The truth is that gasoline prices are high and rising because worldwide demand is skyrocketing. When we fill up, you're bidding against hundreds of millions of drivers. Moscow alone has more than 3.2 million registered vehicles.

That we can fill up instead of facing widespread shortages is thanks to the oil companies. These are voluntary transactions, after all. Nobody put a gun to our heads and made us move to the exurbs and buy SUVs.

What, no talk of Dick Cheney conspiracies, blood for oil, right wing power brokers or religious kooks cruising teen girl chat rooms? What does Talton think he is--the business columnist at a major newspaper?

Actually, Talton only gets it half right. He mentions demand, but he forgets about supply. Here's a point out of the Wall Street Journal.

In fact, Mr. Schumer and most of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate--the very crowd shouting the loudest about "obscene" gas prices--have voted uniformly for nearly 20 years against allowing most domestic oil production. They have vetoed opening even a tiny portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas production. If there is as much oil as the U.S. Geological Survey estimates, this would increase America's proven domestic oil reserves by about 50%.

They have also voted against producing oil from the Outer Continental Shelf, where there are more supplies by some estimates than in Saudi Arabia. Environmental objections seem baseless given that even the high winds and waves of Hurricane Katrina didn't cause oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. In the 1970s the environmentalists and their followers in Congress even protested building the Alaska pipeline, which today supplies nearly one million barrels of oil a day. If they've discovered some new law of economics in which a fall in output with rising demand can cause a reduction in price, we'd love to hear it.

April 29, 2006

McCain on Imus

First Amendment, we don't need no stinkin' first Amendment.

"He [Michael Graham] also mentioned my abridgement of First Amendment rights, i.e. talking about campaign finance reform....I know that money corrupts....I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected, that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I'd rather have the clean government."

April 28, 2006

The Boycott is Back On.

Pro-immigration activists say a national boycott and marches planned for May 1 will flood America's streets with millions of Latinos to demand amnesty for illegal immigrants and shake the ground under Congress as it debates reform.

So are the illegal immigrants boycotting everything? Are they going to stop showing up at Emergency rooms for every sniffle because it's free? Are they going to pull their kids out of the free schools that we provide them? Could we get a refund on that day's portion of the average $8,000 we spend on at risk pupils each year? How about those free English classes? Are they boycotting those?

If they don't boycott those services, could they at least stop whining about them? Or will their advocates stop suing because those free services for illegal aliens are inadequate? Will they let me go to Home Depot without feeling like I'm at the midway at the fair?

Now that's a boycott that I can support. Viva la Revolucion!

Letters, we got letters.

I've had several letters concerning the response of the Governor's campaign to the charges that she started early. The "expenses are not incurred until billed" defense isn't going over very well.

Greg

I think if you check you will discover that Andy Gordon is making the same argument that Matt Salmon's people made about when a campaign expenditure should be counted or reported. The difference is that at the time of the Salmon campaign it was not clear whether you had to report something when the service was contracted for or when it ws billed. Since then, the Commission has by Rule and policy made it clear that campaign expenditures count the second a commitment has been made to provide them, you cannot wait until they have been "billed". This is the height of hypocrisy and arrogance for the Napolitano people to be arguing directly opposite of what they argued so vociferously for during her last campaign.

Name Withheld

This one's from an Attorney

Greg-

Napolitano's campaign also violated A.R.S. Section 16-902.01(A), which states: "Each political committee that intends to accept contributions or make expenditures of more than five hundred dollars shall file a statement of organization with the filing officer before accepting contributions, making expenditures, distributing any campaign literature or circulating petitions." (Emphasis added). "'Expenditures' includes any purchase..." A.R.S. Section 16-901(8).

In addition, if Camp Napolitano was active prior to January 1, 2006, which it may well have been given the work that went into the campaign that Napolitano officially launched in March, it was required to file a report with the Secretary of State by January 31, 2006. A.R.S. Section 16-913. Fines for this violation would only be $10 per day, with a maximum of $450. A.R.S. Section 16-918.

It's clear that, notwithstanding attempts at mental gymnastics by Napolitano's slick campaign lawyer, Andy Gordon, Napolitano has violated at least two or three separate election laws. It's also worth noting that if Gordon's interpretation were credited it would largely gut the matching funds provision of the Clean Elections Act because vendors could wait to bill for services until after the election, denying opponents matching funds. For a purported supporter of taxpayer-funded elections to take this position is the epitome of hypocrisy.

