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Raul Grijalva Throws the Race Card – Actually He Has His Wife Do It

October 14, 2010 by 3 Comments

Tucson City Councilman Rirdard Fimbres’ blog site, has surprisingly posted an op-ed piece from Raul’s wife Mona Grijalva where she plays the race card against up-and-coming-on-strong Ruth McClung.  From the City Councilman’s website:

With only 23 days left to go before election day, there is a true sense of urgency and NOW is the time to really get busy!! The right wing sees Raul as vulnerable and is working really hard to win the race in CD7….and they have ALOT of money. They already have horrible, biggoted anti-Raul commercials on TV! They have already mailed anti-Raul flyers to thousands of homes in CD7! They had folks waving anti-Raul signs at moving traffic while screaming racist epithets in several areas of town last week!! As the attached article from Politico.com states, we are in a really, really tough race this year!!

Actually Ruth is kicking butt all over Raul, as her campaign has gone viral in the last 48 hours drawing attention from blog heavyweights Michelle Malkin, Hugh Hewitt, Gateway Pundit, Moonbattery and many more.  That endorsement from Sarah Palin helped things along with recent polling putting her up by 2 points over the one-who-would-boycott-his-own-state.

So it should come as no surprise that the now-desperate Raul has his wife throw the very predictable race card.  No proof, no pictures, no YouTube videos, nothing……nada,  just lies and innuendo.  Typical….

What is somewhat of a surprise is that a sitting city councilman would post the race-baiting piece on his personal blog.  Then again, Richard isn’t up for re-election this year.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections Tagged With: ,

I Think I’m Seeing A Pattern In Raul Grijalva

September 22, 2010 by 2 Comments

I was looking on Raul “The Boycotter” Grijalva’s website today, and I noticed a very interesting pattern.  Let’s see if you can pick up on it.

Latest News

Friday September 17, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated five tribes in the Seventh District for receiving Department of Justice (DOJ) grants through this year’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) program. The grants total $3,287,766 and come from a variety of DOJ offices dedicated to different law enforcement, victim awareness and public safety missions.

Read more

Friday September 17, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the University of Arizona and the Arizona Department of Health Services on newly announced grants of $299,200 and $100,000, respectively, from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Read more

Friday September 17, 2010

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (CIS) Office of Citizenship has awarded a $100,000 grant to Pima Community College to expand services for legal permanent residents seeking citizenship. The competitively awarded grant is part of a program in 27 states and the District of Columbia funded through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010.

Read more

Wednesday September 15, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today hailed the Department of the Interior (DOI) announcement that oil and gas companies must permanently plug any Gulf of Mexico wells that have been idle for at least five years. The announcement comes after Grijalva wrote an August 2 letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar calling attention to idle rigs in the region and prompting Salazar to push responsible companies to dismantle outdated rigs using local labor.

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Wednesday September 15, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the Arizona Office For Children, Youth and Families and Catholic Community Services Of Southern Arizona (CCS) on their newly announced $2,672,988 grant and $338,000 grant, respectively, from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.

Read more

Wednesday September 15, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today highlighted the $211.8 million Arizona is set to receive as part of the recently passed $10 billion measure to save teacher jobs nationwide. The federal funding is expected to save about 4,000 teacher positions around the state, according to Department of Education information.

Read more

Tuesday September 14, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated Arizona on receiving a $235,829 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve HIV/AIDS testing and reporting services statewide. The total includes $145,567 for expanded testing aimed at prevention and early detection and $90,262 to improve health test reporting between public and private labs.

Read more

Friday September 10, 2010

Each year, I have the privilege of nominating five individuals to each of our nation’s Military Academies. In order to represent Southern Arizona fairly, I rely on a diverse group of individuals to promote applications and encourage interested students to learn more about this prestigious opportunity.

Read more

Friday September 10, 2010

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) on its new $1.9 million grant for diabetes treatment and the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) on its new $70,000   for reducing motor vehicle injuries. Both grants come from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Read more

Thursday September 09, 2010

Arizona received approximately $45.4 million yesterday from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which the state can use to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and rehabilitate or redevelop them. The money was authorized by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Did you catch it?  Looks like the ONLY thing The Boycotter is good at is…..spending your money.  And this represents only one week.

