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.
Under pressure, State Bar decides not to add sexual orientation language
January 21, 2009 By 6 Comments
Inauguration Art – “Air and Simple Gifts”
January 20, 2009 By 7 Comments
You have to admit that this was absolutely phenomenal.
I have always held that liberals should not be able to claim exclusive ownership or title to the arts, especially if we’re going to subsidize it!
This piece was composed by John Williams and performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill and Gabriela Montero.
Here is the MSNBC video (much clearer)
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Lisa James’ Attack Piece Hits Mailboxes (UPDATED)
January 20, 2009 By 46 Comments
UPDATE: As several of the comments have mentioned, a closer review of James’ letter reveals accounting that James herself might find reminiscent of a certain large energy company that no longer exists. James claims that “fundraising was down 275%” twice in the letter, and several of her supporters have been repeating that claim. After conferring with several highly qualified mathematicians, we have confirmed what our own high-school mathematics ability suspected, which is that nothing can decrease more than 100% without reaching zero. In other words, had fundraising decreased by 100%, the State Party would have raised zero dollars. One mathematician did insist that James’ claim could be mathematically possible, but for that to be the case, Pullen would have had to give away $9,395,652.50 of party money without raising a single penny. This “negative revenue” could, in theory, justify James’ claim. GILA COURIER has numerous other errors from the letter here.
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The latest letter to GOP State Committeemen from Lisa James’ campaign started arriving in mailboxes today. In it, James attacks State GOP Chairman Randy Pullen on the issue of fundraising, accusing him of “spin” and “using accounting that would make Enron executives blush…”
As you may remember, many Enron executives are now serving lengthy prison terms for their role in the accounting scandal that brought down that company and destroyed the livelihoods and savings of thousands of its employees.
The letter is unclear in its purported parallels between the accounting of the State GOP and that of Enron, but several state GOP officers are fuming at the accusation. In light of the accounting mess they were handed by the previous administration that had to be cleaned up, the accusations are likely to be very unpopular with State GOP Treasurer Timothy Lee, Assistant GOP Treasurer Larry Pickard, Finance Director Amilyn Gordon and the rest of the finance staff.
E Pluribus Unum
January 20, 2009 By 9 Comments
I have to admit, I cannot stand the immigration issue probably because for me, it hijacked the singlemost important issue I believe this country is facing – the wanton destruction of future generations of Americans - and also because it has torn our party apart. I have tangled with this issue because my forefathers were Swedish and German immigrants and I understand why people from around the world want to come to the greatest country in the world.
But there has to be rules. Americans love rules because Americans love fairness. Try cutting ahead in line at the grocery store and you’ll see what I mean. Many immigrants who have become Americans know all too well what it means to wait in line and follow the rules. Many of these Americans are the staunchest defenders of lines and the obeying rule of law.
I also believe there are ideaologies and people who believe those ideaologies and that they will do what they can to infiltrate our country and act out their hatred against us. The most immediate way to prevent that is to secure our border and keep them out.
Needless to say, I believe that we must have an immigration policy that secures our border, identifies and locates every foreigner here, and requires they follow a citizenship process if they want to stay here. Most important, I believe that if they’ve come to American to stay, they embrace American culture. In essence, E Pluribus Unum.
Bloggers tend to hat tip one another when appropriate. I’m going to tip my hat to Len Munsil today for his post on the GOP and the issue of Immigration. He writes:
One of the reasons the Republican Party in Arizona, and nationally, is in such disarray is that when we disagree, we seem to have misplaced the capacity to assume good intentions about each other.
Nowhere has that been more obvious than the debate over illegal immigration. I have always supported a hard line against illegal immigration, and I opposed Congressional efforts over the past two years to enact comprehensive reform. I believe border security is a national security priority. I supported employer sanctions and voted against efforts to weaken Arizona’s current law.
But the people I agree with on the issue were wrong in their treatment of conservative Republicans who favored comprehensive reform. Republican Party officials have every right to call up elected officials and (1) scream bloody murder, and (2) let them know privately that they are getting angry calls and letters from the Party faithful. In fact, they have an obligation to do so. But party officials hurt their own cause when they launch public campaigns challenging elected officials of their own party.
