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Barack B’roke the Country

January 15, 2010 By 10 Comments

Stunning essay by Pat Buchanan on WorldNet Daily today entitled, “Is America’s financial collapse inevitable?”

But if taxes are off the table, Afghan war costs are inexorably rising and cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and entitlement programs are politically impossible, as pressure builds for a second stimulus, how does one reduce a deficit of $1.4 trillion?

How does one stop the exploding national debt from surging above 100 percent of GDP?

America is the oldest and greatest constitutional republic, the model for all the others. But if our elected politicians are incapable of imposing the sacrifices needed to pull the nation back from the brink of a devaluation or default, is democratic capitalism truly, as Francis Fukuyama told us just two decades ago, the future of mankind?

What the looming fiscal crisis of this country portends is nothing less than a test of whether this democratic republic is sustainable.

Buchanan paints a devastatingly bleak outcome for these United States which makes me wonder if it does indeed happen, won’t those in control ultimately get to rebuild the Constitutional Republic or Socialist State as they deem fit?

Call me a natural born pessimist but I cannot see any light at the end of this economic tunnel other than November 4th, 2010.

Filed Under: Economics, Political Science

Hugh Hewitt for David Schweikert!

January 14, 2010 By 21 Comments

OK, I admit, I’ve been waiting a long time for this partnership to take place…

Tom & Madena Stewart
cordially invite you to their home for a reception with
Hugh Hewitt

HewittHugh

in support of
David Schweikert

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Paradise Valley, AZ

$500 – Private Reception at 5:00pm
$250 – General Reception at 5:30pm

RSVP Now

Professor Hugh Hewitt is a broadcast journalist and law professor whose nationally syndicated radio show is heard in more than 120 cities, and by more than 2 million listeners, across the United States every weekday afternoon. In Phoenix, you can find him on 960 KKNT from 4-7 pm.

He is a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, and has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times. He has received three Emmys, is the author of eight books, and has been called “the most influential conservative you have never heard of.”

David Schweikert – Hugh Hewitt Radio Ad

Filed Under: Advertising, Campaign Finance, Campaigns & Elections, Culture, Endorsements, Talk Radio

Arizona Clean Elections Matching Funds Unconstitutional

January 14, 2010 By 6 Comments

Yellow Sheets is reporting that a US Judge will rule Arizona’s Clean Elections matching funds provision unconstitutional in tomorrow’s decision. What is yet to be determined is how the ruling will affect the 2010 election cycle.

As a co-plaintiff on this suit, this has been a long fought battle to eliminate this hybridized form of taxpayer-funded campaigns. But I will also admit that I have mixed feelings over eliminating a law that has been effectively used by conservatives to strengthen our numbers in the legislature. In fact, many political consultants rely on clean elections money as an almost guaranteed revenue stream.

In the old days, a Republican candidate would have to go begging amongst the business community and chamber of commerce crowd to raise money. Socially conservative candidates were often viewed as “too controversial” to support by the business community who just wanted a candidate to talk fiscal issues and avoid controversy.

Clean Elections allowed conservative, grassroots, populist candidates to do an end-run around these business folks and avoid having to “kiss the ring” of these donors.

If the matching funds provision goes away with in the ruling tomorrow, many campaigns will have to re-think their strategy to win in August and November. Gaming the system will be more difficult but at the same time, organizations like mine (Arizona Taxpayer’s Action Committee) won’t have to compete against the State of Arizona using taxpayer monies when we voice our opinion.

Times are a changin’

Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Freedom of Speech

John Shadegg Retiring

January 14, 2010 By 29 Comments

NobleThinking is reporting that Republican Congressman John Shadegg has decided NOT to seek re-election. His office issued the following press release:

Congressman Shadegg Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-03) issued the following statement regarding his plans to represent Arizona’s Third Congressional District beyond 2010:

“I am today announcing that, while I will serve out my current term in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will not be a candidate for re-election to Congress. Representing the people of Arizona in the House has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. And, while it would be difficult to leave this position at any time, it is particularly hard to do so now with the challenges we face as a nation, but it is necessary for me to do so.

“While representing the people of Arizona in the House was one of my goals in life, it is not the only one. After 16 years it is time for me to take my life in a new direction and to pursue my commitment to fight for freedom in a different venue.

