AZ GOP Gov candidate Christine Jones praises Hillary

 

Within two months following the deadly terrorist attacks at the American embassy in Benghazi, Arizona gubernatorial candidate Christine Jones —- running as a Republican —- bizarrely lavished praise on radical leftist Democrat Hillary Clinton. Four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador, were murdered and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lied, waffled, obfuscated, and ultimately hid out, claiming illness in her clumsy attempts at a cover-up to benefit Barack Obama and further her own aspirations.

Christine Jones’ abysmally faulty judgment is not an anomaly.  It’s chronic.

We’ve previously noted that as a key high dollar bundler for John McCain, conservative poser Jones generously donated to the campaigns of Democrats and RINOs. Now the former Go Daddy honcho, who has never evidenced any interest in the state Republican Party, arrogantly wants Arizona’s top job.

This post, “Who is AZ Guv candidate Christine Jones?” includes a video revealing her compulsive resume padding along with three stunning bold-face exposés. Take time to read the informative post and review the links. 

We can do better.

WH rats fleeing or being axed from BHO’s sinking ship

Jay Carney, Obama’s White House press secretary, who recently grew a beard to hide behind, will be stepping down in June. Obama announced Carney’s departure in a surprise appearance at the White House press briefing room today, saying deputy press secretary Josh Earnest will take over the job.  How earnest Mr. Earnest will be remains to be seen. Watch the video here showing the practiced waffler, Carney.

Obama also announced beleaguered Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is resigning in the wake of the  rapidly growing scandal involving veterans’ health care at the nation’s VA hospitals. The horrendous problems resulting in often unnecessary deaths of American veterans and accompanying deceitful cover-ups were initially revealed here in Phoenix at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Medical Center.

Obama claimed Shinseki told him he did not want to be a distraction. “I agree,” Obama said. “We don’t have time for distractions. We need to fix the problem.” 

November 2016 will provide the nation that opportunity.

Why is AZ AG Tom Horne under attack?

The answer is simple. Because Arizona’s Attorney General Tom Horne is an effective, conservative leader. You’ve seen and heard the assaults and blatant distortions. You’ve also seen this nefarious campaign strategy used against other conservatives by the liberal media and establishment cronies who are pushing their own hand-selected and acquiescent candidate —- lacking an actual track record.

Read the truth.  Take action. This August 26, 2014 primary race is crucial to Arizona conservatives who understand the importance of retaining the Attorney General’s Office and the active leadership of Tom Horne.

Read Attorney General Horne’s impressive bio and his list of achievements.

Maricopa College board raises your property taxes…again

Easy come, easy go….it’s only other people’s money

The Maricopa County Community College District governing board met earlier this week and approved yet another property tax increase. The daily reports this is the fourth tax increase in seven years and the second in a row for the 10-college district —- increasing taxes $128.24 yearly per $100,000 in property.

We reported just last month on the governing board increasing tuition by $3 per credit hour, to $84 per credit, noting MCCCD tuition has skyrocketed nearly 60 percent in just 10 years. 

This latest 2 percent increase in the tax levy, along with the tuition increase and taxes on new construction in the county, will generate about $21 million in additional revenue for the insatiable colleges.

The vote on the tax increase was 4-1. Only board member Debra Brimhall Pearson voted against the hike, although she voted for the previous increase. Pearson, who served in the state legislature as Debra Brimhall representing Snowflake from 1997 to 2004, said the state Legislature “has been derelict to the community colleges” for decreasing funding over the last several years. State aid went from 10 percent of the district’s revenue a few years ago to about 1 percent now, at $7.4 million for 2014-15.

“But I don’t believe the answer is in property taxes,” she said. Later in the meeting Pearson announced she would not run for re-election to the District 3 seat, saying, “I have a moral objection to property taxes.”

About 60 percent of the district’s revenue is from property taxes, and the community colleges account for about 12 percent of property owners’ annual bill.

After the tax vote, the members voted 5-0 to give a 1 percent pay increase to residential and adjunct faculty and most other employee groups. The board also approved the 2014-15 budget. The $774 million operating budget is about 8 percent higher than this year’s budget. The total budget, including the auxiliary, restricted and capital funds, is $1.7 billion.

Arizona’s Constitutional mandate for the state’s higher education to be as “nearly free as possible” is becoming increasingly quaint. These are the words contained in Article 11 Section 6 of the Constitution of the state of Arizona: Section 6. Admission of students of both sexes to state educational institutions; tuition; common school system.

