Ducey movin’ fast filling AZ’s senate seat

With this letter — dated Dec. 12, 2018, and hand-delivered to the Ninth Floor Governor’s office — Jon Kyl, back for a second senate stint, this time as a temporary seat holder, notified Gov. Doug Ducey that he would be leaving at the witching hour on Dec. 31. This move gives Ducey the ability to fill the senate seat for two years, until the next election cycle.

Following his retirement in 2013, Kyl returned to lobbying at the influential Washington D.C. law and lobbying firm Covington & Burling, a much more lucrative gig than the U.S. Senate. The firm has offices worldwide from Beijing to D.C.

Among the Republicans whose names are being bandied about as potential replacements for the open GOP senate seat are: Rep. Martha McSally, who lost a campaign for Arizona’s other Senate seat earlier this year by just 2.25%; Kirk Adams, who recently resigned as Ducey’s chief of staff, previously lost the GOP congressional primary to Matt Salmon in 2012; and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, in office since winning a special election in 2010.  Others, such as state Treasurer Eileen Klein, with less name ID have been mentioned. Klein, the former president of the Arizona Board of Regents, was appointed by Ducey to fill the post after Treasurer Jeff DeWit resigned to become CFO of NASA.

One thing is certain, appointing his former boss, Cindy Hensley McCain, to fill the seat held by her now-deceased husband, would not play out well for Ducey.  When Doug Ducey initially arrived in Arizona in 1983 to attend ASU, he worked at Hensley & Co., the Anheuser-Busch distributorship owned by Cindy Lou Hensley McCain. The Ducey and McCain families have remained close.

In a news release, Ducey announced he will appoint a replacement “in the near future.”  SRAZ’s readers are invited to contribute better choices for this critically important seat. John McCain, first elected in 1982, spent over three decades colluding with Democrats and stabbing Republicans in the back.

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AZ Sen. Meza aided Google’s leftist election push

State Sen. Robert Meza, who was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 14 in 2002, appears to keep a low profile. The General Election was Nov. 6, and the 54^th Senate site is still is devoid of information.

This senate seating chart shows him relegated to the back of the chamber. Though he’s now in the state senate, there is no listing for him. Bio? Don’t bother. There is none. The former House member was first elected in West Phoenix, when he wasn’t actually living in the district from which he ran, but conveniently rented an apartment to establish a home base —- moving only after the votes were counted.  Currently representing District 30, after the last redistricting, the Democrat has no listing of bills he has sponsored or co-sponsored. There is no photo, which could erroneously lead to the conclusion that he’s camera shy.

But a shrinking violet Meza is not, as evidenced by this Conservative Treehouse posting, titled, “Jim Jordan Questions Google CEO About Specific Example of Overt Political Bias From Executive…”

The post opens with this:

According to an email chain between Google executives obtained by Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and Breitbart News, Google’s Multicultural Marketing development head Eliana Murillo sent out an email November 9th, 2016, detailing how Google had “supported partners like Voto Latino to pay for rides to the polls in key states,” which she characterized as a “silent donation.”

“We even helped them create ad campaigns to promote the rides (with support from HOLA folks who rallied and volunteered their time to help),” Murillo said. “We supported Voto Latino to help them land an interview with Sen. Meza of Arizona (key state for us) to talk about the election and how to use Google search to find information about how to vote. They were a strong partner, among many in this effort.”

Read “the rest of the story,” to get the full thrust of Meza’s behind the scenes activities.

But even with his heavy lifting, he does manage to have time on his hands. In October 2017, on ‘National Coming Out Day,’ Meza joined with three other openly gay state lawmakers to announce the creation of a new ‘LGBTQ Caucus’ in the Arizona legislature. The caucus was obviously a legislative necessity.

Meza was integral to Google’s efforts ensuring the reliably Democrat Hispanic vote was gathered.  Google and Facebook also compile massive amounts of data on those who use their sites. The Guardian has the disturbing information.

H/T Commenter: Saguaro Sam

Lazy AZ voters willingly vote away their right to vote

 Coconino County: Voting is such a wearying process it deserves to be ditched

In the wake of Arizona’s leftist unionist teachers, led by a 24-year- old, self-avowed socialist veering the November elections into the Democrat column, it was easy to miss this strange election phenomenon.  First, a bit of background:

In 1974 Arizona voters approved a slickly packaged, State Bar contrivance, Constitutional Amendment known as Merit Selection of Judges. Its purpose was to replace election of judges that had served the people well, with a controlled process while letting the voters think they were participating in something far superior, since it carried the key words “non-partisan,” as cover.  The non-partisan aspect is a farce, since the judicial applicants each must designate a political party on their applications, the commissioners are all selected by virtue of their party affiliations by obviously partisan Boards of Supervisors  (on the trial court level) and the governor (appellate level courts). Ultimately the partisan governor makes the final judicial selections from among partisan applicants. When judicial vacancies occur, the 16-member commissions, selected to represent political parties, and each chaired by a voting Supreme Court justice engage in a vetting and interview process.

