Bill Clinton

We are a Republic Sir, Not an Absolute Monarchy

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The President and his devout counsel must think we are a Banana Republic. Despite his, and the zealots in his party, best efforts to facilitate this development, we are fortunately not there yet. It was revealed today in the New York Times that some of the Presidents lawyers (including those no longer serving him) argued … Read more

Watch the Democratic National Convention from Tucson

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“Downtown’R American Grill (is) inside the hotel. Bring friends & family and watch our POTUS candidate accept the nomination.” Hosted by Pima County Democrats CD 3. Carolyn’s note: Here’s an event for those of us not in Philadelphia, PA this week.  The Democratic National Convention is likely to nominate the Democratic team of Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine … Read more

Ducey’s cruel move on welfare continues the legacy of “reform”

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Crossposted from DemocraticDiva.com

New Republic welfare cover
This was seriously on the cover of the New Republic in 1996.

Gotta love this headline and lede:

Facing $1 billion deficit, Arizona sharply limits welfare

PHOENIX (AP) — Facing a $1 billion budget deficit, Arizona’s Republican-led Legislature has reduced the lifetime limit for welfare recipients to the shortest window in the nation.

Low-income families on welfare will now have their benefits cut off after just 12 months.

Oh, yes, it’s all about the deficit. Sure it is.

The cuts of at least $4 million reflect a prevailing mood among the lawmakers in control in Arizona that welfare, Medicaid and other public assistance programs are crutches that keep the poor from getting back on their feet and achieving their potential.

“I tell my kids all the time that the decisions we make have rewards or consequences, and if I don’t ever let them face those consequences, they can’t get back on the path to rewards,” Republican Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, said during debate on the budget. “As a society, we are encouraging people at times to make poor decisions and then we reward them.”

I saw several people on social media wondering how Arizona could enact such limits to TANF when these are federal dollars in question. Understanding that requires historical context that the AP report touches on briefly in the very last paragraph:

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Democratic Party Glitterati Coming to Arizona

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Do the Democrats smell blood in the purple waters of Arizona? Given our Tea Party Legislature’s current assault on the citizens of Arizona. Let’s  hope so. Democratic Party superstars–Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton and Nancy Pelosi– are coming to Arizona this spring for separate events. The Clinton Global Initiative University is sponsoring a university-based event … Read more

President Clinton campaigns for Carmona in Arizona, as polls show race tightening (video)

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Clinton098-sm72

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Despite Arizona’s reputation as a stalwartly red state, with
a capital R, Democrats are hoping to take back one of the state’s US Senate in November.

Although Democrats have held a percentage of the state’s
Congressional seats for years, the Republican Party has controlled both Arizona
US Senate seats since 1994, when embattled Senator Dennis
Deconcini retired, and Arizona Congressman Jon Kyl won it.

Since
early 2012, former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona has been
crisscrossing the state, campaigning
tirelessly to move that Senate seat to the D column. Over the summer,
Carmona climbed steadily in the polls against Kyl’s heir apparent and
six-term, conservative Congressman Jeff Flake. A recently released poll shows
Independent-turned-Democrat Carmona
leading Flake by four percentage points—a statistical dead heat.

This close—and important—Senate race has attracted the
attention of heavy hitters from both parties. While the Koch Brothers’ Freedom
Works PAC has been pumping money into Flake’s campaign, this week Democrats
sent their secret weapon—President Bill Clinton—to Arizona to help Carmona.

Wednesday night, Carmona and Clinton addressed an estimated
5500 Arizonans at an outdoor rally on the Arizona State University (ASU)
campus.

More details and a videos after the jump.