Lawmaker Andy Tobin: Do as I say, not as I do

Paid property taxes late nearly 30 times

As Speaker of the Arizona House, Andy Tobin might be expected to have at least a shred of respect for the law. Now that he’s running for Congress in Arizona’s First Congressional District such a basic consideration should be a requisite.

According to the daily, Tobin faced the possibility of a foreclosure on his home nearly two decades ago due to racking up $2,000 in back taxes. That can happen. But far more egregious, he subsequently paid his property taxes late nearly 30 times between 2000 and 2014. At the time the Tobin’s owned three properties —- in Prescott and Paulden, including their current home —–after having sold their home in Dewey, in 1996 in lieu of foreclosure.

Tobin has other problems every bit as taxing as his taxes. He’s sorely neglected both his legislative duties and his constituents, passing them up for a south-of-the-border soiree with Democrats and RINOs. Although he’s been censured by Maricopa County Republican leaders, the union pushing Tobin has captured the support of the toxic pro-amnesty U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Sens. John McCain, Jeff Flake, Jon Kyl have jointly hosted a high-dollar fundraiser for him.

We’ve written about some of the tax woes of Tobin’s primary opponent, rancher Gary Kiehne. He’s racked up 15 past-due tax bills, for at least eight homes and parcels of land. Kiehne claims he lost track of due dates because he was campaigning.

State Rep. Adam Kwasman, an economist and the third Republican candidate in the CD1 race, is in the best possible position in this pack. He doesn’t own any property.

In memoriam: Sen. Tom Smith

Tom Smith was a very special man, who lived a meaningful life and influenced others by his fine example.

If  you were fortunate enough to have your path cross his, you knew you’d met someone of rare quality, strength of character and insight. He was a Marine, an officer and a gentleman, an educator —- and a statesman, in the truest meaning of the word.

At Tom’s request,  “please, please, no donations, sympathy cards or flowers. In lieu of this, take your spouse,  companion, friend,   neighbor, or whoever, for a night out and have one in honor of Tom.”

Further information  including time and place of the service to commemorate his life can be read here.

Videos of gun sales: Coming soon to a store near you?

Will Greg Stanton attempt to emulate Rahm Emanuel?

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is promoting a troubling ordinance that will ban gun stores in “99.5 percent” of the city and require videotaping of all gun sales at the stores that are allowed to exist, according to Breitbart News.

The ordinance will also require the few gun stores that exist to perform “quarterly audits of their gun sales and allow police to inspect their records.”

This stringent ordinance comes in response to a “federal judge’s ruling in January that Chicago’s longtime ban on gun stores was unconstitutional.” Chicago was given “six months to approve store restrictions short of a ban,” reports CBS Chicago.

Emanuel’s ordinance would also “require gun stores to submit a safety plan outlining exterior lighting, surveillance cameras and alarm systems, as well as storage of guns and ammunition.” Store employees would “undergo fingerprinting, background checks and training on identifying potential gun traffickers.”

Emanuel and Second Amendment restrictionist Barack Obama have a longtime relationship. Prior to returning to Chicago to run for mayor in 2011, the radical liberal Emanuel served as Obama’s White House Chief of Staff.

Barack Obama also has a friend in the mayor’s office in Phoenix. Obama called his congratulations to Greg Stanton on the eve of his 2011 election.  They firmed up their friendship at the National Mayor’s Conference in Washington D.C. in 2012, as Democrats Greg Stanton, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Mesa’s Republican Mayor Scott Smith —- now a candidate for Arizona governor —- were among a handful of the over 250 mayors in attendance who “were pulled aside to meet with the president in a more intimate setting.”

Leftist Stanton has aspirations that far exceed a stint as Phoenix mayor. Keep a watchful eye on him. Arizona isn’t Illinois but Second Amendment supporters can’t afford to take anything for granted.

It was not that long ago that government bureaucrats in the City of Phoenix had attempted to censor firearms expert and author Alan Korwin’s ability to post bus signs for his gun training business —- after he had contracted for them with the city. Korwin, represented by the Goldwater Institute, took his case to the state Court of Appeals earlier this month, and was victorious.