A 250,000 population component covered the Superior Courts, which originally included just Maricopa and Pima counties. The thirteen remaining counties didn’t reach that population threshold, so they continued to elect their judges, keeping the judiciary closer to the people they serve.  Then wha’dya know?  Suddenly Pinal county hit the magic mark, and the vote was removed from its citizens.  Next to fall into the trap will be Yavapai, Yuma and Mohave Counties.

Coconino County, the home of liberal NAU university town, Flagstaff, is number 7 on the population density list, but its residents couldn’t wait to have their votes confiscated from them by virtue of this imposed constitutional amendment overreach. Proposition 416, was sold by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors — who would now have a direct hand in the process — as representing “transparency.”

It received little notice, but in the recent election, the voters in Coconino County actually voted to give up their right to vote. Our Founders must be reeling in their graves.

Remember the words of Benjamin Franklin when he was stopped by woman at the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787:

“Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”

  “A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it.”

Michele Reagan: New P/T gig requires black attire

After a series of blunders, Michele Reagan recently lost her election for a second term as Arizona Secretary of State. The position, known as “a heart beat away from the governor’s office,” has frequently been the line of succession since Arizona has no Lieutenant Governor. The base salary is $70,000.

But never fear. She won’t be showing up at a soup kitchen. Besides being vested in the elected officials retirement plan, she’s following in her Dad’s footsteps, and going the Justice of the Peace route, which pays full time JPs $101,500. No law degree is required. A high school diploma, the ability to speak English, state residency and a pulse suffice. A quickie on-line training course is provided by the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. The Reagan family owned a political sign company after moving here from Illinois in the early 1990’s, and the name Reagan was an asset in jump starting the venture.

According to this report in the San Tan Valley Sentinel, Michele Reagan has been appointed as a Pinal County Justice of the Peace pro tempore, by Superior Court Judge Stephen McCarville. Justice of the Peace Shaun Babeu requested Reagan be appointed as a temporary judge when needed, calling her “highly qualified” for the position. Reagan’s appointment must still be approved by the Board of Supervisors before it becomes effective.

Michele Reagan, who ran as a Republican, served in the Arizona Legislature from 2002 through 2014, voting with social liberals on a wide range of issues from abortion and Common Core to amnesty for illegals.

In January 2018, SRAZ posted, “AZ SOS Michele Reagan seeks voters in Mexico,” which is chock full of information about the soon-to-be-out of elected office Republicrat Michele Reagan.  The links are worth your time, providing a tangible warning of how easy it is to be taken in by an “R,” and legendary, though unrelated, name.

In a stunning example of her disconnect with Republican voters, then-Arizona Secretary of State Reagan resigned her position as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2016, rather than go to Cleveland to vote for Donald Trump.

AZ GOP chairman’s race, rehab of RINO Brophy McGee linked

AZ GOP in desperate need of new leadership

The Hillary Clinton endorsing Arizona Republic is going to great lengths to give a warm and fuzzy embrace to Kate Brophy McGee, the type of Republican the left-wing newspaper can tolerate. She was recently given prominent coverage including an oversized photo, on Page One of the Valley and State section, proclaimed as a leading advocate for abused children.

The architect of a Machiavellian scheme to replace incumbent conservative House member Maria Syms with fellow RINOcrat, Kathy Pappas Petsas in Legislative District 28, Brophy McGee barely squeaked into office, with a mere 267 vote lead over far left Democrat Christine Porter Marsh. The final tally was 50.1% to 49.9% in the once bright red district.

Shenanigans in the district were given a boost by mailings such as this one, sent out under the auspices of the AZ GOP and shamefully green lighted by chairman Jonathan Lines.

As a result of the malicious machinations, eminently well qualified incumbent Syms lost. Her career includes serving as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Paradise Valley Town Councilwoman, and state Representative — in addition to being the only pro-life conservative of the pack.  The subversive tactics had further devastating ramifications for Republican residents of the district. Both House seats were won by Democrats. Fittingly, Brophy McGee’s recruit, agitator Kathy Pappas Petsas, who gained notoriety for wanting to “dekookify” or purge, conservatives from the party ranks, came in dead last.

