thatcher, AZ 85552


Friday, October 28 -

Americana Hotel
639 N. Grand Avenue
Nogales, AZ 85621


Saturday, October 29 -

Yuma City Hall
City Council Chambers One City Plaza
Yuma, AZ 85364
Start time: 1 p.m.
 
 
Tuesday, November 1 -
 
South Mountain Community College
7050 South 24th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85402


Wednesday, November 2 -

City of Peoria
Location TBA


Thursday, November 3 - 

Granite Reef Senior Center
1700 North Granite Reef Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85257


Friday, November 4 -

Town of Marana
Marana Municipal Complex
Auditorium
11555 W. Civic Center Drive
Marana, AZ 85653


Saturday, November 5 -

Town of Green Valley
Location TBA
Start time: 10 a.m.

AIRC meeting in Tempe this weekend: Be there or risk being in a "safe" district

..."Safe" for the other side, that is...

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) has meetings scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday to work on a legislative districts draft map.

It's safe to bet that the Republicans and their tea party proxies will be out in force (though given that Sunday's meeting will be during prime football watching time, that force may be slightly smaller :) ), so a healthy presence of people who support both competitive districts and protecting communities of interest (no matter how much the Rs like to stamp their feet and whine otherwise, those are hardly mutually exclusive objectives).

Any folks who want to see Tempe basically stay in one LD (currently, it's mostly covered by LD17, with the far southern part in LD20) need to be there.

Both meetings will be at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel, 1600 S. 52nd Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 (NW corner of Broadway and 52nd St., near I-10).

Saturday's agenda is here: the meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday's agenda is here; the meeting starts at 1 p.m.

Name-calling at the people you want to vote for you may not be the best campaign tactic

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, the current flavor of the week in the R field of contenders (Chris Christie threatened to unseat Cain, but Christie decided not to enter the race) seems to be falling into the same pattern as the other recent flavors of the week -

They move to the front of the pack and proceed to show everyone why they're unqualified even for the nomination, much less the office.

Earlier this evening, he appeared on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC.  When host O'Donnell brought up a poll showing that 81% of Americans support a small tax increase on the wealthiest Americans. 

Cain responded by saying that the Democrats have brainwashed 81% of Americans.

I'm not kidding (like I could make up something this outlandish :) )

Now, I'm not a math major or an accountant, but it seems that Cain can't comprehend that he needs the support of more than the 19% (100% - 81%) has hasn't insulted if he actually expects to win the presidency.

Time Magazine has coverage here; Mediaite has coverage here (their coverage includes embedded video).

Hell hath no fury...

...like Arizona Republicans who are afraid they might actually have to run on the merits of their positions and their skills as candidates.

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) has released a "draft" map of Congressional districts.  Based on preliminary numbers ("preliminary" because the district lines will change, at least a little bit, after the next round of public hearings, starting next week), there are four districts that are basically "safe" Republican, two districts that are basically "safe" Democratic, and three districts that are competitive.

Personally, I think the people of Arizona in general (and every non-Republican in particular, which is 2/3 of the state) are done a disservice by this draft map.  A better map would have three safe R districts, two safe D districts, and four truly competitive ones was and is an attainable goal.

However, I'm not going to whine about it.  I'm just going to spend time this weekend working up a map that meets that objective while also adhering to the other criteria mandated by the Arizona constitution.

However2, I'm not going to let my unwillingness to whine stop me from mocking Republican whining.

Nope, not at all.

:)

First up on the hit parade:  Governor Jan Brewer.

She put out a press release today on the official governor's website that wasn't exactly a prime example of non-partisanship.

From her press release (and my responses) -

"The IRC proposal is simply gerrymandering at its worst," said Governor Brewer. "This unaccountable, unelected Commission has misused its authority to draw a congressional map that is every Democrat‟s dream. In doing so, they‟ve violated their bedrock legal requirements to maintain districts that protect communities of interest and are geographically compact."

"Unaccountable"?  Only to the law.  Something that Jan and her clan may not have much respect for, but the law is something that most of rest of us have a deep respect for.

"Unelected"?  Perhaps, but that was the idea behind the creation of the AIRC by the voters - take redistricting out of the hands of elected officials who are more concerned with keeping their jobs than doing what is best for Arizona.  In addition, while the members of the AIRC are "unelected," they are appointed by elected officials after betting vetted and screened by a commission headed up by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.

As for her allegation that the primary concerns for the AIRC are to protect "communities of interest" and create districts that are "geographically compact"?

From Article Four, Part Two, Section One of the Arizona Constitution -

14) The independent redistricting commission shall establish congressional and legislative districts. The commencement of the mapping process for both the congressional and legislative districts shall be the creation of districts of equal population in a grid-like pattern across the state. Adjustments to the grid shall then be made as necessary to accommodate the goals as set forth below:



A. Districts shall comply with the United States Constitution and the United States voting rights act;


B. Congressional districts shall have equal population to the extent practicable, and state legislative districts shall have equal population to the extent practicable;


C. Districts shall be geographically compact and contiguous to the extent practicable;


D. District boundaries shall respect communities of interest to the extent practicable;


E. To the extent practicable, district lines shall use visible geographic features, city, town and county boundaries, and undivided census tracts;


F. To the extent practicable, competitive districts should be favored where to do so would create no significant detriment to the other goals.

All of those criteria are equal in importance in terms of the redistricting process, and I'm betting that Brewer and her handlers know that.  They're just ignoring that inconvenient fact.

From the press release:

This new proposal, however, throws that concept out the window – completely rewriting Arizona‟s congressional lines in a move that splits counties and communities and tosses large numbers of voters and sitting members of Congress into new districts.

Duh.  (That's my high school debating experience showing through there...oh wait - my HS didn't have a debate team. :) )

Also, take a look at the current map, one that Republicans love.  Many communities and most counties are split into two or more districts.  With Arizona's population pattern of incredibly densely populated areas in metro Phoenix and Tucson while most of the rest of the state is incredibly sparsely populated, splits are going to happen.

I was going to analyze and rebut similar press releases from many of the Republicans in AZ's Congressional delegation, but they were too....similar.

Similar to the point of obviously being part of a coordinated disinformation campaign, and similar to the point of possibly being written by the same person.

Remember English 101? 

Do a compare-and-contrast exercise - David Schweikert's press release is here; Jeff Flake's is here; Paul Gosar's is here; John McCain's and Jon Kyl's is here; Ben Quayle's is here; and for good measure (guess he didn't want to feel left out), a statement by Andy Tobin, speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, is here.

Note: all of the above statements courtesy the Republican press release outlet blog Sonoran Alliance.

Andrei Cherny, chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, issued his own statement in response to the Republican blitzkrieg against the AIRC.  I won't reprint the entire statement, but here is the final line, and it sums up my thoughts far more concisely than my own words can -

"The only reason 50/50 districts are a threat to Republican electoral prospects is because of the extreme, out-of-touch agenda that Arizona Republican leaders have been pursuing. Gov. Brewer should spend less time on bullying and more on job creation, and substitute real leadership for these partisan attacks. It is beneath the dignity of the governorship and not in keeping with the best interests of the state.”

Later...


Ummm...redistricting is supposed to rewrite district lines and to move voters and sitting elected officials into new districts.  That is why it's called "redistricting."A mix of outright lies and lies of omission.