We doubt it, but Gila Courier got their hands on an interesting email that shines some light on the status of the contest.
No Obstacles, No Excuses!
January 21, 2009 By 12 Comments
Today, Arizonans witnessed the tremendous occasion of the swearing in of conservative Republican, Janice K. Brewer, Arizona’s 22nd Governor. This momentous event follows on the heels of the convening of the 49th Legislature – a body of lawmakers which became more conservative in the last election cycle. In fact, this is perhaps the most conservative state government Arizona has had in recent memory.
This is a HUGE opportunity for Republicans and the conservative movement. Especially if Republicans desire to prove themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility.
While the federal government takes a radical turn to the left and liberal media outlets teeter on the edge of bankruptcy, a more perfect storm could not exist for conservative Republicans to safely guide the ship of state to safety in Arizona.
While states like California – held hostage by liberal Democrats and paralyzed by a liberal Republican – cannot seem to find a way to even issue timely tax refunds to its citizens, conservative Arizona lawmakers guided by a conservative Governor have a wide open path to show the nation how to control government and put the interests of its citizens first.
Conservative Republicans should be rejoicing! The liberal media is on the ropes. Democratic lawmakers don’t have the numbers to stop a conservative legislative agenda and the public mood is prepared to sacrifice and accept the appropriate cuts to the state budget.
Arizona is ripe for political change. Republicans must gather to harvest government reform, fiscal responsibility, protecting traditional values and good government.
There are no obstacles and there are no excuses!
Congressional Leaders Back James for Chair
January 21, 2009 By 3 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2009
Congressional leaders back James in AZ GOP chairman’s race
PHOENIX (January 21, 2009) – Lisa James, candidate for Arizona Republican Party Chairman, announced the endorsement of Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-3) and Congressman Jeff Flake (AZ-6) supporting her candidacy for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.
“It is my honor to endorse Lisa James for Chairman of the Republican Party,” said Rep. Shadegg. “I’ve known and worked with Lisa for many years and she has what it takes to bring all Arizona Republicans together for the 2010 election cycle. Lisa’s record of accomplishments is exactly what we need to lead our statewide election efforts. Please join me in supporting Lisa James for State Party Chairman.”
“I am proud to endorse Lisa James for State Party Chairman,” said Rep. Flake. “Lisa has successfully managed both of President Bush’s campaigns in Arizona and I am confident in her experience in fund raising, grassroots mobilization and her ability to bring all Republicans together for a common cause. Lisa James has my full support for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”
“I am delighted to have the support of two of the best Representatives in Congress,” said James. “They both fight very hard for Republican principles and policies for us in Washington, DC and I look forward to working with them, our grassroots activists and all of our candidates over the next two years as Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”
To learn more about Lisa James, her vision for the future of the Arizona Republican Party and what others are saying, please visit the campaign Web site at www.lisaforchairman.com.
Obama to Issue Order for Taxpayer-Funded Overseas Abortions
January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Tomorrow is the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade – the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that opened the door to abortion-on-demand for any reason or no reason at all throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Since January 22, 1973 there have been an estimated 49,551,703 unborn Americans killed by abortion.
That number is staggering and will ultimately affect our economy as our birth rate continues to stumble and head toward a collision with Social Security.
Tomorrow, President Barack Obama will reverse an Executive Order that prohibited our tax dollars from being spent on organizations that discuss or provide abortions to other nations.
As we expected, this will be the first slap in the face to cultural conservatives. And to add insult to injury it will come on the anniversary of one of the most horrific Supreme Court rulings in our nations history.
African Americans should be outraged, especially since the rate among African-American women is highest.
Fiscal conservatives should be outraged that this President will now be bailing out social engineering organizations like Planned Parenthood International.
Americans should be outraged as we propogate an underhanded international genocide against other nations.
But we shouldn’t be surprised. We warned this was coming and yet Americans gave the most pro-abortion President their vote on November 4th.
AZ Students For Life Honors the Unborn and Informs Campus Youth
January 21, 2009 By 4 Comments
-Gayle Plato-Besley
Once again, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision (January 22, 1973), legalizing abortion in the United States, approaches. Many activists for life are trying to honor the day with a rally cry for the unborn, but also to help people facing very tough decisions. Yet, there is anger and prejudice against the promotion of dialogue with students. The right to abort becomes a push to deny unplanned pregnancy in general. That leap from a Right to Choose, becomes a denial of others’ choice of life for their children.