So if you are down with endless federal grants sucking the life [and money] out of your checkbook, vote for Raul come November.  If you are tired of his greedy fingers in your pockets,  it’s really time to check out Ruth McClung.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections

Border Troops NOT Going To Be Used To Catch Illegals -We Are All Charlie Brown Now

May 27, 2010 by 13 Comments

All those troops coming to the Arizona border…..they are not going to be used to catch illegals. LLPOF.

US National Guard troops being sent to the Mexican border will be used to stem the flow of guns and drugs across the frontier and not to enforce US immigration laws, the State Department said Wednesday.

The clarification came after the Mexican government urged Washington not to use the additional troops to go after illegal immigrants.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday authorized the deployment of up to 1,200 additional troops to border areas but State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, “It’s not about immigration.”

He said the move was “fully consistent with our efforts to do our part to stem, you know, violence, to interdict the flow of dangerous people and dangerous goods — drugs, guns, people.”

He said the extra troops would be used to free up civilians engaged in support functions so that law enforcement personnel can be increased along the 2,000-mile-long (3,200 kilometer) border.

Suckered again.  We are all Cahrlie Brown now…

Filed Under: Border

After 28 Years in Office, NOW John McCain Gets Serious About the Border, or Something

May 5, 2010 by 11 Comments

For almost three weeks now we’ve been hearing incessantly about the much-touted McCain-Kyl Border Action Plan.

Just one tiny problem, it’s not a bill yet, it is still being written.

I called Senator McCain’s office today to find out just where in the “legislative process” the plan stood.  I was told that the plan is still being written and no one in the office knew when it would actually hit the floor of the Senate.

John McCain at his best.  Another sound-byte, another commercial, another opportunity for John McCain to pontificate.  But the bottom line, John McCain has again lied to the residents of Arizona.  How do we know?  Easy, the first word of the McCain-Kyl Plan is immediately.

Dictionary.com defines immediately as:

without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once.

Considering that the plan is still being drafted weeks after its announcement and subsequent ad campaign, the McCain-Kyl Border Action Plan is the latest glaring example of John McCain’s inability to accomplish anything of substance dealing with the overwhelming challenges facing the residents of Arizona.

Since it’s announcement, we’ve had a deputy shot in the desert,  67 illegals captured one day, 89 illegals captured another night and the stories continue ad nauseum.  Thanks for nothing, Senator.

If you have somehow missed it, here is the plan.

The 10-step plan

• Immediately deploy 3,000 National Guard troops along the Arizona-Mexico border and add 3,000 Custom and Border Protection agents to the Arizona-Mexico border by 2015.

• Fund and support Operation Streamline in Arizona’s two Border Patrol sectors to ensure that repeat illegal border crossers go to jail for 15 to 60 days.

• Provide $100 million, an increase of $40 million, for Operation Stonegarden, a program that provides funds to Arizona's border law enforcement for additional costs related to illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

• Offer hardship-duty pay to Border Patrol agents assigned to rural, high trafficking areas.

• Complete the 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico and construct double- and triple-layer fencing at appropriate locations along the border. [Yeah right, that’s gonna happen]

• Increase the 25 mobile surveillance systems and three Predator B aerial drones in place along the Arizona-Mexico border. Send additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to the Arizona-Mexico border.

• Increase funding for vital radio communications and interoperability between agencies.

• Provide funding for additional Border Patrol stations in the Tucson Sector and explore the possibility of an additional Border Patrol sector for Arizona. Create six additional permanent Border Patrol forward operating bases, and provide funding to upgrade the existing bases to include modular buildings, electricity and potable water. Complete construction of the planned permanent checkpoint in Arizona. Deploy additional temporary roving checkpoints.

• Require the federal government to fully reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens.

• Place one full-time federal magistrate in Cochise County and provide full funding for and authorization of the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative to reimburse state, county, tribal, and municipal governments for costs associated with the prosecution and pretrial detention of federally-initiated criminal cases declined by local offices of the U.S. attorneys.

