Adam Kwasman: Scores national attention in AZ CD 1

At the races, Roll Call’s political blog, takes note of Arizona’s upcoming First Congressional District race and focuses on state Rep. Adam Kwasman, the bright and energetic conservative representing LD 11.

Kwasman’s arena is a smart place to shine the high beam. His reasoned approach to the wide spectrum of issues facing Arizona has gained the notice of political watchers around the state, whether the topic is Medicaid expansion or our state’s porous border. We previously wrote Adam Kwasman was “the guy to watch.”

At the races refers to the 2014 CD 1 race by citing Stuart Rothenberg’s assessment of Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, naming her — and her equally liberal seatmate AZ CD2 Rep. Ron Barber — among at least 11 Democrat incumbents who start off at risk.” This stunning video reminder clearly illustrating her disconnect with the voters, reveals a good reason for Kirkpatrick’s shaky position.

In the current economic crisis, the astute skills of Kwasman, a financial guru, have been welcomed at the state legislature.  They are needed in Congress.

Rep. Kwasman’s current legislative district covers an important region in CD1, which includes a large population of Republican voters.

He clearly is “the guy to watch.”

Puerto Rico: Obama’s perfect 51st state

Poverty, government reliance make welfare island liberal ideal

Last November 6, in a non-binding statehood referendum, a majority of Puerto Rican voters — 61% — indicated they want the island to become the 51st U.S. state.

And the Obama administration is all too happy to comply. In fact, White House spokesman Jay Carney called on lawmakers to take action. “Congress should now study the results closely, and provide the people of Puerto Rico with a clear path forward that lays out the means by which Puerto Ricans themselves can determine their own status,” Carney said after the vote.

More than 809,000 predominately Spanish speaking Puerto Ricans said they want the commonwealth to become a U.S. state. And why not? According to this report from CNS News THIRTY-SEVEN PERCENT of the island’s population already receive over $2 billion in food stamps — courtesy of U.S. taxpayers!  Previous elections indicated the Latin American nation supported independence from the United States. A poll released last month, conducted jointly by Suffolk University and the Puerto Rican University of Turabo shows 70% now favor statehood.

What’s changed?

Puerto Rico has a yearly median household income of $19,122, with the current unemployment rate exceeding 14 percent. Instead of operating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Puerto Rico administers untraceable block grants, within which 25 percent of a person’s benefit can be paid in cash, making it impossible to track how the generous American money gift is spent.

A law passed in 1917 made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens. But the Caribbean island’s approximately 4 million residents cannot vote for president. Under its status as a commonwealth, residents are exempt from paying federal taxes. Puerto Rico sends Pedro R. Pierluisi, a nonvoting representative known as a resident commissioner in Congress.

During the 2012 election a new Governor was chosen. In an exhibition of erratic behavior the incumbent, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Furtuno of the “New Progressive Party” was ousted by Alejandro Garcia Padilla a member of the “Popular Democratic Party.” The party names tell the rest of the story.

The name by which Puerto Ricans identify the island on which they live is “Borinquen” — often  referred to as la isla del encanto, meaning “the island of enchantment.”

There’s no disputing the feeling of “enchantment” knowing that this impoverished, Obama supporting island is costing us a fortune and now wants statehood.

We urge you to read this older but fact-filled report from the Economist, detailing the widespread dependency it refers to as “Crutch Disease.”  Pass on it if you already have elevated blood pressure.  This information could bring on “the big one.”

 NOTICE:

In response to those who have inquired, Seeing Red AZ took the unusual step of closing comments to this post late Monday night because the arena for normal discourse had been hijacked by a rabid intruder who had written countless comments, jamming the inbox. The section is now open and the comments sent by that person will not appear again.

Mark Sanford: resurrected from political graveyard

Redemption, second chances still work in America

Scandal plagued former Gov. Mark Sanford has reclaimed his congressional post, proving that South Carolina voters prefer a blemished conservative to a liberal. Sanford’s Democrat opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of left-wing comic Stephen Colbert is decidedly in left field herself.

Though Sanford was out-raised in campaign donations by Colbert Busch, the state’s First CD hasn’t elected a Democrat to congress in over three decades and Republicans hold the registration edge by 10 points. Sanford was successful in linking his opponent to extremist Nancy Pelosi, a stigma she was unable to shake.

