Arizona Politics for Conservatives: Sonoran Alliance
Arizona Politics, News, Commentary and Information with a Blatantly Conservative Worldview Presented by an Alliance of Writers, Activists, Consultants and Government Insiders.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
CONTACT: Sue
Pachyderm meeting is Thursday, July 21 @ 6 p.m. @ Bonn Fire Restaurant, Chino Valley.
Speaker will be Gary Pierce from the Arizona Corporation Commission
Upcoming Speakers:
August: Ana Waylan Trujillo, Yavapai County Elections Department
September: Dr. Goldberg speaking on Islam religion
October: Congressman Paul Gosar
November: Attorney General Tom Horne
Please RSVP to Sue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2011
CONTACT: Garrett Hawkins
Phoenix, AZ – If May’s job numbers weren’t bad enough, according to the monthly jobs report, the U.S. economy created a measly 18,000 new jobs in June raising the unemployment rate from 9.1 to 9.2 percent. The unemployment rate is now two full points higher than it was in the Department of Labor’s report in January 2009—the first month of the Obama Presidency.
“This is not simply a ‘bump’ on the road to recovery. President Obama’s economic policies have totally failed,” said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Tom Morrissey. “Continuing the President’s policies will only drive up the unemployment rate further. We cannot afford these disastrous policies any longer.”
In spite of the horrible price the American public is paying for their failed policies, the Democrat entitlement crowd continues to pressure the Obama Administration for more government intervention, increased government spending and higher taxes. Additional interference into private enterprise from the government will only increase the downward economic spiral resulting in higher unemployment, more debt and fewer jobs. In a speech on the floor of the Senate on March 6, 2006, then-Senator Barack Obama said, “You don’t raise taxes in a recession.” Obviously, the left-wing extremists of his party have convinced the President to change course—yet again.
“It’s time to limit government’s involvement in the economy. This means lowering taxes, reducing regulations and creating jobs,” said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Tom Morrissey. “It doesn’t get any clearer: Obama’s failed economic policies punish small business and kill job creation. I strongly support our Republican Congressional position that calls for spending cuts with no new taxes.”
###
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of religious liberty for an Arizona church today. In 2007, the city of Yuma had unlawfully denied the church a permit to use its building for worship. Attorneys for Center for Arizona Policy and the Alliance Defense Fund worked together to defend the church’s rights in court.
“Churches should not be treated unfavorably just because they are religious, and that is what the city of Yuma had done here,” said CAP Legal Counsel Deborah Sheasby. “Because of this ruling, government officials will not be able to discriminate against churches and single them out for negative treatment in how they use their property. We are excited about this victory for churches and religious freedom.”
In this case, the church purchased a building in downtown Yuma in 2007, but the city denied its permit saying that a church did not “fit in” with the city’s plans for the area. The church filed a lawsuit based on the Constitution and the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), both of which prohibit the government from discriminating against religious organizations. A lower court ruled against the church, but today the Ninth Circuit reversed that decision.
The Ninth Circuit’s ruling explains that cities may not treat churches less favorably than non-religious groups. The city’s zoning ordinance “expressly treats religious organizations on a less than equal basis,” the court wrote. “The Yuma City Code’s exclusion of religious organizations is not reasonably well adapted to the zoning criteria it is purported to serve. And it therefore violates the equal terms provision of RLUIPA.”
In 2010, Center for Arizona Policy worked to pass a bill that clarifies Arizona law to better protect churches from the type of discrimination faced by the church in Yuma. That bill was signed and went into effect in July 2010.
Sheasby commended today’s court ruling, saying, “Today’s legal victory reinforces that Arizona churches have a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment to use their property to gather for worship. This is great news for Arizona churches!”
For more information, visit www.azpolicy.org.
“Small-business owners are registering a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the federal government,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Between the deluge of new regulations and a Washington policy agenda that is largely ignorant of Main Street needs, stubbornly low consumer spending, and grave concern among small firms about the federal budget, there is not much to be optimistic about as a small-business owner. Who can blame the prevalence of pessimism when administration officials are telling Congress that small businesses need to pay more in taxes to support government spending programs?”