The only real question left is whether the Citizens Clean Elections Commission will do the right thing and enforce the law or live up to its reputation of favoring democrats and roll over for Napolitano.

Name withheld

Check out the Governor's new Campaign Website...

...Hmm, it looks a lot like her official Website.

Republicans have long charged that the Governor's frequent trips around the state are merely disguised photo ops. I am completely unsympathetic to that argument. She's the Governor; she has the right to travel; she draws big crowds and free media, and yes her staff takes pictures with local folks...get over it.

However, the Governor's campaign has crossed the line by stocking her campaign website with photographs taken while she is acting in her official capacity.

Here's a picture of the Governor "Speaking at the dedication of LasArtes de Maricopa County." Notice that the event is sponsored by the Arizona Republic. This picture was taken while she was acting in her official capacity, yet I copied it from her campaign website. I think the Republic would rather keep its role in her campaign, you know, behind the scenes.

Here's a shot of the Governor "Speaking at the Maricopa County Affordable Housing Summit at the Capitol." Those of you who have spent time at the Capitol will notice that the picture was taken in the second floor conference room that the Governor uses for official functions. Since she is acting in her official capacity and the picture was taken at the Capitol, it was almost certainly taken by her official DPS photographer. Again, this is from her campaign site.

If you check The Governor's Official Website, this picture has been removed. But Google maintains a "cached" section in which removed items are still available. Here's what used to appear on the Governor's official site. Scroll down and you will see that this "campaign" picture was taken on June 14, 2004.

Here's the picture off of the "cached" section of Google.

These are simply two examples. The Governor's new campaign site is filled with scores of pictures that were taken using taxpayer resources, at events paid for with taxpayer money and occurring before she filed as a candidate.

How much is a portfolio like this worth? Well, what's its replacement value? It would cost thousands of dollars and take hundreds of hours over many months for Don Goldwater, Jan Smith Florez, or Len Munsil to travel to each county and create a virtual tour of Arizona. Some of the pictures could not be replaced at any cost. The Governor had access to many of these events solely because she was Governor.

Some of the pictures are clearly inappropriate. For example, she has photographs with DPS officers. Republican mayoral candidate Randy Pullen was scourged for printing a campaign piece containing a picture of him with a city of Phoenix police officer. DPS officers can't be used as campaign props any more than Phoenix police officers can be.

Again, if she wants to put these pictures on her official site, that's no problem. She's the Governor. We know that she has the ability to tour Arizona on a state provided plane and with a state provided photographer, but simply transferring those pictures from the Official Government--taxpayer funded--site to her private campaign site lacks class at best and is illegal at worst.

Kids, Don't Try This at Home.

My commentary on the Napolitano campaign jumping the gun has been short on professional legal analysis. This letter from retired Judge and current Gubernatorial candidate Jan Smith Florez clears up some of the confusion.

Greg

I appreciate your getting the info out about the Napolitano campaigns amazing "early" spending. Page 60 of the "blue book" (Participating Candidate's Guide) says that a "[d]ebt is incurred by a candidate when the promise, contract or agreement to make an expenditure occurs." It also says, that "[c]andidates may not make expenditures exceeding the amount of monies in their campaign account. Before receiving Commission funding, a participating candidate may not incur debt with the intention of paying it off after receiving Commission funding." How could she have had "monies in her account" before beginning her campaign? I know you know that is the question, but I point this out to show how clear it is that her campaign erred.

Sec. 16-941 sets the limits on spending and contributions; Sec. 16-942 has the "shall be ten times the amount by which the expenditures or contributions exceed the applicable limit." In her case, there was no applicable limit except $0. But, in the law, "shall" doesn't always mean "shall" so the precedents would have to be researched. And, if the Arizona Republican Party, which filed the complaint, was dissatisfied with the penalty, they would need to file a suit against either the Commission or the Napolitano campaign. The suit in the superior court needs to be done is a way to get a prompt ruling from the trial judge, so that an appeals court can consider a special action. Accepting the special action, though, is usually discretionary with the court.

