Month: September 2013

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Tucson City Councilman and all around nice guy, Robert (Bob) Carter Cauthorn, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91.

Bob was a sergeant in the Signal Corps of the 102nd Infantry Division of the US Army during the WWII, landing in Cherbourg, France in September, 1944. He earned an undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech, and graduate degrees from Princeton and Tulane. Dr. Cauthorn taught at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and West Virginia University. Bob served as a City Councilman in Tucson in the early 1970s.

Bob was one of the Tucson City Council members with the courage to raise water rates to preserve Tucson’s long term water prospects, and apportion the costs for using water more fairly on high water users in the foothills. This effort got him and three other "reform" Democrats recalled in 1976. Bob resigned his council seat in November to take a job in Florida; but his three colleagues were defeated in the recall election in January 1977. The recall was the first and only nonpartisan city council election in Tucson history. The political victors did not have long political lives, and were all replaced by 1979. The recall movement did not stem rising water rates. See, Cover Story: Down The Drain – Tucson Weekly (January 16, 1997).

Bob was a compassionate, kind, funny and a life-long learner who was
much loved by his family and many friends. He is survived by his loving
wife and great companion, Joan Kaye Cauthorn, as well as by his sister,
Margaret Cauthorn Stevens (Pierce) and children, Robert (Paulette),
James (Julie), Daniel, Matthew (Arlene), Jennifer Kaye Marsden (Steve)
and Jill Kohl (Randy). He was the proud grandfather of Luke, Michael,
Emma, Max, Rebecca, Sarah, Eli and Nate Cauthorn, Ayla Marsden and Siena
and Jeremy Kohl.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Whenever I have to fly somewhere, the inevitable question from the person sitting next to me comes up with a moment of dread, "Where are you from?" Admit it, don't you hesitate to answer that you are from Arizona out of embarrassment and not wanting to have to explain? Sure you do.

Whenever I talk to friends and relatives in other states and politics comes up, they always ask the same question: "What the f#%k is wrong with you people in Arizona? How is it possible for people to be so ignorant?"

Well I'll tell you: it is our corporate media in Arizona. I'll give you an example. Yesterday I explained the back story of what is going on with GOP plans to threaten a government shutdown and to default on the federal debt ceiling as its hostage demand to extort the defunding  of "ObamaCare." The GOP is on Cruz-control to a government shutdown.

But if you read Arizona's two largest daily newspapers this morning, you got the alternate reality FAUX News GOP-spin that the GOP is trying to avoid a government shutdown by taking the country hostage to extort the defunding of "ObamaCare."

The Arizona Republic ran an AP report, Dodge default, defund Obamacare, GOP leaders say: "House Republicans vowed Wednesday to pass legislation that would prevent a partial government shutdown and avoid a historic national default while simultaneously canceling out President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, inaugurating a new round of political brinkmanship as critical deadlines approach."

The Arizona Daily Star has an online-only AP post, House to vote on stopgap funding bill, 'Obamacare': "The GOP-controlled House is cruising toward a vote to gut President Barack Obama's health care plan as part of a temporary funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown on Oct. 1. While raising the possibility of a government closure, the latest GOP plan is actually aimed at avoiding one. GOP leaders are looking to shift the fight over health care to even more important legislation required to prevent the government from defaulting on its financial obligations." (The print edition was better with a report from McCaltchy News, not online, Showdown: House will tie government funding to defunding Obamacare.)

WTF? This AP (All Propaganda) reporting is the exact opposite of reality.

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings

 

…First, the big news:  Rep. Chad Campbell, Democratic leader in the
AZ House, announced his decision to not seek the Democratic nomination
for governor in 2014.

His statement, via Facebook –

It’s been no secret that for the last few months I have been considering
running for Governor of Arizona.  Our analysis, as well as independent
polling, confirms that I would be in a very strong position if I entered
the race.  I have talked with Arizonans across the state about the need
to move Arizona in a new direction.  We must focus on job creation,
improving our education system and instilling transparency at all levels
of government.  However, there are other issues that need to be
considered outside of purely political factors when deciding whether or
not to run.  It is with these considerations in mind that I have decided
to not run for Governor of Arizona at this time.  This decision was not
made lightly. I need to focus on my family and other new business
opportunities that will allow me to improve communities not only in
Arizona, but also across the nation.  To the countless number of people
across Arizona who have encouraged me to run, I cannot thank you enough.
 While I look forward to serving my last year in the Arizona
Legislature as the House Democratic Leader, this decision by no means
marks the end of my public service.  I will continue looking at all
options in the future to determine how best I can serve Arizona.

Campbell's departure from the race leaves Fred Duval as the only "name" Democrat in the race.  While there is still time for someone else to enter, it's going to have to be soon.

Note:  I didn't have a "favorite" in the projected race, but I thought, and think, that a robust primary at the top of the ticket would benefit all Democratic candidate by generating interest and media coverage.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week the media villagers held their annual confab to give each other awards for the excellent work they are doing (cough!), and Governor Jan Brewer showed up to work the refs. This is how the Sierra Vista Herald described it. Our View: The governor's welcome words:

The annual National Newspaper Convention took place last week at the
Grand Resort in Phoenix, bringing industry professionals from across the
country to Arizona.

Brewer touted the state’s financial comeback, pointing to dramatic
budget cuts, fewer regulations, and a rebounding economy as the key
components of a plan that turned a $3 billion state budget deficit into a
nearly $1 billion surplus.

You may recall that after President Obama's recent visit to the Phoenix area in August, Governor Brewer, while offering a gracious greeeting at the airport, later issued a Statement from Governor Jan Brewer on President Obama's Visit to Arizona (.pdf) in which she employed this bit of hyperbole: "The Arizona Comeback is in full-swing, and this was the President’s opportunity to witness firsthand a true economic success story."

Really? Perhaps the governor failed to see this recent eye-popping headline: AZ Among Highest Poverty Levels in Nation, Census Figures Say. This is "The Arizona Comeback"?

New figures from the Census Bureau show Arizona has some of the highest rates of poverty in the country.

Nineteen percent of the state's residents were 100 percent below the poverty line in 2012.

That was the fifth-highest rate behind only Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Nearly 23 percent of Arizona's population was 125 percent below the poverty line, which is eight-highest among all states.

The figures released Tuesday show the national average is 15 percent
for 100 percent below the poverty line and 20 percent for 125 percent
below the poverty line.

Only four more states and we can be number one!