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The Town Hall That Wasn’t

August 6, 2009 By 17 Comments

Thanks to Gila Courier  for this gem of a video clip on the recent Gabrielle Giffords Town Hall in Douglas.

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Meanwhile, in the other adjacent congressional district (CD-7), the modus operandi for citizen interaction has subtly changed for liberal Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva. According to Ted at 3R, Grijalva “prefers to show up at other community events and keep in touch with constituents that way instead of the traditional “town hall” meeting that has become the fashion among congressmen over the last couple of decades.”

Apparently, Grijalva’s office has been receiving requests for the town halls from constituents who want a little citizen participation and input into how Washington DC is being run these days:

But, that hasn’t been enough for the flood of ticked off and sometimes profane callers to Grijalva’s office this week who are angry that Grijalva isn’t holding a town hall meeting on a schedule to their liking. Apparently, it is Grijalva’s job to put on a town hall, so that these guys can show up, jeer, yell and otherwise make it impossible for anyone who shows up hoping to talk to their congressman to do so. Yep, they are angry that he isn’t putting on an event so that they can come and shut it down.

Did I mention that Ted’s post is entitled, “But, You Are Supposed to Give Us a Forum to Act Like Meatheads?”

 

 

 

Filed Under: Freedom of Speech, Health Care, Special Event

Maricopa County GOP chairman Rob Haney responds to Rep. McComish on opposing sanctuary city ban

August 6, 2009 By

Dear Representative McComish,

I was elected as MCRC Chairman by conservative precinct committeemen who wanted someone to speak out clearly within the party to represent their opinions. These PCs believed they were being ignored by most of Arizona’s congressional delegation who were advocating for amnesty and other liberal agenda items, such as closing gun shows and Campaign Finance Reform. They also believed that too many Republican state legislators sided with former Governor Napolitano to pass Democrat budgets and legislation and were not representing the conservative beliefs of the PCs.

Your comments in defense of those Republicans who opposed Sen. Pearce’s bill to end sanctuary cities have been addressed previously by Sen. Pearce here.

Your position on my job responsibilities echos the comment of Senator Kyl after the defeat of the amnesty bill he championed. The bill was defeated through the leadership of party officials and Republican activists who publicly opposed the bill. I was proud to be one of those officials. Senator Kyl stated that the party had exceeded its role. He further stated that the party exists to get Republicans elected, not declare positions on issues. Sen. Kyl’s position is a common misconception by many party incumbents.

I disagree with both of you. The party does exist to elect Republicans, raise money, provide volunteers & resources, etc. But the party must first be guided by our Constitution and the party platform, otherwise our existence is unjustified. Too many Republican officials have supported incumbents who have shown themselves to be unworthy of the Republican name. This has led to disastrous election results in 2006 and 2008. I cite Senator Specter and “Jumpin” Jim Jeffords as only two examples of many.

Republican activists and party leaders must oppose legislation which is unconstitutional, and support legislation which is critical to the very survival of our party and country. Certainly, the Democrats will not. They are advocating for the same legislation as these wayward Republicans. Only party activists prevented passage of the amnesty bill. Only party activists gave us Prop 200 over the objections of our entire congressional delegation. Only party activists gave us employer sanctions over the objections from members of our state and federal delegation. Only party activists stopped the attempt to close the gun shows, and fought against the loss of Constitutionally guaranteed free speech which occurred because of the Campaign Finance Reform bill. This egregious bill was introduced by a Republican Senator, passed by a Republican congress and signed by a Republican president. There are many more examples of party officials and activists finding it necessary to speak out against Republicans who stray from Constitutional and platform principles. Here is a famous party official you will recognize. Tom DeLay: “John McCain has done the most to hurt the GOP”

I would not meet my responsibility as a party leader if I were to ignore the Constitution and platform for the benefit of someone with an “R” after their name who fails to advance a Republican agenda. I will continue to give voice to Republican activists who feel their elected officials have let them down and no longer represent them.

I will not offer an apology where none is warranted, and certainly I will not resign as you request. Instead, I would urge you and others who did not support Sen. Pearce’s bill to realize that the illegal alien invasion has a massive detrimental effect on a myriad of issues. To grant wholesale citizenship to those who would swell the ranks of the Democrat party is political suicide. I urge you to make anti-sanctuary legislation a top priority next session.

Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio, County Attorney Thomas and all the law enforcement agencies which are on record as supporting Sen. Pearce’s bill deserve nothing less than our commitment to achieve these objectives.

You state that you believe the “County Party has some rules regarding endorsements that require 60% approval of the EGC.” You also believe that as a result of these rules, I should obtain 60% approval before I publicly take sides in a policy dispute.

The bylaw to which you refer requires a 60% approval by the EGC members in order for the EGC to endorse a candidate in a primary election. There is no bylaw which restricts the Chairman’s freedom of political speech. In any case, I was representing my own beliefs and not those of the EGC.

A third point you make is that as county party leader I have voluntarily placed restrictions on my free speech. Again, I must disagree. It is wholly inconsistent to believe that I have less freedom to speak after my election than I had before my election. I am confident that our Founders drafted their First Amendment, contemplating that this freedom of speech protection would apply to all citizens, including Republican Party Officials.

My hope is that in the coming session, Republican State legislators will back strong anti-illegal immigration legislation so that party officials will not feel compelled to speak out in opposition. I believe that you can play a positive role in advancing that legislation as we move forward– focused on passing laws in support of the Constitution and the Republican Platform.

Respectfully,

Rob Haney

Filed Under: Illegal Aliens, Illegal Immigration, Legislation

Community Organizers Unite!

August 6, 2009 By 7 Comments

Americans for Prosperity - Arizona

The following email has been issued by the Arizona Chapter of Americans for Prosperity

To Arizona Taxpayers and Tea Partiers:

The Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity is joining allied organizations on Saturday, August 8th to hold protests at the offices of members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation to tell them to keep their HANDS OFF OUR HEALTH CARE!

AFP Arizona activists will join Arizona Tea Party, 9-12 Project Arizona, Smart Girl Politics, Tea Party Patriots, and thousands of citizen activists in Code Blue protests around the state, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8th.

Code Blue is asking activists to attend protests at the offices of their Congresspersons and Senators and at the office of the AARP. For locations, see the Code Blue flyer.

AFP Arizona recommends that activists focus their efforts on the offices of U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Pima County), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Prescott/Flagstaff) and Harry Mitchell (D-Scottsdale/Tempe). Those three members have serious concerns about the initial versions of the Obama-Pelosi-Kennedy “reform” plans.

The current plans would result in massive new taxes, failure to control costs, and potentially a single-payer, Canadian-style system of government-directed health care (under which Washington bureaucrats would decide which doctors you can go to, and which medical procedures you can and can’t have).

Giffords, Kirkpatrick, and Mitchell are under intense pressure from President Obama, from their hard-left colleagues in Congress, and from radical activist groups that want to destroy what remains of America’s private health insurance system. We need to make sure that Giffords, Kirkpatrick and Mitchell hear loud and clear from grassroots supporters of health care freedom!

To sign up for a Health Care Tea Party, please take the following five steps:

1) Decide which Congressional office you wish to visit on August 8th. The offices are listed on the Code Blue flyer.

2) Reply to this email (or write to tjenney@afphq.org) to let AFP Arizona know which office you plan to visit.

3) Let your local Tea Party organizer know which office you’re going to, by signing up at www.arizonateaparty.com.

4) Get talking points, policy updates, and ideas for signs at: http://joinpatientsfirst.com/

5) Email and call your friends and family members, and urge them to join us on August 8th.

This is the fight of the decade for American liberty. Now is the time to take a stand.

President Obama and the leftists in Congress wanted to hurry up and complete the national government’s takeover of American health care–before the public got a chance to find out what was in the legislation. We are grateful to report that the legislation does not look like it will go to a final vote until after the August recess. That means we have a very limited window to act.

The same people who have taken over private banks and much of the auto industry now want to take over even more of the health care sector. The same people who make you wait in line at the Post Office want to create a system in which you will have to wait weeks, months, or even years for life-saving or life-improving medical services. The same kind of people who run America’s very expensive and very ineffective public schools claim that they will (somehow) maintain quality and control costs in the health care sector.

Some of the central planners in Washington want to give government the power to say which doctors you can go to, and which medical procedures you can and can’t have. President Obama is not sure whether the government should have allowed his own grandmother to get a hip replacement. Imagine how Washington bureaucrats will treat YOU!