In the end, the now divorced politico who left his wife in 2009, after tearfully pledging his love for his “soul mate” Argentine girlfriend to whom he is now engaged, won over the pro-abortion Catholic. Colbert Busch opposes school vouchers, supports amnesty and Second Amendment restrictions, ObamaCare/Medicaid expansion, increased spending and taxes. Sanford’s political views are the mirror opposites. This was his first campaign ad.

With such stark choices, it would be a fair bet even former First Lady Jenny Sanford, a Republican, might have been moved to vote for her ex-husband.

Opportunism not playing well for Jeff Flake

Even when Flake inadvertently votes the right way, he backtracks when confronted

The latest Public Policy Polling survey does not bode well for Arizona’s junior senator Jeff Flake. In fact, after just 3 months in office Flake has already become one of the most unpopular senators in the country. We’d understand if Flake lost favor over his stance on granting amnesty to the at least 25 million illegal aliens who have invaded our country, but that’s not the reason for his decline.

It’s no secret where Seeing Red AZ stands on Jeff Flake. We strongly supported conservative businessman Wil Cardon in his bid for the senate seat, open through Jon Kyl’s retirement. Our previous regard for Club for Growth fell to zero after the group ran vicious back-to-back, distortive, independent expenditure campaign ads intentionally misrepresenting Cardon.

Flake has done nothing to earn the trust of conservatives. From laughingly breaking his term limits pledge — declaring “I lied” — or using the flimsiest excuse to cravenly avoid casting a responsible vote opposing “cap-and-tax,” the junk science-based, massive national energy tax, to doing a pre-senate race waffle on his always liberal stance on illegal immigration. Flake’s opportunistic moment, was so  “jarring” to the pro-open borders Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic), it even editorialized the guy they idolized as a “statesman” had become a mere “politician.”

So imagine our plight as we find ourselves defending what we know to be his self-serving vote, parting company with mentor McCain on expanding background checks for gun purchases. For his vote, the República, which writes lengthy reports on bullying, again engages in name calling, this time calling Flake a “coward.”  We were rapidly thrust back to our senses when finger-to-the-wind Flake vacillated the day after his vote.  Flake flim-flamingly said he cast his nay vote because the language was “too broad.”  Constitutionally-based conservative convictions never entered the picture. 

The raucous protestors outside his office, along with his “long time friend” Gabrielle Giffords and her hypocritical, carpetbagging husband Mark Kelly — who despite their friendship, have pledged they will support a senate challenger, have prompted Flake to now propose a “streamlined” version he hopes will win Congressional support.

In appeasing the gun control advocates demanding he apologize for failing to support Barack Obama’s prized legislation restricting firearms, the aptly named Flake alienates conservatives who believe in the relevance of the Second Amendment of the Constitution. He’s lucky he doesn’t face the Republican voters he needs until 2018.

The polling questions regarding Flake asked by the left-of-center — they call themselves “Democratic-leaning” — Public Policy Polling, run from page 3 through 7 of the 21 page report and can be viewed here. Their polling on the same topic also includes Alaska, Nevada, and Ohio.

The ego has landed: Andrew Thomas’ bid for AZ Gov

Former Maricopa County Attorney, now disbarred by the Arizona Supreme Court after a lengthy investigation into charges of abuse of power and unethical behavior,* has launched his campaign for Arizona governor.

Here he is with his supporters Friday as he filed his intent to run with the office of the Arizona Secretary of State.

 

For a memory refresher, these Democrats and RINOs were Thomas’ supporters during his 2004 campaign. It remains to be seen if they will be onboard as advisors during his latest endeavor.

From left to right:

Rick Romley, Grant Woods, Thomas, Billy Shields and Phil Gordon.

*The Presiding Judge’s 247-page Disciplinary Opinion and Order Imposing Sanctions can be read here.

Think you know McCain? He’s the Dem’s best friend

During the 2008 presidential race the common refrain among frustrated Republicans was, “Why is John McCain campaigning for Barack Obama?” McCain put Obama’s middle name “Hussein” off limits, although Obama proudly used it during his swearing-in ceremony. The inarticulate McCain even told his own supporters that Obama is “a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as president of the United States.”

