You are here: Home / 2011 / Archives for November 2011

Two for One: Recall of Two Democrats in Legislature Being Considered

November 11, 2011 By 43 Comments

Sonoran Alliance has learned that a group of conservative activists are considering launching recalls on two Democrat members of the Arizona Legislature.

The conservative group is citing egregious and “conduct unbecoming” activities of the two Democrats who they believe are too extreme to represent the image of Arizona.

A recall election could pose a serious problem for Democrats when the next legislative session convenes in January as they attempt to build for the 2012 election cycle.

Republicans would certainly gain the upper hand in the legislative session with Democrats scrambling to address recall challenges brought on by scandals.

The group, who has asked to remain anonymous until filing any committee organization papers, is also preparing to take on liberal activists who were behind the Pearce recall effort. They believe the recall electoral process can be used just as effectively by conservatives as it was by the left.

All this begs the question whether recall elections will be the new political weapon of choice between Arizona’s conservatives and liberals?

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Conservatives, Liberals, Political Parties Tagged With:

Veterans Day. Observing Valor, Sacrifice, and Diligence: A Celebration of Purpose

November 11, 2011 By 5 Comments

There are two very distinctive cultures which observe the end of World War I: those who celebrate Armistice Day and those who celebrate Veteran’s Day.

Veterans Day as observed in the United States is related to Armistice Day in Europe. Today on November 11, the date of the signing of the cease fire in 1918, signed at 5 am but in effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day, is recalled by the French as a remembrance of loss and the wanton destruction of war.

Igniting across the global, spread transcontinentally through the colonial holdings of the warring nations, World War I  was fought most brutally on French and Belgium soil, with battlefield casualties of a magnitude that human beings are almost incapable of comprehending. At the First Battle of the Marne in 1914, the French incurred 250,000 losses, with German losses estimated at the same magnitude, or close to 500,000 men at arms consumed during one major engagement, and that was only the beginning. (1)

It was the “War to End All Wars,” a stunning loss of 1.4 million French soldiers alone, 10.5% of the French male population, with overall combat-related deaths and crippling injury exceeding ten million.  Americans, with victory achieved, but appalled at the squalor and horror of the trenches and observing the scenes of years of destruction, brushed the dust and grime off their uniforms and went home, muttering “another European War.”

French schoolbooks teach the horror of the war, and focus on the massive mortality amongst the generation of men who fought it. They detail to each new generation of children the suffering and the severe hardships of the populations which fled their homes and towns, running to be clear of the bombardments and combat. The lingering spiritual toll has been a cynical dismissal of purpose: the Europeans and especially the French ask if there is anything worth fighting for to justify loss of human life.

That Europe, especially France, Belgium and Britain, was shell-shocked by this war cannot be understated in order to understand the mindset behind how they have conducted their national defense and foreign policy since. This cynicism was the base on which appeasement was embraced over standing firm for principles, and its folly was soon exposed.

But Armistice wasn’t peace. It was more promise than delivery, more hope than reality, as fighting and battlefield dying continued after the famous 11th hour declaration of secession of hostilities.

 “There followed in early 1919 the Paris Peace Conference of victorious nations and the resulting Treaty of Versailles. Germany was stripped of territories and ordered to pay huge war reparations. Its military forces were restricted and it was forced to admit full guilt for the war. An international League of Nations was established to resolve future conflicts. The exultant Allied leaders went home, satisfied that they had achieved a great diplomatic triumph. But had they?
When the fighting stopped, not one Allied soldier on the Western front stood on one square foot of German territory. The four years of fighting on the Western Front had occurred solely in Belgium and France (Holland was neutral in the First World War). Germany had surrendered while her troops were still occupying foreign territory. To most Germans, this seemed incredible.

A nondescript German corporal, recovering from poison gas wounds, was enraged. Civilians back home had obviously betrayed the country. That corporal’s name was Adolf Hitler. More would be heard from him in coming years.” (2)

Recovering from his wounds on the other side of the border in France, a young American officer, one of a handful of survivors of a deadly engagement, and hating the man-eating trenches and the death they represented, took back a different lesson as he stood on the abandoned battlefields, and sternly surveyed the desolate scene. When he was asked why he was still surveying the French countryside as everyone was packing to leave, he replied, with an uncanny sense of unfinished business,  “The next war is going to be right here and I am going to be in it.”