We must take a stand NOW to protect elderly patients, to maintain the high quality of health services in America, and to preserve the essential doctor-patient relationship. Government has already distorted US health insurance markets by making private health insurance too expensive for many Americans, and by making American workers dependent upon on employer-provided insurance. But if you think things are bad now, wait until government completes its takeover of the medical sector. We must STOP the rapid march of socialist health care! 

For Liberty,  

–Tom 

Tom Jenney
Arizona Director
Americans for Prosperity

Filed Under: Freedom of Speech, Health Care, Press Release, Special Event

Maricopa County Supervisors implement even MORE diversity efforts

August 6, 2009 By 3 Comments


Just three months after instructing county agencies in a memo sent June 1 to step up their efforts promoting diversity, the Board of Supervisors now feels the need to step up efforts even more. According to this article in the Republic, the reason for the new push is because of a complaint the county received about discrimination. The complaint came from an Hispanic activist organization, Valle del Sol, regarding questions it received while discussing a proposal for housing for the elderly at a Community Development Advisory Committee meeting. The committee is composed of volunteers. Examples of the “offensive” questions provided by the Republic were, “”Are all the officers in your organization Latino?” and “This (program) is ‘gonna be just for Hispanic?’”

Do these questions seem discriminatory or something that would require the county during this budget crisis to implement even more diversity training? Of course not. Sounds like the commission members were curious to learn about Valle del Sol, and probably also concerned that preferring one ethnic group over another is wrong – the AZ Civil Rights Initiative to ban government race and gender preferences will be on the ballot in 2010 and is expected to pass easily.

Yet the liberal County Supervisors have decided that asking those questions now requires implementing diversity training for Maricopa County’s 31 boards and commissions. When is enough enough? We are in the middle of a budget crisis and the Supervisors just want to ram diversity down everyone’s throat due to a radical organization that decided to be offended by perfectly normal questions?

Fortunately, not everyone bought into the bizarre accusations of discrimination. “My honest opinion is there wasn’t anything out of line,” said then-committee Chairman Richard Painchaud, who added that he would not attend diversity training if offered. “That would be a direct insult to the rest of us. We’re trying to do a decent job.”

The Maricopa County Supervisors should not be setting up a re-education camp with our tax dollars. It sends a clear message to citizens who want to be active in county government via boards and commissions: toe the politically correct, liberal line, or you will be made an example of publicly and subject to humiliating re-education classes. Whatever you do, don’t offend any of these loony left ethnic interest groups, or the powers that be – which include liberal Republicans on the Board of Supervisors – will come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Hey, Obama, the Anger’s Not ‘Manufactured’ It’s REAL

August 5, 2009 By 22 Comments

Guest Opinion

Hey, Obama, the Anger’s Not ‘Manufactured’ It’s REAL

The anger that is being seen at town hall meeting is far from manufactured.  It is genuine, heartfelt, deeply felt, and increasingly widespread.

Confronted by the mass-uprising against the Democrats’ plans to take over health care in the name of reform, the left-wing message machine has kicked into high gear.

Desperate to explain away enormous citizen responses to nearly every public appearance by a member of Congress in recent days, the Soros-backed Center for American Progress issued the new talking points on Friday.  Their claim:

Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama tea parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform.

Within days, as usual, The New York Times, the White House, and the full constellation of so-called progressive interests were following their lead. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called it “manufactured anger,” which is such delicious irony as he parrots the talking points from the Center for American Progress.

As one of the senior staff members at Americans for Prosperity, I’m flattered that the power to “manufacture” massive, widespread anger is attributed to us.  If we had that skill, I’m sure we would have won a few more fights in recent years. 

The reality is people join our organization and other free market grassroots groups like FreedomWorks, the National Taxpayers Union, and RecessRally.com because they are angry about what’s going on and they want to make a difference.  They tell us what’s important and worth fighting for, not the other way around.  We just send them news about what’s happening in Washington and let them know about opportunities to get involved in their areas.  We provide information.  They are already highly motivated.

On April 15th we saw more than a million people take to the street during the tea parties, a scale of action so broad that any claims of being artificially “manufactured” were on their face absurd.  All over the country people who normally go about their daily lives, worrying about work and family, are so fed up with the direction in Washington that they are getting politically involved for the first time in their lives.

One of our goals at Americans for Prosperity is to help them to be the most effective activists they can be.  We are trying to teach people who haven’t been involved before that calling and writing to people other than their own representatives is counterproductive, because it clogs the lines and blocks real constituent calls from getting through.  We are telling people not to be disruptive or violent, to keep things civil and be sure their voices are heard.

