Month: February 2013

Tucson City Council advances gun background check resolution: Voice your opinion at Feb 5 meeting (video)

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Gun-buttonby Pamela Powers Hannley

During today's study session, Tucson's City Council voted unanimously to advance a resolution which would require background checks on every gun purchase that occurs on city-owned or city-managed property. The resolution further states that there will be "no permits for gun shows on City owned or managed property until the provisions of the above are enacted." 

City attornies said that since this is a resolution and not an ordinance it does not conflict with state law.

Today's vote paves the way for a council vote on the resolution on February 20, but citizens can use the February 5 (tonight) City Council meeting call to the audience to voice their opinions on this matter. Here is the link to the proposal brought forward by Council members Steve Kozachik and Karin Uhlich. More background and a video of local leaders talking about gun control after the jump.

Legislative District 9 Town Hall on Saturday

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Late calendar notice from Legislative District 9: Legislative  District 9  TOWN HALL Saturday,  February 9th, 4:30-6:30 p.m La Paloma Urgent Care Community Room, 4001 E. Sunrise Drive (NW corner of Sunrise & Hacienda del Sol Road), Tucson, AZ 85718 State Senator Steve Farley (Democrat) &  State Representative Victoria Steele (Democrat) &  State … Read more

Texas doesn’t spend enough on education, judge says

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by David Safier FYI: Texas spends between $1,500 and $2,500 more per student than Arizona, depending on who's doing the counting. That being said . . . Texas District Court Judge John Dietz ruled that Texas funding for schools is inadequate, violating the state constitution. He reached that decision after 600 districts sued the state … Read more

Sen. Judy Burges wants to be the Grand Inquisitor of the Tea-Publican Inquisition against climate science

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

You remember Judy Burges (R-Skull Valley) or alternatively (R-Sun City West), don't you? Then Rep. Judy Burges was the "Birther Queen" who did not believe President Obama was born in the U.S. and that he was a "secret Muslim." The Birther Queen wanted President Obama to provide proof of his birth in the U.S., and inferred that there should be a religious test for office in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Section 3. Legislator: No Obama on ballot if he can't prove US birth.

And who can forget her Tea Party World Nut Daily conspiracy theory against the United Nations Agenda 21 “sustainable development” plan: "an insidious attack on American sovereignty in an effort to build a one-world order." Arizona Bill Would Ban UN Agenda 21 Within State. "The blue helmets are coming!"

Now Sen. Judy Burges wants to be the Grand Inquisitor of the Tea-Publican Inquisition against climate science, and require teachers to teach children that climate scientists are blasphemers and heretics. "They are witches! Burn them at the stake!" AZ bill would let teachers dismiss global warming:

[A] state senator wants to free teachers to tell students why some
believe there is no such thing as human-caused "global warming."

TheTrialofGalileo
Galileo facing the Roman Inquistion by Cristiano Banti (1857)

Joe Arpaio — What Recalls Were Invented to Remedy

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Posted by Bob Lord

[My friends at Down With Tyranny just posted this piece I wrote, but I thought I'd post it here as well.] 

Progressives across America have a rare opportunity.

Joe Arpaio, the megalomaniacal sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, is the face of racism in America today. He is facing a well-organized recall campaign. Arpaio has been elected six times, dating back to 1992, by raising zillions of dollars from right-wing ideologues and using the funds to play to the fears of Maricopa’s conservative population base, particularly the fearful senior citizens in the retirement communities west of Phoenix, while smearing his opponents with horrifically deceitful ads. But each election has been a tougher sell for Arpaio than the one before. Last November, he squeaked by with 50.7% of the vote.