A TASL News Service Manifesto
March 3, 2008
by David Safier (TASL) The term “manifesto” is a bit overblown to describe this post, I know. Any manifesto worthy of the name should be at least twenty pages, right? But I like the sound of the word, so “manifesto” it is. A lot of my posts deal with that contentious place where money and
A Humble Poltician is a Good Politician
March 3, 2008
Link: Political Notebook by Daniel Scarpinato : Farley gets singed on procedural misstep. "After avoiding a possible ethics violation Thursday, state Rep. Steve Farley spent the rest of the day doing some soul searching and meditation. The whole incident started when Farley, D-Tucson, grabbed his mic on the House floor and complained that Rep. Andy
RenziGate Roundup 3/2
March 2, 2008
The House ethics committee has decided to open their own investigation into allegations of embezzlement and extortion against Dick using a 4-member, bipartisan sub-committee. The panel does not have the power to require Renzi’s expulsion from the House, although they can recommend this action and the House could unseat Renzi with a 2/3rds vote •
The Mother of All Libraries
March 2, 2008
by David Safier OK, the headline is a bit of a cheat. “The Mother of All Libraries” isn’t a boast by Saddam Hussein about his book collection in Baghdad. It actually refers to the public subscription library Ben Franklin set up in Philadelphia when he was a young man. (You can stop reading now if
The Presumption of Innocence and the Assumption of Guilt
March 1, 2008
Innocent until proven guilty. If ever there were a legal motto that is observed more the breach than in the main, this is it. The Presumption of innocence is a nice formality, but everyone, and especially conservatives, are generally ready to lock up a criminal who is merely charged with a crime. Regardless of the
When Bee Brings Gifts, Look for the Stinger
March 1, 2008
by David Safier Mike has been gently nudging me to write about a topic I’ve been avoiding – Tim Bee’s bill to allow all school districts in Arizona to participate in, and get the extra dollars for, the state’s “Career Ladder” teacher pay program. I’ve ducked and dodged until now, and not because I don’t
Cuts in the Classroom
March 1, 2008
by David Safier (TASL) As I read the Star article, Classroom’s dollar share drops over breakfast this morning, I found myself asking, “Are all the analysts idiots?” Everyone was trying to explain why Arizona is spending a lower percentage of our education dollar in the classroom. They all got it partly right, but mostly wrong.
Still Think You Live in the Most Free Country on Earth?
February 29, 2008
Police routinely abuse their authority and discretion in the face of peaceful exercise of civil rights. We need to demand better training and more accountability when violations like this one occur. At least they weren’t beaten, pepper-sprayed, arrested, held without charge or trial, tortured and/or killed. This time.