That some situations have got out of control is unfortunate, and it is something we are working hard to stop.  The anger that is being seen at town hall meeting is far from manufactured.  It is genuine, heartfelt, deeply felt, and increasingly widespread.  Polling shows that the anger on display at town hall meeting is representative of the overall public: according to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, the public is now opposed to the health care reform being debated in Congress by 49 percent to 47, which is close, but those who strongly oppose far outnumber those who strongly support the reform by 41 percent to just 25 percent.

Certainly, groups like Americans for Prosperity have a role to play in the protests we are seeing, and we’re proud that we are helping people connect and getting them the information they need to be effective activists.  But it wouldn’t be possible without the tens of thousands of real people who are giving up time from their lives and families to make a difference.  Our health care effort, joinpatientsfirst.com is supported by donations from thousands of patients across the country who are concerned about what a Washington takeover of health care means for them.  Members of Congress who follow the Center for American Progress talking points as an excuse to ignore real grassroots anger over health care may learn how real it is come election day 2010.

Mr. Kerpen is director of policy for Americans for Prosperity, which runs the health care web site www.JoinPatientsFirst.com.  He can be reached through www.philkerpen.com.

Filed Under: Guest Opinion

Diversity Lane Returns to SA

August 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

veritasvincit52 is now found on twitter

Filed Under: Culture

Jesse Kelly Releases First CD-8 GOP Ad

August 5, 2009 By 3 Comments

We’re not even in the heat of the 2010 election cycle and Republican Jesse Kelly has already released his first introduction ad. This is a good sign of the momentum moving toward Republicans. Gabrielle Giffords should be back in the district so let her know how you feel about the federal government in general. But also let her know there’s a better alternative on the way and his name is Jesse Kelly.

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Here is the press release issued by the campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2009
Contact: Jesse Kelly

Jesse Kelly starts TV ads.

TUCSON, AZ. The Kelly for Congress campaign (AZ-8) has started running its first commercial. The 30 second spot is primarily aimed at introducing Jesse and building name identification. The ad will run on cable channels within District 8 for up to 2 months. You can view the ad online at YouTube.

The Jesse Kelly campaign is starting these ads 12 months from the primary because they realize that name ID will be crucial to victory in the 2010 election.

For more information on the Jesse Kelly campaign please visit VoteJesseKelly.com. You can contact campaign manager Bret Summers at (520) 237-9056 or bret.summers@votejessekelly.com. You can contact Jesse Kelly at jesse@votejessekelly.com.

 

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

Rahm Emanuel told where to go

August 5, 2009 By 10 Comments

CHAIRMAN DARRELL E. ISSA, CALIFORNIA
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS

COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
August 4,2009

The Honorable Rahm Emanuel
White House Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. Emanuel:

As you know, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) recently raised questions about the failure
of the stimulus…

Following Senator Kyl’s remarks, according to Politico, you coordinated an “assault” on
Senator Kyl and other critics of your policies by directing four cabinet secretaries to write
to Jan Brewer, the Governor of Arizona, asking pointedly if, in light of Senator Kyl’s
remarks, Governor Brewer wished to forfeit taxpayer money directed to Arizona by the
stimulus.

These tactics have been characterized as “a fist to the nose” and a message to
“Back off.” While this type of scare tactic may work in Chicago, it will not work to
intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.

READ the entire letter to Barry Sotero’s thug from the hood:

http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/letters/20090804EmanuelStimulus.pdf

Filed Under: Economics, Ethics, Government, State Budget

Change Blindness

August 5, 2009 By 6 Comments

http://www.usd.edu/psyc301/Rensink.htm

How much has the Congress, in cahoots with the Chief Community Organizer of the White House done since January 2009?

Over 10,000 pages of “change” to the basic structure of the US government that not one of your elected representatives, republican or democrat have bothered to read.  And now, what’s another $2B for the useless Cash-for-Clunkers program?  What a debacle that is.

Those folks choosing not to see what is happening, or those who blindly obey and listen to the siren song of the Change Masters  will lead those of us with eyes wide open over the edge of the abyss of CHANGE.

Terms you should know:  “system overload” as a strategy,  the dialectic as a tool of argument, and confrontational politics.  For this post, visit the link above and, if you haven’t seen it before see if you can tell what the change is as the picture shifts.  Most of you should have seen this on TV recently.  Its an excellent example of “change blindness”.

