Dry Heat Democrat

Condescending Wonka Knew it the Whole Time

2011-12-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

Schweikert Says Jobs Bill is a Scheme to Give Taxpayer Money to Unions

2011-09-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

But first, again with the golfing attacks congressman? Really? Pretty disingenuous for a guy who spent the entire August recess on vacation, don’t you think?

I guess we know where our congressman stands on the jobs bill proposed by the president. Notice how he voices his opposition to the jobs bill, then immediately says he is fighting for jobs. What have you done to help the unemployed, Congressman? What have you done to create a single job?

Anyone surprised at the callousness of this rich jerk? I’m not. It’s totally his (lack of) character. At least he appears to have shifted his boogeyman from “Moveon.org” to unions. Schweikert’s me-first legislative priorities are endlessly frustrating, but I take comfort in the belief that history will remember the slime-ball politicians of our time for what they are.

See for yourself:

Click to Enlarge

Schweikert Defends the Super Rich, Backs Withholding Hurricane Relief

2011-08-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Tea Party Congressman David Schweikert, who has spent the entire August break hiding from his constituents (but not his fundraisers) managed to find his way in front of a TV camera this morning to defend the most vulnerable among us, the super-rich.

Schweikert, the self-described “numbers guy” who mismanaged tax-payer funds as county treasurer says billionaire investor Warren Buffett doesn’t know as much about taxation as he does. After reciting a couple of discredited talking points, he has the gull to say that Buffett’s is “hurting his brand” with “many of us” with his calls for shared sacrifice. Of course if Buffett is hurting his brand with the people Schweikert is representing, then he is simultaneously upping his stature as a human being.

Finally, to make sure there was no doubt on just who the congressman was fighting for, Foreclosure Dave backed holding hurricane relief hostage (like he did the U.S. Economy) until the Tea Party gets more spending cuts. Schweikert recently voted to protect subsidies for Big Oil, saying that they were merely a drop in the bucket. Now it seems that disaster relief for suffering Americans, a lesser drop, is just too much.

Is this the kind of person you want representing you? If this the kind of nation we want to live in?

Arizona, is this the Leadership You Want?

2011-08-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Arizona, like the rest of the nation, felt the wrath of the Tea Party last November. Demanding “where are the jobs” and screaming “socialism”, they turned out to “take their country back”. Their anger swept a new brand of leadership into political offices of all types.

We Arizonans know that we were one of the hardest hit states by the economic collapse of 2008. For years prior, we had enjoyed explosive economic growth fueled by the housing bubble and related economic sectors. Once it burst, there was no saving our state from rapid decline. Those who rode the Tea Party wave cashed in on the stagnant economy, and promised better days ahead.

Since their election, Arizona Republicans have done nothing to help ease the pain of everyday Arizonans or create jobs. Bound by their strict ideology, the governing majority has not made a single good faith effort to create jobs. Rather, they have used the jobs crisis as an excuse to gut our social safety net and to wage culture war.

For those who govern Arizona, ideology trumps reality, and as a state, we will pay a long-term price. Instead of working on solutions, our Republican leaders have gone out of their way time and time again to make sure that those on the bottom suffer the most.

Every economist that isn’t on the Heritage Foundation’s payroll will tell you that a robust safety net is critical for keeping a recession from becoming a depression. This fact didn’t save Arizona’s Medicaid program AHCCCS, nor did it save unemployment benefits from the Tea Party’s chopping block. Arizona Republicans are determined to squeeze one segment of their constituents as hard as they can; the very same jobless citizens they ran on helping.

Republicans downtown will object, saying that they passed a “jobs bill” just this year. The bill in question, of course, does nothing to create jobs. It was merely a thinly veiled giveaway to corporations in the form of a tax cut they don’t need. Is there any doubt that this tax cut will cause larger state deficits in the coming years, and thus will be used an excuse to further cut services?

On the federal level, Arizona’s leadership isn’t any better. Our Tea Party freshmen march in cynical lockstep with party leadership. Not unexpectedly they’ve joined our senators in playing high stakes political games with the economy.

2012 is rapidly approaching, and there is a cloud looming over Arizona. Things haven’t gotten better as promised. People are suffering. Our state is struggling. At home, our politicians engage in pander-before-policy governance, and in D.C., they play political brinksmanship with our collective future.

In a time of great crises and uncertainty the officials who are supposed to serve us on both the state and national level are more interested in rewarding their campaign donors and fighting the same stale culture wars than actually working for the betterment of our great state and country.

As Arizonans, we have some very serious questions to ask ourselves before we cast our next ballot, but there is one that should be first and foremost in our minds.

What kind of leadership do we want?

Hey, I Got Mine: Foreclosure Dave Doubles Down on Ending Medicare

2011-05-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Video: GOP Rep. Schweikert on Paul Ryan's Budget: ‘We Need to Redouble… Own This, Make the Case’

Shortly after abruptly cancelling scheduled "listening sessions" with his constituents to attend Tea Party fundraisers, freshman congressman David “Foreclosure” Schweikert managed to find himself in front of a TV camera with a very familiar message.

Regular readers will know that “do as I say not as I do” is essentially the Arizona congressman’s position on everything. From border security and healthcare to transparency and austerity, David expects a lot more from you than he is willing to give. To him, any sort of government healthcare program is un-American, that is unless it involves the millionaire real estate vulture receiving taxpayer-funded care for his own family. Then it’s just all part of the benefit package, right Dave? Schweikert says we can’t have immigration reform until the border is secured, but then voted to defund the border patrol. He advocates that we balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, but defends subsidies to the most profitable industry ever as only “a couple billion dollars.” (Would those billions pay for the emergency relief for Missouri that his caucus is holding hostage?) He says government ought to be completely transparent, but voted to hide his government healthcare from his constituents. See a pattern? All government is bad… unless he and his corporate backers directly benefit. Then it’s just a few billion dollars and job benefits, nothing more! Convenient, that.

In his latest edition of “I’m not even embarrassed”, David asks his colleagues to have the political courage to meet with their constituents to explain why the wholesale elimination of our nation’s most popular government program would be actually be a good thing for the millions of seniors who depend on it to survive. “No, you can’t have healthcare grandma. You see, the nation just can’t afford you anymore. But please, pay no attention to the few billion in oil subsidies behind the curtain. That’s chump change!” David urges everyone else taking heat to stand their ground in the face of fierce opposition all the while he hides away at friendly political fundraisers and in front of DC television cameras.

Congressman, when will you meet with your district to sell us on your vote? At your last “listening session”, you deflected questions on Medicare, saying that part of the discussion would come later (it never did). Instead we just talked about the deficit, and how it’s all really Planned Parenthood and the EPA’s fault. How was that politically courageous?

We can have policy disagreements. Debate is what made America great, but disingenuous politicians have brought it to its knees. If every time we turn on the TV, Arizonans see you talking the talk, how long must we wait before you walk the walk?

Oh, but nice dog.

Update: ADP is ahead of the game.

ICYMI: ADP Chair Andrei Cherny on 12 News: Tea Party Debate

2011-02-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

Just End It Already

2011-01-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

Rodney Glassman and Andrei Cherny Fight to Lead Arizona Democrats

Only two months removed from an electoral defeat that threw the party into a melancholic limbo, Arizona Democrats are bitterly divided. Over several weeks, the race for state chair has become quite contentious. (It got particularly ugly over the last couple of days.) While our state committee members continue to divide themselves into pro-Andrei and pro-Rodney camps before tomorrow’s planned vote, the feeling that we are at each other’s throat is palpable. Thank god that this will all be over tomorrow, right? Maybe.

It has been suggested that we postpone the election another month. I think nothing could be worse. I understand the reluctance to put the party through a tough reorganization in this time of tragedy, but extending this fight will only hurt us more in the long run. As a new state committee person I must say this rancorous infighting is something of a turn off, and as a new district chair I’m seeing firsthand the toxic effect it’s having on the party down to the most fundamental level. Something has to be done, and it isn’t more delay and more politicking.

This fight needs to end, and it needs to end tomorrow. Our state is in serious jeopardy, and instead of fighting each other, we should be unified in our opposition to our legislature’s pander-before-policy culture. Another month of this intra-party melee won’t benefit anyone except Republicans, and we Democrats entertain this idea of postponement at our party's, and our state’s peril.

ICYMI: AZ Senate Minority Leader David Schapira Talks BrewerCare with Keith Olbermann

2011-01-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama in Tucson

2011-01-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

The President expresses our grief and lays a path forward like only he can.

Statehouse Vigil for Rep. Giffords and the Victims of Today's Terrorist Attack

2011-01-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

When: Tonight, starting at 6:00pm

Where: Arizona State Capitol

Parking: Wesley Bolin Plaza 1649 E Adams St., Phoenix

David Schweikert: Hypocrite; Socialist

2011-01-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

Guess what millionaire is getting taxpayer funded healthcare

It seems that government health insurance is tyranny only until David Schweikert benefits. Now that Foreclosure Dave is a member of Congress (AZ05), the multi-millionaire real estate ~~mogul~~ vulture has apparently changed his tune. It turns out David really wants his government healthcare. That’s right, David “I made $15 million off the housing bubble” Schweikert wants his “taxpayer hand-out”.

Schweikert’s hypocrisy is especially glaring when you consider that several Tea Party members of Congress showed the courage of their convictions and declined their taxpayer subsidized coverage. Schweikert did not. Perhaps David’s colleagues saw the hypocrisy in pledging to repeal healthcare protections for the rest of us, while signing up for their own “unconstitutional” coverage. Perhaps they thought it would be in bad taste to take other people’s money for their own benefit while screaming socialism as loud as they could. Whatever their reason is, some Tea Partiers walked the walk, while Schweikert quickly retreated. He didn’t even pretend to try, just the opposite in fact. Schweikert voted yesterday to keep his government healthcare a secret from his constituents, contradicting his campaign call for a more-transparent Congress.

It’s not like Schweikert’s economic circumstances were forcing to sign on to the Federal-employee plan, so don't try it. He owns his own business, he has 400 "investment properties", he is very rich, and as a congressmen, he will earn $175,000/yr. As wealthy as he is, Dave could easily find an individual plan out in the free market like the rest of us who aren’t Congressmen must do. Instead, “Do as I say, not as I do” Schweikert opted for the plan that includes taxpayer subsidies because it was cheaper for him, and more expensive for the taxpayer. Your loss, his gain, too bad for you, you should have been a congressman. This is how these guys think, operate, and govern.

Naturally, there are crickets to be heard on the local right-wing blogs. No word on whether they are the same crickets used during the Bush years, but their song remains the same.

After a 2nd Death, Olbermann Revisits BrewerCare

2011-01-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

State Senator Kyrsten Sinema does a great job pointing out the Republican's moral poverty and exposes their willingness to play politics with someone else's life.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

AZ Senate President Russell Pearce Pals Around With a Neo-Nazi

2011-01-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

This is a great video by Dennis Gilman.

In Phoenix, Outrage Surrounds the Mosque That Isn’t

2010-11-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

As KPHO reports, some of our more sophisticated citizenry is up in arms about a new church being built off the I-10. Apparently, the church looks a little too mosque-like for our famously tolerate Arizona neighbors. While trying to diminish the growing controversy, the church took the extraordinary step of putting up a giant banner letting everyone know it was indeed “La Luz Del Mundo” Christian church, not a mosque. Sadly, the people the banner is targeting are those most likely to be unwilling or unable to read it.

Being that the church’s backers are Hispanic and not Muslim, I suspect it won’t be long before local “patriots” begin protesting the “narco-terrorist recruiting center” being built in “OUR city”.

What Tea Party? AZ Republicans Seek to Raise Your Taxes While Cutting Their Own

2010-11-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Well that didn’t take long. Only weeks after claiming a “less taxes, less spending” mandate the Republican establishment has already shunned their Tea Party pawns and are pushing a plan to increase property taxes on Arizona’s homeowners. (A majority of which are already underwater)

Why would they do this, in this economic climate no less? Remember, if we are to believe Republican talking points, we can’t let tax cuts expire for millionaires and billionaires because “raising anyone’s taxes in a recession is a bad idea”. Now the truth has come out, and I’m sure no Arizona Democrat is surprised that despite all their rhetoric, business as usual has returned to the Republican Party.

So why do we need to raise taxes anyway? Well that’s because despite our state’s projected multi-billion dollar deficit, our Republican super majority’s first priority is to cut taxes for corporations, and well, they need to make up the money somewhere. Who better to pay for corporate taxes breaks than you and I? To post-election Republicans, more profits for their corporate overlords takes precedent over the well being of Arizona families. The Republican Puppet Masters’ vacation homes, jets, and yachts aren’t going to pay for themselves, you are.

Does the Arizona Tea Party, now marginalized, have the courage of its convictions? Are they mobilizing to fight the regressive tax they will pay the brunt of? Nope, there are crickets to be heard in the conservative Arizona blogosphere. Just like during the Bush administration, their outrage only extends to those with a D after their name. They could never criticize their own party, even as it becomes clear their saviors thoroughly played them for the fools they are.

Say it with me now, if they weren’t hypocrites, they wouldn’t be Republicans.

Republicans are the Party of National Security No More; Dicks

2010-11-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

The partisanship-above-all-else that is the Republican Tea Party’s preferred model of governance has reached a new and astounding low. President Obama, like President Reagan, made securing and dismantling the stockpiles of nuclear weapons one of his signature issues. The original START treaty negotiated by Reagan launched our very successful “trust but verify” policy of mutual nuclear disarmament; it or variations have been in place ever since.