General George Patton summed up the national character which formed him: “America loves a winner. America will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise a coward; Americans play to win.”

The cultures of these two wounded veterans of World War I, the War to End All Wars, met square-on at that great battlefield of Europe, two decades later.

 Hitler was in reach of being the most powerful emperor ever to have breathed the air of Europe, but led by clear-eyed men of purpose like Patton, derided by Hitler as “soft, weak, lazy and fat,” Americans surged across North Africa, poured ashore in Italy and charged through the countryside of the beaten and capitulated French, relieved the cornered and isolated British and shattered the seemingly unstoppable war machines of the socialist Hitler, the fascist Mussolini, then crushed them all and then turned their grim resolve to the imperialistic Tojo, who stood astride the battered and conquered nations of Asia, his juggernaut poised to overwhelm Australia.  

After Hitler demanded he needed Czechsolvakia and Austria, the Europeans  gave up  entire nations in exchange  for signed documents of peace,  and got war anyway.  Emboldened by that example, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor,  expecting the same response, that the United States would also sign for peace.    Americans didn’t need President Roosevelt to tell them it was war, they already knew it and they knew what had to be done.   Imperial Japan had made a mortal mistake, thinking Americans were just like Europeans, lacking in a vision of eternal truths of right and wrong, good and evil.  The sleeping tiger had been awakened.   One nation infused with  sense of greater purpose, that this was evil and men were called to fight it, freely left security,  headed knowingly into danger and halted the onslaught.

American soldiers, farm boys, cabbies, waiters, sons of carpenters and bankers, brick layers and doctors, were the ones who threw open the gates of the smoke-shrouded death camps, and beheld a vision of hell, then set their jaws and gritted their teeth and showed the world the proof of the cruelty and depravity of the fascist state, and marched the people through so they could not claim they “didn’t know.”

In this case, the pen was not mightier than the sword.  And when the pens finally came out, the American sword made sure the aggreements would be honored.

In contrast to the anguished sorrow of an empty loss and faith in signatures on a paper that didn’t translate on the battlefield, our Veterans Day observances for the sacrifices of our fighting men are grave and solemn, but still retain a sense of a greater purpose to life than simply surviving. Our memorials and remembrances retain a pride, placing the sacrifices of every fallen soldier and veteran who carried his wounds through his life into the framework of a greater and eternal purpose.

America transported her soldiers to foreign lands, the best we had – the prime of our young men – to stand beside our allies, upended a brutal stalemate and ended two wars. War is everything the pacifists proclaim, even worse as they have not seen with their own eyes what soldiers have seen, but it is no peace to capitulate to evil. That’s just surrender; a bended knee to evil is the path to desolation, despair and destruction.

Was it worth it in human costs for Americans to leave their homes and fight on foreign fields?

No one can image without a shudder of horror what Europe and the world would be like today had Hitler and his counterpart Tojo triumphed.  And heeding the mistake made in 1919 of leaving too soon, Americans in 1945 stayed to provide security, stability, food, shelter and helped a devastated Europe and Asia develop democratic governance, holding firm for decades until the last of the empires collapsed, the Soviet Union.  

Yes, it was worth it.  By the Word of God, not a soul who should be saved is lost. There is a purpose; good is worth fighting for.  Peace is a curious thing. It has to be fought for and protected.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.

Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

 - General George S. Patton, Jr

As we remember those who served before you, for all our men and women in uniform today who worked hard while people slept, who took on challenges and accepted discipline and risk, deployed far from our life of ease, thank you and God bless you for your service to our nation. 

*****

 1) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/ww1/11-11-11.htm
2) http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Armistice+left+unfinished/5684793/story.html#ixzz1dOVk1AQw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF5PBuPCd0A&feature=related

Inadequate Peace:
http://www.greatwar.nl/versailles/versail-summary.html  http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/treatyofversailles/p/overtofvers.htm  

http://www.military-quotes.com/Patton.htm

 

Filed Under: Culture, Guest Opinion, History, Memorial, Military, National Security

Governor Jan Brewer – Scorpions for Breakfast

November 11, 2011 By

Governor Jan Brewer - Scorpions for Breakfast

Filed Under: Elected Officials Tagged With: ,

Beware the ‘Independent’ Label, Democrats Use New Branding Strategy

November 10, 2011 By 39 Comments

This photo says it all.