CHANGE … the more rapid the rate of change the higher the stress levels tend to be.  When change becomes too rapid one of two reactions occur, rebellion or acquiescence.  Your attention has been focused on “climate change”, “war on terrorism”, and “economic disaster”.   All the while, the basic structure of what you know as “government” has been being CHANGE(D).

Now, the medical service to your aging family members is threatened.  Why?  Because a majority of us have good to excellent health care – but for a few, the entire structure is being CHANGE(D).   My aunt lives in the UK.  She is 71 years old and two weeks ago broke her arm completely.  They put it in a sling and scheduled her to see a doctor in 3 weeks.  This is of course after she survived 2 heart attacks without being allowed a heart bypass (she was too old and her priority was low in the health care officials estimation).

This is not isolated.  It is coming to Obama’s Amerika.  Are you sure you want more of his CHANGE?

I don’t.  But here’s my bottom line:  IF you want Obama’s vision of a socialist utopia, please have it!  You are welcome to it!!  I wish you well.  Just leave those of us not wishing to participate out of your Utopia, please!

You can follow some of the links I post on twitter at http://twitter.com/#search?q=VeritasVincit52

Filed Under: Health Care, Predictions

Arizona Free Enterprise Club Explains Support for HB2015

August 4, 2009 By 10 Comments

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club has issued a press release explaining its support for the recent budget package that cleared the State House and remains blocked in the State Senate.

The release reads, in part:

“While the Arizona Free Enterprise Club does not support raising taxes to balance the budget, the AZFEC supports HB 2015 because the size and permanency of the tax cuts outweigh the possibility of the tax increase.”

“The permanent repeal of the state equalization rate is a significant tax reform given the current tatters of the Arizona economy. This provision effectively stops a major tax increase in its tracks.”

“Critics of the repeal argue that this tax predominately benefits businesses. Leaving aside the fact that businesses are run by people, more than half – 57 percent – of the $250 million tax would be borne by residential (owner‐occupied and rental) property owners, while 41 percent would be shouldered by commercial, industrial, utilities, mines and agricultural interests. Furthermore, if critics believe that businesses disproportionately benefit by not having the tax, then businesses must
disproportionately suffer if the tax were to return. Since we’re all relying on business activity to pick up, it makes little sense to raise this tax. The passage of HB 2015 would drive a stake through this tax.”

“HB 2015 includes permanent tax rate reductions with an estimated tax savings of $400 million a year. These marginal rate cuts take effect January 1, 2011. The corporate income tax rate would drop 30 percent, from 6.968% to 4.86%. The individual income tax rates would decline by 6.6 percent.”

“Arizona’s current corporate income tax rate is the third‐highest among ten western states (only California and New Mexico’s are higher). This tax change would drop Arizona to the fourth‐lowest among those states including three states that don’t tax corporate income (Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming).”

“The HB 2015 corporate income tax cut would do more for long‐term economic development and job creation than any of the tax credits and industrial policies passed in recent years because it would immediately signal to corporations both in and out of Arizona that a more business friendly and competitive tax structure is imminent.”

“HB 2015 achieves lasting pro‐growth tax cuts and prevents property taxes from increasing this year. According to JLBC, the marginal rate cuts will exceed the value of the sales tax increase (should the voters pass it) by fiscal year 2015. For lawmakers who have signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge, the president of ATR recently concluded that because the permanent tax cuts exceed the possible tax increase by $600 million, a vote for HB 2015 does not violate the pledge. For these reasons, we encourage lawmakers to support HB 2015.”

The entire release can be read here.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Gorman Out As Whip?

August 4, 2009 By 4 Comments

The Arizona Republic’s Political Insider is reporting that Senator Pamela Gorman has resigned as the Majority Whip. The same story reports that Senator Ron Gould has announced that he will be seeking to fill the position. Sources on the Senate side are of the opinion that Gould’s announcement is nothing more than a publicity stunt and that he recognizes that he is unlikely to gain the support of the caucus while remaining a major impediment to passage of the state’s budget. The same sources think that a Southern Arizona Senator might be chosen to provide balance to the leadership team, or that a woman Senator might be chosen to replace Gorman, who was the only woman in the Majority leadership. That means that the list might include Senators Paton, Melvin, (Sylvia) Allen, (Carolyn) Allen, and (Linda) Gray. Carolyn Allen is an unlikely as Gould, both for reasons of health and ideology.