Sec. 16-943 also says that "knowingly" violating Sec. 16-941 is a misdemeanor. Sec. 16-942 says that a "knowing violation of Sec. 16-941, subsection a or subsection C, paragraph 1 shall repay from the candidates' personal monies to the fund all monies expended from the candidate's campaign account and shall turn over the candidate's campaign account to the fund." Disqualification or removal from office would be pretty hard to achieve under Sec. 16-491(C), unless the amounts are rather large ("must involve "an amount in excess of ten percent of the sum of the adjusted primary election spending limit and the adjusted general election spending limit for a particular candidate").

However, the Commission needs to see that the viability of the clean elections process rests on their careful handling of this matter. If the complaint is substantiated and the violations shown, the Commission has the opportunity to show its mettle. I do think the Party needs to be ready to go to Court on this one.

I do clearly recall that in the orientation sessions provided by Clean Elections, we were told that a campaign could not incur debt. That was amplified by the instructors to say that basically you could not make an obligation, contract, or promise unless you had money in the campaign account at the time the debt was incurred. When billing occurs is irrelevant. I am told that there is a secret field on the reporting form to allow the Commission to see if anyone overspent.

Here's what I think they are depending on. Page 60 of the blue book (Participating Candidate's Guide) says that the exception to the no debt limitation does not apply to "[r]egularly recurring administrative expenses such as rent, utilities and salaries are NOT considered to be debts until the payments are past due." (NOT is capitalized in the book.)

Now, the question is whether the contracts, described as "new, long-term contract" and as "continuing expenses," qualify for this special treatment. The examples in the book are "rent, utilities and salaries." If the vendor has many clients, it's unlikely he's an employee with a salary. It's a fine questions and I'm sure the courts will ultimately have to make the decision. And, that takes time--which is fleeting as November approaches.

I looks to me like the Napolitano campaign blew it big time.

Jan Smith Florez

It's Easy to Protect Speech that You Agree With

Teaching Tolerance

The Ninth Circuit sets a dangerous precedent

The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals silenced one group of students in a national debate last week in a surprising, and arguably unconstitutional, opinion. The case involved Poway High School, near San Diego, which promoted a “Day of Silence” to teach tolerance, “particularly of those of a different sexual orientation.” But the school went a step further and prohibited dissenting students from wearing t-shirts opposing homosexuality.

The court held that students expressing their views against homosexuality were not protected under the First Amendment. It reasoned that anti-homosexual messages were not protected because the messages caused “psychological injury” and lowered the self-esteem of other students.

The Supreme Court has long upheld the rights of students to speak during school hours on issues of national debate. In 1969, the Court supported the right of students to express their views about the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands. Given the prominent national debate over gay rights, more speech, not less, should be welcome.

Dissenting Judge Kozinski warned about the danger of this precedent—precedent that applies to Arizona. Thought-provoking, controversial messages should be protected under the Constitution, no matter which side of a controversy they are on. Government should never be allowed to favor one side of a debate while silencing the other.

Benjamin Barr is a constitutional policy analyst with the Goldwater Institute Center for Constitutional Studies.

April 26 2006

The Republic's Dan Nowicki Proves He can Take a Joke

The Slippery Slope to Stalking

Life is about gradual transitions. When does interest become obsession and when does investigation become stalking? I thought long and hard before I printed this picture of of Talton's house, and I've never printed the picture of Pete Rios's Duddlyville trailer.

I took the Talton picture from the middle of the street, so I decided it's fine. I didn't take the trailer picture, and it's taken from a public right of way as well, but I've decided that it's just too...well, personal. Besides, he might follow through on his threat to "hit me in the gut."

This guy however, has crossed the line. He makes some interesting points until he gets to the close ups of Toni Hellon's curtains.

The Governor's Campaign Responds...

...and I must say that the response in an indication of serious trouble.

Napolitano campaign attorney Andy Gordon said the campaign did some planning and preparation before Napolitano's filing but that both the Web site and the e-mails were services provided by a vendor under a new, long-term contract. Continuing expenses like that aren't counted as campaign spending until they're billed, Gordon said.

Hmm, I'm not an attorney, but I think that's what's known as the "I-didn't-get-the-bill, so-I-haven't-spent-the-money trick. Clean elections got wise to that in like the first week.

The Director of Clean Elections seems like he's on top of things.

