Arizona's Own Espresso Pundit

Taking a Mulligan

Sports references can be very powerful.  If the Governor gives a great speech and you describe it as a "home run" everyone knows what you mean.  Since we all know what a "home run" is, the phrase immediately communicates a lot in just a few words.  But the reference falls apart if you have to explain it. 

Here's a great example.  The Star issues a big "I told you so" to Hispanic groups that supported Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.  The paper thinks they should admit they made a mistake.

In essence, they're refusing to take a mulligan, which is the golf term for a do-over. If a golfer sends a tee shot 50 yards off the fairway, he takes a mulligan and hits another tee shot. The key here is that the golfer essentially admits that he's made a huge mistake that can't be remedied. He recognizes his error and moves on.

Wow, that's awkward.  The only thing worse than using a sports term and then having to explain it...is getting it wrong.   In addition to being unhappy with Hispanic groups, the Star thinks that the state's new immigration law is too tough. 

Under the law the governor signed, a business basically gets one strike. The first time it is cited for hiring illegal immigrants, its license is suspended; the second time, its license is revoked.

One strike?  Your license is revoked after TWO violations.  That looks like a TWO strike rule.

The mistake is even more obvious when they describe the constitutional amendment.

The constitutional amendment has no strikes. You get caught hiring illegal workers, your business goes dark.

No strikes?  Dude, a swing and a miss is one strike. 

The writer is thinking of something else.  He's thinking of a rule that allows the player to make one mistake and still play...you know a mulligan. 

District 5 is Heating Up

Here's the Tribune's Le Templar on the CD 5 race. 

The possible bid by Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Tempe, opens a new dimension for this race. I have been told that some Republican Party regulars (include a few potential competitors) are trying to talk him out of running to reduce the bloodletting in a combative primary. But his announcement about creating an exploratory committee, as reported Wednesday by Tribune writer Paul Giblin, demonstrates an independent streak that characterizes Anderson's general relationship with other Republican politicians.

Anderson is a reliably pro-life, pro-family values conservative with a track record of quietly winning elections in west Mesa. He's considered less ideological and less inflammatory than his two colleagues from legislative District 18, Rep. Russell Pearce and Sen. Karen Johnson. He sees a limited role for government beyond basic public safety and transportation issues. (He believes in the effectiveness of drug addiction treatment, for example, and has supported government funding for faith-based approaches). He struggles from time to time with religious slights against his membership in Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church (which somehow gets confused with Scientology).

Anderson has shown he can work face-to-face with Democrats to shape policy. That certainly could help Anderson in a general election match up. But a reputation for reaching across the party aisle might hurt him in a Republican primary where at least some party voters will be looking for a highly partisan candidate to clash with Mitchell.

Another challenge for Anderson is his Mesa support base falls largely outside of Congressional District 5. He has to figure how to appeal to Republicans in Scottsdale and Ahwatukee Foothills who don't share as strong a dislike for government spending as their Mesa counterparts, while preferring less government interference on social issues. (Keep in mind, we're talking shades of GOP red here).

A good gauge of Anderson's potential success will be how much money he can raise before he makes a final decision on whether to enter the race, probably in January. A relative lack of money might not keep Anderson from running. But it could very well prevent him from reaching enough voters to have a real impact on the September 2008 primary.

Today in Espresso Straight News.

http://www.espressostraight.com/

Word from Tom Horne

Arizona Students score above average on SAT Scores...

Read the whole thing. 

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce Reports:

It’s not a bad time to be a job seeker in Arizona. But for those offering jobs, the task is a bit tougher. In order to meet the high demand for labor companies are seeking creative ways to attract workers.

And Lincloln Combs, author of "Suns in Six" has an update.

I'll discuss the Tournament of the Americas in more detail in a future post, but as a lifelong Suns fan and Laker-hater, it was really weird last night to be rooting for Kobe Bryant to shut down Leandro Barbosa.  REALLY weird.

Finally:

Beauty is fleeting, but Stupid is forever. 

Papa es mi Pastor, nada me falta.

Daddy is my Sheperd, I Shall Not Want.

Here's a cool trick.  I'm getting quite a few reports that Congressman Ed Pastor sent a piece of franked mail that coincided with early voting in his daughter's city council race.  Considering her council district is entirely within his congressional district, her signs are modeled on his signs and his Washington contributors have suddenly developed an interest in local politics, I guess we shouldn't be too surprised by the last minute, taxpayer-funded push to get young Laura a nice job. 

I guess they didn't name him "Pastor" for nothing. 

New Times has more on the race here.

Tribune Will be Free!

Sources confirm that the Tribune is going to start just throwing the paper into driveways and not bother charging for it.  Well, I guess that's one way to address the circulation issue. 

Kyl on Gonzales' Departure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

“The Attorney General’s resignation offers an opportunity for Washington to stop partisan bickering and move forward with the people’s business. 

“The President can start the process by nominating a quality non-political person to serve; and the U.S. Senate can reciprocate by using the confirmation process not to settle old scores or politicize the nomination, but to fairly examine the qualifications of the nominee.

“As the highest ranking Hispanic ever to serve in the federal government, Alberto Gonzales should be commended for his achievements and service.”

Flake Profiled in LA Times

WASHINGTON -- When Rep. Jeff Flake rises to speak in the House of Representatives, his colleagues grimace.

Usually, the Arizona Republican is out to shame them over earmarking money for pet projects that have little to do with federal priorities.

People used go grimace when I got up to speak in the Arizona House of Representatives...but it I think it was for a different reason.

Reed the whole article. 

Knowingly Deceptive

It's been interesting to watch the Arizona Daily Star's evolving positions on the employer sanctions issue. 

Back when Republicans wanted to build a fence, the Star thought employer sanctions were a good idea.  Here's what they said on July 5th.