When START expired, President Obama successfully negotiated an even more comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, as part of the “reset” of U.S.-Russian relations. As you know the Republican’s official position on everything the President wants is “no”, and since this new treaty would amount to a victory for Obama, “Arizona’s other Senator” has decided to hold up ratification.

Jon Kyl (R-AZ) says he can’t allow an up or down vote because the government hasn’t spent enough on its nuclear arsenal. I’m not sure what that has to do with nuclear disarmament, but apparently post-midterm Republicans have already forgotten their campaign rhetoric. Now while still in November, their positions have shifted again. To the GOP, pork now takes precedence over safeguarding American lives.

Is anyone surprised that as soon as the Republicans win an election they want to ramp up spending on their war machines? Is anyone surprised the Tea Partiers are as silent as they were during Bush’s double-the-debt-in-eight-years spending binge? It looks like "obstruction until we get ours” is going to be the Republican’s official way to get around their self-imposed earmark ban. Remember, if they weren’t hypocrites, they wouldn’t be Republicans.

Andy Ostroy makes an excellent point about the GOP’s hypocrisy:

Imagine if it were Democrats blocking this bill. Imagine the incendiary rhetoric and fear mongering that would follow. Imagine the chorus of, "Democrats cow-tow to Russia and allow them to out-Nuke us!" We'd hear how the "Socialist Obama regime empowers its communist ally!" The Republican spin machine would be operating in overdrive spitting out the message and talking points about how "Americans are threatened by Obama's inability to protect the U.S. from Nuclear attack!"

To add his insult to our injury, Kyl opposes extending unemployment benefits at a cost $15 billion borrowed dollars, but won’t ratify START until the President Obama gives him more than $84 billion borrowed dollars for Kyl’s “nuclear weapon update” pet project. Meanwhile Arizona has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Thanks Jon!

Maddow Skewers McCain As Only She Can

2010-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

Throughout this election cycle Rachel Maddow consistently and thoroughly exposed John McCain as the consummate politician he is; willing to change his position on any issue at a moment’s notice if he thought it would benefit him. In case you missed it, last night she was in top form doing what she does best, pointing out the hypocrisy of our very own Senator McCain.

Senator John McCain’s stances on legislation and important policy issues and principles are so fundamentally inconsistent as to render the phrase flip-flop meaningless - Rachel Maddow

Prop. 203 Takes Substantial Lead Very Late in the Count

2010-11-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

I admit that I thought it was over only a few days ago. Even last night with Prop. 203 down 3,000 votes, the midterms left me feeling very cynical about its chances. Then this morning came the news that it had made up 1500 votes with 59,000 early and provisional ballots left to count. Tonight, with 10,000 votes to count Prop. 203 is in good shape. It has taken a commanding lead of 4421 votes at the last possible second. Unless the remaining “stoner-forgot-to-mail-in-their-ballots-on-time” votes break heavily against their established trend, Prop. 203 has passed.

Sheriff Joe Accused of Breaking the Law and Covering it Up

2010-11-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

Would you believe that Sheriff Joe thinks he is above the law? I sure would and do as such delusions are common with self-righteous Napoleonic types. It seems that when Arizona’s own Little Emperor isn’t out stroking his ego by injecting himself into national politics, he is misappropriating up to $80 million or our tax dollars away from their voter mandated purpose. I wonder if any of that went to funding the quasi-tank Joe thinks he needs, or the national campaign stops he is making.

Not only did Joe feel like he could ignore the will of the people (and law), he took extraordinary steps to cover up his actions. This is of course a dead giveaway that Joe knew what he was doing was wrong and did it anyway.

Culpability, culpability, culpability.

Via Talking Point Memo:

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio kept a hidden database that shows that he used money designated for funding jails for other purposes, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors alleges.

In September, the Maricopa County Office of Management and Budget reported to the the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors that Apraio's office may have misspent up to $80 million based on the limited records they had received. This follow up report says that MCSO work papers "have identified at least $34 million in misspending" but that does not "address some of the more complicated staffing issues" such as overtime and benefit costs.

"It appears that MCSO violated the intent and explicit language of the voter approved jail tax when they used that money to fund activities not related to jail operations," a press release said. "Maricopa County will have to pay back the restricted funds to the detention fund. This is a misuse of public funds."

"Whether it is $34 million, plus overtime costs, or up to $80 million, it is a problem that grows more expensive every day," the press release said.

Happy Veterans Day

2010-11-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

We don't have to support the wars to support our troops. Thanks to all those who served past and present.

I Voted Republican and All I Got Was This "Tea" Shirt

2010-11-08T13:05:00.001-08:00

Note: This is not my Photoshop work

Be Part of the Solution: Vote Again 2010

2010-11-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

History is, and always has been on our side. The entire course of civilization has been one long march forward. Be part of the solution, Vote Again 2010.

My Favorite Ben Quayle Parodies

2010-11-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Hulburd v. Quayle (AZ03) race is one that I wish I would have covered more this cycle. I just got so caught up in AZ05, I didn’t have time to take advantage of the fodder machine that is the ~~Ben Quayle’s~~ Junior’s candidacy. Sure, Foreclosure Dave Schweikert may be a sleaze ball, but Quayle is a bumbling, inept and even comical figure. I feel like I could have had a lot of fun with Ben, but luckily there were plenty of others who shared my sentiment.

Ben Quayle brought national attention on himself after promising to knock the hell of our Washington, and as a result there has been no shortage of Quayle parodies and attack ads. After the break, I’ve compiled a list of a few of my favorites, enjoy!

(Oh, and someone should tell Carpetbaggin’ Ben that Tempe isn’t in his congressional district. Vast swaths of the Amazon and rivers of ink have been wasted as Quayle ramped up efforts to secure my vote.)

Ben Quayle's Honest Ad

Wall Street ft. Ben and Dan Quayle

Ben's Busy Day

Ben Quayle: American Ass Kicker

..and my personal favorite, "House"

Schweikert: The Fiscal Conservative That Never Was

2010-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

David Schweikert (pictured), the Tea Party candidate who made himself rich after his irresponsible friends on Wall Street pushed the global economy to a precipice, loves to talk about his credentials as a fiscal conservative. According to Schweikert’s 2010 campaign website, the federal government “continues to spend money it doesn’t have and wastes billions of our tax dollars every year on questionable spending. The complete lack of fiscal responsibility coming out of Congress needs to stop.” He points to his record as a fiscal conservative his “entire career” and says it is possible for government to spend your tax dollars frugally, but, unfortunately, most of those in government don’t want to do that.

Foreclosure Dave Seen Here Closing on Another "Investment Property"

So long press release short, he's against earmarks, all earmarks! He claims that less then 1% of the federal budget will bankrupt us all, not that $7 trillion his boy President Bush added to the national debt in a mere 8 years. (During which Schweikert was silent.) Forget the $3 trillion unnecessary war, Medicare Part D, and the tax cuts for people making over a $1 million that were all unpaid for, that’s small potatoes. Nevermind that it’s the job of a congressman to steer federal resources to their state for the benefit of their constituents, Foreclosure Dave has national talking points to hit. Earmarks, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, lap dogs, unions, and ummm… socialism, that’s what’s really important in this election, right Dave?

Okay, while ~~Scrooge McDuck’s~~ David Schweikert’s positions may be shortsighted and incredibly stupid (haven’t you ever read Ayn Rand?), they could represent a legitimate ideological difference. It is possible that like libertarians, his beliefs are so strong that he is willing to ignore the reality around him in seeking there justification. (Hell, he is even willing to ignore the job description of the office he is running for.) Some would call his resolve principled, and for someone else beside Schweikert that may be so. The only problem is, David loves to spend federal and state money, and always has.

In 2008, Schweikert told The Arizona Republic he had a zero-tolerance policy on Congressional earmarks. He has said congressmen should “not even accept a cup of coffee” from lobbyists. “The pork-barrel spending and the corrupting influence that earmarks bring must be ended”. David didn’t mention that during time as a state representative he co-sponsored a bill to urge the Governor to create a state office in D.C. for lobbyist to seek “federal appropriations and grants”. The office would have cost Arizona taxpayers $200,000 annually. [SB 1073, introduced 3/03/94]

David forgets that in the same year as he sought to create an Arizona funded office for lobbyists, he sponsored a measure to ask the President of the United States to seek a Congressional earmark for “the purpose of paying for the operation, maintenance and replacement costs associated with the Central Arizona Project water, including costs accrued and associated with federal allocations which may not be in use.” (CAP is a canal that runs through the middle of Phoenix that provides a majority of Maricopa County’s water and has fueled its explosive growth.) The measure cited as grievances the fact that Arizonans rely on and pay for the Central Arizona Project and “a substantial quantity of water” made available through the project “has been allocated to various uses by the United States federal government.” [HCM 2005, 2/28/94]

Don’t get me wrong, the CAP was a great project and very much worthy of federal funding, but the reality of David’s advocacy for it and his campaign rhetoric couldn’t be further apart. Completely in character I’d say.

There are plenty of other examples of David's disingenuousness (and outright lies) when it comes to his position on spending taxpayer money. Even before his get-federal-money-for-local-public-works extravaganza, David was well used to doling out other people's money. In 1992, The Arizona Capitol Times reported that Schweikert voted in favor of appropriations bills 72.7 percent – opposing them only 27.3 percent. [Arizona Capitol Times, 6/24/92]

In 1994, Schweikert co-sponsored a bill adding Arizona State University’s East Campus to the list of facilities to be provided for in a $2 million appropriation from the state general fund. Now, David wants to get rid of public schools all together. That’s quite a shift from one political environment to another, no?

David sought federal money for Arizona’s “outdoor recreation facilities, improving conditions for fish and wildlife, and delivery of water to Arizona Indian communities.” The same state services he now wants to privatize. And why not? Privatization of state responsibilities has worked out so well for Arizona, ask Jan Brewer; just not the two people who died when a murderer literally walked out of a private prison, literally. [HCM 2005, 2/28/94]

Can you believe perennial candidate David Schweikert’s double talk gets worse? In 1991, Foreclosure Dave voted in favor of a bill to appropriate more than $18 million from the state general fund and more than $173 million from other funds for building renewal and capital projects. [HB 2350, 6/21/91] That’s a lot of money; at least it is to those who didn’t make millions exploiting other people’s misfortune.

Looks like David’s record of fiscal conservatism isn’t quite as solid as he likes to claim. Indeed, it’s built on a foundation of sand propped up by national talking points and meaningless slogans. No doubt the Chamber of Commerce had this in mind when they endorsed Democrat Harry Mitchell.

David’s 180 degree turn is no surprise really. This is the guy who tried and failed to implicate Harry Mitchell in unethical real estate speculation after he himself preyed on over 400 Arizona families so could get his “investment properties”. This is the guy who is the darling of the Arizona right-wing fringe, but he just had John McCain cut an ad endorsing him. If “This is my house now” Schweikert wasn’t an unabashed hypocrite he wouldn’t be a Tea Party hero.

Dept. of Republican Policy Making: SB1070 Written by People Who Stand To Get Rich Off It

2010-10-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Even though unelected Governor Brewer’s ties to the private prison industry are well documented, I believe most people don’t know the full extent lobbyists played in crafting Arizona’s radical immigration law dubbed SB1070. NPR did a story today on just how Brewer’s favorite industry has been plotting their state-funded illegal immigration pay off for years. Lobbyists literally wrote the law word for word then let Russell Pearce sign his name before pushing it on the people of Arizona. Follow the money people.

Below is a chart linking the private prison industry to Arizona legislatures, some key points and the full audio of this morning’s story.

Via NPR:

Last year, two men showed up in Benson, Ariz., a small desert town 60 miles from the Mexico border, offering a deal.

Glenn Nichols, the Benson city manager, remembers the pitch.

"The gentleman that's the main thrust of this thing has a huge turquoise ring on his finger," Nichols said. "He's a great big huge guy and I equated him to a car salesman."

What he was selling was a prison for women and children who were illegal immigrants.

"They talk [about] how positive this was going to be for the community," Nichols said, "the amount of money that we would realize from each prisoner on a daily rate."

But Nichols wasn't buying. He asked them how would they possibly keep a prison full for years — decades even — with illegal immigrants?
"They talked like they didn't have any doubt they could fill it," Nichols said.

[…]

NPR spent the past several months analyzing hundreds of pages of campaign finance reports, lobbying documents and corporate records. What they show is a quiet, behind-the-scenes effort to help draft and pass Arizona Senate Bill 1070 by an industry that stands to benefit from it: the private prison industry.

[…]

Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce says the bill was his idea. He says it's not about prisons. It's about what's best for the country.

[…]

But instead of taking his idea to the Arizona statehouse floor, Pearce first took it to a hotel conference room.

[…]

In the conference room, the group decided they would turn the immigration idea into a model bill. They discussed and debated language. Then, they voted on it.

"There were no 'no' votes," Pearce said. "I never had one person speak up in objection to this model legislation."

Four months later, that model legislation became, almost word for word, Arizona's immigration law.

They even named it. They called it the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act."

[…]

Pearce said he is not concerned that it could appear private prison companies have an opportunity to lobby for legislation at the ALEC meetings.

"I don't go there to meet with them," he said. "I go there to meet with other legislators."

Pearce may go there to meet with other legislators, but 200 private companies pay tens of thousands of dollars to meet with legislators like him.

As soon as Pearce's bill hit the Arizona statehouse floor in January, there were signs of ALEC's influence. Thirty-six co-sponsors jumped on, a number almost unheard of in the capitol. According to records obtained by NPR, two-thirds of them either went to that December meeting or are ALEC members.

