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.

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Polls: Americans fear gov’t over terrorism

Recent polling tells the grim story of the underlying fear many Americans express about our government. For the first time since September 11, 2001, Americans are more fearful their government will abuse constitutional liberties than fail to keep its citizens safe.

Even in the wake of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings, in which a pair of radical Islamic jihadist brothers are accused of planting explosives that took the lives of 3 and wounded over 200 — two distinct polls indicate Americans are unwilling to give up any further freedoms in exchange for promises of increased “security.”

This Fox News poll of a random sample of 619 registered voters the day after the Boston bombings found interviewees responded very differently than following 9/11 in which nearly 3000 lost their lives.  For the first time since a similar question was asked in May 2001, more Americans answered “no” to the question: “Would you be willing to give up some of your personal freedom in order to reduce the threat of terrorism?”

Of those surveyed on April 16, 2013, 45% answered “no” to the question, compared to 43% answering “yes.” In May 2001, before 9/11, 40 percent answered “no” while 33% answered “yes.”

Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, there was a dramatic reversal as 71% of Americans agreed to sacrifice personal freedom to reduce the threat of terrorism. Subsequent polls asking the same question in 2002, 2005 and 2006 found Americans consistently willing to give up freedom in exchange for security. There was a marked decline from 71% following 9/11 to only 54% by May 2006.

Today it appears the sentiment expressed in Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote — “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” — is more valued by Americans than it has been in over a dozen years.

This Washington Post survey, using a similar polling sample of 588 adults, conducted April 17 and 18 also discovered the change in attitude. “Which worries you more,” the Post asked, “that the government will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights, or that it will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism?”

The poll found 48% of respondents worry the government will go too far, compared to 41% who worry it won’t go far enough.

And similar to the Fox News poll, the Post found the worry to be a new development. Only 44% worried the government would go too far in January 2006 and only 27% expressed such concerns about governmental overreaches in January 2010.

The Fox News poll broke the responses down further by political affiliation:

A troubling 51% of Democrats responded they would forfeit personal freedom to reduce the threat of terror, compared to 36% who opposed the concept.

Forty-seven percent of Republicans opposed giving up freedoms, compared to only 43% in favor.

Independents were the most resistant, with only 29% willing to sacrifice freedom, while 58% opposed losing constitutional rights.

AZ Conservative Coalition: Newest legislator rankings

The Arizona Conservative Coalition’s (ACC) most recent legislator ratings, reflecting legislative actions as of 4/28/2013 is now available. Click here for the updated report.

Legislators are assigned to a group based on their latest rating. Bills used in the evaluation along with the summary of criteria used to weight bills can be seen here. There is also an excellent, concise analysis of each bill considered.

Be sure to take time to review Howard Levine’s informative weekly narrative, which provides background on the tracking process.

The folks at ACC provide individual grades for Arizona’s Republican Representatives and Senators. There is quite a variation. This week the Senate ratings range from a high of 89.9 down to a bottom-dragging 47.7. In the House of Representatives the top scorer received a 95.2 with the bottom of the list rating a weak 47.8.

Check out your elected members and hold them accountable with facts.

Obama to Planned Parenthood: “God bless you!”

Largest abortion provider gets sanctification from Obama:

They do such good work, after all. If you’ve read anything at all about the Kermit Gosnell infanticide trial, you’d realize why abortions are worthy of this president’s commendation. Not surprisingly, Barack Obama is the first sitting President to ever appear at such a gala. This event took place Friday in Washington, D.C.

Vowing he would never allow Republicans to cut taxpayer funds for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Obama said, “If there’s one thing the past few years have shown, it’s that Planned Parenthood isn’t going anywhere.” The crowd cheered wildly, presenting him with a standing ovation. “It’s not going anywhere today, it’s not going anywhere tomorrow.” 

“Everybody sit down,” Obama demurred. “You’re making me blush.”

In its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood bragged that it performed 333,964 abortions in 2011 – a record year for the group.

The abortion profiteers have received a record $542 million in taxpayer funding — in the form of government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements — according to a Susan B. Anthony List analysis of the report. The amount is 45 percent of Planned Parenthood’s annual revenue.

Charlie Spiering writing for the Washington Examiner has more here.

Immigration: Addressing the harsh realities

Bi-partisan acknowledgment that the nation’s legal immigration system is also in need of repair

Earlier this week, as the nation was still reeling, trying to absorb the grisly aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings, Ann Coulter wrote a cogent column titled: The  problem isn’t just illegal immigration, it’s legal immigration, too. Coulter’s fact-filled commentary is our “Weekend reading guaranteed to make you smarter” recommendation.

Bob Beckel, ubitquitous liberal commentator and co-host of ‘The Five,’ appeared to catch his co-hosts off guard as he echoed similar thoughts. Beckel advocated for the temporary ending of student visas for foreign Muslim students as a means of combating homegrown terror.

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.

Flores v. AZ: Tim Hogan’s never ending case

Back in 2009, in a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court took a major step toward ending what was then a 17-year legal battle in the Flores v. Arizona case. In their opinion, the justices wrote that lower courts erred by placing extraordinary focus on forcing Arizona to spend more money to assist English Language-Learner (ELL) students.

At the time, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote, the Court of Appeals “improperly substituted its own policy judgments for those of the state and local officials entrusted with the decision.”

Flores was sent back to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with instructions to consider whether Arizona had complied with civil-rights law by improving both English-learner programs and K-12 education policies.

The case was argued by Arizona’s then-Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne. He served in that capacity from 2003 – 2011. Horne was elected Arizona Attorney General in 2010. He and Jim Weiers, then-Speaker of the Arizona House were listed as petitioners.