It's a good idea to impose sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. It would be an even better idea if employers had an ironclad method of verifying the citizenship of a job applicant and if sanctions were one part of a bigger immigration package.

The Star called for a federal employer sanctions bill, but later in July, it opposed the state version.  In fact, after calling for a federal employer sanctions bill, the Star called the state employer sanctions law "draconian."  At least they conceded that the state version required business to "knowingly" hire Illegal Aliens in order to be penalized.

Under the ill-conceived employer-sanctions law, a business' license could be suspended and the workplace shut down - leaving all employees out of work - if the business knowingly hires an undocumented worker.

The paper then gets completely confused and claims that the violations need to be "knowingly and intentionally."  Here's what they said on July 19th.

The state's new employer-sanctions law is at center stage in this battle. The law says the state can suspend and ultimately revoke the business license of a company that knowingly and intentionally hires workers who are in this country illegally.

Finally, after suggesting that Employer sanctions were good idea and then opposing them, then admitting that the violations needed to be knowing or intentional, the Star changes its tune yet again.  Here's August 18th

Businesses are expected to verify that workers are eligible for employment with an inadequate federal system that checks names and Social Security numbers. The mistake of one employee could jeopardize an entire business.

Oh, so now mistakes can shut down a business?

First the sanctions were a good idea, then they were Draconian.  They started out to be "knowingly" and then they had to be "knowingly and intentionally," and now they can be simple mistakes. 

Either the Star doesn't read its own editorials, or they assume we don't. 

Today in Espresso Straight

Political junkies will want to read Randy Pullen's memo on Employer Sanctions, together with Nathan Sproul's response.  Check them out at http://www.espressostraight.com/

While you are there, check out Lincoln Combs' commentary on NBA Refs.

Suns fans will find interesting today's article by SI.com NBA Insider Marty Burns (via TrueHoop) on the "old boys network" for NBA officials. Actually Marty wonders "if" there is an old boys network among NBA officials, but when seven of the 58 NBA refs who worked games last year are from Philadelphia and four of those -- including infamous crooked ref Tim Donaghy -- are from the same high school, well, it's not too hard to read between the lines.

Meanwhile, our Classical music reviewer State Rep. Bob Stump has this report.

Today, Wilhelm Furtwängler is remembered – and revered – as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century.  During the Nazi reign of terror, however, Furtwängler assumed a role of enormous controversy: He remained in Germany – so he claimed – to keep Beethoven alive amid the barbarity, to instill hope through music, to compel a frame of mind and spirit for Germans marinated in absolute evil.  “One cannot play Mozart and Beethoven,” said Furtwängler, “and turn away from those who live and die for them.”

Finally, the Center for Arizona Policy announces a biotech conference. 

The Biotech Century: Facing Our Future is a practical conference on Christian worldview and bioethics coming to Phoenix on November 3! There is so much confusing and conflicting information about  complicated issues such as embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, "designer babies," end-of-life care, who will tell you the TRUTH ?

Uber Conservative?

Journalists don't like to consider themselves liberal...they're "moderate."  The problem is that just to the right of "moderate" is "Conservative," and it's obvious that the folks who are just to the journalist's right aren't conservatives.  That's because there is a large group of people who are to the right of the group that journalists like to call conservative. 

So liberal journalists who call themselves moderates have to coin terms for that huge block of elected officials that includes, Senator Kyl, Reps Shadegg, Flake and Franks together with about 40% of the legislature.  Ultra Conservative was in for a while.  But it's hard to define 40% of the legislature as "ultra."  Neo Conservative was hot for a couple years until folks realized that it was offensive code talk for "Conservative Jew."  Besides, after they saw Matrix, they realized that Neo meant "new."

The Republic's Amanda Crawford shows the classic characteristics of a LID (Liberal in Denial) when she feels compelled to label United Families International in the following blog entry.

United Families International --the uber conservative, pro-traditional values group -- reports in its August newsletter that they're gearing up (and soliciting donations) for ballot fights over gay marriage in Arizona and other states next year.

The real question is whether folks are going to push for the domestic partner bit or concentrate just on marriage. (The die-hards aren't just against gays. They're against straight folks living in sin and getting government benefits for it, too.)

Unfortunately, "uber" means "exceptional," not "extreme," so it doesn't really fit. 

The more important point is that Crawford's tone and lines like "die-hards aren't just against gays" makes it clear what she thinks about the issue.  It would difficult for her to lay such obvious bias aside.  Even if she were to try to be fair, her pre-conceived (and pre-printed) strong disdain for the supporters of traditional marriage would make it impossible for readers to trust the fairness of her reporting.   

I assume Ms. Crawford will recuse herself from covering the upcoming campaign.

Renzi Will Not Seek Re-Election.

Roll Call is Reporting that Renzi will not seek re-election.  Now the Dominoes start to fall. 

Here's my (alphabetical) list of viable potential candidates.  Feel free to chime in, but please be polite.  Ken Bennett, Rusty Bowers, Sidney Hay, Bill Konopnicki and Kris Mayes.

UPDATE:  I'm reminded that I forgot O'Halleran.  On the Democratic side, Ann Kirtkpatrick has already resigned to run and is the only announced candidate.  Steve Owens is the other obvious Democratic candidate.  Other than that, I don't have any special knowledge, so I'll rely on the comments. 

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) said in a statement obtained by Roll Call that he will not seek re-election in 2008, ending months of speculation regarding the ethically clouded Congressman’s political future.

“I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. I am honored and thankful to serve Arizona’s first district and appreciate all that we have accomplished together over the past 6 years.”

Renzi’s retirement announcement adds to a list of GOP Members planning to depart upon the conclusion of the 110th Congress, including Reps. Ray LaHood (Ill.), Deborah Pryce (Ohio) and Chip Pickering (Miss.), as well as former Speaker and Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.).