Ultimately the question is going to come down to 'Were they engaged in campaign activity' " before Napolitano formally became a candidate and whether any exceptions applied, Lang said.

Cases in which candidates spent early have been settled with fines, he said.

The statute says that the fine "shall" be ten times the amount of the violation. We will see if the Director knows what "shall" means. My kids learned that at about age 8. But this may be a tougher situation, what with Mr. Lang being a lawyer and all.

I've already received a letter on the topic.

Greg,

Notice what Gordon said. He is setting a new standard by saying a bill isn’t a bill until it is invoiced. The Clean Elections software requires us to estimate a bill, enter the estimate, and then enter the final bill once we get it. Napolitano’s campaign committed a serious violation. One possible remedy is that she could be disqualified from getting any clean election money.

Name Withheld

April 25, 2006

Media Alert:

I'll be on channel 8's Horizon tonight at 7:00 PM to discuss energy issues.

OUCH

Dan Nowicki should look into getting one of these for Christmas because JD Hayworth has surely torn him a new one.

Maybe it’s time for “Plugged In” to change its name to “Plugged Innuendo.”

The gang at “Plugged In” should be embarrassed at such a gratuitous cheap shot.

Read the whole thing

Mike Harris Responds

I mentioned yesterday that I thought Mike Harris's child support situation was fatal to his campaign. Here's his response.

Hello Greg,

If you would like to meet with me and determine the "rest of the story" to quote Paul Harvey, I am agreeable.

Meanwhile "the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated" to quote Samuel Clemmons.

I am not dropping out of this race, sorry to disappoint you.

In the past 2 weeks, I have been followed, photographed, burglarized, my computer has been compromised, and now, my character attacked, and this is just the beginning.

I am prepared for a very contested and bitter race. I knew this was coming and I am ready for it.

Now I understand why politics attracts the level of people it does. One must either have a perverse desire for power, or a true desire to make the world a better place.

In my case, I desire to make the world a better place. The business of the State will not wait another 4 years under Napolitano.

Illegal immigration is out of control, our schools are in trouble, healthcare cost are spiraling out of control, and proactive economic development has been neglected for several years.

Napolitano has vetoed many very good bills and has stunted the business of the State of Arizona, and has thwarted the will of the people.

As Governor, I will lead the State in the right direction, and for the right reasons.

In my opinion the business of Government is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

In closing, I love my son very much, and I take exception to anyone who implies otherwise.

I am not the only person who has had to endure an acrimonious divorce, and I will not be the last.

There is nothing in this world I will not do for my son. He is my one and only child and truly a gift from God.

For the record, I have voluntarily paid my child support above the State requirements, and I continue to do so to this day. Yes, I can document this fact and I am willing to do so if you would like.

Best Regards,

Mike Harris

April 24, 2006

What's Good For the Goose...

On March 3rd. I pointed out that Gov. Napolitano's campaign appeared to violate campaign law by doing considerable groundwork before she filed her campaign paperwork.

But Governor Napolitano filed her paperwork yesterday and had her website up and her campaign was sending thousands of emails immediately. Her campaign is sending out thousands of additional emails today. How did she get such a head start? Len Munsil is widely regarded as the most organized of the Republicans and it has taken him months to develop the resources that she managed to initiate in a few hours.

A few days later, the Arizona Republic picked up portions of the story.

My friends in the media and Democratic Party are quick to nuke me when I'm wrong, but they have been silent on this issue.

Apparently someone else has been doing a little research on the issue as well. Republican Party Executive Director Glenn Hamer sent this letter to the Clean Elections Commission this morning.

VIA FACSIMILE & REGULAR MAIL

Re: Possible Violations of Arizona Election Law by Candidate Janet Napolitano

Dear Mr. Lang:

This letter respectfully serves as a request and complaint to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission (“the Commission”) that it conduct an investigation into, and reach findings concerning, the possible violation of Arizona election law by candidate Janet Napolitano. The specifics and basis for this request and complaint are as follows:

1. Media stories from the Arizona Republic newspaper and elsewhere have reported that Janet Napolitano announced her candidacy for reelection as governor on a date when, concurrent with her announcement, her campaign committee launched a sophisticated website/page, and sent to numerous individuals “spam” emails touting her candidacy.

