Featured Stories
No ruling yet on Ethnic Studies
May 28, 2011
by David Safier Ed Supe John Huppenthal has pushed back the date he plans to rule on whether MAS violates the law. It was expected before the end of May. Now it sounds like it will come next Friday, at the earliest. There are a bunch of possible explanations for the delay. Since none are
Ezra Klein systematically dismantles Paul Ryan’s arguments
May 28, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Ezra Klein posed a series of questions to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) about the GOP plan to end Medicare as we know it, and Rep. Ryan responded to his questions. Ezra Klein systematically dismantles Rep. Ryan's arguments in this post, Responding to Ryan: In this post, I’m going to focus on his
Legislative Republicans Still Scheming To Topple Voter Protection Act
May 27, 2011
Posted by Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings The 2011 session of the legislature just ended but the Republicans in the lege are already planning for 2011. One of the few things, perhaps the only thing, preventing the legislature from laying complete waste to Arizona's already weak societal infrastructure has been the Voter Protection Act.
J.D. Hayworth labels Recall Pearce group “Socialist thugs who carry swastikas”
May 27, 2011
by David Safier The Phoenix New Times has posted a fundraising letter from J.D. Hayworth supporting BAN AMNESTY NOW and the Conservative Leadership Coalition. It's one of those circular diatribes filled with drumbeats and repeated, all-caps pleas for money. Here's the money quote: The very same socialist thugs who carry swastikas and call ALLconservatives "Hitler"
Melvin wants to keep the border safe — from commerce
May 27, 2011
by David Safier Al Melvin said No to opening more lanes at the Nogales border. Mr. Jobs/jobs/jobs doesn't see the point in speeding up the flow of customers and trucks crossing from Mexico into the U.S. In Marie Antoinette fashion, Melvin says, "Let them eat cake take trains." The backstory here is, Melvin is co-chair
Vermont becomes first state to move towards a single-payer health care system
May 27, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The insurance industry and its allies in the GOP will do everything in their power to kill this plan in the crib. They can't have the existence of a cost-effective single-payer health care system take root at the state level, as Medicare and VA Care have done at the federal level. It
RyanCare costs more than Medicare
May 27, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The GOP's self-proclaimed boy genius, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), rolled out a new video after his GOP Budget was defeated in the Senate on Wednesday, trying to better explain to you ignorant Americans just how his GOP Budget is genius — genius, I tell ya! — if only you ignorant people would
“Save Ethnic Studies” files Motion for Summary Judgment
May 27, 2011
by David Safier
According to a Media Release from Save Ethnic Studies,
On May 25, attorney Richard M. Martinez filed a motion for summary judgment in the case against HB 2281. The motion, filed on behalf of the 13 litigants in the case (11 TUSD Mexican American Studies instructors and two TUSD students), makes the case that the prohibitions outlined in HB 2281 are too vague and broad and violate the first amendment rights of teachers, schools and students. Since every provision of the law violates the constitution, the motion calls for the law to be overturned in its entirety.
You can read the whole MSJ here. I don't have the legal chops or the patience to wade through it myself. The Media Release does a good job of summarizing the points, which deal with the provisions of HB2281 and show how they can't be used against the MAS program exclusively. They are so broad, they would apply to many classrooms and seriously restrict the course content, discussion and even freedom of speech. An example:
In part b (promotes resentment toward a race or class of people), the motion uses the example of a possible discussion of jihad and the attacks of September 11. Could this promote bitterness toward Muslims and therefore make the topic off limits for discussion? For that matter, might a discussion of the Apache raids in Arizona promote resentment toward Apaches?
You can read the whole Media Release after the jump.