Sounds like a really, really good plan, doesn’t it?  Just remember though, they’re still writing it. Tick, tick, tick…..

Filed Under: Border

Raul Grijalva Says “Boycott Arizona”

April 20, 2010 by 13 Comments

If Arizona’s economy isn’t bad enough, now our own Raul Grijalva is doing his part to make it even worse.

An Arizona congressman urged businesses on Tuesday to boycott his state if the governor signs into law a bill to make illegal immigration a state offense.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, said businesses need to punish the state if the bill becomes law as a way of making sure no other states follow suit.

“Do not do business with the state,” Mr. Grijalva said at a press conference on the Capitol grounds in Washington.

Remember the good old days when economic sanctions were used on our enemies abroad?

Hat-tip to Exurban League

Filed Under: Economics, State Government

Giffords to Get Tough On Border – Demands Extra Cell Towers

April 17, 2010 by 13 Comments

As Southern Arizona still deals with the murder of local rancher Rob Krentz, it’s good to see that our elected officials are on the case with real-world solutions to prevent other border residents from being gunned down.

From the Gabby Gifford’s newsletter:

Improving Cell Service Along the Border

In my discussions with the men and women along the border since the tragic murder of Southern Arizona rancher Rob Krentz, the lack of reliable cell phone service has been mentioned repeatedly.  These companies have the technology to make life safer for Arizonans in this rural part of the state.  I took these concerns to Lowell McAdam, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless, and Randall L. Stephenson, CEO and president of AT&T Inc. in letters last Friday.

Both companies brought mobile cell phone towers to a rural region in northern Arizona during the most recent presidential campaign.  As the Washington Post reported in October 2008, this was done to provide coverage that was needed to ensure candidate security.  The border security crisis in Southern Arizona more than justifies the same response.  I will continue to fight for the safety and security of our border communities.

When I called her office for a more detailed explanation, I was told that this will make it easier for ranchers to call for help. I doubt that any amount of cell towers would have helped Mr. Krentz.

Filed Under: Border

A Short Lesson on the Constitution

March 17, 2010 by 23 Comments

Nancy Pelosi said that they are going to pass the Health-Control Bill without voting on it.  “Deem and Pass” is what she called it.  Only one little problem, the United States Constitution Article 1 Section 7.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Spin it however you want, but the law is the law.  At least it used to be the law…….

Filed Under: Constitutional Law, Health Care

M.I.A. Giffords Calls For Constitutional Amendment To Balance The Budget

March 4, 2010 by 4 Comments

The invisible Gabby Giffords, who perpetually proclaims herself a “fiscal-conservative-blue-dog-democrat-who’s-always-looking-out-for-the-residents-of-Arizona”, just announced yet another bill to balance the federal budget.

Snort of the day: Not wanting to put too much pressure on herself and her fellow congressmen, the bill would not take effect until 2020.

WASHINGTON – “Arizona families and businesses struggle every day to make sure their expenses don’t exceed their earnings,” said Giffords. “Balancing a budget is not a complicated concept. Yet over the last decade it has proven difficult for the federal government to grasp. This amendment is intended to change that.”

Giffords is one of 33 original co-sponsors of legislation introduced today that would make a balanced federal budget a requirement of the U.S. Constitution. Arizona and 48 other states have a similar requirement in their state constitutions.

The amendment would:

• Require Congress to produce a balanced budget every fiscal year beginning in 2020.

• Require the president to submit a balanced budget in his or her annual transmission to Congress.

• Prohibit outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each house, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts (in cases of emergencies).

Read the whole thing here.

And don’t forget that Gabby is also a big supporter of PAYGO. Again from her website:

Giffords, who last week was named the most centrist member of Arizona’s congressional delegation by the respected National Journal, has been a strong supporter of pay-as-you-go legislation. Known as PAYGO, the legislation requires future spending increases or tax cuts to be paid for with either cuts to other programs or new streams of revenue.

And that’s working out really well too.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Federal Budget, Legislation, Press Release

Actually the “Party of No’ Has Ideas, Lots of Them

February 24, 2010 by 9 Comments

The Obama Ministry of Truth continues to blatantly lie and denigrate all who oppose them.  But if one would take the time to turn off Idol for one night, you might find out the the “Party of No” has been working their collective butts off coming up with idea after idea.