Not satisfied with the damage he’s overseen, Lines who lives in Yuma and is rarely spotted at AZ GOP headquarters, is gearing up for another term as party chairman when the state statutory reorganization meeting takes place January 26, 2019. Besides being a party to the despicable mailers, he was in charge as unprecedented statewide Republican losses took place —- resulting in the GOP now being the minority in the state‘s congressional delegation. The Yuma roofing contractor needs to stay at home tending to leaky roofs and parenting his 11 children. If the Arizona Republican Party is going to be resuscitated, we need someone who can breathe life into its now flailing carcass rather than give a second chance to the one who rang its death knell.

Miss. Senate victory has AZ implications

Trump supporter’s triumph impedes Flake’s tantrums

With the support of President Trump — who traveled to Mississippi to campaign for her twice in a single day — Republican senate candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith easily defeated Mike Espy, a Clinton-era agriculture secretary and former congressman by a vote of 53.9% to 46.1%.

“As the president said, a vote for Cindy Hyde-Smith is a vote for me,” Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said as the returns came in Tuesday night. “Mr. President, I know you may be watching. We just voted for you.”

Hyde-Smith’s victory increases the GOP majority in the U.S. Senate to 53 – 47, giving President Trump the edge he needs for judicial confirmations.

In view of Hyde-Smith’s triumph, lame duck Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake’s obstinate threats to hold up senate nominations in the judiciary committee where he has been a member, make him appear even more foolish. Arizona Republicans are aware the single-term senator and obsessive Trump opponent opted out of running for reelection due to embarrassingly low 18% approval ratings in his home state. He was replaced by far-left radical Kyrsten Sinema, who will be an interchangeable obstructionist for Republicrat Flake when the new congress is sworn in January 3, 2019.

Cindy Hyde-Smith fully embraced President Trump, and her victory is an affirmation of that fact. In 2016, Mississippi supported Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton 57.9% to 40.1%. {Place cursor on linked map to see individual state results.)

Hyde-Smith fills the remaining two years of Sen. Thad Cochran’s term, and faces another election in 2020. Cochran, a Republican first elected to the Senate in 1978, retired in April due to what he referred to as “health challenges.” Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Cindy Hyde-Smith (bio) to the seat.

Bravo! Dr. Kelli Ward runs for AZ GOP chair

There is no question that Arizona Republican party chairman Jonathan Lines needs to be replaced.  His failure to effectively lead the state GOP was clearly evidenced as the returns came in following the November 6 General Election. Lines, the hand-picked successor to slickster Robert Graham, appallingly fell down on the job which he was ill-equipped to hold. Couple his obvious inadequacies with the fact that Yuma resident Lines lives about 3 hours away from the office he’s supposed to be running In Phoenix and the recipe for disaster is exceedingly clear. This is an example of Lines’ deceptive work which resulted in Dems taking both LD 28 House seats.

Kelli Ward’s announcement answers the long held hope of the GOP grassroots party activists, as she declares, “It’s time to unite the Arizona Republican Party to win big in 2020.”

The red state of Arizona is now veering purple having lost a U.S. Senate seat, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and one of the two seats on the utility rate-setting Corporation Commission. Greg Stanton, the leftwing former mayor of Phoenix won in Congressional District 9. Dems now hold five of Arizona’s nine CD seats.

Republicans Paul Gosar (CD-4), Andy Biggs (CD-5), David Schweikert (CD-6), and Debbie Lesko (CD-8) are currently the minority in the delegation.

Only Republicans Gov. Doug Ducey, Attorney General Mark Brnovich retained their state seats and first rate former state senator Kimberly Yee won as State Treasurer. But the state legislature is no longer a solid bastion as Dems made inroads in the AZ House and Senate led in large part by liberal unionist teachers, who were placated by Ducey when they abandoned their students for a week. Ducey added insult to injury with his recent appointment of a far left Dem to the Arizona Board of Regents. Could this be the final affront behind his longtime chief of staff taking a hike?

The state Republican Party clearly needs energized new leadership as this unprecedented seismic shift took place under Jonathan Lines. Amazingly, he is considering a second term as GOP chairman. Another name being floated is Frank Thorwald, whose padded resume doesn‘t address his lack of involvement in the state party. He works for Robert Graham providing Graham another puppet.

Conservative Kelli Ward is a former state senator. She traveled the state repeatedly as she waged two U.S. senate campaigns and developed national relationships necessary for this leadership post. She also has the much needed fundraising skills required for the job. Most importantly, Dr. Kelli Ward, an osteopathic physician, challenged the establishment. She is not part of it.

“The Party of Lincoln and Goldwater should be one that is led by the grassroots; unfortunately, over the last four years, the grassroots within the Republican Party have been silenced and disenfranchised both nationally and at the state level in Arizona.” Ward said in her announcement.

The Arizona Republican Party, which still has this page up touting a smiling John McCain — who died in August — as a “federal official,” will be holding its internal election in January.

Clearly, Jonathan Lines is over his head.