2. Based on the foregoing media accounts, the following questions arise that implicate whether Ms. Napolitano complied with the letter and intent of Arizona’s election law:

(A) Did Ms. Napolitano or her agents enter into a contract with web page vendors to create a campaign web page before she became a legal candidate and her campaign committee legally opened under Arizona law.

(B) Did Ms. Napolitano or her agents commit her or a future campaign committee to debts and obligations before she became a legal candidate and legally opened her campaign committee under Arizona law?

(C) Were work or services provided to Ms. Napolitano or her future campaign committee by people or businesses that expected financial compensation, payment, or reimbursement before she became a legal candidate and her campaign committee legally opened under Arizona law?

(D) On the date Ms. Napolitano’s campaign legally opened under Arizona law, her campaign website contained a videotaped opening remark by Ms. Napolitano. Did she record her videotaped opening remark before she became a legal candidate and her campaign committee was legally opened under Arizona law? If so, did Ms. Napolitano enter a contract, agreement or understanding to pay, compensate, or reimburse the person or business that produced/taped the video’s opening remarks before she became a legal candidate and the legal opening of her campaign committee? If there were no compensation or commitment, were these in-kind contributions? If these were in-kind contributions, are they prohibited by law?

(E) When were the spam email addresses obtained by her campaign committee and entered into the computer system so that they could be sent out concurrent with the near exact timing of the legal opening of her campaign committee?

(F) How many emails were sent by the campaign committee?

(G) Did Ms. Napolitano enter a contract, agreement, or understanding to pay, compensate, or reimburse any person or business for obtaining various email addresses before she became a legal candidate and her campaign committee was legally opened under Arizona law?

(H) Did Ms. Napolitano or her agents email State and local governmental workers at their places of employment? If so, when and how did she obtain their email addresses?

Additionally, a number of individuals who claim that they are not supporters of the Governor apparently received an email from the Governor’s campaign on or around April 13^th alerting them that she had filed her petition signatures and five-dollar contributions. The email suggests that these individuals supported the Governor in some capacity. Were these emails sent in accordance with Arizona law?

Supporting documentation is attached to this letter.

The Commission is requested to investigate the foregoing and determine whether a violation of Arizona law occurred.

Sincerely, Glenn Hamer Executive Director, Arizona Republican Party

Turn out the lights

Some mistakes are survivable, some aren't. This campaign is over.

PHOENIX — Scottsdale businessman Mike Harris has put $100,000 of his own money into his campaign for governor just months after convincing a judge he was too poor to make full support payments for his only child.

Technically, he doesn't have to drop out before the signature deadline passes. But I'll predict that he's out within two weeks.

Wow, check this out.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

Review and Outlook

State of Surpluses
April 24, 2006

Add Arizona to the list of states flush with tax revenue and debating what to do with it. Thanks to an unexpected surge in income, sales and property tax payments, the state's budget surplus is $1.2 billion and growing, and now surpasses the legal rainy day fund limit of 7% of the total budget. That means Arizona lawmakers have only two options: Spend the money, or cut taxes.

In the spending corner is Governor Janet Napolitano, one of the celebrated "moderate" Democrats running a red state. Earlier this year she proposed a one-year 22% budget expansion to $10.1 billion from $8.2 billion -- with the goodies spread far and wide across the government and especially to the teachers unions. That's nearly three times the rate of increase that the spendthrift U.S. Congress is contemplating. Ms. Napolitano is also floating a tax cut, but one microscopic in size and sheer gimmickry: for example, a three-day sales tax holiday for purchasing school supplies and a tax credit for buying environmentally friendly cars.

Republicans in the Arizona legislature are taking a page from tax-cutting former Governor Fife Symington and proposing to cut the income tax. The state senate has passed a bill chopping the top marginal income-tax rate to 4% from 5% over five years, while the house wants a smaller reduction over three years. The GOP also wants to eliminate the state portion of the property tax, which would shave $125 a year off the tax bill on the average-priced home. That makes sense too: In only two years, property taxes have soared by 51% thanks to the hot local housing market.

Even these proposals are arguably too timid given that they would capture and return to taxpayers only about one-quarter of this year's surplus. Steve Voeller, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, calculates that "there's plenty of excess revenues to fund a 25% income tax cut immediately," rather than phase it in over three or five years.

