A simple solution to halt AZ pedestrian deaths

Common sense enforcement needed, not study committees 

Arizona has a problem with pedestrian fatalities. According to data released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), which lists by state, we have the highest rate in the entire nation. Hawaii, which is not a border state, has the lowest. Making the numbers even more compelling is the fact that Maricopa County has the unenviable distinction of coming in second in fatalities of all U.S. counties.

The City of Phoenix, under the thumb of leftwing Mayor Greg Stanton —– a self described “progressive,” now running for congress —- jumped into action with the creation of a board to study the crisis. ‘Complete Streets’ has made recommendations after blaming the high fatality rate on our “streetscape.”

What?  You haven’t previously heard that word? That’s because you’re not a liberal urban planner, public health advocate dealing with sustainability, and complete streets, multi-modal/transportation planning and design or health impact assessments. Many of the board members are “quality of life” specialists.

Check out the Complete Streets Advisory Board Roster and their specialties.

An assemblage of nearly a dozen such luminaries is impressive, if you’re into costly social transformation. They addressed the Phoenix City Council demanding council members accelerate the process and adopt the “Complete Streets Guidelines” to make streets safer for pedestrians.

The group blames pedestrian fatalities on economic conditions, demographics, weather, fuel prices, and the amount of time people spend walking. Ergo, if you’re poor, snow drifts are high, you have to walk while texting, you could be an accident waiting to happen.

Among the concepts to alleviate such deficiencies provided for in the guidelines are more sidewalks, reducing the rate of traffic, shade structures and trees, including increased night time lighting.  The slowing of traffic, more lighting and planting of trees clearly conflict with the need to reduce gas, electricity and water consumption previously favored by “sustainability” alarmists. 

There is a simpler and less costly way to address the increase in pedestrian deaths. Begin ticketing people who refuse to use marked crosswalks. This was once known as “jaywalking” and was a ticketable offense. Now officers in patrol cars, concerned about negatively impacting cultural mores, blithely sail past mothers standing on the median with a flock of tykes, waiting for a traffic break to hustle them across the busy street, ignoring the nearby crosswalk and traffic signal.

Crosswalks are routinely disregarded. The attitude is, lines in the street are put there by authority figures and should be avoided regardless of the fact that they save lives. It’s a foolish, often ethnic-based, power struggle that has made Arizona the leader in pedestrian deaths. This is a fact you can be certain the ‘Complete Streets’ committee won’t address.

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Educrats offer sticks & stones to protect kids from violence

These administrators don’t have their party affiliation revealed, but we’re betting they’re liberal Democrat teacher’s union members *

Have you heard the good news?  Shootings taking the lives of innocent students and teachers are a thing of the past, thanks to the wisdom of William Hall, Millcreek School District Superintendent in Erie, Pennsylvania. The man is nothing if not innovative. Assumedly he devised this strategy himself, since we haven’t heard of anyone else wanting to share credit for it.

The Washington Free Beacon reports on the sheer brilliance of Hall’s foolproof idea to bring safety to our schools.

Bats! 

The 16-inch bats were recently distributed to each teacher following an in-service training day on how to respond to school shootings.

“This is a tool to have in the event we have nothing else,” said Millcreek Education Association president Jon Cacchione.  “Part of the formula now, is to fight back, and so I think the bats that were provided for the staff were symbolic of that.” Cacchione says he supports the decision to arm teachers with bats, which will be locked up in each classroom.

Hasn’t the “formula” always been to fight back? “Symbols” of retaliation against a shooter, are irrelevant to those who think lucidly.

Even though the school district he oversees is in Erie, you’ll notice the spelling is the same as the canal, not eerie, as in darkly sinister. The bats aren’t the nocturnal sort, either. They are small. and incapable of inflicting damage to a person with a gun.

Gong Erie’s Millcreek Distict even one better, the Hill reports David Helsel, the superintendent of Blue Mountain School District in rural Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania has armed students with buckets of rocks as a “last resort” against armed intruders.

Bucket of rocks! 

Every classroom now has a five-gallon bucket of rocks that students can hurl in the event there is an active shooter.

Our Constitutional framers, who enshrined the Second Amendment immediately following the guarantees of free speech and assembly in the First Amendment would be appalled by the blatant ignorance of these educrats. In 2008, the Second Amendment rights of the individual to keep and bear arms were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in  the case of District of Columbia v. Heller.

Several years ago conservative radio personality Michael Savage wrote a book titled, “Liberalism is a mental disorder.” His words ring of brilliance.

*Center for Responsive Politics

Leftist town council aims to disarm citizens

Banks join the curtailment of Second Amendment rights

At first glance, these folks — the mayor and members of the village board in the northern Chicago suburb of Deerfield — appear benign enough. On their bios they note that they are proud of their children, grandchildren and pets. One sings in a choral group, another is a retired sanitary engineer with a specialty in drainage. Among them are an accounting instructor and a lawyer.