Remember the expression, “Look for the Union label?”

These days, “Union” is a dirty word - synonymous with “big government,” “unruly overdemanding government workers” and of course, Democrats.

Using the label “Independent,” Democrats are now attempting to fool voters by taking the “new & improved” branding strategy.

Don’t be fooled. They’re still the same old liberal, nihilistic, big-government, tax and spend amoral creatures.

Filed Under: Liberals, Political Parties, Political Science Tagged With: ,

Senator Russell Pearce: Final Remarks

November 10, 2011 By 47 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2011
CONTACT: Mike Philipsen

By Senate President, Russell Pearce

I’d be lying if I said I was not extremely disappointed by being voted out in a recall election. It has been an honor to serve the people of Arizona in the legislature for the last decade and I am sad to go under these circumstances.

There is still much to be done, even though we lead the nation in many areas, such as economic recovery, safer neighborhoods, job creation, quality education, 2nd Amendment freedom, lower taxes, less regulation, defense of the unborn, protection of property rights, and yes, a return to the principles laid down by our Founding Fathers. We have changed the national debate in a good way. More than 34 states are modeling legislation after Arizona. WOW, who would have ever thought we could have had that kind of an impact? I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve and to have made a difference.

The World War II pilots had a saying; “If you’re not taking flak, you’re not over the target,” Well apparently I’ve been over the target for some time.

The left have said terrible things, the media have manufactured their own truth and with NO basis in truth at all and others an extreme spin on the truth. It is sad and hurtful. Like I tease, if I believed half of what the media said, I wouldn’t vote for me. I have never broken my promises, I have been faithful to my Oath of Office, and I have done nothing immoral, illegal or dishonest and will continue to do what I believe is right and good for this Constitutional Republic. If the price for keeping promises is a recall, so be it. The left will continue to attack these moral values and the rule of law. I proudly take the arrows of the left and consider it a badge of honor.

One state senate race would not be national news were it not for the fact that for the last several years, I have led the successful battle against illegal immigration on the state, local and national level, most notably by authoring Arizona’s SB 1070. It has made a difference here and nationally.

Statement by Phoenix Law Enforcement Association: “Since SB1070, Phoenix has experienced a 30-year low crime rate. 600 police vacancies, budget cuts, and old policing strategies didn’t bring about these falling crime rates. SB1070 did. When hard-working rank-and-file Phoenix Police Officers were given access to the tool of SB1070, the deterrence factor this legislation brought about was clearly instrumental in our unprecedented drop in crime. And all of this without a single civil rights, racial profiling, or biased policing complaint. To ignore the positive impact of SB1070 in the City of Phoenix is to ignore the huge elephant in the middle of the room.”

My critics claim that my defeat shows the voters oppose immigration control. Libertarian open border advocate Tamar Jacoby wrote, “Demagoguing immigrants looks like a sure vote-getter. But as Russell Pearce just proved, it’s not.” The pro-amnesty lobbying organization America’s Voice wrote: “The people of Mesa have spoken — and they have sent a message to Arizona and the nation: Anti-immigrant extremism doesn’t work”

I will not retreat from this fight, and the movement that I helped create is going strong.

Pretty much all political observers acknowledge that I would have not lost the race in a normal election. In 2010, at the height of the controversy over SB 1070, with high turn-out, I was elected with nearly two thirds of the vote. What made this race different?

In a recall election, there is no primary. So my opponents put up Jerry Lewis, by design a nominal Republican, against me. In a normal election, he would have had no chance in the primary getting the Republican nod and with a registration edge to GOP voters in my district; I would have won easily against the Democrat in the General Election. They knew that. However, the Democrats did not put up a candidate, they endorsed the Republican. Instead, the Democrat party and left wing groups like the SEIU and MoveOn.org all supported Lewis.