But give the Republicans credit for learning the lesson of the previous state revenue booms of the 1980s and 1990s. States such as Arizona and Colorado that cut income tax rates enjoyed about twice the pace of new job creation, and about one-third faster income growth, than states like Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey that raised their tax burdens.

Another lesson is that these revenue booms don't last forever, while the spending programs created during the good times nearly always do. Arizona would be far better off using its current surpluses as a political opportunity to construct a tax code with non-punitive tax rates to stimulate jobs, business and investment. This will make the state more resilient amid future national economic downturns.

Ms. Napolitano is threatening to veto the GOP tax plans, but she might want to rethink her economic development strategy. There's a term for states that try to tax and spend their way to prosperity: New York.

Jon Talton need not apply

Goldwater Institute is Hiring

Director of Development

As Arizona’s premier public policy organization, developing strong relationships with the individuals who support our mission is essential. In the past four years, the Goldwater Institute has enjoyed a 10-fold increase in the number of individual supporters. As director of development, you’ll build on this growth, directing the prospecting, cultivating and maintaining of donor relationships through direct mail, individual and grant solicitation, and related events. You’ll also initiate and develop avenues for giving including an endowment, chairs, and planned giving. Ideally, you’ll combine a minimum of five years’ experience in fundraising with a good knowledge of Goldwater Institute scholarship and a commitment to the principles of a free society. You should be creative and eager to develop novel, interesting and effective fundraising ideas. You must possess exceptional interpersonal skills, and be able to speak and write in a clear, compelling and consistent manner. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and skills. Employees enjoy excellent benefits, including participation in medical, retirement, and Health Savings Account plans, and a collegial work environment. To find out more about the expectations and rewards of this role, visit our website at www.goldwaterinstitute.org. Please submit cover letter, resume, writing samples, salary expectations, and references by May 31 to Damon Chetson, Director of Special Projects, Goldwater Institute, 500 E. Coronado Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, 85004. Fax to 602.256.7045 or e-mail materials to jobs@goldwaterinstitute.org. No phone calls please.

Director of Administration

With a full-time staff of 12, an internship and externship program, and more than a dozen events per year and growing, The Goldwater Institute seeks an experienced administrator to keep the office running smoothly with handle a variety of important functions that support the staff. Ideally, you’ll combine a minimum of five years’ experience in administration with a desire to work in a small business setting and an appreciation of public policy issues. You should be familiar with all administrative aspects of a small office and enjoy organizing, streamlining and improving office functions. Responsibilities include orienting new employees, overseeing the benefits program, maintaining personnel records, organizing house files, ensuring legal compliance on personnel and operational matters, and supervising the maintenance and health of the building. Knowledge of current technology and network systems is also helpful. You should be professional and well-organized with an eye for detail, a strong sense of responsibility, and good interpersonal skills. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and skills. Employees enjoy excellent benefits, including a top-rated health insurance plan with health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, participation in a 403(b) retirement savings program of the employee’s choosing and a collegial work environment. Please submit cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and references by May 31 to Damon Chetson, Director of Special Projects, Goldwater Institute, 500 E. Coronado Rd., Phoenix, Arizona, 85004. Fax to 602.256.7045 or e-mail materials to jobs@goldwaterinstitute.org. No phone calls please.

April 20, 2006

A Matter of Integrity

Let’s say that I run for Congress on a platform of flat taxes. I get elected vowing to support a system of limited tax deductions and flat rates. While in Congress, I vote to support that plan, but alas, it is not implemented.

Years later, I release my tax returns and we find out that I have actually taken the tax deductions that I sought to eliminate, but to which I am entitled. I have deducted my mortgage interest, my IRA, my business mileage and my charitable contributions according to the law. What does that make me? A liar? A hypocrite? Have I broken my promise?

Would it be fair to say this about me. “If a guy campaigns on a platform of flat taxes, shouldn’t he practice what he preaches?”

Or would that just be a cheap political stunt?

Obviously it’s the latter. If I promise to support legislation in Washington and then I do so, I am under no obligation to abide by that legislation when no one else in the country has to abide by it. It would be crazy for me to be the only guy in America not to deduct the interest payments on my home simply because I think the law that makes them deductible is poor policy.

So why is the state Democratic Party attacking JD Hayworth for not “abiding by” term limits? Hayworth didn’t promise that he would only serve three terms. He promised to fight for term limits when he got to Washington and abide by them if they became law. He has fulfilled that promise and the Democrats know it.