But while some of those retirements and the open seats they are creating could cause problems for the Republicans’ hopes of recapturing the majority, Renzi’s departure could help the GOP by allowing them to nominate a replacement that is free of the ethical baggage that appears to have ultimately undone the Congressman’s futur

Renzi staved off a spirited challenge from his Democratic challenger last cycle, but saw his political fortunes plummet following an FBI raid of a business connected to his family as part of a federal probe into his dealings as a Congressman.
 
Renzi has not admitted to any wrongdoing, but it has become increasingly clear that the investigation would imperil any 2008 re-election bid, and possibly result in him facing multiple GOP primary challengers.

Today in Espresso Straight News

Be sure to check out the new posts on Espresso Straight. http://www.espressostraight.com/

Diamondbacks update by Lincoln Combs,

One of those findings is that the best predictor of future performance of a team – the stat that gets really at the heart of how good or bad a team really is – is not its win-loss record but its run differential, its runs scored against runs allowed. 

Claude Debussey by the Espresso Straight Classical Music Reviewer Rep. Bob Stump

Debussy is arguably the most influential composer France has yet produced and ranks among the most important composers, period.

The Center for Arizona Policy Presents Dr. Marvin Olasky

Start the fall off right by hearing from someone who is making a world of a difference in the culture! Dr. Marvin Olasky is one of America's leading Christian journalists and authors.

The Arizona Chamber announces its Weekly E-verify meeting.

This is a reminder that every Thursday at 11 a.m. the AZ Chamber hosts a web demonstration with the Department of Homeland Security on how to use the federal Basic Pilot Program (Now called E-Verify) to verify employee work eligibility. The demos are free and have an open Q&A session with officials from DHS. We are limited to 125 participants per session, so please register in advance to reserve your place and receive the log-in instructions.

On Friendly Ground

I'll be speaking at the District 18 Republican Meeting Tonight at 7:00.  The meeting is held in the City of Mesa Utility building located at 630 N. Mesa Drive, Mesa.  It is located between University and Brown Rd on the west side of the street.

Black as the Pit from Poll to Poll

Governor Napolitano's Poll numbers have been remarkably constant.  She almost always is within the margin of error of about 60% approval ratings, but it's fun to watch how the Republic spins the numbers.  The pattern is remarkable.  First, there's a glowing headline about how much the numbers are improving or how high they are and then some little gimmick or editorial comment to make the poll seem important.

The headline from today's Valley and State fits the pattern perfectly.

Napolitano popularity soars in poll
Governor could beat McCain for Senate if 2 were running today
Aug. 22, 2007

Napolitano's performance as governor was rated "excellent" or "good" by 59 percent of respondents,

Notice that at 59% her popllarity "soars."

But here's what the Republic reported over 4 years ago.

NAPOLITANO'S APPROVAL RATING UP SINCE APRIL
July 25, 2003

A survey of 701 people last week showed that nearly 60 percent of Arizona residents say Napolitano is doing an "excellent or good" job.

So the approval rating is higher than it is today, but today it's "soaring."  Next, it gets really high. 

NAPOLITANO, LEGISLATORS GET GOOD GRADES
POLLSTER DE BERGE SAYS COOPERATION PLEASES VOTERS
January 20, 2004

Among most likely voters, Napolitano's popularity soared to a 78 percent approval rating.

Wow, 78%.  That makes this next one really funny.

GOVERNOR, LAWMAKERS GET HIGH MARKS IN POLL
NAPOLITANO'S APPROVAL RATING BEST EVER
Arizona Republic, The (Phoenix, AZ)
July 27, 2004

Napolitano rated excellent or good among 52 percent of Arizonans.

Best ever?  She slipped from 78% to 52% in six months.

GOP NOT CONVINCED GOVERNOR INVINCIBLE -
NAPOLITANO HAS BIG EDGE WITH NO SURE OPPOSITION
May 15, 2005

Her approval ratings are hovering above 60 percent.

Here's a cool trick.  Napolitano's numbers dip in the next poll, but the paper finds a little gimmick.

NAPOLITANO OUTPOLLS BUSH AMONG STATE REPUBLICANS
October 25, 2005

Napolitano scored an overall approval rating of 57 percent. Among Republicans alone, she had 46 percent approval, or 3 percentage points more than Bush's overall standing.

This April, the numbers are still pretty much constant.   

GOVERNOR RATES HIGH IN MARCH POLL
April 3, 2007

Napolitano, a Democrat, received a rating of excellent or good from 62 percent of Arizonans who were surveyed, according to the Rocky Mountain Poll.

And then we get back to today's headline where we learn that her popularity has soared to 59%.  You know, just like it's always been. 

Napolitano popularity soars in poll
Governor could beat McCain for Senate if 2 were running today
Aug. 22, 2007

Tribune Loses its Publisher

Word on the street is that the Tribune's Publisher is leaving to become the publisher of the Orange County Register.  (The Register has been adrift since its last candidate for Publisher was caught lying about her education.)

Rumor has it that the new candidate is from Southern Arizona.

UPDATE:  The Tribune now has the news on their website.  (Ironic that it was on Espresso Pundit before it was on the Trib's own site.)

Freedom Communications, the parent company of the East Valley Tribune, announced Wednesday Julie Moreno, who heads the The Sun in Yuma, was named publisher of the East Valley and Scottsdale Tribunes.

Today in Espresso Straight News

When I launched Espresso Straight, I mentioned that it would be cool if we had people write articles that are out of their field but about which they are experts.  I suggested that Jon Kyl could cover NASCAR, The Guv could cover opera and Len Munsil could cover sports. 

