I can’t understand how any Republican who claims to support immigration control and enforcement can support Lisa James, she is not only supported by the greedy business interest of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, who are determined to block employer sanctions, she is married to them, her husband, Gordon James, is an original member of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition.

Wake up and protect the party, re-elect Randy Pullen as OUR chairman. Let them know, we can’t be bought.

Bob Haran,
LD 6

The Chamber of Commerce represents interests that donate a LOT of money to political campaigns. They support “comprehensive” immigration reform. They want party leaders and candidates who will respond to those interests. It is not likely a complete coincidence that Jon Kyl changed his tune on comprehensive immigration reform after he got elected with the help of millions of dollars in contributions from Chamber of Commerce supporters. Also, his political operative Glen Hamer went from being Executive Director of the Republican Party to Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce after the disastrous 2006 results (except for Kyl, of course, who won) because he followed the Chamber of Commerce’s playbook. Other people who want to run for a federal office know they will need lots of money and that, in exchange for appropriate actions, the Chamber of Commerce people will give it to them. That’s how the Chamber of Commerce impacts endorsements in the State Party Chairman race.

Regarding voters deciding on capabilities of candidates and holding them accountable, we must remember that voters have limited time and like to be able to use time saving tools to help them make decisions. That includes political decisions. A reliable Republican brand running reliable Republican candidates means it is easier for Republican leaning voters to go to the polls and easily vote Republican. If either the brand or candidates are not reliable, then Republican voters will find voting more difficult and time consuming than necessary. This will either mean fewer Republicans voting for Republican candidates, more time spent having to do research and/or communication, or both. The only rationale for a political party is to provide useful “branding” information to voters. As with any “franchise,” since every individual candidate had an incentive to benefit from the brand while pursuing personal interests and values that may vary from the Party Platform, there needs to be accountability to the Party to keep that from happening. Otherwise, why not just have everyone run as individuals without party affiliation and abolish political parties?

I wouldn’t give it all to Pullen just yet.

Anyway, Pullen will win because he’s doing a great job.

Lisa James an opponent of amnesty? I don’t recall seeing her name on any of the Protect Arizona Now initiatve materials, or on the lists of folks who carried Employer Sanctions…

The phrasing of that press release noted Lisa James as solid on the border issue will not help her campaign.

Still, in spite of those big names she had last time, she lost. I guess Conservative PC was glad to see all those grassroots State Committeemen “take an active stand and support someone who they believe will lead out Republican party in the right direction.” That’s why they voted for Pullen before and its why they will again.

We need to unite as Republicans and work hard to elect more Republicans. I am proud of our current Republican office holders, and I am glad to see those in senior ranking (Senator Kyl, SOS Bennett, and Dean Martin) take an active stand and rise to support someone who they believe will lead our Republican party in the right direction. They are supporting someone who will be a uniter and not a divider.

Also, it’s much easier for an elected official to have a cheer leading section than an organization to hold him accountable. Dean Martin is a good conservative, but nobody likes to have people looking over their shoulder when a cheer leading squad is the alternative. Just ask Jon Kyl.

Like most anyone, politicians would rather have the party working for them rather than be accountable to the party (in addition to their constituents).

Ditto for Ken Bennett.

Think about it! Kyl, Martin, Bennett…endorse Lisa James over Randy Pullen; they get it. The big elections are in 2010. If Pullen stays, the AZGOP will only be weaker than it is now. What is there to indicate anything will change, that he will “do better”?

NADA…ZIP…ZILCH.