One simple rule: ‘Just say no to lobbyists’
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Arizona has had a colorful history of lobbyist scandals. There was the Keating Five scandal in the 1980s which cut short the career of Sen. Dennis DeConcini and should have ended the career of Sen. John McCain. Advertisement There was the AZscam Scandal in the 1990s that resulted in seven Arizona legislators being … Read more
Where is Rob O’Dell when we need him?
by David Safier There's a teeny tiny little piece in the Star's Business Briefs about "a big bump in pay" for Arizona Commerce Authority CEO Don Cardon. How big a bump? From $183,000 to $300,000 a year. This would be a screaming front page Rob O'Dell story if it were a city job, not just … Read more
ALEC and the Arizona legislature: Eminent Domain
by David Safier This is the second in a series of piece about Arizona bills and resolutions which are taken, in whole or in part, from ALEC models. Thanks to Lisa Hoffman for doing the research. The first post is here, which includes more explanation about ALEC and its corporate ties. This is a 2011 … Read more
The home schooled, the unschooled and AZ’s “empowerment scholarships”
by David Safier You may have seen this morning's article in the Star about Unschooling, a variation of home schooling. The only real difference is in emphasis. The idea of home schooling is that the kids go through a reasonably standard curriculum at home, not at school. Unschooling is a free form home schooling where … Read more
Russell Pearce’s friend has something to say
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: In a comment to Just how messed up is the City of Mesa?, Russell Pearce's friend J.T. Ready (photo right), a Neo-Nazi from Mesa, had this to say: JT Ready said… With the archeological discoveries of the Kennewick Man, Buhl Woman, Spirit Cave Mummy, Clovis People, Windover Bog People, Penon Woman III, … Read more
GOP Voter Suppression: Photo I.D. requirements
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: In 2004, the Russell Pearce backed Prop. 200 (crafted by ALEC and FAIR) was sold to voters on the urban legend that "illegals" — Mexicans are being bused across the border! — were voting in Arizona elections. Prop. 200 required proof of citizenship to register to vote, a provision which is still … Read more
Governor Goodhair is An Uninformed Liar: Social Security is Not a Ponzi Scheme
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Neo-Confederate secessionist Governor “Goodhair” Rick Perry of Texas doubled-down on his uninformed assertion in his book “Fed Up!” that social security is a “Ponzi scheme” and a “monstrous lie” to young workers paying into the system. Governor Goodhair, like every corporate-owned conservative since 1935, wants to do away with social security. This “Tenther” … Read more
