Weekend reading guaranteed to make you smarter

Nationally syndicated columnist Mona Charen — writing for National Review — takes aim at the U.S. Supreme Court for failing to protect the Constitution.  Conservatives and the Court provides key insights.

Scott Bundgaard: A bit of advice about cow patties

The daily reports that former state Sen. Scott Bundgaard (R-former LD4) has filed a $10 million notice of claim against Phoenix police and city officials. This action stems from the events which occurred during a roadside brawl with his then-girlfriend. He later abruptly resigned his legislative seat during a break in the Senate Ethics Committee hearing against him.

Bundgaard, obviously trying to reclaim his reputation and pick up a few million bucks in the process, disputes the police claim that he invoked legislative immunity at the time the police responded after the altercation.

In a series of not very smart moves, this one rates high on the list. The money — in the unlikely event his suit were to be successful — would come not from an over-arching entity called the city of Phoenix. It would come directly from the over-burdened taxpayers who are fed up with being considered cash cows.

Speaking of which — best advice to Mr. Bundgaard would be this twangy bit learned from an old cowboy: When you’re out in the pasture and find a crusted-over cow patty, don’t poke it with a stick. It’s a good bet it’ll smell again. 

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Barack Obama: Exposed as Liar-in-Chief

 

H/T Mister Smith Media

Yuma Arizona tops national list

When the headline asserted that the Arizona city of Yuma ranked at the top of a national list, the natural inclination was to seek out the Arizona Department of Tourism’s website to see what was driving the news. Aside from those seeking to experience scorching, triple digit temperatures or visit the notorious Territorial Prison, the southwestern Arizona city isn’t normally a summer travel destination

The news, it turns out, centers on the recently released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest economic news report provides the continuing dismal news on the employment front, skewed by the administration’s decision not to reflect the job seekers who previously held full-time employment and now have one or more part-time jobs just to make ends meet. Others disappeared from the count when their unemployment benefits ran out while remaining unable to find employment. The Obama administration makes you dig for the appalling statistics. Scroll down to Table 1 and find Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area.

It takes a while on that wordy and cluttered economic news report to locate this jarring news that Yuma Arizona tops the national list with the highest unemployment in the nation— at a staggering 28.9 percent. That’s nearly one third of the previously working populace.

Aside from the Arizona city of Yuma, California tops the rest of the list with metro area rates ranging from an abysmal high of 26.8 percent unemployment to 14.3.

The states with the lowest unemployment are North Dakota (the city of  Bismarck is at an enviable 2.5%, joining three other N.D. cities which also reflect exceptionally low rates).  Cities in Nebraska, Vermont, Iowa, Texas and New Hampshire factor in similarly low unemployment numbers. The Boston Globe provides a complete list.

The national May unemployment rate has risen to 8.2% with an additional 220,000 seeking benefits. Unemployment rates rose in more than two-thirds of U.S. cities last month. Food-stamp enrollment has risen to an all-time high during Barack Obama’s first term.  Spending for food stamps has more than doubled in four years to a record $75.7 billion.

It’s time for a change. Under the current tyrannical regime, hope has all but flown out the door.

A call to action

Guest editorial

After today’s ruling, it’s clear Americans can no longer rely on the Supreme Court as the last line of defense to protect our Constitutional rights. All Americans — Republicans, Independents and Democrats — who believe in the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States must form a 21st Century revolution. Our Founders fought the original American Revolution against oppression from across the sea. It is now our turn to fight a new American Revolution against oppression from within our own borders — our own government. This is the fight that must be waged against those usurping our inalienable rights.

Tyranny from the White House and supported by the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be allowed to stand.

All freedom loving Americans must unite behind Constitutional principles. Let’s be clear. Our message cannot be a watered-down pablum meant to appeal to everyone. Our message cannot be a weak kneed “Big Tent” message. Our actions cannot be lukewarm because even God has said that he will spew the lukewarm out of his mouth. American voters will defeat any candidate who demonstrates a lack of core values by pandering to special interest groups.

In the American Revolution, those we now call patriots comprised about a third of the populace. What they lacked in numbers they more than compensated for with their strong stance based on Judeo-Christian principles. They provided unswerving leadership that resulted in great victories over the mightiest military force in history.

Now it is our time. It is incumbent upon us to replace the domestic reign of authoritarianism with a new generation of American leaders who will passionately fight for our Constitutionally guaranteed liberties. In 2012, we are facing crucial elections that will decide the direction our country takes in the future. These are the issues which must drive your ballot selections.

US AG Holder held in contempt of Congress: 255-67

The House of Representatives has found U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for arrogantly stonewalling and withholding documents related to the botched federal scheme known as Operation Fast and Furious. The gun-running operation conceived in 2009 by the Phoenix Division of ATF — a Justice Department agency — was responsible for supplying more than 2,000 weapons to violent Mexican drug cartels. The scandal resulted in numerous deaths — including the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in the Arizona desert.

