The End of the Town Hall

Congress shields itself from the people who put them in DC

Bloomberg Businessweek’s Julie Bykowicz writes a revealing article, At Town Halls, Congress Now Steers Clear of Voters. She provides clear evidence that Town Halls — where those we elected come home to face us — are now relics. Both parties are crafting controlled meetings with tight scripts, often excluding constituents and open mics.  Too often, those folks we sent to D.C. to represent us now consider us the enemy, to be held at bay.

In her report Bykowicz writes:This summer is all about keeping a safe distance from voters and sticking to the party script. Before Congress left town, House Democratic and Republican leaders handed out “tool kits” full of talking points and specific event ideas, along with sample editorials written and ready to be planted in hometown newspapers. This enables them to stay within the preprogrammed Washington bubble even when they’re outside the safety of the Beltway.

Both parties’ tool kits urge members to focus on small gatherings with friendly audiences, keeping in touch with the public on Facebook and Twitter. Democrats were told to play up Obamacare benefits. “Find a woman in your district who has a ‘pre-existing condition,’ such as being a breast cancer survivor, and who has had a hard time finding insurance, and hold a press conference,” party leaders suggest. Talk about immigration reform in “meet-and-greets with successful immigrant entrepreneurs from the district or from the state. Have them tell their inspirational story.”

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, a left-leaning Delaware Republican who’d held hundreds of town halls during his 20 years in Congress, recalls that at one event, captured on YouTube people started yelling at him about Obamacare “death panels” and the president’s “fake” birth certificate. Castle, who lost his primary that year, says a dozen colleagues who saw the video told him afterward, “No more live town halls. I’m done with that.”

Watch this example of citizen outrage when HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Arlen Specter (d. 2012) declared the Obamacare bill had to get “done very fast.”  In this linked video, McCain insults a gathering of citizens in Sun Lakes. AZ U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick was actually so unprepared to respond to her constituents she was cheered as she walked out on a gathering she scheduled. One man yelled after her, “Don’t come back!” She lost the following election, but memories are short.  Kirkpatrick, a liberal Democrat, was reelected after being ousted and is running again in Congressional District One.

This past week we exposed the gamesmanship that is being passed off as interactions with Arizona voters. Read McCain & Flake stage a one-way “conversation” and Tea Party News Network exposes McCain, Flake sham.

 

H/T Commenter Doc for Bloomberg tip

VP Biden calls for impeaching President?

As Obama sets Syria in his sights…..without Congressional approval

Democrat Biden, then a U.S. Senator, was talking about Republican President George W. Bush at the time, but it’s worth listening to his words again, in the current context involving Barack Obama.

Intent on military intervention following a deadly chemical weapons attack on civilians in Syria, Obama is encountering resistance from both America’s allies and Congress.

This letter, signed by 116 House members — including AZ GOP U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar, Matt Salmon, David Schweikert and Trent Franks — urges congressional authorization before ordering the use of military force. It states, “While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets.  Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”

Forward looking DiCiccio already exploring mayor’s race?

Sal DiCiccio doesn’t appear to be letting any grass grow under his feet. Within hours of the final ballot count confirming that he had retained his District 6 City Council seat by 9.26 percentage points against a union-backed liberal, he’s looking ahead.

We’ve had reports of robo calls asking the single question: “If the race for Phoenix Mayor were held today and the candidates were Sal DiCiccio and Greg Stanton, which man would you support.  Press One for DiCiccio.  Press Two for Stanton.” 

Connected Democrat Stanton is currently Phoenix mayor.

The auto-dialer could win the award for posing the shortest survey. And DiCiccio could easily walk away with the eagerness trophy.

Scathing SCF ads compare Flake to McCain

Ad campaign blisters Jeff Flake

The Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) is running a series of 60-second ads criticizing Republican lawmakers who oppose using the appropriations process to cut funding for Obamacare.  The group, which supported Jeff Flake’s 2012 U.S. Senate bid, has got him in its sights as it runs two ads eviscerating Arizona‘s craven junior senator.

This change of heart is not insignificant. The SCF was Flake’s ardent devotee, inexplicably sending him a huge bundle of cash to assist him in defeating businessman Wil Cardon, an actual conservative.