Additionally, there was a prolonged smear campaign against me for accepting (with dozens of other legislators) free college football tickets that loomed over the campaign. These attacks are groundless and I did nothing illegal or unethical and I followed legal councils advice. However, the main point is that this had nothing to do with my positions on illegal immigration. In fact my opponent barely discussed the issue.

Combine all these factors with the low turnout in a special election, and it is hard to see my defeat as a referendum on SB 1070.

While I am sad to have to leave office, I can look at the progress Arizona has made on the illegal immigration issue with pride.

In 2004, I authored and put Prop 200, The Protect Arizona Now Act on the ballot. Compared to SB 1070, it was an incredibly modest bill that merely restricted public benefits to illegal aliens and protected against voting fraud. Nonetheless, virtually every politician in the state opposed the measure, and we were outspent 3-1. Still, the voters of Arizona passed it overwhelmingly.

In 2007, I introduced the Legal Arizona Workers Act to require that all employers in the State use E-Verify to ensure they do not hire illegal immigrants. After building enormous grassroots support across the state, the bill passed and then Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano signed it. This past May, the Supreme Court upheld it; states rights to mandate E-Verify for employers.

More than a dozen states passed E-Verify laws, and without having to worry about expensive litigation, we can expect even more to follow suit next year.

In 2010, I introduced SB 1070. John McCain and Jeff Flake both opposed Prop 200 and both have been prime sponsors of amnesty, I knew where the people of Arizona stood and began to champion SB 1070. Now, most of our Republican congressman and both US Senators at least give lip service to supporting SB 1070. More importantly, polls still show that Arizona voters support the law by a 2-1 margin.

This past year, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia all passed bills modeled after SB 1070.

There is no doubt that movement against illegal immigration on the state level has become bigger than me, and bigger than Arizona.

I have not decided whether or not I will run for the State Senate or another office in the future. However, I am confident that legislators and activists in Arizona and across the country will continue to pass laws to fight illegal immigration. I will do everything I can as a private citizen to assist them.

###

Filed Under: Elected Officials, Guest Opinion, Press Release, State Government Tagged With:

Statement by Governor Jan Brewer: Veterans Day

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2011
CONTACT: Matthew Benson

“I urge all Arizonans to join me in paying respect to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

“Let us say a prayer for the fallen heroes who have given their lives to protect our nation and preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted. Let us take this opportunity to acknowledge those who continue to fight –who continue to risk their lives daily to save ours.

“To all of Arizona’s veterans, I say: thank you. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for your willingness of the heart. Thank you for your sense of duty.

“May God bless our veterans and their families, as well as our Great State of Arizona. Most of all, may God bless those who have paid the ultimate price in preserving and protecting the United States of America.”

###

Filed Under: Elected Officials, Press Release, State Government, Veterans Tagged With: ,

Congratulations Senate President Steve Pierce

November 10, 2011 By 26 Comments

Today, State Senate Republicans, by secret ballot, elected Senator Steve Pierce as Senate President.

Prior to the election, three names had emerged as possible replacements should Senator Pearce be recalled: Steve Yarbrough, Steve Pierce and Andy Biggs. Biggs was presumed the favorite.

Biggs had also unwaveringly stood by Senator Pearce throughout the recall election.

Earlier during the session, Steve Pierce had voted against five immigration bill Russell Pearce had advocated.

When the vote went down today, the numbers were 11-10 in favor of Senator Steve Pierce. Yarbrough had bowed out of the race leaving it a Pierce vs. Biggs contest.

It’s not hard to see that the State’s newest senator, did not vote for Senator Andy Biggs and speculation abounds that Senator Gould traded his vote for an endorsement for his congressional bid against House Speaker, Andy Tobin, also from Prescott which Pierce represents.

Senator Frank Antenori from southern Arizona, replaced Pierce as Majority Whip – the likely result of another vote for endorsment arrangement. Antenori has already formed an exploratory committee for congress in southern Arizona.