In fact, they cast a dark shadow.

They also want to disarm the people in the community they serve, recently casting unanimous votes to ban legally owned semi-automatic firearms. The new law goes into effect June 13. Residents who don’t get rid of banned weapons by then face a fine of $1,000 a day.

Their actions are eerily similar to those imposed in Germany by Wilhelm Frick, the Nazi minister of the interior in 1938, when he issued “Regulations Against Jews Possession of Weapons.” Not only were Jews forbidden to own guns and ammunition, they couldn’t own “truncheons (clubs) or stabbing weapons.” In addition to imposing restrictions, the Nazis had begun raiding Jewish homes and seizing weapons. Other German citizens found the laws expanded regarding their ownership of firearms,

Putting his ignorance of our unique history and the rights we cherish on display, Deerfield Village Manager Kent Street said if more towns banned the weapons then it’s possible the state and federal government will too.

These are the 27-words with which Kent Street has a problem:

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

They comprise the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which our Founders thought important enough to put immediately following the First Amendment — guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly.  Leftists are hard at work attempting to curtail our rights. Now they are joined by banks. Citigroup, Inc. bank is imposing restrictions on companies that use it to issue store credit-cards or for lending and other services, according to a Thursday memo issued by Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Mike Corbat, which included these deceptive words: 

“The policy was designed to respect the rights of responsible gun owners while helping to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, It is clear to me that most people believe there are areas of agreement and practical changes we can make to find common ground.”

The lender seeks to bypass the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court and Congress. The move is being praised by gun restrictionists.

 The NRA gets it right….again. We urge you to read, “So They’re Not Coming for Our Guns, Eh? We call BS.” The commentary begins with a description of why the United States has a Second Amendment.

Firearm registration in Nazi German helped lead to the Holocaust, where millions of unarmed Europeans, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and systematically slaughtered.

 History is the greatest teacher —- if we pay attention.

McCain’s staff protest Trump’s pick for CIA director

Let’s cut to the chase. John McCain was diagnosed in July 2017 with what his Mayo doctors referred to as an aggressive, highly malignant form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.

According to the American Brain Cancer Association, among the symptoms that can develop as a result of increased pressure on the brain are drowsiness, headaches, weakness, visual changes and memory and speech difficulties. 

McCain’s family would like us to believe that the seriously ill 81-year-old is sitting at home tweeting at breakneck speed and staying out of D.C. only due to concerns of catching the virulent flu that peaked in January. Daughter Meghan claims he might return to work “by summer.” McCain’s senate “events” page goes back to 2013 and ends July 2016.

His staff, worried about their own professional futures are obviously working overtime attempting to keep him relevant, since retirement is outside of his realm of rationality.

So when we read that ‘Never Trumper’ John McCain is vehemently opposed to Gina Haspel, President Trump’s choice as C.I.A. director, it naturally raises questions about who is actually pulling the opposition strings. 

In the statement, McCain supposedly demanded Gina Haspel, currently the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, must pledge “without reservation” to oppose the use of torture if she is to be approved as director.

“The torture of detainees in US custody during the last decade was one of the darkest chapters in American history,” according to the left-leaning operatives running his office. “We are still dealing with the consequences of that desperately misguided decision.”

“Ms. Haspel,” they opine, “needs to explain the nature and extent of her involvement in the CIA’s interrogation program during the confirmation process.”

Enhanced interrogation techniques such as waterboarding, were successfully used on two high profile al-Qaeda detainees in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 to retrieve information regarding the mass murder of nearly 3,000 people in New York’s Twin Towers and the Pentagon, by Islamic extremists who commandeered commercial airliners to perpetrate unprecedented carnage on American soil.

America survived the grotesque nightmare they perpetrated, Terrorists and those aligned with them survived being dunked. No one died from waterboarding. Apologizing for using such interrogation techniques is absurd.

AZ Republic whitewashes fed’s Mexico travel warnings

The Arizona Republic newspaper, worried that the U.S. State Department’s travel warnings and bans regarding travel to Mexico will negatively impact its favored nation, especially as spring break approaches, counters with a statement from the Mexico Tourism Board.

The Board issued a blasé understatement acknowledging the U.S.’s right to warn travelers, though calling the State Department warning “counterproductive” saying “Playa del Carmen (Cozumel) is safe for travelers“— other than a recent ferry explosion, injuring 25 people.

Seriously.

Days ago, Mexican law enforcement officers located undetonated explosive devices on another tourist ferry.

“Messages like this, which imply safety issues without any basis in fact, are counterproductive to the goal of informing and educating travelers to Mexico and we strongly disagree with both this approach and the contents of this security message,” the Mexico Tourism Board announced. “Playa del Carmen is the largest destination in the Riviera Maya, and is surrounded by beautiful caves and pristine cenotes, eco parks like Xcaret, wonderful resorts, beach clubs, boutique hotels, and trendy shops with international brands.”

