Worshiping at the altar of diversity

 

Have you noticed that “diversity” never includes diversity of thought?

As if there aren’t enough concerns for the traveling public, the diversity police want to assure us that concession owners within the airport terminals are a diverse lot.

This fall, Sky Harbor International Airport, which is owned and operated by the City of Phoenix, (along with Phoenix Deer Valley and Phoenix Goodyear Airports) intends to conduct a “disparity study” to gauge whether concession owners “reflect the racial and gender diversity in the vendor community.”  There is no pretense in this flim-flam to reflect the community at large, rather the already tightly sculpted “vendor community.”

Although the city website states that all concessions are awarded through a  competitive process, currently 56 percent of the airport’s gross retail sales go to businesses owned by women and minorities, who are given assistance in procurement and other business services by the City of Phoenix. Concessions include, but are not limited to, retail, food and beverage, ATMs, rental cars, and advertising.

Woe to the average, straight, White guy trying to make it in today’s PC world.

If this criteria was used in the recent city elections, Mayor Phil Gordon wouldn’t have quailed for his job.

Federal Hate Crimes bill approved in U. S. Senate

All crimes of violence are hate crimes. Why should select victims receive protected status?

This just in from Cathi Herrod of Center for Arizona Policy::

Just hours ago, the U.S. Senate voted to approve a federal “Hate Crimes” bill. The amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization bill passed on a 60 to 39 vote. The amendment, if it goes into law, would create special protections for crime victims in several new categories including “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

This type of bill is regarded as a first step toward outlawing the ability to advocate for a Biblical view of human sexuality. In Canada, Sweden, and other countries, charges have been brought against pastors and others who have merely spoken out against homosexual behavior based on specific parts of the Bible. Although this bill does not yet criminalize speech, it certainly sets the stage for such restrictions. Arizona Senator Jon Kyl voted against the bill. Senator McCain missed this and other votes on the floor of the Senate this morning.

On the hate crimes front locally, check out Jennifer Clark’s  AzPolicyBlog.org  post on last night’s “hate crimes” forum in Phoenix. Equality Arizona hosted the forum along with the ACLU, City of Phoenix, and local police departments. According to Equality Arizona’s website, their mission is to “secure, protect and defend the rights and welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals living in Arizona.”

 Today’s Senate vote and the Phoenix forum remind us all that a well-orchestrated and well-organized movement seeks to promote special rights for some based on sexual behavior and silence the freedom of religion and freedom of speech rights for faith-based individuals and organizations.

Sounds like the place to be

Conservative Leadership Conference October 11 - 13

Arizona  Congressman John Shadegg  has sent out a reminder of the Conservative Leadership Conference to be held October 11 - 13, in Reno, Nevada:

If you think this is “just another invitation” to “just another conservative convention” you’d be WRONG – and missing a HUGE opportunity to see, hear and actually meet with some of the most influential and powerful conservative leaders and bloggers in the country today…FREE.

The 2007 Conservative Leadership Conference …nicknamed “Rightoberfest”…is being co-hosted by Citizen Outreach and Americans for Tax Reform. Seats are limited…and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Two full days of non-stop conservative speakers!

On Friday and Saturday, sit back, strap in and get ready for wall-to-wall speeches, talks, debates and discussions about some to the top issues facing the nation today by some of the top, most influential and most powerful conservative leaders, bloggers and policy experts in the country

Shadegg serves as the Honorary Conference Chairman.

Further information including registration and hotel information, is available  here.

Controversial city project scrutinized

Court to decide if conflicts existed in talks with developer

The daily paper carries an article revealing that the Phoenix City Council and their aides,, including the mayor’s senior assistant, Bill Scheel, may have to testify regarding allegations that they engaged in improper interaction with the developer of a proposed $200 million W Hotel project.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Swann has ordered a trial to review conflicting accounts of developer, Suns Legacy Partners attempts to influence city leaders to build the project. The development group includes Suns owner Robert Sarver and former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo.

In a statement denying wrongdoing, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said,. “There was no influence behind the scenes or any type of nefarious-type discussions. Everything was public.”

Jeff Flake: touting appearance on 60 Minutes

 

He’s no Jimmy Stewart regardless of Morley Safer’s wet kiss

CD 6 Congressman, Jeff Flake, known to many as the most appropriately named person in those hallowed halls for his irresponsibility on border security, has sent out an unusual mailer.

Oh, sure—he’s asking for money. That’s a given. Especially with a viable challenger in  Rep. Russell Pearce  (R - Dist. 18), who most certainly taps into citizen frustration on this highly-charged issue.

