Tucson

PDA: Envisioning a more progressive Arizona Democratic Party

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Taxby Pamela Powers Hannley

Are you one of those Democrats who grumbles about the
Arizona Democratic Party’s (ADP) slide into Republican-lite territory?

 Are you tired of Blue Dog Democratic candidates?

 Are you tired of the party’s weak stances on hot-button
issues?

Did you ever wonder why the ADP’s Progressive Caucus has so
little power—despite being the state party’s largest caucus? (Maybe you didn’t
even know that the ADP had a progressive caucus?)

Are you ready for change?

If you said, “Hell, yeah!” to any of the above questions, then
it’s time to stop muttering and start acting. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the Tucson
Chapters of Drinking Liberally/Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) are
holding a special meeting  at The Shanty—beginning
at 6 p.m. with FREE pizza. The focus of the meeting will be on envisioning and
brainstorming a more progressive Democratic Party in Arizona. Former Arizona Legislator and PDA
Tucson coordinator Phil Lopes will lead the discussion.

Why should you attend? Read the details after the jump.

Occupy Tucson sponsors People’s Bailout Party and Potluck, Nov. 15

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by Pamela Powers Hannley Underwater mortgages, student loan debt, medcial bills, unemployment, credit cards, preditory lending– for a myriad of reasons Americans are in debt and hurting financially. How did this happen? To quote a popular Occupy chant: "Banks got bailed out. We got sold out!" To draw attention to our national debt and solutions … Read more

AZ voting irregularities + misinformation + rule-bending + 600,000 uncounted ballots = statewide disgrace (video)

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Vote-sm72

 by Pamela Powers Hannley

Eariler this week, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett announced that more than 600,000 ballots from Tuesday's election had yet to be counted. According to the Wednesday Arizona Daily Star the breakdown is:

Maricopa County: 460,000

Pima County: 80,000

Pinal County: 27,000

Coconino County: 11,000

Navajo County: 5,600

Gila County: 3,400

Apache County: 2,457

Cochise County: who knows? (And why don't they know?)

The 2012 Arizona election is one for the record books with the vast numbers of uncounted ballots, the largest number of provisional ballots ever, pre-election suppression of Latino vote in Maricopa County, polling place misinformation spread by Jeff Flake's campaign, questions about the integrity of Pima County's voting machines, and evidence that the Pima County Elections Department asked for and was granted permission by Bennet not to follow state law when processing ballots. (How many other counties were given a pass on the law by Bennett? An image of the letter is after the jump.) 

Now, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow is using Arizona– and specifically Pima County– as the poster child for need for election reform– because Pima has a history of voter suppression. (Us?)

In 2008, the ACLU named Pima County #1 in the country for voter suppression when F. Ann Rodreguez's department threw out 18% of the provisional ballots– rather than spend the estimated 45 minutes per ballot to verify addresses. (Why was she re-elected?) We can't let this happen again. This year we must hold her feet to the fire. Every provisional ballot must counted. If you are one of the 1000s of Pima residents whose vote has not been counted, go here to check on your early ballot and go here to check on your provisional ballot.  

After the jump, watch Maddow skewer Arizona for having more than 600,000 uncounted votes. No one should concede until all ballots have been counted. Today's Arizona Daily Star said that could take another week. We need election reform.

Tucson’s Open Studio Tour: Nov 10-11

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by Pamela Powers Hannley The Tucson Pima Arts Council's annual Open Studio Tour takes place this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. More than 200 local artists will open their studios, show off their work, and hopefully sell some of it.  I attended the Open Studio reception on Thursday night, and … Read more

Tucson Modernism Week: Nov 9-11

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  by Pamela Powers Hannley The Tucson Historic Preservation Association is sponsoring Tucson Modernism Weekend which begins this evening with a reception at the Chase Bank on Broadway (pictured here) and continues throughout the weekend with lectures, a car show, a mid-century modern style show, a pricey Mad Men cocktail party on Saturday night, and much … Read more