Student activism is shifting the paradigm; young adults are beginning to see a need for balanced services: unbiased counseling, full disclosure of campus services regarding programs for young and unwed parents, information regarding adoption, and financial aid for students who choose to be parents can help unplanned pregnancies come out of the closet. The unplanned can be more than burdens targeted for annilation.
From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions occurred and a disproportionate number of these are performed on women of color, of lower income, and as a result of unintended pregnancy. See my previous post: (http://therightwoman.blogtownhall.com/2008/05/20/one_third_of_all_black_americans_terminated.thtml)
While rates are dropping worlwide, the loss of life due to abortion is approaching 50 million people; this is the equivalent to the entire population of Canada and Austrailia combined.
(http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html#2)
As part of a week-long look at Right to Life — Arizona activism – I am highlighting Arizona Students For Life.
Christopher White, Executive Director of Arizona Students For Life, took out some time this busy week of rallies and informative programming in the works, to respond to my questions. Here some highlights of this group. The website offers thorough background and links to the nationwide student organization.
From the website http://www.arizonastudentsforlife.org/about.htm
Arizona Students for Life is a state-wide office created to expand, support, and sustain the pro-life student movement in Arizona.
Arizona’s nearly 30 public colleges and universities contain over 310,000 students. These students are routinely exposed to pro-abortion bias, as they are inundated with a culture of death. The handful of courageous pro-life leaders at these schools are simply overwhelmed at the tragedy that surrounds them, their friends, and their classmates.
The pro-choice propaganda they are indoctrinated with is very effective – and very deadly:
In many Universities and colleges, the pro-abortion bias extends to blatantly unconstitutional discrimination against pro-life student activists. One Arizona pro-life student organization, Arizona State University Students for Life, had to seek legal help from the Alliance Defense Fund, just to be able to set up a pro-life exhibit on campus.
How many other pro-life students might simply give up in the face of overwhelming administrative opposition?
INTERVIEW -January 21, 2009
Q1. Chris, as the Executive Director of a campus outreach group, do you find any resistance to your presentations or displays being set up? What double standard exists as you see it on campus regarding your work?
A. Abortion is a controversial topic, so I’ve never been surprised that we’ve faced opposition to our events and activities on campus. By far, the most challenging obstacle we face is the double-standard we encounter when trying to debate this issue – and it is also the most puzzling.
An university should be a free marketplace of ideas; debate of hard issues should be welcomed. But when we bring our pro-life message to campus, especially when using graphic images as evidence to show the humanity of the unborn child, or the inhumanity of abortion, one side of the debate seems to shut down entirely. For example, when we displayed the Justice for All exhibit in March of 2008, a group of pro-choice protesters literaly encircled the display and began shouting pro-choice slogans. (“…2…4…6..8..choice is good; choice is great!” etc…) This was their response to an invitation to discuss the issue: instead of refuting our arguments, they tried to silence our message by drowning it out with shouting. Fortunately, hundreds of individuals were open-minded enough to talk with our members, to share their point of view, and to listen to ours – resulting not in more hostility, more animosity, and more polarization; but leading us all closer to the truth, and to a genuine understanding of the opposing side’s concerns.
Q2. What exactly is the purpose of Arizona Students for Life?
A.The purpose of Arizona Students for Life is really quite simple: to save lives and transform our culture. We do this by educating students about the humanity of the unborn child – and also being prepared to help students find the support they deserve when facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Q3. What are the main concerns over the Freedom of Choice Act? What is it and why the concern right now?
A. The Freedom of Choice Act is a frightening piece of legislation because it eliminates virtually all restrictions on abortion, and all protections for women, including things that have received support from many pro-choice individuals: parental notification laws and informed consent. FOCA is also a blatant example of how pro-abortion advocates want to impose their morality on the pro-life community: Under FOCA, pro-life doctors and pharmacists could be forced to perform abortions and prescribe abortifacients, despite their moral and religious objections. Catholic hospitals throughout the country could be forced to shut down entirely if they refuse to comply with FOCA and perform abortions.
Q4. Do you feel you’re pushing a religious agenda?
A. AZSFL is not a religious organization. We are specifically and exclusively pro-life and we focus all of our outreach and education efforts to defend innocent human life from conception to natural death
Q5. I’ve written a bit about how people of color are being aborted at a disproportionate rate in society. Do you discuss this issue in your outreach, and how well informed are our young people about abortion numbers?
A. Abortion is a tragedy that strikes at the most vulnerable: both the helpless unborn child, and the frightened young woman seeking an abortion. This is one reason why abortion disproportionately afflicts youth and minorities. Students we speak to are often shocked to hear that college age women (18-24) account for half of all abortions annually; and that African American women are 5 times as likely to get an abortion as white women.