“In doing so, I particularly want to thank the people who have supported and voted for me throughout the years. I couldn’t have won this seat or engaged in this fight without their steadfast friendship and support. I will remain forever in their debt. I also especially want to thank my wife, Shirley, and my children, Courtney and Stephen, for their sacrifice, patience, and encouragement. They have been there through the highs and lows, and I sincerely appreciate all they have done to make my career in Congress possible.

“I also want to thank the men and women that I have been blessed to have on my staff, working alongside me as we fought the good fight. My staff is Shirley’s and my extended family, and their creativity, wit, and hard work stands unparalleled. Most importantly, together we share a passion for freedom.

“Two years ago I considered retiring and briefly announced my intention to do so. I was talked out of that decision by my constituents and colleagues. For those who encouraged me to run then and particularly those who stepped up and helped financially in that race, I want to reiterate my sincere appreciation. 2008 was a disastrous year for Republicans. Yet, with their help we proved that this is a solidly Republican seat, defeating my Democrat challenger by double digits notwithstanding the millions of dollars poured into this race by National Democrats. This time, however, my decision is irreversible.

“As the Obama Administration and Speaker Pelosi grow further and further out of touch with average Americans, evidence continues to build that 2010 will be a record year for Republicans running for Congress. And, I am extremely confident that the people of the Third District of Arizona will elect a solid conservative.

“In the last year, I have been able to fight the massive government takeover of our nation’s health care system advanced by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi. I will continue to do so with every ounce of energy I can summon. This takeover is deeply flawed and overwhelmingly opposed by my constituents.

“I have worked on health care reform my entire Congressional career. One of my proudest moments came when my legislation to encourage states to cover those with pre-existing conditions was passed by Congress and signed into law.

“I have introduced legislation every year since 1996 to give Americans greater choice in selecting their health care and greater control over their health care decisions. Time and again, I have proposed innovative ideas. Early on, I introduced legislation giving individuals the ability to purchase coverage on the same tax-favored basis businesses now enjoy. I was the first to propose allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines, an idea that continues to gain momentum. These are real reforms that would force America’s health insurance companies to compete with each other for our business, and drive costs down and quality up.

“I have repeatedly introduced legislation that would give every American, rich and poor, health coverage and cover those with pre-existing conditions while preserving choice, creating real competition, and cost savings.

“The biggest problems in health care in America today are the result of misguided government policies. It is the government that puts your employer and the health plan your employer selected between you and your doctors. It is the government that allows employers to buy health care coverage tax-free but makes individuals use after-tax dollars to buy coverage. And, it is the government, including a specific provision in the current House and Senate bills that gives health insurance companies immunity from damages if their decision injures or kills someone. Yet, National Democrats are about to bail out the health insurance industry, compel every American to buy their product whether we want to or not, dramatically expanding the roll of government in health care. This is a tragic mistake which we will come to regret.

“To this day, I get goose bumps when I walk back to my office in the Cannon Building after a late night vote and look up at the Capitol Dome shining through the darkness. I will deeply miss doing so. Our Nation’s Capitol is the greatest symbol of freedom in the world. And, I will be forever indebted to the people of Arizona who bestowed on me the privilege of representing them in the fight for freedom.

“While the rules of the House do not allow me to pursue future employment while I am still in office, rest assured, I will continue to remain in the fight for freedom and defend American exceptionalism.”

This leaves a major vacancy that the GOP congressional delegation needs to fill quickly. Expect a major scramble of candidates to announce within the next 48 hours. Names to watch out for include Pamela Gorman, Jim Waring, Len Munsil, Tom Jenney, John Allen, Jeff Hatch-Miller. This could be another crowded primary folks!

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

Greg Patterson’s predictions are sometimes way off the mark

January 14, 2010 By 7 Comments

By WithAnOpinion

Greg Patterson of The Espresso Pundit is one of Arizona’s most talented bloggers. His posts are fun to read and his analysis is usually insightful. He likes to make big predictions, and sometimes his predictions are correct, a fact he doesn’t hesitate to remind his readers of.