Yet we get this cheap shot from the state Democrats.

“If a guy campaigns on a platform of term limits, shouldn’t he practice what he preaches?” state Democratic Party executive director David Waid asked in a statement. “It’s a matter of integrity.”

No, David, stealing campaign signs is a matter of integrity. Doing what you promised in Washington is an indication of integrity.

It's Over.

I'm calling the District 17 House race for the Democrats. There is just no way that the Republicans can compete with the talents of Democrat Ed Ableser. Ed Ableser has cut the Gordian knots of politics.

First, as you will recall, Mr. Ableser received campaign money from the Clean Elections system, but some of it was too late to spend on the campaign, so instead of, you know, like, returning it...he spent it on a huge margarita party. This solves the fundamental problem of keeping volunteers happy. Sure, he paid a small fine to the clean elections folks, for the way he handled the transaction, but I'm sure it was well worth the price.

Mr. Ableser is now Senator Ableser because he was appointed to fill Harry Mitchell's vacated Senate seat. And Senator Ableser has managed to solve another fundamental campaign problem. How do you generate campaign traffic?

Republicans generally put their campaign phone numbers, website address and other contact information on brochures and send them out through the mail. But this is so last century. And it's, you know, really expensive.

Senator Ableser solved the problem by putting his campaign contact information on his SENATE website. How cool is that? Want to talk to your Senator? Call his campaign office. Want to write him a letter? Here's a convenient PO Box. Campaign staff will be happy to respond.

Here's Senator Ableser's official Member page.

Notice the address at the bottom? Incredibly, it actually starts with "Ableser 2006." Wow, clever and honest, just what we expect from our elected officials.

Ableser 2006 • PO Box 27871 • Tempe, AZ 85285 • 1-877-868-3392

Here's how it's presented on his campaign site.

Ableser 2006
PO Box 27871
Tempe, AZ 85285
1-877-868-3392
info@edableser.com

Wow, keeping volunteers happy with state funded margaritas and directing web traffic from the Senate site to the campaign site. The guy is going to be unbeatable. Let's hope he saves some money for the fines.

UPDATE: Mr. Ableser or his friends must be espresso pundit fans, because the Senate website was corrected within 2 hours of this posting.

Punxsutawney Pablo...Looks like a long winter

The much ballyhooed sleeping immigrant giant woke up, marched to the Capitol and promptly went back to sleep.

The boycott has been canceled and the registration drive was bust. I'm stunned that the march only yielded 121 newly registered voters. Maybe they forgot their drivers licenses.

One Hundred and twenty one? That's about the same number of Mormon missionaries who return home each week. When they arrive at Sky Harbor, they only have two goals--register to vote and get married. They probably won't be voting for Janet.

More troubling for the Dems is that march organizer, former Senate Democratic leader and gubernatorial candidate Alfredo Gutierrez is urging Hispanics to register as Independents so that their votes aren't taken for granted.

Since nearly half of Arizona Hispanics voted for Prop 200, fully two thirds support school vouchers, and an overwhelming number oppose abortion and gay marriage, having a former Democratic Party big wig urging them to not register as Democrats is a stunning blow.

They may actually take his advice and then (gasp) compare the candidates in November and decide which candidate's views most closely resemble their own.

I'm often criticized for my opinion that the Republican party is the natural home for the Hispanic community and I am frequently reminded that there are indeed a majority of Hispanics who vote Democratic. But it doesn't take much Republican headway into this community to tip an election. Democrats need an Hispanic block to stay in power, Republicans only need a portion of that block and the evidence indicates that the block is not monolithic.

The Democratic monolith that used to be the American South has eroded along religious lines to the extent that legacy incumbents like Robert Byrd are among the last remnants of what was once a mighty edifice.

That transformation may have already occurred in the Hispanic community but its effects have not yet flowed through the electorate.

Meanwhile, the activist Latino community has tried to awaken the giant but he walked around for a while and then hit snooze.

Maybe they should change the motto to 'Hoy marchamos, manana dormimos'.

Well, there goes the centrist veneer.

We knew it had to happen sometime. As a blue Governor in a red state, Governor Napolitano has done a remarkable job keeping her liberal leanings in the closet.