No takers among those three, but Representative Bob Stump has offered to provide our opera and classical music coverage.  That's awesome.  Check it out at http://www.espressostraight.com/

On Serious Ground

In the Art of War, Sun Tsu famously describes nine hostile situations or "grounds" that can be encountered in battle.  Each ground has its own purpose and tactics.  For example, there's Desperate ground, Facile ground, Dispersive ground and perhaps the most important...Serious Ground. 

Serious Ground is when you penetrate deep into the heart of hostile country.  It looks like Len Munsil's team is on Serious Ground. 

Check out this article on AzCentral.  More specifically, check out the author.

Police searching for suspect in weekend robberies

Leigh Munsil
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 20, 2007 10:56 AM

Dude, that's awesome.  And he's got, like, seven more kids.

No Wonder the Public Doesn't Trust Newspapers

Here's the A1 above the fold 1,000 word Republic article screaming the news that Sandra Dowling had been hit with a 25 count indictment.

DOWLING HIT WITH 25 COUNTS -
SUPERINTENDENT IS INDICTED IN THEFT, FRAUD
Arizona Republic,
November 21, 2006
Author: Carrie Watters, The Arizona Republic

Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling, a longtime advocate for homeless children, has been indicted on 25 felony charges, from theft to bid rigging and conflict of interest.

Here's the article proclaiming that nearly half of the charges were dropped.

Charges Dismissed against former schools chief

A Maricopa County judge today dismissed 10 criminal charges against former county school superintendent Sandra Dowling.

The second article is 200 words on the bottom of B8 next to the weather page. 
At least Dowling got an update.  How about this story about Congressman Jim Kolbe?
PROSECUTORS LOOK INTO CLAIM OF KOLBE MISBEHAVIOR ON TRIP
Arizona Republic, The (Phoenix, AZ)
October 14, 2006
Author: Billy House, Republic Washington Bureau
Estimated printed pages: 3

Federal prosecutors are looking into an unspecified allegation tied to a rafting and camping trip that Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., took a decade ago with two former male congressional pages and others through the Grand Canyon.

Of course when the Federal prosecutors cleared Kolbe of the "decade" old "unspecified allegation" there was no coverage in the Republic.  Zero.

It may not sell newspapers to report that charges are dropped and people are cleared but I think it's an ethical obligation.  The news that someone is cleared needs to be printed as prominently as the news that they might be in trouble. 

It won't sell any papers, but it might improve public trust and it seems to me that public trust in newspapers is the only thing dropping faster than circulation. 

Outrageous Behavior

I've been so upset about the details of the Michael Vick case that I have been unable to write about it. 

First, the selective prosecution bothers me.  Am I the only one who sees it? Just when my kids find someone who is like them, someone they can use as a role model, someone who has risen above the cries of "sinister," and "gauche" the federal government decides to target him. The fact that he has been singled out is obvious.  Sure, the feds would have been willing to ignore him if he wasn't so famous.  But let a left-handed man rise above the crowd and he immediately has a target on his back. 

The second issue--the serious issue--spotlighted by L'affaire Vick is hubris and the corruption that comes from power and money.  Once a man has a taste of power and money, he wants more.  He acknowledges no limitations.  He is above the law.  In fact, he IS the law.  That's right, I'm talking about Congress.

Michael Vick is being prosecuted under a federal Dog Fighting statute.  My gosh, we have a federal dog fighting statute?  Madison and Hamilton are spinning in their graves.  Oh sure, Congress only attempts to regulate dog fighting that "affects interstate commerce."  Are there no bounds?  Is there no modesty?  Is there no aspect of life that Congress will not attempt to regulate?  We are a country of enumerated powers.  If it doesn't show up in Article one Section 8 then Congress isn't allowed to do it.  But don't tell them that.

Actually, the Supreme Court has been pointing that fact out.  Lopez and especially Morrison make it clear that Congressional attempts to create its own police power by slapping the word "Commerce" on criminal laws won't be tolerated. 

Hubris, corruption, power and greed.  That's what we can see in the Michael Vick story.  And not all of the lessons come from Michael Vick. 

Retro Rove Video

Check out the 1972 Walter Cronkite interview with Karl Rove that Bill Tierney posted on Espresso Straight.  You will see birth of modern campaigning.  http://www.espressostraight.com/

Tucson Gambles with Pension Money

An article in Sunday's Star provided a surprising revelation about the City of Tucson Pension fund...too bad the reporter never made the connection. 

Tucson's dilemma: Is making a political statement by not investing its pension assets in Iran worth the potential $2.8 million hit taxpayers would take to finance it?  That's the question the City Council will face this fall as it considers divesting itself of any fund that has any connection to Iran's energy industry.

First, the premise of the story is essentially meaningless.  Tucson invests it's pension in a fund that has a tiny stake in a French company that has some investments in Iran.  That's garage fire journalism. 

Second, the story is fundamentally flawed because the reporter makes the obvious mistake of assuming that the funds will earn the same amount this year as they did last year.  His argument is essentially "the fund that invests in Iran made 19% last year and the other fund made 12% last year, so if we move $54 million from one fund to the other, it will cost $2.8 million."  Anyone with a basic understanding of investments will know that past performance is no guarantee of future returns.  After all, if the first fund is so good, why not put all the money in it. 

So the entire point of the article is based on a rather silly mistake.  But more importantly, the reporter missed the real story.

Why is the city of Tucson placing substantial portions of its pension investments into high risk international equity funds?  The article points out that the city has $108 million split between Julius Baer International Equity Fund and Causeway Capital Management fund. 

The Reporter is concerned that the city will lose $2.8 million if it switches out of the Julius Baer fund, but a little research would have shown that the city's investment in that fund lost over $6 million over the LAST MONTH!

