Citizens Clean Elections LD 10 House candidate debate
October 18, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Citizens Clean Elections LD 10 House candidate debate between incumbents Bruce Wheeler (D) and Ted Vogt (R), and Stefanie Mach (D) and Todd Clodfelter (R), on October 10, 2012.
Video replay below the fold.
Arizona Illustrated (PBS) LD 11 Senate Debate
October 18, 2012
Posted by AzblueMeanie:
KUAT’s Arizona Illustrated (PBS) hosted an LD 11 Senate debate between Tea-Publican Sen. Cap’n Al Melvin and his Democratic opponent, Jo Holt. LD11 State Senate Forum – Arizona Public Media.
Video replay below the fold.
Romney style (video)
October 18, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
Maybe I'm getting slap-happy after months of non-stop campaigning, 100 fundraising e-mails a day, too much "what if?" anxiety, swinging polls, and more candidate house invitations than I can name…
If you're feeling the same way and you're ready for a chuckle, check out the video after the jump.
Amazon Binder comments. Hilarious.
October 17, 2012
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by David Safier Go to the Avery Durable View Binder page on Amazon. Check out the "Most Helpful Customer Reviews" at the bottom of the page. Lots more if you click on See all 168 customer reviews. Lotsa fun. (h/t to Karl who's always fun, even when he's beating me up on the tennis court)
“I am Not a Special Interest”
October 17, 2012
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by David Safier The Yes on Prop 204 campaign has put up an "I am not a special interest" website. Good stuff. Except for me, children are a special interest. They're very special, and everyone who cares about their future and the future of Arizona should be deeply interested in the education we offer them. … Read more
Presidential knockout: If you’re still undecided after debate II, you’re not paying attention
October 17, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
The second 2012 presidential debate was a rousing throwback to old school American politics. Both candidates were "fired up and ready to go." Both delivered a few zingers and gotcha moments. Both explained their plans for America's future… well, sort of.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney– obviously hoping for a repeat of the frist debate in which he appeared energized, arrogant, and on top of his game, if you ignore the lies and the moderator bullying– started the second debate smiling and upbeat. About 30 minutes into it, Romney was scowling in the background as President Barack Obama actually answered policy questions. By the end of the debate, when the families came on stage, both Romney and wife Ann had those "holy shit what just happened?" looks on their faces.
So, why was the second debate so different from the first one? Obviously, after the first debate, Obama realized that Romney wasn't going to play by anyone's rules but his own (ie, stick to the truth, stick to the question topics, stick to his previously stated views, or stick to the agreed upon debate rules). In the first debate, Obama seemed confused and frustrated by Romney's reckless but masterful disregard for propriety, and Obama didn't call him out on it, which is why, I believe, many people said Obama was "off his game" that night. Where was our witty, intelligent guy? Why didn't he point his finger at Romney and say, in prep school style, "You, Sir, are a liar!" Or, in Chicago style, "What you talkin' bout, n….?" [Sarcasm alert.]
Last night, Obama– and moderator CNN's Candy Crowley— took the gloves off with the prep school bully turned vulture capitalist. Obama and Crowley both called out Romney when he didn't answer the questions or answered a completely different question than what was asked. In his element with the town hall format, the president was quick-witted and light on his feet, when he said that Romney's economic plan was a "sketchy deal"; when he said that Romney didn't have a five-point plan, he had a one-point plan; when he ripped Romney's infamous 47% comment (after Romney opened the door by saying he cared about 100% of Americans); or when he answered the first college student's questions about post-graduation employment with a specific list of policies (when Romney had just shined the student on with platitudes).
But I think the best performance of the evening was by Crowley. Let's face it. Jim Lehrer blew the first debate. He allowed Romney steamroll him… repeatedly. The debate was such a mess that it was difficult to figure out the format or what the questions were half the time because both candidates (but mostly Romney) were allowed to stray. Crowley– who is being attacked today by the right for her active role in actually moderating the debate– did her best to keep the debate moving and make the candidates stick to the format and the questions.
Personally, I don't see how anyone could be undecided after last night, but if you are, undecided, check out this story by the New York Times after the jump and get off your duff.
Election integrity event: ‘Will your vote count?’ (video)
October 17, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
Information on tonight's election integrity event from the organizers…
Tonight, Wednesday, October 17, Bear Canyon Library, 6:30pm- 7:45pm. East Side Republicans will host a Point/ Counter Point on Election Integrity "Will YOUR Vote Count" speakers will be [Pima County election fraud lawyer] Bill Risner & Benny White.
Come ask questions, listen to the experts and know what to look for if you are a poll worker."
Election Fraud, Culture of Corruption in Pima County, why Early Ballots shouldn't be counted before Election Day and what all this means to us votes and more.
Address to Bear Canyon Library: 8959 E Tanque Verde, 85749 Tucson, AZ.
The event will filmed and available on Facebook at the AUDIT_AZ page.
For more background, check out the audio clip of Risner after the jump.
‘Better know a district’: Kirkpatrick does, Paton does not
October 17, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Stephen Colbert does a recurring segment on the Colbert Report titled "Better know a district." Colbert interviews members of Congress about their district. It is pretty clear that Ann Kirkpatrick knows her district, "Arizona's Fightin' First" as Colbert would say, and her carpetbagger opponent, Jonathan "Payday" Paton does not.
This background piece on Ann Kirkpatrick appeared in Arizona Home and Garden:
While covering the Navajo Parade and Fair in Window Rock, Arizona for Arizona Home and Garden, we noticed a woman receiving a lot of handshakes and respects from Navajo Veterans. The woman was Ann Kirkpatrick — a woman who has made a difference for Arizona.
While serving District 1 of Arizona in Congress, Ann Kirkpatrick passed legislation to ensure that veterans’ income benefits can no longer disqualify Navajo People from housing assistance. While serving on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs she worked closely with the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) to craft the legislation. She was able to push it through the House of Representatives and The President signed the bill into law in October, 2010.
Kirkpatrick also was instrumental in urging Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to put into place a new requirement that Veterans who seek PTSD treatment simply provide proof of active-duty service in a war zone and be diagnosed with the illness by a VA specialist. The change eliminates strict documentation requirements that have delayed and denied mental health benefits for thousands of our Nation’s heroes.
Kirkpatrick’s Veterans/Servicemembers Life Insurance Equity Act and her bill reauthorizing the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education (VACE) both passed in the Senate and were approved by the House as part of a larger package. These measures will help ensure that educational benefits for returning troops will remain of the highest quality and that life insurance options for current and former service members can keep up with those in private sector plans.
The Tribal Law and Order Act, which Rep. Kirkpatrick helped to push through Congress, was signed into law as part of a broad initiative to help strengthen security in Indian Country. The law will give tribes new resources to keep Indian Country safe and allows them to better collaborate with state and federal law enforcement communities.
