LIGHTHOUSE BLOG

Housing refinance plan met with cautious optimism

Southeast Valley Realtors, mortgage brokers and real-estate analysts expressed a blend of cautious optimism and wait-and-see skepticism about the federal government's latest program to help qualified homeowners refinance their "underwater" mortgages that President Obama announced last week.

The new program will have more of an impact on the Phoenix-metro area than most other parts of the country because of the larger loss of equity that Valley homeowners have experienced, said Mike Orr, a Mesa-based housing-market analyst who publishes the Cromford Report, an online analysis of real-estate transactions.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/business/realestate/articles/2011/11/01/20111101housing-refinance-plan-met-cautious-optimism.html#ixzz1cbmn1GGM

Notre Dame's Slide Toward Secularization and Komen Support

The secularization of Catholicism's most storied American university seems to be continuing.   Notre Dame is once again making practicing Catholics disillusioned about its commitment to the very faith on which it was founded, and purports to instill in students. 

If you recall two years ago, Notre Dame was in the line of fire for having President Obama, our nation's historically most outspoken pro-choice president, speak on campus.   For the mere invitation alone, there was collective condemnation.   But to make matters exponentially worse, Notre Dame conferred upon President Obama an honorary doctorate of laws degree.  Given the tragic 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that created a legal right to abortion out of whole cloth, conferring a law degree on such an advocate of Roe v. Wade was seen as a huge slap in the face to practicing Catholics working so hard to end the atrocity of abortion.  And it was yet another misguided example provided to the student body about abortion being thus plausibly acceptable, and about our moral values being relative.   Practicing Catholics around the country were appropriately outraged.

That tragic lapse in judgement followed years of the university allowing the showing of the highly controversial Vagina Monologues.   According to the Catholic News Agency, "The sexually explicit play favorably describes lesbian activity, group self-abuse, and hedonistic sexuality."  It was shown on campus from 2002 through 2007, and there are efforts to bring it back.

In 2009, Notre Dame's Student Activities Office allowed the use of student funds to send students to a national homosexual rally that promoted same-sex marriage, and other same-sex rights.

And then a few weeks ago, Notre Dame ran a commercial during the ND v. Air Force football game in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.  While fighting cancer is an admirable cause indeed, the add advertised the Susan Komen Race for the Cure over 9 separate times.  The Susan Komen Foundation has long had a close relationship with Planned Parenthood, and has donated millions of dollars  - designated by donors for cancer research - to the nation's largest abortion provider.   Komen also supports embryonic stem cell experimentation.  There are many cancer organizations in the country which have no ties to abortion, yet Notre Dame chose to publicly support the one with a long history that does.  Komen gave Planned Parenthood $569k in 2010, and $730k in 2009.  Planned parenthood does not do cancer research.

My father, a 1943 graduate, would be raising cane with the university if he were able to today.   Notre Dame has made a continuing slide away from embracing Catholicism in favor of embracing secularism.   If Notre Dame can't figure out how Catholics - especially Catholics teaching moral values to students - are supposed to live their faith, what hope do we have for the values of the Church in generations to come?  My son, a promising quarterback with dreams of playing at Notre Dame, may just need to look for a truly Catholic university. 

Rachel Alexander Charges Are Bogus & Embarrass AZ Legal Community

Former Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Alexander faces disciplinary action for following orders from her boss, former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.  Whether or not you agree or disagree with Thomas' office's allegations against some of the county supervisors is irrelevant.  The issue here is what appears to be nothing short of a political assassination of a dedicated employee and public servant in Alexander.  Others who also worked on the racketeering suit have had no such allegations made against them, interestingly.

According the the Arizona Republic, "Alexander is charged with seven ethical violations stemming from her work on the racketeering suit. Charges include using means to burden or embarrass, filing and asserting a frivolous proceeding, and disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal."

Most of the above ethics charges stem from Alexander following orders from her boss.  As a Maricopa County Attorney's Office employee, anyone would and should feel comfortable that their boss, the duly elected County Attorney, was following the law, and that what he was directing his employee to do was legal.  He was the county's highest ranking lawyer, after all.  So of course, if one is asked to file paperwork and pursue a case, an employee would do so, even if she objected.  It was her job.

