Michael Bryan With the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate, with Kyl voting No and McCain voting Yes, the obvious question for those seeking Kyl’s seat is how they would have voted. I have absolutely no doubt that Carmona would have voted Yes. How would Jeff Flake have voted?
By Michael Bryan
As we near the time for arguments before the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Arizona's SB1070, the Senate has held a hearing on the law.
Testifying about the bill were recalled former Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce (pro at 19:56), retired U.S. Senator Dennis DiConcini (con at 25:30), Arizona State Senator Steve Gallardo (con at 35:27), and Todd Landfried of Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform (con at 42:15). Questions begin at 49:05 with Schumer questioning Pearce.
Tellingly, Republican Senators Jon Kyl and John Cornyn both ducked out of the hearing leaving Pearce the sole supporter of the law in the hearing room. He was a bit sore about it, whining to the press, "I didn't get a phone call… I was disappointed. It's not just about supporting me, it's about supporting Arizona."
Kyl released a statement explaining his boycott of the hearing and labeling the hearing "strictly political theater." Governor Brewer also declined to attend and testify. One wonders why, if Kyl and Brewer considered the hearing political theater, they failed to make a curtain call: political theater is their profession, so given a chance to strut the boards before a national audience, why would they refuse the chance at a soliloquy?
UPDATE: (h/t to Bess1919) Apparently, one of Pearce's posse falsely accused Randy Parraz of shoving him after the hearing and was questioned by capitol police. Stay classy, Mr. Pearce.
UPDATE: Listening to Pearce's pressers following the hearing he made some claims that are wholly unjustified by the facts. He claimed that up to 9,000 Americans are killed per year by undocumented aliens. This clearly implies that a murder spree is on. The facts is that there are generally about 15,000 murders in the U.S. per year: Pearce is claiming that 3 out of every 5 murders are perpetrated by undocumented aliens? Bullshit. He also claimed that undocumented aliens commit crimes at three times the rate of "any other demographic". That's simply not true, either. Immigrant populations generally, and Mexican immigrants, including undocumented, commit crimes at a rate lower than any native-born demographic. Finally, Pearce claims to have met with DREAM students personally. I find that claim doubtful. Any DREAM students out there who can support Pearce's claim to have met with your personally, or even in a group?
Watch the hearing after the click…
By Michael Bryan Arizona has suffered enough. Mexico continually violates our State’s sovereignty by encouraging their citizens to invade our state. The government of Mexico is deeply corrupt and in bed with violent criminals that operate black markets across our border, killing our citizens and endangering our communities. Any other nation on earth would consider … Read more
By Michael Bryan
Much like Mitt Romney, Jesse Kelly is now trying to shake the ol' Etch-a-Sketch and deny the more radical positions he's taken as he fought his way through GOP primaries. He doled out the red meat to the groundlings to get the nominations in 2010 and the 2012 special, now he's having to eat it.
Barber has called out Kelly's stated intention to "lower and eventually eliminate the minimum wage". Kelly is trying to simply deny he ever said it. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for all the workers earning at or near the minimum wage who might be tempted to vote for Kelly, video exists.
Own up Mr. Kelly. You are a tool for the plutocrats trying to turn American workers into serfs whom they can pay whatever pittance they wish. Unfortunately, 2 out of every 3 Americans disagree with you, Mr. Kelly. They want the minimum wage raised. A lot. Even Romney agrees with raising the minimum wage! Far from decreasing and eliminating the minimum wage, as Kelly wants, Arizona indexes its minimum wage to inflation.
Kelly is clearly out of step with America and the voters of Arizona.
See the proof after the click…
By Michael Bryan For those who I have heard express concern that Ron Barber's lack of campaign experience as a candidate might cause him to be too gentlemanly in running against a bomb-thrower like Kelly, his campaign's first salvo should provide some comfort that civility doesn't mean a failure to draw strong contrasts for voters. … Read more