This debate reminds me of my many years involvement in the pro-life movement and how perceptions and stereotypes are created and reinforced. There are great people in our party who vehemently disagree on how the GOP should manage, control, spin this issue. The fact of the matter is that we are beating up on one another on an issue that is far less significant than the taking of innocent human life. I hope to God we can settle this issue soon and get back to what really matters – protecting the unalienable right to life.
Hopefully, we will not lose any more ground (elections are about addition) on this issue by not agreeing on the basics: border security, thorough citizenship procedures and American assimilation and acculturation. With 2010 just around the corner, the GOP cannot afford to lose another election cycle, especially when all our newest citizens see is warring factions.
BURNS AND ADAMS ENDORSE JAMES
January 20, 2009 By 14 Comments
Lisa James is enjoying the support of some of the best the Republican Party in Arizona has to offer. It was just announced that James received the endorsement of long time Appropriations Chairman and now Senate President Bob Burns. Both are pro-life as is James. Both are fiscal and social conservatives. So is James.
Burns is also known for his “when pigs fly” attitude towards spending tax payers money. Adams came from the grassroots and as an freshman legislator assisted former Rep. Laura Knaperek in the passage of the largest income tax reduction in the history of the state of Arizona. Everyone of James’ recent endorsements has worked as grass roots workers within the Party – some for decades. Congratulations to Lisa James.
SIDE NOTE:
Early on in this race, the Pullen supporters counted on Lisa to run a dirty campaign full of personal attacks and mud slinging. Instead, some of those same folks have under anonymity made the race personal. Let’s stick to the issues and work on how to further the Republican Party and its principles. I expect both Lisa and Randy to live by Reagan’s 11th Commandment and to demand their supporters do the same. That is the kind of leader we should all expect. In order to win we must all rise above our petty differences and work together. Let’s remember, at the end of the day, we are all on the same side.
Rude, Crude, Ugly Americans
January 20, 2009 By 2 Comments
Call it what you want but incidents like this make me angry, misanthropic and disparaging of Americans. As you watch this video please tell me there really are civilized decent Americans who do respect their leaders and can control their behavior. As for me and my conservative friends, we will give this President and his Office the respect he has earned and not summon the demons of our baser nature.
Speaker of the House, President of Senate, Endorse James
January 20, 2009 By 1 Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2009
To State Committeemen:
We are proud to endorse Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. Lisa is a strong leader with an excellent track record of fund raising, registering voters and bringing people together to win elections.
We have confidence in Lisa’s ability to unite our Party, to be a strong voice for our Platform and to put us in the best position to succeed in 2010. We whole-heartedly endorse Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.
Pullen Endorsed by 18 County & LD Chairmen
January 20, 2009 By 15 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2009
PULLEN BACKED BY 18 GOP COUNTY AND LD CHAIRS
Grassroots Republican Leadership Supports Pullen
Phoenix, AZ – Randy Pullen, Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party announced the support of the following 18 Republican county and legislative district chairmen today:
Hal Davidson (La Paz County)
Gail Griffin (Cochise County)
Rob Haney (Maricopa County)
Marty Hermanson (Pinal County)
Buster Johnson (Mohave County)
Becky Nutt (Greenlee County)
John Rhodes (Graham County)
Zack Taylor (Santa Cruz County)
Donna Alu (LD-26)
Ed Hedges (LD-15)
Pat Kilburn (LD-29)
Patricia Oldroyd (LD-19)
Constantin Querard (LD-16)
Steve Schallenberger (LD-9)
Timothy Schwartz (LD-13)
John Stevens (LD-14)
Lyle Tuttle (LD-4)
Paul Whetton (LD-18)
“Randy Pullen has done an outstanding job as Arizona Republican Party Chairman and he has taken an active interest in Arizona’s rural counties,” said John Rhodes, chairman of the Graham County Republican Party. “Two years ago, I supported his opponent, but after watching the tireless work and effort that he has put into the Party, getting Republicans elected all over the state, I think we need Randy as our chairman for another two years and I wholeheartedly endorse his re-election bid.”
Pat Kilburn, chairman of the Legislative District 29 Republican Party, seconded Rhodes’ comments, “I supported Lisa James two years ago, but after watching Randy work with all sides to ensure Republican victories, I saw that we had a party chairman we could be proud of. I’m happy to support his candidacy for re-election and look forward to working with him over the next two years.”