Alexander is being charged, despite a long, unblemished record at MCAO, solely for her role working on the RICO case. What was her role?  She worked under her supervisor Pete Spaw's direction.  Spaw was an experienced RICO attorney who, according to my sources, started the drafts of the pleadings, finalized the drafts of the pleadings with Andrew Thomas, and developed the key theories in them.  He exclusively dealt with opposing counsel, and filed all of the pleadings electronically.  Alexander's role consisted of mostly research for the pleadings, and taking direction from Spaw, nothing further. Yet Spaw was not charged by the Bar, only Alexander.

The "filing, asserting, & disobeying an obligation" charges are mostly just there for the purpose of piling on.  The real issue here is the allegation that Alexander sought to burden and embarrass county supervisors.  The allegation is nothing short of hilarious on its face, if anyone has ever heard or read a statement from Mary Rose Wilcox, or followed the Brock sex-scandal case, or followed the new court house boondoggle.  The supervisors, with a few exceptions, have done a pretty good job of bringing poor press and embarrassment upon themselves.  And they did so all without the help of Alexander.

But digging deeper, the charges against Alexander reek of fulfilling a vendetta for running a political blog, and a conservative one at that.  Most of their unfettered discontent comes from blog posts they attribute to Alexander, that she in fact did not write.  The Arizona State Bar is anything but a right-leaning organization, and it appears to seek to censor a person with whom they disagree, while leaving others untouched. 

As Alexander's attorney, Scott Zwillinger, says, "She was simply one lawyer of several assigned to a controversial matter, but unfortunately for her, she is the one now fighting for her career."

Alexander will hopefully prevail in this matter, but the tragedy will remain that the Arizona State Bar used it's power to try to silence a grass-roots activist with whom they have political disagreements.  Arizona is not being served well in this, and its legal community is being embarrassed.  And, of course, political blogging isn't going anywhere....

 

 

 

 

 

Sheriff Dupnik Deflecting His Own Culpability

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County Arizona has quickly become a liberal media darling due to his hasty jump to blame inflammatory political rhetoric from right-of-center groups for the massacre in Tuscon. 

Of course, in making his statements, he did exactly what he claims to be against - stirring up hatred and animosity toward people with whom he disagrees.  But the Sheriff's hypocrisy aside, I think there is more to this story.

If you listened to the Sheriff's claims, he states that vitriol and hatred has gotten out of hand, and that Arizona is ground zero for such hate.  Believing that as he did, when then did he not have a single deputy protecting Congresswoman Giffords at her well publicized event?  If the world is no longer as safe as it was in the 1800s, when he was growing up, why did he ignore the calls from a variety of Tuscon citizens warning his office that the killer was indeed dangerous?  In fact, he told those same worried citizens that his office was taking care of the issue.  Well apparently, and tragically, not.

The only plausible reason for blaming right-of-center groups before much information was known about the killer is that the Sheriff was trying to deflect responsibility for not doing his job in protecting his constituents, and for not taking action despite myriad warning in advance about the killer.  In any case, Sheriff Dupnik is not fit for duty, and should resign immediately so that justice can be administered honestly and fairly.  He has disgraced his office and the people of the state of Arizona.

Submit Alternative Bill Before Voting to Repeal Obamacare

The Republican led Congress is scheduled to vote next week to repeal Obamacare. This vote, in the absence of a Republican led Senate, and with Obama still in office, is mostly symbolic.  

I'm all for repealing Obamacare, but the symbolism of voting to repeal it without proposing any alternative is exercising poor judgement in my opinion.  There are some good features contained in the current law, and it is those features, even if they only amount to 2% of the current law, should be continued.  Not recognizing those features, and voting to simply eliminate them is not wise.

We need our leaders to vote on measures with substance, not just for symbolic reasons.  They need to re-think this vote.

J.D. Hayworth The Only True Choice for Pro-Lifers

  

   Of the two viable candidates running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Arizona, only one is worthy of a vote from true pro-life voters.  That candidate is J.D Hayworth.  The other candidate, John McCain, has a spotty pro-life record and has not been an advocate for pro-life causes.  For instance, McCain supports experimenting on baby embryos, which of course kills them.  McCain also supports using federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research.  J.D. Hayworth opposes both.