Earnings trends for small businesses remained distressingly negative in June, particularly given that the recovery is now beginning its third year. According to today’s report, 69 percent of the owners view the current period as a poor time to expand and 75 percent of those blame the weak economy for their outlook, while 10 percent cite political uncertainty.
Some other highlights of June’s Optimism Index include:
Today’s report is based on the responses of 766 randomly sampled small businesses in NFIB’s membership, surveyed throughout the month of June. Download the complete study at http://www.nfib.com/sbetindex.
# # #
NFIB’s Small Business Economic Trends is a monthly survey of small-business owners’ plans and opinions. Decision makers at the federal, state and local levels actively monitor these reports, ensuring that the voice of small business is heard. The NFIB Research Foundation conducts some of the most comprehensive research of small-business issues in the nation. The National Federation of Independent Business is the nation’s leading small-business association. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its members in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals.
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to stem the illicit flow of weapons into Mexico, the Justice Department announced Monday that all gun shops in four Southwest border states will be required to alert the federal government to frequent buyers of high-powered rifles.
The only flow of illicit guns from the four border states are those purchased with taxpayer money by the government of the United States.
How long ago was it when Secretary of Homeland (In)Security made the audacious claim that weapons being used were being supplied by gun shops in the border states?
She expected us to believe that the Drug Cartel’s with their massive stockpiles of cash were purchasing semi-automatic (that’s all you can legally purchase in the US without a special license) weapons one at a time and paying full over the counter retail. That’s how out of touch this moron of an ex-Arizona governor is… or how politically motivated she is.
When those claims were proved to be false, rather than admitting they were slightly in error, Napolitano and the Administration simply regrouped and called in Eric Holder who proceeded to launch a taxpayer funded effort to insure that the guns used by the Drug Cartell’s and in crimes committed in the border states had their origins with lawful FFL holders in gun shops from Yuma to Brownsville.
How ripe it is that Holder to deflect the true purpose of Fast and Furious is now ordering via administrative policy new gun regulations for the now discredited BATFE to execute.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the new policy “is exactly what ATF agents on the ground told Congress — that reporting multiple sales of military-grade assault weapons is a crucial tool to identify and disrupt Mexican drug cartels engaged in gun trafficking.”
Military grade assault weapons? Does Mr Cummings even know what those are? Does Mr Cummings even know that you can’t buy “military grade” weapons over the counter in the United States? But then knowledge and truth seem to be alien concepts to some in Congress and the Administration (and for some time now).
It is therefore no surprise that Eric Holder is now doing exactly what that Wiener guy did when first confronted with the T-R-U-T-H … continuing to tell his lie louder. As the AP story goes on to explain, Holder is rushing to institute policy within the rogue BATFE before the chickens come home to roost and Holder’s role in ordering Fast & Furious (along with a couple of other similar dubious operations) is brought to full light.
If Obama can’t secure his promise of increased draconian gun control through legislation, he and his cronies will do it the way Tyrants and Dictators have always done it… by executive fiat … er, of course I mean order. After all, for them its all about order.
Side bar: Senator Klein
The Senator receives an “F” in handgun responsibility. Give her the Scott Bundgaard Award for Stupidity
Seems the story appears to have taken place last January because the July 10 article by Richard Ruelas which appeard in the Arizona Republic cites in a later paragraph the date of January 10th during which the episode occurred.
“No more training, background checks or permitting required, thank you very much.”
The above quote is taken from an Editorial in AZ Central July 12 and provides stark evidence just how imbecilic the Editorial board of the financially challenged Arizona Republic truly is; because background checks are a federal law and are conducted by a licensed FFL in the United States on each and every firearm sale made at a gun shop.
Regarding the lack of training or permitting for handgun ownership; just look at the carnage on the highway over any holiday weekend in SoCali due to motorists lacking proper training and permits . Oh and Lorie? Please try to remember that a gun is not a designer accessory.
The following statement was issued by State Senator Lori Klein regarding the allegation that she intentionally pointed a handgun at Arizona Republic reporter Richard Ruelas on January 10, 2011:
Thank you for your inquiry, but I will not be giving any more interviews on this topic. It makes little sense to contribute to a media feeding frenzy that is driven by a few individuals who never miss the opportunity to advance an anti-2nd Amendment agenda.