“Pinal County was able to win several historic races this year. The support, attention, and resources that we received from Randy Pullen’s state party were critical to our efforts. Randy Pullen has my thanks and my support and I’m ready to work with him as we move the Arizona Republican Party forward,” said Marty Hermanson, chairman of the Pinal County Republican Party.
“I am extremely grateful for the continued support of my candidacy by the grassroots leadership of the Arizona Republican Party,” said Pullen. “With the help of our county and legislative district leadership, we will continue our march forward and win elections from the court house to the state house and everywhere in between.”
For more information on Randy Pullen, his accomplishments as chairman, his vision for the future, and other endorsements, please visit www.randyforchair.com.
Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano
January 20, 2009 By 3 Comments
Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, has just been confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security by the U.S. Senate.
Secretary of State, Jan Brewer, will now officially be sworn in as Governor of Arizona tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
Sonoran Alliance has also learned that hardware stores are selling out of 51-foot ladders.
Executive Expectations
January 20, 2009 By 31 Comments
Today is Inauguration Day at our Nation’s Capitol and we are about to receive our 44th President.
I’m hearing tremendous joy and excitement as Barack Obama gets ready to ascend to the Presidency but there are those who are already on the offensive.
I’m not one of them, at least, not yet.
Barack Obama has not yet been sworn into office. He is not yet our President. Don’t get me wrong. I did not vote for Barack Obama but he is this country’s President and he should have everyone’s support especially at times like these.
So my expectations – at the moment – are quite high. My hopes and prayers are that he will do the right thing and that means defending the Constitution, protecting this country, preserving our freedoms, allowing the free market to operate and produce prosperity, strengthening the traditional institution of the family and yes, protecting innocent vulnerable human life.
Thus far, Obama has done nothing to assault nor promote these practices or principles.
Needless to say, he has a clean slate, although I remain extremely skeptical.
Less than 48 hours after Bill Clinton was sworn into office, he signed five extremely damaging Executive Orders which began eight years of a direct assault on the sanctity of human life. Fortunately, President Bush reversed several of these. Will President Barack Obama reverse these same orders again? I don’t know but I will be watching.
And with every minute of an Obama Administration, I will be watching like many conservatives. With every move in the wrong direction, I will be critical. And with every day toward the next election, I will be working to get conservatives elected to office.
Until then, Barack Obama is the President and he is counting on our support.
Lisa James’ Staff Takes Shape (UPDATED)
January 19, 2009 By 26 Comments
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Likely feeling the momentum from several high-profile endorsements, including U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and incoming Secretary of State Ken Bennett, it appears that Lisa James is starting to settle on staff members for her term as State GOP Chairman. Word at the Capitol is that former State Representative and one-time State Senate and U.S. Congressional candidate Laura Knaperek will be hired as Executive Director of the party.
Knaperek’s supporters say that she is generally regarded as a conservative who has run and won before. Without specifically saying what expertise Knaperek would bring to the job, they pointed out that she has been a candidate at the local and federal levels and she did raise around $150,000 for her Congressional campaign.
Her detractors point to many of these same races as negatives rather than positives. They point out that Knaperek was into the CD5 race early yet she barely out-raised former State Rep Mark Anderson ($130,000) and was crushed by both Susan Bitter-Smith and eventual nominee David Schweikert both in fundraising and at the polls. They point to her 2002 drubbing by Harry Mitchell (Mitchell won by nearly 9 points in the then GOP-leaning district), and then her 3rd-Place finish in the State House race in 2006 when she was again running in a GOP-district for a seat she had held for 8 years. They point out that many of her Congressional contributors were open-border advocates like Kevin Gibbons who ran a nasty and unsuccessful challenge to now State Senator Russell Pearce. And they are especially concerned that Knaperek relied on Nathan Sproul as a consultant for her Congressional race.
“It is basically a return of the same folks who spent a ton of money in 2006 and got killed.” said one party insider, who added “James and Sproul got more than $400,000 from the State Party in 2006 and all we got in exchange was lost Congressional and Legislative seats. No thanks. I’ve seen this movie and I know how it ends.”
No word yet on other potential staff hires, but they are likely to wait until after the actual votes are counted on Saturday.
