The greatest trick liberals ever pulled was convincing themselves that they’re not ideological. Today, “objective” journalists, academics and “moderate” politicians peddle some of the most radical arguments by hiding them in homespun aphorisms. Bestselling conservative author Jonah Goldberg exposes the truth behind many such clichés in his latest book, The Tyranny of Clichés: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas.

Jonah Goldberg’s first book, Liberal Fascism, was a number one New York Times bestseller. A visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, he is the founding editor of National Review Online. He is also a Los Angeles Times columnist, a Fox News contributor, and a member of the board of contributors at USA Today.

The Goldwater Institute is pleased to host Jonah Goldberg for the only Arizona stop on his book tour. Please join us!

Thursday, June 21
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Goldwater Institute
500 East Coronado Road, Phoenix, Arizona
(One block north of McDowell Road, west of 7th Street)

SIGN UP HERE

1) Giving Thanks in Remembrance – May we never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Throughout generations, brave soldiers have risked everything in pursuit of life and liberty. Today, their sacrifice enables you and I to stand for foundational principles and vote our values.

In his speech at Arlington National Cemetery in 1986, President Ronald Reagan delivered an eloquent Memorial Day speech. He said:

“Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.”

Click here to read the speech.

Take time with your family to give thanks to God for the blessing of America and for our armed forces – those with us and who have passed on. Pray for our nation, our leaders, and for the protection of the values we hold dear.

2) Gov. Brewer: “I do not support the goals of Planned Parenthood” – In an in-depth interview this week with Capitol Media Services, Governor Brewer reasserted her support for the prolife movement in Arizona and her opposition to Planned Parenthood, Arizona’s largest abortion provider.

She said, “I do not support the goals of Planned Parenthood because I believe in life. They believe in choice. So let’s just cut right through the fat and tell it like it is. I don’t support them. It’s philosophically not agreeable with me.”

Of course, Planned Parenthood quickly sent out a fundraising email stating they weren’t “giving in to Governor Brewer’s bullying” and stated they had “fought assailants like Jan Brewer before.” The facts are that Governor Brewer has defended women’s health needs by making Arizona one of the safest states in the country for preborn children and mothers with crisis pregnancies. The reality is, the prolife bills passed by the legislature and signed into law in the last four years are saving lives.

3) The Latest Attack on CAP – This week, the Secular Coalition for Arizona, a statewide atheist organization, and No Longer Silent, a homosexual clergy organization, announced that they had filed complaints with the IRS challenging our nonprofit status. CBS Channel 5 aired the story Wednesday.

There really isn’t much to say about this meritless, politically motivated attack. Rest assured these attacks by those who oppose our public policy positions will not distract us from the important work at hand – registering voters, distributing our Voter Guide (coming in July), and turning out the vote on Election Day.

Here’s the statement I have issued in response to media inquiries:

“Every year, independent auditors examine our books at Center for Arizona Policy, Inc. (CAP), and every year these independent auditors have given us their highest rating – a clean auditor’s report.

Indeed, CAP goes even further to assure our supporters and all Arizonans of our integrity by voluntarily meeting the high standards of the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA). Our IRS Form 990 is not only supplied to the IRS, but also to ECFA as further assurance that CAP operates with utmost integrity. Additionally, CAP fully complies with ECFA’s rigorous Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ that focus on board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources.

The accusations against CAP are without legal merit or factual basis. This is a public relations stunt by those desiring to silence our representation of the foundational principles of good public policy: a high regard for human life, marriage and family, and religious liberty.”

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at cathi_herrod@azpolicy.org.

1) The Numbers Tell the Story – Here are a few important numbers for you: 13, 51, 114.

• 13 is the number of Center for Arizona Policy-supported bills that were signed into law this session. Simply put, Arizona is a better place for families today than it was 5 months ago because of these bills.
• 51 is the number of CAP-supported bills signed into law since 2009 when Governor Brewer took office. These last 4 years show the difference we can make when we elect pro-life and pro-family leaders to the legislature and Governor’s office.
• 114 is the number of CAP-supported bills signed into law since 1995. Each of these bills takes important steps to protect the foundational values of life, marriage and family, and religious liberty.

While our work is far from over, these numbers exemplify what the Lord can do when we engage in the political process and vote our values.