   As far as ratings from pro-life groups, JD Hayworth has a 100% rating from ProLife Arizona, and a 100% rating from National Right to Life.   Even Arizona Right to Life said, "AZRTL PAC acknowledges that J.D. Hayworth had a perfect pro-life voting record during his service in the U.S. House of Representatives."  It does NOT say the same about McCain.

   John McCain, on the other hand, received a 0% rating from ProLife Arizona for not completing its survey.  He has only a 75% rating from National Right to Life.  Though controversially endorsed by Arizona Right to Life this year, he was passed over in 2008 for his support of embryonic stem cell research, a position he still holds.  

   Arizona Right to Life has taken a public relations thrashing for its endorsement of McCain.

   National Right to Life endorsed Fred Thompson in 2008 over John McCain because of McCain's support for testing embryos, in addition to McCain's support of McCain-Feingold, legislation which heavily restricted the 1st Amendment rights of pro-life groups.

   As recently as 1999, John McCain is quoted as saying about abortion, "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."  San Francisco Chronicle & CNN, August 1999

   Arizona pro-lifer voters have a clear choice on Tuesday to protect and advance the sanctity of life, and that choice is J.D. Hayworth.

Duplicity at Arizona Right to Life Is Bizarre

Arizona Right to Life seems to want things both ways quite often of late.   First, they endorse the much lesser of two candidates running for the United States Senate for Arizona, John McCain, while sending out emails about how important it is to protect life at all stages.  McCain supports embryonic stem cell research, and has been nearly silent in terms of proposing pro-life legislation.  J.D. Hayworth, McCain's opponent, on the other hand, not only agrees with AZRTL's positions, but unlike McCain, would be an advocate for them. 

If that weren't strange enough, AZRTL is now working against the HB 5175, a bill that would suppress the free speech of grassroots groups such as AZRTL.  While they are correct to fight the bill, it seems odd that they favor returning John McCain to the Senate, the very same guy who, along with Russ Feingold, created the McCain Feingold Campaign Reform Bill, which did nearly the very same thing as HB 5175.

AZRTL wants to protect life, but didn't chose the guy who will do it.  They also want to fight for free speech, but instead endorsed a candidate who opposes it. Something's in the water over there.

Arizona Right to Life Endorses....McCain? Huh?

Despite my prediction days ago that Arizona Right to Life PAC would endorse the far more pro-life JD Hayworth over John McCain, sadly AZRTL PAC did not. 

As a former Chairman of the PAC, I can only wonder if some untoward influences came into play that lead to this misguided endorsement.  For instance, one of the members of the PAC is a member of a law firm that represented McCain in legal matters. And at least one member of the PAC has personal ties to the McCain campaign.  Further, the Senator has also been a long time financial contributor to AZRTL, generosity that's always appreciated, but was appropriately discounted in 2008 when I was Chairman and the PAC endorsed Mike Huckabee.  

In its press release, AZRTL PAC states, "Under the AZRTL PAC criteria for endorsing candidates, if the incumbent candidate and the challenger both have a pro-life voting record, AzRTL PAC will endorse the incumbent over the challenger."  That language never existed in any document I ever saw as Chairman, and is ridiculous on its face as any incumbent could be found to be pro-life on some issue.  Would AZRTL PAC endorse an incumbent with a 2% NLRC rating?  I hope not. It's the level of their commitment, and the consistency of the candidate's positions that count, not their mere incumbency. After all, we're working to save lives here, and each one should matter. Moreover in 2008, like now, John McCain had an inferior pro-life record to a more committed opponent. The PAC did the right thing then in endorsing the stronger pro-life candidate, why not now?

Ironically, the press release from AZRTL PAC states, " Those who serve in public office have a duty to use their office to protect and defend innocent human life and ensure that laws are passed to protect the defenseless in our society."  Yet John McCain has made many questionable statements about Roe v. Wade, and supports embryonic stem cell research.  McCain has a 75% approval ranking for National Right to Life Committee.  JD Hayworth, on the other hand, has a 100% ranking, and by any objective standard, deserved the endorsement from Arizona's oldest and largest pro-life organization.   

Arizona Right to Life has had troubles over the last few months with several key people resigning.  It is my understanding as well that a member of the PAC resigned after being unable to convince other PAC members to endorse Hayworth. (In the interest of full disclosure, she does work for the Hayworth campaign, but has for many years questioned McCain's pro-life commitment, and was instrumental in endorsing Huckabee over McCain in 2008.)  In addition, I'm being told that other key supporters of the organization, including former Board members, are distancing themselves from the organization as a result.