What I will do is recap the events so that you can draw your own conclusions based on the events as they occurred.
I was asked to show the reporter my weapon so that they could take pictures of it. I ensured that the chamber was clear before displaying the weapon. That is basic gun safety and something that I do instinctively, just like virtually every gun owner.
The photographer, who was behind me at the time, asked me to show him the laser sight and I did so, turning it on and shining it on the wall in front of me (away from the photographer). During this demonstration, the reporter came and sat down in the sofa in front of me, placing himself in the line of the laser sight.
He noticed the light, then I noticed the light, then I turned it off.
I apologized and let him know that he was safe because I keep my finger out of the trigger guard. Again, that is basic gun safety. If he was uncomfortable as a result of this, he did not indicate any discomfort at that time. But I have learned several lessons that I will never forget. First, it doesn’t matter if a reporter or anyone else asks, I won’t be showing anyone my gun. It may help them take a better picture but my gun isn’t a fashion statement or accessory, it is a life-saving tool to keep me and my family safe. Second, if anyone wants to see a demonstration of any of my gun’s features, it will have to take place at a gun range. Such a demonstration would be of far greater value to them in any case as it would allow them to see more, do more, and better experience the enjoyment and security that hundreds of thousands of Arizonans enjoy as a result of our Second Amendment freedoms.
I hope this helps to answer any questions you have on the matter.
Curious about the timing of a “special report” and an article in the Arizona Republic yesterday. Especially since the event mentioned in the article took place six months ago.
It appears that the Republic decided to do a a special report – “ARMED: A Culture of Guns” – over the next few days which obviously ties this article and the gun culture in Arizona to the Giffords shooting.
But why talk about guns in Arizona now? Is it because we just passed the six-month anniversary of the Giffords mass murder shooting?
In recent weeks, the Obama Administration’s ATF has been under fire for its involvement in selling guns to Mexican gun runners. Will there be any mention of that? (The special report does not indicate any interest in that aspect of the report.)
Could there really be an agenda in running this “special report” right now? Is it a slow news week and the Republic needs something controversial to fire up sales? Or, is this report meant to distract criticism from the Obama Administration’s ATF by “laying down fire” against our own Republican legislators? Or is this just another shot at the those who respect and honor the Second Amendment?
The sidebar in the Arizona Republic states the following about the series:
On Jan. 8, six people were killed and 13 others wounded in a mass shooting near Tucson. As a debate about gun safety raged across the country and in Arizona, where state lawmakers ultimately passed new laws easing restrictions on gun owners, The Arizona Republic began examining the role of the firearm in state politics, commerce and life. The goal: to bring context to an issue that has been debated longer than Arizona has been a state. What’s your view? Join the discussion at facebook.com/azcentral.
I’ll assume the Republic is sincere in their intentions but this reader and Second Amendment advocate, and many like myself, will certainly be reading over the next few days. Even more important, we will be voicing our opinions about the future of firearms in Arizona law and public policy.
I encourage you to do the same here and at the Republic’s Facebook page.
For Immediate Release: July 11, 2011
Contact: Melissa Randazzo
Today, Mayor Scott Smith participated in a conference call with President Barack Obama and top White House economic officials to discuss ongoing budget negotiations. The call was arranged by U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and included a select group of mayors.
In his remarks the President stressed to the mayors the importance of increasing the debt ceiling and asked them to help him achieve a balanced approach that would include both spending cuts now and revenue adjustments starting in 2013. After the President spoke, the mayors were able to ask questions and give input. During this portion of the call, Mayor Smith emphasized the necessity of reaching an agreement that brings certainty and stability to the nation’s financial situation.
“I appreciate the President speaking directly to the mayors and laying out his thoughts on how this serious issue can be settled,” Mayor Scott Smith said. “We need to get this issue resolved soon. The uncertainty in Washington is stifling investment on Main Street. Mayors want to get on with the work of fixing the economy and creating jobs, and we are willing to help however we can.”
Mayor Smith was recently elected to USCM Second Vice President and will be the organization’s president in 2013.
