Lawyers take a stand against the swirling cesspool of corruption in Maricopa County
December 23, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: On Monday, around 350 attorneys rallied against the swirling cesspool of corruption in Maricopa County, specifically the abuse of power by County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Their use of the legal system to attack their political opponents and to criminalize policy differences has reached a tippping point with their
Just a thought
December 22, 2009
by David Safier Until a few years ago, reusable shopping bags were for weird old ladies. It seemed like a pretty strange idea to me, I have to say. I certainly wouldn't use bags like that when paper was so much easier. Then reusable bags became a craze for people who were dedicated environmentalists. It
What’s happpening with G.I.’s Surveygate?
December 22, 2009
by David Safier I just saw an op ed by friend of the blog Matthew Ladner in White Mountain Central Online. You know the drill by now. Arizona students have terrible test scores. Florida students have wonderful test scores. So here's how we can be more like Florida. And so on. Which reminded me. I
Crime down due to increase in film, TV, video game violence
December 22, 2009
by David Safier What? You have problems with my headline? You doubt that crime is down this year — and it is, according to an FBI report — as a result of people being exposed to increasingly violent images in film, TV and video games? Look, I'm just trying to be consistent here. Every time
The Accidental Governor rearranges the deck chairs on the Titanic
December 22, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Following her humiliating defeat in Special Session No. 5 on Saturday (Despite the budget cuts approved by the Legislature, the state is still an estimated $1.4 billion in the hole for the current fiscal year. Budget deficits for fiscal 2011 are estimated at $3.3 billion), the Accidental Governor called an emergency meeting
John McCain suffers from selective memory loss
December 22, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I have noted before how John McCain seems oblivious to the fact that there are such things as video and audio recordings, and written records. He seems to think that he can say whatever he wants and never be called on it for having done the same thing himself or contradicted his
ELL: Game on, again
December 21, 2009
by David Safier Around and around and around we go. Just when Horne & Co. thought the Supreme Court ruling on our ELL program meant he had won the battle and didn't have to spend more money to educate ELL students, the battle begins anew. Judge Collins was told by The Supremes he couldn't take
New AZ anti-tenure laws and New Orleans
December 21, 2009
by David Safier I've written posts on BfA condemning the new law that cut the heart out of teacher tenure in Arizona. My most recent column in the Explorer is on the same topic. A number of newspaper editorials and op eds have chimed in as well. But I haven't seen anyone looking beyond the