Here's a chart for the Julius Baer international fund.  That's an 11.63% loss in in 30 days!  Applied to a $54 million base, that translates to a $6 million loss.

 

Morningstar classifies the fund as high risk and here's an example of its investment strategy.

It may invest in U.S. or foreign debt, including (up to 10%) high risk and high yield, non-investment grade instruments. The fund may use futures, swaps and warrants. The Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its total assets in no fewer than three different countries outside the U.S. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the securities of issuers located in emerging markets.

High risk, high yield, non-investment foreign debt?  Give me a break.  Is that the type of fund in which you would invest substantial amounts of your pension?

The other interntational fund--the Causeway International fund--hasn't fared much better.  It's down over 10% in the last month, so Tucson has lost over $5 million in that fund as well.
 
Tucson has also invested in corporate bonds and has $47 million in real estate exposure.  How safe are those investments?

Which leads to the final question.  How long is it going to be before the Tucson pension plan experiences heavy loses and comes to the state for a bailout?

Open Source...Soon to Be Only Source.

Check out Espresso Straight...Arizona's first open source newspaper.  ttp://www.espressostraight.com/

You can Barely See the Strings

With Congressional approval ratings in the single digits, I question Harry Mitchell's wisdom in bringing Nancy Pelosi to town.  But hey, I don't run his re-election efforts. 

Of course, there are a lot of things I don't understand about the Mitchell/Pelosi Team.  Why did Mitchell cast the deciding vote to defeat a Republican amendment that would have prevented illegal aliens from getting benefits under the Agriculture bill?  Mitchell's district voted overwhelmingly to support similar measures in each of the last two elections. 

And why the heavy handed procedural maneuvers to overturn a clear Republican victory?  After all, Mitchell isn't supposed to be the bully, he's supposed to be the avuncular government teacher channeling Jimmy Stewart. 

I wish this picture was video.  I would like to see if Harry moves when Nancy moves her hands. 

Pullen for the Party

Randy Pullen on President Bush's designation of the Revolutionary guard as a terrorist organization. 

Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen hailed as a decisive step in the war against terror President George W. Bush's expected decision to designate Iran's elite 125,000 member Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "specially designated global terrorist" organization.

"The Revolutionary Guard is responsible for kidnapping fifteen British soldiers earlier this year, for interfering in peace operations and supporting terrorist activities in Iraq, for supplying the explosive devices that have led to the deaths of U.S. servicemen in Iraq, for supporting terrorist organizations in Lebanon against Israel, and for leading Iran's attempts to acquire ballistic missile technology and nuclear arms," Pullen said, referencing published articles and reports.

The Bush response to Iran comes amid growing concern that neither the Democrat Congress nor the United Nations will be able to contain Iran's growing terrorist influence in Iraq, nor the apparent Iranian determination to scorn all international pressure to abandon its renegade nuclear program which threatens to drastically upset the delicate and tenuous balance of power in the Middle East.

Iran has been listed as a “state sponsor of terrorism” since 1984 and this classification as a “specially designated global terrorist” organization by President Bush will dramatically undercut the Revolutionary Guard's ability to conduct business around the world," Pullen said. "They possess a global business network that finances their terrorist activities in Iraq and elsewhere, and President Bush has sent a strong signal that the days of 'business as usual' are over.

"The political gamesmanship in Washington needs to end. It is time for all our elected officials to back President Bush and win the ‘War on Terror’," said Pullen. "The President has our trust, our support and the thanks of Arizona Republicans who are standing with him and with our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardsmen serving valiantly at home and abroad each day to make our nation and our world a safer place."

Thoroughly Unprofessional

What has happened to Terry Goddard?  I have several friends in the Democratic hierarchy who view Goddard as the consummate professional.  That's why I was stunned by this blurb in Sunday's Insider. 

Where's Renzi? ... Congressman Rick Renzi has made himself a tad, shall we say, scarce in recent months with his business dealings under federal investigation.

He isn't expected to seek re-election, and Democratic state Attorney General Terry Goddard made a bit of fun of Renzi's recent reclusiveness during Saturday's Arizona Democratic Party gathering in Prescott.

"Has anybody seen Rick Renzi?" Goddard mocked. "Have there been any sightings, any sightings at all? There are cobwebs on his office door in Window Rock."

The Congressman is under federal investigation and the Attorney General publicly mocks him?  That's completely unprofessional.  Can you imagine Paul Charlton doing that to someone who is under state investigation?  Would Napolitano have done that as AG or US Attorney?  Of course not.  It's that type of immature behavior that gets Freshman Legislators in trouble.  An elected AG who has his eye on the 9th floor (I realize that's redundant) should have better judgment than that. 

Unfortunately, Goddard's poor judgment and partisanship appears not to be confined merely to mocking Republicans.  Recall the series of Tribune articles in which Mark Flatten examined Goddard's record of indicting Republican office holders to great fanfare...only to have the cases turn into minor paperwork violations. 

That record of poor performance led to this editorial. 

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard risks turning into a 21st century Barney Fife if he continues to pursue costly, time-intensive conflict-of-interest cases against elected officials which end with either small-change plea deals or larger charges being thrown out in court.

But without exercising better judgment, Goddard risks going into his post-attorney general political future being viewed as a partisan hack or a Fifeesque character who can’t be trusted with a loaded gun.

Better judgment?  Not so far.

Shake Up Update

I mentioned last week that the Republic is going through an internal shake up.  Sources tell me that the Republic is losing it's Mojos.  Let me explain.  Last year's fad was the Mobile Journalist or "MoJo."  These commandos worked out of their car and were supposed to offer "hyper local coverage."  Seriously, I'm not making this up.  Well, most of the Mojos quit, and now the Republic has abandoned the project. 

Here's some background from the Washington Post.

