As governor of Texas, Rick Perry has taken a very moderate stance in regards to illegal immigration. He supported the DREAM Act. He even sought ways to create a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented workers currently in the country. Now that he is courting extremists like Arpaio, it's almost as if he's changing his belief system in order to get Republican support.
Interesting fact: Between 2007 and June 2010, the United States deported a total of 115,841 illegal immigrants. Arpaio's office was responsible for 26,146 of those deportations, a whopping 22.5%. If that isn't extremist, I don't know what is.
On January 8, 2011, Jared Loughner approached a crowd that gathered at a meet and greet for Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a Tucson area Safeway parking lot. He pulled out a 9mm Glock 19 handgun, and killed six people, including a nine year old girl and a federal judge. He shot Giffords and twelve others.
Six and a half short months later, and the fine Republicans of Pima County, Arizona, decide to hold a raffle to raise money for the party. Take a look at what's up for grabs.
Earlier today, AZ Governor Jan Brewer declared this 'Arizona Child Health Day'. Just three short days ago, on October 1st, budget cuts went into effect that will deny organ transplants, dental procedures and other much needed medical work for the state's poor. In order to close a $1 billion budget shortfall, the state House of Representatives agreed to cut the state's AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) by $5 million.
The cut to AHCCCS accounts to only one half of one percent of the total budget shortfall. Brewer has the ability to call the House into special session to re-fund AHCCCS. When asked recently if she'll do so, she said that no one in the House has requested it. Of course, she has the authority to call a special session without being asked. She can also sell one or both of the personal jets that she flies on for business.
In a recent interview with KTAR, state Attorney General Terry Goddard said,
"As of October first, basically, Jan Brewer signed the death warrant of many individuals who were on the list for significant transplants…and that's just inexcusable. I right now ask her, plead with her, call a special session, get this problem resolved."
Diane Wickberg, a 55 year old grandmother and Tea Party member, is suing the Coconino County Recorder over a t-shirt she tried to wear into a polling place. The t-shirt, which says "Flagstaff Tea Party: We The People Reclaiming our Constitution", was worn into a polling location on May 18, the day of a state wide sales tax vote.
State voting laws state: "no political or electioneering materials are to be displayed" within 75 feet of a polling location. When Wickberg entered the facility to place her vote, she was quickly told that she would either have to change her shirt or cover it up to enter. Although there is no definition for electioneering in Arizona state statues, County Recorder Candace Owens insists the shirt was not appropriate. Via AZCentral.com:
"Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis," she said. "It's a fine line.""My determination was that they are political in nature," she said. "They've been organized for that very purpose, and there were a number of candidates that were endorsed by the tea party or said they were."
Wickberg attempted to wear the shirt again when voting in the August 24, primary. Again she was told to cover up or leave. She put on a sweater to cast her vote. Her lawsuit is asking a judge to deliver an injunction, allowing her to wear the shirt again on November 2, during the general election.
As the Tea Party is not a legally recognized political party, the lawsuit may present a challenge to the judicial system and will likely become a precedent referred to in future cases. Expect an update as the story develops.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors concluded today that Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office spent as much as $80 million inappropriately. The money, which comes from a voter approved sales tax, was earmarked to be spent on improving conditions in County jails. Instead, findings reveal that the money was spent on questionable anti-immigration sweeps, investigating political enemies and thousands on vacations for Sheriffs Office officials.
Arpaio seemed hesitant to answer allegations to the press, but he had no problem making sure his book was in plain view of the cameras. The County Board of Supervisors agreed to forward on their information to federal prosecutors, who are already investigating allegations of illegal racial profiling taking place during traffic stops and immigration sweeps. This isn't the first allegation of illegal activity pointed at the Sheriff.
Last month, it was determined that Arpaio broke state voting regulations by airing a commercial, not asking people to vote for him, but telling people not to vote for Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley.
Arpaio has been called both "The country's toughest Sheriff", and "The country's most corrupt law enforcement offical". Since 2007, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has been responsible for deporting 26,146 immigrants, almost a quarter of the 115,000 people deported nationwide.
As little as a month ago, Terry Goddard trailed incumbent governor Jan Brewer by as many as 20 points. A new poll released today by Project New West, shows Goddard with 45% of the vote, 7 points behind Brewer at 52%.
Quoting Goddard:
“Jan Brewer has failed to bring new jobs or new business to Arizona. She has failed us on education – and is willing to cut even more from the education budget. Times are bad, and voters are recognizing that Jan Brewer is not the kind of decisive leader we need, to lead us out of this mess.”
In November, vote for education. Vote for sanity. Vote for Terry Goddard.
38, queer, poly, happily married punk and stay at home dad to my five-year-old, Elle. In June of 2009, I was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, and PTSD a month later. I have been on disability since. In recent months, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia,Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, a Chiari malformation, small fiber neuropathy, Type 1 Diabetes, and have a massive benign cyst in my brain. And, to top it all off, I was diagnosed with lupus in March of 2014.
I haven't been writing as often as I would like to lately. Trying to catch up on some lost time. Please forgive me.
I'm an anarchist and an atheist. My political views are too far left to even be considered Democrat. I believe that marriage and health care are fundamental human rights. And don't get me started on people calling themselves "pro-life", and denying education and food stamps to children.
