Attorney General Pick Announced
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
by Manuél
It's not Janet
A sampling of examples from the archives here, here, and here.
President-elect Obama has decided to tap Eric Holder as his attorney general, putting the veteran Washington lawyer in place to become the first African-American to head the Justice Department, according to two legal sources close to the presidential transition.As an Arizonan who happens to be sane (most of the time), I'm breathing a sigh of relief that Governor Napolitano wasn't selected. Don't get me wrong, I think she would be a phenomenal AG, but for selfish reasons I hope she sticks out the rest of her term through 2010. Janet's veto pen is the only thing that stands between the loons in control at the state capitol and those of us who would have to endure the wingnut gauntlet they would enact under a Governor Jan Brewer (R).
Holder, who served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration, still has to undergo a formal “vetting” review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final and is publicly announced, said one of the sources, who asked not to be identified talking about the transition process. But in the discussions over the past few days, Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted, the source said. The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State departments.
Newsweek
A sampling of examples from the archives here, here, and here.
Labels: Arizona, Barack Obama
Rest in Peace, Sister Renilde
Sunday, November 16, 2008
by Manuél
A tireless servant of others through her faith in God. The work of Los Samaritanos will continue. Thank you for the lives you helped save and the dignity and justice you helped raise by the love you brought this world.
She was a mentor and friend to me and countless others. Rest in peace, Sister Renilde. I'm blessed to have known and worked with you over the past few years at Newman.
Labels: Samaritans
Georgia Steals Votes of New Citizens
Monday, November 10, 2008
by Manuél
Outrageous (though not surprising)
A significant number of the almost 5000 Georgia voters whose citizenship was challenged before the election will not have their ballots counted.
Last week, about 4,770 voters were told they would have to vote on paper ballots because their citizenship was in question. It was then up to them to return to their local election boards with proof of citizenship.
They're systematically victimized and officials expect new citizens to trust them? With constant headlines proclaiming the latest raid and mass deportations, it's no wonder that many of these individuals didn't voluntarily go to local election board offices when their citizenship was challenged.
And a reminder that the Republican party is batting near 1000 when it comes to serving as the villain for these types of voter and civic disenfranchisement...
Labels: 2008 Election, citizenship
Some Numbers From Arizona
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
by Manuél
Resources:
President (97.1% of precincts reporting)
McCain - 53.8%
Obama - 45%
In Pima County, Obama 52.07%/McCain 46.37%
In Santa Cruz County, Obama 64.81%/McCain 34.15% - great job Baja Arizona!
AZ Congressional District 01 (96.7% of precincts reporting)
Ann Kirkpatrick (D) - 55.5%
Sydney Hay (R) - 39.8%
AZ Congressional District 02 (96.7% of precincts reporting)
Thrasher (D) - 37.2%
Franks (R) -59.4%
AZ Congressional District 03 (99.2% of precincts reporting)
Lord (D) - 42.4%
Shadegg (R) - 53.8%
AZ Congressional District 04 (98.2% of precincts reporting)
Pastor (D) - 72%
Karg (R) - 21.5%
AZ Congressional District 05 (98.8% of precincts reporting)
Mitchell (D) - 53.2%
Schweikert (R) - 43.6%
AZ Congressional District 06 (100% of precincts reporting)
Schneider (D) - 35.1%
Flake (R) - 61.9%
AZ Congressional District 07 (93.9% of precincts reporting)
Grijalva (D) - 62.5%
Sweeney (R) - 33.5%
AZ Congressional District 08 (96.6% of precincts reporting)
Giffords (D) - 54.7%
Bee (R) - 42.9%
Proposition 100 - "Protect Our Homes" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 76.9%
No - 23.1%
Proposition 101 - "Medical Choice for Arizona" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 49.9%
No - 50.1%
Proposition 102 - "Marriage" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 56.4%
No - 43.6%
In Pima County - Yes 49.1%/No 50.59 - again, great job Baja Arizona!