[...]

Thirty of the 36 co-sponsors received donations over the next six months, from prison lobbyists or prison companies — Corrections Corporation of America, Management and Training Corporation and The Geo Group.

[…]

Brewer has her own connections to private prison companies. State lobbying records show two of her top advisers — her spokesman Paul Senseman and her campaign manager Chuck Coughlin — are former lobbyists for private prison companies. Brewer signed the bill — with the name of the legislation Pearce, the Corrections Corporation of America and the others in the Hyatt conference room came up with — in four days.

Brewer and her spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

UPDATE: Pearce responds.

I Remember

2010-10-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

See-saw politics only benefits the incompetent.

Haven't you Read Ayn Rand? Schweikert and the Voter Part Two

2010-10-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

I posted part one on Monday as part of my sick (and therefore lazy) blogger edition.

In Arizona, a Little Known Race Has Big Public Safety Implications

2010-10-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

The other day I received a mailer about the sitting Clerk of the Superior Court, Michael Jeanes. According to the mailer and subsequent website, Jeanes let two accused murders go due to clerical error in as many years. This is an atrocious batting average, and I can’t believe it isn’t bigger story in the local press as Election Day approaches. This pattern of incompetence would never fly in the job market, so why would we tolerate it from a politician who is supposed to be first and foremost a public servant? Jeanes' mismanagement has made this off the radar race an important public safety issue in Maricopa County, and it needs to be treated as such. I mean, if we can’t count on Jeanes (and Brewer) can’t keep accused murders behind bars, what can we count on them for?

Democrat Sherry Williams is running against Jeanes, and given Michael’s dismal record I don’t see how any responsible adult - regardless of party - could vote for anyone else.

For more information on Michael Jeanes paperwork fumbles, go to KillerMismangement.com, this race is too important to go unnoticed.

The LOLz: Sick Blogger Edition

2010-10-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, be assured that I have not forgotten about you. I’ve been a combination of very busy and sick for the last week. The following items were sent to me by readers, but I never got around to posting them. Enjoy!

Here is hoping for a better post tomorrow.

Foreclosure Dave talks to an AZ05 voter:

Ichabod Crane, Republican

"Davod" needs your help!

From the Dept. of Awesomeness: Obama, A Modern U.S. President

2010-10-18T12:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Jessie!

Does Liberal America Want to Shove Beans Up YOUR Nose?

2010-10-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

This has been around for a few days, but post-worthy nonetheless.

AZ03: John Hulburd Teaches Daddy's Little Helper Money Can't Buy Everything

2010-10-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Quayle, like Schweikert, won't answer questions about Arizona. Instead, he recites the same talking points you hear from every GOP candidate nationwide.

It's Not About Race: Billboard Depicts Obama as Suicide Bomber

2010-10-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Actually, it's about race.

Via Associated Free Press:

Handout photo shows a colorful billboard in Grand Junction, Colorado depicting US President Barack Obama as a suicide bomber, a gangster, a Mexican bandit and a gay -- with the ironic slogan 'Vote DemocRAT.' The poster has triggered a row in Grand Junction weeks ahead of crucial mid-term November elections.

Support Prop. 203

2010-10-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Great work!

Schweikert Releases Internal Poll That Didn’t Include Libertarian Nick Coons, Showing a Lead of Only 2

2010-10-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long fall for ~~Republican~~ Tea Party candidate David “Foreclosure” Schweikert. Only a month ago folks like frenemy of the blog Rachel Alexander were touting Schweikert’s internals showing him up by double digits as proof of Harry Mitchell’s impending demise. Now, in the wake of three polls over three weeks showing Mitchell in the lead, David is getting worried.

Today, the Schweikert campaign released an internal poll showing “My House Now” Dave leading by only two, well within the margin of error. What the folks in the Schweikert camp hope people won’t notice is their poll doesn’t include Libertarian candidate Nick Coons. Coons will be on the ballot, and when he is included in the survey, he consistently captures 6% of the right wing vote.

For some reason the poll includes a generic party only ballot in AZ-05 which has the Republican leading by 13. Not only do I believe this is irrelevant, but it is also misleading. David Schweikert only has support from 69% Republicans. In comparison Congress Mitchell is well known to enjoy the support of many AZ-05 Republicans and 88% of Democrats in the district. There is anti-Democratic mood nationwide, but that doesn’t mean that will translate into a negative for the famously independent Mitchell.

The Schweikert campaign has been stagnating for weeks as Arizona voters have grown tired of his national platitudes and hyperbolic characterizations. Schweikert is more interested in who or who isn’t a “lap dog”, than he is the struggling Arizonans he wants to represent.

As for the folks pushing the Harry is polling under 50% and thus doomed meme, 538's Nate Silver has a reality check for you.

Bottom line: Even Schweikert’s skewed internals show a big swing in Congressman Mitchell’s direction. No matter how folks try to spin it, leading by double digits and falling to within the margin of error is bad news for Foreclosure Dave.

Yet Another Poll Shows Mitchell on Top

2010-10-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

Over the course of the last few weeks, poll after poll has shown Harry Mitchell leading “Foreclosure Dave” Schweikert in the AZ-05 race, but they were still in the poll’s margin of error. Today that changed, and today my schadenfreude abounds. This is great news that once again shows a clear trajectory for Congressman Mitchell – up.

Via DCCC

Mitchell Leads Schweikert by 7 in New AZ-05 Poll

A new Benenson Strategy Group poll shows Representative Harry Mitchell leading Republican challenger David Schweikert by 7 percent. Mitchell leads Schweikert 46 percent to 39 percent. Conducted October 5-7, the poll surveyed 400 likely voters and has a 4.9 perce

Schweikert's Base of “Angry Voters” Turns out to be his Pocketbook

2010-10-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

David Schweikert likes to portray of himself as the CD5 standard bearer for the Republican Tea Party. While crusading yet again to rid the Congress of people he calls ‘lap dogs', he often refers to the support he is receiving from ‘the people of Arizona’ (that is, the people whose houses he didn’t buy during the housing crisis). For weeks the Arizona right-wing blogosphere has been pushing this meme of an abandoned Harry Mitchell running out campaign cash as David surges with increasingly popular support. By touting their “fundraising” efforts, Schweikert and Co are trying to foster a feeling of inevitable defeat among Harry’s supporters. Unfortunately for Schweikert, numbers (as they often do) lead us to the truth, and reaffirm that reports of Harry’s certain defeat are greatly exaggerated.

As you can see, Harry is beating Schweikert by 3-to-1 margin in individual donor contributions, and as a result has three times the cash on hand. This is the popular wave David likes to brag about? The sad truth is almost half of David’s $668,361 reported to the FEC as of today came from a single donation of $300,000 from none other than the millionaire Schweikert. David, as you know made himself rich at the expense of middle class families facing foreclosure, but still that’s no small pocket change even for a guy whose company owns 400 ~~families’ homes~~ “investment properties.” If Harry is so unpopular, then why is he absolutely killing Schweikert among donations from actual constituents?

In a recent Arizona Republic story, the perennial candidate Schweikert boasted that his campaign had raised more money than the Mitchell campaign this quarter (by a mere $11,000), which he attributed to Arizona’s anger at Nancy Pelosi, and her “lap dog” Congressman Mitchell.

What David doesn’t say is he recently borrowed a total $225,000 against three of his “investment properties”. Here is just one example, but you can find more here.

Cropped for Size

How much of that $500,000 is the $225,000 from David’s loans and not the “angry” voters of Arizona? FEC reports have to be filed by October 15th. I look forward to taking a peek at David “this is my house now” Schweikert’s filing.

Awesome New Video from the Arizona Democratic Party

2010-10-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

The Arizona GOP Slippery Slate's Toxic Tonic

Chris Deschene Thwarts David Schapira Sign Thief

2010-10-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

I heard an amusing story recently that I thought I would share with you. It was told to me by a friend inside the David Schapira campaign. Mr. Schapira is a D17 Representative in the state legislature and running against the self-funded Wendy Rogers for Arizona State Senate. You may have seen her signs all over Tempe, as she has a lot of money to spend and is fond of putting them in people’s yards without their prior permission.

Chris Deschene, the Democratic candidate for Arizona Secretary of State was driving down Broadway Road on Sunday afternoon when he noticed a man - a shirtless man – suspiciously poking around one of David’s campaign signs. It wasn’t long before the man uprooted the sign, bent it in half and threw it in the back of his car.

Always a good Democrat, Mr. Deschene pulled up beside the man, and gave what was essentially described as a stern look of disapproval. He took down the bare-chested burglar’s license plate number and forwarded it to the Schapira campaign.

Naturally the Schapira camp filed a police report, and the police quickly followed up. The investigating detective found the suspect Reuben Golden-Trist, a registered Republican, at his Mesa home (still shirtless). The mangled campaign sign in question rested in open view in his car port. Golden-Trist admitted he took the sign, but said it was because he wanted to put it in his own yard. The detective pointed out to Reuben that he didn’t even live in David’s district, and proceeded to ask Mr. Golden-Trist general questions about the candidate he claimed to support. Needless to say, they all stumped old-boy Reuben.

He was cited in lieu of arrest, and charged with a class 1 misdemeanor.

National Education Association Spotlights Schweikert's Extreme Positions

2010-10-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

To win in a ~~Republican~~ Tea Party primary these days, you can’t support public education. To the average teahadist, if little Johnny wants to go to school, well then he better have rich parents. Otherwise, he will have to hit the mines to pay his own way. Knowledge ain’t free little guy, so get back to work! Can’t afford college? Too bad leach, financial aid is tyranny! The AZ CD-05 ~~Republican~~ Tea Party nominee David “Foreclosure” Schweikert is no exception.

As regular readers will know, the Arizona public education system is on life support thanks in part to a robbery-gone-bad orchestrated by our very own (unelected) Governor Brewer. I’m not so sure how deeply advocating to dismantle the Department of Education will resonate with the famously independent voters of AZ CD-05, but I know that it won’t be a net win for Foreclosure Dave’s increasingly stagnant campaign.

The National Education Association has noticed Schweikert’s gilded age approach to education. As such, with the day's emails comes the news that the NEA is spending $650,000 in AZ CD-05 to help beat back the education-for-the-rich-only push from Schweikert and friends.

Here is the first ad:

I'm Voting Republican Because...

2010-10-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is making its way around the internets. Needless to say, I love it.

In Case you Lost that Lovin' Feeling

2010-10-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

The President doing what he does best. How can anyone not love this guy?

In Arizona, Democrats Go On Offense; Republicans Offer Nothing for State

2010-10-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

In the two last weeks the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) and the Goddard campaign have released a series of absolutely blistering ads targeting Governor Brewer’s hypocrisy and ineptitude. The latest one called “Stimulus Jan” was the lead story on our local Fox 10 station last night. That’s right, Fox! Here is their coverage:

See the whole ad from the ADP

Spare me the “Democrats can’t win on the issues” so you make “personal” attacks regurgitations. (Oh the outrage, the outrage!) Arizona Democrats are running on Arizona’s issues, not national sloganeering. In case you haven’t been paying attention, our state is hurting badly. We are bleeding jobs, tearing each other apart over immigration, and failing our children on every level. Private prisons, our dismal public education, health insurance for kids, and the mess we call our state budget are Arizonans’ concerns.

While Democrats are out talking about things that effect Arizona today, all of the state’s Republicans from Jan Brewer down to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board are campaigning with the national GOP template of avoiding the local media and focusing strictly on national issues. (There are several Tea Partiers running for a spot on the CAWCDB, but more on that later.) Guys like David “Foreclosure” Schweikert, Daddy's Little Helper Quayle, and Jessie Kelly are going around calling people “Pelosi’s Lap Dog”, and not even talking about what we could do for Arizona in the short term. As you just saw, Brewer is running against Obama while taking credit for his policies. Only occasionally does our unelected governor talk about her opponent Terry Goddard, and when she does it’s only about national politics! Brewer says she doesn’t have time for the local media, but finds time to go on Fox News every night.

The Arizona Republicans aren’t going effect the direction of the country in the least bit, so why don’t they start focusing on Arizona? After all, didn’t we election them to serve Arizona?

Help Arizona today.

By the way, I loved "saved her bacon". I may have to steal that, Mr. Goddard.

From My Home State: Asst. Michigan Attorney General Mercilessly Harasses College Kid Online

2010-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Being from Michigan, I feel compelled to chime in on this national story.

Assistant Michigan Attorney General Andrew Shirvell is obviously a self-hating closet case. Is there any doubt in your mind? I’m sure it won’t be long before Andrew goes all Ted Haggard and is caught with some rocks and a gay prostitute.

Time after time these fervently anti-gay activists, preachers, congressman and senators are exposed as just compensating for their own suppressed sexuality. What sad and lonely lives they must live. I’m sure to folks like Shirvell, there is a deep psychology need to convince themselves that their attraction to men somehow cancelled out by their ugly actions. If I spend my life fighting ~~the radical gay agenda~~ equality, soliciting sex from other men in a Minnesota airport bathroom doesn’t make me gay, right?

Mike Cox is the Republican Attorney General of Michigan, yes he is up for relection this year, but he needs to fire this clown. Sure he’s put out a statement touting his assistant’s first amendment rights, as well as his lack of judgment, but he needs to take further action. Shirvell needs to be fired, nothing less will be acceptable. (Swastikas..??) Regardless of his rights, he has shown he lacks the judgment to be an attorney for the state of Michigan. How can he claim to represent the citizens of Michigan equally under the law? Check out part 2, it's a debate on whether Andrew should be fired. SPOILER ALERT: The answer is yes.

