Antenori to run for the Giffords seat – already terrorizing the villagers
January 27, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: State Sen. "Don't make me angry" Frank(enstein) Antenori announced this morning that he is running in both the special election and November general election for the Giffords seat in CD 8. Antenori to seek Giffords' seat. Whoever is elected to the Giffords seat should have the same temperament, character and judgment as Gabrielle Giffords … Read more
Rich Crandall moves from deplorable to absurd in his free/reduced meals optional argument
January 27, 2012
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by David Safier I learned long ago, whenever anyone has lots of reasons why something is a good idea or a bad idea, usually none of the reasons given are the real reasons. There's something else going on. Rich Crandall is on my "Too many reasons, too many rationalizations" list. Crandall is sponsoring the bill … Read more
Quick Nuke waste dump/reprossing quote
January 27, 2012
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by David Safier From today's NY Times, an article about problems disposing of our radioactive waste: Some nuclear power advocates argue that the United States should develop factories and reactors that will recycle some of the spent fuel. But the [Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future] said that no existing technology was adequate for … Read more
Arizona Daily Star: Governor Brewer embarrasses Arizona
January 27, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Arizona Daily Star unfortunately relies upon the AP and Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services for its news content on state government. Cheap bastards! You have the money, hire your own capitol reporter and expand the number of eyes and ears watching our state government and add another perspective to reporting. Howard Fischer should not enjoy a monopoly, I don't care that he used to work for the Star.
Leaving this aside, the Arizona Daily Star has an editorial opinion today that is spot-on. Finger-wagging Brewer cast state in a bad light:
Gov. Jan Brewer likes to cast herself in the tough-leader role – and sticking her finger in President Obama's face and jawing at him makes for a handy visual message to her political base. What the rest of the state, along with the nation, sees is boorish behavior from Arizona's top official.
* * *
On Wednesday, Brewer handed Obama a handwritten letter, which she described as discussing immigration and inviting him to visit Arizona again and join her for a border tour. By all accounts, he told the governor her book mischaracterized their last meeting. Heated words were exchanged. Reporters [i.e., Howard Fischer] nearby described the two leaders talking over each other, and then Obama walked away. [Not true according to Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa]
Brewer, as governor, represents all Arizonans and should act as an ambassador for our state. Obama was in Phoenix to visit a major economic accomplishment – a new Intel plant – and the tiff on the tarmac was graceless.
* * *
After initially contending that the letter was not a public document because it was a personal handwritten note, Brewer's office released the letter late Thursday afternoon.
It is what one would expect from a governor to a president of another party – mentioning "hard choices" and balanced budgets, while neglecting to mention, however, the high cost Arizona's citizens have paid in recent years through draconian cuts to school funding, health-care coverage for kids of the working poor and more.
Brewer's digital gesticulation got attention, and that's what any politico trying to raise her profile wants – and sales of her memoir have jumped.
But Brewer's jab comes at the expense of Arizona's national reputation and image.
Text of the snarky and delusional stage prop letter from Arizona's "savior" is below the fold.
David Fitzsimmons once again nails it!
The Barretts, Craig and Barbara: Power couple
January 27, 2012
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by David Safier Muckety, a website whose mission, in its own words, is "Mapping the paths of power and influence," has posted a power map of Craig Barrett and his wife, Barbara. Craig currently heads Brewer's A-Wreck (AREC: Arizona Ready Education Council). He's a big player in the conservative Choice/Education Reform movement here in Arizona. … Read more
Can Howard Fischer fire himself from Capitol Media Services?
January 27, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Can Howard Fischer fire himself from Capitol Media Services? His PR work for Governor Jan Brewer and her fictional biography "Scorpions for Breakfast" is an utter embarrassment to someone who is often referred to as the Dean of the Arizona press corps. What a way to tarnish a career.
We have been over this territory before. The wrong way and right way to report the abuse of power by Governor Brewer and her Star Chamber:
Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services provides news content to many of Arizona's news outlets, including our sad small-town newspaper the Arizona Daily Star.
Fischer has been publishing what would appear to be nothing more than publisher PR press releases for Jan Brewer's new book "Scorpions for Breakfast" for several months now, including this most recent release on Tuesday, the date of release of her book. Brewer book tells different story of Arizona governor's meeting with Obama.
Color me skeptical of Fischer's ability to be objective in his reporting. He frequently inserts his own editorial opinion into what is purported to be objective factual reporting. Because his reporting is used by so many news outlets in Arizona, Fischer enjoys an outsized influence over public opinion through his reporting not enjoyed by any other political reporter in Arizona, and that is a problem.
Fischer was back hawking Governor Brewer's book this week with her staged political theater greeting the President. Brewer, Obama exchange tense greeting at Mesa airport – East Valley Tribune:
Three months after she published her unflattering description of him, it appears President Obama is still miffed with Gov. Jan Brewer.
[Several paragraphs promoting Brewer's fictional biography]
During the short encounter at the airport, Brewer pointed at the president, with that moment captured in a photograph. But the governor said that, whatever the picture looks like, she was not acting in anger.
"I've always been kind of animated,'' she said.
"We could have been talking about a lot of different things,'' Brewer continued, saying she respects the office of the president. "And I would never be disrespectful in that manner.''
But Brewer said that, the president's complaints Wednesday afternoon about the book aside, she and Obama clearly were not communicating much at all.
"He wants to talk about amnesty and I want to talk about securing our border,'' she said. "We're just not ever going to agree on that.'' [This was never part of their conversation from multiple media accounts]
That, she said, was underscored by how the conversation at the airport ended.
"I was in the middle of a sentence and he walked away,'' Brewer said.
Only that's not accurate. How do I know? Because Republican Mayor of Mesa Scott Smith and Democratic Mayor of Phoenix Greg Stanton were standing next to the governor.
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth Kowtows to Irrational Anti-Vaccination Crowd
January 26, 2012
Posted by Michael Bryan Looks like the black helicopter crowd has joined forces with the vaccination conspiracy theorists. Eddie Farnsworth is backing a bill to restrict Arizona's colleges and universities from requiring vaccinations. Perhaps this is really a problem that is keeping Arizonans from getting post-secondary education, but I sincerely doubt it. Farnsworth claims "the … Read more
Rep. Gowan Climbs Down From Unnecessary Legislative Communications Secrecy Bill
January 26, 2012
Posted by Michael Bryan Looks like Rep. David Gowan (R-LD30) may be backing off the bill he dropped to cloak legislative commications in secrecy. As I pointed out in a previous post, exempting consistituent communications from public records requests is excessive and unnecessary. Apparently, Gowan decided to actually find out whether his bill is necessary: … Read more