US Consul warns Americans of Mexico travel risks

“Credible threat” to safety and security in and around Nogales proves accurate with death of AZ man

The United States Consulate General has issued a strong emergency warning to U S. citizens: “due to credible threat information, the consulate urges US citizens to take highest precautions regarding personal safety in and around Nogales.”

The emergency message was issued this past Sunday, May 25.

“We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency.  If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.” 

This sober U.S. Department of State Mexico Travel Warning advises U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in the country.  U.S. citizens have been the target of violent crimes, such as homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking, and highway robbery by TCOs in various Mexican states. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico was 71 in 2012 and 81 in 2013. 

Within hours after the U.S. Consulate’s warning of “credible threats” against U.S. citizens was issued, Mexican police found the body of an American citizen from Tucson murdered execution-style on a highway outside of Nogales.

The Arizona Daily Independent carries this informative report. The Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic), the state’s largest newspaper, has ignored the emergency warnings.

Mary Rose Wilcox resigns: vows to “deliver the bacon home”

After a political career mired in controversy, Mary Rose Wilcox is vacating the post she’s held over two decades on the Board of Supervisors. But don’t rejoice at the departure of the radical advocate for illegal aliens just yet. She’s announced that she is running for the Congressional District 7 post now open via the retirement of Democrat U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor.

It won’t be difficult to gauge the type of representative she hopes to be.

As a Maricopa County Supervisor, supposedly representing all of the people in District 5, Wilcox was the recipient of a national award from the government of Mexico for “promoting the prosperity of members of the Mexican community beyond Mexico’s political borders.” Among the accolades the Mexican government heaped on Wilcox, this stands out: “She has been in the forefront in the push for comprehensive immigration reform.”

Wilcox’s lack of concern for her actual constituents was highlighted when the Supervisors voted against increasing the 2011 property tax rate on Maricopa County citizens struggling in the worst economy in decades. It was Mary Rose who cast the lone dissenting vote.

Mary Rose Wilcox profited as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Federal Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program intended to assist minorities and disadvantaged businesses. The ABC News and Goldwater Institute’s 25-page investigation links in this post no longer work. This 2009 overview is still available.

In 2011, Maricopa County taxpayers were the golden-egg-laying geese who had to shell out nearly $1 million to Wilcox for her weepy claims of being harassed and intimidated.

Wilcox will face off against former state Rep. Ruben Gallego in the Democrat primary. Obviously getting the word from the party hierarchy, State Sen. Steve Gallardo has dropped out of the congressional race — even after his “coming-out” announcement timed to ensure him support in the odd district.

Gallego has been endorsed by radical leftists CD 3 Rep. Raul Grijalva and single-termer Harry Mitchell. Wilcox has the endorsements of the retiring liberal Ed Pastor and the pro-abortion EMILY’S List, a group that spent nearly $4 million on Democrat women in 2012.

The daily reported that at her farewell reception as she departed the Board of Supervisors, Mary Rose told those in attendance, “If you pray for me, I will get that job, and I will deliver the bacon home. Thank you, and let’s eat cake.”

One thing Mary Rose Wilcox, 64, has long shown a proficiency for is delivering “the bacon home” —- to her own. Oink. Oink.

How America treats illegal aliens vs. Veterans

Memorial Day reading

Longtime readers of Seeing Red AZ are familiar with some of our favorite nationally syndicated columnists —- Michelle Malkin, Thomas Sowell, Ann Coulter and Victor Davis Hanson among them. Today, in honor of Memorial Day, we feature Malkin’s recent column “How America Treats Illegal Aliens vs. Veterans.”

Malkin points out, “In Arizona, illegal aliens incurred health care costs totaling an estimated $700 million in 2009. In Phoenix, at least 40 veterans died waiting for VA hospitals and clinics to treat them, while government officials created secret waiting lists to cook the books and deceive the public about deadly treatment delays.”

These wise words conclude her column, “America: medical and welfare welcome mat to the rest of the world, while leaving its best and bravest veterans to languish in hospital lounges, die waiting for appointments, and compete for jobs and educational opportunities against illegal border-crossers, document fakers, visa violators and deportation evaders. Shame on us.”

Read it in full here.

Knowledge is power —- a commodity that is increasingly in short supply as we lose our grasp on our Constitutionally based Representative Republic. Our elected representatives appear to have forgotten the American citizens who supported them and voted them into office. They obviously need to be reminded. Give them a call. Since we pay their salaries, they should be happy to hear from us.