The chain's papers are redirecting their newsrooms to focus on the Web first, paper second. Papers are slashing national and foreign coverage and beefing up "hyper-local," street-by-street news.

How will it Play in Peoria?

While the change looks like inside baseball, it has implications.  A few weeks ago, I wrote that the Republic has stopped delivery service in Page and Tuba City.  (Ironically, the circulation department didn't get the memo and sent a bunch of letters inviting people in those areas to subscribe.)

Now unfortunately, the lack of Mojos means that even more local coverage is going by the wayside.  The Republic is dramatically scaling back, perhaps even eliminating, local coverage in Peoria and Ahwatukee.

I think there are public policy implications to the Republic's move.  After all, the State of Arizona forces businesses to spend millions of dollars on public notices.  The theory behind that forced expenditure is that people in the hard to reach places in the state will have access to notices that aren't otherwise available. 

If the Republic is going to maximize its profits by cherry picking the profitable locations and abandoning the rest, then perhaps it's time for the state to rethink its public notice statutes.

After all, who are we fooling.  Printing public notices in a newspaper is a complete waste.  The state should require that the notices be published on a common website.  It would be much cheaper, searchable and accessible through Google or Yahoo. 

While I would prefer a private company to handle such a website I think it could be well managed by the state. 

In fact, the last time I checked, the State already has an entire office dedicated to getting information to the public.  I'm told the office is well run too.  Here's one of GITA's values.

We believe the public has a right to easy access to public information within the constraints of privacy and confidentiality.

Many of the public notices come from government agencies.  Surely, printing these notices in agate type in the back pages of obscure newspapers isn't a way to provide easy access to information. 

If the Republic is going to abandon the unprofitable areas of the state, then the state should no longer force business and local governments to publish notices in the paper.  The technology is available.  The agency is in existence.  What we need now is a change in the statute. 

Celebrate Diversity

Most people don't realize how diverse the political parties are.  I'm a Republican, and to the political neophyte that says it all.  But it's more complicated than that.  Among Republicans I fall into the Conservative branch (which distinguishes me from, say, Carolyn Allen) among Conservative Republicans, I fall into the social conservative branch (which distinguishes me from, say, Tom Patterson or Carol Springer) among Social Conservative Republicans, I fall into the Establishment branch (which distinguishes me from, say, Rob Haney or Don Goldwater.) Democrats have a similar stratification. 

I'm learning that attorneys have a similar stratification as well.  Even among Conservative attorney's--a rare breed indeed--there are radically different philosophies

Conservative Attorneys often complain that "activist judges" overrule legislatures in favor of the judge's own wisdom.  The most powerful tool to accomplish this goal is "substantive due process."  I was listening to a lecture by Kermit Hall from the University of Utah and he described Substantive Due Process as (paraphrasing) "A mechanism created by the Supreme Court that allows judges to override laws that they believe interfere with what they perceive to be fundamental rights."  Hall is no Conservative, and I think his definition is a fair one. 

The Originalist branch--led by Antonin Scalia--would argue that it is illegitimate for the Supreme Court to devise a mechanism that allows it to overrule the people acting through their elected representatives.  I would fall under this branch.  In fact, I thought this was the only "Conservative" branch. 

However, here's an article in which the Cato institute argues that Substantive Due Process should be expanded to include the right of terminally ill patients to have access to experimental treatments.  The attorneys from Cato don't object to Substantive Due Process; they just want to use it to protect their preferred set of "rights" from those pesky legislative bodies. 

This view should make liberals very nervous.  The Cato argument concurs with the liberal view that the courts are a super legislative body that allows five judges to trump every elected body in the country.  What if the Cato branch of Conservatives gets control of the Courts?  Who protects the liberals then?

Even liberal professors are somewhat embarrassed by the reasoning that under girds, say, Brown or Roe.  They recognize that the Court simply decided to amend the Constitution.  Hall describes this as an "ongoing Constitutional Convention."

Sure, it's fun to have a mechanism that allows the wisdom of judges to displace that of legislators...until someone appoints the wrong judges. 

As for me.  I will defer to Judge Learned Hand.  "For myself it would be most irksome to be ruled by a bevy of Platonic Guardians, even if I knew how to choose them, which I assuredly do not."

So I guess I will have to revise the description of my political ideology.  I'm an Originalist Social Conservative Establishment Republican....and proud of my heritage. 

More News Straight from The Source

Espresso Straight News is building more and more momentum.  Be sure to check out the news Straight from the Source. 

http://www.espressostraight.com/

Novak on Flake

Congressman Jeff Flake gets a glowing tribute from The Prince of Darkness himself. 

With the midnight hour approaching on Saturday, Aug. 4, near the end of a marathon session, Democratic and Republican leaders alike wanted to pass the defense appropriations bill quickly and start their summer recess. But Republican Rep. Jeff Flake's stubborn adherence to principle forced an hour-long delay that revealed unpleasant realities about Congress.

Flake insisted on debating the most egregious of the 1,300 earmarks placed in the defense money bill by individual House members that authorize spending in their districts. Defending every such earmark was the chairman of the Appropriations defense subcommittee: Democratic Rep. John Murtha, unsmiling and unresponsive to questions posed on the House floor by Flake. Murtha is called "King Corruption" by Republican reformers, but what happened after midnight on Aug. 5 is not a party matter. Democrats and Republicans, as always, locked arms to support every earmark. It makes no difference that at least seven House members are under investigation by the Justice Department. A bipartisan majority insists on sending taxpayers' money to companies in their districts without competitive bidding or public review.

Rusty Nails It

Last week I linked to a summary of the Tax Revolt articles that has been assembled by the Arizona Tax Research Association.  I titled the post "Let Them Eat Cake."

The post inspired my good friend Rusty Bowers to draw this cartoon. I think the fawning press corps is a nice touch.   Click Here for a better view, or simply click the picture to enlarge it. 