Filed Under: State Government

Stossel On Obama Care

August 4, 2009 By 1 Comment
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Filed Under: Health Care

The Revolt Has Begun!

August 3, 2009 By 41 Comments

If you’re wondering why the Obama Administration and Democratically-controlled Congress was in a mad clamour to pass a health care before the August recess this is the reason why – to avoid the mad clamour of their constituents at home. Here are a few clips from around the country of the citizens beginning to revolt. (Actually the revolt began back on April 15th.)

***Update***
Here is a recent clip from the protest at Harry Mitchell’s office courtesy of the Arizona Republican Party (Thanks Matt!)
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For months, I have been hearing the anger growing louder and louder. If you think these citizens are angry, it’s just beginning.

Now a clip from a recent town hall that I organized on behalf of The Americans for Prosperity Foundation. This event took place in North Phoenix between legislative districts 6, 7 & 8. Present at the meeting were State Representative Sam Crump and State Senator Jack Harper. Tom Jenney spoke as did Lee Vliet and Byron Schlomach. This event was NOT a congressional town hall meeting. Members of Americans for Prosperity were invited as were members of the public. The meeting was conducted in a very civilized manner and although attendees were angry and got a little loud, there were no fistacuffs nor threats of violence. However, the following clip shows members of the Progressive Democrats challenging factual information and personal information of one of the speakers in an attempt to persuade attendees using an emotional appeal. We later learned that these folks are involved with LD-15 Democratic leadership.

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Filed Under: Freedom of Speech, Government, Health Care

Before Blood Shoots Outta Your Eyes…

August 3, 2009 By 20 Comments

by Gayle Plato

Glenn Beck– one of the best on TV and radio; he is totally electric and compelling. I learn a great deal and am convinced he’s onto something with the trails of paper, the complaints of government take over, and the history lessons on point. He’s ready to dump all of Congress, state, local—he wants all politicians gone.

But before we run to throw all of the bums out, let’s not lose sight of the prize. The forefathers he hugs were partisan hacks of the day, not afraid of a good political mudslinging. These men who signed the Declaration of Independence and wrote brilliantly, inspiring us all—they were not saints. Some lied to each other, cheated on their wives; heck, some had slaves. They were fallible and real. Conservatives teeter on the precipice of GOP demise every other election cycle. For years, the new Republicans have wanted to push the elephants over the edge and into a tar pit of GOP goo. It’s the RINO ram of the elephant as the asses kick up their heels.  But then, why is it that all of the Republicans turn over? Yet people like Ted Kennedy, Henry Waxman, Nancy Pelosi, or Chuck Schumer become Congressional fertilizer, feeding all of the green shoots and astroturfers of the liberal jungle?  Maybe it’s time to see the forest through the trees; maybe we need some deforestation.

All political parties evolve and in a pluralistic system, there is the longing to break free. Look at Sarah Palin’s team, and feel the vibe of the 90’s. Is it Ross Perot all over again? But wait, what did Ross Perot get us beyond the science fair fold-out, cardboard charts and great cartoons of little men with big ears? Oh yeah, I remember: Perot got us Bill Clinton!

United States presidential election, 1992

November 3, 1992
         

Nominee

Bill Clinton

George H. W. Bush

Ross Perot

Party

Democratic

Republican

Independent

Home state

Arkansas

Texas

Texas

Running mate

Al Gore

Dan Quayle

James Stockdale

Electoral vote

370

168

0

States carried

32 + DC

18

0

Popular vote

44,909,806

39,104,550

19,743,821

Percentage

43.0%

37.4%

18.9%
         

Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Bush/Quayle, Blue denotes those won by Clinton/Gore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1992

 

As you look at the results, remember, the states Clinton won were due to the splitting Perot caused. It is not that Perot took away electoral votes; it’s that he pushed away George Bush’s count. Bill Clinton won with a minority of the popular vote, and the center-right nation split the pie for the liberals taking. Yet, I too voted for Perot, and I admired the idea, the planners.  I liked the story and the developing excitement. As I am older now though, I take a minute longer to see the field and look at all the players.

