Reminder: Arizona Democratic Party 2012 Heritage Dinner, Featuring Gov. Martin O’Malley
April 29, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Announcement from the Arizona Democratic Party:
Spocko’s thoughts on tonight’s Nugent concert
April 28, 2012
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by David Safier I've been talking about Ted Nugent — his mouth, his penchant for guns and his performance tonight at the Pima County Fair — to a guy who uses the handle "Spocko." Spocko wrote a long, well researched piece on Firedoglake about the weapons rules at the Fair and the consequences of carrying, … Read more
Updated SWAG for 2012
April 28, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
It's time to update the "Silly Wild Ass Guess" (SWAG) list of who is running for office in 2012, now that the new district maps have finally been precleared by the DOJ. State law permits candidates to collect signatures in the current districts as well as the new districts.
This list is subject to constant change. Please let me know if I have missed anyone in the comments.
Currently, the Secretary of State campaign committee page is a massive mess. The FEC web site is even more of a mess. That is completely unacceptable. I am going to focus on Baja Arizona races where I at least have an idea of who is running where.
The filing deadline is May 30.
You can try to follow along at home at the Arizona Secretary of State's web site Campaign Finance Search – Candidates. Federal Election Commission filings (AZ) House and Senate Campaign Finance. Good luck with that!
Filed candidates have a 
after their name.
CD 8 Special Election (to complete the term of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) June 12th:
Ron Barber (D)
Jesse Kelly (R)
Charlie Manolakis (GRN)
Barber vs. Kelly: The battle against false equivalence, Part 2
April 28, 2012
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by David Safier AZ Blue Meanie and Mike Bryan have done a terrific job of taking Jesse Kelly apart, here and here. I have nothing to add to their take-downs. My concern here is, will Tucson mainstream media create a false equivalence between Ron Barber and Jesse Kelly, or will it point out that Barber's … Read more
The battle against false equivalence, Part 1
April 28, 2012
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by David Safier A column in yesterday's Washington Post is truly astounding, not so much because of the topic as the authors. The title is, Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem. The money passage: The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved … Read more
AIRC Update: Secretive GOP FAIR Trust files lawsuits against AIRC
April 28, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The lawyers/lobbyists for the secretive GOP redistricting organization FAIR Trust that attempted to threaten and intimidate the AIRC during public hearings have now filed lawsuits against the AIRC challenging the new district maps. The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Republicans file 2 lawsuits challenging redistricting maps | Arizona Capitol Times:
The lawsuits, filed by attorney Mike Liburdi of the Republican-led FAIR Trust effort, take aim at the maps at both the state and federal court levels, and seek to challenge Arizona’s new district maps.
Liburdi is teaming up with FAIR Trust attorney David Cantelme and Lisa Hauser, who served as counsel for the inaugural IRC and helped lead Gov. Jan Brewer’s effort to remove commission chairwoman Colleen Mathis.
Note: You will recall that Lisa Hauser pitched a fit that the AIRC did not hire her as Republican legal counsel this time around and filed a complaint (which was rejected). Lisa Hauser also represented Governor Jan Brewer in her spectactular failed bid to oust AIRC chair Colleen Mathis in a blatant abuse of power for which the Arizona Supreme Court smacked her down decisively. Hauser also represented "King" Russell Pearce in his failed bid to stop his recall election. A real class act this Lisa Hauser.
For more about the comedy duo of David Cantalme and Mike Liburdi, go back and review the extensive reporting provided by Steve Muratore at The Arizona Eagletarian.
The challenge in state court seeks to force the IRC to redraw its congressional lines, which Liburdi said were drawn unlawfully because the commission deviated from a clear cut constitutional process for amending a basic grid map into a more finished and refined product.
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The state court filing also alleges that the commission violated state open meeting laws through its secretive consideration of potential mapping consultants.
A request to the Motor Mouth Showman
April 28, 2012
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by David Safier Ted Nugent, the "Motor City Madman," is not a madman, I'm reasonably certain, though he plays one whenever a microphone is in front of him. He exploits his in-control inner demons in pursuit of continued fame and fortune. I don't know who will be in Nugent's audience tonight at the Pima County … Read more
Whining, Posturing, And Wild-eyed Scheming: It’s Silly Season At The Lege
April 28, 2012
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings The time for real work at the lege has passed. All of the Democrats and most of the rank-and-file Republicans in the lege are spending their days (metaphorically) twiddling their thumbs. On Thursday, the Senate didn't even have a floor calendar. They met, prayed (Steve Yarbrough prayed … Read more
