Big education cuts coming
October 16, 2009
by David Safier From an article in the Arizona Guardian: State education officials say the worst is yet to come as stimulus funds are depleted and the state struggles to fill a $1.5 billion gap in the 2010 budget. Last month, Gov. Jan Brewer asked agency directors for proposed 15 percent cuts to their budgets.
Unashamed self promotion
October 16, 2009
by David Safier Occasionally I've linked to one of the weekly columns I write for The Explorer, but I've never copied any of them here. I'm breaking with tradition and putting this week's column below. It came out of some posts and comments on BfA about a quotation used by right wingers (I won't even
You might want to rethink that cow analogy
October 16, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was a guest on Faux News and responded to the observation that "The feeling in some circles is that this health care train has left the station with the president at the wheel, and Republicans better jump on board," with this bizarre analogy: "Well I'm the
Rep. Jeff Flake to Seniors: Screw you Grandma and Grandpa!
October 16, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The White House has announced a plan to give seniors and disabled veterans $250 each as part of a mini-economic stimulus plan to compensate them for the fact that there will be no cost of living adjustment (COLA) this year to Social Security benefits because there has been no inflation this past
Grijalva and Arne Duncan at Ochoa Elementary Monday
October 16, 2009
by David Safier On Monday, Oct. 19, 8-10am, Ed Sec Duncan and Rep Grijalva will be holding a "Listening and Learning" meeting at Ochoa Elementary. From Grijalva's Press Release: “I am pleased to welcome Secretary Duncan to Tucson to discuss the many important education issues facing the Southern Arizona community,” said Rep. Grijalva. “This is
Reps. Trent Franks an John Shadegg engage in McCarthyism, religious bigotry againt Muslim-Americans
October 16, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The right-wing has exhibited a disturbing trend towards a new era of McCarthyism in recent years. But their latest craziness is religious bigotry and fear mongering against Muslim American citizens. In the mind of right-wing conspiracy theory loving religious bigots, Muslim Americans are all spies for Islamo-fascism (a term fabricated by the
“Why do people hate you?”
October 16, 2009
by David Safier Please don't watch this if you have a grudge against Obama. But the rest of us . . . what a touching moment. And how deftly handled by the President. (Note: you have to watch an ad first.) (Second Note: I removed the video because Mike B. told me it was crashing
Sen. Jesse Helms alive and well in Tucson?
October 15, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I thought Sen. Jesse Helms, the unreconstructed Southern ultra-conservative culture warrior and unapologetic redneck racist from North Carolina, died in 2003? Apparently his spirit is alive and well in Tucson. "Senator No" was a culture warrior who excelled at wedge issue politics. One of Helm's favorite targets was federal funding for the