Discouraged Republicans have had to acknowledge that McCain often works hand-in-glove with Obama. The two have evidenced shared beliefs on a variety of issues from granting amnesty to upward of 25 million illegals and Second Amendment restrictions to tax issues, offshore drilling and even climate change. McCain has stood firm with Obama on an array of his appointments, giving the nod to numerous radical selections requiring senate confirmation. McCain, who was unable to remember who he was endorsing in 2012, was concerned enough about the Democrat ticket that he even advised Obama to replace Vice President Joe Biden as his running mate.

Back in 1982, the fundamentally liberal McCain had to be coaxed to run as a Republican for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring AZ U.S. Rep. John Rhodes. That might explain his praise of the Dems in this 2004 quote, “I believe my party has gone astray.  I think the Democratic party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and in their philosophy.”

When Biden was in Phoenix during the 2012 election cycle, he brought Democrats to their feet asserting that Arizona and its 11 electoral votes could go to Obama. But such actions are water off McCain’s duck-like back. This Friday, Biden will headline the McCain Institute for International Leadership, taking part in a “conversation with” John McCain. McCain released this statement regarding the event:

“I am very pleased that Vice President Joe Biden, my friend of many years, will speak at this year’s Sedona Forum. From his decades of experience in foreign policy in the Senate to his critical role in the White House today, Vice President Biden has a unique perspective on America’s role in this complex and dangerous world. We are pleased that he is joining this important gathering in Sedona and look forward to hearing from him.”

Last year actor Ben Affleck headlined the McCain event. It should come as no surprise that Affleck gives 92% of his campaign contributions to Democrats and during the 2012 election hosted a $250,000 star-studded fundraiser benefiting far-leftist Elizabeth Warren who ended up beating Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown.

Biden’s lobbying has been credited with McCain’s recent decision to once again cross party lines — one of only four Senate Republicans to do so — this time in support of a bill that would have severely constricted Second Amendment rights.

John McMaverick has long held conservatives and their positions in contempt. Keep your eyes on his new senate protegé Jeff Flake, a committed amnesty supporter, mindful of political expediency. Although Flake parted company with his mentor on the amendment to S 649, his overall votes and aisle crossing will be no different. 

Jeff Flake a “coward” says AZ Republic

Opportunist Flake casts unusual vote upsetting his media friends

This morning’s editorial in the Arizona Republic, Senators take cowardly exit, gives a scathing evaluation of Arizona’s junior senator. The rage fairly jumps off the page as it focuses on Jeff Flake, opining his “nay” vote on universal background checks was “extremely dismaying” while huffing “this was not a proud day for Arizona’s new senator.” It blames NRA Executive VP Wayne LaPierre for the votes they despised:  “It shouldn’t have to take political bravery to stare down the NRA on an issue like this. But, obviously, that is what it is going to take for any meaningful gun-law reform to pass. Flake, alas, failed that test on Wednesday,” spews the editorial.

It’s happened before, as we pointed out in Oops — Jeff Flake’s crown slips as he sinks to mere McPolitician,” when, as an unwavering amnesty-supporting congressman, Flake did an about-face to win conservative votes for the senate seat he so blatantly coveted. At the time, editorialist Doug MacEachern called Flake’s change of heart on legalizing millions of illegal aliens “jarring.”  Imagine our surprise as the Republic declared the vacillating Flake to be a mere “politician” — no longer a “statesman” — for emulating John McCain’s border fickleness during his own 2010 senatorial campaign.

For yesterday’s vote, the newspaper lavishes praise on John McCain, who it claims, “did not fail” as “one of just four Republicans who dared follow their conscience on this bill.” McCain is complimented for taking the path “of the maverick once more.”

Flake, taken to the Republic’s woodshed, is soundly admonished not to let “the harangues of Wayne LaPierre ring through [his] ears the next time this bill comes up.”

Conservatives should make no mistake. Flake’s vote reflected an acknowledgement of realities and his own future political interests.