2) The Final Victories of the Session – Governor Jan Brewer signed the 3 remaining CAP-supported bills on her desk last Friday and Monday. These 3 bills were no minor pieces of legislation – they were bold policies that will have a tangible impact on the lives of Arizonans. Click here to read more about HB 2622, SB 1365, and HB 2625. Click here to read Governor Brewer’s news release on why she signed HB 2625 – one of the most attacked and distorted pieces of legislation this session.

While I am sincerely grateful to Governor Jan Brewer for signing these bills, I am also thankful for the many legislators that supported these and the other CAP-supported bills.

Earlier this week, we released our 2012 Family Issues Voting Record reporting on how every legislator voted on 12 key bills that impact life, marriage and family, and religious liberty. Take time today to find out how your legislator voted and send them a note with your thoughts. Please take time to send a note of thanks to the legislators who stood with us in defense of life, marriage and family, and religious liberty. You can be sure they have heard from those who oppose us.

3) An Unfounded Overreaction – From the time Rep. Justin Olson introduced HB 2800, which says federal family planning funds that pass through the state cannot go to abortion providers, to the time Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill into law, Planned Parenthood told every media outlet that would listen that this bill would deny low-income families access to medical care.

But as CAP Legislative Counsel Josh Kredit points out on the Foundations Blog, there are nearly 200 clinics across the state that low-income families can visit to access care. What’s more, the vast majority of these clinics actually offer more services than the 14 Planned Parenthood clinics in our state.

4) Don’t Believe the Polls – Recent polls nationwide show support for redefining marriage to supposedly be a 50/50 split with support for same-sex “marriage” growing. Yet as we all know, every time the people vote on marriage, they vote strongly in favor of defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Then we hear, “Well, the younger generation doesn’t believe in marriage.” Yes, we do have significant challenges to restore the value of marriage in our culture. But don’t miss this fact tweeted by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins yesterday: if the votes of everyone 45+ were discounted in NC, the marriage amendment would have still passed by 8 percentage points. Check out this analysis by American Enterprise Institute.

Included in the record is how state legislators voted on:

• The Mother’s Health & Safety Act, HB 2036, which bans abortions after 20 weeks.
• HB 2800, which guarantees that federal tax dollars that pass through the state do not go to abortion providers.
• SB 1047, which creates a new tax credit to give children on waiting lists the opportunity to attend the school of their parents’ choice.
• HB 2625, which protects religious employers from being, forced to violate their religious beliefs and pay for abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.

Center for Arizona Policy supported the legislation contained in the Family Issues Voting Record. Since the organization was founded in 1995, 114 CAP-supported bills have been signed into law.

If we’ve learned anything from the last few elections, it’s that Arizona is a pro-life and pro-religious freedom state. Because Arizonans turn out to vote their values, we have a state legislature that has taken important steps to make our state a better place for families.

The Family Issues Voting Record contains how state legislators voted on 12 pieces of legislation. For a complete recap of all CAP-supported legislation, click here:

Arizona Senate Voting Record: http://bit.ly/J6EKSO

Arizona House of Representatives Voting Record: http://bit.ly/Jth789

Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-01)
Tuesday, May 1st
6:00pm-7:30pm

Prescott Resort & Conference Center
1500 State Route 69
Prescott, AZ 86301

Also speaking:

Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog

Come listen to Congressman Paul Gosar speak about national energy
policy, rising gas prices, and other issues affecting our community.

This forum is free and open to the public.

For more information or to RSVP, please call Paul Layeux at 602.955.2186
or email arizonaenergyforum@live.com.

The Arizona Energy Forum is a bipartisan coalition of Arizona citizens that support energy
policies that protect our nation’s energy and economic security, hearby protecting American jobs, and keeping energy prices low for American families.

As Senate President, I’ve worked hard to fight for the needs of rural and Northern Arizona in our Legislature, especially as the federal government continues to pass down policies that hurt our businesses and trample on our 10th Amendment rights.

But there’s only so much we can do here as long as Washington remains out-of-touch.

That’s why today I’m endorsing Jonathan Paton in Arizona’s new Congressional District 1. I hope you will join me in working hard to make sure he’s our next Congressman.

Jonathan is a good friend and a solid conservative, who will be a check-and-balance on Washington’s ways. 

A lot of politicians get elected and forget where they come from. Jonathan won’t.

Please join me in not just supporting Jonathan, but working together to get him elected.

Many thanks,

Steve Pierce
President
Arizona State Senate
(R – Yavapai, Coconino)

I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely concerned about the direction in which Barack Obama is taking this country.