Proposition 105 - "Majority Rules" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 34.3%
No - 65.7%
Proposition 200 - "Payday Loan Reform Act" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 40.5%
No - 59.5%
Proposition 201 - "Homeowners' Bill of Rights" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 22.1%
No - 77.9%
Proposition 202 - "Stop Illegal Hiring" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 40.9%
No - 59.1%
Proposition 300 - "State Legislator's Salaries" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 35.5%
No - 64.5%
Maricopa County Sheriff (99.1% reporting)
Dan Saban - 41.9%
Joe Arpaio - 55.5%
Maricopa County Attorney (99.1% reporting)
Tim Nelson - 44.1%
Andrew Thomas - 51.6% (he's an Arpaio stooge)
*that website made me want to rip out my eyeballs - way past due for an upgrade
- AZ Secretary of State Election Results
- Pima County Election Results
- Maricopa County Election Results*
- Ballot Initiative Explanations
President (97.1% of precincts reporting)
McCain - 53.8%
Obama - 45%
In Pima County, Obama 52.07%/McCain 46.37%
In Santa Cruz County, Obama 64.81%/McCain 34.15% - great job Baja Arizona!
AZ Congressional District 01 (96.7% of precincts reporting)
Ann Kirkpatrick (D) - 55.5%
Sydney Hay (R) - 39.8%
AZ Congressional District 02 (96.7% of precincts reporting)
Thrasher (D) - 37.2%
Franks (R) -59.4%
AZ Congressional District 03 (99.2% of precincts reporting)
Lord (D) - 42.4%
Shadegg (R) - 53.8%
AZ Congressional District 04 (98.2% of precincts reporting)
Pastor (D) - 72%
Karg (R) - 21.5%
AZ Congressional District 05 (98.8% of precincts reporting)
Mitchell (D) - 53.2%
Schweikert (R) - 43.6%
AZ Congressional District 06 (100% of precincts reporting)
Schneider (D) - 35.1%
Flake (R) - 61.9%
AZ Congressional District 07 (93.9% of precincts reporting)
Grijalva (D) - 62.5%
Sweeney (R) - 33.5%
AZ Congressional District 08 (96.6% of precincts reporting)
Giffords (D) - 54.7%
Bee (R) - 42.9%
Proposition 100 - "Protect Our Homes" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 76.9%
No - 23.1%
Proposition 101 - "Medical Choice for Arizona" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 49.9%
No - 50.1%
Proposition 102 - "Marriage" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 56.4%
No - 43.6%
In Pima County - Yes 49.1%/No 50.59 - again, great job Baja Arizona!
Proposition 105 - "Majority Rules" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 34.3%
No - 65.7%
Proposition 200 - "Payday Loan Reform Act" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 40.5%
No - 59.5%
Proposition 201 - "Homeowners' Bill of Rights" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 22.1%
No - 77.9%
Proposition 202 - "Stop Illegal Hiring" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 40.9%
No - 59.1%
Proposition 300 - "State Legislator's Salaries" (97.3% reporting)
Yes - 35.5%
No - 64.5%
Maricopa County Sheriff (99.1% reporting)
Dan Saban - 41.9%
Joe Arpaio - 55.5%
Maricopa County Attorney (99.1% reporting)
Tim Nelson - 44.1%
Andrew Thomas - 51.6% (he's an Arpaio stooge)
*that website made me want to rip out my eyeballs - way past due for an upgrade
Labels: 2008 Election
Yes We Did!
by Manuél
The First Family-Elect of the United States of AmericaLabels: 2008 Election, Barack Obama
Obama's State-Level Effect in AZ
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
by Manuél
While the polls for the presidential contest have been tightening in recent weeks between Senators Obama and McCain in Arizona, the effect of the Democrats' ability to register, empower and organize voters will be felt more powerfully on the state level.
Tonight, we have an opportunity to flip the state House of Representatives to the Democrats by netting four seats. The sea change that will represent cannot be overstated. Governor Napolitano has been the only firewall for the past few years against a far-right, nativist led GOP caucus in both chambers of the state legislature. These are the jokers that have repeatedly put up anti-migrant and anti-latino initiatives up for vote; the same crazies who want guns in bars, restaurants and school campuses. If the Democrats get their vote out today, the era of Russell Pearce-dominated politics under the capital dome will be at an end.
On the federal level, 2006 brought an even parity of Democrats and Republicans to the congressional delegation with Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords earning seats to represent Arizona. Ann Kirpatrick will almost undoubtedly become the newest face to the scene in CD01. She's run a fantastic campaign and probably worn out several pairs of walking shoes from all the visits she's made around the huge district (it's bigger than the state of Illinois); and if a tsunami strikes the GOP tonight, we can also say hello to Congressmen Bob Lord in CD03 - we'll see what happens.