The virtual embargo on reporting Republican legislation has allowed Democrats and their allies in the media to keep up the “Republicans have no plan” attack. Just hours after the president’s speech, for example, the Democratic National Committee released a new commercial claiming that Republicans “refuse to offer a plan” to reform the health care system.

Just for the record, in case you want to check them out, these are the bills proposed, so far, by Tom Price [Head of the House GOP Study Committee] and his allies in the House:

  • H.R. 77 The Health care Incentive Act

  • H.R. 109 Americas Affordable Health Care Act of 2009

  • H.R. 198 Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009

  • H.R. 270 TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009

  • H.R. 321 SCHIP Plus Act of 2009

  • H.R. 464 More Children, More Choices Act of 2009

  • H.R. 502 Health Care Freedom of Choice Act

  • H.R. 544 Flexible Health Savings Act of 2009

  • H.R. 917 To increase the health benefits of dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die because of a combat-related injury

  • H.R. 1086 Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1118 Health Care Choices for Seniors Act

  • H.R. 1441 Ryan Dant Health Care Opportunity Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1458 Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1468 Medical Justice Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1658 Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1891 Sunset of Life Protection Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2520 Patients’ Choice Act

  • H.R. 2607 Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2692 CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2784 Partnership to Improve Seniors Access to Medicare Act

  • H.R. 2785 Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2786 Patient Fairness and Indigent Care Promotion Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2787 Medical Liability Procedural Reform Act of 2009

  • H.R. 3141 Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net Act of 2009

  • H.R. 3217 Health Care Choice Act of 2009

  • H.R. 3218 Improving Health Care for All Americans Act

  • H.R. 3356 Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2009

  • H.R. 3372 Health Care OverUse Reform Today Act (HealthCOURT Act)

  • H.R. 3400 Empowering Patients First Act

  • H.R. 3438 Access to Insurance for all Americans Act

  • H.R. 3454 Medicare Hospice Reform and Savings Act of 2009

  • and H.R. 3478 Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act of 2009

Obama is right, other than these 32 bills, [all written in 2009] the GOP has absolutely no ideas to present.

“It’s frustrating,” Price says. But Republicans believe that in the end, the public won’t buy the administration’s line. “The American people are smarter than that,” Price says. “They know there are alternatives out there. That’s what August was all about.”

Yeah, and that is what November will be about too.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections, Federal Budget, Government, Health Care

Pima County Retires Retiree Program

February 19, 2010 by 4 Comments

Tucson politicians, all doped up from the $63 million voting bribe federal grant for the four-mile streetcar line, quietly sent out this announcement Friday AM, hoping that no one would be paying any attention.

PIMA COUNTY’S RETIREE INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL END ON JULY 1, 2010

After much consideration and analysis, Pima County has finalized the decision to end the Pima County Retiree Insurance Program, effective July 01, 2010.  The Retiree Insurance Program included both medical and dental coverage.  This decision is based on the fact that the substantially higher utilization in the retiree plans would otherwise result in a considerable increase in the premiums paid by the County and its active, insured employees.

Effective immediately, those employees who retire from Pima County with current Pima County medical and/or dental coverage at the time of retirement will be notified of the right to elect continued coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA).

  • Under COBRA, Pima County is required to offer “continuation coverage” for a period of up to 18 months to insured individuals who experience a qualifying event resulting in a loss of coverage.  Among other things, retirement is a qualifying event under COBRA guidelines.
  • This means that at the time employment ends, covered individuals will receive written notice (COBRA notification) allowing the extension of health insurance coverage (medical and/or dental) for up to 18 months.
  • The cost for this continuation of coverage is 102% of the full premium which includes a 2% administrative fee charged by the COBRA administrator.

Depending on your years of service, you may be entitled to receive a subsidy reimbursement from your appropriate retirement system.  These retirement systems also have medical and dental insurance available to eligible retired members.

I’m willing to bet that this will be a topic of conversation around the “water cooler” next week.

Filed Under: County Government
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