Featured Stories
Michigan Supreme Court orders collective bargaining rights measure on the ballot
September 5, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Michigan Supreme Court ordered the Board of State Canvassers to accept a measure that would enshrine collective bargaining in the state constitution. Michigan Supreme Court: Casino proposal off Nov. ballot; 3 others on. The Board of State Canvassers will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and is expected to consider certifying … Read more
A subtle warning from the National Review
September 5, 2012
Posted by AzblueMeanie: A great catch by John Aravosis at Americablog.com. National Review appears to portray Romney, Ryan as Communists: This is the cover of the current National Review, "the" journal of record of conservatives in America. If you're a student of history, this style will be familiar – it's communist. And this image below … Read more
Code Pink To Dems: Stop Drone Warfare, Bust Up Big Banks
September 5, 2012
Tucson K-6 Physical Fitness Day Thursday, November 8
September 5, 2012
by
by David Safier According to Steve Gall, who continues to work tirelessly to promote the need for physical activity for K-6 students in Tucson-area schools: Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and recess activist Steve Gall are planning a Tucson K-6 Physical Fitness Day Thursday, November 8, where all the K-6 students in the area will do … Read more
Undocumented protesters arrested outside of Democratic Convention
September 5, 2012
by Pamela Powers Hannley
Ten undocumented protesters from Arizona were arrested late Tuesday afternoon outside of the Time Warner Arena in uptown Charlotte, as Democratic National Convention delegates watched.
Chanting in Spanish and English, the protesters– surrounded by media and conventioneers with smart phone cameras– quickly marched toward the arena where First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to speak.
As throngs of convention delegates bustled down the sidewalk, the small band of Latinos laid a large yellow mat decorated with butterflies in the middle of the intersection and sat in protest of US immigration policies. Just as quickly, they were surrounded by police on foot and on bicycles. Although it was difficult for passersby to see them, we could hear their stories and feel the passion.
More details and video after the jump.
AZ has the largest ed spending cuts in the country: yet more evidence we must pass Prop. 204
September 5, 2012
by
by David Safier
I wrote a long post arguing against Mark Evans' column where he said we shouldn't pass Prop. 204, the initiative which would renew the already existing one cent sales tax and dedicate most of the funds to education. His major argument against the initiative is that we shouldn't "wall off" education funding because it limits the legislature's flexibility dealing with budget issues.
Here's what that flexibility has brought us over the last five years: the largest percentage drop in per student spending in the country. Remember, we were already rock bottom in the nation in our per student spending in 2008 when the counting started.
The study is by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The partial table at right shows the top 17 states in per-student spending cuts (full table below the fold). Arizona tops the list with a 21.89% drop in inflation-adjusted dollars over the five years. Virginia, number 17, cut less than half that much.
Remember, Arizona was already rock bottom in per student spending. Knowing that, our Republican legislature, with Jan Brewer's help, cut that already abysmally low funding by $21.89 out of every hundred dollars we were spending per student, more than any other state.
For people who say they support adequate funding for education yet are worried the legislature will lose its budgeting "flexibility" if Prop. 204 makes sure it spends no less than it did in the 2011 or 2012 budgets, here's the kind of company you're keeping. Republican Rep. John Kavanagh:
Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said that if passed the measure would tie the hands of the Legislature in determining where funds would best be spent.
“It removes budgeting flexibility from the Legislature and it does budgeting in a vacuum, not taking into account other needs and wants,” he said.
We simply cannot trust Republican legislators when it comes to education. They have no problem balancing the budget on the backs of our children. Prop. 204 is our best chance to stop the cuts in education funding.
The complete table is below the fold.
First Lady Michelle Obama owns the convention
September 5, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
First Lady Michelle Obama owned the convention last night with a brilliantly written emotive speech that connected on an emotional level with the delegates in the hall and viewers at home. This was a masterful speech that will be remembered as one of the great convention speeches, certainly by a First Lady.
And let's not forget that Michelle Obama is a skilled attorney. She deftly destroyed the narcissistic GOP meme of their convention, which took the words of President Obama out of context, to assert that "we built it" (all by ourselves). Transcript: Michelle Obama's Convention Speech:
Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.
They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did…in fact, they admired it.
They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.
That's how they raised us…that's what we learned from their example.
We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make…that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.
We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters…that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules…and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.
We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.
Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.
That's who we are.
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro delivers the Keynote Address
September 5, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a rising star in the Democratic Party, is the first Latino to deliver the Keynote Address at the DNC National Convention. And boy howdy, did he deliver a speech! Mayor Castro rocked the house and he did it with a confident smile. Transcript of Julian Castro’s remarks at the Democratic National Convention:
Now, like many of you, I watched last week’s Republican convention. They told a few stories of individual success. We all celebrate individual success. But the question is, how do we multiply that success? The answer is President Barack Obama.
Mitt Romney, quite simply, doesn’t get it. A few months ago he visited a university in Ohio and gave the students there a little entrepreneurial advice. “Start a business,” he said. But how? “Borrow money if you have to from your parents,” he told them. Gee, why didn’t I think of that? Some people are lucky enough to borrow money from their parents, but that shouldn’t determine whether you can pursue your dreams. I don’t think Gov. Romney meant any harm. I think he’s a good guy. He just has no idea how good he’s had it.
We know that in our free market economy some will prosper more than others. What we don’t accept is the idea that some folks won’t even get a chance. And the thing is, Mitt Romney and the Republican Party are perfectly comfortable with that America. In fact, that’s exactly what they’re promising us.
The Romney-Ryan budget doesn’t just cut public education, cut Medicare, cut transportation and cut job training.
It doesn’t just pummel the middle class — it dismantles it. It dismantles what generations before have built to ensure that everybody can enter and stay in the middle class. When it comes to getting the middle class back to work, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to respecting women’s rights, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to letting people marry whomever they love, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to expanding access to good health care, Mitt Romney says, “No.”
Actually, Mitt Romney said, “Yes,” and now he says, “No.” Gov. Romney has undergone an extreme makeover, and it ain’t pretty. So here’s what we’re going to say to Mitt Romney. We’re going to say, “No.”