[Editors Note: Sonoran Alliance has contacted the Lisa James campaign and has confirmed that no staffing decisions have been determined or decided should Lisa James be elected Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.]
Dean Martin Endorses Lisa James
January 19, 2009 By 12 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2009
State Treasurer Dean Martin joins mounting list of endorsers for Lisa James
PHOENIX (January 19, 2009) – Lisa James, elected state committeewoman from Legislative District 8, announced the endorsement of State Treasurer and Mrs. Dean Martin in her run for Arizona Republican Party Chairman.
The following statement was issued: “As the sponsor of Prop 300 to end taxpayer subsidies for illegals and as strong opponents of amnesty, we endorse Lisa James for Party Chairman. Lisa is committed to helping support our Republican elected officials and our Republican Party platform, rather than taking credit for their work. The Republican Party needs leadership with integrity, dedication to serving others above oneself and the ability to generate resources. Lisa James brings all of these qualities and we ask you to join us in supporting her.”
“I am honored to have the support of State Treasurer and Mrs. Dean Martin,” said James. “Treasurer Martin has been a strong leader in challenging outgoing Governor Janet Napolitano by warning of the looming financial crisis we face in the State. I appreciate his tireless efforts on behalf of all Arizona taxpayers, his support for my candidacy and his desire to unite our Party.”
To learn more about Lisa James, her goals for the Arizona Republican Party and view what others are saying, please visit the campaign Web site at www.lisaforchairman.com.
Ken Bennett Endorses Lisa James for State Party Chairman
January 19, 2009 By 1 Comment
Dean Martin…Now Ken Bennett! Who is next, Lisa…Governor Brewer!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2009
Lisa James honored to have support of Secretary of State designee Ken Bennett
PHOENIX (January 19, 2009) – Lisa James, candidate for Arizona Republican Party Chairman and elected state committeewoman from Legislative District 8, announced the endorsement of former President of the Senate and Secretary of State designee Ken Bennett.
Mr. Bennett issued the following statement: “Lisa James has proven herself to be a true leader within the Republican Party. She has a record of success mobilizing grassroots, registering voters, recruiting candidates and turning out the vote. I believe Lisa will make an excellent Chairman as she will help unite our party and get us back on the road to victory. I am proud to endorse Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”
“I congratulate President Bennett on being named as Governor Brewer’s choice as Secretary of State”, said James. “I sincerely appreciate his trust and confidence. I have long respected President Bennett’s work while in the State Senate and I look forward to working with him as we unite our party and set a course for victory in 2010.”
To learn more about Lisa James, her goals for the Arizona Republican Party as Chairman and view what others are saying, please visit the campaign Web site at www.lisaforchairman.com.
Bush Commutes Ramos and Compean!
January 19, 2009 By 3 Comments
President Bush has finally communted the sentences of Border Patrol Agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean!
Read the latest here.
James Disputes Voter Registration/Fundraising Claims
January 18, 2009 By 50 Comments
If you’re a Republican State Committeeman, by now, you’ve received a letter by Republican State Chairman candidate, Lisa James, disputing claims on her ability to register voters. In addition, State Committeemen are also hearing conflicts over fundraising by the State party over the last two years.
Here is an excerpt from the letter and a few visual aids as to James’ claim:
You’ve no doubt heard conflicting reports on the issues of voter registration and fundraising from the current AZ GOP. There is no debate when examining the real numbers of voter registration and fundraising for the AZ GOP. I would like to take this opportunity to give you the information as attained through the Secretary of State’s Web site, so you can determine for yourself if we can do better at registering Republicans and strengthening our finances.
During the 2006 cycle, when I served as Arizona Victory Director, the Republican Party registered 32,158 MORE Republicans than Democrats. During the 2008 Pullen Chairmanship, nearly 70,000 more Democrats registered than did Republicans. In fact, 8 out of 10 people who registered to vote this cycle decided against being a Republican. I’ve included a graph below with information attained through the Secretary of State’s office.
James continues:
In terms of fundraising, you’ll see that from 2002 through 2006 we steadily increased fundraising through the Party. I am proud to say that in 2006, when I was director of the Victory campaign, the AZ GOP raised more money than at any other election cycle on record (See the graph below).