New Poll: Mitchell Leads by 3; Dominates Among Independents

2010-09-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

For the second time in eight days a new poll shows Harry Mitchell with a slight lead over his opponent Foreclosure Dave Schweikert. As I pointed out on the 21st, this points to a clear upward trajectory for Harry.

In more good news for the Mitchell camp, the poll also shows that Mitchell is absolutely killing Schweikert among the ever important of independent voters. I think this is to be expected, independents are turned off by the hyperbolic caricaturing of the famously middle of the road Congressman. I mean actually making fake Harry signs calling himself “Pelosi’s Lap Dog”? Get real. David erred when he thought he could run on only hyper partisan nationalized campaign slogans. Seriously though, “Pelosi’s Lap Dog”, really?

For a perennial candidate, I would have thought Schweikert knew the staunchly independent voters of CD5 better, but I guess not.

Click to enlarge

"Mitchell Watch" Takes Notice; Brings Knife to a Gun Fight

2010-09-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted that I believe David Schweikert has supported the website MitchellTruth.com (called Mitchell Watch) through a long time loyalist and major beneficiary of David’s no-bid contract fiasco, Teri Johnson. I argued that if you simply followed the money, tracked the cover-up efforts of East Valley Web, and considered Schweikert’s history of breaking rules to pad Johnson’s pockets, you would come to the same questions I did. I can't say definitively that David broke the law, but there is certainly a lot that points to his involvement at some level. To put it simply, it stinks - bad.

Well, the folks over at Mitchell Watch (Teri Johnson?) noticed, and promptly fired back. I admit that I expected blowback from Mitchell Watch, but I didn’t expect it to be so weak minded, and to borrow a word from the Bard of Bristol Bay, limp. I took the time to present facts, sources, and navigate the reader through the thought process on which I based my conclusions. The Mitchell Watch response in comparison, is laughable.

“Anyone who Googles the words “Harry” and “Mitchell” will see that this site is ranked in the top five out of 1,230,000 results! In newspaper vernacular that’s translates to “above the fold” or “Second Coming” rankings.”

Your Google keyword rankings are irrelevant to the story, and have nothing to do with the arguments I’ve made. Good job though, I’m sure $16,000 can buy you one hell of a search engine optimization guru. This is the old argumentum ad populum fallacy we see on Fox News almost every day, “we are right because we have better ratings”. The Right's time tested fallacy is just a spin-off of the old evolutionary adage, “might makes right”, which of course is the Republican Party’s platform on its most fundamental level… but I’m getting off topic, so back to matters at hand.

“The site’s privacy is shielded by Domains By Proxy which anyone can purchase (not just by “identity thieves, phishers, email scammers, and hackers”). East Vally [sic] Web offers DBP as part of its services.”

I didn’t say that Domains By Proxy catered ONLY to identity thieves, phishers, email scammers, and hackers, but they do accept them and allow them to operate freely under their protection. I believe most reputable companies go out of their way to make sure these types aren't abusing their services. I’m sure Mitchell Watch is the sole exception, but what’s that they say about laying with dogs?

Anyway, the post wasn’t about DBP. It was about how East Valley Web registered an anti-Mitchell domain while the Schweikert campaign was giving it fistfuls of money, and if one red cent went to support Mitchell Watch in anyway, then the Schweikert campaign is acting in an unlawful manner, which as I also pointed out, seems to be par for the course.

So keep guessing Dry Heat Democrat, and while you’re digging maybe you’ll throw us a hint as to your true So keep guessing Dry Heat Democrat, and while you’re digging maybe you’ll throw us a hint as to your true identit(ies)?

Back to this, the idea that I’m somehow hiding myself because I don’t list my name, birthday, and social security for all the right wing nut jobs to scrutinize. Mitchell Watch could learn a lot from the writer of their guest opinion yesterday, Rachel Alexander. She easily found out who I was, and posted it on her site for all to see. However, just to end this type of speculation, I’ve added an about me section to the blog, as well as a disclaimer. I wonder if Mitchell Watch will do the same. They currently have one, but it has no type of “about me” information whatsoever.

Glassman Shines; McCain Grimaces at the Arizona Senate Debate

2010-09-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

I think Rodney Glassman (have) did a great job staying on message by constantly pointing out McCain’s flip flops and double talk. And believe me, Old Mac gave him plenty of opportunities.

Random Musings is spot on with his best line of the night.

"If we want to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to reduce the number of our senators dependent on fossil fuel contributions."
- Rodney Glassman

David Schweikert, Mitchell Truth, and the FEC

2010-09-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

David Schweikert has some 'xplaning to do

I believe that David Schweikert may be be in violation of FEC law. While admittedly I cannot prove this instance, it wouldn't be the first time. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence to suggest something shady is going on. I think when it’s all put together it raises some pretty tough questions, and shows at the very least show Schweikert isn’t being candid with the FEC about his campaign’s expenditures.

I have been frequenting the website Mitchelltruth.com (formerly Mitchellwatch.com) quite a bit lately, looking to find out what they’ll come up with next. Most of it is pretty ridiculous.

Inspired by the “Intellectual Conservative’s” sleuthing work done on me, I decided to take a closer look at who was behind MitchellTruth.com, and couldn’t believe what I found. MitchellTruth.com is registered to a very disreputable local company known as Domains By Proxy (DBP). DBP is well known to harbor identity thieves, phishers, email scammers, and hackers. Just google "Domains By Proxy" and you will see a host of warnings about scams and unethical business practices. Essentially, if you want to conduct shady or illegal business on the internet, you go through DBP to hide your real identification.

While the DBP information is intriguing, the really interesting part was who actually registered this website. Mitchelltruth.com was registered through another local company called East Valley Web. This amounts to an unforced error by the Schweikert campaign, and we will soon see why.

The owner of East Valley Web is Teri Johnson, a longtime Schweikert loyalist who has been on David’s payroll in one way or another since 2004. According to FEC reports filed by the Schweikert campaign, David has already paid her company (the same one that registered MitchellTruth.com) $16,000 this cycle. This sum included $555 for registering domain names through East Valley Web to Domains by Proxy. My domain cost $11, so I’m not sure what East Valley Web is spending that $555 on, but it sure the hell wasn’t David10.com. Not to mention a relatively simple website like David10.com wouldn’t cost anywhere near $16,000 – I know, it’s what I do. So why is David giving them so much money?

As mentioned, David has a long history with Teri Johnson and East Valley Web. This is evident by an internal audit which found then Maricopa Country Treasurer David Schweikert gave out no-bid contracts to East Valley Web (among other companies). The audit found that Schweikert was in violation of the County Procurement Code in $70,000 worth of purchases made on behalf of the taxpayers. The Maricopa County Internal Audit of 2009 specifically looked into bid-free money given to (drum roll please) Teri Johnson of “East Valley Web & Graphic Design”! That’s right, David has been caught trying to skirt to the rules to funnel money to East Valley Web before. Shooting par for the Republican course, David Schweikert’s love of the ‘free market’ didn’t last long once in office.

This connection between MitchellTruth.com and Johnson’s company when combined with the exorbitant amount of money paid by David’s campaign to East Valley Web lead me to believe that the Schweikert campaign has at least contributed to the operations of MitchellTruth.com, or possibly is fully funding it with campaign cash. Either Teri Johnson is really ripping her long time friend David off, or she is doing much more than advertised.

This connection is a dangerous one for Schweikert. If his campaign has in any way supported MitchellTruth.com, either directly or through East Valley Web, then he has broken federal election law.

FEC Regulations require that all projects of a candidate committee include the name of the candidate who authorized it. So, all websites being paid for by the Schweikert campaign need to clearly bear David’s name.

Confused? Don’t be, here are some examples of what is acceptable what is not.

For a website sponsored by David Schweikert for Congress running against Harry Mitchell:

HarryMitchell.com -- would be illegal because it does not bear Schweikert’s name.

MitchellTruth.com -- would be illegal because it does not bear Schweikert’s name.

David10.com/MitchellTruth – is legal under FEC rules.

Recap: David Schweikert is paying Teri Johnson’s company East Valley Web a lot of money, that is to say, a lot more than the obvious services she is providing would cost. East Valley Web registered MitchellTruth.com to an infamous company called Domains By Proxy, who specializes in concealing identities, which in my mind smacks of deception. I think this deception is made more likely when you consider Schweikert has a documented history of ignoring county procedure and ethical guidelines to get money flowing in the direction of Teri Johnson. If any of the $16,000 dollars paid to her company, East Valley Web, went to registering that domain, or operating the site, the Schweikert campaign has broken the law.

Again I can’t prove anything, nor do I claim to, but I think this is definitely worth further investigating. I will keep you posted.

The Return of the (Pandering) King

2010-09-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

John "Man-yells-at-cloud" McCain has released a new radio ad in Spanish, targeting the same people he spent the last eighteen months demonizing in effort to secure the Racist Right’s vote. Surprised? Don’t be - this is totally in character for the Pander-in-Chief.

Thought the "Pledge To America" was Something New?

2010-09-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Postcards From the Pledge

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

I Love This - Wall Street: Dad's Ambition Never Sleeps

2010-09-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is such a crush, and so true. Is Ben Quayle entitled to a seat in congress just because of who his daddy is (not Nik Riche, his real father)? No more political oligarchies in Arizona. Vote.

Via Hulburd for Congress

Sarah Palin Drops Biggest Hint Yet of Presidential Ambitions

2010-09-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin is the self-proclaimed leader of the Tea Party, and she is running for President. If she gets the nomination (which I believe she will) Barack Obama will win by a landslide (35-40 states). This is great news for Democrats, and terrible news for establishment Republicans.

Via CBS News:

Sarah Palin hinted further at her interest in a 2012 presidential bid on Wednesday night, saying in an interview that she "would offer [herself] up in the name of service to the public," in the event that "nobody else wanted to step up."

The GOP establishment is scared to death of a candidate Palin, and have been quietly working to undermine her efforts among more reasonable Republicans (oxymoron?). Even arch-conservative Bill O’Reilly himself has exposed the half-governor again and again. Among the just linked examples of her stupidity that O’Reilly provides us, he recently pointed out she didn’t even know the name of the Tea Party insurgent she was backing in the NH senate primary (Ovide Lamontagne barely lost) . I don’t know why Palin even continues to go his show as he is clearly not impressed with her; even though he could never publically say it. She refuses to talk to any media other than Fox News, but perhaps now she should start eliminating certain host from her rounds, lest she be given a question that isn’t a total softball, and thus made to look foolish.

The failed Presidency of George W. Bush, the rampant infestation of corporate interests (think Freedom Works), and the runaway ego of Sarah Palin have fractured the Republican Party into two competing but mutually dependant entities. While they may see short term political gains this fall, any Tea Party victories will only further the divide and thus hurt their electoral chances in 2012.

Local Journalists Point out Governor Brewer's Wanton Hypocrisy and Blatant Politicking

2010-09-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

As Arizonans know, unelected Governor Jan Brewer's campaign is running almost entirely against President Obama. She blames Obama for everything wrong in Arizona, while at the same time taking credit for the benefits Arizona is seeing as a result of the President’s policies (specifically the federal stimulus). I’m sure when the number of Arizonans with health insurance jumps dramatically in 2014 as a result of the Affordable Care Act, she will jump to credit herself also. It hasn't gone unnoticed by Arizona politicos, but her base is well known to ignore Brewer's (and Hayworth's) double-dealing phoniness. Or anyone’s double-dealing phoniness for that matter.

AZ CD-5: Mitchell Reclaims the Lead

2010-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Harry is smiling for a reason.

Don’t look now Teahadists, but embattled Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell is edging out two time loser David Schweikert by one point according to a new poll. Sure, one point is one point, and certainly within the margin of error, but given past numbers it shows a clear upward trajectory for Congressman Mitchell. I don’t think the uptick is too surprising, the Mitchell campaign recently hit the airwaves with positive campaign ads touting the Congressman’s independent credentials, his work for America’s veterans, as well as his reputation to reach across the aisle. At the same time, Arizona Democrats are doing their best to inform the voters exactly how Mr. Schweikert made himself millions off the foreclosure crisis.

The Schweikert campaign has been saying for some time that its internal polling shows that they are up by as much as 12 points, but as pointed out here, their internal polling is dubious at best. Not to mention, who would trust anything from Karl Rove anyway? Mr. Schweikert is desperate to tie Congressman Mitchell to the so-called “Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda”, but as made evident last week by the “Republicans for Harry”, that demonstrably untrue assertion is unlikely to stick.

Could this be national trend? Is the base finally coming home as the Democrats wake up and begin to hit their messaging stride? Is the GOP’s determination to raise taxes on the middle class starting to turn off voters? I think so.

According to a new generic ballot Gallup poll, the Democrats are gaining ground nationally, leading the GOP by one point. Again one point is one point, but given the numbers we were facing, it’s a clear sign of upward momentum.

Lets hope that Congressman Mitchell, as well as the DCCC can keep their momentum up. If they can we might be in for a pleasant surprise.

Poll: Arizona Unhappy with its Legislature

2010-09-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like our Republican legislature’s priorities of human/animal hybrids, Obama’s birth certificate, and the combination of guns and booze aren’t exactly in line with the priorities of Arizona voters. Our citizens are worried about our growing budget deficit, the national embarrassment we call our public schools, the solvency of our AHCCCS (our state’s Medicaid program), and the lack of oversight in our prisons. (Oh by the way, we’ve gone over a month without a murderer just walking out of one of our prisons. Sadly, in the age of for-profit prisons, this is something to celebrate.)

