Few Came to Hear Husband-Wife GOP Candidates Tout School Choice in LD24

Lela Alston is a Democrat running for re-election to the Arizona House in LD24.
Lela Alston is a Democrat running for re-election to the Arizona House in LD24.

Hardly anyone came to hear two Republican candidates for the state legislature at a recent Clean Elections Candidate forum that was held at the Hampton Inn on Highland Avenue in Phoenix.

The attendance was very small with a total of 10 people, which included the timekeeper, the master of ceremonies, the audio engineer, and my partner and I. It was a “forum” because the only candidates who participated were the two Republican nominees for the legislature, the husband and wife team of Vicki and David Alger.

Vicki Alger is running for the Senate against Democrat Lela Alston, who is currently representing the district in the state House of Representatives. David Alger is seeking a position in the state House of Representatives and is opposed in that race by Democrats Dr. Amish Shah and Jennifer Longdon. Of the five candidates, only Ms. Alston has served in an elected public office.

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GOP’s privileged white male patriarchy exposed by its bullying of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

Over the past week, the GOP has revealed itself as the party of privileged white male patriarchy in its bullying of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. As the New York Times editorializes, G.O.P. Leaders Can’t Even Fake Respect for Christine Blasey Ford. Or for any women.

Senator Orrin Hatch, who so thoroughly disgraced himself during the Anita Hill hearings, suggested Dr. Blasey was “mixed up” (as in “a little bit nutty.”)

Those promoting Brett Kavanaugh concocted a doppelgänger theory to defame a classmate of Brett Kavauagh by accusing him of a criminal sexual assault. Conservative Pundit Points Finger at Another Man to Deflect from Kavanaugh (Ed Whelan has been involved in helping to advise Kavanaugh’s confirmation effort and is close friends with Kavanaugh and Leonard Leo, the head of the Federalist Society, who has been helping to spearhead the nomination); Kavanaugh ally says he did not communicate with White House or Supreme Court nominee about theory of another attacker. (In the wake of Ford’s allegation, Kavanaugh told White House officials and Republicans on Capitol Hill that it was potentially a case of mistaken identity, according to people who heard his comments or were familiar with the discussions.) Nothing suspicious there.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley, who also thoroughly disgraced himself during the Anita Hill hearings, has feigned that he wants Dr. Blasey to testify while doing everything in his power to make certain that she does not, or that she testifies under terms that are neither fair nor impartial. Grassley has issued threats and arbitrary deadlines to intimidate Dr.Blasey. His “take it or leave it” approach is dismissive of Dr.Blasey’s credible claim. “Let’s hear what the little lady has to say – blah, blah, blah – then let’s vote to confirm.”

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What is Martha McSally For? Why will she not commit to a debate?

Republican Senate Nominee Martha McSally (left) and Democratic Senate Nominee Kyrsten Sinema (right)

In the three weeks since the primary election, Republican Senate nominee Martha McSally and her allies have aired several television pieces challenging Democratic Nominee Kyrsten Sinema’s commitment to our military, law enforcement, and the safety of our children.

These ads were false, as reported by Politifact, the Arizona Republic, and Blog For Arizona — including the one about wearing of the pink Tutu to protest our troops were false. They also pertain to events that occurred over a decade ago.

What these ads also prove is that Representative McSally has not been able to discuss what she is for and why Arizonans should support her. This would be important for the citizens of this state to know, especially since the two candidates will be debating sometime in October.

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Joan Greene says CD 5 is not the Red Haven pundits make it out to be.

Congressional District Five Democratic Nominee Joan Greene

At the same Sozo coffee shop in Chandler where we met before the primaries, Arizona Congressional District Five Democratic Nominee Joan Greene, along with her campaign advisor Ryan Winkle, eagerly communicated that the district is not the “red-headed stepchild that pundits have made it out to be” and the prospects for victory at the representative and local level is real. During our conversation, she relayed how she would campaign to victory over incumbent ultra conservative Andy Biggs and what she would do as the new Arizona Congressional Five House Representative starting in January 2019.

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