The reason his mailer was worth more than the walk from the mailbox to the trash, was the full-color photo showing Flake engaged in a warm chat with none other than ancient liberal interviewer, Morley Safer.* Safer remains somewhat obscured on the appropriate and shadowy left side of the picture. Flake is fairly glowing on the right, bathed in luster, as he strikes a casual pose while sunlight glimmers off his very blond tresses.

And below the carefully photoshopped photo is this quote from Morley Safer:

“Jeff Flake’s story is a familiar one, immortalized 67 years ago in the film “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” starring Jimmy Stewart, who portrayed a young idealist who runs up against the real Washington world of fat cats, special interests and rotten apples.”

Betch’a a military guy like Jimmy Stewart* would have voted for securing the border by building a wall and wouldn’t have fallen for normalizing relations with Communist Fidel Castro’s Cuba, which the U.S. State Department identifies as a  state sponsor of terrorism. It would be difficult to imagine Jimmy Stewart–either in real life or as his Mr. Smith character, partnering with liberal congressional colleague, Democrat Luis Gutierrez, in pushing the “Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act” or  STRIVE Act, granting tuition and other benefits while extending amnesty for illegal aliens living in our country in violation of our national sovereignty and rule of law.

Flake has made exposing “earmarks” his calling card. In truth, all the watchfulness over out-of-control spending won’t amount to the worth one of his single glimmering head hairs if we don’t secure our borders and protect American citizens from an onslaught of illegal aliens with no regard for our history, culture, language or laws.

Our porous border remains an open portal for terrorists. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell’s office has  revealed  that during fiscal 2006, there were 14 Iraqi nationals caught trying to enter the U.S. illegally, while so far in 2007, that number is 16. Can you tell us how many entered successfully, Mr. Flake?

” I don’t think history has any reason to be kind to him.”

*“ Morley Safer, CBS 60 Minutes correspondent, recalling President Ronald Reagan on CNN’s Larry King Live, June 14.

* Stewart was the first movie star to enter the service for World War II, joining a year before Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was initially refused entry into the Air Force because he weighed 5 pounds less than the required 148 pounds, but he talked the recruitment officer into ignoring the test. He eventually became a Colonel, and earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Croix de Guerre and 7 battle stars. In 1959, he served in the Air Force Reserve, before retiring as a brigadier general. He was a conservative Republican and a hawk on the Vietnam War

Looking for your ideal presidential candidate?

Take the quiz and find where you match-up with the contenders

WQAD-TV Channel 8, a Moline, Illinois television station, is seeing a flurry of activity after providing a way to select your most compatible choice for president.

Their fascinating Select-A-Candidate Quiz uses responses on specific topics from all the presidential hopefuls and directs voters towards the candidate that most closely matches their own views on the issues.

The results of this 11 question quiz may surprise you.

William F. Buckley: Ahead of his time

WFB on Ahmadinejad, 45 years ago

National Review Online’s Noah Pollak writes: “The definitive statement on the controversy at Columbia was made, I think, actually 45 years ago. In 1962 William F. Buckley delivered a speech to the Yale Political Union attempting to persuade the Union to disinvite Gus Hall, the secretary of the Communist Party of the United States, from speaking at the university.”

Treat yourself to the concise excerpts of Buckley’s brilliant observations which can be found here.

Arizona Supreme Court refuses to hear abortion case

Electric abortions? Let’s hope that’s a typo.

KTAR-Radio reports the Arizona Supreme Court is letting stand a lower court’s ruling that Maricopa County cannot enforce a jail policy barring the transporting of inmates for electric (do you think they might mean “elective?” ) abortions without a court order.

The Jan. 23 Court of Appeals ruling said the policy was an “exaggerated response” to the requirements of running a jail and violates the privacy rights inmates under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit challenging Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s policy and won in trial court. Arpaio later appealed.

SOS: Former midshipman and football quarterback attempts rescue

 

Sinking ship sent a lifeline

CBS reports that Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach, has emailed a  fundraising message  on behalf of fellow U. S. Naval Academy alum, Señor John McCain’s sinking  presidential campaign ship. His plea is laced with football metaphors. We prefer naval jargon.

Staubach, now a Dallas real estate executive with Staubach Company, is to be commended for valiantly attempting the rescue. We hope he also has plenty of oxygen in tow and remembers best practice CPR techniques..

Taking a page from Phoenix City Council?

This looks like a job for the state legislature 

The  Tribune  notes that several East Valley cities are considering a ban on text messaging while driving.

This issue should be tackled by the legislature rather than as a piecemeal, city-by-city mélange, with different restrictions affecting drivers as they travel through various jurisdictions.