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Part two: Arizona Politics 101 – “Peanuts! Crackerjack! Scorecards! Ya can’t tell the players without a scorecard!”
September 9, 2012
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
Note: The first part of this post is here. That one was mostly about abbreviations; this one will have some of that, but it is more about the specifics of Arizona politics, particularly regarding the state capitol.
Again, let me be clear – neither this post nor its predecessor is meant to be considered definitive or complete. They're just primers.
Some of the players and forces at play at the Capitol:
– Arizona's governor (currently Jan Brewer) is handicapped by the fact that Arizona, like most western states, utilizes a "weak executive" model of government. The governor's two biggest political tools are the veto pen and the job title, and the public soapbox that goes with it. Otherwise, the governor can't do much that isn't specifically approved by the legislature.
The current governor isn't known as the brightest light in the nighttime sky, but she's bright enough to have held office (of one sort or another) since the early 1980s. Not sure if that is evidence that she is underrated intellectually, or that the intellectual requirements necessary to get into elected office in Arizona are overrated.
Brewer ascended to the governor's office, which is physically located on the ninth floor of the Executive Tower at the AZ Capitol (hence, the occasional use of "the Ninth Floor" to describe the administration/governor's office in general) when her predecessor, Janet Napolitano, accepted the job of US Secretary of Homeland Security in 2009.
Brewer won election to her own term in 2010 after she signed SB1070, the infamous anti-immigrant law that has basically been eviscerated by the courts. However, the bill was a strong enough sop to the nativist wing of the AZGOP to clear what had been a crowded primary field, and to propel her to a general election victory over Democratic nominee Terry Goddard.
She has basically been a rubber stamp for the Republican caucus in the lege, wielding her veto pen only on certain extreme measures where the legislative support for a measure was weak enough that her veto wouldn't be overridden.
She is term-limited and will not be able to run for re-election in 2014.
The main "power behind the throne" is well-connected lobbyist Chuck Coughlin. Reputed to be the brains of the Brewer political operation, Couglin was/is employed as a lobbyist by the Corrections Corporation of America, which just received a contract from the state for private prison cells that the state doesn't need.
Part one: Arizona Politics 101 – “Peanuts! Crackerjack! Scorecards! Ya can’t tell the players without a scorecard!”
September 9, 2012
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
After writing this blog for 6+ years, I've noticed that I tend to write in a sort of shorthand, using abbreviations more often than I should and writing as if all readers know the backstory of the elected officials, candidates, players (lobbyists, mostly) and situations here in AZ (See? An abbreviation! "AZ" is short for "Arizona").
Originally, this post was going to include the works – abbreviations, players, backstory (stuff that I tend to assume everyone already knows, so I tend to just reference it, but not necessarily explain it) – but the post was getting to be incredibly, and unreadably, long, and still wasn't close to being complete.
Time to break it into parts.
As such, the first post will be a list of abbreviations and nicknames. It won't be comprehensive, not hardly, but it should be a good start.
Also, while there will be a few mentions of matters of a partisan nature, neither this nor the next post aren't ideological hit pieces. I'll just be discussing some of the practical applications of power in Arizona.
If I leave out something that you believe should be included, let me know in a comment or an email.
Rothschild proposes transforming Congress St. into pedestrian mall
September 9, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
If you want to read about Mayor Jonathan Rothschild's latest big idea for downtown Tucson, don't look for it online — except here at The Blog for Arizona. The Arizona Daily Star published Rothschild's brain storm only in the "dead tree" editon, dooming it to the recycle bin tomorrow morning.
As the light rail tracks are laid on Congress Street, Rothschild is proposing converting Congress into a pedestrian mall. I think this is a GREAT idea, and I also think that the Star— which is beholden to a certain wealthy car dealer for most of its print advertising– is trying to bury the idea by putting it in the print-only edition.
Rothschild says that a pedestrian-only Congress Street will complement the modern street car, the new apartments and dorms downtown, the businesses, and the music/art scene. He's spot on, in my opinion. Alluding to Denver's 16th Street Mall– pictured here– Rothschild goes on to say, "Where it works, it's a great attraction."
