AZ Congressional Delegation

Are You Ready for US Senator Martha McSally?

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By Larry Bodine, Precinct Committeeman, Precinct #238, Tucson. Yes, this may happen right here in Tucson. A worthless hack who has done little or nothing for her constituents may soon become US Senator Martha McSally. How can this nightmare happen? Aging and ailing US Senator John McCain becomes disabled or dies in office. Governor Ducey … Read more

Remember John F. Kennedy

JFK, Where Are You Now That We Need You?

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By Larry Bodine, Precinct Committeeman, Precinct #238, Tucson.

I remember when as a young boy, still in grade school, I shook JFK’s hand. JFK would be 100 years old this week, were he still alive.

The day was August 17, 1962, and President John F. Kennedy spoke at the opening of the Oahe Dam in South Dakota. It was a beautiful day in the summer, and cars from hundreds of miles around lined up in rows on a big hillside.

At the bottom of the hill was a podium with cloth fluttering in the wind. The hydroelectric dam is the second largest one on the Missouri River. It took 14 years to build.

JFK stood at the podium and spoke in that unmistakable accent. You can listen to his speech on Youtube.

I was so optimistic that I wanted to join the Peace Corps.

I felt so idealistic that I wanted to serve my country.

Before he left, he walked into the crowd of well-wishers and shook my hand.

Then he climbed into a black Lincoln Continental convertible with two American flags flying on the front bumper and rode off as thousands of people cheered. I have never forgotten that day, 55 years ago.

Where have you gone, Jack Kennedy?

As I look around the toxic Arizona legislative leadership and governor, I ask myself, “where are the political leaders who inspire us?”

I don’t see them. Certainly not in our state Capitol.

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Trent Franks blames the liberal media boogeyman

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I happened to run across Arizona’s most embarrassing congresman, Rep. Trent Franks, in a segment on MSBC discussing The Guardian reporter who was phyically assaulted by the Montana GOP House candidate Greg Gianforte — who still won his race yesterday, by the way.

Franks told MSNBC that liberals must share the blame: “The left has precipitated this tense, confrontational approach throughout the country in recent months.”

Seriously?

This is after a campaign in which his pal Donald Trump castigated the media as the “enemy of the American people,” and continues to do so as President.

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This is after a campaign in which his pal Donald Trump incited violence against protestors and members of the media at his rallies, for which he is being sued in federal court. It’s plausible Trump incited violence, federal judge rules in OK’ing lawsuit.

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This is after his pal Donald Trump threatens to weaken First Amendment protections for reporters.

Which leads to this story in the New York Times. A Journalist Was Body Slammed, but Some Conservatives Want the News Media to Apologize:

In this time of intense partisanship, shiv-in-the-kidney politics and squabbles over the meaning of truth, can Americans come together and agree that a politician slamming a journalist to the ground for asking a question is wrong?

The answer, it turns out, is no.

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Quinnipiac University poll: the public is solidly opposed to Zombie ‘Trumpcare’

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A new Quinnipiac University poll released May 25 finds that:

American voters disapprove of the [Zombie “Trumpcare” (AHCA) bill] 57 – 20 percent, compared to a 56 – 21 percent disapproval in a May 11 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University, shortly after the revised plan passed the House of Representatives. Republicans in the House cancelled a vote on the first attempt to “repeal and replace” Obamacare on March 23, the day a Quinnipiac University poll showed voters opposed the idea 56 – 17 percent.

Among independent voters, a key bloc, only 17 percent are more likely to support an elected official who backs the health care plan, while 41 percent are less likely. Republicans are the only listed party, gender, education, age or racial group to support the health care plan, by a lackluster 42 – 24 percent, and the only group where more voters say they would support a candidate for reelection who backs the latest health care plan.

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This is GOP tribalism reinforced by Epistemic closure and the ‘conservative misinformation feedback loop’ media bubble.

“Advisory to Republicans who support the replacement for Obamacare: Backing this bill could be very hazardous to your political health,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

Only 20 percent of American voters say they are more likely to vote for a Senator or member of Congress who supports the revised Republican health care plan, while 44 percent say they are less likely and 31 percent say this issue won’t affect their vote, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

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‘Follow the (Russian) money’ – it’s always about the money

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There were two key paragraphs in the Washington Post’s report from last Friday. Russia probe reaches current White House official, people familiar with the case say:

Although the case began quietly last July as an effort to determine whether any Trump associates coordinated with Russian operatives to meddle in the presidential election campaign, the investigative work now being done by the FBI also includes determining whether any financial crimes were committed by people close to the president. The people familiar with the matter said the probe has sharpened into something more fraught for the White House, the FBI and the Justice Department — particularly because of the public steps investigators know they now need to take, the people said.

And:

While there has been a loud public debate in recent days over the question of whether the president might have attempted to obstruct justice in his private dealings with Comey, whom Trump fired last week, people familiar with the matter said investigators on the case are more focused on Russian influence operations and possible financial crimes.

As I said, “This would explain passing references to the Treasury Department in recent reporting. This likely involves the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.”

The Treasury Department and FinCEN are now in the news this week. CNN reports, Warner: Treasury has not fully responded to Senate Intel requests:

Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said Tuesday that the Treasury Department has not fully complied with his committee’s requests for documents relevant to its probe into Russian meddling in the US election.

Likewise, Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter on Tuesday to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting records of Trump businesses and any connections to Russia by June 2.

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