Q6. What types of counseling services are offered to young women and men regarding unplanned pregnancy and the choice to KEEP the child? Is it a disproportionate service? Are their programs funded to help young parents continue school once choosing life?
A. Arizona Students for Life works extensively with pro-life pregnancy centers to promote and advertise their life-saving services and support. So much of the pro-life movement is devoted to offering genuine compassion and service to women facing the challenge of unplanned pregnancy; it is unfortunate that so few students seem to know that help is available for them if they choose life. ASU Students for Life purchased advertising space at a busy part of campus in order to display a 10′ banner promoting the Optionline (1-800-395-HELP) number that refers people to free, confidential help and counseling, 24/7. Our banner was stolen after only a few weeks, presumably by pro-choice students offend by the implicit message of its offer of help: that the unborn child as well as the mother deserves our concern and compassion.
Q7. Do you find any statistical relevance regarding the number of college-age women who feel pressured to abort? Is there documented proof of biased counseling happening on college campuses today?
A. Our organization has not conducted any research into counseling bias at universities (so I can’t give you any statistics about that), but we do know that college-age women are the most at-risk age group for seeking an abortion. Young women (and men) at college are often away from their family and friends, lacking a support group and unsure how to handle a crisis. It’s easy to see how an unplanned pregnancy in this situation could lead to desperation – and often abortion is seen as the only option; or the easy way out – an option that is often regretted later in life. How many young people go away to college to brighten their futures, and end up making a decision that casts a shadow over the rest of their lives? This just underscores the importance of promoting the free services and support offered by pro-life pregnancy centers.
Anonymity Rears Its Ugly Head
January 21, 2009 By 22 Comments
For some time, several of us in the “blogger community” have discussed the anonymity of posts and comments on blogs like Sonoran Alliance.
The recent posts and especually comments leading up to the Arizona Republican Chairmans race has been a good example of “anonymity rearing its ugly head.”
If you’ve noticed, most of the postings have been simple press releases left open for individuals to make comments on. Needless to say, some of these comments have become pretty ugly and have probably given anyone but Republicans front row seating to watch Republicans engage in a political blood sport.
True, the majority of our writers post anonymous because they fear political repercussions to their livelihood.
But at the same time, writing under a pseudonym provokes a temptation to lose all civility when posting something related to a political opponent/competitor. Even worse, is the temptation to promulgate incorrect or false information.
And then there are the anonymous/pseudonym comments.
For several prominent bloggers here in Arizona, the problem has become that writing behind a pseudonym is ruining the political discourse because it allows a passive aggressive lack of civility to occur. Imagine if you had to face one another in the public arena on a political disagreement? Would your discussion be the same?
Ultimately, I am tangling with how to handle what is posted and commented here on Sonoran Alliance. I cannot spend 24 hours a day policing the comments nor do I want to engage in censorship of free speech. (Besides, I don’t get paid to do this as much as I would!)
One suggestion is that I turn off all comments until I sit down and review them. Anyone who writes for Sonoran Alliance is told that they are required to conduct a thorough fact check before posting anything. It’s very time consuming to fact check each writer’s posts and besides, the commenters usually do this themselves. We could also require any commenter to register with the blog before making a comment. Or, maybe the solution is that bloggers develop their own bloggers code and ask writers/readers to abide by it.
Even with this post, I run the risk of soliciting comments that will bring on the very problems I’ve just brought up. But in doing so, maybe we will find a solution or at least bring back some civility to this discourse.
Now What?
January 21, 2009 By 6 Comments
If a photo speaks a thousand words, here’s one that shouts, “Time to clean up the mess and govern!”
Hopefully, the new administration will lead by example and ask the people to clean up after themselves and take care of one another.
Looking at the mess on the Capitol Mall, it appears our tax dollars will be put to work cleaning up instead of asking people to be responsible.
Under pressure, State Bar decides not to add sexual orientation language
January 21, 2009 By 6 Comments
We broke the story here first, and now Arizona’s News Platoon is reporting the Bar is backing off. Thanks to those of you who contacted the State Bar and protested. Other than one newspaper article which came out a few days after the controversy surfaced, this was a protest effort completely organized by the blogs and new media. According to Arizona News Platoon, the AZ Supreme Court instructed the State Bar not to add the language. This was a wise decision. Limiting the free speech rights of Arizona’s attorneys in the name of political correctness would have been challenged and overthrown by the courts – and the cost of such a silly decision would be unfairly borne by Arizona’s attorneys.