The Republicans in the Arizona legislature spent the last two years pandering to the Arizona Teahadists, while completely ignoring state business. They are been more interested in kicking children off the state health insurance rolls than responsible governance. They are more concerned with rigid ideology than they are real world solutions.

Since January 20th 2009 Arizona Republicans from Brewer all the way down, have spent all their time running against Obama and federal policies while the state continues its slide to Alabama status. While the President is unpopular in Arizona, (40% approval rating), running against Obama isn’t by itself enough to be popular in Arizona, just ask Dr. Chris “healthcare for the rich only” Salvino, whose sole campaign message was simply “Stop Obama.” Salvino was defeated handedly in the Republican CD-5 primary by David Schweikert.

I think I speak for all Arizona’s - left and right - when I say that healing our damaged state should be a greater priority than demanding to see the President’s widely available birth certificate, and ManBearPig.

With governance like this, it’s no wonder an overwhelming majority of Arizonans disprove of our legislature. The most effective way to counter this slide in the short term is to elect a more responsible governor. That is to say, elect Terry Goddard.

Via Arizona Capitol Times:

The poll by Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Knowledge Networks found that 68 percent of registered voters disapprove of the Legislature’s performance on fiscal matters.

[…]

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, the assistant House minority leader, said she’s not surprised by the results.

“This is a group that cut $1.2 billion from K-12 education and $230 million from higher education,” she said.

When asked if they believe that the state Legislature has the wrong priorities, 63 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Democrats agreed.

[…]

Highlights from poll:
• Disapprove of the way the Legislature handles the budget and taxes: 68 percent.
• Believe there is too much partisan conflict among lawmakers: 74 percent.
• Generally satisfied with the way things are going in state government: 36 percent.

Wingnut Tempe Pastor Shows Up at Harry Mitchell's House

2010-09-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Steve Anderson is ~~the pastor of Faithful Word Baptist Church~~ a hatemonger in Tempe who made national headlines last year when he said it was okay to murder homosexuals, doctors who perform abortions, and yes the spawn of Satan himself, President Obama. Pastor Anderson recently paid a visit to AZ-CD5 Congressman, Harry Mitchell.

This is Pastor Anderson’s sermon which recounts the encounter. He opens by saying he happened upon Harry’s house by pure chance while promoting his congregation by preaching hatred. Later in the same sermon Steve justifies showing up at Harry’s house and telling the Congressman he is going to hell by saying his actions prove he really loves Harry. He wasn’t there to harangue Mr. Mitchell at all, it was random door, nothing more. But if it was a random encounter, preaching to Harry would prove nothing, as he didn’t intend to bring his message to Harry personally. Showing up at someone’s home and telling them they are going to suffer eternal damnation is not an act of love; it’s an act of hate. I think his weak-minded justification betrays his claim to have just happened upon Congress Mitchell’s doorstep. I believe it is no coincidence that Pastor Anderson is up to these shenanigans almost a year to the day his “murder all non protestants” message made national news. Kooks love attention.

As you can see, the Pastor's "church" looks very legit from the inside. Do you think they guy could at least get a crucifix on the wall? Obviously Steven is running a very professional operation, a fact made even more evident when you consider Anderson's church is located in a Tempe strip man. (Pictured)

I think Harry comes off pretty well in the Pastor's account. He certainly handles being told he was going to hell better than I would. Anderson claims he is going to knock on every door in Tempe, and when he knocks on mine, he is going to get an education.

In an interview last year, Steve Pastor repeated his call to murder, and told the interviewer that he was going to pray for him to get brain cancer and die. A message of love, indeed.

NOTE: A member of the Mitchell camp confirmed to me that Anderson and the Congressman did speak.

Ain't it the Truth?

2010-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Via

The "Intellectual Conservative" Doubts My Legitimacy

2010-09-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Dry Heat Democratic is a myth!

The self-styled “Intellectual Conservative” Rachel Alexander thinks I’m fake. She says I’m a phony, a front, and definitely not a real activist. She wants you to know, I’m not who I say I am. She said so in a recent post to ICArizona.com. Rachel writes that I have to be on the Democratic payroll because my blog is just “too professional” and “too patriotic” to be the work of just the average Arizona blogger. Of course, this is coming from someone who owns a company billing itself as “The online media pros”.

I found it hard to write this reply, as my first instinct is to immediately go on the defensive, and turn snark up to maximum levels. However, Rachel didn’t really attack me, so I will do my best not to attack her. Ms. Alexander just said that to her, Dry Heat Democrat is simply too good to be the efforts of a single person, and therefore must be part of a grander Democratic plot. Rachel never considered that I’m good at what I do, or the possibly I work harder than her, but instead jumped to the conclusion that something much more sinister must be afoot. Specifically, that Dry Heat Democrat is really just a front for the Arizona Democratic Party, and I am doing by best to hide that from you, the reader.

(Note: I’ve never been paid by the ADP, or anyone, for my work in politics.)

Via ICArizona.com:

The twitter account and blog are updated constantly with fresh breaking news about all the major races in Arizona - pretty impressive for one little fella who already has his own personal twitter account and blog. As relentless as I am, even I couldn't keep up with ALL the major races in Arizona by myself.”

[…]

“The DryHeatDem twitter profile photo has an Arizona flag in the corner of it, and the blog has a professional looking snazzy Arizona flag next to the name - something only the Democrat Party would do, not your average Democrat activist who wouldn't be into professional looking blatant patriotism.

Well Rachel, thanks. I really mean that. I’m quite flattered you are impressed with my blog, but I take issue with your main thesis. I care about aesthetics and have chosen not to clutter my blog, but that doesn’t mean I must be hiding something. Truth is, I want to be taken seriously among Democratic voters, and having a website that looks like a by-product of “The John Birch Society Internet Starter Kit”, wouldn’t give the same credibility with my base, as it would yours. Like it or not, people judge books by their cover, and that’s why I have taken the time to present a clean and professional looking site to my readers.

Rachel says I’m being “deceptive” by not listing my personal information on Dry Heat Democrat, but I think that is absurd. I (like most) consider not giving out personal information online to be smart, not deceptive. I don’t need right wing nut jobs stalking me on the internet, it’s that simple. Anyone who wants to find out who I am can easily do so, as Rachel (and Steve May) did. I mean hell; I’m listed as the creator of the Facebook page! So the idea I was hiding behind a blog with my face all over it is laughable.

Anyway Rachel, thanks again. Glad you like the site, if not the content (or the author).

In AZ CD-5, Mitchell Takes the Fight to Foreclosure Dave's Newly Purchased Doorstep

2010-09-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

And the gloves are off in Arizona...

Controversial Candidate Drops out of D17 Race

2010-09-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

Don’t mess with May; he wrote the law on segways

Steve May, the D17 Republican who made national headlines when he shepherded Tempe’s homeless onto local and state ballots, has dropped out of the race.

I would like to thank Mr. May for doing what is right, at least in this singular regard. Now it’s up to Steve to use his influence over his homeless friends to urge them to once again follow his example. Steve put the “Mill Rats” under a giant microscope when he convinced them to put themselves under intense scrutiny solely for May’s personal gain. Steve had no problem dragging them down into the mud with him; as such May is responsible for what ultimately becomes of his fake candidates. So will he offer the faux-Greens a way out of this mess, or his he simply going to leave them to wallow in the negative attention of May’s crafting? Steve’s withdraw from the election in the face of national scrutiny is a clear sign that he has realized the negative role his scheme played in his own life, and made the responsible decision. Now it’s up to Steve to look out not just for himself, but those whom his has actions have affected.

Mr. May, it’s over. Do the right thing.

UPDATE: In a statement just released, May basicially cited personal reasons for his withdrawal. I won't pretend to know the depth of May's reasons, but I have an idea. As such, I would like to use my platform to wish Mr. May the best of luck. The "dogs are called off" as it were, but he must still address the mess that lays in his wake.

East Valley Democrats Launch Fundraising Effort to Counter Steve May's Election Ringers

2010-09-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

Armed with a new website, mailers, and an impressive social media outreach, the Tempe and South Scottsdale Democrats are looking to cash in on the national attention D17 Republican Steve May's plot to tilt the election is receiving. Lauren Kuby, chair of the D17 Democrats sent me this statement:

Hello Dry Heat Democrat,

Would you please pass the following on to your readers? I would appreciate it, and thank you.

My name is Lauren Kuby, and I am the Chair of the Legislative District 17 Democrats in Arizona. As you may know, we in Arizona LD17 are fighting against Steve May, a local millionaire whose dubious campaign tactics have earned him his 15 minutes on the national stage.

While Steve May basks in the glow of attention, his scheme could have a real effect. His ploy is a cynical move made to facilitate his return to the Arizona Legislature. At a recent debate Steve May said he intends to join the other Republicans there to fight against education funding, dismantle Arizona childrens' insurance program – Kid Care, and yes, even end the programs for the very homeless people he is using for his own political purposes.

Steve's campaign slogan, believe it or not is "Honest Leadership, for a Change", but make no mistake, Steve May is neither honest or change.

Check out our website (http://www.d17dems.org/) and consider helping us in our fight against May. Donate on our ActBlue page (www.actblue.com/page/d17).

Thanks for any help you can give us!

Lauren Kuby
Chair, D17 Democrats

Good for them, I hope they are able to get some national support out of May's dirty tricks being exposed.

New York Times; Maddow Pick up on Steve May Controversy

2010-09-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Incase you missed it:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

NYTimes: Republican Runs Street People on Green Ticket

Tempe/S. Scottdale Democrats extended coverage

FINALLY! President Obama Hits the Campaign Trail; Takes The Fight to Republicans

2010-09-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

The President's speech marking Labor Day made me want to jump out of my seat and cheer.

The President starts speaking around 11 minutes in.

David Schweikert Graduates From the Karl Rove School of Polling

2010-09-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

A new poll has been generating a lot of buzz in the Arizona conservative blogosphere. At first glance, the poll feels like a punch in the gut to a desert progressive. Harry is down 6 points to the David “I serve children with eviction notices” Schweikert? How can this be? Congress Mitchell is a Tempe (and now, CD-5) establishment and David Schweikert got rich when your neighbor had to move his family into an apartment.

Given that David made his money with the same unfettered greed that caused The Great Recession, how would any voter, left or right, want to hitch their star to that kind of person? When did ruthless profiteering become such a virtue that serving an eviction notice to a child doesn’t end any chances of winning a popular vote – in any district? All this made me wonder if Schweikert run on a platform of beheading puppies on Jan Brewer’s doorstep and STILL win?

No. Random Musings has a great analysis of the poll’s creditability. I won’t touch on the finer points, as he already did a much better job that I could have, I will only suggest you check read his dissection of the results. I would like make a few broader points though.

This poll, like so many, is all about how the question is asked, and to whom. In this case, the questions were stating the Schweikert campaign’s attack lines against Mitchell, and then asking if those attacks made you more of less likely to vote for the Democrat.

Click to Enlarge

This “How bad is Harry” poll asked to a sample set with 70% of the respondents over 50 years old. That’s right 70%, that’s means that people 50+ are overrepresented by at least 20%.

Click to Enlarge

This is Tempe and Scottsdale of all places, so I’m not sure how they found such an old sample. Oh wait, yes I am.

According to the poll, 7% of AZ CD-5 respondents have attended a Tea Party rally. Now, 7% doesn’t sound like a lot, but blow up that number to represent the population of district, and we are talking about 35,000 people attending Tea Party rallies in the East Valley. As someone who often attends Tea Party rallies (for fodder), let me say the largest one I’ve been to had a few hundred people there, and lot of those were bused in from surrounding states to support SB1070. So the idea that 35,000 people in CD-5, or the whole Valley of the Sun for that matter, are attending Tea Party rallies is ridiculous.

Click to Enlarge

Since this poll says 7% have attended a Tea Party rally, and 10% are likely to attended a Tea Party rally, and those numbers don’t translate with reality at all, I can’t believe this poll is anything more than the deceptive polls being put out by hard right candidates nationwide (with the help of Karl Rove).

Thoughts on the Policy Positions of Steve May

2010-09-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

**I'm having trouble with the video of May and Grandpa whispering back and forth seconds before the debate started, I know it doesn't prove anything, but I think it is worth a look. I will post it when I can.**

Personal Note:

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. May in person at the recent D17 Clean Elections Debate. He recognized and addressed me, and to his credit he spoke to me in a friendly manner. We had an unexpected exchange that was brief and civil. I must admit, I’m a bit flattered May knew who I was, because that means not only did my blog get his campaign’s attention, but he must have done some level of investigating to find out just who was exposing him. It’s not often you get to look a dissembling politician in the eye and speak truth and know it’s getting through, so it was quite invigorating. There is a grandeur to challenging power and my experience with May only makes me want to keep working.

On the Greens:

May’s ringer “Grandpa” Goshorn showed up for the debate, but despite last minute pressure from Steve, he declined to take the stage and his seat sat empty throughout. He watched from the back with more of May’s “Green Party” supporters.

May and "Grandpa" Conspiring before Wednesday’s Debate

There was another Green there, Gregor Knauer. I’ve checked with the Arizona Green Party, and Mr. Knauer is a legitimate candidate. The first time Knauer spoke May sat up in his chair and loudly cleared his throat. I took this as a tell, and coupled with his heavy use of note cards, I was convinced Knauer was another May backed fraud. I was wrong.