I'm a fan of AZRTL, and I hope the organization gets its act together, but this endorsement is a black mark on the 30 plus year legacy of pro-life leadership. The pro-life citizens of Arizona might just be better served by a new organization, unadulterated by political ties and financial donations from the people it may endorse.

AZ Legislature To Consider Shutting Off Power & Water to CA Over Boycott

Facing barely audible boycott harassment from California, but nonetheless annoyed by the hypocrisy, the Arizona Legislature is considering cutting off all Arizona water, as well as nuclear power, that is sold to California.

"If they want to boycott us over following federal law and trying to protect Arizona citizens, then we think the courteous thing to do would be to help them to not be hypocrites," said one legislator.

Another said, "We're going to sell the power to Mexico instead.  They [Mexican government] are a more friendly government, are more financially solvent than California, and frankly, we like their people much better, as their share more of our conservative values," said another, who preferred she not be identified.

Another said, "California is a beautiful state, and we love to visit the ocean, but the reality is they need us more than we need them, so we'll shut off the power and water for a while, and then see how they feel about following federal law and border control."

The Arizona Governor's Office has not commented yet on the proposed legislation, but the Governor is said to be in support of it.  The California's governor is said to be packing for Austria.

Editor's Note:  This was parody folks, but it would be hilarious if Arizona shut down California for a little while to make them practice what they preach.

Arizona Right to Life PAC Likely to Endorse JD Hayworth

The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee met this week and will soon be making an endorsement in the US Senate race between JD Hayworth and John McCain.  McCain, a long financial supporter of AZRTL, is pro-life, but has made problematic statements concerning the overturn of Roe, and is for embryonic stem cell research.  He has a 75% favorable rating from the National Right to Life Committee.  

JD Hayworth, on the other hand, has an impeccable pro-life record.   Hayworth received a 100% rating from NRLC, and stands above McCain on several key life issues.

Since Hayworth is the stronger pro-life candidate, it is safe to assume that the Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee will endorse him.  After all, the AZRTL PAC has ignored McCain's financial contributions in the past in favor of other candidates. In 2008, for instance, AZRTL PAC, under different leadership, endorsed Mike Huckabee over Arizona's own McCain, as Huckabee had a much better pro-life record.

While I've been recently critical of some of the happenings at AZRTL, the decision to endorse Hayworth, I'm sure, is something on which every pro-lifer can agree.

Ed Winkler Takes Trip to Review Border Security

Congressional Candidate Looking for Answers to Immigration Issues

www.WinklerForCongress.com

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (May 7, 2010) – Arizona Congressional Candidate Ed Winkler is traveling to the Arizona/Mexico border May 7-8 to conduct a fact-finding mission in the area and meet with Cochise County officials, border patrol officers, members of the local law enforcement, and area residents and ranchers. Winkler is traveling the area to experience first-hand what the situation is like in what has been deemed one of the most dangerous areas of Arizona.

“We rely on the media on a daily basis to bring us the latest information about events surrounding our state and country border,” said Winkler. “I believe there is no better way to understand the situation than to experience it first-hand. This trip will allow me to more effectively answer questions our campaign receives regarding border conditions and why the Arizona legislature and Governor had no choice but to pass Arizona’s new Immigration Bill, SB1070.”

Winkler will be traveling with Col. Chuck Schluter of Cave Creek. Any media that are interested in contacting Winkler about his trip during his time in Cochise County can call him at (602) 999-8184.

Candidate Ed Winkler is running to replace Congressman John Shadegg’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District which consists of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem and New River, Ariz. Fiscal responsibility, enforcing immigration law and a strong foreign policy are top priorities for Winkler’s campaign.

ABOUT ED WINKLER: Ed Winkler was elected to the Paradise Valley Town Council in 1998 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. In 2006, he was elected as mayor of Paradise Valley. Winkler, a small business owner, also had a career with IBM for 30 years. He has lived in Paradise Valley since 1982 with his wife, Karen. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Arizona Right to Life...Where are you???

