NRCC’s ‘pants on fire’ – the $700 billion lie that will not die returns

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Liar-LiarThe GOPropaganda machine is shameless. No matter how many times the lie has been debunked and refuted, they continue with their Big Lie because propagandists know that if you repeat it often enough, there are enough ignorant dumbasses out there who are going to believe it is true because they heard it somewhere.

The GOPropaganda machine is going to try for the third consecutive election cycle in a row to recycle the $700 billion lie that will not die (up fro $500 billion in 2010). See, (Updated) Fact Check: Romney-Ryan 'pants on fire' – the $700 billion lie that will not die.

Though Republicans opposed the creation of Medicare in 1965, sought deep cuts to ensure that it “wither on the vine
in 1990s, and now support a dramatic restructuring (vouchers) that would
substantially privatize Medicare, the National Republican Congressional
Committee is out today with ads criticizing Democrats for cutting $716 billion
from the program — the lie that will not die returns. Politicians Celebrate Medicare’s 48th Anniversary With Attack Ads:

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s (D-AZ) “vote against the Republican balanced
budget isn’t the only vote that hurt Medicare recipients,” says an NRCC
release first published in Politico’s Morning Score.
“Kirkpatrick has also opposed fully repealing ObamaCare, which gutted
Medicare by $716 billion.” Similar ads will target Reps. Ron Barber
(D-AZ)
, Scott Peters (D-CA), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Carol Shea-Porter
(D-NH) and others.

Sen. John McCain calls for review of Arizona’s ‘stand your ground’ law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Careful, Johnny. Arizona's "Ms. NRA," Governor Jan Brewer, will be sticking her boney finger in your face next like she did to President Obama. Brewer:
Fla. case doesn't change her mind on 'stand your ground'
.

Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Sen. John McCain joined President Barack Obama's call to review so-called "Stand Your
Ground" laws in the aftermath of the acquittal of George Zimmerman in
the 2012 shooting of black teen Trayvon Martin. NBC reports, McCain joins Obama in calling for review of 'Stand Your Ground' laws:

Sen. John McCain, Ariz., a prominent Republican who's been known to
break ranks with fellow members of the GOP at times, urged state
legislatures to review Stand Your Ground laws in the wake of the
Zimmerman trial, which became a national flashpoint for race relations
in America.

"I can also see that Stand Your Ground laws may be
something that needs to be reviewed by the Florida legislature or any
other legislature that has passed such legislation," McCain said on
CNN.

Asked whether his home state legislature should consider revising its own similar law, McCain said yes. 

"I
think that, yes, I do, and I'm confident that the members of the
Arizona legislature will because it is a very controversial
legislation
," he said.

Arizona GOP all-in on ‘states’ rights’ voter suppression

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

AZConfederacyWell isn't this special. Governor Jan Brewer, who supported the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, nevertheless is still smarting from that same court striking down Arizona's Prop. 200 proof of citizenship requirement to register to vote in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.

While it is a certainty that Governor Brewer does not support amendments to the Voting Rights Act which would reinvigorate its preclearance provisions, she does support an amendment to federal law to require proof of citizenship to register to vote for all Americans, not just Arizonans. Arizona's GOP voter suppression knows no limits. Brewer
backs Salmon’s voter-ID bill
:

Gov. Jan Brewer wants Congress to allow states to require citizenship
documents from all prospective voters before they can cast a ballot.

Brewer sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz.,
expressing support for a bill the Mesa congressman introduced in
response to a recent Supreme Court decision on the issue. The court
ruled Arizona could demand proof of citizenship from would-be voters
only when they register using state registration forms, not federal
ones.

“The responsibility of state and local governments to protect the
integrity of the voting process is essential to maintaining the
democratic process and protecting the freedom and power of every
citizens’ vote,” Brewer wrote. “I commend your efforts to improve federal law so that only United States citizens are voting. … As a
Governor, I particularly appreciate the respect for states’ rights
inherent in this legislation.”

PDA Street Heat: Robin Hood Ready

Don't forget the Prosperity Not Austerity Rally at Raul's today. 10:30-12 noon, 738 N. 5th Ave. Brings signs. We will thank Congressman Raul Grijalva for his progressive leadership while promoting the Robin Hood Tax, jobs, and universal healthcare. More background here. We'll also celebrate the 48th birthday of Medicare with cupcakes and "Happy Birthday."

PDA Street Heat: Prosperity Not Austerity Rally at Raul’s

Poverty-sig-sm72by Pamela Powers Hannley

Progressives in Congress and across the country are fighting the tide of right wing extremism on multiple fronts– from food stamps to cuts in Social Security to stalled immigration reform to anti-woman legislation to austerity for the middle class, while the wealthy live high on the hog.

Congressman Raul Grijalva has been at the forefront of the progressive movement in Congress. As another budget battle heats up in the House of Representatives, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) want to thank our stalwarts like Grijalva, and at the same time want to celebrate Medicare's 48th birthday.

This rally at Grijalva's office  is part of a nationwide action at multiple Congressional offices by PDA and National Nurses United (NNU). The event is 10:30 a.m.-12 noon at the old YWCA (738 N. 5th Ave.)

At some locations– like Congressman Ron Barber's– PDA members will do letter drops urging Congressional representatives to support certain bills or issues. This month the focus is on prosperity vs austerity, Medicare expansion, jobs, and progressive financial legislation like the Robin Hood Tax. (More details below.) At Grijalva's office and others, there will be street heat rallies, as there were last month when PDA members were protesting cuts to food stamps nationwide and helped stop the Farm Bill.

Details are still being formulated; so, watch this blog and the PDA Tucson Facebook page for updates. Details after the jump.