The operation which U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has acknowledged was “fundamentally flawed,” occurred under his watch with his Department’s knowledge and approval.

During today’s vote, in an arrogant display of liberal partisanship led by Democrat Nancy Pelosi, 110 Democrats walked out in protest.

The vote recommended that the House of Representatives find Eric H. Holder Jr., Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Individual member votes can be seen here. (Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)

The measure passed 255-67, with one member voting “present.” Seventeen of the Democrats who didn’t walk out voted with the Republican majority to hold Holder in contempt of Congress. Two Republicans, Reps. Steven LaTourette (Ohio) and Scott Rigell (VA), opposed the contempt resolution.

Executive branch key players can be seen here. Victims? Click here. Earliest evidence of when administration officials knew can be seen here. Check out Fortress Holder here.

ObamaCare: Fed overreach approved by SCOTUS

Roberts casts with liberals, votes for government expansion

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5 – 4 split, has allowed ObamaCare — Barack Obama’s signature domestic initiative — to stand. The justices addressed the contentious individual mandate provision by ruling it is permissible under Congress’s taxing authority, although the Obama administration has steadfastly maintained it was not a tax.

At the core of the issue is whether the requirement for virtually all Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty is Constitutional. The legislation was passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress in March 2010

In their last decision before taking summer recess, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have ruled on perhaps the most anticipated decision in decades — the constitutionality of ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act) — a case pitting the Obama administration against 27 states filing lawsuits challenging the law.

And in another surprising move, Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the liberals — disappointingly casting the deciding vote — in upholding this flagrant and massive federal overreach while spitting in the eye of American citizens. Roberts voted with the left on Arizona’s SB1070on Monday.  In today’s decision Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. 

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor joined Roberts in this shameful and unprecedented state-sanctioned encroachment on individual freedom  — forcing citizens to buy a specific product and clearly exceeding congressional authority.

Today’s Supreme Court opinion in the National Federation of  Independent Business et al. v. Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al  can be read in its entirety HERE.

In this report released during the Clinton administration in 1994, the non-partisan that “The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States. An individual mandate would have two features that, in combination, would make it unique. First, it would impose a duty on individuals as members of society. Second, it would require people to purchase a specific service that would be heavily regulated by the federal government.”

The mouth that roared

Who does the AZ GOP speak for?

This is a topic we have intentionally avoided. That’s not to say it hasn’t been irksome. It has. But internal strife during the most crucial election cycle in memory serves no purpose other than to take Republican eyes off the issues that divide us from liberals — most notably Barack Obama. 

His administration’s declaration of war on the state of Arizona, and decision to revoke the 287(g) agreements under which law enforcement interacts with ICE, renders the fight on terrorism impotent as well as rolling out a welcome mat for the illegal invaders of our country.

This is how the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on SB 1070 was deceptively massaged by Janet Napolitano — AZ’s liberal former governor, now the chieftain of Obama’s Department of Homeland InSecurity. This double-talking “Fact Sheet” titled Transforming the Immigration Enforcement System released less than two weeks ago reshapes the political pandering in time for the November election.

And as if in concert, Laurie Roberts, columnist for the pro-amnesty Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic) takes on the issue of what she refers to as a “new tone on illegal immigration” at the AZ GOP, which she declared “metaphorically caused her to fall off her chair.” Previously she wrote about what she termed Trouble in GOPland regarding this 12 News’ Sunday Square Off program* in which she was one of the panel of guests along with lobbyist RINO Chris Herstam who headed Napolitano’s gubernatorial transition team. They were joined by the spokesman for the state Republican Party. 

Recent polling by Democrat and Republican polling companies for Fox News found that two-thirds —  65 percent — of voters nationwide support SB 1070. This number is up from 50 percent during the summer of 2010. The number opposing the law has remained unchanged in both surveys with thirty- one percent. Full poll results can be seen here.

 It’s the AZ GOP that doesn’t reflect the will of citizens —  not the other way around.

Arizona’s immigration law continues to show significant support from Republicans (84 percent) and Independents (67 percent). Nearly half of Democrats (46 percent) polled support the law.

Judging by the numerous comments — over two dozen — that were not put up on this site since they referred to the AZ GOP debacle rather than the subject of the individual posts where they were sent, the party is seriously out of step with its conservative constituents. The silence and lack of response from those in charge is intolerable, indicating those in charge agree with the party spokesman.

Public comments require a public response. Leadership requires leaders.

 *Channel 12 and the newspaper are housed in the same building and are both owned by Gannett.