Democrats stay in office, holding on to their local yokels, and we republicans shoot at the center bulls-eye, walking on the carcasses left in the middle of the road. We then walk up to the Hill, all thousand points of light flickering like Zippos at yet another reunion tour of ‘The Who’. Just remember that there are plenty of good conservatives, mad as hell, and running for the exit. All that the ship jumping does is overload the rescue and the rebuilding effort. Simply put, before I run on the party (a thought I’ve pondered and now rejected) I want to see a clear list of all of the Democrats in Congress who are going home to private life. I want the numbers because otherwise, we’re going to turn the compost only to release a huge methane bubble that plain stinks.  We’ll be taking out ANOTHER Contract that was so simple and elegant, turning it into yesterday’s news.

 

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Political Parties, Polls

Spread the Word – Make Some Noise!

August 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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Filed Under: Health Care

Tom Horne Responds

August 1, 2009 By 6 Comments

The following comments were submitted by Superintendent Tom Horne in response to earlier posts by “Cincinnaticus.” In presenting this response, Sonoran Alliance neither endorses nor opposes the campaign of Tom Horne for Attorney General. No endorsements have been made in this race.

1. At no time did the Channel 15 report accuse any State Department of Education staff of doing anything inappropriate, and Horne did not attend the event..

2. If local districts find that any of their teachers who attended this conference behaved inappropriately, those districts should hold their employees accountable.

The major costs for this conference are borne by private industry who value the strong offering of CTE courses available in AZ public schools. The remainder is federal funding. No state funding was used. 

Carl Perkins Act dollars (federal) spent for CTE conference:

Rooms: $89 per night: total $5,220
Registration: $8,000 – meals (breakfast and lunch); training; transportation
Food: $1,320 – dinner for 3 nights

1. Career and Technical Education is the cornerstone for the preparation of Arizona students in secondary and postsecondary education for careers in High Wage, High Skill and High Demand occupations. To meet mandates under the Federal Carl D. Perkins 4 act, through the U.S. Department of Education, Arizona CTE provides professional development training for teachers from throughout Arizona using federal funding. This training is provided to meet the ever-changing need of business and industry.

2. The professional development training is provided annually at a summer conference when teachers are not in the classroom, thus eliminating the need for substitute teachers. This also eliminates the need of sending professionals from the Department of Education on hundreds of small trips statewide requiring the use of state vehicles, overnight expenses statewide and meeting with small groups of teachers in remote locations throughout Arizona.

3. The conference, attended by 1,500 educators and business and industry, provides over 315 professional development sessions in high tech areas like engineering, bio science, manufacturing, healthcare and automotive technology, is held by the Association for Career and Technical Education in collaboration with CTE.

4. The conference takes place during summer value season at facilities who meet federal per-diem, do not charge for meeting space and provide food and beverage at acceptable federal guidelines. The requirements for space is now in access of 100,000 sq. feet to accommodate all of the industry equipment and other needs for in-service of CTE teachers.

ACTEaz/CTE Professional Development Conference Information Sheet
34th Annual ACTEaz Professional Development Conference is conducted by ACTEaz, in partnership with ADE and Business and Industry

Purpose: Professional development

  • Business and Industry Update
  • Assessment Item development
  • State and Federal accountability

Activities:

  • 320 professional development sessions were provided for CTE educators
  • Carl D Perkins Federal Act requires professional development be provided for CTE educators on current business and industry updates and practices
  • Funding sources
  • Federal funds
  • Local funds
  • Business and industry funds

Attendees: Total 1,500 participants

  • Secondary Teachers
  • Postsecondary Faculty
  • Administrators
  • Business and Industry
    • Arizona Skills Commission: 26 attendees
    • CTE Advisory Board: 9 attendees
    • Circle of Distinction: 10
    • Business and industry providers, vendors and sponsors: 150
    • Business and industry representatives providing professional development: 40
    • Teachers provided professional development to peers: over 200
  • ADE/CTE Administration
    • 18 professional staff provided leadership, professional development, technical assistance, business and industry linkage for the duration of the conference
    • 2 administrative assistants provided conference support
    • 18 professional staff provided leadership, professional development, technical assistance, business and industry linkage for 1-3 days of conference
    • National Association Leaders providing professional development: 10

Cost effectiveness:

  • Held during “summer value” season for the industry
  • Lowest rates of the year
  • Consolidates professional development for CTE educators state wide for required business and industry updates
  • Substitutes for teachers not required

Summary: Twenty ADE personnel provided staffing for the conference full time. Eighteen provided 1-3 day specialized training and in-service to over 1,500 conference attendees.

 

Filed Under: Education, State Government
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