On a day that the President nominates a Supreme Court justice with deep abortion ties, most pro-life groups in the nation have come out expressing concern, or outright opposition.  Arizona Right to Life, on the other hand, sends out a lengthy "e-lert," part asking for funds to stay in existence, part touting the legislative successes of other groups, and part self-promotion, but completely silent on the new nominee to the Supreme Court. Huh?

Arizona Right to Life, it seems, continues to have less than adequate leadership at the top.  In the last few years, several experienced Board members have left because of the lack of leadership shown by AZRTL's President.  And in recent weeks, two of the organization's most talented employees have resigned under duress.  

Arizona Right to Life is the state's oldest and largest pro-life organization, and flourished for three decades under some exceptional leaders.  When it's well lead, the organization does some amazing work.  In the last three years, however, it has lost and never replaced its Executive Director, and no longer has a lobbying arm - all because of the tight grip on power in the organization by its President.  Instead, the organization has a heavily micro-managed staff with little discretion to move the organization forward.  It still does good work, of course, but it's ability to function as it should, as evidenced by the e-lert, is hampered.

While some great people remain at AZRTL, and hope to right the ship, it still appears that the captain may be the problem.

New Blog Lists Arizona Boycotters

The media uproar is seemingly unstoppable, but when you look closely, the reality is more of a tempest in a tea-pot, as evidenced by BoycottBacklash.com, a blog created by an American citizen fed up with the misinformation as well as hypocrisy of some of the boycotters.  In fact, looking at the list, several of the organizations are race based themselves, meaning their memberships include only one race.  The law, of course, has nothing to do with race.  The list also reads like a liberal who's who.  Also on the list are several unions, which have always disliked Arizona's Right to Work laws.

I hope people look at the list and boycott these people, organizations, and cities who boycott us!  After all, the law mimics a federal law created in 1946 to do the same thing.  If the feds have not abdicated their responsibility to control the border, Arizona would not have needed to act.  This is about border control, national security and economic stability.  It's NEVER been about race.  A hat tip to that blog for pointing this out!

County Attorney Mottos - A Contrast

Maricopa County Attorneys, upon taking office, occassionally change the motto of the institution they lead.  While usually these statements are benign and meaningless little phrases, I think the most recent ones are quite telling.

The two most recent mottos, one from former County Attorney Andrew Thomas, and the other from newly appointed County Attorney, friend and counsel for the Board of Supervisors, Rick Romley, are interesting.  Let's see if you can tell which one belongs to whom.

"Let Justice Be Done."

"To improve the quality of community life."

I'm no legal scholar, but I do appreciate words, and to me, the difference is stark.  One seems to speak to doing the job that one would expect of a County Attorney - prosecuting criminals and putting them away, thus allowing for justice.  The other seems like it might be the motto of a senior center or homeowners association.  It has no legal implication at all.  In fact, it makes one wonder if that particular County Attorney understands his job.  I want my county attorney prosecuting criminals, not planting gardens.

I can hear the arguments now - that both men were County Attorneys and both men clearly know the job.  Well maybe.  Times change, and our County certainly has.  Orville & Wilbur Wright invented the airplane, if you recall.  Does anyone believe them fit to fly a 747?  Just because someone did something in the past, does not make them the best fit for today.  And based on Mr. Romley's new motto, he's not off to a good start.

GoDaddy Denies Any Outage, Again

GoDaddy has had some service issues the last few days.  After dealing with them all weekend, I finally called today and was told there was no problem.  That was interesting, considering several of my email addresses, using various domains, were affected.  

The rep I spoke with on the phone asked me what email client I was using, and I mentioned only one (on purpose), Thunderbird.  He then blamed Thunderbird.  I told him I also used Outlook.  Then he blamed my ISP.  When I told him I use 3 different ISPs, he said it must be something on my end.  I reminded him that I am using several email addresses and domains, on 3 different devices, in 3 different locations, using 3 different email clients, and 3 different ISPs.  He still claimed the problem was my fault.  "Yes, it must be," I said, then hung up.

I give him credit for not blaming George Bush or global warming, but seriously, many people at a variety of companies around Phoenix have been having the same issues with GoDaddy the last few days.  We must all be delusional, though, because GoDaddy says "there is no problem."

GoDaddy used to have great customer service, but it has waned considerably over the last year.  The last few times I've had issues with GoDaddy, they have denied any problems.  Yet each time I prove the issue is theirs.  I hope they get their act together soon!