$Billion sales tax ‘kitchen sink’ initiative disqualified

Massive tax: This one is “for the children”

Secretary of State Ken Bennett has disqualified a ballot initiative due to discrepancies in the pre-filed version of the language and that which actually appears on the petitions. It should have been disqualified for the deceptive title and horse pucky issues intended to separate taxpayers from their money in the worst economy since the Great Depression. A random sampling of the petitions at the Secretary of State’s Office found none of the petitions matched the language previously submitted to his office.

At issue is the Quality Education & Jobs Initiative, 15-pages of no-strings-attached, mumbo jumbo. The measure seeks a citizen vote to authorize a permanent 1-cent-per-dollar increase in the state sales tax, with the proceeds to “prevent legislators from cutting K-12 education funding,”  provide “dedicated funding to students of all ages,“ provide college scholarships, underwrite school construction projects and a children’s health program. And if that’s not enough, the act “protects public safety by ensuring continued funding for DPS officers and creates jobs by funding road, rail, transit and other transportation projects.” This biscuit will ensure support for the measure from unrelated sources.

Missing from the vague language, which includes no accountability for the massive funding and societal overreaches are these costly facts:  The extended sales tax will provide over a billion dollars a year. The Quality Education and Performance Fund will receive $500 Million. The Education Learning and Accountability Fund will receive $10 Million. The Education Accountability and Improvement Fund will receive $90 Million. The Arizona Board of Regents will receive $50 Million. A Children’s Health Insurance Program will receive $25 Million. A state Infrastructure Fund is slated to receive $100 Million. An additional governmental overreach called the Family Stability and Self Sufficiency Fund is on tap for $100 Million. And in case these social engineers missed anything they have even included a $125 Million mechanism to address” Inflationary Adjustments.”

The initiative group has indicated it will file a lawsuit over being disqualified from the ballot, and has hired former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Stanley Feldman as its lawyer. Tucson resident Ann-Eve Pedersen is the group’s chairman.

In his March 14 column Robert Robb wrote this about the initiative

Stealth EV liberals aim to defeat WV Republican

Jerry Lewis and Walter Opaska share questionable connections

With the media’s focus on state Legislative races, city elections often get lost in the shuffle. But conservatives need to start paying close attention to the new dynamics cropping up in municipal elections.  A stunning example is seen in the race for Mayor in the City of Glendale where liberal operatives who have made their marks in the East Valley are emerging on West Valley candidate campaign reports.

Three candidates are running in the Glendale Mayor’s race: Conservative State Representative Jerry Weiers; Manny Cruz, 2010 Democrat candidate for Mine Inspector; and squishy Republican Walter Opaska. Cruz, taking a page from the Greg Stanton playbook, is running openly as a Democrat and relying on trade unions and Democrat legislators such as Steve Gallardo to assist his fundraising and get-out-the-vote efforts. His politics are aligned with radical activist Randy Parraz and his liberal community organizer allies. Cruz’s problem is that the city of Glendale has a predominately Republican registration, so his initial hurdle is getting past the August primary without Weiers getting 51% of the vote.

This is where the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of Walter Opaska’s campaign come into play. Opaska made Team Cruz happy to find out that he had hired Jerry Lewis’ campaign manager. Anson Clarkson is relatively unknown in Arizona politics, but those familiar with the recall of former Senator Russell Pearce know the degree to which Lewis’ campaign worked in conjunction with Parraz’ organizers to remove Arizona’s most conservative legislator and replace him with a mock Republican. Clarkson has also been a key player in the murky Kirk Adams congressional campaign against Matt Salmon and has led the attacks against Congressman David Schweikert. In addition, Clarkson is the campaign manager for Rich Crandall and his RINO Team in LD 16. Salmon and Schweikert are both conservatives.

Team Parraz, under the direction of Clarkson/Opaska, has taken the unseemly path of making patently false statements against Jerry Weiers while completely ignoring the leftist Cruz. Glendale street corners are filled with malicious secondary campaign signs that Clarkson/Opaska have placed in front of the Weiers signs. 

For the record Jerry Weiers has been a manager in a large corporation and owner/operator of a successful small business considered an industry leader in Phoenix.  After more than thirty years in the private sector, Weiers was recruited to run for the Legislature in 2005 — his first run for public office.  Weiers decided not to engage in the questionable end-run around the voter mandated term limits law by simply running for the Senate. To Clarkson and Opaska, risking a successful business to give back to Arizona as a public servant for a few years means you are a career politician. 

If Opaska can deny Weiers an outright victory in the August primary by splitting the Republican vote, then Clarkson will have again delivered for Arizona Democrats and liberals and a hotly contested race will take place in November between Weiers and Cruz. One can only imagine whose side Clarkson and his friends will be on then, but either way, conservatives in the West Valley need to recognize these names and begin paying attention to who is helping whom.