On April 1, in a post titled, Jeff Flake: Why is only 1 bridge “too far?” Seeing Red AZ exposed Flake’s inconsistent positions on the mega issues of guns and amnesty, writing: “While colluding with Democrats and his mentor John McCain to throw open our nation’s southern border to illegal aliens, Jeff McFlake demonstrated his political savvy Sunday on NBC’s ”Meet the Press”— doing a great impression of an equivocator. Aware that he has alienated a good segment of Republican grassroots activists with his longstanding allegiance to amnesty, he scurries to take a tougher position on universal background checks on gun sales, hoping to solidify his eroding support.”

Such is the duplicity of Jeff Flake. Get used to it or get rid of him before he becomes further entrenched. He already sways like a monkey on a branch.

Et tu, Senators McCain and Flake? & Update

Obama’s Second Amendment restrictions supported by AZ Senators

The famous quotation, “Et tu Brute?” originated in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. The translation “and you Brutus?” relates to Caesar’s recognition of Brutus’ betrayal, as he literally and figuratively stabbed him in the back. The term is widely used to signify the utmost treachery.

The Ides of March commemorates March 15, 44 BC, the day Caesar was attacked by a group of Roman senators, and ultimately killed by one he wrongly considered his friend. Today’s date is a month — and many centuries — later but the effect of the scheduled senate vote could prove the same with Arizona citizens in the role of Caesar.

For Arizonans who value their Second Amendment rights, McCain and Flake have already demonstrated the ultimate betrayal with their easy acquiescence to join with Obama in constraining our Constitutional freedoms.

Liberal Harry Reid and his gun control supporters are desperately seeking the 60 votes they need to pass expanded background checks on firearms purchases, hoping to sway finger-to-the-wind senators ahead of today’s vote.  McCain, reveling in his Maverickness, has always shown his eagerness to stand with liberal Democrats on a wide range of issues.  The recent motion to proceed with Obama’s gun grab passed with the help of both Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.

A variety of gun votes are scheduled for 4:00 PM (ET) today including what has become the critical issue of expanding background checks to include sales at gun shows and over the Internet. Encroachment on all private sales, even between friends and relatives has rightly raised citizen’s concerns.

Now, former U. S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly are pushing for legislation to further expand background checks, pressuring her close friend Jeff Flake. Last week, Giffords thanked McCain and Flake, saying she was proud of them as they voted with Democrats.

Kelly warns their longtime friendship wouldn’t stop him from backing an opponent to Flake. “You know, friendship is one thing. Saving people’s lives, especially first-graders’ is another,” said the former astronaut.

This video is a worthy reminder of the men who claim to represent Arizonans in the U.S. Senate:

http://www.nationalgunrights.org/videos?videoid=X57J27DegXg

Standing in the White House rose garden surrounded by family members of victims of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting and Gabrielle Giffords who was wounded in the Tucson shooting, Barack Obama angrily blamed the defeat of his major gun-control proposal on what he referred to as “lies” spread by the National Rifle Association.  Obama called it “a pretty shameful day for Washington,” declaring, “It came down to politics. The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill.”

All of the votes taken today — April 17 — can be seen here. Click on the ‘vote’ column to see each U.S. Senator’s individual roll call vote on the bills listed.

McCain and Flake split on S 649, the expanded background checks, with McCain voting in favor and Flake demurring. Otherwise it was an in-tandem day for Arizona’s two senators with the duo voting as a team. Is this evidence they are owned by Wayne LaPierre and the NRA, or responding to their Second Amendment supporting constituents who hold the power of the vote that matters most to them?

Arizona Republic exposes its foul, radical core

In a single issue — Sunday’s edition — The Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic), bawdily bared itself in a fashion befitting a porn star. 

The Viewpoints section opened with illegal immigration hustler, Linda Valdez, spewing seemingly endless bile at recently deceased British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as she links her to conservative icon Ronald Reagan, hurling insults at both. Her abhorrence of the pair is palpable from the headline “Maggie, Ronnie cast dark shadows,” through the vicious conclusion of her commentary in which she characteristically berates what she calls hard-line conservatives and blames the ills on both sides of the Atlantic — and oddly Arizona — on the Tory and Conservative who contributed mightily to their nation’s progress.

