Immigration

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.

Governor Jan Brewer demagogues on anti-immigrant hatred and hysteria

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Brewer_hateThis woman is an affront to all that is good and decent in Arizona. Our delusional governor, who is in denial of the fact that a conservative U.S. Supreme Court just handed her a smack-down defeat on SB 1070, is now venting her rage by demagoguing on anti-immigrant hatred and hysteria, just as she did during her 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

E.J. Montini of the Arizona Republic reports Brewer says Obama wants “illegals” to vote:

Gov. Jan Brewer went on the radio after the SB 1070 ruling and told KFYI host Mike Broomhead that President Obama’s immigration policies are designed to improve his reelection chances by getting him the votes of illegal immigrants.

Not Latino citizens.

The governor of Arizona says that the president of the United States is encouraging people to cross the border and vote for him.

I’m not making this up. (Here is a link to the radio interview. The accusation comes during an answer beginning at about the 4-minute 30-second mark.)

When asked about her administration’s relationship with the Obama administration Brewer said in part:

“We have done everything we could think of to work cooperatively with them and they turn a blind eye to us. They’re not interested. They want chaos. They want a larger voting base as far as I’m concerned and they want the illegal immigration to continue. Not to even mention the fact that they have addressed the issue that you can register with the federal registration form that doesn’t even need documentation that you’re a citizen… Now they’ll have all the illegals and they can all do whatever they want and register to vote. Although it’s illegal if you’re not a citizen to register. But they’re not enforcing the law so what is going to happen to them? He’s looking for votes.”

Sounds to me like the governor is accusing the president of a crime. A conspiracy to commit voter fraud or worse.

Is she?

I put the question to her office.

A tutorial for the media villagers on SCOTUS opinion re: SB 1070

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” ― Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY)

In the case of news reporters, they are not entitled to express their opinion either. They are supposed to report the facts.

And yet the corporate media villagers continue to misreport and misrepresent the Supreme Court holding in Arizona et al. v. United States, the Court's ruling on federal preemption of SB 1070.

The only way this is possible after two days is if the media villagers have not taken the time to actually read the opinion in Arizona, et al. v. United States (.pdf), in which case, how can they be said to be reporting on the decision? Or they are simply parroting the GOPropaganda talking points, in which case they are not part of a legitimate news organization. I suppose a third possibility is that they are just effin' ignorant, in which case, why are they even employed by a news organization?

Lawrence O'Donnell has provided the most succinct summary of the Court's ruling on SB 1070 that I have seen to date. So pay attention media villagers, and get it right. Start reporting the facts of this case accurately. Video below the fold.