Ladies and gentlemen: Today’s Republican Party
December 21, 2011
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by David Safier Hat tip to Steve Benen on the Washington Monthly's Political Animal for making the connection. A line from Ben Affleck's film, "The Town," could have come from the mouths of the Republican Party leadership. Affleck's line: “I need your help. I can’t tell you what it is. You can never ask … Read more
(Tentative) Congressional and Legislative District Maps
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Below are the Congressional and Legislative District Maps tentatively approved by the AIRC on December 20, 2011, pending analyses by the panel's legal counsel and voting-rights consultants. The AIRC must still vote to ratify the maps after receiving the legal and technical analyses. I am curious to hear from the Green Valley/Sahuarita/Quail … Read more
More administrator/teacher cheating in Georgia
December 21, 2011
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by David Safier Atlanta had a huge standardized test cheating scandal that rocked the city's schools. Now it's the turn of the Dougherty school system, also in Georgia, according to an Education Week story (subscription only). The investigation showed cheating took place in at least 11 of 26 schools in the district, which is located … Read more
Why am I not surprised? No politicians to be charged in Fiesta Bowl scandal
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I could have written this post months ago and saved it. There was simply no way that well-connected politicians (or their lobbyist handlers) were ever going to be charged in the Fiesta Bowl scandal. We have allowed a culture of lobbyist corruption to flourish in Arizona since the AZ-Scam scandal years ago. The … Read more
Latino veteran injured in Arpaio’s jail dies
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: After being kept alive for days following a fight with officers in one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jails, a Latino military veteran died late Tuesday when he was taken off life support by doctors at a Phoenix hospital, his family’s attorney told Talking Points Memo. Latino Vet Injured In Arpaio’s Jail Dies … Read more
What happens to the economy if the Tea Party Tax hike takes effect?
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: So what happens if the payroll tax cut is allowed to expire on January 1st? According to several economic analysts, it would severely affect economic growth and job creation next year. What Happens To The Economy If The Payroll Tax Cut Expires? | ThinkProgress: – According to Macroeconomic Advisers, allowing the payroll … Read more
The GOP payroll tax fiasco: Tea Party Tax hike on the middle-class
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told CNN yesterday that the fight over extending the payroll tax cut is “harming the Republican Party,” adding, “We’ve got to get this resolved and with the realization that the payroll-tax cut must remain in effect.” [updated with video] Steve Benen reports at the Political Animal – The … Read more
AIRC Update: We have (tentative) final maps!
December 21, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: It was only days before Christmas, "When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But congressional and legislative maps, They're finally here!" (My apologies to Clement Moore). The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) late Tuesday evening tentatively approved the final congressional district map and the state legislative district map, pending analyses by the panel's … Read more