Ballot initiatives will be a mixed bag. I fully expect the anti-migrant proposition 202 to pass as it gives nativists and haters a chance to take out their agression since the issue has been largely absent from the national dialog. The "Bigotry with a Smile" proposition 102 that will amend the state constitution to define marriage between a man and woman only is hopefully going down to defeat (again!), but have to admit that the Yes people have been very visible with signs and commercials this cycle. As I said before, if there is a progressive wave from all the work the Obama campaign has done in the past few months, we'll see it in ballot lines like these.
Polls are open until 7PM local time (9pm Eastern).
Don't forget your ID.
Tonight, we have an opportunity to flip the state House of Representatives to the Democrats by netting four seats. The sea change that will represent cannot be overstated. Governor Napolitano has been the only firewall for the past few years against a far-right, nativist led GOP caucus in both chambers of the state legislature. These are the jokers that have repeatedly put up anti-migrant and anti-latino initiatives up for vote; the same crazies who want guns in bars, restaurants and school campuses. If the Democrats get their vote out today, the era of Russell Pearce-dominated politics under the capital dome will be at an end.
On the federal level, 2006 brought an even parity of Democrats and Republicans to the congressional delegation with Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords earning seats to represent Arizona. Ann Kirpatrick will almost undoubtedly become the newest face to the scene in CD01. She's run a fantastic campaign and probably worn out several pairs of walking shoes from all the visits she's made around the huge district (it's bigger than the state of Illinois); and if a tsunami strikes the GOP tonight, we can also say hello to Congressmen Bob Lord in CD03 - we'll see what happens.
Ballot initiatives will be a mixed bag. I fully expect the anti-migrant proposition 202 to pass as it gives nativists and haters a chance to take out their agression since the issue has been largely absent from the national dialog. The "Bigotry with a Smile" proposition 102 that will amend the state constitution to define marriage between a man and woman only is hopefully going down to defeat (again!), but have to admit that the Yes people have been very visible with signs and commercials this cycle. As I said before, if there is a progressive wave from all the work the Obama campaign has done in the past few months, we'll see it in ballot lines like these.
Polls are open until 7PM local time (9pm Eastern).
Don't forget your ID.
Acceptable forms of identification with photograph, name, and address of the electorAn identification is "valid" unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired.
- Valid Arizona driver license
- Valid Arizona nonoperating identification license
- Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
- Valid United States federal, state, or local government issued identification
Acceptable forms of identification without a photograph that bear the name and address of the elector (two required)An identification is "valid" unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired.
- Utility bill of the elector that is dated within ninety days of the date of the election. A utility bill may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cellular phone, or cable television
- Bank or credit union statement that is dated within ninety days of the date of the election
- Valid Arizona Vehicle Registration
- Indian census card
- Property tax statement of the elector's residence
- Tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification
- Recorder's Certificate
- Valid United States federal, state, or local government issued identification, including a voter registration card issued by the county recorder
Labels: 2008 Election, Ann Kirpatrick (AZ-01), Barack Obama, Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Harry Mitchell (AZ-05), John McCain
Gov. Dean in Tucson Today for GOTV Rally
Monday, November 03, 2008
by Manuél
From the mailbag:
Washington, DC - On Monday, November 3rd DNC Chairman Howard Dean will spend the last full day of the 2008 presidential election helping to get out the vote for Democrats in John McCain's home state of Arizona. Dean will headline a Get Out the Vote Rally with local Democrats in Tucson, Arizona on the heels of Arizona being moved from "Leaning McCain" to "Toss Up" by Real Clear Politics.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Tucson, AZ
PIMA COUNTY GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY
Pima County Coordinated Campaign Office, Outdoor Parking Lot
4639 E 1st Street
Tucson, AZ
Event Time: 12:00 PM Local Time
Labels: 2008 Election
Barack the "47-year-old mulato"
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
by Manuél
Ever wonder why the GOP is going the way of their mammoth cousins' extinction out west?
It's because the Minutemen/blatantly racist crazies are the public face of their party. I've been saying this for a long time now.
Take Arizona's Congressional District 7 for example. This is the second time Joe Sweeney will appear as the Republican candidate facing off with Democratic incumbent Raúl Grijalva:
It's because the Minutemen/blatantly racist crazies are the public face of their party. I've been saying this for a long time now.
