Featured Stories
Boss Tweed’s plan to do away with the civil service merit selection system to get fast-tracked this week
February 13, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Remember how Tea-Publicans incessantly whined about how the Affordable Care Act was being "rammed through" and "jammed through" the Congress? (Despite the fact that there were dozens of committee hearings and hundreds of Tea-Publican amendments — also it was originally a Republican proposal and based heavily on Romney Care).
That was then and this is now. Those same whiny Tea-Publicans who are in the Arizona legislature have been abusing their super-majority status to "ram through" and "jam through" their ideologically driven agenda items on a fast-track with limited opportunity for public testimony or time for thoughtful consideration, and no opportunity afforded to the minority Democrats to propose amendments.
The theme of the week this week is Gov. Jan Brewer's aka Boss Tweed's number one legislative priority, doing away with the civil service merit selection system and returning to the political Spoils system of political patronage and the days of Tammany Hall. Boss Tweed's plan to do away with the civil service merit selection system. What was only an outline last week is now a bill to be heard in the House Employment and Regulatory Affairs Committee on Thursday. (The Goldwater Institute and ALEC must have had to work over the weekend).
Michael Hicks’ letter to UA Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and my conversation with Hicks.
February 12, 2012
by David Safier
On Friday, I sent an email to each of the TUSD Board Members concerning Michael Hicks' statement on a radio show comparing TUSD middle school students attending a UA Mexican-American Studies course to the alleged sexual abuse at Penn State. You can read the text of my letter at the end of the post.
That same day, Michael Hicks sent me an email response:
Thank you for your email.
I had concerns about how the statement I made was interpreted by the public. I'm attaching a copy of a letter that I sent to the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Thank you again
I'm including a pdf of the letter Hicks wrote to Dr. John P. Jones, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, as an attachment.
Hicks also called me — I included my phone number in the email I sent to the Board. I wasn't home, so he left a message inviting me to call him back if I had any further questions.
I called him this afternoon. The phone call ended when, after a 10-15 minute conversation, Hicks decided he didn't want to talk with me anymore and hung up.
My summary of the phone conversation is going to take awhile. If you're interested, you can read it below the fold.
GOP primaries: complete lack of election integrity
February 12, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
I had to laugh out loud last night when a D.C. media villager actually said that "Mitt Romney had a big win tonight in the Maine Caucuses." Romney won a narrow victory by 3 percentage points over Ron Paul, according to "official" results, and under the GOP primary rules that provide for apportionment of delegates in primaries and caucuses before April 1, this was even more narrow a win. But wait, there's more…
The media villagers keep parroting the GOP establishment talking points with the intent to frame the narrative of this election for Willard "Mittens" Romney. Only the GOP establishment propaganda fails entirely to inform the public what is really going on inside the GOP primaries.
Did Willard "Mittens" Romney really win the Maine caucuses? Maine GOP chairman say Romney wins caucuses – Boston.com:
The totals reflected about 84 percent of the state's precincts. Webster insisted that any caucus results that come in after Saturday wouldn't be counted no matter how close the vote.
"Some caucuses decided not to participate in this poll and will caucus after this announcement," Webster said. "Their results will not be factored in. The absent votes will not be factored into this announcement after the fact."
The Ron Paul people are claiming that the Maine Caucuses were rigged for Romney because the caucuses occur over several days and Washington County, purportedly Ron Paul territory, was not counted in the "official" Maine Republican Party caucus results reported by the media villagers last night. MAINE caucuses RIGGED, Ron Paul f***ed over — here's why. It would appear 16 percent of precincts were not counted according to the state party chair. Yet another black mark for election integrity in this GOP primary season.
Drinking Liberally with Mohur Sidwha and Victoria Steele, Dems for LD9
February 12, 2012
Come and meet and discuss politics with Democratic candidates for State Legislature for District 9, Mohur Sidwha and Victoria Steele. Drinking Liberally begins at 6pm today, Sunday, at The Shanty on 4th Avenue and 9th Street, across from the underpass.
Reminder: Conservationists for Nancy Young Wright this Thursday
February 12, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Former Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D-LD 26) is running for Pima County Board of Supervisors (District 1) this year. Below is an Announcement (.pdf) for a campaign event from her campaign.
Tea Party all Suped up against ‘RINO’ Republicans
February 12, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Who'd have thunk it? "Sugar Ray" Carroll, Pima County Supervisor in District 4, has a Tea Party primary opponent for the first time. The Tucson Weekly reports, Pima County Supervisor Faces First Challenger in 13 Years | The Range:
In the 13 years Carroll's been in office he's been reelected every election in 2000, 2004 and 2008 — all without opposition. Until now.
According to the Quail Creek Republican Club newsletter, Carroll's challenger for the District 4 seat is Sean Collins, a U.S. Air Force veteran who owns the Vail Dairy Queen with his wife Tracy. "Collins was in the Air Force for almost 22 years, stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from 1999 until he retired as a senior non-commissioned officer in 2003." (He'll be speaking at the group's meeting on Friday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. at the Quail Creek Madera Clubhouse).
We called Collins and are waiting to find out more from him regarding his interest in running or politics. However, political buzz is that this is what happens when you take a stand against Rosemont Copper Mine.
* * *
Arizona's current tea bag political climate could make Carroll more vulnerable than previous campaigns. We were told Rick Grinnell, a failed mayoral candidate, self-described Rosemont lobbyist, and a member of the delusional state-appointed Rio Nuevo board, along with failed gubernatorial candidate John Munger, are driving the Collins' campaign boat and raising thousands of dollars to put Carroll down.
However, Grinnell told us today that he's not involved in Collins' campaign. Still waiting to hear back from Munger.
Munger! the GOP troika of John Munger, Bruce Ash and Jim Click are behind all things right-wing crazy in Pima County. They have killed off the endangered RINO (Republicans in Name Only), i.e., moderate Republicans. My sources have suggested that GOP bundler Jim Click may also be a money player in this race in addition to Rosemont Copper.
Obama 2012 campaign gets a song from The Boss
February 12, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, has a new release coming out on March 6, titled Wrecking Ball. One of the cuts is a song for the Obama 2012 campaign: Bruce Springsteen – We Take Care Of Our Own – YouTube Music Video (with sing-a-long lyrics). Springsteen drops video for Obama 2012 song: ‘We Take Care
Three’s Company . . .
February 12, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Sen. Paula Aboud (D-LD 28) told Saguaro Eastside Democrats at their "I Love Liberty Party" on Saturday that she would announce she is running for Congress in CD 2 on Monday. When asked if she intends to resign to run or would run from her Senate seat, Aboud stated that there are