Based on pure speculation, the vote tally probably went along the lines of the following:

Voting for Steve Pierce:
Jerry Lewis
Rich Crandall
Adam Driggs
Frank Antenori
Michele Reagan
John Nelson
John McComish
Nancy Barto
Linda Gray
Ron Gould

Voting for Andy Biggs:
Scott Bundgaard
Sylvia Allen
Lori Klein
Rick Murphy
Steve Yarbrough
Steve Smith
Gail Griffin
Al Melvin
Don Shooter

Congratulations Senator Pierce. You certainly have your work cut out for you.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties, State Government Tagged With: , ,

Students for Life of America Honors Cathi Herrod with Wilberforce Leadership Award

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

I am thrilled to announce that this Saturday, SFLA will honor Cathi Herrod, President of the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), with our Wilberforce Leadership Award for her outstanding efforts within the pro-life movement in the state of Arizona!

Mrs. Herrod will be honored at the Students for Life of America Inaugural West Coast Gala in Phoenix, Arizona this Saturday, November 12th, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. (For more information on the Gala or to purchase tickets, please visit www.sfla2011gala.com.)

The Wilberforce Leadership Award is named about the British social justice and human rights activist, William Wilberforce, who led the fight to abolish the slave trade and was successful in helping to end slavery in Great Britain. SFLA’s awards two pro-life leaders each year who, like Wilberforce, are working to create, enforce, and uphold laws that will eventually abolish the greatest human rights threat our nation faces in abortion.

As President of CAP, Cathi has spearheaded a number of pro-life initiatives that have gained national notoriety and have affected policies and regulations across the U.S. Most notably, in February of 2009, the Arizona Legislature, along with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and under Mrs. Herrod’s influence, enacted into law HB2564, known as the Abortion Consent Act.

Key provisions of this important legislation included:

  • A notarized parental signature is required before an abortion can be performed on a minor child.
  • Abortionists must provide women with full and accurate information, in-person at least 24 hours before an abortion.
  • Medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their religious or moral beliefs.
  • Non-doctors are not permitted to perform surgical abortions.

Under Cathi’s leadership, CAP has helped pass state legislation that has banned partial-birth abortion (1997), revised abortion clinic safety standards (2000), prohibited nurses from performing surgical abortions (2002), ended taxpayer-funded insurance coverage for government employees’ abortions (2010), required ultrasounds before abortions, banned telemedicine abortions, and improved safety standards for abortion facilities (2011), among many others. For a list of other CAP supported bills that have become Arizona Law, click here: http://www.azpolicy.org/center-supported-bills.

Because of her work in Arizona, Cathi has helped reduce abortions and save countless lives. She is an inspiration to all young pro-life leaders who seek a career like Cathi’s that will allow them to make a difference and end the horrific practice of abortion. Cathi could not be more deserving of this honor, and I look forward to presenting it to her this Saturday!

If you would like to send Cathi a note of thanks and encouragement, please e-mail her at cathi_herrod@azpolicy.org.

For Life,

Kristen Hawkins

Students

Filed Under: Sanctity of Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Wes Gullett: ‘Thank You’

November 10, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

This has been a long journey together.

I started this campaign nearly a year ago as a long-shot outsider up against the status quo, and with your help, we turned this into a serious, aggressive campaign that forced the politicians to talk about issues they didn’t want to talk about.

While we may not have gotten the result we sought, I want to you to know that your generous support for my candidacy is something I will always remember. This campaign was made up of many people who worked hard every day – you put up signs, opened your homes and talked to your neighbors. For that, I will forever be grateful.

And our efforts were not in vain. Together we created a voice for Phoenix taxpayers who are frustrated by the status quo and who were looking for something different. We changed the dialogue, and I hope, changed the future.

I talked a lot in this campaign about making Phoenix the greatest city in America.

I truly believe that, and while I may not have won this election, I’m still committed to that.

Again, thank you to all friends, old and new, who joined me on this journey. I could not have done it without you.

Sincerely,

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections Tagged With: , ,

NW Valley PAChyderm Coaltion Meeting – New Location

November 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

PAChyderm Coalition NW Chapter

proudly announces our NEW meeting location

 

The Patriot Room

At Dillon’s Arrowhead

20585 N 59th Ave, Glendale

 (easy access just north of the Loop 101, east side of 59th Ave.)

