Now here’s a real poser

Why do you think the Maricopa Medical Center is increasingly overwhelmed?

This requires a good bit of reading. The article takes front and center placement of the daily’s Valley section, continuing for most of an interior page. Buried on page six is the explanation:

The emergency department cares for people from throughout the Valley, although most come from neighborhoods that surround the hospital, near Roosevelt and 24th streets in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood. Many of those people are high-risk and use the ER instead of a primary-care doctor.

Be warned and hang on tightly to your billfold. After describing the overworked staff and “aging” facility, the case is made for replacing the “almost 40 year old structure and its outdated layout that creates challenges in delivering medicine in today‘s marketplace.”

The emergency department and trauma center are part of Maricopa Integrated Health System, a $430 million organization funded partly through a property tax approved by county voters. The system treats 400,000 people yearly, reports the paper

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AZ GOP State Convention

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Most of the McCain “unity slate” delegates won positions for the upcoming national convention—scheduled for September 1 - 4 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

McCain was nowhere to be seen today as his minions worked the crowd on his behalf and uniformed security officers, (expecting an insurrection perhaps?) were ubiquitous. A sight to behold.

The Arizona Republican Party web pages give a glimpse into the whirlwind activities.

The resolutions all passed by acclimation, to the chagrin of Paul Hickman, AZ Chief of Staff for Sen. John McCain, who shouted a loud, “No!” Several of the resolutions were strong anti-illegal immigration measures.

It was a long day. Any state delegates in attendance who would care to comment, this is your chance.

Is this good news for Shadegg?

A ink-stained smooch from Republic’s columnist E. J. Montini, extolling Congressman John Shadegg’s “bold and brave’ stance on illegal immigration, could cause his reliable conservative base to rethink their commitment to the CD3 Republican.

One thing for sure, during this election year, no one could accuse the congressman of political expediency.

Congressman John Shadegg backs guest worker program

This is an election year, Mr. Shadegg, and your constituents are not with you on this

 On the eve of a key vote on a temporary-worker program for Arizona, the proposal has won the endorsement of a friend in a high place: U.S. Rep. John Shadegg.

“I have been a consistent supporter of a guest-worker program from . . . forever,” Shadegg said Friday. “Since when I was growing up in Arizona.”

Although he emphasized that he is unfamiliar with the details of the bill, Shadegg finds the idea “appealing,” according to a report in the daily.

“I think a guest-worker program is a step down the road to solving this problem,” he said, referring to illegal immigration.

He neglects, however, to explain how he would deal with the issue of birthright citizenship when those ‘guests’ have American citizen children while they are here as “temporary workers.”

 

Shadegg was among congressional members who backed the McCain-Kennedy-Kyl “comprehensive immigration reform,” which many regarded as granting amnesty to the estimated 30 million illegals currently in this country. That plan was derailed as an unprecedented outcry from American citizens shut down the congressional switchboard, alerting representatives to the fury such a scheme generated.

But Shadegg on Friday said a temporary-worker program should ease the strain on the border. “If people could cross lawfully, the motivation for them to cross illegally would drop,” he said.

That makes sense. If they are legalized, they will no longer be illegal.

 Likewise, if employers have a legal way to hire the workers they need, particularly in agriculture, there should be less incentive to hire illegal workers, he said.

Smell the familiar stench of amnesty here?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who’d a thunk?

Sonoran Alliance is having a bit of sport at the expense of some folks on the Arizona ballot who have indicated their desire to be elected as GOP national delegates. The Republican state convention is coming up next Saturday, May 10, 2008, and these people will stand for election in hopes of attending the GOP national convention in Minnesota this fall.

It can’t be assumed that all of these are party regulars with a right-leaning bent. Some of them are elephants who bray like donkeys. So much so, in fact, that they have supported Democrats with those all-important financial contributions—even when there were solid Republicans in the race. Play Name The RINO–Republican In Name Only.

