Immigration

Saturday Editorial, July 21, 2012

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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.

Donkeysatmanger2I 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.

I would also like to let you all know that Matt Heinz, candidate for Congressm in AZ’s CD 2, 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 Matt.

So, here are some thoughts on what I think are the most important, or just most interesting, developments in the past week in Arizona’s politics…

The Immigration Debate Ignores Topographical Reality

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By Karl Reiner The anemic economies of Latin America have never been a U.S. foreign policy priority. There were always more important matters to contend with: the Cold War, events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.  As the American economy expanded, it attracted job seekers from the sluggish economies to the south.  They followed … Read more

Jim Hightower stumps for Grijalva in Tucson (video)

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by Pamela Powers Hannley

Progressive activist and humorist Jim Hightower  was in Tucson recently to stump for Congressman Raul Grijalva. 

Hightower and Grijalva spoke and mingled at an intimate gathering at former City Councilwoman Nina Trasoff's house before heading to The Loft for a more formal event. (See the video below, after the jump.)

Grijalva is one of the most liberal members in the US House of Representatives, a co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, and one of the Congressional candidates being backed by Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). Grijalva– who has been an outspoken proponent of the People's Budget (as opposed to the corporatists' budget), immigration reform, universal healthcare, and protecting the environment– is facing two primary opponents, both backed by Rosemont Mine. (This is reminiscent of the recent Tucson mayoral race. Republican Mayoral Candidate for the 1% Rick Grinnell was bankrolled by Rosemont Mine also. Luckily, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild– pro-water and anti-mine candidate– beat him handily.) Hightower, who is known for his newsletter The Hightower Lowdown and witty commentary on KXCI, is a member of the PDA board and a strong supporter of the new progressive movement in the US.

As always, Hightower was a delight. Here are a few gems from his presentation at The Loft.

Hightower on Congress: The water won't clear up until we get the hogs out of the creek.

Hightower on Democrats: Some dems are weaker than Canadian hot sauce.

Hightower (who hails from Austin, Texas) on Rick Perry: Rick Perry put the "guber" in gubernatorial.

Hightower on the 99%: It's not charity we want. It's economic and social justice.

Hightower on corporate money and PACs: It's not Raul Grijalva they're after — it's you.  

Video footage and more photos after the jump.

Barber’s June 19 Media Release on his “Border Security” bill vote

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by David Safier

After reading comments on my Dear Representative Barber post stating incorrectly that Barber hadn't explained his civil contempt vote against Attorney General Holder, I posted his Media Release explaining his vote. I've also received comments saying Barber hasn't explained his vote for letting the Border Patrol skirt some environmental laws. In fact, Barber put out a Media Release about that vote June 19, which you can read below the fold. So far as I know, he has not published any other comments on the bill, though he has been meeting with constituents around the area discussing his recent votes.

Close down the Tent City Jail: Part Deux (video)

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On Saturday, June 23, 2012, thousands of protesters from Puente Arizona, the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, the United Church of Christ, and left-leaning activist groups held a rally and vigil at the infamous Maricopa County Tent City Jail– while Phoenix Tea Party and militiamen held a counter rally.

Immigrant rights protesters, bathed in candle light, sang and listened to speeches about standing up to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his forces of hate– while militiamen dressed in camouflage uniforms brandished their weapons and shouted angrily about their rights.  

Predictably, amateur videos and photos were uploaded as the scene unfolded, but for a more in-depth view of the demonstration, check out this video by Phoenix independent videographer Dennis Gillman, after the jump.