 

We welcome Guest Speakers:

State Treasurer Doug Ducey

As Arizona’s Chief Banker and Investment Officer, Treasurer Ducey oversees more than $10.5 billion in state assets and serves as an investment manager for local governments. Come hear Treasurer Ducey update us about Arizona’s financial future!

AND

Rey Torres – AZ Latino Republican Association

President of this conservative Republican organization, Mr. Torres will speak to us about La Raza, Aztlan and MEChA. Also why the Republican Party is the right home for Latinos!

Wednesday November 16, 2011

 

Dinner Meeting at 6:15 pm

Dinner available – your choice of order off the menu

http://www.dillonsrestaurant.com/menu.html

 

Seating is limited


E-Mail Diane Douglas at azpatsfan@cox.net for your reservation or additional information.  First come, first serve.  You will not receive a reply unless the event is full.  If you have already sent an RSVP there is no need to do so again.  Thank you!

 

www.pachydermcoalition.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

School choice and the future of online education

November 10, 2011 By 3 Comments

by Jonathan Butcher
Goldwater Institute

The late Steve Jobs would be proud: Last year, it was estimated that 1.5 million American students took courses online. Across the country, a majority of school districts have at least one student accessing classes through the internet.

New research from Goldwater Institute Senior Fellow Dan Lips explains how online education is revolutionizing the ways in which students access information. “Today, the breadth of digital learning programs extends from full-time online virtual schools to occasional online instruction. The benefits include improved academic achievement and a better overall learning experience for students,” writes Lips.

Report cards produced by the Digital Learning Council indicate that Arizona’s virtual offerings compare well to other states nationally. Composed of leaders from both the education and business sectors, the Council formed to help states develop high-quality digital learning environments.

One of the main challenges to virtual education in Arizona is that some districts deny online credits earned outside the district. While district leaders should determine whether credits earned elsewhere indicate that a student has mastered the material, district policies shouldn’t limit the usefulness of digital content to students. A significant part of online education’s potential lies in the content’s accessibility — for example, an Arizona student sitting in the library can learn from a teacher working from home in California.

Virtual education also changes the discussion about how to meet students’ needs. “The conversation moves from choosing a school to choosing individual services that specifically meet a student’s needs,” writes Lips. With content accessible almost anywhere, a student’s education can be precisely customized through school choice programs that allow students to earn credits anytime, anywhere.

Experts predict that in 10 years, half of all high school instruction will take place online. As online programs add to the ways in which students can be educated, Arizona leaders should use the policy models afforded us by school choice programs to give all students access.

Jonathan Butcher is education director for the Goldwater Institute.

Learn More:

Goldwater Institute: A Custom Education for Every Child: The Promise of Online Learning and Education Savings Accounts

Digital Learning Now: Arizona Report Card

Filed Under: Education

Michigan Presidential Debate Video Highlights

November 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

YouTube Preview Image

Newt Gingrich sets the record straight, schools the media!

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

YouTube Preview Image

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Debates, Media Tagged With: , , ,

Poll: Was the defeat of Russell Pearce a “green light” to comprehensive immigration reform including amnesty?

November 10, 2011 By 3 Comments
Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Illegal Aliens, Illegal Employment, Illegal Immigration, Migrants, Polls Tagged With:

Andy Biggs and Ben Quayle Provide Updates on State and Federal Govt Issues

November 10, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

The NE Valley Pachyderm Coalition meeting on Wednesday evening, November 9 was addressed by Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs and US Representative Ben Quayle.

Senator Biggs talked about a range of topics.

