Goldwater Institute opposed to constitutional free speech – except for corporations
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Goldwatwer Institute, a cheerleader for Citizens United v. FEC and its "corporate personhood" that allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in campaigns without any public disclosure of the campaign contributors, filed a lawsuit to oppose the constitutional free speech of others. The Arizona Republic reports Judge tosses lawsuit opposing public-campaign finance … Read more
GOP war on the unemployed advances in House committee
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
What part of "unemployment insurance" (UI) does this tool Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) not understand? It is an insurance benefit earned during the period an employee was gainfully employed. It is not "welfare." The premium is paid by the employer. An employee is entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits under the law when an employee loses his or her job through no fault of their own.
In Arizona there are only two reasons why an employee may be denied unemployment insurance benefits: (1) a voluntary resignation, or (2) discharge for "misconduct" in connection with the work (this can include alcohol intoxication or the failure to pass or refusal to take a drug test at work).
Sen. Steve Smith wants to treat all unemployed persons who have lost their job through no fault of their own as criminal suspects and to demonize the unemployed as lazy ne'er-do-wells who just sit around the house getting high all day.
Smith wants to condition the receipt of unemployment insurance benefits, which the unemployed are entitled to receive under the law, on the failure to pass or refusal to take a drug test. And he wants to add insult to the injury of losing your job by making you pay for the privilege of taking the drug test. Drug test for jobless advances in Arizona House:
If you're out of work, Arizona lawmakers want to make you take a drug test before you get an unemployment check.
And the unemployed worker would have to pay for it.
Arizona state Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, said he wrote Senate Bill 1495 to ensure people who get unemployment benefits are deserving. He doesn't consider anyone who uses drugs fit for assistance.
"If you are so fortunate to live in a nation to get an unemployment check … when you're down on your luck, the very least you should be able to do is prove you're of sound mind and body to earn — earn — that benefit," Smith told members of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Once again for this slow-witted tool, it is "unemployment insurance" which was earned during the period the employee was gainfully employed. The employee is entitled to receive the unemployment insurance benefits under the law for qualifying quarters of work previously performed. It is not "welfare," you condescending asshole!
And how about we change your formulation for those who want to serve in the Arizona legislature: "at the very least they should be able to prove that they are of sound mind and body to serve in the legislature," because I have serious doubts about you, Mr. Smith.
Let's subject members of the Arizona legislature to the same drug testing that you want to impose on the unemployed as a condition of receiving unemployment insurance benefits which they are entitled to receive. It's a question of fairness. You pee in the cup first, asshole!
And I have long called for mental competency exams for anyone who wants to serve in the Arizona legislature. I have serious doubts about you, Mr. Smith.
Reminder: ADP Dessert in the Desert Reception
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Event announcement from the Arizona Democratic Party:
House Minority Leader Chad Campbell interview on Countdown with Keith Olbermann
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
House Minority Leader Representative Chad Campbell (D-District 14) was a guest on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
Campbell denounced state Rep. Terri Proud’s (R-District 26) email suggesting that women seeking an abortion should be forced to watch another woman undergo the procedure first. “The party that supposedly is the one promoting small government has taken government overreach to a whole new level here in Arizona. They’re invading people’s bedrooms. They’re invading the relationship between a doctor and a patient. And they really don’t see any limit in terms of how big they can make government and how intrusive they can make government for the people of the state,” Campbell says.
Video below the fold.
Dr. Richard Carmona interview on the Rachel Maddow Show
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
I happened to catch this segment of the Rachel Maddow Show last night while channel surfing between basketball games (I have my priorities).
Maddow's lead-in segment was about "GOP projection" — the schoolyard taunt "I'm rubber, you're glue; whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you." Specifically, the GOP is now projecting their "War on Women" onto Democrats. Governor Jan Brewer did this earlier in the week. Our 'cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs' Governor has a conspiracy theory:
“From what it appears, it might be an issue that has gained fire by our opposing party. I think that it’s a Democrat ploy to kind of put a wedge, if you will, between Republicans and women,” Brewer told reporters today.
MSNBC's Chris Matthews did a good job of illustrating the stupidity of this "GOP projection" with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA). Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA): Devious Democrats Are Behind All This 'War on Women' Stuff | Crooks and Liars:
MATTHEWS: Whose tactics are they? I`m just asking you, whose tactics are they? You say they`re Democratic tactics.
How did Democrats get Republicans legislators to make these proposals? How tricky are they, these Democrats? They get the Virginia legislature to bring up all this stuff on abortion. They get Santorum to talk up contraception. Are these Democrats ventriloquists? How do they get the Republicans to say all this stuff? They are really masterful, I would say. I know I`m being sarcastic. But you know the evidence is a lot of right-wing social activists in your party are giving the Democrats catnip here, right? You`re admitting that.
That's right, Democrats are all Svengali's who can make Tea-Publicans engage in their "War on Women" against their will.
This lead-in segment was followed by the interview of former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona about how Arizona's Tea-Publican legislature is making a bid to be the most radically extreme in the nation on the GOP "War on Women."
Video below the fold. (Interview begins around 3:50 mark).
The AP explains the pricing of gasoline
March 23, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Republic today published this AP report on the pricing of gasoline. Q&A: What makes gasoline prices rise?: Q: What determines the price of gasoline? A: Mainly, it's the price of crude oil, which is used to make gasoline. Oil is a global commodity, traded on exchanges around the world. The … Read more
Has This Ever Happened Before?
March 22, 2012
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Posted by Bob Lord I’m watching Rachel Maddow tonight cataloguing my buddy Mitt’s many, many lies and flip-flops. The lies often are connected to the flip-flops because, when confronted with a flip-flop, he often says “I never said that.” Well, now that Mitt appears to be closing in on the nomination, Mitt likely will move … Read more
CD8 GOP Debate Proves One Thing Conclusively: Jessie Kelly is an Idiot
March 22, 2012
By Michael Bryan I watched the CD8 GOP debate on AZPM. GAHHHHHHH! My head nearly exploded. But I endured. It was cringe-inducing to watch all four candidates sink, at times, to the lowest possible denominator. The extreme and dangerous degree of political orthodoxy on the right is fully on display in this primary contest. The … Read more