Here's a Dangerous Idea

I happen to believe that humans were created in the image of God.  Some folks believe that a few billion years ago proteins formed in the mud and through a process of natural selection, these chemicals became the the ancestor of every living thing on the planet.  Whatever.

While I'm pretty skeptical of that theory, I don't want to ridicule another person's faith.  However, we must acknowledge that the theory of evolution has implications.  After all, if evolution is such a powerful creative force, then who is to say that all the isolated pockets of humanity evolved at the same rate?  Could natural selection account for the disparities in industrial development?

This natural extension of evolutionary theory was popularized by men like Herbert Spenser and eventually became known as Social Darwinism, and it has been used to justify everything from racism and colonialism to eugenics.   Modern scholars find this historical use of the theory of evolution to be an embarrassment. 

Until now.  This New York Times article is being reprinted in papers all over Europe. 

Gregory Clark, an economic historian at the University of California, Davis, believes that the Industrial Revolution — the surge in economic growth that occurred first in England around 1800 — occurred because of a change in the nature of the human population. The change was one in which people gradually developed the strange new behaviors required to make a modern economy work. The middle-class values of nonviolence, literacy, long working hours and a willingness to save emerged only recently in human history, Dr. Clark argues.

Dr. Clark says the middle-class values needed for productivity could have been transmitted either culturally or genetically. But in some passages, he seems to lean toward evolution as the explanation. “Through the long agrarian passage leading up to the Industrial Revolution, man was becoming biologically more adapted to the modern economic world,” he writes. And, “The triumph of capitalism in the modern world thus may lie as much in our genes as in ideology or rationality.”

Dude, the guy is arguing that white people evolved faster than the rest of the human population and that's why we have all the cool stuff. 

Hmm, I would prefer to think that we are all created in the image of God. 

Shame: Republic Fabricates Editorial

I've seen editorials that were badly written.  I've seen editorials that were based on mistaken premises, and I've seen editorials riddled with logical fallacies.  But the lead editorial in today's Republic is the first time that I've seen an editorial that was intentionally fabricated.

The topic is the state's new employer sanctions law and the fabrication is what happens when an employer makes a mistake.  In an effort to show how unjust the law is, the Republic provides this example. 

In the next 15 years, 100,000 employees will be hired at the fast-food restaurants Jason LeVecke owns in Arizona. Anybody can make two mistakes in 100,000.

Under Arizona's law, those mistakes could cost LeVecke his license to operate all 56 of his Carl's Jr. restaurants and put about 1,250 people out of work.

But that's obviously false and the Republic knows it.  The law only penalizes businesses that "knowingly" hire illegal aliens.  "Mistakingly" hiring illegal aliens is not a crime. 

Bob Robb--who is a member of the Editorial Board--pointed out last month that the "mistake" argument is false. 

The penalties in the law are severe, but they require a willful effort by the employer to hire illegal workers to trigger them. The bill provides legal safe harbor to employers who in good faith comply with existing federal requirements regarding documentation or use the federal program to electronically verify work eligibility.

Robb must either be on vacation, or was out voted because the Editorial provides yet another false example.

Pruitt's company already uses the Basic Pilot program because he has no desire to hire illegal workers. But he says the program has a high error rate.

The two-strikes provision of the employer-sanctions law "is like the death penalty for running a stop sign," he says.

Again, mistakes don't qualify.  The prosecutor has to prove that the business "knowingly" hired illegal aliens.  If the Basic Pilot program makes an error, that's an absolute defense--and the Republic Editorial board knows it. 

Here's what Bob Robb said about the members of the business community who are making this false argument. 

The state businessmen organizing to fight the new employer sanctions bill for hiring illegal workers are either ignorant of its provisions or attempting a con job on the public.

Now that the Republic Editorial writers are making the same argument, I will concur with one of their members.

The Republic Editorial writers organizing to fight the new employer sanctions bill for hiring illegal workers are either ignorant of its provisions or attempting a con job on the public.

Since it's clear that they are not ignorant of its provisions.  I will have to opt for the latter proposition.  They are attempting a con job on the public. 

Shame on them. 

Speaking Frankly?

The Star ran major story on the congressional franking privilege earlier this week and it had a couple interesting sentences.

Harry Mitchell, a Democrat, didn't send mass mailings in the first quarter.

Tracking down how much members of Congress have spent can be difficult, because it takes months for the reports to become available.

Indeed, it's difficult to track down the numbers so reporters have to, like you know, rely on the candor of the Congressmen.  I've been quick to point out Mitchell's aggressive use of he franking privilege.  I wrote about the piece on the left last April.  It unfolds to an 11 x 17, full color glossy campaign piece.  You know, exactly what you need in order to keep your constituents informed.

The piece on the right went out in early June. It's also 11 x17, full color glossy.  The portion that I've reproduced here is half of the inside panel.  The piece clearly states that it was "prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense."

Now, I have to admit that April is not in the first quarter.  But I would hope that Mitchell would speak frankly about his franking and not hide behind the fact that the reporter's question was too narrowly tailored.  Mitchell is supposed to be a new different.  He's the high school government teacher who goes to Congress.  Ah Shucks, he's Jimmy Stewart for the new millennium.

That narrow response from his office looks more like Clinton than Stewart to me. 

Promises Promises

Republic columnist Laurie Roberts has a must-read Skysong Update. 

I drove over to the cutting edge Wednesday to check out Scottsdale's innovation center. You know, that whiz bang, bona fide creativity complex where knowledge workers soon will gather to incubate and innovate?

Looks decidedly uninnovative.