However, sometimes Patterson’s predictions are dramatically wrong. In fact, sometimes Patterson’s predictions end up being so far off the mark that readers might conclude Patterson drank a little to much espresso before sitting down to write.

One Patterson prediction gone bad regarded box office returns for the blockbuster film Avatar. Patterson offered a political analysis of why audiences would shun the movie because of its liberal, anti-American undertones.

Patterson posted on his blog: “Sure, the buzz and novelty will bring Avatar $200 million but since the movie cost $500 million to produce and market it’s going to have to actually have an enjoyable plot to move into the black…Maybe I’m wrong and Avatar will make $2 billion, but I don’t think so…”

So how far off the mark was Patterson’s Avatar prediction? In just 27 days since its opening, the movie has brought in a mind-boggling $1.4 billion dollars.

Not only that, it crossed the $1 billion mark more quickly than any film in history. It’s currently the fifth highest-grossing film of all time domestically, and still rising.

Patterson’s prediction may well turn out to be wrong by a factor of ten or twenty. Oops.

Patterson deserves credit for making bold predictions, and his blog remains a must-read for Arizona political junkies. Readers just need to keep in mind that Greg Patterson’s predictions are sometimes way off the mark.

Filed Under: Guest Opinion

County Supervisors’ Manager David Smith hires criminal defense attorney in federal Grand Jury probe

January 14, 2010 By 13 Comments

Sonoran Alliance has just learned that County Manager David Smith has hired criminal defense attorney Michael Black, best-known for his representation of baby-faced killer Chris Andrews. Smith has insisted publicly that he is just a “witness” in the feds investigation of the county, but if he is just a “witness,” why is he the only official we know of who has hired a high-profile criminal defense attorney to represent him? The Phoenix New Times has a picture of Smith next to his criminal attorney as they are leaving the federal investigation proceedings: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2010/01/joe_arpaio_grand_jury_probe_be.php

Filed Under: County Government, Crime and Punishment

Private companies can manage state parks

January 14, 2010 By 3 Comments

Byron Schlomach, Ph.D.
Goldwater Institute

Arizona state parks continue to make news and be used as a pawn in the budget chess game. Budget reductions approved by the legislature in December will likely result in some park closures. Parks that make money like Kartchner Caverns, Slide Rock, and Lake Havasu will stay open, while money losers will close. Many legislators continue to decry budget reductions to the Parks department, but also refuse to look at realistic alternatives.

I recently received a letter from Warren Meyer, the president of Recreation Resource Management, a Phoenix-based company that manages parks for a wide array of government agencies. His letter says that the parks slated for closure “could easily be kept open” under the management of a company like his. Not only would the parks be kept open, the companies would pay the state for the opportunity to manage them. The parks would actually make money for the state. Not a bad deal considering we’re $4 billion in the red.

Mr. Meyer writes that he’s been encouraging the Parks Department to consider this option for years to no avail. That means there has been a money saving option on the table for years that the legislature and career bureaucrats at the Parks Department have refused to consider.

There are a multitude of options for preserving our parks that don’t require taxpayer funding. For example, instead of keeping Jerome’s Davis Mansion closed, do a long-term lease and preserve it by letting it be operated as a bed and breakfast. Some parks and museums could go the way of the Museum of the Horse Soldier in Tucson, where you can see a life-size horse mannequin wearing a WWI horse gas mask, artifacts from Arizona forts, uniforms, weapons, and saddles back to the civil war. Admission is $2.00 and it’s privately owned and operated. The owner doubtlessly loses money on his priceless collection, yet there it is, and taxpayers aren’t required to spend a dime.

The Morrison Institute has suggested raising license plate fees by $15 to fund the parks, but that is unnecessary. Legislators need to consider all of the options before them and choose those that reduce government spending obligations so that we can begin to climb out of our fiscal hole.

Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., is the director of the Goldwater Institute’s Center for Economic Prosperity.

Filed Under: Spending, State Budget, State Economy, State Government, Taxation

Will Haiti be Obama’s Katrina … or is Jan Brewer using a Straw Man?

January 14, 2010 By 19 Comments
Jan Brewers Straw Man?

Jan Brewer's Straw Man?

This is gonna be short and sweet – AND ITS ONLY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.   Is “Buz” Mills Jan Brewer’s straw man in this election cycle?