-30-
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith was recently elected to Second Vice President to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Presents
U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century: Challenges in U.S. Policy
Foreign policy in the 21st Century has been driven by forces like technological changes between, within and among nations, non-nation independent actors, power shift challenges from West to East, globalization, the changing nature of war and even statecraft. In addition, structural changes for nations posed by Islamic “theology” that are legal, social, political and religious will affect our near and long term future. These changes are happening at an even quicker pace than might ordinarily be expected. This seminar will explore the changing nature and subsequent foreign policy challenges for the U.S. in the 21st Century.
Speaker: Professor Gene Aldridge, foreign policy expert
Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Via Linda Senior Center
Address: 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale (map)
Refreshments served
Cost: $10 per person
For addtional information and questions send email to: info@arizonamainstreamproject.org or call 480-659-4232
Reposted with appropriate permission and credit given to World Net Daily.
Outraged mayor: ‘I’m not going to quit until I see them in jail’
By Joe Kovacs
A small town in Arizona is suddenly a YouTube sensation after a town-hall meeting devolved into a physical clash as a woman was forcibly removed from speaking during the public portion of the event.
Jennifer “Jade” Jones, 45, of Quartzsite, Ariz., was taken into custody by local police at the behest of Quartzsite councilmembers, over the objections of the mayor, who pleaded with officers not to remove the woman.
The incident took place June 28 during the “call to the public” section of the meeting, as Jones, a pet groomer who also publishes the Desert Freedom Press, was addressing matters of taxation and meeting protocol.
Read the entire article at: http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=319501#ixzz1RoyyRiz2
Congratulations to Barbara Espinosa and co-host Randy Pullen on taking their radio show to the next level. In this case, Barbara is taking her show to the streets, literally! Go Barbara!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2011
CONTACT: Barbara Espinosa
In an unprecedented move this week, “Hair on Fire” conservative radio talk show host Barbara Espinosa took to the streets of Phoenix with 4 x 4 road signs to advertise the 7 PM Wednesday night radio broadcasts on KFNX 1100 AM news talk radio. The show features long time political activist Barbara and her co-host Randy Pullen, former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, as they discuss the latest political news and intrigues with elected officials, political operatives and newsmakers from around the country.
The Hair on Fire signs appear next to many candidate signs on street corners as the 2011 election season in Arizona heats up. Look for the signs and join other listeners as Barbara and Randy make sense out of political dust storms in Arizona!
AMERICAN FREEDOM: www.americanfreedombybarbara.com
Hair on Fire: http://1100KFNX.com
This Saturday night from 6-7pm on the Alexander & Symes Show we will talk about child custody issues with David Usher of the Center for Marriage Policy and former Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis, who has proposed shared parenting legislation. We will spend the first 15-20 mins traversing the historical custody and fathers problem (which has been the ongoing insoluable problem for decades), and then point out that the way the gears work, father-absence (like poverty, child problems, and deficit spending) will not get better until we restore marriage as the social norm.
We will then talk about legislation proposed in Missouri:
· Our “Responsible Dissolution” legislation,
· Our “Family Intervention Order” (like a TRO but uses the heavy hand of government to get a substance abusing spouse to seek recovery).
· How this will help women too
· How this will benefit attorneys, judges, etc – where there will be a big surprise.
Watch the ustream live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alexander-and-symes-show. Login and chat us live during the show (we won’t be taking phone calls this week due to the number of guests). Click here to get weekly email updates on our upcoming shows.
Last week’s show talking to local political consultant Judy Allen, North Phoenix Tea Party Chairman Wes Harris, and candidate for Phoenix City Council Janet Contreras about the United Nations’ Agenda 21 is available here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2011
CONTACT: Amy Bjelland
Today, Secretary of State Ken Bennett notified Govern Jan Brewer of his determination that recall petition serial number RC-04-2011, filed by the Citizens for a Better Arizona Committee exceeds the number of minimum signatures required by the Arizona Constitution to be placed on the ballot at the next consolidated election date that is 90 days or more after the order calling the election. Today constitutes the official filing date of the petition. (read the entire press release).
Jennifer Wright has never voted for a tax hike and has never worked with or for any government unions.