“Republicans in Congress can stop ObamaCare by simply refusing to fund it, but Senator Jeff Flake is nowhere to be found,” the narrator says in one of two hard-hitting ads. “Jeff Flake won’t stand up to President Obama and join conservatives in pledging to oppose funding for the implementation of Obamacare.”

An ad titled, “Whatever,” (click link) likens Flake to John McCain in a scathingly unflattering comparison. The new radio ad includes Flake’s dismissive “Oh, whatever” response, which he posted on Twitter. The narrator says, “Jeff Flake used to be one of us but now he’s become one of them.  “Oh, whatever? That’s something we expect John McCain to say.”

Another is “Nowhere,” detailing Flake’s refusal to sign the letter circulated by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) pledging to oppose all funding for Obamacare in the upcoming FY 2014 continuing resolution.

Flake claims he opposes Obamacare but refuses to sign the pledge to reject any spending bills that fund the law.  Go to Don’t Fund It for more information.

Tea Party News Network exposes McCain, Flake sham

In advance of the McCain and Flake so-called “Conversation on Immigration” held Tuesday at the Mesa Arts Center, we ran this post McCain & Flake stage a one-way “conversation.”  In it we exposed the deception involved in their oddly timed and closed-door contrivance.

Today we offer this follow-up courtesy of the Tea Party News Network.  In this disturbing report and accompanying photos Jennifer Burke details the restricted John McCain and Jeff Flake event.

We urge you to read it and watch the video.  Arizona’s two U.S. Sens. McCain and Flake ostensibly held a “conversation” with their constituents that was actually a private, invitation only, media staged event, guarded by barricades and uniformed police. With six-year senate terms uder their belts, these establishment elites don’t want to hear from us — especially on the topic of granting amnesty to our nation’s invaders.

Take the time to listen to Jennifer Burke and acquaint yourself with her first-hand account of the charade being perpetrated on Arizona‘s citizens. We owe her and her fellow Tea Party Patriots a debt of gratitude.

City of Phoenix election results – 2013

       

We’ve got what you’re looking for

Today, Tuesday, August 27, 2013, the City of Phoenix held its  regularly scheduled City Council Election for voters in Council Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8. Since the terms of the council members are staggered, there is no election for council members in Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 this year.

The unofficial City of Phoenix election results can be viewed HERE.

Liberal Cokie Roberts: States with voter ID “evil”

Veteran political analyst Cokie Roberts, whose parents Hale and Lindy Boggs were both Democrat members of Congress, shows her true colors by declaring that states which support Voter ID are “downright evil.” 

Former Florida Congressman Allen West, a stalwart conservative, addresses her foolish assertion with these well chosen words: Ms. Roberts is obviously employing the ol’ Alinsky tactic of demonizing your opposition. However, to show how completely stupid her comment is, I bring to her attention the fact that picture ID was required for entry to last year’s DNC convention in Charlotte. Evil, Ma’am? The progressive socialist design to fundamentally transform our Constitutional Republic means control of the electoral system in order to guarantee a permanent national majority and one party rule. Next time Ms. Roberts takes a flight and must present her picture ID at TSA security checkpoint, will she call them evil? And, oh by the way Ma’am, black voter participation rates surpassed whites in the last two presidential cycles.

Authenticating identity before receiving a ballot or registering to vote protects the integrity of the election process. It in no way inhibits voters from exercising their rights. This is the law governing identification at the polls in Arizona.

Human Events  reports on numerous instances of fraud in the electoral process.  Pew Research reports 2.75 million Americans are registered in two states, along with more than 1.8 million deceased individuals still listed as voters.

Although the New York Times disputes the existence voter fraud, James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas exposes the ease with which people were able to obtain the ballots of dead people still registered in New Hampshire. This was the situation in Minnesota as videographers obtained absentee ballots on behalf of fictional friends, using the names of famous NFL quarterbacks.

Despite media liberals’ efforts at dismissing evidence of pervasive fraud, it is imperative our elective system inspire confidence that the process operates with honor. Requiring ID to vote is not “evil.” It is a fundamental display of integrity.

McCain & Flake stage a one-way “conversation”

Amnesty con rolls into high gear with McFlakery

A tightly-controlled, so-called “Conversation on Immigration” with AZ Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake will take place Tuesday, August 27, between 10 -11:00 am, at the Mesa Arts Center. The announcement indicates that due to “limited seating” tickets will not available to the public. Instead, they invite concerned citizens to Twitter questions in advance and say they may be used during the mid-morning event.