Consider she qualified for Clean Elections funding (in spite of having a record to run on and being an established political brand in Arizona politics).

Consider how hard the Goldwater Institute (who generally dislikes Governor Brewer’s affinity for taxes) is struggling to close down the CCEC matching funds provision of the voter approved Clean Elections program.

Think about it.  Brewer obtains three-quarters of a million dollars in public financing and because of the dog-pile of money dumped into the race by a competing candidate (Buz Mills), Governor Brewer will be matched with little effort on her part.

How hard will it be collecting the necessary funds to mount a successful campaign to retain the governor’s seat?  How many good candidates are already in the race?  And don’t forget the 800 pound gorilla in the Big Tent running for his political career in the U.S. Senate.  Times are tough.   Could one of Jan’s advisers have come up with a quick and easy way for her to short-cut the system?

Slick isn’t it (if its true)?  Someone could be really gaming the system and should be shut down.  Shame on those veteran incumbents who couldn’t be re-elected without CCEC.

Veritas for the record supports Clean Elections funding of entry level candidates into the political process as a means of equalizing the playing field and as a mitigation measure against deep pocketed special interests from buying elections.  I am deeply disappointed in the Goldwater Institute that given all the abuses of Constitutional law, they are choosing this narrow niche in which to sally forth into courtroom battle.

A misconception should be clarified.  Clean Election funding is NOT involuntary and does NOT involve taxes.  When you err in your driving (and for some criminal actions) you have made a voluntary decision to contribute to Arizona’s Clean Election fund.  And lets not forget those voters who include a $5 contribution along with their Arizona income tax filing as well as the thousands of voters who give the candidate of their choice $5 during this time of year.

Lastly, is CCEC truly a violation of “campaign speech”?  What about the candidate who’s told by the big corporate special interest “… these are our issues.  Now did you want to talk about a contribution from our members?”  Isn’t that stifling the “free speech” of the candidate who truly wishes to represent their voters?

Two final parting thoughts:  The CCEC should be reformed, perhaps by amending it to only be available for the first election and first re-election bid of a candidate.   Lastly, should there be a cap on election spending by all interests in Arizona elections?  Why should someone be willing to spend millions of dollars for a job that pays peanuts?

Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Campaigns & Elections, Conspiracy Theories, Freedom of Speech

This is a cool graph

January 13, 2010 By 4 Comments

Well, maybe not so much for Barack Obama.

Filed Under: Polls

PR: Brewer Spokesman on Dean Martin

January 13, 2010 By 12 Comments

Jan Brewer for Governor

Statement by Brewer Campaign Spokesman Douglas Cole Regarding State Treasurer Dean Martin

“The campaign welcomes Dean Martin into the race.

“Over the next year, Arizona voters will learn that there is only one candidate who has a proven record of consistent conservative leadership: Governor Jan Brewer.

“As Governor Brewer said in her State of the State speech, she will release her fiscal blueprint for Arizona’s future on Friday.

“Within the next few days, Arizonans should expect five other substantive, realistic proposals from these potential gubernatorial candidates on how they plan to fix the state’s fiscal crisis. The clock is ticking.”

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Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Press Release

The most commonly abused terminology

January 13, 2010 By 18 Comments

Emil FranziBy Emil Franzi, Special to The Explorer

I do not “blog,” although I post on some. I dislike the format because it allows for anonymity, which I don’t hide behind on my own posts. You want to run off at the pen, have the guts to tell me who you really are like I tell you.

Something we who do talk radio learn quickly is to dump the dumb caller as rapidly as possible. Allowing some yahoo to rant is an invitation to station change.

The late Marshall Fritz, well known in libertarian and educational freedom circles, once explained to me a principle from Little League coaching he called “Gresham’s Law of People.” Taken from the economic principle that bad money drives out good, he believed that loud-mouthed jerks drove away good folks and should be purged early and often for the health of any organization.

Newspaper editors have discretion when it comes to letters to the editor, which must be signed hopefully by a real person or even the person who actually wrote them. Some blogs are policed better than others. But the amount of illiterate drivel allowed to pass from left, right and ignorant center is still appalling.