We missed this one from a few days ago…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 5, 2011
CONTACT: Skip Rimsza
Phoenix voters will decide whether labor unions should continue to control City Hall when they vote for a new mayor next month, according to a letter written by former Mayor Skip Rimsza.
Rimsza, who served as Mayor from 1994 through 2004, called the upcoming mayoral contest a “watershed election where voters will decide who City Hall will serve.”
He said three of the candidates in the race, Greg Stanton, Claude Mattox and Wes Gullett all have ties to labor unions with a lot to gain from a Mayor sympathetic to their cause. But he said the interests of union bosses are not always the same as those of the city’s taxpayers.
He pointed to recent controversial actions as proof that union labor bosses are calling the shots within Phoenix city government, including the Council’s approval of pay raises amidst budget cuts and last year’s passage of an emergency food tax. Both decisions benefitted city labor unions.
“Mr. Mattox is supported by the largest public employee union in the city and stood with them by voting to support the food tax increase and the pay raises,” Rimsza noted.
“Mr. Gullett was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which is the largest public employee union in the country. Nationally, they pushed for the boycott of Arizona. Locally, Mr. Gullett tried to get Maricopa County government to bargain with his union supporters,” he said.
“And Mr. Stanton was an ardent opponent of SB 1070 and is supported by several labor and union groups such as the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union and the AFL-CIO affiliate Maricopa Area Labor Federation, who together have stood against Arizona and supported boycotting the state,” Rimsza added.
Rimsza said the City has some of the best employees in the nation, who work hard to keep residents safe and to improve the quality of services despite budget constraints. “However, the Union Bosses, who feed off their union dues have become out of control because they are out to serve their best interest – not the taxpayers of Phoenix,” he warned.
Rimsza has endorsed Peggy Neely for Mayor and said in his letter that she is the only candidate “with a track record of asking hard questions, supporting fiscal responsibility and bringing people together, which has always been the culture of Phoenix leadership.”
Click here to read Rimsza’s Editorial.
-30-
Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) released the first edition of the 2011 City Elections Voter Guide on azvoterguide.com today. This non-partisan, free resource provides you with straightforward answers from the candidates about where they stand on critical issues for the August 30 election.
CAP surveyed every mayoral and city council candidate in Phoenix, Tucson, and Prescott to find out their positions on issues that they are likely to address if elected. The answers have been compiled in one place to make it simple for you to be an informed voter this year. Candidates also were able to include comments on their surveys, which can be downloaded at azvoterguide.com.
For thirteen years, CAP has surveyed individuals running for office in Arizona to provide you, the voter, with the information you need for upcoming elections. During the 2010 election season, CAP reached more than 500,000 people with this important resource.
Candidates who have not yet submitted their survey answers still have the opportunity to respond and have their answers included in the next edition. The contact information for those candidates is currently included in the Voter Guide. If you would like to know where those candidates stand, please contact them and ask them to respond to CAP’s Voter Guide survey. You can access the survey here.
City elections can have a significant impact on all Arizonans. It’s imperative for all Arizonans to register to vote, discover where the candidates stand, and then vote their values on August 30.
For more information, visit http://www.azvoterguide.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2011
CONTACT: Tony Bradley
Phoenix, AZ – Professional Politician, Peggy Neely, has started to attack her opponents in desperation to hide from her own failed record as a Phoenix City Councilmember. Neely is hiding from championing the plan to build a 40 million dollar ‘Road to Nowhere,’ voting to increase the City’s water rates by more than 100 percent, giving away millions in failed subsidies for CityNorth, and spearheading the creation of the only taxpayer-funded day labor center in Arizona.
ANNOUNCER: Close your windows…Because here it comes… Another massive dust storm. This one from Professional Politician Peggy Neely. Desperate and down in the polls, Peggy’s attacks are as nasty as the dirt on your windshield. And she’s using a 100-mile wall of dirt to hide from her own record. Hiding from the Road to Nowhere. Her taxpayer-funded day labor center. Her votes to increase water rates by 100%. After 10 years of failing to have a plan to create jobs, smoke and mirrors are all she has left.
ANNOUNCER: Only Wes Gullett has a Seven Point Jobs Plan to clean up the mess and get Phoenix working again. Learn more at WesGullett.com.
- 30 -
