by David Safier Dr. Word thinks Mitt Romney is being too hard on himself when he maintains his 47 percent comments were "not elegantly stated" because he "was speaking off the cuff." His cuffs are permanently soiled and threadbare, whether his words are prepared or spontaneous. Witness the wording of Romney's attempt to respin his … Read more
by David Safier For anyone who wants a clear explanation of the nine state ballot measures we're voting on along with sensible suggestions for how to vote, check out Craig's post right below this one. Shorter Craig: Yes on Prop. 204; No on everything else. I write a monthly column for the Explorer. Here's my … Read more
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
Mike Bryan wrote a post on this very topic a few months ago, but he invited the other writers here to weigh in on the subject. Here is my contribution.
At last count (and subject to change, depending on court rulings), Arizona voters will be considering nine ballot questions in November. While I've pretty much decided how I'm going to vote ("no" on all questions except for Proposition 204), a look at each question is merited. I'll be taking a position on each measure and stating why I hold that position. However, I urge all readers to read and study the propositions for themselves and cast their votes based on what they think is best for the state.
First, some resources –
The League of Women Voters of Arizona ballot proposition guide is here – English/Spanish.
The Arizona Secretary of State's webpage for its proposition publicity pamphlet is here.
Michael Bryan of Blog for Arizona offers a thorough and well-written guide here.
The first two are neutral (though cynic that I am, if I was only discussing the AZSOS' guide, the word "ostensibly" would be used to modify "neutral"); Mike Bryan openly takes positions on the measures. I disagree with a couple of those positions, but on those questions, there isn't a "good" position, just a "less bad" one.
On to the questions –
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
From The Last Word blog: A handful of actors from the Emmy award-winning TV series West Wing reprised their
roles in a campaign ad for the real-life sister of Mary McCormack, a.k.a Deputy
National Security advisor Kate Harper. This is some heavy hitter advertising for a down ballot judicial race. 'West Wing' reunites to walk and talk the vote:
Bridget Mary McCormack is running for Michigan state Supreme Court.
In a sketch littered with inside jokes, The West Wing team came together
to bring attention to the not-so-sexy issue of filling out the
non-partisan section of the voting ballot. This is how Michigan and 14
other states select their supreme court justices. As Bradley Whitford,
who reprised his role as Josh Lyman, explains, “In non-partisan
elections all across America, voters are leaving part of their ballot
blank. And they don’t even know it.”
So who is Bridget Mary
McCormack? According to the ad, she's a "married mother of four, dean at
Michigan law. Bridget has spent her entire career fighting for justice
for ordinary people for families with sick kids. For families of
domestic violence. She's fought to free innocent men and women and get
the actual criminals behind bars."
And in a TV-turned-reality twist, McCormack's husband, Steve Croley, currently works in the real West Wing as deputy counsel in the White House Counsel's Office.
Video below the fold.
by David Safier Dylan Smith has terrific coverage at the Tucson Sentinel of the fly-over of the space shuttle Endeavor. A group of stills at top right, a video at the bottom, and a story in between. This kind of thing usually doesn't mean that much to me, but in this one special instance, it … Read more