Still, while this is an outside-the-box project, it's what's inside the box that counts. It's like ASU President Michael Crow said three years ago, when he sold Scottsdale on shelling out $120 million to draw 4,000 "knowledge workers" to the corner of Scottsdale and McDowell. "They need a place where they can incubate and evolve.

Read the whole thing.

Letter from Trish Groe

Greg:

This is a portion of a blog entry I posted.  Perhaps your readers will be interested.  If you think so, you can direct them to my blog at http://azcapitolupdate.blogspot.com/

This year has been a rough one, though I brought it all on myself.  I have not written about my battle with alcohol, my arrest, my legal situation, or the state legislature.  Because I desire to write about the latter, I find that I first must address the former.

Because my legal situation is yet to be resolved I will write about my arrest once and only once.  I will open the comment section and publish all comments, no matter what your opinion, if they are civil and without profanity.  Any questions regarding Calvary Center, the rehabilitation center I attended can be answered by their staff at Calvary Center. The toll free number is 866-76-SOBER.

You Won't Read This is Tomorrow's Republic

Delivery guy? He looks more an editorial writer to me. 

A newspaper deliveryman was arrested Tuesday in Yavapai County, accused of driving under the influence of drugs.

A deputy spotted a car driving erratically on Highway 69 around 1:45 a.m. and conducted a traffic stop, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. The driver, 38-year-old John Thomas Kirchhoff, exhibited signs of impairment, the deputy said.

Kirchhoff told the deputy he was on his way to the airport to pick up his daily deliveries of 'The Arizona Republic.'

The deputy smelled marijuana and searched Kirchhoff's vehicle, according to YCSO. The search turned up a small plastic container with marijuana residue inside, two marijuana pipes, rolling papers, a straw with methamphetamine residue inside and two narcotic pills, YCSO said.

A urine test showed marijuana in Kirchhoff's system, according to YCSO.

Kirchhoff was arrested on charges including DUI, possession of prescription-only drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"Excuse me, is that Rachmaninoff?"

When I was in high school, I bused tables at the Palomino Restaurant in Tucson.  On weekends, there was a classical pianist in the main room.  One night he was playing up a storm and a patron stopped me and said, "Excuse me, is that Rachmaninoff?"  I responded.  "I don't know, he's new."

I've come a long way since those days of clearing the plates and icing the butters.  My taste in music has improved as well.  With the possible exception of Stairway to Heaven, this is probably the best thing on the web.

Ayn Rand once asked one of her lifelong friends who the best composer was.  The friend/disciple responded "Beethoven".  Rand insisted it was Rachmaninoff, but the friend didn't back down.  Ayn Rand never spoke to him again.  I guess Rachmaninoff has that effect on people.  This is the first movement of Rach 2 which is my favorite piece. 

Espresso Pundit Anniversary Party

Early September will mark Espresso Pundit's three year anniversary.  It's been such a great experience, (and it is so much cheaper than therapy) that I have decided to throw a party in an effort to give something back to the Espresso Pundit community. 

So I've rented out the big room at the Phoenix Country Club from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturday September 15th and I'm planning to host a free brunch to everyone who RSVPs (until the PCC runs out of room, or I spend my allowance for the week.)

If you are a pundit fan, but you prefer to make anonymous comments, you will have something of a conundrum.  I suggest that you wear a ski mask and a T-shirt that says "Sonoran Sam" or "Klute."

So send me an email if you are interested in attending.  greg@azcpa.org

More Straight News

Make sure you check out the new posts by Rep. John Kavanagh, Bill Tierney and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce on Espresso Straight News.  http://www.espressostraight.com/

If you want to post your news and commentary directly to the site, send me an email and I'll send you a blogger invitation.

Also, we are posting Resumes and Job Openings as well.  If you want to post a resume or job, just send it to me and I'll post it on the Straight News Site. 

Our first Resume is from Carolyn Leff   

Who's the Bully Now?

When the Republic endorsed Harry Mitchell over J.D. Hayworth, editorial writers Dan Nowicki and Doug MacEachern called Hayworth a bully and criticized his partisanship. 

The biggest problem in Congress is extreme partisanship, and Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., is among Capitol Hill's worst offenders.

Mitchell, a Democrat, has served this community for more than three decades, as a city councilman and long-time mayor of Tempe and most recently as state senator. He is a consensus-builder, respected by community leaders and supported by high-profile Republicans in this race.

The 5th Congressional District needs a bridge-builder, not a bomb-thrower.
The Republic recommends the election of Harry Mitchell.

By now you have seen the video of the House meltdown and you are no doubt aware of Mitchell's integral role in the controversy. 

Come on Dan and Doug.  Watch the video again.  If this isn't an example of bullying tactics, I don't know what is.  Isn't it time for the Republic to express its disappointment with Mr. Mitchell's hardball tactics and extreme partisanship?  After all, you endorsed him because he was a "consensus builder". 

Let Them Eat Cake

ATRA has provided a good summary of the recent "Tax Revolt" articles. 

Sins of Omission

It's not just the OVERT bias that has caused newspapers to lose all credibility, ofentimes it's the COVERT bias.  It's not the way stories are written, it's the stories the media refuses to cover that show the true agenda. 

The House errupting into Chaos as a result of parliamentary shenanigans is a national story.  Arizona Congressman Harry Mitchell cast the deciding vote that led to the crisis and the vote clearly reflected his preferrence for the Democratic Leadership over his own constituents. 

How long will the local media be able to ignore Congresman Mitchell's role in the House meltdown?

At 11:00 this morning, the Republican Party is going to give the local media another chance.

RANDY PULLEN WILL WELCOME HOME HARRY MITCHELL FROM

WASHINGTON

AFTER HIS FLIP-FLOPPED VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. MITCHELL’S VOTE WAS THE RESULT OF STRONGARMING BY DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP, IN AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL A VOTE ON IMMIGRATION.