  • Pearce recall election – The only reason there was a recall election is that Jerry Lewis collected signatures and submitted them to get on the ballot. If nobody had done that, there would have been no recall election even though the recall signatures had been submitted. Lewis said that if he didn’t do it, then someone else would since an election was inevitable; that is simply not true. Democrats elected Lewis. The legislature will review laws related to recalls to force elections to follow the normal election procedure (a primary and then a general election for partisan offices) in order to prevent people from disrupting the political process by bypassing party primaries by abusing the recall process.
  • Health Exchanges – These implement Obamacare. These should not be created while the constitutionality of Obamacare is still being challenged in the courts. Arizona is a party to a suit, so it would be contradicting its own legal position by creating the Health Exchanges. In addition, once these exchanges are created, they will be difficult to dismantle even if Obamacare is ruled unconstitutional. Governor Brewer is creating Health Care Exchanges over objections of key legislators in order to get Federal grants; these grants could be obtained later if Obamacare is ruled constitutional and the exchanges could be implemented at that point if necessary. Some of Brewer’s staff apparently think that having Health Care Exchanges would be a great thing at the state level even if Obamacare is eliminated.
  • State Budget – The state finally has a structurally balanced budget again. In fact, there may be a $350 Million surplus this year. Already, state government officials are trying to get higher appropriations. However, it is essential to build up a reserve because, if Obamacare remains in force, then the state will have an increase of $1 billion in medicaid costs and will need accumulated surpluses to avoid drastic tax increases or huge spending reductions in other parts of a budget of about $7 billion.
  • Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) – Governor Brewer sent a letter to all five members of the commission telling them that they appeared to be acting improperly in fulfilling their responsibilities. The two Republican members responded and explained why they felt they were doing what they were supposed to. The Democrats and Independent did not respond. Brewer made a determination that Mathis should be removed from the commission and asked the Senate to concur by two thirds vote. They did, and that removed Mathis from the commission. So far, this has been supported in court. Brewer was originally planning on asking for the Democrats to be removed as well, but about half the Republican senators refused to go along with that. In response to a question about who those senators are, Biggs said he could not comment because the information was based on confidential conversations with other senators. The legislature will almost certainly pass a proposed constitutional amendment to send to voters to repeal Prop 106 which created the IRC. It is better to have legislators redistrict since they are accountable to the people, and the IRC obviously does not take politics out of the process.
  • Senate President election – The Republican senate caucus will meet at 10 am tomorrow to select a new Senate President. Senators who have put their names forward are Senators Biggs, Yarbrough, (Steve) Pierce, and Melvin. [Biggs has the best Reagan Republican record according to Pachyderm Coalition Legislative Ratings over the past three years.]

 

Representative Quayle started off by thanking Senator Biggs, the rest of the Republican senators, and Governor Brewer for removing Mathis from the IRC. Quayle said that the lines drawn for Congressional Districts were almost identical to the worst possible districts that Republicans could imagine the IRC could design. They were gerrymandered so egregiously, that no fair person could consider them acceptable. Although the legislative districts were not so bad, Quayle said that was done to forestall Senate action to remove IRC members. Quayle said that legislative districts would probably have been redrawn really badly after the public comment period was over anyway. Quayle agrees that it would best to amend the state constitution to let the legislature handle redistricting.

 

Representative Quayle discussed these topics also:

  • Obama’s Jobs Package – It was designed to fail so Obama could blame Congress for not doing anything about jobs. However, it even failed in the Democrat controlled Senate.
  • Regulation – The Obama Administration has added regulations in the past year requiring an additional $75 billion in annual compliance costs. There are so many regulations being added that, in three days, the stack of new regulations is about one foot high.
  • Republican Job Creation Proposals – The House has passed numerous bills, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is holding those bills. Because there are 23 Democrat senators up for election next year, many of them would probably vote for those Republican bills to help themselves get reelected. Reid fears that the bills would pass the Senate with Democrat votes which would force Obama to veto them to prevent them from passing.
  • Energy – House Republicans are trying to open up US gas and oil fields for drilling. They also want the pipeline from Canadian shale oil mines to Texas refineries to be built in order to create jobs in America and provide more refined oil products for America. There is enough oil, gas, and coal for North America to be energy independent.
  • Obama Voter “bribes” – Student loan programs are an attempt to buy support from students.. He is trying to do the same for home owners with upside down mortgages, but that will actually benefit very few home owners. Obama is fostering class warfare, and many people, including many in Quayle’s district, claim they are part of the “99%” and want the “1%” to pay for things they feel entitled to. It is an ugly approach not following the traditional American approach of being fair and respectful to everyone.
  • Super Committee – Democrats want this to fail. They want the deep cuts in Defense that a lack of agreement will bring. Cuts in Medicare will mostly be borne by health care providers being paid less rather than cuts in government.
  • Foreign Trade Agreements – These are good for the US and will create about 250,000 net jobs for Americans.
  • Federal Law to allow out of state retailers to be forced to pay state sales taxes on sales to people in states where the retailer has no physical presence – Needs to check proposed law, but thinks he is against it because it will raise taxes paid by consumers and, even more importantly, will subject retailers to state laws based on where an order comes from instead of based on their location. This will open the door to allowing states to regulate businesses in other states which will be an intolerable regulatory burden on business.

