If New Mexico can do it, why can’t Arizona?

February 14, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I have previously posted about the Move to Amend effort to pass resolutions by local governments calling on Congress to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. FEC and its holding that "corporations are people" that can spend unlimited amounts of money on campaigns, and the Court's earlier rulings that "money

Michigan’s ‘financial martial law’ headed for referendum in November

February 14, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: This is good news! Michigan's authoritarian "financial martial law" under which the state can summarily dismiss duly elected local government officials and replace them with an "emergency manager" appointed by the governor possessing absolute authority appears to be headed for a referendum in November. Petition drive seeking to overturn emergency manager law

Rupertgate Scandal may finally be coming to America

February 14, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I concede that I have been remiss in following the Rupertgate Scandal in Great Britain. There is so much going on in that investigation that it is difficult to keep track of all the goings on.

It has also disappeared from the American corporate mainstream media as "newsworthy" — "We wouldn't want to cast aspersions on Rupert Murdoch and News Corp holdings, now would we? Bill O'Rielly and Sean Hannity might say something mean about us!"

All of that may be about to change soon. The Guardian reports that News Corp may face US inquiry after Sun arrests at News International:

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation faces the increased prospect of a full-blown inquiry by US authorities as part of the continuing investigation into alleged bribery of public officials under America's foreign corrupt practices act, after the latest round of arrests of senior journalists at the Sun this weekend.

[Those arrested on Saturday include Geoff Webster, the deputy editor; John Kay, chief reporter; Nick Parker, chief foreign correspondent; Mike Sturgis, reporter; and John Edwards, picture editor. It is understood that the evidence giving rise to their arrests by police from Operation Elveden dates back a number of years; it also prompted the arrest the same day of a Surrey police officer, a Ministry of Defence official, and a member of the armed forces.]

* * *

It was reported on Sunday night that the solicitor representing the family of Milly Dowler and other alleged victims of phone hacking is to take his battle against Murdoch to America. Mark Lewis, one of several lawyers representing clients pursuing claims against the News of the World for phone hacking, is expected to travel to the US within the next few weeks to meet American lawyers to discuss legal action there. Lewis was reported to be in the "advanced stages" of bringing at least one case against Murdoch's company in the US. He said he was "not prepared to deny" the reports.

The threat of prosecution under the US foreign corrupt practices act, which criminalises the payment of bribes to public officials by American companies overseas, exposes the company to tens of millions of dollars in fines and the risk of imprisonment of its executive officers – and brings the fallout from the phone-hacking scandal to the US.

Mike Koehler, an expert in FCPA law at Butler University, said the arrests on Saturday marked an escalation in the risk of an FCPA prosecution for the New York-based News Corp. "This spreads the alleged bribery to a completely different newspaper, to a different segment of the company and to other public officials," he said.

Steve Yarbrough: Typical rules-shouldn’t-apply-to-me Republican

February 14, 2012

by David Safier Why does Sen. Steve Yarbrough want to get rid of red light cameras and photo radar? Because he got a ticket. See, it was 6am when the radar machine caught Yarbrough speeding, so he thinks the speed limit shouldn't apply. There were no cars on the road, so Yarbrough thinks the Rule

The GOP War on Women: a manufactured ‘controversy’ over contraception

February 14, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have been observing this entirely manufactured "controversy" over the Affordable Care Act proposed rule providing for insurance coverage for contraception (there was not even a final rule yet, it was in the public comment stage) with bewildered amazement.

Some extremist Tea-Publicans asserted that President Obama is engaging in "a war on religion" (which dovetails nicely into their other conspiracy theory memes that President Obama is a "secret Muslim" who "wants to impose Sharia law in America") and is violating "religious liberty" under the First Amendment with this proposed rule, and the media villagers and Beltway bloviators — almost all of whom know very little about religion and even less about law — provided an echo chamber for this libel and slander.

Somewhere GOP strategist Frank Luntz has a satisfied smile on his face knowing just how easy it is to manipulate a gullible and compliant corporate media to manufacture a "controversy."

It's time to filter out the emotional baggage that injecting religion into any issue always brings with it and to focus just on the pure legal question for clarity.

The relevant portion of the First Amendment provides "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . ." Is President Obama seeking to establish a state-sponsored religion. No. Is President Obama prohibiting anyone from engaging in the free exercise of their religion? No.

Ah, but the Tea-Publicans and the Catholic Bishops asserted that requiring religious organizations whose tenents are opposed to contraception to provide insurance coverage for contraception violates their "religious liberty."

First of all, the liberties afforded under the Bill of Rights, including "religious liberty," are individual rights. Those rights and liberties belong to and are exercised by individuals.

American law has, however, carved out exceptions for religious organizations. There is an express exception for religious organizations under the Affordable Care Act proposed rule providing for insurance coverage for contraception. So what's the problem?

Tea-Publicans, with emotionally-charged cover provided by the Catholic Bishops, are engaged in overreach seeking to extend the exception for religious organizations to activities that are substantially unrelated to its religious purposes, such as schools, colleges and universities; hospitals; television and radio stations; publishing houses, etc. In fact, Tea-Publicans are now proposing a bill in Congress that would allow all employers to opt-out of providing for insurance coverage for contraception. This exposes the lie that this has anything at all to do with the "religious liberty" of religious organizations.

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona!

February 14, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Today is Arizona's Centennial statehood day. The U.S. Postal Service has issued a first-class stamp commemorating Arizona's centennial in 2012. Ed Mell, a native Arizona artist, created the stamp design, which depicts Cathedral Rock in Sedona. The new stamp will be available across the U.S. starting February 14.

Why Is Paula Aboud Launching Her Campaign By Touting A Republican Tax Giveaway?

February 14, 2012

Posted by Michael Bryan I got a robocall from Paula Aboud tonight that plugged me into a telephonic town-hall-style meeting with Senator Aboud, who is launching her Congressional campaign for CD2. Pretty cool use of the technology, actually. During the call, Paula repeatedly made the point that she liked to work across the aisle and

Obama for America announces the ‘Truth Team’

February 13, 2012

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Press release from Obama for America: OBAMA FOR AMERICA LAUNCHES THE TRUTH TEAM TO PROMOTE THE PRESIDENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND HOLD REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE Chicago, IL – Today, Obama for America announced the launch of the Truth Team, a new national effort by President Obama supporters online and on the ground to promote the President’s