Overall:

On almost every topic, Steve’s answers to our state’s problem was to cut Medicare spending, and leave a million of Arizona’s working poor completely unprotected. Literally, he blamed everything he could on the state’s children’s health insurance program, and what he didn’t, he blamed on Obama.

On Core Values:

Steve May declared his values to be “honest leadership” and bragged early in the night about suing the state to put an end to our Clean Elections program. Steve said (without irony) the voter approved initiative is “corrupt” and “prone to abuse”. This struck me as particularly offensive as readers will know Steve stands accused of putting up patsy Green candidates for his own political advantage (a charge he denied to my face). But the evidence I and others have previously laid out suggests otherwise. I believed when I went in that May orchestrated a widespread abuse of the Clean Election system, and I still do. May apparently does not consider his actions abusive, no matter how blatant and publicized his own corruption may be. Remember, May was openly campaigning and soliciting donations for his “opponents” on Facebook only 10 days ago. He was even spotted whispering in Grandpa’s ear just seconds before he took the stage. A source close to May at the time told me he was trying to convince the homeless man he is exploiting to go through with it. Grandpa didn’t budge, He may not have held up his end, but I hope May still at least bought him a dinner.

On Taxes:

May’s only position on taxes is that they should be cut. Responding to State Representative Ed Ableser’s promise to close tax loopholes for corporations and at the same time putting on a good show for his “Green Party” supporters in the audience, Steve held up a list of current corporate tax loopholes and waved it around demanding to know which ones Ableser would close. In Steve's view stopping tax cheats is tantamount to raising taxes on the would-be cheaters. Ed previously hadn’t suggested raising taxes, only that the tax code needs to be reconsidered, adding that the sales tax disproportionally hurts the poor. May bragged about his record of a tax cutter proudly announcing he cut corporate taxes in AZ by a mere .031%.

On the Economy:

Ignoring that “We Have Did” Brewer, hasn’t had a balanced budget at any point in her administration, May sought to nationalize the issue, claiming that federal healthcare reform congress passed at the end of March was responsible of the state of the Arizona budget this year, and last. Not mismanagement, the global economic crisis, or the high unemployment rate more reasonable people would suspect. Hey, at least he didn't blame unions, right?

Fact is, healthcare reform is fully funded (at least for the first 10 years) by the federal government, so it’s 2015 implementation doesn’t affect our fiscal problem today. What is more, in Brewer’s latest’s budget, she absolutely gutted our Medicaid system, knocking 50,000 desperate children of the state run insurance program, “Kids Care”, a move Steve lauded throughout the evening. The state was broke before Healthcare Reform passed, and Steve knows it. This was just one of many opportunities he took to try and nationalize a state house race so he could run against President Obama.

On Healthcare:

May said that “Obamacare” was the product of the lack of bipartisanship. He declared his joy over ending Kids Care, and said if it were up to him, he would further cut the state Medicaid program to help balance the budget. Sorry Steve, but we can’t solve ALL of our problems by simply denying more children access to healthcare. While that will appease your me-first base, this kind of callousness isn’t in the D17 mainstream. Repeating that tax cuts are the only answer to any question, May supports giving tax breaks to the rich at the expense of sick children. As long as Steve May has, he wants to make sure the rest of us have-not.

On Education:

May blamed the “Obama stimulus” for the high cost of college, and again suggested we cut Medicaid to bring the cost down. Because, somehow cutting children’s access to healthcare will stop ASU from increasing tuition every single semester as it has done for years. I bet once those lazy kids are of the state rolls, my diabetes will clear up too. I’m not sure how an influx of federal infrastructure spending and tax cuts for the middle class effected ASU’s bottom line, but I don’t take a deep philosopher to know that is one of Steve’s more outlandish positions.

On Immigration:

May came out in support of S.B. 1070, a flip flop for his previous position. Other than “finishing the danged fence” (his words) and suggesting we bus them all illegal immigrants to D.C., May didn’t offer any real non-talking-point solutions to our growing immigration problem. But don’t worry, he got his jabs on the President. Not very helpful, and indicative of the partisan blinders Steve would use to represent D17.

On Jobs:

May had no real solutions for Arizona’s unemployed other than to say that taxes are why Arizona isn’t producing green jobs, something he had earlier blamed on Medicare. That is literally his entire position on job creation. I mean, I wish I had more to say here.

Before the Day's Business, a Must See - AZ Gubernatorial Debate

2010-09-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

If you don't want to watch the whole thing, at least do yourself a favor and watch unelected Governor Brewer's opening statement.

Do you think the Arizona GOP wishes have would have nominated Ricky Gervais look-a-like and AZ state treasurer Dean Martin? When pressed after the debate my local reporters to clarify her claim of beheadings in Arizona (a claim debunked many times,) Brewer went all Sharron Angle, and - literally - ran away.

Debate totals: "I (or we) have did..." - 3 :: "He has did..." - 1

As Evidence Mounts, Steve May Continues to Deny Involvement in Voter Fraud Scheme

2010-09-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Luisa Evonne Valdez is a legitmate Green Party candidate. She, like the actual Green Pary of Arizona, has denounced the Steve May backed candidates as frauds, and urged her supporters not to be fooled. She has a back and forth going on with Steve May on the same Facebook account that has gotten him in so much trouble.

Let’s go to the action already in progress.

In his comments to Luisa, Steve proceeds to disparage the party whose candidates he is working so hard legitimize. Calling them “Grand Poo Bahs” and “Green beans," Steve’s open contempt for the values the Green Party holds couldn’t be clearer. In their conversation May admits to coaching Green Party candidate he helped get on the ballot, “Grandpa” Goshorn, in the “Green Party Core Values” just one day before tonights debate. I ask, shouldn’t the Green Party candidate know the party’s core values before he is scheduled to defend his party’s policy positions in just 24 hours? If not, why would he seek help from the party that is the antithesis of what the Greens? And why would May coach someone who could in theory beat him in the general election? It, like this entire story, stinks, and May is holding a bag of shit.

As you can see, Lusia does a good job making clear that there is no doubt the Republicans-turned-Green candidates are frauds. They aren't endorsed by the local Green party, and they haven’t been in contact with the Green Party, and one of May’s ringers even actively opposed a Green this election cycle.

May and Co. took advantage of an election law loophole that requires just one vote to put a Green Party candidate on the ballot (a product of our Republican controled legislature passed just last year). The candidates he is pushing switched parties from Republican to Green on the very last day they could as dictated by law. May defends his candidates as mere expressions of a healthy democracy, all the while knowing it’s a total sham. He acts as if accusing him of voter fraud is somehow an attack on democracy itself, but really Steve is the only one who has damaged our democracy… and he knows it. He just doesn’t care.

Steve May knows he is lying through his teeth to voters who trusted him, and as long as he keeps denying it, the scrutiny is only going to get worse.

Click to Enlarge

Steve May pictured with homeless the Green Party ringer he calls "Grandpa" after filing papers together in May. Steve says Grandpa is his friend and is running on the slogan of "Throw the bums out, and vote a real one in." Sounds like thinly veiled mockery to me.

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While Running on "Honest Leadership" D17 Republican Steve May Accused of Voter Fraud

2010-08-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

Steve May is having a terrible no good very bad week.

Let’s recap! As originally posted by yours truly, recently May was caught viewing internet content that surely would be considered objectionable to his conservative base, he has a lawsuit filed against him for voter fraud, now The Arizona Republic has picked up the story, and judging from the number of comments on AZCentral, it has legs.

The suit alleges (by name) that May and his co-conspirators put ringer Green Party candidates on the ballot simply to fool left-leaning voters as a way to siphon off what would likely be Democratic votes. Local Republicans have denied this charge.

Via The Arizona Republic:

Those alleged to be part of the scheme denied the charges, saying they are only trying to broaden the political playing field.

Of course their problem is that their denial (like so much that comes from the right-wing) is demonstrably false.

"I'd just like to get on the ballot," [I believe to be Green Party plant, Chris Campbell] said.

That contradicts a tape-recorded conversation Democrats turned over to law-enforcement officials, in which Campbell is quoted as saying he was approached by Republicans to run.

In that talk, Campbell tells a male caller - who contacted him to allegedly offer help to his campaign - that "more or less, I'm taking votes away from the Democrats."

Even more pertinent to this particular story is May himself (the candidate most connected to the Greens) has forcefully denied his involvement both on Facebook and in a statement to The Arizona Republic.

"There is no vast Green-wing conspiracy here," May said.

He said he learned through his own research about the minimal requirements to get on the ballot as a Green Party candidate and that the idea caught on with many of the homeless people he knows on Tempe's Mill Avenue.

May painted their candidacies as an empowering move for a part of the population that is roundly ignored. He denied any coordination with other so-called "sham" Green efforts.

May is lying to preserve manufactured political advantage, it's just that simple. His connection to these candidates is well documented, and even though just this morning Steve tried to deleted any evidence of his relationship with the homeless ringers, I am a step ahead.

I intend to show that May was at least involved in this conspiracy, if not the driving force. After all, how many Republicans do you know with homeless friends anyways? Most Republicans I know have a contempt for the poor that borderlines on hatred.

Green Party candidate Benjamin Pearcy, as many other Greens was friends with Steve on Facebook as late as 10:30 pm last night, but no longer this morning. As Random Musings points out, several of the Greens are registered to the same address, 420 S. Mill Ave – which is a Starbucks #11573, not a residence. Steve May claims to have no connection to Pearcy, but here is Pearcy asking May for a meeting just this Tuesday at that same Starbucks the local Greens list as their place of residence. Pretty deceptive of Steve to claim he isn't involved with them, no?

May has known Pearcy for quite some time, he even described him as “one of my favorite homeless kids on Mill Ave.” Here is a video posted on May’s YouTube channel (which he mostly used to harangue the Tempe police), of an interview with Benjamin that took place 9 months ago.

Notice when May asked about the tattoo? Just so we are clear that the young man in the video is indeed Green Party candidate Benjamin Pearcy, here is a better look courtesy of Ole Ben himself.

Pearcy isn't the only Green Party candidate with ties to Steve. He is also connected via Facebook to Anthony "Grandpa" Goshorn, Green Party candidate for D17 State Senate (Ben Quayle thinks this guy has an internet exposure problem). May even went as far to openly solicit donations from his conservative base to fund his patsy’s campaign. May is willfully misleading D17 voters.

May's fraudulent actions and his subsequent denials are neither honest or leadership, and quite frankly insulting to the intelligence of D17. While I can't prove May is guilty of voter fraud (that is up to the courts to decide), I think we can agree that he AT LEAST knew was going on, and as such May isn't telling us the whole truth, if any of it.

I would suggest to Steve if he is going to continue misleading Tempe/Scottsdale voters, that he should change his campaign slogan to:

Steve May: Dishonest Leadership for a Dishonest Time.

In AZ CD-5, David Schweikert's Character Already Getting Attention

2010-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just 4 days after winning the Republican primary in AZ CD-5, David Schweikert appears to have turned again to the playbook of dubious self advancement, on both the local and national level. Arizona CD5-er’s know that Schweikert made a large fortune taking advantage of struggling home owners at the height of the mortgage crisis, but during the primary it didn’t really get attention. Now with David under increased scrutiny, this narrative is gaining momentum.

Via Daily Kos:

One of the unheralded sleazeballs of this cycle is David Schweikert, who funds his campaign against Harry Mitchell by yanking the rug out from under struggling home owners.

[…]

David Schweikert has found a way to profit from the instability and misery it brings the residents of Arizona District 5. The banks drag their feet on loan modifications and Schweikert slips in, buying homes at auction and evicting home owners with a scant five days notice, some times even after their modification is in process.

[…]

Renters, perhaps already evicted once due to foreclosure, get a second bomb dropped on them, with dawn deliveries of eviction notices, in one instance being handed to a twelve year old instead of an adult in the house.

David didn’t have the decency to evict people (for his personal profit) to their faces, but rather broke the news to their children? I’ve heard a lot of dirt on David lately, but I hadn’t heard this – say what you will about ruthless capitalism, this type of profiteering is despicable and unusually callous even for a Republican.

This weekend Schweikert made local news when his campaign paid for, and displayed fake campaign signs targeting Democrat incumbent and former Tempe mayor, Harry Mitchell. Traditionally, campaigns like to start off positive, promoting their candidate while keeping the gloves on. Schweikert’s first action as the Republican nominee in CD-5, was to try to paint Harry with a negative national brush. I think this is an early indication that David’s strategy is to win (like how he made his money) ugly.

Local news coverage of the Schweikert’s “technically it’s not illegal” campaign.

Log Cabin Republican Steve May Declares Support for Hot Horny Bartenders

2010-08-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened in my Newsfeed today.

Steve May, the D17 Republican who utilized Facebook as his main messaging apparatus during his successful write-in campaign, likes many things. Among his likes are “U.S. Chamber of Commerce, FreedomWorks, Being Conservative, George W. Bush, NRA’s American Rifleman, the Bible,” and yes, “Smoking Hot Bartenders.”

Looks like Steve visited http://hothornybartender.info/ this afternoon and liked it so much he felt it deserved the same May-style endorsement that FreedomWorks, the Bible, and George W. Bush enjoy.

Click to Enlarge

I wonder if Steve May will threaten to sue Facebook!

About Last Night…

2010-08-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

I’m sure you noticed a lack of editorial content lately, for that I apologize. However this post will not remedy it, I just feel as one of the few Arizona progressive bloggers, I should comment on a few of last night’s results.

