I never thought I’d reprint anything from the Arizona Republic (in entirety) but odd and strange things happen during political campaigns. With a sudden case of cognitive dissonance on the mind, I’m not sure if I should congratulate or console David Schweikert for his endorsement by the Republic’s editorial board but since political campaigns are mathematically a process of addition, I’ll assume this helps swell his ranks of voters. Here’s the endorsement reprinted:
SEND SCHWEIKERT TO WASHINGTON
Ignore all that mud smeared across your television screen and splattered in your mailbox. Rep. Harry Mitchell and David Schweikert are honorable men who want the best for this country. They simply have different ideas about what that means.
The two face off for the second time to represent Congressional District 5, which stretches from Fountain Hills and Scottsdale through Tempe, west Mesa and parts of Chandler to Ahwatukee Foothills. Mitchell won in 2008, boosted by the Obama wave.
The Democrat has built an admirable record, particularly on veterans’ issues. He has resisted the partisan upmanship that paralyzes Congress, with a Republican co-sponsor on every bill he introduced. Mitchell’s voting record is moderate, however much Schweikert wants to paint him as a Nancy Pelosi-lapdog liberal. (Mitchell won the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, no friend of the Obama administration.)
Mitchell was the right person to represent this district for the past four years. But to confront the challenges ahead, a change is needed. Schweikert, a Republican, has the talents and outlook that will be needed in the next Congress.
Schweikert, a former Maricopa County treasurer, is a financial guy. He enjoys poring over a spreadsheet the way most people dive into a good novel. What’s more, he’s a deficit hawk. After the budget excesses of the past 10 years, we need people in Congress who will challenge every penny of spending.
Schweikert also is willing to consider new approaches to longstanding problems. Social Security, for instance, continues to stumble toward insolvency because re-election-minded politicians are afraid to make tough decisions.
Mitchell says the system is just fine. Schweikert recognizes that unpopular changes will be necessary to save it.
And then there is the health-care bill. Mitchell, in talks around the district while the bill was being debated, displayed conflicting feelings about the bill and opposition to some portions of it. District residents mostly opposed it. Still, Mitchell voted for the bill, a vote he continues to defend.
That puts him at odds with the district. Schweikert, who vows to join Republican efforts to defund the law, is more in line with where voters stand. And he suggests common-sense, market-driven reforms that would accomplish the same ends with less bureaucracy.
Mitchell is likeable. He’s a grandfatherly figure, the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind spending a day with. He’s also at the end of a distinguished political career, with no illusions or ambition to be more than the 5th District congressman. While he dedicates himself to the job, he’s not a dynamic presence on Capitol Hill.
Schweikert is far more likely to bring energy to the office. It takes drive to pick yourself up from a bruising defeat for another campaign against the same opponent. The ambition that has carried Schweikert this far will serve the district’s residents well in Washington.
Voters have two good and honorable men to choose from. But for all these reasons, we recommend Schweikert.
That was a surprise, and a welcome one. Harry must have spit his morning coffee today!
yeah cant argue anything but this is great for david!
Although I am surprised someone on here hasnt started talking about how david must be a RINO to get this endorsement
No need to think well of the AZ Republic for this endorsement. Harry is going down and they know it. Even rats abandon a sinking ship.
I still won’t subscribe to that rag.
Was reading about John Sperling and his push to legalize medical marijuana
Marijuana Policy Project
In late March, even the National Republican Congressional Committee accepted a $5,000 check from MPP.
“The GOP leadership realizes that state-level regulation of marijuana is popular among their most active constituency right now, the tea party movement, whose members would like to see states decide the issue, like we do with alcohol,” Houston told reporters. “There is a huge amount of bipartisan agreement on this issue.”
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/The-Marijuana-Lobby-All-Grown-Up-91705864.html
I can’t believe Mitchell thinks social security is fine.
I’m getting a lot of pleasure thinking that Harry is sitting in his living room rocking in his easy chair mumbling, “But I taught children and I did everything the Good ‘ol Boys told me to do as mayor. I’ve done everything Nancy Pelosi and my handlers told me. If I lose, I won’t be able to get my pension and do nothing for the rest of my life. Little Markie won’t be able to inherit my Congressional seat like he did my seat on the city council. Oh, what will I do!!! Where are my union goons??!!! I wanted another statue – one that looked liked ME!!!”
isn’t that the saddest part, that the statue looks more like gumbie than the congressman.
gumbie would never have voted for obamacare, or the bank bailouts, or the takeover by the unions of the car company, or the “recovery stimulus” that has just wasted our tax dollars.
and even if gumbie did, he’d be able to “stretch the truth” more than mitchell has in his baseless lies about schweikert
i’m a big fan of dave schweikert. i think he’ll serve us well
This is a huge coup for David and a big turn-around for The Republic. The moderate Scottsdale Republican voter will pay attention to this. This may now be David’s election to lose more than it is Harry’s to win. David has worked hard to get this far. Congrats to David!
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“The GOP leadership realizes that state-level regulation of marijuana is popular among their most active constituency right now, the tea party movement, whose members would like to see states decide the issue, like we do with alcohol,” Houston told reporters. “There is a huge amount of bipartisan agreement on this issue.”
…………….
Yeah. NO LEGALIZATION.
Here’s a novel idea: How about quitting the noxious marijuana habit and joining the reality-based population?
Lower your household expenses, improve your lung health, cut down on smog, save the environment, eliminate second-hand smoking infringements on your neighbors, and restore a natural mix of vegetative ecosystems by reducing the distorting effects of monoculture.
Oh, and make National Parks safe once more for the general public, who paid for them, to visit.
wanumba,
how does legalizing marijuana make our national parks unsafe? I am dying to hear this conspiracy theory of yours
Johnny,
Where have you been? The parks in the south of AZ that only Mexican cartels can go to, per the Fed’s signs warning us to stay out.
Gabby,
Those are illegal drugs… this proposition does not change the fact that those are illegal. It does not allow cartels to operate here. So I do not understand what that has to do with anything…
STAY OUT – crazy ass Mexicans will kill you.
That Royce Flora video is idiotic.