Following Valdez’s vitriol is a lone editorial. It is a paean to Arizona’s senators and their key roles in extending the gift of amnesty to lawbreakers, noting that both John McCain and Jeff Flake “have a history of supporting reform,” though “both forgot that for a while.” The missing words are “while campaigning.” The editorial welcomes them both back to leadership roles in undercutting our national sovereignty and adherence to the rule of law. In 2011, the Republic denounced Flake as a mere “politician” — no longer a “statesman” — for emulating John McCain’s border transformation during his last senatorial campaign. Editorialist Doug MacEachern called Flake’s change of heart on legalizing millions of illegal aliens “jarring.”  (click on the links for a reminder of their campaign duplicity.)

Dragging bottom of the same page are My Turn columns by ASU President Michael Crow and Daniel Ortega, the former chairman of the racist La Raza, which the newspaper terms a “the nation’s largest and most influential Latino advocacy group.”  La Raza’s motto — “For The Race everything. Outside The Race, nothing” — is chilling to any sane person who values equality.

Crow uses his space to once again push for foreign ‘STEM’ (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students — those he claims are the best and brightest — to bypass our nation’s “antiquated immigration laws” and compete with our own American citizens for a place in university classes and in today’s tough job market.

Ortega rails about the “stain” on Arizona caused by the passage of SB 1070, and the imperative of “fixing” our immigration system by adopting a “sensible, humane, federal immigration-reform bill” that will “set our state and national economy on a road to greater prosperity.”

Stir in a photo of demonstrators rallying for amnesty — this time waving American, rather than Mexican, flags as John McCain helpfully advised them — along with a vicious cartoon lampooning Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was recently the target of an intercepted package bomb that officials say was capable of killing a person opening the box.

It’s all in the fish-wrapper so worthy of the name: The Periódico de la República de Arizona. No wonder it’s dying.

McCain, Flake undercut US workers in massive job giveaway

AZ Senators aid Democrats while deceiving American citizens

The harsh realities of the amnesty bill being championed by the deceptive “Gang of 8” include importation of 1 million workers a year, who will increase the inflow of foreign workers in the U.S., according to government data and news reports.

John McCain, Jeff Flake and Marco Rubio along with their left-leaning senate cohorts, have carefully avoided the term “amnesty” as they work to undermine 23 million unemployed or underemployed American citizens.

The 1 million inflow would provide almost one foreign worker for every four Americans who turn 18 — a  rate high enough to fill up all the extra non-farm jobs created during the last six months, according to this disturbing, 3-page report in the Daily Caller.

Additionally, the 1 million imported workers would include at least 350,000 people capable of competing for middle-class skilled jobs sought by the 1.8 million Americans who graduate from universities each year. Only about 10 percent of the workers would be farm laborers.

The takeaway from this excellent article is summed up here: Inflow of workers is good for the Democrat Party’s political clout, because it increases unemployment, reduces wages and boosts dependence on government aid. But it creates a problem for Republicans, partly because low unemployment and high wages encourage people to get married, have kids and vote GOP.

Under the political scheme being drafted in secret by the coalition of amnesty hawks, companies would bring in many low-wage workers. In exchange, the workers would be allowed to become citizens and vote from 2026 onward, likely for Democrat candidates. No wonder it is backed by Democrat leadership, including Barack Obama, and many in the establishment, leftwing media.

Nationwide public outrage at the 2007 amnesty sham called “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” and  led by McCain, Kyl and liberal icon Ted Kennedy resulted in the shut-down of the congressional switchboard, jammed fax lines and over-filled email boxes. It worked then. It’s past time for Americans to express their anger again. In the intervening years Kennedy has died and Kyl retired, but Jeff Flake, a longtime amnesty proponent, is now toadying as a willing accomplice, although he had a temporary politically expedient reversal as a duplicitous candidate.

Give McCain and Flake a call.  Since we pay their salaries, they’ll be happy to hear from us. But first read all 3 illuminating pages of the Daily Caller report.  Knowledge is power.

Contact info is just a click away: Jeff Flake and John McCain. Check the bottom of their pages for additional contact information. Do it now!  They intend to fast-track this amnesty monster when returning from Easter break on Monday.