Leading Global Warming Believer Now Admits There Hasn't Been Any for 15 Years

The scientist behind the so-called "climate-gate" e-mail scandal now admits there has been no statistically significant global warming since 1995.

Professor Phil Jones also tells the BBC that scientists are unsure whether the Medieval Warm Period was actually warmer than current temperatures. Some skeptics say that is the first time a senior scientist working with the U.N. report on climate change has admitted the possibility that the time between 800 and 1300 A.D. could have actually been warmer than present temperatures. That would be a blow to global warming believers.

Jones also admitted some of his weather data was not organized well enough and that contributed to his refusal to share raw data with critics. But Jones maintains he's just a scientist doing a job: "I have no agenda."

- From Bret Baier's Political Grapevine

U.N.'s Global Warming Report Under Fresh Attack for Rainforest Claims

A United Nations report on climate change that has been lambasted for its faulty research is under new attack for yet another instance of what critics say is sloppy science -- guiding global warming policy based on a study of forest fires.  More...

Climate chief was told of false glacier claims before Copenhagen

The chairman of the leading climate change watchdog was informed that claims about melting Himalayan glaciers were false before the Copenhagen summit, The Times has learnt.

Rajendra Pachauri was told that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment that the glaciers would disappear by 2035 was wrong, but he waited two months to correct it. He failed to act despite learning that the claim had been refuted by several leading glaciologists.

The IPCC’s report underpinned the proposals at Copenhagen for drastic cuts in global emissions.  More...

Race-Based Groups Defy Dr. King's Teachings

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

- Martin Luther King, Jr. (August 28, 1963)

Forty-seven years after those profound words were spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, we still have race-based groups that are shamefully considered mainstream and acceptable in our nation.

Two such groups, the NAACP, and the Black Student Union of Phoenix College, held rally yesterday in Phoenix, purportedly to commemorate Dr. King.

Do they not see the irony in their commemoration of Dr. King while basing membership in their organizations solely on skin color?

It amazes me how often Dr. Kings teachings are lost on the very people he so desperately sought to help.  In some people, we've sadly seen little progress indeed.

Brewer's Indentity Crisis

Who is Jan Brewer today? 

In past elections she has run as a right-of-center Republican, who was fiscally responsible, and pro-life.   She had a distinguished career as a public servant, and is credited with signing some long overdue pro-life bills into law soon after taking over from General Napolitano.

In November, however, she hired as her campaign's co-chairman, Grant Woods, an Arizona fixture, like an old decaying engine in the weeds in the front yard, who vacillates on both sides of the political fence.  Was this to appease the left?

She has proposed tax increases, which most Arizonans oppose, and has had difficulty making budget decisions that are necessary for the state - hardly a characteristic of a fiscal Republican.

More recently she has seemingly aligned herself with some leaders of Planned Parenthood, allowing them to throw her a fund-raiser.

It seems our Governor has gone through some sort of ideological shift to the left.  That may gain her some new acquaintances, but at the expense of her longtime friends.

Apathetic Passengers Also To Blame in Newark Security Breach

The Newark security breach that shut down the airport because one guy ducked under a security rope to kiss his girlfriend, has set up a firestorm of controversy about safety at airports.  While I'm all for safety at airports, I have to ask, what in the hell were the passengers who just walked by the guy thinking?

Of the dozens of passengers witnessing the violation, only one apparently told the guard, and none intervened to stop the guy.  Are some of us that self-absorbed that they can witness a major security breach and do nothing about it because it doesn't directly impact them?  Apparently some of the people in Newark that day were.

The result of the breach was an airport shutdown, major economic losses, as well as time and manpower.  If the man had been a terrorist, I truly hope those people that watched him breach security would have felt culpable for the lives lost as a result of having done nothing to stop him.  

Terrorism is on the rise in America folks.  We must all do our part to prevent it.  We cannot just sit idly by and pretend that it doesn't impact all of us.  Doing so will be at our own peril.  Thank God the passengers on the Christmas Northwest flight had more courage than the people in Newark.

A Contrast In Leadership - Phil Gordan v. Maricopa Supervisors

The Arizona Republic today ran a story about Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon putting one of his top aides on administrative leave until he can resolve charges of domestic violence.  The charge would be a misdemeanor, but Gordon, with whom I rarely agree, did the right thing by moving the issue away from the work of the people until it is resolved.