The majority opinion was issued by Justice Alito and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Justice Stephen Breyer filed the 47-page dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens and David Souter. If you’re so inclined, the Supreme Court’s 89-page opinion can be read here.

Fast forward to 2013. The lawsuit has reached the ripe old age of 21. And whad’ya know? A federal court decision last month upholding the state’s English Language Learner programs is being appealed by Tim Hogan of the left-of-center Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest. The case is now renamed Flores v. Huppenthal. Associate Justices Souter (replaced by Sonia Sotomayor) and John Paul Stevens (replaced by Elena Kagan) have retired.

Today the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is fomer state senator John Huppenthal. He contends ELL students are making progress in the English program. Most test out of the program within three years. He believes the state will prevail in the lawsuit.

Tim Hogan remains, still representing the plaintiffs. Of his career-long case, Hogan has this to say. “We just think the district court judge has gotten the law wrong.”

The Center for Law in the Public Interest refers to itself as a “non-profit.” Obviously Hogan has been making a living from this long-in-the-tooth case.  What’s the funding source?

The daily’s coverage of this ongoing bonanza can be read here.

Obama’s Marxist redistribution plan is underway

The Washington Post runs a 5-page report on the efforts undertaken by food stamp recruiters to coax people into signing up for taxpayer financed benefits. Potential recipients are lured with free food, gift packages for themselves and even their pets, and told “you deserve it.” Some states host SNAP-themed bingo games, others distribute fliers that read: “Be a patriot. Bring your food stamp money home.” Still other states throw food stamp parties where new recipients sign up en masse at the gift giveaway tables. Recruiters, functioning as commission sales reps, actually have quotas to fill — at least 150 new people a month. It matters not that one Florida husband and wife, just completing  nine holes of golf — clubs still on their cart — showed up and were signed up.

To help enroll more seniors, the government has even published an outreach guide instructing on “blending compassion with sales techniques,” generating some — but not enough —  protests in Congress. The guide teaches recruiters how to “overcome the word ‘no,’” even suggesting answers for likely hesitations:

Welfare stigma: “You worked hard and the taxes you paid helped create SNAP.” 

Embarrassment: “Everyone needs help now and then.”

Sense of failure: “Lots of people, young and old, are having financial difficulties.”

Today, nearly 50 million Americans now rely on what was previously known as food stamps, now going by the snappy acronym of SNAP for ‘Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.’ In Florida alone, enrollment has risen from 1.45 million people in 2008 to 3.35 million in 2012.

As the Obama regime furloughs FAA traffic controllers and cancels school childrens’ planned  trips to the White House under the politically machinated sequestration strategy, ask yourself why taxpayer’s dollars are paying recruiters to expand programs that are already costing more than the economy can bear?

It was disgusting to read that the Boston Marathon bombers — whose next target was to be New York’s Times Square — and their families received welfare benefits, among the one in six Americans currently on the dole. In Britain, most terrorists turn out to be welfare recipients. Being unemployed, they have time on their hands to become radicalized and plan acts of violence. One U.K. extremist Islamic imam, who praises terror attacks, urged his followers to think of welfare benefits as a form of the jizya tax non-believers are supposed to pay Muslims – or, as he put it, “a Jihad Seeker’s Allowance.”  Human Events reports here.

Redistribution has always been part of Obama’s Marxist mindset. Speaking at a conference at Loyola University in 1998, he admits, “I actually believe in redistribution.” Now as president, he is implementing that which was so near and dear to the hearts of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in their Communist Manifesto, as they advocated the incentive busting, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

American Thinker clearly defines what the phrase “redistribution of wealth” actually means to the future of America.

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. 

Kolbe: Include same-sex foreign partners in amnesty

It was bound to happen

Amnesty. Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Whatever the incarnation, the numbers are not static. In addition to rolling out the red carpet to at least 25 million illegally in our country, are the issues of birthright citizenship and chain migration — affording relatives the ability to coattail. Criminality is as problematic as the exorbitant costs involved in providing education and social service benefits to those who disregard our laws. All developed nations have immigration laws. Without them sovereignty and national identity are destabilized, security is lost and a perpetual string of problems follow. Here at Seeing Red AZ, we’ve addressed these issues over the years.

But, just when you’ve thought you’ve heard it all, out from under a political rock comes Jim Kolbe. Formerly a Congressman who represented a chunk of southern Arizona, Kolbe was long at the center of controversy. An odd, loosey-goosey Democrat-endorsing Republican, he was one of only four GOP members of Congress who voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act a decade ago and was rated 100% by NARAL, a national pro-abortion group. On issues dealing with illegal immigration he scored an abysmal 0% by FAIR, disdaining a fence and voting to alert illegals to Minutemen reporting their presence on the border.

As a U.S. Rep., he was the center of a federal probe into a camping trip with two teenage boys, both former congressional pages, who accused him of “acting inappropriately.” Though long rumored to be “closeted,” he voted in support of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, riling The Advocate, a national homosexual magazine, that threatened to out him in retaliation.  Ultimately, Kolbe filed for divorce from his wife and acknowledged his long-time Panamanian male “partner.”

Which fast-forwards us to Monday. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kolbe implored, “Our laws should not separate American citizens from their loved ones for such unacceptably long periods of time,” as he advocated for expansion of the 844-page amnesty bill to allow homosexual Americans to bring their foreign-born, same sex lovers to the United States. He complained the process was arduous and expensive. “While the bill you are considering is an excellent starting point for reform, I submit to you that it is still incomplete,” Kolbe chided committee members. “Families like mine are left behind as part of this proposal. Equally important, U.S. businesses and our economy suffer because of the omission of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families from the bill introduced last week,” he pleaded.

Count on it. The number of sub-groups demanding to be included will be never-ending.