It seems like everywhere we turn there’s an assault on freedom and American exceptionalism; whether it’s the ObamaCare mandates or the massive debt Washington is laying on our shoulders. 

Arizona needs to send a voice to Washington that will be a check-and-balance. We need someone who is going to take Arizona’s fight to Congress.

I believe my friend Jonathan Paton is that person, and that’s why I’m supporting him for Congress in Arizona’s new First Congressional District.

This new district includes much of the area I have represented here in the state Legislature, and critical parts of my home county, Yavapai County.

Jonathan Paton is the only candidate for those of us who believe that America’s best days are still ahead. I hope you will join me and stand with Jonathan today.

Many thanks,

Andy Tobin
Arizona Speaker of the House

Friends,

Eastern Arizona appreciates and deserves a representative in Congress who understands our needs and values. We need a representative in Washington who will fight regulations that keep our economy from growing, and will not run away from his constituents like Ann Kirkpatrick did.

That’s why I’m pleased to support Jonathan Paton as our new representative in Arizona’s First Congressional District.

The people of rural Arizona will be well-served to have Jonathan fighting for us in Washington. Jonathan gets it. He understands, as President Ronald Reagan did, that more government isn’t the solution — it’s the problem.

Please join me in standing with Jonathan.

Sincerely, 

Brenda Barton
State Representative

(R – Graham, Greenlee, Gila, Navajo, Apache)

The First Session I served as Senator, Jonathan Paton was one of my fellow Senators and we became good friends. He was conservative and stood firm on strong votes for businesses, and individual rights and protections. He worked hard for his district and was a good example to me a freshman Senator.

There’s an open seat race for Congress in Eastern Arizona – Congressional District 1 – and Jonathan is the candidate that I am supporting because I know that he will serve us well and work to bring back true Federalism and protect State Rights in Washington D.C.

This election is so important. Congress and this President are taking America down a dangerous Socialist/Progressive path, and I feel there is not much time left to repair our failing economy and to address the national debt.

For those of us who believe in the Constitution, secure borders and a free and strong economy, Jonathan is our candidate. Please join me in helping to elect him as our next congressman. 

Sincerely,

Sylvia Allen
 President Pro Tempore

Arizona Senate
(R – Graham, Greenlee, Gila, Navajo, Apache)

Click here to view the embedded video.

INVITES YOU TO ATTEND

Seminar on Child Sex Trafficking

Join Bill Montgomery, Maricopa D.A. and Starbright Foundation Directors Lori Regnier and
Michael Chalberg, in a discussion of what legislators and law enforcement is doing to crack
down on child sex trafficking; and what you as a community can do in the prevention, intercession
and recovery for these young victims of these crimes who cannot speak for themselves.

Bill Montgomery was elected Maricopa County Attorney in 2010 on a pledge to fight crime,
honor victims’ rights, and protect and strengthen our community. Recognizing that violent
child sexual predators cannot be rehabilitated, Bill has been an outspoken advocate for life
sentences for these offenders. He also supports GPS monitoring for other convicted child
molesters, and Internet sting operations to capture child predators before they get the chance
to victimize our children. His goal is to let would-be child predators know they will find no
safe haven in Arizona.

Lori Regnier is a volunteer for Shepherds Care Ministries where she helps survivors of
sexual abuse. Lori has 2 years of experience in security/protection. Also, as the President of
Child Enrichment Programs, Inc., Lori strived to help underprivileged youth in our valley
and their families in need. She has expanded her interest in the wellbeing of children to the
Starbright Foundation where she pledges to be a positive role model and will assist in
rescuing endangered children from abusive situations. Recently in 2011, Lori was chosen as
one of Arizona’s “Top 30 Women of Courage” for making a positive change in the lives of
children and families in Arizona.

Michael E. Chalberg is pastor and cofounder of Shepherds Care Ministries and has served in
Christian ministries for the last 30 years. These last 17 years in Pastoral Counseling have
revealed the need for a more focused ministry to help the children trapped in ongoing sexual
abuse through human trafficking across our nation. He founded Starbright Foundation with
fellow volunteers to fight against this rising problem. He hopes to increase public awareness
of child sexual abuse and trafficking through education to generate community involvement
in the prevention of this growing social problem.