I find many right-wing posters to be embarrassments, not for me personally or my philosophy, but for themselves. Hyper-active newbies always emerge whenever there is any kind of popular awakening, from opposing the Viet Nam War in the ’60s to opposing the Obama leftist agenda now.

California conservatives had a name for the worst of this category in the early ’60s – one-book Birchers. They read “I Saw Poland Betrayed.” Actually, they got up to page 23. It took three days. They found out there were communists and that was enough. They usually didn’t stay active long. This was pre-blog or they would’ve hung around longer.

There are left-wing equivalents, but they’re not my problem. You know who they are. Some of them on both sides are decent folks who just don’t know any better. My job is to help clean up my own. Best way to do that is to clarify the most commonly abused terminology.

• RINO, or Republican in Name Only. A simple measurement separates them from liberal Republicans. RINOS are Republicans like Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, who are not only liberals but don’t support other Republicans in general elections. Except for the Mecham recall in 1988, Sen. McCain hasn’t publicly dumped on other GOP nominees. He’s not a RINO and is too inconsistent to qualify as a liberal. I think CINO probably fits him best.

Conservatives and particularly conservative Republicans must learn these distinctions. Mayor Guliani is not a conservative, but supports the ticket. Mayor Bloomberg is a Republican out of convenience only and doesn’t. Real RINOS were the GOP officials who walked on Barry Goldwater in 1964. Those like Oregon’s Mark Hatfield who didn’t deserve consideration for playing by the rules.

• Conservative. There’s broad philosophical diversity in the movement which includes some libertarians. There are libertarians who don’t consider themselves conservatives, and conservatives who agree. Before you decide to yell sell-out or RINO, please note the lack of conservative consensus on immigration, fair tax, term limits, the Afghan war, and the foreign policy diversity you get from Ron Paul and Pat Buchanan. Both qualifed as RINOs for having once run on another party’s ticket. Republicans holding party roles talking third party also qualify.

• Socialist. Has specific meanings and, like conservative, is highly diverse. Marxist? Positivist? Fabian? National? Fascist? Hint: It was not socialized medicine when the Roman Army sent early medics along with each Legion. Learn to focus.

There’s more. Hopefully there are some folks I have thoroughly offended. I can only hope those wishing to berate me will use their real names.

Hear Emil Franzi and Tom Danehy Saturdays 1-4 p.m. on KVOI 1030AM.

Filed Under: Blogs, Culture, Freedom of Speech, Political Science

Politics on the Rocks slideshow from Governor Brewer event

January 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
YouTube Preview Image
Filed Under: Pol-parazzi, Special Event

Hearing this Friday could end Clean Elections matching funds

January 13, 2010 By 7 Comments

by Nick Dranias
Goldwater Institute
 
A decade after Clean Elections began to stifle campaign speech in Arizona, free speech could soon be liberated. On January 15, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver will hold a hearing on Goldwater Institute’s challenge to the matching funds provisions of Arizona’s Clean Elections Act. The judge could temporarily or permanently block matching funds for government-subsidized candidates and finally allow traditionally-funded candidates and their supporters to speak freely in the 2010 election cycle.

Unfortunately, in a last ditch effort to preserve government subsidies for her 2010 campaign, Governor Jan Brewer has submitted an affidavit asking for matching funds to be saved, saying her candidacy is not viable without them.

But matching funds clearly violate the First Amendment. Under the Clean Election Act’s matching funds scheme, “participating” candidates, like Governor Brewer, receive nearly one dollar for every dollar privately raised or spent by a non-government subsidized (or traditionally-funded) candidate to promote his or her message.

Matching funds punish traditional candidates by causing their promotional efforts–their campaign speech–to fund the campaign speech of opposing candidates. Moreover, the threat of such punishment chills free speech by causing traditional candidates and their supporters to think twice before raising or spending money that might trigger matching funds to an opposing government-funded candidate.

Governor Jan Brewer had plenty of notice not to rely on such government subsidies during the 2010 election cycle. In two decisions issued during the 2008 election cycle, Judge Silver ruled that matching funds violated the First Amendment rights of traditionally-funded candidates and their supporters because individuals are entitled to be free from punishment for exercising their constitutional rights. Judge Silver also ruled that then-recent Supreme Court case Davis v. FEC required her to strike down any campaign finance regulation, like matching funds, that has the effect of chilling and deterring campaign speech. Judge Silver refrained from striking down matching funds at that time only because she did not want to interfere with an ongoing election.