Don’t count on it.

John McCain and Jeff Flake, both of whom run as Republicans and align with Democrats, are leaders of the Gang of Eight — instrumental in crafting and promoting amnesty with the most ardent liberals in the US Senate.

Know this: This event is going to be a one-way “conversation.” The time frame is explicitly restricted and further contrived to ensure non-participation of concerned taxpaying citizens who have jobs.  Those specifically uninvited by virtue of the time and location are the ones who foot the mammoth bills for this deception referred to by the McFlake duo as “immigration.” Immigration is the lawful practice  of gaining citizenship. Their one-note topic is actually legalizing the invasion of an estimated 25 – 40 million of  illegal aliens upon whom the duplicitous McCain and Flake want to confer citizenship “for the good of the Republican party.”  Just the opposite is true. This is a gift to the Democrats. From Obama down, they are all too happy to accept this guaranteed death of the GOP by tens of millions of newly minted Democrats.

This issue doesn’t need more empty promises, laws, studies or “conversations.”  It needs leadership and enforcement. America doesn’t need immigration reform, it needs leadership reform. Our government has steadfastly failed to enforce existing immigration laws. Why should any American citizen believe they will do so with expanded “reforms?” We traveled this road when Ronald Reagan signed what he believed to be a “one-time” amnesty of what was then claimed to be 3 million illegals in 1986. The problem has worsened in the intervening years.

Count on McCain and Flake to spew their same, rehashed tripe, about “broken borders” and promise to “secure” them with the passage of “reforms” including the gift of U.S. citizenship to the lawbreakers, their children and extended family through chain migration and family  “reunification”  If their mouths are moving, the two practiced tricksters, McCain and Flake, are lying.

Tuesday’s event is sponsored by The Arizona Republic, 12 News and USA Today — all Gannett family members with a decidedly liberal, open borders agenda. They will live stream this contrivance. 

A “Rally Against The Gang Of 8 Amnesty Bill” from 7:30 am until noon is planned outside the McCain/Flake oratory at the Mesa Arts Center (Directions here). Join the protestors who intend to surround the entire facility with “NO AMNESTY” signs.  The rally is organized by Riders United For A Sovereign America.  (call-to-action-mccain-and-flake-to-hold-another-staged-town-hall-farce.)

In this same context, The Kingman Daily Miner runs a Guest Column that is worthy of attention. It was written by Jan E. Freeman, a resident of Golden Valley, Arizona.  Ms. Freeman articulates the views and frustrations of many in her column: “John McCain and his sycophant, Jeff Flake.”

Weekend reading guaranteed to make you smarter

Today we present a persuasive piece by John Hawkins, which was posted on Townhall.

Take time to read 5 Corporations That Should Be Blacklisted By Conservatives.  It’s time to begin rethinking our purchases and realize the actual power we hold in making these decisions.

Biggs, Burges ace Goldwater legislative report card

Arizona’s 51^st Legislature, First Regular Session 2013

The Goldwater Institute has released its 11th annual Legislative Report Card.  It analyzes 328 votes taken by the Arizona Legislature in 2013 — 165 in the Senate and 163 in the House of Representatives, out of the 1,252 bills introduced overall. The Report Card separates legislative votes into four categories: education, constitutional government, regulation, and tax and budget

The highest overall score was that of Senate President Andy Biggs and Sen. Judy Burges, both at 74 percent. Freshman state Rep. Darin Mitchell received the highest score in the House: 72 percent. Be sure to read through the various categories to see how your own district legislators rated.

Table 12 on page 38 highlights the top-five scoring legislators in all score categories.

Table 13 on page 39 shows the lowest-five scoring legislators in all score categories.

“After redistricting, and with the battle over Medicaid expansion producing unusual anti-liberty coalitions, it appears the pro-liberty gains of past years have been blunted,” said Nick Dranias, Goldwater Institute Director for Policy Development and the author of the report. “Hopefully, this will prove to be a temporary phenomenon. There is reason to hope because, while average scores are lower, most median scores are higher, indicating that more legislators have improved their scores than otherwise.”

Click here to read the report card.