In the past, some Congress Street business owners have lobbied to increase traffic congestion on Congress by proposing that it be converted to two-way traffic. Somehow they equated more congestion with more business. (Luckily, the City Council didn't fall for that one.) On the contrary, I think reducing traffic congestion and promoting foot traffic, light rail, and bicycles would be good for business, good for downtown, and good for the citizens of Tucson.
With several cousins in the Denver area, I have spent quite a bit of time there. The ambiance of Denver's 16th Street Mall is relaxed and eclectic. The light rail comes in from the suburbs, right passed the Denver Convention Center and the famous blue bear statue, and glides through the pedestrian mall, which is dotted with cafes, outdoor seating, trees, trendy retail shops, and hotels. It is the perfect place for people sip wine or coffee and watch the scene. There are also bicycle rentals downtown to facilitate taking the light rail.
Allowing customers to move freely around Congress Street without worrying about dodging cars promotes a symbiotic relationship among the entertainment, retail, and food venues downtown. A pedestrian mall on Congress would be business-friendly, arts-friendly, tourist-friendly, and more sustainable and less congested than the current car-based downtown. Dream big. Let's do it, Mr. Mayor.
More photos after the jump.
Maybe Brady McCombs doesn’t follow national politics
September 9, 2012
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by David Safier One of the Republican's biggest talking points is that Obama cut $713 billion from Medicare. Democrats respond, Ryan has the exact same dollar cut — $713 billion — in his plan. In Clinton's convention speech, speaking about Ryan's hypocrisy, he ad-libbed, "It takes some brass to attack a guy for doing what … Read more
Unable to attend President’s speech, Obama fans fill the streets of Charlotte (videos)
September 9, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
Thousands of people crowded the sidewalks of Charlotte on the last night of the Democratic National Convention. Originally scheduled for the Bank of America Stadium, which holds 73,000 people, President Barack Obama's speech was moved indoors to the Time Warner Arena, a much smaller venue. The official reason for moving the venue was projected rainy weather, which had plagued the convention off and on all week.
Pundits are reporting that the venue was changed because Democrats could not fill the stadium, but hundreds– if not thousands– of people milled about on Charlotte's sidewalks or watched speeches at the outdoor MSNBC stage or inside bars, restaurants, and the convention center.
The street scene was carnival-like with dozens of vendors selling t-shirts, buttons, American flags, programs, and other Obama memorabilia. Although thousands of disappointed but amicable Obama fans, plus police, pedicabs, and a handful of protesters filled the area outside of the arena, the aura was peaceful and friendly, as it had been all week.
Watch videos of the street scenes in Charlotte, after the jump.
Phoenix Tea Party Patriots’ BirtherFest event cancelled due to lack of interest
September 8, 2012
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by David Safier The cancelled Phoenix Tea Party Patriots' September 22 event wasn't actually called BirtherFest. It was a "Cold Case Posse Event" billed as "an exciting time as the Greater Phoenix Tea Party and Surprise Tea Party present an event to support Sheriff Joe and his investigation into the fraudulent Obama documents." Sharing star … Read more
The Rs’ LD13 primary mess: Unleash the lawyers!
September 8, 2012
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings On Tuesday, the Arizona Capitol Times broke the story that Darin Mitchell, one of the winners of the LD13 Republican primary for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, apparently doesn't live in that district. Note: the link is to my post about the story; the Cap … Read more
Ann Kirkpatrick airs her first TV ad: ‘Right Way’
September 7, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Ann Kirkpatrick (CD 1) airs her first TV ad, "Right Way." From the YouTube description:
Ann Kirkpatrick has lived her entire life in this district and raised her family here. She learned the value of a dollar from her dad, who ran the general store, and by owning her own business. Ann has Arizona values running through her veins. She knows we can protect Medicare, strengthen our schools and balance the budget — the right way.
Video below the fold.