This Friday, with the 2010 elections still many months away, we hope the court will protect the First Amendment and end the speech-stifling reign of Clean Elections in Arizona with an injunction on matching funds.

Nick Dranias holds the Goldwater Institute Clarence J. and Katherine P. Duncan chair for constitutional government and is the director of the Institute’s Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Moller Center for Constitutional Government.

Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Campaigns & Elections, Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech, Judicial

PR: John Munger on Dean Martin & Public Financing

January 13, 2010 By 10 Comments

MUNGER NEW LOGO SHADOWED SMALL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2010

JOHN MUNGER COMMENTS ON DEAN MARTIN’S DECISION TO ACCEPT PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING

(PHOENIX, AZ) January 13, 2009 – Republican Gubernatorial candidate John Munger released the following statement today:

Dean Martin’s first move as a potential future Governor is to throw the people of Arizona under his shiny campaign bus. His decision to use taxpayer funds to finance his campaign represents a complete flip- flop of his long-held position against accepting “clean elections” money.

It was Martin who once referred to public campaign financing as “welfare for politicians.” Yet now that he is officially a candidate, he has decided to go on the public dole himself. Further underscoring his hypocrisy, Martin continues to be a party to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Arizona’s clean elections law.

My position on taxpayer-financed campaigns has remained consistent. What started as a well-intentioned law to ensure fair elections has instead turned into a convenient mechanism for professional politicians to continue running for office without any real public support.

The courts will decide the future of Arizona’s Clean Elections law. But Arizona voters will ultimately decide the moral issue of whether it is right for a candidate to go back on his word and use taxpayer money to fund an election campaign when our state is nearly bankrupt.

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Filed Under: Campaign Finance, Press Release

Sen McCain holds Townhall in Suprise during Maricopa County GOP Convention

January 12, 2010 By 10 Comments

According to the Arizona Tea Party’s events calendar, Senator John McCain will be appearing at a townhall on Saturday January 16th at 1pm at the Sun City Grand Community Center.

http://arizonateaparty.ning.com/events/phoenix-116-senator-john

Curiously, the same day, the Maricopa County Republican Party will be holding it’s convention from 9 AM to 1 PM at Grace Community Church 1200 E. Southern, Tempe.

Perhaps Senator McCain will stop by the convention to greet the party faithful since, unfortunately, many of the convention-goers from the west valley, especially, will miss their opportunity to see him at the townhall. He has not made the last few.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Personalities, Political Parties

PR: Goddard & Dems Choose Partisanship Over Statesmanship

January 12, 2010 By 11 Comments

Jan Brewer for Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 12, 2010

Goddard & Dems Choose Partisanship Over Statesmanship
Goddard Patronizes Women in Public Service and Remains Unwilling to Help Solve State’s Challenges

PHOENIX –– Attorney General Terry Goddard was disappointed in Governor Brewer’s State of the State speech yesterday. One of his biggest concerns? Brewer’s speech didn’t identify state and legislative leaders by their party label or focus on their differences in ideology.

According to the Arizona Capitol Times Yellow Sheet Report, Goddard is quoted saying, “I was waiting for the words, ‘bipartisan effort’ and they never came out… I found that very surprising given the extraordinary challenges we have.”

What is more surprising is that Goddard missed Brewer’s call for everyone to “gather in the field” and to “be honest with each other and worthy of the trust” that all elected officials have been granted by the voters.

“Statesmen solve problems, politicians call for bipartisanship,” replied former Attorney General Grant Woods, “Who did he think the Governor was referring to when she said ‘we’ 74 times and ‘us’ 19 times throughout the speech? Ignoring the rallying cry for everyone to work together is just playing politics. As his party’s presumptive gubernatorial nominee, Terry needs to come out of his shell and productively engage by offering solutions, not tired political rhetoric.”

In today’s Arizona Republic, Goddard personally insulted the Governor and her office as “That poor lady” and was reportedly disappointed with the Governor’s “tone.”

