Featured Stories
Puzzled by Proposition 121 (Top Two Primary)
September 27, 2012
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Posted by Bob Lord I received an email blast from a friend and staunch supporter of Proposition 121 yesterday. She's a moderate Republican turned Independent, so I can understand why the "top two primary" system is attractive to her. But it's hard not to be suspicious. The Proposition is glaringly flawed in a way that … Read more
Author Jeff Biggers’ “Kickoff Show” for his new book at The Rialto Friday
September 26, 2012
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by David Safier I've gotten to know author Jeff Biggers through our mutual concern about Mexican American Studies. We've emailed, facebooked and phoned. I even read his enlightening book, "Reckoning at Eagle Creek," about the devastation caused by coal mining in Southern Illinois. But I've never met the guy. I plan to correct that Friday … Read more
TW and AZ Star on TUSD board race: Contrasting coverage shows media biases
September 26, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley Undoubtedly one of the more contentious local races this election season is the non-partisan 12-person race for three unpaid positions on the Tucson Unified School District's (TUSD) Governing Board. In this race, there are two University of Arizona professors, a call center supervisor, a Sunnyside School District employee, a self-employed landscaper, a … Read more
Two new polls show Arizona U.S. Senate race is a dead heat
September 26, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The GOP "house effect" pollster Rasmussen Reports is out with a new poll today, Arizona Senate – Rasmussen Reports™:
The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Arizona Voters shows Republican Congressman Jeff Flake with 47% of the vote to Democrat Richard Carmona’s 41%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Arizona was conducted on September 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percent.
Rasmussen Reports has consistently demonstrated a GOP "house effect" and GOP bias in past elections. Nate Silver's analysis of all pollsters after the 2010 election found that Rasmussen Polls Were Biased and Inaccurate; Quinnipiac, SurveyUSA Performed Strongly – NYTimes.com:
It did not make much difference whether the polls were branded as Rasmussen Reports surveys, or instead, were commissioned for Fox News by its subsidiary Pulse Opinion Research. (Both sets of surveys used an essentially identical methodology.) Polls branded as Rasmussen Reports missed by an average of 5.9 points and had a 3.9 point bias. The polls it commissioned on behalf of Fox News [Pulse Opinion Research] had a 5.1 point error, and a 3.6 point bias.
In short, the alleged six point Flake lead is entirely Rasmussen "house effect" and likely a statistical tie.
A second poll released today was conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research for the Carmona campaign and is also statistical tie. Press release from the Carmona for U.S. Senate campaign:
New poll shows Arizona U.S. Senate race tied
Anzalone Liszt Research poll shows growth potential for Carmona, ceiling for Flake
A new poll conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research shows Dr. Richard Carmona in a statistical tie with less than 6 weeks until Election Day. The poll, commissioned by the Carmona campaign, demonstrates Dr. Carmona still has significant growth potential, while Congressman Jeff Flake has only lukewarm support.
Currently, 44 percent support Flake, 43 percent choose Carmona and 3 percent back Libertarian Marc Victor. You can view the Anzalone Liszt Research memo on the poll and methodology here.
LD 8 Citizens Clean Elections Debate
September 26, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The LD 8 Citizens Clean Elections Debate was held on September 12. Video replay below the fold.
The GOP war on voting: Pennsylvania judge prepares to enjoin voter ID law
September 26, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Last week the Pennsylvania Supreme Court punted the voter ID case back to the trial judge with instructions to reconsider the evidence and to enter an injunction if the evidence shows that the state's new voter ID law cannot be liberally applied to prevent the disenfranchisement of any voter of their state constituional right to vote.
On Tuesday, the trial court judge began a supplemental evidentiary hearing and instructed attorneys to begin preparing an injunction. Pennsylvania voter ID requirements change – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
The state judge listening to a new round of arguments on the state's voter identification law concluded the day-long session by directing attorneys to come prepared Thursday to argue what they think a potential injunction should look like.
Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson said it's his responsibility to consider the possibility of halting the new law — which requires all voters present a photo ID card with an expiration date in order to cast a ballot — and how to tailor such an action so that it addresses why the law isn't being properly implemented.
"I think it's possible there could be an injunction entered here," he said. "I need some input from people who have been thinking about this longer than I have."
Obama campaign ad: ‘Fair Share’
September 26, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Obama campaign has released another ad focusing on Willard "Mittens" Romney's "47%" disdain for the American middle class in a new ad, "Fair Share."
Description:
When Mitt Romney dismissed 47% of Americans for not pulling their weight, he attacked millions of hard working people making 25, 35, 45 thousand dollars a year. They pay social security taxes. State taxes. Local taxes. Gas, sales, and property taxes. Romney paid just 14 percent in taxes last year. On over 13 million in income. Almost all from investments. Instead of attacking folks who work for a living…Shouldn't we stand up for them?
Video below the fold.
Notice: LD 14 Citizens Clean Elections Debate rescheduled
September 26, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The LD 14 Citizens Clean Elections Debate originally scheduled for today at the Benson City Council Chambers has been rescheduled for a conflict with the memorial service for Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever. Citizens Clean Elections has reschedule the debate to Wednesday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m., so that all candidates and LD 14 … Read more
