Black Tuesday

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Dark days in American history are generally proceded by the word "black," as in "Black Monday," October 28, 1929, "Black Tuesday," October 29, 1929, "Black Monday" again on October 19, 1987, etc. While these events refer to stock market crashes, the term has not been limited to economic events. There is "Black Sunday," for example, the massive Dust Bowl dust storm on April 14, 1935. You get the idea.

I mention this linguistic style point only because of the way the Arizona Republic captioned this article: Political Insider – Get ready for Super Tuesday. While the author makes a connection to the use of "super" in political primaries in recent years, "super" can also denote something good and exciting is about to happen. I assure you it is not.

Today may become known as "Black Tuesday" in Arizona history, the day on which the lunatics took over the asylum and went on a rampage:

On tap before the Senate Appropriations Committee is a bevy of bills that touch on most of the controversial topics of the 50th Legislature. Some of the bills even deal with….appropriations and the state budget, although they pale in comparison to the immigration-themed bills.

A late addition to the list is Senate President Russell Pearce's immigration omnibus bill, which he has called a simple effort to "clean up" existing laws. This tidying-up measure, Senate Bill 1611, includes restrictions on driving and demonstration of citizenship for enrolling in school, and protesters are already lining up.

[For more see Pearce moves to officially ban illegal immigrants from schools, driving – East Valley Tribune]

Then there are bills to do away with the Board of Regents, do away with the state's Medicaid system, deny birth certificates to children born in Arizona if one of their parents is not a U.S. citizen, require drug testing of welfare recipients and require hospitals to check the immigration status of patients who show up for non-emergency care.

[For more see Arizona Capitol Times » Bill to kill Ariz. Medicaid system to get hearing; Arizona Guardian Lawmaker would abolish Arizona Board of Regent (subscription required). More from The East Valley Trib, above: "The Appropriations Committee also will debate SB 1308 and 1309 which together are designed to deny citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants born in this country, and SB 1405 which would prohibit hospitals from providing non-emergency care to illegal immigrants and require officials to call federal immigration authorities."]

Even with such a busy agenda, there's room for SB 1610, which would make the Colt Single Action Army Revolver the official state firearm. Efforts to adopt an official firearm were sidelined two weeks ago when the Legislature was working on the official state nickname.

[For more see Arizona bill would make Colt revolver state's official firearm]

The fun (sic) is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 109. The public can also watch online by clicking on the "live hearing" link and going to the proper hearing room.

"Fun"? This is what is wrong with political reporting in this state — they view politics as entertainment. This is a deadly serious business with serious consequences to the lives of people. The fact that the lunatics have taken over the asylum and are on a rampage should scare the hell out of people.