Contrast that with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who unanimously voted to elect beleaguered politician Don Stapley as Chairman of the Board.  Stapley, in case you've been under a rock, "was indicted in December on 22 felony counts of fraud, perjury, theft and forgery in the misuse of campaign funds," according to the Arizona Republic.  Stapley had at one time faced over 100 felony and misdemeanor counts.  Yet, the Board of Supervisors felt he was fit to run their Board and do the people's work.

This is the same group of Supervisors, mind you, that decided to fire the elected County Attorney, and replace him with a crony, rather than have Mr. Stapley answer to the charges.  It begs the question of why, if someone is innocent, do they need to take such drastic steps to avoid answering to criminal charges?  I hope if I ever get indicted, I can just fire the County Attorney in order to avoid defending myself.  

Mayor Gordon showed leadership in his placing his misdemeanor-facing aide on administrative leave.  How shameful of the Maricopa County Supervisors that they promoted their felony-facing peer to the highest position on the Board.  It's nothing short of a slap in the face to the people who elected them.  A contrast in leadership indeed.

Grant Woods' Selection Is Bizarre Choice For Brewer

Perennial politician and current Governor, Jan Brewer, announced her intention today to seek a full term as governor in next year's election.

Brewer has had difficulty appealing to the fiscal hawks of her party, and, with the selection of Grant Woods as her campaign's co-chairman, probably sealed her fate as Arizona's first female Republican governor never elected to her own term.

Grant Woods garners little respect in the Republican Party, a party he has almost left on several occasions.  About being a Republican, Woods stated, "I'm trying to remember why I became a Republican in the first place."

Woods was also instrumental in making sure Matt Salmon was not elected governor, thus installing Janet Napolitano, which resulted in the major economic catastrophe Arizona finds itself in today.

Brewer made a major misstep here if she was trying to heal her party.  Instead she apparently is trying to ride the coattails of New York 23 congressional candidate Dede Scuzzafava.

County Attorney's Office Responds to Bizarre Request from County Manager Smith

From the Maricopa County Attorney's Office:

Good afternoon

County Manager David Smith is demanding disclosure of any communication between several employees at the County Attorney’s Office and a number of media outlets including , The Arizona Republic, the East Valley Tribune, The New Times, several conservative web sites “or any other internet site or address.” A letter sent to a number of County Attorney employees also demands details of communications that happened during non work hours using personal computers. A copy of the letter is attached.  Download Smith letter

 

The move comes days after the Board of Supervisors stalled a criminal probe of county government by refusing to hire outside prosecutors while at the same time demanding that the County Attorney ’s Office not prosecute potential cases.

 

Among those receiving the letter is the Public Information Officer for the County Attorney ’s Office, whose job it is to communicate with the media.

Mike Scerbo and Barnett Lotstein are available for comment   

Also available for comment are two conservative bloggers targeted by county management.  Shane Wikfors, SonoranAlliance.com 480.332.3440   David Roney, CactusAlliance.com 480.443.8500 x101

Michael Anthony Scerbo

MCAO PIO

Office 602-506-3170

Cell    602-489-6913

Dana Kennedy says she will cut nothing from Phoenix budget

I attended a meeting yesterday where Dana Kennedy, Phoenix City Council candidate, spoke to a group of small business people.  The response to the speech was quite underwhelming, and only two people had questions for her.

The first question asked how she thinks she's different from her opponent, Sal DiCiccio.  Her answer was that he was a developer, and that she worked in the non-profit sector - essentially that they had different backgrounds.  There was no mention of their policy differences and experience for the position.

The second question referred back to her speech where she said Meals On Wheels, as well as after school programs, needed to continue to be funded by the city.  The question asked, paraphrasing, given that she believes Meals On Wheels and after school programs need to be provided by government, what 2-3 programs would she cut to balance the city budget? 

Kennedy's answer was that she would cut no programs.  She then launched into a monologue about how during tough economic times, it's more important than ever to keep libraries open as long as possible so people who are struggling can read.

Kennedy doesn't seem to have any answers for the financial woes of the city, and seems unable to muster up the courage to discontinue even one city program.  A liberal philosophy is not what we need in Phoenix ever, but especially in tough economic times.  The crowd apparently agreed.