 

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 14. The speaker is Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal.

Filed Under: Ballot Measures, Federal Government, Political Parties, State Government

Sen. Sylvia Allen: Democrats’ Method of Governing: Boycott Meetings and Start Recalls

November 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

Senator Sylvia Allen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2011
CONTACT: Mike Philipsen

(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX) – As Republicans prepare for another legislative session focused on getting Arizona back to work and improving our economy, Democrats have embraced a curious strategy of boycotting meetings and threatening recalls against Republicans who don’t vote with them.

“Recalls have never and were never meant to be used against lawmakers whose sole fault was they disagreed with you on the issues. They’re designed to target people who may have committed crimes or were guilty of gross misconduct in office,” says Senator Sylvia Allen, President Pro Tem of the Senate.

“But Democrats are now talking about making this their go-to strategy. Contact some outside interests, pay people to collect signatures, and bingo, you have a recall election. This is no way to govern.”

Democrats also boycotted meetings for the recent Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting, even though many members of their party complained about the draft maps and the process.

Democrats are also twisting last night’s recall election results into a referendum against enforcement of illegal immigration. SB 1070 remains widely popular in Arizona, and the bulk of the law is being enforced in our state.

“SB 1070 mirrored federal immigration law. We must have legislation like this, because there is no physical barrier at the border. The border is not secure,” says Senator Allen.

# # #

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Elected Officials, Guest Opinion, Illegal Immigration, Liberals, Press Release Tagged With: , , ,

NFIB/Arizona: Big Supreme Court Decision Expected Tomorrow

November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2011
CONTACT: Farrell Quinlan

Justices will decide whether to hear leading lawsuit against Obamacare

PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 9, 2011—The U.S. Supreme Court is expected Thursday, November 10, to accept the landmark case against the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

The burden and expense of the healthcare law is a concern for all Americans, but especially for small businesses which pay substantially more for health coverage than large corporations. NFIB is the only business group in America to have challenged the constitutional legitimacy of the federal health care law. Its case has been upheld by two federal courts so far and now awaits action by the Supreme Court.

Complete information about the lawsuit can be read by clicking here.

###

NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.

Filed Under: Health Care, Judicial, Press Release, Small Business

Who’s Next? Arredondo or Arpaio?

November 9, 2011 By 129 Comments

In August, we ran a post asking why Randy Parraz was not targeting the 2nd worst offender in the Fiesta Bowl scandal – State Representative Ben Arredondo. After all, Parraz and crew were adamant that one of the major reasons the recall was taking place was because of corruption over the Fiesta Bowl.

Yesterday’s recall election was a major success for Randy Parraz and crew. They made political history by defeating a sitting State Senator and placed the “trophy political kill” of Russell Pearce on their wall.

With their success behind them, will Parraz and crew now be intellectually consistent in their agenda of cleaning up the corruption by pursuing the recall of State Representative Ben Arredondo?

Perhaps Parraz’ comment from an interview with the Arizona Republic on election night will shed some insight where he intends to take his leftist political machine next:

Parraz said he and his allies may go after other politicians whom he blames for poisoning Arizona’s political discourse, singling out Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was at Pearce’s side throughout the recall campaign.

“We’re looking at other people, like Sheriff Arpaio,” Parraz said. “If that’s the type of politics Sheriff Arpaio wants, we’ll see what happens in the new year.”

Parraz’ political agenda has never been about cleaning up corruption – especially the kind of corruption Democrats thrive on. It’s about taking down elected officials who are strong on immigration policy. Parraz’ motives are racially based and align with the La Raza agenda. And he will use that racial hatred to divide communities and bolster his political resume.

So who’s next on Parraz’ political hit list? Arredondo or Arpaio?

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Race Relations Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »