Month: December 2014

The GOP culture of corruption in Arizona, and the media who enable it

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Our blog trolls get their panties in a bunch when I refer to the GOP culture of corruption in Arizona. They are either uninformed or wilfully ignorant.

Most studies on political corruption focus too narrowly on charges filed and convictions obtained. There are many forms of unethical conduct and political corruption that do not result in charges filed or convictions. A classic example of this is the Fiesta Bowl Scandal from a few years ago. Not one of the dozens of politicians implicated were ever charged with a crime or even faced an ethics investigation in the Arizona legislature. Only Fiesta Bowl personnel were prosecuted and plead guilty.

The Phoenix New Times reports on a new survey of political reporters, which uses a broader definition of political corruption, that finds Arizona’s the Most Corrupt State in America, According to Survey:

Arizona’s home to the most political corruption in America.

That’s according to a survey of reporters nationwide, done by researchers at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics.

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Losing the White Working Class, and a Whole Lot More

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Thomas Frank’s post at Salon today, Thomas Frank: Ann Coulter and David Brooks play a sneaky, unserious class card, largely is a takedown of David Brooks’ latest piece of hackery. And it’s very good on that front. But his conclusion is focused less on Brooks and more on how Democrats have lost the white working class. … Read more

Political Calendar: Week of December 7, 2014

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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.

Send us your information/fliers for holiday parties if you want it posted on the calendar.

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Political Calendar for the Week of December 7, 2014:

Sunday, December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Sunday, December 7. 4;00 p.m.: Legislative District 9 Holiday Party at the Monterrey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile (Tucson). Free Appetizers | Cash Bar | Live Music. RSVP or direct questions to Brian Clymer by email or phone (520) 297-3599 or call Rod McLeod (520) 360-7855.

Monday, December 8, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria), buffet lunch costs $8.50. DGT Board Elections, speaker evaluations and recommendations. You must be a dues paid DGT member to vote for the board. Next Week: Matt Lowen, Associate Director American Friends Service Committee, update on “Operation Streamline” (mass hearings for deportations” in Tucson. DGT will be on holiday break December 22 and 29. See you next year!

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Short attention span musing – not quite riding off into the sunset (and more, and worse) edition

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By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings

…Most of this post will focus on the goings-on/bad behavior of some of Arizona’s Republicans, but I have to lead off with one positive note:

Congratulations to Randy Keating, friend and immediate past chair of the LD26 Democrats (Tempe and West Mesa) on his election as 2nd Vice Chair of the Maricopa Democratic Party!  His energy and smarts will help guide the MCDP in its quest to restore some rationality to Maricopa County politics.  Plus he’s a hell of an organizer and knows a lot about what LDs here want and need to do to make gains.

…Apparently, outgoing AZSOS Ken Bennett has no desire to drift back from whence he came (aka – Prescott).  He’s the newly-elected chair of the LD24 Republicans (mostly east and central Phoenix) –

 

 

 

 

…Perennial candidate Vernon Parker also isn’t fading away.

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