“As a woman who has dedicated a significant portion of my life to public service, I take offense to Goddard’s condescending tone,” said former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. “The Governor has 28 years of experience in serving the public has shown strong leadership and strength in guiding the state through one of the toughest times in its history. Instead of recognizing that, Goddard dismisses and disrespects her and the office she holds.”

While Brewer did not mention political party a single time in her speech, Democratic leadership felt compelled to make partisanship front and center in their response referring to “Republicans” and “Democrats” nearly a dozen times in their press conference after the Governor’s address.

“Last year, Democratic leaders failed to provide a single vote for Arizona’s needed budget cuts after ratcheting up the spending and have stood silent on federal unfunded mandates and federal attempts to violate state’s rights protected by the Constitution,” said Doug Cole, spokesman for the Brewer Campaign, “Now they are hiding behind partisan rhetoric to shift the blame for the problem they caused while failing to be part of the solution. It is not acceptable leadership at this critical time in our state’s history to wait in the weeds until its safe to come out. Where’s his plan?”

As is customary, the Governor will release her detailed budget plan this Friday.

Arizona Democratic legislative leadership and Goddard watched as former Governor Napolitano rapidly expanded government and drove the state to near collapse and did nothing about it. Now that the problem must be solved, they are decrying cuts to the Government they have worked so hard to grow.

In their press conference, House Assistant Minority Leader Kyrsten Sinema spoke out against the Governor’s proposal for a voter-approved rollback of the Prop 204 Medicaid expansion. She proceeded to called Prop 204–with a price tag of $1 billion to Arizona’s deficit–a “middle class entitlement.” Sinema also admitted that “the cost of healthcare is too high for businesses and employees,” but offered no solution as to how Arizona should cover the short-fall to Medicaid or the additional burden that Obama’s healthcare plan would place on Arizona.

Brewer made an open request to all in her State of the State speech: “Tell us clearly how you would solve a $5 billion problem over the next 17 months. The suggestion box is wide open.”

When asked by reporters yesterday why no Democrats’ plan was ever introduced as a bill last year, House Democrat Leader David Lujan stated that they do not put their budget ideas into legislation until they have a majority–a convenient response for why the untenable plan they offered last session never saw the legislative light of day.

“What has to be done for the state of Arizona is beyond partisanship rhetoric. As Jan Brewer said, this is about doing what is right. If Goddard or any of the other Democrats have a solution, I recommend they take up the Governor’s offer and draft their ideas now and put them in legislation,” concluded Mary Peters. “We don’t need more insults and a ‘wait and see’ attitude. I encourage them to replace rhetoric with an actual plan on paper instead of having to wait for their opinion until after something is passed like their solution for Obamacare. Otherwise, all of the complaining will continue to ring false.”

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Filed Under: Press Release, Spending, State Budget, State Economy, State Government

PR: The New Decade Kicks Off for the Republican Professionals

January 12, 2010 By 2 Comments

Logo - Republican ProfessionalsThe New Decade Kicks Off for the Republican Professionals

Scottsdale, Arizona ­ The Republican Professionals¹ January event was an enthusiastic start for the networking organization in the new decade. More than 170 prominent professionals and politicians were in attendance and enjoyed an elegant setting at Suede Lounge in Old Town Scottsdale. The networking events put on by Republican Professionals are targeted at attracting like-minded conservatives in the Arizona community, where guests have the opportunity to exchange political views as well as business cards.

The highlight of the January event was a key-note presentation from Arizona State Treasurer Dean Martin. Mr. Martin captured the large crowd¹s attention with his impressive insights of the Arizona economic situation. Attendees of the event enjoyed the opportunity to speak to Mr. Martin after his speech to get to know him on a more personal level, as well as ask follow up questions.

The Republican Professionals host networking events on the first Thursday of every month and actively seek to involve more Arizona conservatives at each event. You can visit www.phxrp.com in the coming days to get the latest news and events for Republican Professionals of Phoenix, and find information about next month¹s free networking event scheduled for February 4th.

The purpose of Republican Professionals is to increase the participation of Republicans in the political process, further the goals of the Republican Party, and bring Republicans together so that they may network, volunteer, organize and communicate with fellow professionals.

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Filed Under: Press Release, Special Event
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