AZ-Sen (R):

John “I picked Palin” McCain easily survived what was a primary scare a few months ago, that morphed became a formality after J.D. Hayworth was further exposed as the sleaze-ball he is. Hayworth gave a lukewarm concession speech, in which he didn’t explicitly throw his support behind McCain, but acknowledged that McCain is better than a Democrat. I was pulling for J.D., as I thought his victory would give the Democratic nominee political advantage this fall. Tea Party FAIL.

AZ-Sen (D):

Glassman pulled it off. I admit, I thought Parraz was going to win in a squeaker, but he really under performed. Random Musings noted Monday that even as voters found out about Glassman’s skeletons, Randy’s late surge might not be enough simply because he waited until after early voting had already started to go on the attack.

Eden and Dougherty over preformed. I didn’t expect either of them to capture very many votes, certainly not the near 30% Eden pulled in, or even more surprising, Dougherty’s 25%. I thought Dougherty would come in dead last as I didn’t know anyone who was voting for him. Obviously, I have a lot to learn about reading the electorate!

AZ CD-3:

~~Brock Landers~~ Ben Quayle rode his silver spoon to victory in the crowded GOP primary. Quayle is the son of world famous spell checker and former vice president, Dan Quayle. Ben, like a lot of the conservative youth movement that has become so fashionable, has had everything in life handed to him, but he expects you to pull yourself up by your boot straps, even if you lack boots. Quayle is a typical establishment Republican sporting hypocrisy, entitlement, aristocracy, and as his controversial campaign spot exposed, delusions of grandeur

Arch-conservative Pamela Gorman, who also made national headlines with her own ridiculous campaign commercial, disappointed Teahadist everywhere with an abysmal 8% of the votes. Tea Party FAIL.

AZ CD-5:

David Schweikert won the GOP nomination for U.S. Rep. in CD-5. He will go one to face Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell. Schweikert is no stranger to Arizona politics, or Harry Mitchell. This will be the second straight election cycle that David is going to try to unseat Harry. He lost by a 10 point margin in 2008. As the Arizona Democratic Party ad points out, Schweikert is probably most well known for profiting at the expense of others’ misfortune, buying hundreds of foreclosed homes during the height of the crisis.

Arizona progressives have quite a fight ahead of us Not only must we protect Harry Mitchell on the national stage, we also need to keep D17 (Tempe and S. Scottdale) the only all blue legislative district in Arizona, but I know the local party is very motivated to keep moving forward, and has been working tirelessly to energize the base, as well as make our case to independent voters.

Don’t bet against us, nothing is over.

Still Undecided? Two More Democratic AZ-Sen Debates

2010-08-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

These debates took place prior to the untelevised one I posted on Monday. The Democrats are in a dead heat for the party's nomination and they get a little feisty. The theme of both, "pile on Glassman", becomes clear early.

July 27th 2010

August 5th, 2010

AZ-SEN: The Final Democratic Debate

2010-08-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

AZ-SEN: Randy Parraz Hits the Airwaves with Primary Eight Days Away

2010-08-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Randy Parraz last Tuesday, and I was impressed with the force of his arguments. In a question and answer session with Mr. Parraz and fellow Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cathy Eden, Randy (correctly) pointed out that during this time of national anti-immigrant fervor, he is the only Latino running for U.S. Senate (in Arizona of all places). Randy argued if he were to win the Democratic nomination, Arizona would once again be thrust into the national narrative, it would solidify the increasingly important Latino vote, and it would bring in an outpouring of support across the country. And I think he’s right.

His first ad:

In Case You Missed It- Maddow and CBS5 Expose Governor Brewer's Corruption and the Incompetence of Arizona's Private Prisons

2010-08-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is a must watch. Rachel Maddow issues a scathing indictment of Governor Brewer and the people she put in charge of housing Arizona's murderers. Most Arizonans don't realize the extent of the unelected Governor's connections to the private prison industry, and the influence they had on passing SB 1070.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

PALINCEPTION - A Democrat's Dream

2010-08-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry, been busy with the local party! Be on the look out for more updates soon.

John McCain Owned From the Right and the Left in the Same Day

2010-08-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

John "Get off my lawn" McCain is sad shell of the man he used to be and keeps getting exposed as such. The question is: Will Arizona Republicans do something about it, or is it a matter of the devil you know? If you believe the polls, Arizona would rather have the political shape shifter than the snake oil huckster.

Hayworth's new ad: Old Man Desert admitting he has no problem lying for political advantage.

Sen. Levin takes McCain to task over civil liberties.

Democrats 3.0? Anthony Weiner Gets It

2010-07-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) blasted GOP obstructionists yesterday for blocking a bill that would have provided healthcare to 9/11 rescue workers plague by disease as a direct result of their heroic efforts. Weiner held no punches as he angrily called out the House Republicans. Congressman Weiner chides blatant and wanton Republican obstruction, while urging them to do the right thing for the right people, or at least come clean with their real reasons for opposing and not just blaming procedure. He even shouts down a GOP heckler, and drops the instant classic “The gentleman is CORRECT in sitting” crush.

If so-called Blue Dogs are Democrats 2.0, are Weiner and Grayson Democrats 3.0? I think so, and if not, I think we should at least look at their consistent candidness as a model. It is widely accepted that the GOP is willing to get nastier and play dirtier, and it has always been a political handicap for the left. I’m not suggesting the Democrats go all Machiavelli, but sometimes a little fire breathing is just what the doctor ordered for a base disenchanted with the tepidness of the party.

The real question is, how long until Andrew Breitbart edits the Weiner video to "expose" Anthony as the "real obstructionist"?

If only we could get Senate Democrat to follow suit.

With SB1070 Defanged, our Victory is Fleeting

2010-07-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

While I’m very happy with Judge Susan Bolton’s decision, it’s only the beginning of addressing our larger immigration problem, the need for federal action.

Arizonans will continue paying to enforce federal law, and it will be that way until there is immigration reform on a national level. Arizona cops have long been able to question someone's immigration status if they suspected they were here illegally, they just weren't required to do so (under threat of lawsuits by nativist civilians) when they had "probable cause". PC as you know is a terribly nebulous concept that could mean anything.

The injunction will ultimately save Arizona taxpayers money though. It will stop a litany of profiling lawsuits against the state, and also I'm sure the 7 civil rights groups who have sued Arizona will no longer have a case to take to court, also saving us money. It will probably end some of the boycotts against Arizona, which means more outside dollars flowing in.

I'm not pro illegal immigration but forcing Arizona to front the bill for a federal job only hurts us in the long run. I mean Christ, in deep red AZ we just had to raise taxes to support our schools, police, and firefighters (Prop 100).

Current federal law should be enforced, but it’s a broken system that offers only incentive to skirt the system. Currently 41 senators have ground our nation to a halt and it’s just partisan politics. We all suffer as a result.

Be part of the solution, support federal immigration reform, and if you are feeling particularly outraged, filibuster reform.

Netroots Nation: I Knew I Should Have Gone

2010-07-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Remember that fundamental truth of our democracy, that change doesn't come from the top down, it comes from the bottom up. It comes from the netroots, the grassroots, from every American that loves their country and believes they can make a difference."

In Case You Missed it: CBS 5 Takes Down AZ GOP

2010-07-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Not that Republican voters care about facts.

Via AZVern

Nothing is Over

2010-07-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

We out number them by 10 million.
They can only take ground we give them through our own complacency.
Don't let hate triumph over hope.
Don't let our more liberal friends make the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Sitting out isn't an option.

Via Fight The Right 2010

In Arizona, Liberals are on the Rise

2010-07-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

According to a poll released by the Behavior Research Center, the number of voters who self-identify as “very liberal” has grown 150% in Arizona since 1988. This is of course great news, but as the poll points out, we still have a large gap to conquer.

Via AZCentral:

To be sure, the far left does not have a majority in Arizona. The far right has grown at an 80 percent clip over the same period, from 10 percent in 1988 to 18 percent today. The right holds a near-majority in Arizona politics, with 46 percent of voters calling themselves conservative or very conservative. Only 22 percent of voters call themselves liberal or very liberal.

New Hayworth Ad Attacks McCain for Calling for Civility in Political Discourse

2010-07-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

During the 2008 election cycle, John McCain was forced to call for civility from his supports after Sarah Palin used inflammatory rhetoric at campaign rallies in Virginia and Florida. Specifically, the clip used by J.D. in his new spot came after an old woman in the audience called then Senator Obama ‘a Muslim’ and ‘an Arab’. When McCain corrected her calling Obama a ‘decent man’, there was a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Hayworth, who said during his recent debate with Senator McCain that bipartisanship was ruining our country, shows the level of hatred and willful ignorance on in the New Right. When a candidate for national office suggests treating other people with a minimum level of respect should be considered a political liability, that candidate should take a long look at the people he is pandering to. We all should.

To be fair to J.D., the angry McCain abandoned his stance on respect November 5th, 2008.

Nazi Group Patrols the Arizona Desert

2010-07-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

It's not about race: Neo-Nazi J.T. Ready and Arizona state senator Russell Pearce

Infamous Phoenix neo-Nazi, Jason “J.T.” Ready (seen here with SB1070 author state senator Russell Pearce) and his group of not-so-merry-men are patrolling our deserts outside Phoenix to hunt down illegal immigrants. Heavily armed with military-grade assault rifles, ignorance, and hate; Ready’s group believes anyone who isn’t straight, white, and Christian should be forced to leave America either peacefully or by force.

I once met J.T. at a pro-SB1070 rally at the state capitol. (I was there taking pictures of teahadists) He said some of the most hateful things I’ve heard one person say to other’s face. Case in point, I saw him tell an old Native American woman that if they weren’t such an “inferior race” they wouldn’t have all died from chicken pox “we gave them”. From his body language and rhetoric it’s easy to see that J.T. is a very sad person. Perhaps it’s a result of his hate, or perhaps his hate is a coping mechanism, but when confronted in person, Ready quickly reveals himself to be lonely and self-isolated.

Local law enforcement agencies have expressed concern that hate groups taking matters into their own could only hurt their efforts and create a more dangerous environment for legitimate enforcement officials. Pinal county Sheriff Paul Babeu went as far as to tell them to stay away from his jurisdiction.

J.T. Ready's band of neo-Nazis on patrol.

Don't Look Now - Harry Mitchell Leads AZ CD-5 in Fundraising; Cash on Hand

2010-07-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Perhaps predictions of a Speaker Boehner have been a bit premature. According to the FEC quarterly report, Democratic incumbent Harry Mitchell (who I had the pleasure of meeting on Saturday) leads the way in CD-5 fundraising this election cycle. Not only that, but most of the money that has come in for Mitchell’s Republican challengers (with the exception of the carpet bagger Jim Ward) has been from “loans” the candidates made to their own campaigns.

What does this mean? Well, thus far the numbers tell us Harry has much more popular support than his would-be challengers. Mitchell is bringing in a significant amount of donations from Arizona individuals and families while his opponents are using their personal fortunes to fund their campaigns. As the Republican v Tea Party civil war continues, Harry’s position looks surprisingly strong today, while the Tea Party’s astroturfing looks just the opposite. (We will get another measure of their clout with the August 24th primary.)

Congressman Mitchell has been declared by Sarah Palin to be one the Tea Party’s top 20 targets for Decision 2010. Something she felt it was necessary to use crosshairs to represent.

Incase You Missed it: The McCain - Hayworth Debates

2010-07-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Channel 3 broke up the first debate into several parts. I'm not going to comment other than say both get very ugly rather quickly. It is quiet the spectacle. I live-tweeted the first one, but was out with friends during the second. I wish there would be 100 more McCain-Hayworth debates.

The second debate.

Sheriff Joe Takes .50 Caliber Machine Gun on Old Fashioned Witch Hunt

2010-07-16T12:21:00.001-07:00

Sheriff Joe took what looks like a prop from the recent A-Team movie into the desert surrounding Phoenix last night on a ~~crime suppression sweep~~ round up. As you could probably imagine, I have a few problems with this.

Why is Joe Arpaio spending tax payer money on a quasi-tank? In cash strapped Arizona, does the Sheriff really need to be preparing for a war? I suppose given the level of his base’s xenophobia, it is possible Joe sees the war machine as good Realpolitik. But what is even scarier; the possibility that Joe thinks this weapon is necessary to maintaining his office’s mandate.

Where is the right wing outrage? If that’s not big government and big spending, I don’t know what is. Surely if health care for the poor is tyranny, then the ability of local governments to mow down groups of citizens on only the authority of a power hungry Sheriff is downright Orwellian. I don’t generally like slippery slope arguments, but I mean Christ, he’s already using a tank! Joe loves (and needs) to continually outdo himself to garner more attention, and with this move, I fear for what is next. Is Napoleon-Complex Joe going to start deploying landmines and constructing pill boxes? Hyperbole sure, the question is: hyperbole to what degree?

Why does Sheriff Joe think a .50 caliber machine gun is an appropriate tool to use in his ~~crime suppression sweeps~~ round ups? It's simple intimidation, he wants people to fear him. With bullets as thick as Rush Limbaugh’s fingers and as long as premium cigars, a person hit by one of these giant projectiles is likely to be blown in half.

