Featured Stories
Morality, Not Markets, Is The Heart of Healthcare
February 25, 2012
By Michael Bryan
The American healthcare system is not a market at all. And it is certainly not a 'free' market.
That may be a counter-intuitive statement, given the political discourse around the American healthcare system. But allow me to make the case before you reject this premise.
Any economist will tell you that a free market system for exchange of any good or service requires several basic preconditions in order to work. Some of those prerequisites are: the existence of fungible goods in the market (substitutions are possible which leave the consumer equally well off), pricing information freely available to consumer and providers, freedom by participants (especially buyers) to select the timing of their purchases, and freedom to choose whether to enter the market at all.
None of these preconditions obtain in the American healthcare system.
Brandon Patrick, Democrat for LD 10, at Drinking Liberally this Sunday
February 25, 2012
By Michael Bryan Brandon Patrick is running for a House seat in LD10. You may remember Brandon from one of the campaigns that he has run, such as the No On 200 "Don't Handcuff Tucson" campaign. Now Brandon is stepping up to stand for public office himself. Come on down to the Shanty on 4th
S. AZ Republicans keepin’ it classy
February 25, 2012
by David Safier At a Wednesday rally, Frank Antenori indirectly compared Obama to Saddam Hussein. "Came back, turned around, by 18 went to Desert Storm. We helped train the Kuwaiti Liberation Brigade and led the Kuwaitis into Kuwait City to liberate their own country after it had been taken from them by Saddam Hussein. Imagine
Reminder: Arizona Health Forum
February 25, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Remember to register in advance by Wednesday, February 29.
Couldn’t Put It Better Myself, President Pierce
February 24, 2012
By Michael Bryan Steve Pierce, Arizona Senate President (R) to Michael Chihak on the Feb. 24th episode of Arizona Week: "The State is safe when we're out of session" Yes, Sir. Oh God, yes, Sir.
Russell Pearce Uses the End of 287g Program to Fundraise for BAN… Surprise!
February 24, 2012
By Michael Bryan
Not.
What Pearce fails to mention is that DHS is also rolling out a new program, Secure Communities, which accomplishes the same immigration status checks on all persons booked in local jails across 15,000 jurisdiction in 44 states (whereas 287(g) is only in about 60 jurisdictions), without the liability and constitutional violations created by unleashing xenophobic hate-baters like Sheriff Joe Arpaio on an innocent public.
Let's have a look at Pearce's fundraising pitch:
Birther Joe Arpaio to release his findings re: Obama birth certificate
February 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Is the circus in town? Because this clown, Birther "Crazy Uncle Joe" Arpaio, is about to show us "The Greatest Show on Earth" (my apologies to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus). From The Hill: Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio will reveal the findings of his office's investigation into the authenticity of
Sen. Richard Lugar: Indiana wants me, but I don’t have to live there
February 24, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
You will recall that earlier this month Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White was found guilty of felony voter fraud charges, and Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Jerry Bonnet as interim secretary of state. Secretary of State Charlie White convicted of felony charges:
The charges centered around allegations that White was registered at his ex-wife's home when he voted in the May primary even though he lived at a new townhouse on the other side of Fishers, making him ineligible to run for office. He admits the mistake but denies an effort to deceive calling the incident “an honest mistake.”
* * *
A guilty verdict means that Charlie White can no longer serve as secretary of state, but there will be a fight over his replacement and who picks that replacement.
The normal chain of events would call for Gov. Mitch Daniels to fill the vacancy, and Daniels, a Republican, would almost certainly choose another Republican.
However, it's likely Democrats will turn to the courts in an effort to prevent a Daniels selection. That's because a Democratic Party challenge to White's election has already produced a ruling from Judge Louis Rosenberg that calls for the Republican White to be removed and replaced by the second place finisher in the 2010 election, Democrat Vop Osili, who now serves on the Indianapolis City County Council.
Rosenberg's ruling is on hold by order of the state Supreme Court. And it is the Supreme Court that will likely decide how White's replacement will be chosen.
In addition, White's attorneys said they would attempt to get the original felony criminal charges reduced to misdemeanors, in which case a guilty verdict would not mean automatic removal from office for White.
OK, so our baseline legal ruling is that if you don't reside where you claim to reside in Indiana, you are ineligible to hold public office. Or is it?
