Read Blog for Arizona | Politics from a Liberal Viewpoint for more about August 2014

Will tea party types/Republicans succeed in turning the governing board of Maricopa County’s community colleges into a bigger version of the governing board of Gilbert’s public school district?

August 10, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings

Note to BfA readers: Normally, I wouldn’t cross-post something that is so Maricopa-centric here, but the subject here may be of interest statewide.

Yesterday, I wrote a bit about some of the school board races here in Maricopa County; today, the subject is one of the other low-profile races here.

It isn’t news (to observers in AZ, anyway) that the governing board of the Gilbert Public Schools District has been taken over by tea party types and what was once one of the few crown jewels of public education in Arizona has been devastated.

With the damage done there, the tea party types have set their sights on a bigger target –

The governing board of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD):

More on that CD 2 GOP debate

August 10, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

The Sierra Vista Herald covered the other questions from the CD 2 GOP congressional debate sponsored by the Greater Vail Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, and students of the Valley Academy and High School.

The candidates’ responses pretty much speak for themselves: they are not fit to serve in public office. Republican candidates distinguish their positions at Vail forum (pay wall):

Following are synopsis on issues the students asked of the CD2 candidates.

Shelley Kais noted the federal government’s corporate and income tax structures are running companies out of the country and it must be reversed.

With the current bureaucracy its takes “$10,000 to hire an employee,” she said.

And, the federal government is involved in arenas it shouldn’t be and that includes dictating to states how to educate, which still is stuck in the 1950s, she said.

CD 2 GOP candidates fail the foreign policy test

August 10, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

On Thursday evening, there was a CD 2 GOP candidate debate sponsored by the Greater Vail Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. The candidates responded to questions put to them by students from the Valley Academy and High School.

Keep in mind that these are high school students. Several of them will graduate and will volunteer to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some may even attend one of our military academies. All of the male students will have to register with the Selective Service (draft) for their 18th birthday.

Recent wars and the threat of wars were clearly on their mind. When the candidates were asked about recent events in Iraq, all three GOP candidates for CD 2 expressed no reservations about sending some of these students off to fight and die in a sectarian civil war in Iraq that even the Iraqis do not fully comprehend. These students are to fight and die in the sandbox of Iraq so that GOP politicians can pound their chests and talk tough about American military power. Clearly, no lessons have been learned by these candidates over the past 13 years of war.

Thucky and Me, Our Magical Year (Part 5)

August 10, 2014 by Bob Lord

[Fifth in a six-part series]

[Previous parts in series: Thucky and Me, Our Magical Year (Part 1); Thucky and Me, Our Magical Year (Part 2); Thucky and Me, Our Magical Year (Part 3); Thucky and Me, Our Magical Year (Part 4)]

Thucky’s Racism, Elitism, and Psychopathology

With full knowledge of who Thucky was, I decided to engage in some amateur psychoanalysis with him. For the most part, he was quite a willing patient, generally willing to engage in the comment section of each post. He also was commenting like a madman on all my tax and inequality related posts. Those comments often helped with the “research.”

At this point, there was a complete disconnect between me and our readers. I felt bad, but I didn’t see a way around it. The readers, quite understandably, were thinking “why is he spending so much time writing about some moron blog troll?” Their comments are starting to reflect this annoyance. At the same time, I’m thinking “Wow, I’m going one-on-one with one of the highest elected officials in the state, and he’s an absolute mental midget. How long can I keep this going and how far off the rails will he go?” In the featured post below, I tried to justify my focus on Thucky without revealing his identity, but I doubt many of our readers were buying it. Eventually, the disconnect came to a head, in a friendly way, and actually added some levity to the outing process (not that the process was short on levity, but I was happy to have more). More on that in the next installment.

The psychoanalysis plays out primarily in three posts, Thing Two About Thucky; Thucky: Textbook Case of a Neo-Religious Conservative; and Things Three Through Thirty-Three About Thucky.

Political Calendar: Week of August 10, 2014

August 16, 2014August 10, 2014 by AZ BlueMeanie

The Political Calendar is posted on Sundays. Please send us notice of your political events prior to the Sunday before your event (7 days would be most helpful). See the calendar icon in the right-hand column of the blog page for easy access to the calendar.

It’s time for “Take Ten” again. Take ten of your family members, neighbors, coworkers and friends to vote early, or to the polls on election day for the primary election. It’s the power of ten.

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission debates are available online. View Replay of Candidate Debates Online.

Note: For Event Notices and Fliers, click on the “Calendar” button in the menu options above.

Political Calendar for the Week of August 10, 2014:

P.A.W.S. for a Cause

Sunday, August 10, 12:30 p.m.: P.A.W.S. for a Cause, at The Shanty, 401 E. Ninth St. (at Fourth Ave.) This Fall, voters in Pima County will have an opportunity to pass Proposition 415, an initiative that would make much-needed improvements to the Pima County Animal Care Center. The group behind the effort, P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving,) are hosting a fundraiser featuring Secretary of State candidate Terry Goddard. RSVP on Facebook or by email.

Union Appreciation Day at the Arizona Diamondbacks

Sunday, August 10, 1:10 p.m.: Union Appreciation Day at the Colorado Rockies v. Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field. Ticket packages range from $12 per ticket for upper level, to $50 per ticket for lower level/infield seats. To purchase seating for your group, please contact either Garrett King at gking@dbacks.com or (602) 462-4238, or Daren Heaton at dheaton@dbacks.com or (602) 462-4233. View the flier at the calendar button above.

Santa Cruz and Santa Rita Area Democrats “No Cost” Meet & Greet Rally, Followed by Dinner with the Candidates

Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.: Santa Cruz and Santa Rita Area Democrats host a “no cost” Meet & Greet Rally, at Placita del Sol Auditorium in Amado Territory, Amado, AZ (directions: from I-19 take Exit 48, turn East, cross East Frontage Road and immediately turn right into Amado Territory.). Rally and dinner venues are in the first building on the left. Moderated by former state Sen. Paula Aboud. Confirmed candidates: Congressman Raul Grijalva, Congressman Ron Barber, Fred DuVal (Governor), Terry Goddard (Secretary of State), Felecia Rotellini (Attorney General), David Garcia and Sharon Thomas (Supt. of Public Instruction), Sandra Kennedy (Corp. Commission), Sen. Andrea Dalessandro (LD2), and Reps. Rosanna Gabaldon and Demion Clinco (LD2). Mexican buffet dinner by Kristofer’s Bistro at 5:30 p.m. with the candidates. Cost is $15 per person. You may send a check to DCSRA, PO Box 131, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or you may purchase tickets on-line at Act Blue: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dcsra81014. Please call Polly Daly with any questions at (815) 370-4614.

Monday, August 11, 11:30 a.m.: Fred DuVal to unveil his education plan, at Pima Community College Aviation Technology Center, 7211 S. Park Avenue (Tucson). Business and education leader Fred DuVal, who is running for Arizona governor will unveil his plan to improve Arizona’s schools at a community event with educators, school board members, and parents. RSVP or direct questions to Janet Marcotte by email or phone: (520) 299.1562.