The statement published in the online version of the newspaper, is followed by a photo tour of “Beautiful Mexico.” 

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. is more forthright, reporting that tourists to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico suspect they were given tainted alcohol. The State Department has issued similar warnings.

If you still have travel concerns, this quote from Eric Olson who is employed promoting Mexican “migration and migrants,“ acknowledging “it’s a little bit hot now,” should put your mind at ease:

“It’s also important to underscore that none of the statements from the State Department suggested that people from the U.S. are being targeted specifically, like they may be in Afghanistan or Iraq.” 

How many Americans would find the favorable comparisons to global war zones comforting enough to allow their kids to make Mexico a spring break destination or plan a getaway for themselves?

Absent McCain partners with another Dem on amnesty

McASS hits the fence

The staff of Arizona’s Senior Senator (ASS) turn to Twitter (like the President he so reviles) to announce the latest effort to push through what they refer to as a “bi-partisan immigration compromise.”

This is what comes out of an office on auto-pilot, run by mostly left-leaning ideologues:

One of the last times John McCain was seen on the banks of the Potomac was July 28, 2017, for the senate vote to repeal Obamacare, which was delayed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell until ASS could participate. He entered the chamber, and seeking maximum effect, dramatically thrust his thumb down in a manner emulating Roman emperor Caligula, denying life to pleading gladiators in the Coliseum.  What was known as the “skinny repeal” was dealt a devastating blow, and failed with his stunning, decisive vote, in which he joined the unified Democrats and two other traitorous RINOs Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins.

The duplicitous McCain campaigned on building “the danged fence,” (video) that he now refuses to include in his last ditch amnesty scheme, that grants U.S. citizenship to nearly 2 million DACA illegals who claim they were brought here as children by their invading parents. There is no means of verifying their declarations and the upper age includes those 36 years of age and younger. As we’ve previously written, those repeatedly described as “kids” could well include “30-something” grandparents.

McCain began his efforts to increase the Democrat voting bloc by partnering with Ted Kennedy. This has remained his signature issue over decades. McCain and Jon Kyl  pushed for amnesty. He and Jeff Flake formed the Gang of 8, another amnesty scheme that undermined our national security. That effort included committed leftists Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin and squish Republicrats. Brietbart News names them all and provides a backdrop to this charade.

 The ultimate effect would be to permanently place liberals in power without securing the border or doing anything of significance to halt illegal immigration. Now the ailing and absent McCain is magically partnering with Delaware Democrat Chris Coons on yet another amnesty scheme, minus funding for the wall he supported as a ‘say-anything-to-win’ candidate.  Trust McCain and his surrogate staffers, now in charge of his senate office, at your own peril.

Voters, not colleagues, should have decided Rep. Shooter’s fate

 #MeToo movement supersedes election process

The expulsion of state Rep. Don Shooter from the Arizona legislature over allegations of sexual harassment is rightfully making national news. He has destroyed his career and dishonored his own family.  But the vote to expel the duly elected legislator raises questions about the process, while in no way condoning his actions.

The Yuma lawmaker, who lists his occupation as a developer, had a first-rate background according to his bio on the Arizona House Member’s page:

Chairman Shooter was elected to the Senate as a write in candidate in 2010. In 2011 he was appointed Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was re-elected in 2012 with 98% of the vote and in 2014 with 64% of the vote. He was reappointed as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. In 2016, he was elected to the House of Representatives and appointed as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Chairman Shooter champions the issues of fiscal responsibility, less government intrusion in our daily lives and 2nd amendment rights. He has been named a friend of the family in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by the Arizona Family Project, inducted into the Directors Hall of Fame by the Amberly’s Place victims’ rights organization and achieved the status of “Top 10 Technical Legislator” by the Arizona Tech Council.

The Republican, who let his ego get in the way of decency and good judgement, represented Legislative District 13. Rep. Shooter was removed from office Feb. 1, 2018 by a vote of 56 to 3. The measure to remove him required 40 votes of the 60 House members. Reps. David Stringer (R-LD1) and Noel Campbell (R-LD1) joined the accused in casting a no vote. The undeniable fact is Shooter was removed in an action lacking due process.

Nationally, other legislators have resigned or been stripped of their leadership posts, but not expelled after being accused of misconduct. Shooter is quoted as saying he deserves to be punished but did nothing to justify expulsion. He opted for the voters to decide his fate.

“I’ve had two, three months to think about this. I did wrong, I deserve a censure,” he said. “But I’ll tell you this. I was sent here by the people of District 13. And to the best of my knowledge, I’ve never betrayed that trust, never, never. Not for monkey business, not for contributions, not for influence, not for power, not for anything. And by God, they’re the ones who should throw me out if they want to throw me out. And they may,” he stated.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors will replace Rep.Shooter. Three of the five members are Democrats.