Hatroits will argue talking points like, illegals commit 99.99999% of violent crimes, they are all drug mules, or they are human smugglers. When they aren’t smuggling drugs and themselves, they are beheading people just outside our metropolis, or kidnapping our children. They will say illegals don’t pay any taxes and are bankrupting our state and country. So let me preemptively say that none of that shit is true, and even if it was, Joe still wouldn't need a tank. If things were as bad as Teahadists would have you believe, the unelected governor would been forced to activate the Arizona National Guard a long time ago. Please provide sources when you start commenting about how wrong I am. Sorry, navitist think tanks are legitimate not sources.

Note: According The Phoenix New Times, Joe is claiming his crime suppression sweep round up netted 11 “human smugglers”. By human smugglers he means illegal immigrants. Under Arizona law illegals are considered human smugglers, and charged with “smuggling themselves across the border”.

Way to go Joe, keeping making sure no illegal finds a better life, at least not in Arizona.

Brewer Doubles Down on Beheadings Claim with Dubious Anecdotal Evidence

2010-07-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

You may remember last month when Unelected Governor Brewer kicked off her campaign to chase every last tourist dollar from cash-strapped Arizona, well get ready folks, she is at it again. Making one outrageous claim after another, Brewer started her crusade by asserting Arizona was under terrorist attack as a result of illegal immigration. The racist base rejoiced, and sensing political opportunity (she was facing primary challengers from the right at the time) she quickly followed that up with “most illegal immigrants are actually drug mules”. Brewer (and Pander-in-Chief John McCain) later claimed several times on national TV that Phoenix is the number two kidnapping capital of the WORLD (yes, world). She has said repeatedly that 87% of border crossers have criminal records, and as such crime rates have exploded in Arizona. And finally - for her piece de resistance – she went with the infamous decapitated-bodies-are-littering-our deserts quackery. All of unelected Governor Brewer’s remarks have been methodically exposed as irresponsible exaggerations, or flat out lies.

Since announcing to the world that Mexicans were decapitating people as close as 20 miles south of Phoenix, The Arizona Guardian has been trying to find evidence to support Brewer’s claim. Guess what? There is none, zero, zilch. Six Arizona county medical examiners, four of which are on the border, have publically stated they haven’t seen any beheadings and they have no idea what Brewer is talking about. The far right, in their classic denial, has accused the coroners of having a liberal political agenda.

Governor Brewer doesn’t seem to care that every news organization other than Fox News and talk radio hate mongers are openly dismissing her “facts” as demonstrable lunacy. Indeed, she has doubled down on her Mexicans-are-fighting-a-jihad-in-Arizona position. Yesterday she told The Arizona Daily Star that her comments are based on anecdotal evidence from the Arizona residents who are finding these phantom bodies. One wonders what these residents do with the bodies upon discovery, since clearly they don’t report them to the state. If they had alerted authorities, the county medical examiner would be the one performing the autopsy, and I’m sure they would remember such a bizarre case. You know, unless they are under the spell of Al Gore’s vast mind control apparatus, UN chem trails, black helicopters or something…

So Unelected Governor, as an Arizona resident, I ask you to show us the bodies or stop demonizing our state to the local and national press.

Hate Group Answers Brewer's Call

2010-07-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

American Third Position (A3P), a hate group whose one sentence mission statement is “The American Third Position exists to represent the political interests of White Americans, because no one else will”, has made a “triple digit” donation to unelected Governor Brewer’s SB 1070 legal defense fund. In a statement on their website A3P make it very clear it’s really about race.

"A3P is aiding the state of Arizona because of the critical nature of this issue. We support all constructive endeavors by private citizens, businesses, local governments - or in this case a sovereign state - to stem and reverse the browning of America."

The question now is will Brewer give the money back? If she does, will she lose her support among the racist right? If she doesn't, how will independents react to what is becoming a more and more openly racist GOP? Will this serve to motivate the Democratic base to rally behind Terry Goddard? Time will tell, but one thing is for certain: Brewer and the hate her rhetoric is inspiring, have to go.

Washington Post Goes After Brewer

2010-07-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

From the first line of “Jan Brewer has lost her head”, to the last jab “[Governor Brewer] should screw her head back on and start telling Americans the truth,” Dana Milbank’s op-ed in today’s Washington Post absolutely slams the unelected governor of what Milbank called “her pariah state”.

My favorite quote:

Last year gave us death panels and granny killings, but compared with the nonsense justifying the immigration crackdown, the health-care debate was an evening at the Oxford Union Society.

Commenting System

2010-07-09T20:04:00.003-07:00

Having some problems with my commenting system. Trying to reinstall, don't worry Marcus.

Dean Martin Suspends Campaign

2010-07-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

One day removed from giving the interview below (I haven't watch it yet), state treasurer ~~Ricky Gervais~~ Dean Martin put out a press release (at 3:00pm on a Friday) announcing his bid for governor would come to an abrupt end. Not surprisingly Martin blames President Obama for his failure to raise money, come up with a decent message, and motivate voters. Come Dean-o it's not Obama's fault; what's all this about personal responsibility? I suspect it had more to do with a polls showing Brewer with a herculean lead among likely primary voters. But, you know, whatever, Obama's bad.

After Martin was finished blaming his problems on other people, he then went on to do some political posturing, and finally crawled back into the conservative bubble (and Brewer camp) he came from. Que sera, sera.

I wonder if right wing nut job and friend of the blog Marcus “I’m bringing sexy back” Kelley has seen this news yet. As Martin is "going rogue" or "quitting", I won’t be doing a write up on Kelley’s “interview” with him.

It's a Dry Hate

2010-07-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

Our national embarrassment continued last night as Jon Stewart went after Arizona again. The Daily Show also compiled a best-of list with all Arizona segments. They are as funny as they are sad. (H/T @kyrstensinema)

Meet Don Hawker - GOP Candidate in D17

2010-07-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Donald Hawker sports a neck beard. This is the only picture I could find of him - anywhere.

After the Augustus Shaw debacle (Shaw was removed from the ballot for not actually living in the district), Don Hawker is the only Republican running for the Arizona state house seat in LD17. His recent interview with ultra right “journalist” Marcus Kelley is, needless to say, quite the exercise in quackery.

From the very beginning when Marcus lays out the right wing slogans he is going to propagate, the awkward Hawker is led through the interview like a stray puppy. Pandering for the tea bag vote, Hawker seeks to solidify his credentials as a hypocrite. As we already know that being an unabashed hypocrite is essential for picking up the far right vote, just ask J.D. Hayworth and John McCain.

Don says his marriage is based in religion and he is therefore not allowed to divorce, but answering the very next question he admits he has a son from a previous marriage. He calls himself a fiscal conservative but like ~~Ricky Gervais~~ Dean Martin, supports building a statewide border fence regardless if the federal government every pays the state back. In the midst of record state deficits Hawker proposes tax cuts for individual property owners to businesses, but also admits he voted from Prop 100. (For those not living in Arizona, Prop 100 was a recent voter approved sales tax increase of $.01 to prevent the Republican legislature from further gutting the education, police, and fire budgets.) He repeatedly calls health care reform an unfunded mandate, but lambasts the federal spending it required. Ignoring that freedom of religion also includes freedom from religion, Don supports “religious liberty”. By that he means the right of the state to push their preferred religion in the public schools by injecting prayer and creationism - a big government indeed, eh Don? Hawker goes as far to actually call George W. Bush a liberal, something that I’ve noticed is increasingly trendy on the far right as they continue to deal with the fall out the Bush years, and reconcile their own hypocrisy.

Don Hawker is clearly not comfortable discussing his policy positions (probably because he knows they will turn off everyone but teabaggers); he often gives one word answers while slouching deeper into his chair. When asked about controversial issues, his mumbling often becomes so incoherent and inaudible that it's a struggle to understand exactly what he is saying. He gives wishy-washy answers and is never pushed by the softball interviewer to for clarity. The disingenuousness of the "interview" is truly staggering. Sean Hannity thinks this Marcus Kelley guy has credibility problem.

On a more superficial note, his website is absolutely terrible. By far the worst I’ve seen from someone running for public office. From an awful layout, atrocious spacing, bad grammar, random capitalizations, outrageous misspellings (cam-pain, WTF?), conspiracy theories, to intelligent design propaganda, his site hits on all the negative stereotypes one associates with the so-called “Tea Party”.

Also, what’s with the full on neck beard? Is he going to raise a barn later or what? Not a good look, Donald.

UPDATE: In my article I said Hawker called Bush a liberal, it was in fact Mr. Kelley. Though, even as such, the sentence is still completely valid if you just substitute Kelley for Hawker, without any other changes. It was an innocent mistake, and I even had it written has Kelley saying in my notes.

Mea culpa.

AZ Senator Pearce Calls Latina "Idiot"

2010-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

Russell Pearce, Arizona state senator, author of the "Papers Please" law, and nativist called a latina woman an idiot (on national TV) today after she suggests he doesn’t care about racial profiling because he is white and therefore would never be subjected to it. An astute, if poorly worded analysis from Mrs. Garcia; everyone is a Republican until it happens to them.

Regardless of how you feel about immigration SB1070 is terrible for Arizona. It has brought a wave of national embarrassment and economic boycotts upon us. Whether the law is ever implemented or not, it will cost the tax payers millions, from defending it in court, to lawsuits from citizens who were wrongfully harassed by local police, it is the people of Arizona who will pick up the tab. Of course, this is something the double-the-debt-in-eight-years fiscal conservatives conveniently forget to mention as they spout their sloganeered talking points.

Check out this nativist asshole:

Story via Political Correction.

Looks Like I Spoke Too Soon - Hayworth Hits McCain

2010-07-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hayworth put out his first TV ad yesterday, though I didn’t personally see it run. While local Hayworth apologists continue to viciously attack McCain on every front imaginable, I was surprised to see J.D.’s spot isn’t nearly as scathing of an indictment (and distortion) as I was expecting. I wonder if this was by design, to try and take the high road from McCain’s almost entirely negative campaign. (Remind you of 2008?) It very well could be in the fallout of the “nuclear warhead that detonated squarely on top of JD's perfectly horizontal head,” as one commenter put it, this is the best Hayworth (or his wife) has got.

McCain Just Won't Let Up

2010-07-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Panderer-in-Chief John McCain just keeps slamming Hayworth. Beating him over the head day after day, he dominates primetime political ads in the Valley of the Sun. While watching Olbermann and Maddow I see at least 2 McCain ads per 30 minutes. Telling of the state of the race, I have yet to see one Hayworth spot.

Watch McCain’s latest skewering of ole J.D.:

McCain knows there is blood in the water and he is going for the kill, but will it be enough to finish off Hayworth? Judging from the local kooks on Twitter, J.D.’s wanton hypocrisy wasn’t enough to turn off the Tea Party, and according to Rasmussen, McCain still isn’t polling over 50%.

What is more, there is a growing chorus of rumors that J.D. will run as an independent if he can’t improve his position. If for no other reason than the political theater, how great would that be? As I've said before, Hayworth getting the nomination is an overall win for Arizona progressives, no matter what happens in November.

In Other Bitter Old Man News:

As predicted here, pandering to hatred, the new John McCain said he won't support immigration reform.

The Hill reports that McCain said in an interview today with local radio in Tucson that he opposed any program that would allow illegal immigrants a way to become citizens, after he had previously championed a pathway to citizenship in 2006. "No amnesty. Many of them need to be sent back," said McCain, who also explained that a temporary-worker program would only be for those who are entering the country as part of that future program, and not for those now here illegally.

Via Talking Points Memo

Brewer and McCain Need to Put Up or Shut Up

2010-07-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (unelected) Governor Brewer ran a blistering ad demanding “Mr. President. Do your job. Secure our borders. Arizona and the nation are waiting.” Since backing a plan in 2006 John McCain has completely and without shame reversed himself on the issue he used to champion. You guessed it, we must be talking about immigration reform.

Today President Obama used a speech at American University to call for comprehensive federal immigration reform. As he gave an outline for the reform he would like to see, one quickly notices it’s almost exactly the same plan that President Bush proposed in 2006. Obama called on the 11 GOP senators who supported Bush’s efforts in 2006, he asked them to break from their blind partisanship and back the legislation written by Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. While Republican Lindsey Graham co-authored the current bill, he has since backed away from it citing mounting political pressure.

Arizona ~~politicians~~ hacks love to call for immigration reform, but when it comes down to it will they support any plan that isn’t “boot brownie and militarize the border”? Of course they wouldn’t, it’s an election year. As such if they did support any plan, that would mean they aren’t hypocrites, xenophobes, or partisans, which would make them unlikely to win a GOP primary. Anybody who thinks that fervor here in Arizona is about respect for law and not politics is kidding themselves. The GOP has a race problem, and the Democrats have a spine problem. It is that simple.

Brewer is essentially running against Obama. She blames him for all the state’s woes, and has dug herself such a deep rhetorical hole that any support for Obama’s center-right immigration reform would be sacrilegious to her base. And McCain – hah - there is no chance that the bitter loser, shameless panderer, and threatened incumbent will dare support an immigration plan from the guy who trounced him by 7 points in 2008. Don’t forget that during the 2008 election cycle he said he wouldn’t support the immigration bill that he wrote! Since then he has be forced to repeatedly flip flop on almost every issue imaginable. The guy is the consummate politician and therefore unlucky to show any courage in 2010. I bet we see McCain running against Obama’s plan in the next few days as he desperately tries to fend off Teabag challenger J.D. “Free Taxpayer Money” Hayworth.

Governor Brewer; Senator McCain, please do the right thing. This is your chance to be part of the solution. As you said in your ad Governor, “Arizona and the nation are waiting.”

Highlights from President Obama's call to action. (Full Video)

Jon Stewart on 'Blame Obama First' Hypocrisy

2010-06-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

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