Michael Bryan

In the flurry of news and opinion gusting out of our computer screens and smart phones, it is easy to become 'news blind' – so focused on the flakes and flurries that we forget where we are headed. We stumble confusedly ahead with no map to our destination. It's easy to get lost in the storm.

I personally read almost every news source in Arizona – and keep up with national reaction to our politics, as well – in bringing to readers of BlogForArizona the Arizona Donkey Feed, which appears on our right-hand sidebar every day (you may also have the Feed emailed to you daily). So I, too, often find myself in that blizzard without a map.

I decided I might like to sit down once a week and take some time to look around, and identify what I think are the most significant landmarks around where we stand now. It might not be a map that will tell us where we are headed, but maybe I can get some idea of where we are. Over time, perhaps it will become a map of sorts. You can even look back to all the editorials I have done so far, which isn't that many, yet…

I would also like to let you all know that Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, candidate for Tucson Unified School Board, will be guest-host at Drinking Liberally in Tucson. Come down to the Shanty of 4th Avenue this Wednesday at 6pm and enjoy a beer with Betts.

This week, I don't have a big post for you all. I just finished my 2012 Ballot Prop Voter Guide, and that's about all I want to say today. I will just leave you all with the Best New Thing in Arizona Politics this week: Russell Pearce in the Bunker! See it after the click…

By Michael Bryan

Here at BlogForArizona we generally don't do endorsements. We believe in presenting readers with good information and letting them make up their own minds. In addition, doing so can be problematic because of the diversity of views of our bloggers. Finally, there is something ineffably subjective and human about choosing another person to represent you that mere analysis of positions or policies or biographies cannot really capture.

But when it comes to ballot questions, we're on firmer ground. The language of the ballot question is what it is. Sometimes a good deal of legal or institutional knowledge is required to understand the likely effect of the new law, which not every voter has. So, to help voters fully participate in this aspect of Arizona's Progressive heritage, BlogForArizona presents a recommended list of positions on the ballot questions this year.

There is a diversity of opinion on a few of the citizen inititiative Props here on the blog. Some members feel that the permanent sales tax must be passed, and our BlueMeanie feels the top two primary would be a disaster. Both Democrats and Republicans feel that Open Primaries will be problematic, which is a point in favor of the reform, in my view. In fairness, I should note that my recomendations for these two citizen initiatives go against the majority opinion in the Democratic establishment. So be it. There will be links to alternative views on these Props as they become available.

Update 10/21/12: I've been convinced by colleagues, friends, and analysts that the unintended consequences of Prop 121 would outweight any benefits. I have changed by recommendation to NO.

Though not a perfect guide, if the State Legislature has referred the question to the ballot, you should vote NO, unless very strong evidence convinces you otherwise. If it is a citizen petition, give it due consideration before voting NO. You can see the approved ballot language for all the measures here.

Read on for full explanations of recommended votes…

Dear Liberals, Come join us this Wednesday night starting at 6pm at the Shanty on 4th Avenue. This week our guest host is Matt Heinz. Matt is challenging Congressman Ron Barber for the Democratic Party nomination for the new CD2 seat. Come learn about Matt and his campaign, and share a beer with him and … Read more

By Michael Bryan

I respect any politician, or either party, who speaks truth to power, especially when they are doing so to stand up for their community.

Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll is bound to get some flack for his recent comments at a Save the Scenic Santa Ritas meeting (hat tip to Sonoran Alliance). He was lamenting the fact that local newspapers are raking in cash for running Rosemont's propaganda ads, causing a financial conflict in covering fairly the issues involved in the controversial mine project. He said he wished that those news outlets would put stock in their community and "stop selling out to those pricks".

Hells to the yeah, Sugar Ray! This is one Republican who is not backing off what he believes because some Tea Party wackadoodles have gotten it in their heads that Ray's not conservative enough for them. Some think that Ray is insufficiently on board with the plan for some foreign corporation to bust in here, hose our views and our water supply, leave us with another toxic mess to clean up, and blow town with the profits.

Well, Ray's ::gasp:: representing the concerns and views of his constituents in the district on this matter. Rather than rolling over and showing belly to every multi-nat that rolls in, like every other Tea Party dupe is begging to do these days, Ray's actually fighting for the people he represents. I didn't even know that Republicans were still allowed to do that.

See Ray proving me wrong after the click…