The Confederate State of Arizona to vote on secession from the U.S. in November
May 3, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Is there a Confederate battle jack flag flying over the Arizona capitol building today? Because on Tuesday, Neoconfederate Sen. "Cap'n Al" Melvin (R-Tucson) convinced the "Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists" Tea-Publican insurrectionists to put secession from the United States on the November ballot. See Cap'n Al Melvin's 'zombie bill' for secession passed by the Senate, goes back … Read more
Crandall to Murphy: Senator, you don’t know jack!
May 3, 2012
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by David Safier An amusing side note here. Yesterday I called Sen. Rich Crandall a liar for implying that schools with rich kids have better reading scores than schools with poor kids because the rich kids' teachers and administrators are better. It was either that or call him an ignoramous. Since I'm certain Crandall knew … Read more
Bully Russell Pearce: Don’t be mean to me!
May 3, 2012
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by David Safier
The most prominent tendencies of bullies are their sociopathic insensitivity to others' feelings — the cruelest forms of verbal and physical bullying are just good fun to them — and their hypersensitivity to verbal or physical attacks that come their way, even when they're comparatively mild. As a teacher, I've had students who had to be restrained from hurling abuse at others, then complain bitterly when someone criticizes them. The preschool kid who pushes everyone out of the way and laughs when others get hurt will run to the teacher, crying, "Teacher, Judy stepped on my toe!"
The press has been asking Russell Pearce about his connections to J.T. Ready, who was responsible for a nightmarish murder-suicide yesterday. The connections between the two are longstanding, though they cut off communications a few years ago. In 2011 KSAZ Fox News Phoenix aired a fact-filled, damning 11 minute news report detailing Pearce's bullying behavior as Senate President and his close, past ties to J.T. Ready. You can watch the video below the fold. It makes perfect sense that the press, looking to add to yesterday's story, would go to Pearce for quotes and information.
Pearce published a statement in the Republic in response, with the kind of half-denials you would expect. Near the end, this bully has his "Teacher, Judy stepped on my toe!" moment.
Finally, while I am frequently critical of the job the mainstream media does in pursuing a political agenda instead of the truth, today's behavior is the most reprehensible that I have ever witnessed.
Pearce's bullying, slash-and-burn tactics are, to him, righteous acts, examples of his love of country and the rule of law. But the press doing what the press does in situations like this — and doing it to Pearce! — is reprehensible behavior: "the most reprehensible that I have ever witnessed."
You can watch the Fox News video below the fold.
AIRC Update: Tea-Publican deadbeats seek to litigate with your taxpayer dollars
May 3, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Tea-Publicans in the Arizona legislature on Wednesday voted to spend your taxpayer dollars to subsidize their purely partisan litigation to reverse the voter-enacted citizens initiative creating the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, a double middle-finger to the voters of Arizona. GOP legislators vote to spend tax dollars on redistricting lawsuit – East Valley Tribune:
Republican lawmakers voted Wednesday to spend tax dollars to go to court to challenge the maps drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission.
The vote, on what is likely to be the next-to-the-last day of the legislative session, comes even though two other lawsuits already have been filed — and are being financed — by outside interests. But proponents said the Legislature itself needs to file its own lawsuit, or, at the very least, formally intervene in the others.
Democrats, who voted against the measure, chided the GOP majority for wasting money, especially coming just a day after they insisted there was not enough money in the budget for things like restoring a health care program for the children of the working poor.
Wet behind the ears recent law school graduate Rep. Ted Vogt, R-Tucson, said there is an even clearer legal issue.
He pointed out that the U.S. Constitution says that the times, places and manners of electing members of Congress “shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature thereof.”
“What could be more intrinsic to the manner of holding elections than actually drawing up the maps in which those representatives will run?” Vogt said.
“The initiative took this power from the Legislature,” he continued. “I don’t think you can do that. This needs to be litigated.”
Perhaps his law degree should be revoked. Let's hear from someone who actually knows what he is talking about, Paul Bender, a constitutional law professor at Arizona State University. GOP lawmakers seek to overturn redistricting commission’s authority to create maps | Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required):
Remembering May Day with movies: Black, brown, white– unite! (video)
May 3, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley May Day– more than any other day– is a holiday for the 99%. For decades, on May 1, workers around the world have honored the memory of Haymarket Square and striking Chicago workers who were fighting for an 8-hour work day. From Wikipedia… The Haymarket affair (also known as the Haymarket massacre or … Read more
Action Alert: Call your legislators now to vote against SB 1449 – the Russell Pearce welfare check
May 3, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: On the very same day that Russell Pearce fanboy and Neo-Nazi white supremacist J.T. Ready executed his girlfriend's family before killing himself in a murder-suicide, Gilbert mass shooting: Horror in wake of vigilante's final act, across town at the state capitol Russell Pearce sycophants Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs, House Speaker Pro … Read more
J.T. Ready– neo-Nazi, Russell Pearce’s pal, and candidate for sheriff– dead
May 2, 2012
Jason "J.T." Ready killed four people before killing himself today in a grisley murder-suicide in Gilbert, Arizona. According to the Arizona Republic and USA Today, Ready killed his girlfriend, her daughter, the daughter's boyfriend, and a child. Here are links to related stories… Gilbert mass killing: Border militia leader identified as shooter 5 dead in … Read more
Shep Smith gets the ‘quote of the day’
May 2, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Did you hear that the preeminent housing historian and disgraced former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich ended his campaign today and endorsed the man he repeatedly called a liar during the "Survivor – GOP presidential Primary" debates, Willard "Mittens" Romney? Yeah, I thought he left weeks ago too. Talk about a long goodbye.
I was going to write something about Newt's exit, but Shep Smith at FAUX News Broadcasting said it best in a few short words that are the Quote of the Day:
Shep Smith, with a deadpan expression, told Fox viewers:
"…Mitt Romney has released a statement on the departure of Newt Gingrich from the campaign. It reads in part, 'Ann and I are proud to call Newt and Calista friends. We look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.' That from Mitt Romney.
"Politics is weird. And creepy. And now I know lacks even the loosest attachment to anything like reality."
Comedy gold. Video below the fold.