Date: Thursday, March 29, 2012
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Scottsdale Bible Church Room E210 (Main Campus)
Address: 7601 E. Shea Blvd.,  Scottsdale, AZ

Doors open at 6:00 pm (meet and greet)

Refreshments served

Cost: $10 per person

Payment can be made at the door.  Our online paypal service is temporarily down.

Please RSVP to honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org or 602-425-7267 if attending.

For additional information or questions, email Honey Marques, Executive Director at honey@arizonamainstreamproject.org or call 602-425-7267

Consensus continues to grow regarding the need for e-fairness legislation as two prominent conservative bloggers recently voiced their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act. Neil Stevens’ post over the weekend on the conservative blog RedState explains how he’s come around on the idea of e-fairness legislation.

From Neil Stevens’ post on RedState:

“Also, we’re back to discussing the Marketplace Fairness Act. As we’ve discussed before, this is a bill that would give Congressional approval to an interstate compact between the states to collect sales tax across state lines, requires member states to harmonize their tax rules to fit in with the interstate system. The bill is gaining Congressional support this time around. In theory I’m fine with this. It’s Constitutional and it’s reasonable. I disagree with Overstock.com’s complaints of complexity, because the compact imposes restrictions on the way the states can tax items, and also creates mechanisms to ease collection of the taxes.”

In yesterday’s post on Hot Air, Jazz Shaw goes even further – saying he’s no longer “on the fence” about the Marketplace Fairness Act – especially after yet another conservative voice, Maine Governor Paul LePage (R), declared his support for it.

From Jazz Shaw’s post on Hot Air:

“As I’ve stated before, I was on the fence about this one for a long time. Even leaving aside the “taxes are bad” thing, anything which could impede online commerce just strikes a sour note with many of us. I had also considered the possibility that maybe this could be worked out at the state level, but a recent attempt in Illinois to do just that produced… nothing. But after sifting through all of the pros and cons, I have to admit that it may be time to just get it over with and do this.

The reason? Like it or not, fiscal conservatives must, at a minimum, believe in a level playing field. Equality of opportunity, not results… remember? After looking over the new Ryan Plan Part 2, I’m reminded that as we tighten our belt at the federal level, more and more things will need to be pushed back down to the states. Each of them will have to manage their budgets as they see best, and for the majority of them a state sales tax is part of their revenue stream. While it may be depressing, the feds need to provide each of them a chance to compete evenly…”

It may be time to just bite the bullet and pass this legislation.”

We have been working with Republican legislators to refine the bill weights. The have had private access to our proposed weights prior to our publication of them.

The number of bills being tracked is 173 plus 37 bills that have strike all amendments.

There are a lot of legislators with high scores including many representatives who have +100% ratings!

Although we are well into the session, there are still many floor votes as well as committee votes to come. The scores currently are still heavily influenced by bill sponsorships compared to floor and committee votes, but, as more votes are taken, they will have an increasing impact on the scores as the session continues.

We have tightened up the categorization we apply to the scores. Reagan Republican and RINO have stayed the same, the Bipartisan Republican score range has expanded, and the other categories have higher score values with narrower ranges.

Click here to see the complete evaluation.

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

The Arizona 2012 Project is delighted to announce that Herman Cain will be their guest of honor at their February 21st evening fundraising reception, “Raisin’ Cain on Mummy Mountain”, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm.

Celebrity auctioner Letitia Frye will accept bids for a 7-day, all expenses paid (including round-trip airfare and hotel), double occupancy cruise to the Bahamas.  Among many other items at silent auction, the final offer of the evening will be the hat off Herman Cain’s head, autographed in person, with a personal photo of the winner with Mr. Cain.   Valet parking is provided.  For event security, the Paradise Valley venue address will be provided via return eMail acknowledgement.  Due to the exclusive mountainside location (with a superb view of city lights and distant peaks) attendance is limited; advance reservations are accepted online only.   Tickets are $125 per person, only at www.FightingBack.us .

Forward this email

The information is repeated below in text format to make it easier to copy into your calendar:

Location:
Rock Bottom Brewery at Desert Ridge Marketplace
21001 N Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050
(Near intersection of N Tatum and Hwy 101)
Date: Wednesday,Feb.8, 2012. (2nd Wed of Month)
Time: Dinner (order from menu) available at 6 pm.
Meeting from 7-8:30 pm

Contact Information:
Howard Levine,
NE Valley Chapter Chairman
Howard_Levine@rocketmail.com , www.pachydermcoalition.com
480-577-4168