Bet you can’t wait to contribute to this worthy effort

“Let’s go O’Connor this”

Friends are taking contributions to relocate the former home of Arizona’s onetime US Supreme Court Justice who reveled in her ability to wield the swing vote

Heaven forbid the 50-year-old adobe structure, located in Paradise Valley, should suffer the same destructive fate Roe v. Wade legalized for so many millions of pre-born babies.

O’Connor, who along with court allies, supplied the five votes to uphold Roe, was once quoted, “An entire generation has come of age free to assume Roe’s concept of liberty in defining the capacity of women to act in society, and to make reproductive decisions.” She had previously declared that “the essential holding of Roe v. Wade should be retained.”

Now a campaign has been launched to raise the estimated $2 million it will cost to move the house.

“That partisanship that permeates here in Arizona and nationally—it’s destructive,” Elva Coor, wife of former ASU president, Lattie Coor, said. “What we hope is that we can get cities and towns to use (the adobe) from time to time to compromise. Let’s make O’Connor a verb, if you will, and say, ‘Let’s go O’Connor this.’”

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas retain high approval ratings

Mayor Gordon at 42 percent

A new poll conducted by ASU Cronkite-8 shows Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a 59 percent approval rating, compared with 42 percent for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. The two have been in a contentious battle over Gordon’s sanctuary city policies and restricting of Phoenix police in performing their job and Arpaio’s patrols in which illegal aliens have been apprehended.

 The result of the recent poll conducted by ASU and KAET-TV Channel 8 asked residents of Maricopa County to rate how two high-profile Maricopa County officials and the Mayor of Phoenix were performing their jobs.

Fifty-nine (59) percent approved of the job that Sheriff Joe Arpaio is doing, while 36 percent disapprove. Forty percent (40) approve of the job County Attorney Andrew Thomas is doing, while 17 percent disapprove.

Forty-two (42) percent approve of the job being done by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, while 22 percent disapprove.

Since a large percentage of voters were unfamiliar with Thomas and Gordon (36 percent were unfamiliar with Gordon and 43 percent were unfamiliar with Thomas, while only five percent were unfamiliar with Arpaio), poll director Dr. Bruce Merrill noted that the more accurate way to compare approval ratings for these three officials is to look at what those with an opinion think. Of those with an opinion, 70 percent gave favorable ratings to Thomas, 69 rated Arpaio favorably and 65 percent liked the job Gordon is doing.

According to Merrill, “Sen. McCain will win in his home state this November regardless of who the Democrats nominate. The survey also shows that in Arizona, at this time, Barack Obama runs stronger against McCain than Hillary Clinton.” The survey and questions asked of respondents is available here.

Michael Reagan to headline GOP dinner

The Arizona Republican Party has announced that Michael Reagan will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 AZGOP Victory Dinner to be held on May 9, at the Phoenix Marriott in Mesa. The state convention will be held the following day.

More information available here.

USA Day celebration on the AZ State Capitol lawn

Join in the festivities with your patriotic friends

Thursday, May 1, 2008    11:00am - 4:00 pm
Additional information, including map,  available here.

This event is organized by USA – United for a Sovereign America.

McCain backer Brenda Sperduti co-chairs Dem Guv’s gala

Those McCain folks just can’t seem to figure out which party they belong to–or why

You might recall the name Brenda Sperduti. If your memory bank has more important matters taking up space, a quick refresher is available here.

Sperduti was on John McCain’s hand-picked slate in his home district, as an important state convention delegate. His slate tanked.

Brenda, an elected Republican precinct committeeman in Royal Palm precinct, gained notoriety as a Republican for Janet during the last gubernatorial election. At the time, there was a well-qualified GOP candidate in the race.

The Republicans for Janet site has been taken down, but the names remain available at AZ Conservative, where Dennis Durband thoughtfully copied and retained the list.

Today Sperduti has landed on what is left of the society page in the daily with a cheery photo and this gem announcing her as co-chair of the governor’s gala:

A record-breaking 900 Arizona art lovers descended on the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on Wednesday for the 27th annual Governor’s Arts Awards. The event celebrated the rich diversity of Arizona’s arts and cultural treasures.

The rest of the tidbit is here.