By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings On Tuesday, the Arizona Capitol Times broke the story that Darin Mitchell, one of the winners of the LD13 Republican primary for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, apparently doesn't live in that district. Note: the link is to my post about the story; the Cap … Read more
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Ann Kirkpatrick (CD 1) airs her first TV ad, "Right Way." From the YouTube description:
Ann Kirkpatrick has lived her entire life in this district and raised her family here. She learned the value of a dollar from her dad, who ran the general store, and by owning her own business. Ann has Arizona values running through her veins. She knows we can protect Medicare, strengthen our schools and balance the budget — the right way.
Video below the fold.
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
After a series of court cases in which the "Open Government/Open Elections'' initiative was off the ballot, then on the ballot, then off again, the Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the "Top Two Primary" initiative back on the ballot in November. 'Top 2' primary can be on ballot, state's high court rules:
The Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a hotly contested proposition to create a so-called top-two primary system can remain on the Nov. 6 ballot. The ruling came just one day before the hard deadline for printing the ballot, which will have nine propositions.
The Open Elections/Open Government initiative, or Proposition 121, would change the current system — in which candidates are winnowed down through party primaries — to one in which all candidates for a given office appear on a single primary-election ballot. Party labels would be optional. The top-two finishers would then advance to the general election. The system would apply to all local, county, state and federal offices, except for presidential elections.
Supporters say the top-two system would lead to more centrist policies by attracting more voters, particularly independents, who typically do not vote in primaries.
There is no empirical evidence to support these claims made by the
proponents of this initiative. They are perpetrating a fraud on the voters.
Let's
be clear what this initiative is really all about. The Chamber of
Commerce establishment Republicans have lost control of the
Republican Party to the Christian Reconstructionists and Dominionists,
and the Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists fringe groups who have hijacked
the GOP and purged the Chamber establishment Republicans from the GOP.
The Chamber of Commerce establishment Republicans want "their" party
back.
But rather than fight this civil war within the GOP, the Chamber of
Commerce establishment Republicans want to rewrite the rules for everyone. We are all to be punished for their failures as establishment Republicans. How is this fair or just?
Backers have a simplistic belief that this "top two primary" will
magically allow more "moderate" Chamber of Commerce establishment
Republicans to get elected — with the added bonus of denying voters any
real choices in November by eliminating minor political parties from the
general election ballot (Green, Libertarian, Americans Elect), and even
Democratic candidates in many Republican voter registration heavy
districts, perhaps even statewide races. This initiave will thus disenfranchise voters.
by David Safier A Capitol Times article (subscription only) about Prop 204, the renewal of the one cent sales tax, most of which will go for education, talks about the strategies the anti-204, moneyed interests are planning to take to try and defeat the initiative. They're going to say it was "written by special interest … Read more
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Time once again for Steve Benen's weekly fact check of the shameless shapeshifter and pathological liar, Willard "Mittens" Romney. Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXIII: First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a beautiful speech at the Democratic National Convention this week, which was very well received. There were a few phrases in particular, though, … Read more