At all levels of government, the Republican party has allowed their public faces to be the most rabid of nativists in our midst. The Arizona GOP State Chairperson is not only one of the vigilantes, he was also the architect of Proposition 200. Plus, lets not forget that the now-retired JD Hayworth was a huge supporter of the Binocular Brigade. Oh, and how about the State Legislature's darling conservative Russell Pearce?Instead of getting a clue that the public is more moderate than the far-right, Republican operatives think that electoral salvation will come to them in the form of returning to "core principles." Yet, they try to have it both ways by giving soft or no support to GOP candidates that appear on ballots as one of them who are truly batshit-insane, failing to organize their herd enough to keep said lunatics off the ballots.
And their candidates? Last fall, Randy Graf was out spooking everyone for Halloween with pregnant girls warning against invading hordes of Mexicans while Ron Drake was advocating for the Great Wall of America™.
These are not the voices of moderation. These are not voices who are even making an attempt to understand where the Latino community is coming from on the various issues of the day. It is a group who has chosen to define us in the most negative way possible.
Take Arizona's Congressional District 7 for example. This is the second time Joe Sweeney will appear as the Republican candidate facing off with Democratic incumbent Raúl Grijalva:
The Republican Party does not endorse Sweeney, a rapid opponent of illegal immigration who calls Interstate 19, between Tucson and Nogales a "Whore-i-dor" and who says illegal immigrants outnumber U.S. citizens in the 7th Congressional District.
He also complains on behalf of "Anglo-Saxon women who say they are discriminated against because they are not bilingual," and derides Barack Obama as a "47-year-old mulato."
He also supports legislation that would make being gay a crime.
Sweeney says he's just saying what other people think.
Tucson Citizen (emphasis mine)
All that's missing is the white sheet and hood - and as extreme as Sweeney is, it brings mounds of schadenfreude-laden delight that right next to his name is his party affiliation: Republican
Labels: 2008 Election, Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07)
Día De Los Muertos Events in Tucson
by Manuél
Sábado, 1 de Noviembre
- 8:30AM - Día de los Muertos Pilgrimage - From St. John's Church to San Xavier Mission - sponsored by Coalición de Derechos Humanos
- 5:00PM - Community Altar Celebration - Tucson Museum of Art
Enjoy a family-oriented celebration of the ancient Mexican custom known as Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead at the Tucson Museum of Art, Saturday November 1 at 5:00 pm in the courtyards and galleries at 140 North Main Avenue in historic downtown. This event is free and open to the public.
Enjoy the festive atmosphere of traditional Mexican light displays, music, and food. Join in the parade around the courtyard and over to El Presidio Park with Big Head Puppets. Marvel at the special altar created by students of St. Ambrose School and the Museum School for the Visual Arts. Bring photos or other small items to add to the Community Altar (any items that are not retrieved by the following day, Sunday, November 2 will be burned in a giant urn at the end of the All Souls Procession).
This special celebration in honor of our loved ones and ancestors who’ve passed is a collaborative effort between the Tucson Museum of Art, Many Mouths One Stomach, St. Ambrose School, and the Museum School for the Visual Arts.
This year, Derechos Humanos has documented the recovery of 183 bodies on the Arizona-Sonora border. The lives of these men, women and children should be acknowledged and honored.
It is our goal to have one person to carry each cross as we make this 8-mile journey. We need your help to do this, and we invite you to join us this Saturday to celebrate the lives lost on our border.
- 6:00PM - All Souls Procession, 4th Avenue to Downtown (full route here)
Mark your calendars! The 19th Annual All Souls Procession is on Sunday, November 9, 2008. Many of you have expressed concern and puzzlement with our choice of this years’ date for the Procession. Usually we pick the first Sunday in November, and this year that Sunday is on the same weekend as Halloween. In past years, we have held the Procession close to Halloween and the Procession suffered because of it. We had crowds of drunk, rowdy people who were not at all mindful of the intention of the “ All Souls…” . They were in the spirit of Halloween revelry, which -though similar- was more about shock value, partying and raising a ruckus.
As organizers of the Procession, our priority is always quality of experience over quantity of participants, and though the Procession has grown exponentially, we will always strive to propagate an “ALL SOULS PROCESSION” that is a grassroots, non-commercial, hyper-inclusive, sacred event dedicated to honoring our ancestors and loved ones who have passed on.
Labels: border policy, Cultura, Tucson