Again, these numbers have been attained through the Secretary of State’s Web site and the Web site of the Federal Election Commission. The justification for the decline in fundraising for the Party during this time has been that Arizona’s money was directed elsewhere. Yet we had candidates who raised record amounts of money for their races (former State Senate President Tim Bee in his campaign for Congressional District 8). The economy has also been blamed, but in fact, during this same time period Democrats raised record amounts of money. In addition, there are no limits on how much money the Arizona Republican Party can raise for our state account. This means our potential to raise money to help our Party is unlimited and we should not only meet, but exceed, fundraising goals every year.
James’ letter than revisits the 2008 Election Cycle and hits back on the party’s failure to mount an early ballot campaign:
Two of the most important functions of the State Party are to register voters and raise money to support all of our Republican candidates. In 2010 we have all of our statewide constitutional offices on the ballot as well as a US Senate race, Congressional Races (and our best opportunity to take back CD1) and all 90 legislative seats. The 2008 election was the first time in memory that the AZ GOP could not fund a statewide early ballot mail piece to support our slate of candidates, nor could it fund an aggressive voter registration program. We lost 50% of the statewide seats on the ballot—not a good record for a red state.
The race for GOP State Chairman is now less than a week away. Boths sides are continuing to hit each other on registration and fundraising issues. Both have also called into question the other’s dedication to conservative causes such as the sanctity of life although Arizona Right to Life’s PAC has noted both candidates are equivalent on this position. Both campaigns have said little publically on the issue of immigration/amnesty and this may signal a hesitancy to bring that issue into play in this race. Regardless, expect this race to heat up even more in the remaining days.
You may read Lisa James’ entire letter by clicking here.
How the New Times Publishers Destroyed Alternative Weeklies
January 18, 2009 By 6 Comments
The Phoenix New Times doesn’t hesitate to write mean things about everyone else, so it’s just desserts that one of its own has published an expose on publishers Lacey & Larkin. Former L.A. Weekly longtime reporter Marc Cooper (and brief employee of Lacey & Larkin) has penned a lengthy critique of how Lacey & Larkin destroyed the Village Voice and other alternative news weeklies they touched. Here are some excerpts:
…In 1996 they moved into L.A. to directly confront the L.A. Weekly – more or less the way Michael Corleone moved in on Moe Green’s Las Vegas. Lacey and Larkin bought out and closed two smaller local weeklies and went out of their way to insult the laid-off staff in the process. There are numerous witnesses with harrowing stories of the day Lacey came in and berated (and fired) the staff of The Reader which he had just bought.
Within months, it was clear that Lacey and Larkin were banking on the perceived talents of their lead columnist Jill Stewart. Once a respected L.A. Times metro writer, Stewart had become a snarling bulldog infected with a rather strange world-view which came to dominate The New Times Los Angeles….This sort of unfounded snarling and sniping from the local New Times Los Angeles, as embodied in Stewart’s writing, built no significant audience, never really bit into the Weekly’s readership or advertising revenue and eventually led to the slow, long decline and uneventful quiet folding of the local New Times paper in 2002.
That jalopy officially got towed to the junkyard when the Lacey-Larkin management fired the last remaining “name writer” at the Voice this last New Year’s weekend – the venerable Nat Hentoff. He was probably the one reason why half of the paper’s remaining readership even bothered to pick up the rag.
And into 2006, the new merged company run by Lacey –which took the name of the vanquished Village Voice Media– found its own Vietnam in the Village Voice and was too distracted to screw around with the L.A Weekly. The Voice was bleeding cash and no one could be found to edit what had become a fish-wrapper. As of this date, the paper remains a ghost of its prior self.
Jill Stewart gleefully set about immediately dismantling the L.A. Weekly’s news department….In their place, laughable “reporters” were brought in to scribble highly ideological pieces that reflected Stewart’s world view. How about a reporter named Zuma Dogg who “wrote” this little ditty? I put that word in quote marks as it was an open secret that it was Stewart who actually wrote most of Dogg’s otherwise illegible piece ( A rapper/ranter, Mr. Dogg had once boasted: “I don’t like to read”). And no matter that this was the same Mr. Dogg who was an eccentric gadfly who repeatedly disrupted local agency meetings for which he was now being paid to report on.
The full article is here.