Immediately after her election, the Governor said that she would sign a bill to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens. Now she talking about putting troops on the border.

She opposes any restrictions on abortion, including limits on late-term abortions and parental notification. These are extreme positions that place her well out of the mainstream.

Several years ago, I worked with a woman who was an adamantly pro- choice feminist. She also had a 13 year old daughter. I asked her about parental consent. She was red faced "there's no way in hell that someone should be allowed to perform an abortion on my daughter without my permission." Poll data indicate that her view is widely held.

After the 2004 election debacle in which moderate Republicans who sided with the governor were trounced at the polls, it was only a matter of time until the Legislature forced the governor to choose between her moderate image and her liberal beliefs. That time has arrived.

On Monday, Governor Napolitano vetoed eight bills that surely had overwhelming support in the general populace.

Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed legislation Monday that would have empowered police to arrest anyone not in this country legally on charges of trespass, no matter where they are.

My gosh, it's illegal to sneak into a movie theater. How is she going to explain to voters that it shouldn't be illegal to sneak into the country?

It has become obvious that the emergency declaration and the threat of troops on the border were political ploys. The emergency money hasn't been spent and the troops aren't being sent to the border--she's sending Donald Rumsfeld a bill for the troops that would have been on the border anyway.

I think Rumsfeld should show up with one of those giant checks that they give lottery winners; her publicity stunt becomes his photo op, and everyone's happy.

Here's the full list ( Howard Fischer in the Star)

VETO: A bill prohibiting public employee insurance coverage for abortions.

Your tax dollars at work.

VETO: A bill capping property taxes in some school districts.

So much for the tax cut rhetoric

VETO: A bill to allow charging illegal border crossers with trespassing.

Truly a no brainer. Can we at least make it illegal for them to harass me in the Home Depot parking lot?

VETO: A bill restricting the ability to order emergency gun regulations.

This one's classic, She acknowledged that police in New Orleans illegally took firearms from residents in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but said the legislation "addresses a problem that does not and never has existed in Arizona."

It hadn't existed in New Orleans either. These things aren't problems, until they like, you know, become problems.

VETO: A bill prohibiting the sale of human eggs for cloning research.

Sounds like a Monty Python skit.

Come in, my little loves. I've got no option but to sell you all for scientific experiments.

VETO: A bill prohibiting governments from requiring builders to offer affordable housing.

She called this one "premature." When I served in the House, this was code talk for "I don't have a decent argument against your bill, but I really don't want to vote for it." You get bonus points if you stroke your chin and look pensive when you say it.

VETO: Requiring a notarized statement from parents for abortions for minors.

After all, kids don't ever forge their parent's signatures.

Setting the Record Straight

In addition to claiming bills are "premature," another cool trick that used to be a House favorite is to misrepresent the content. Here's what the proponents of the Immigration Trespass bill put out in order to clear up misconceptions about the bill.

SB1157 makes it a state crime to be in or enter into this state while in violation of the federal immigration law.

SB1157 gives local law enforcement the right to arrest someone for being in this State illegally, All too often, we hear that law enforcement cannot enforce federal law so nothing gets done. Under this proposal, they will not be enforcing Federal law, they will be enforcing the State law. The goal of this bill is to create a second line of defense if someone gets past the Border Patrol. This would give law enforcement the tools needed to effectively stop people crossing our border illegally.

Under SB1157, the arresting authority shall fingerprint a person who is detained under this law. The arresting authority would then have the choice of referring the person for prosecution as a Class One Misdemeanor or transfer the person to the Federal Agency with jurisdiction. That would be ICE or Border Patrol. If the person is arrested a second time, the person would be referred for prosecution as a Class 6 Felony. If the person is found with drugs, precursor chemicals to make Meth, weapons or property that could be used to commit a terrorist act, the person would be charged with a Class 2 felony.

The bill addresses the problem of "catch and release" which is happening everyday. When law enforcement finds a drop house or stops a vehicle filled with illegal immigrants, they do nothing if the federal authorities don't show up. They just let everyone go. They say they don't have the authority to transport the people. Now they would be able to arrest the people and either refer them for prosecution or transfer them to the federal agency with jurisdiction.

This bill gives law enforcement a tool to use. It does not force the police to do anything that they would not normally be doing. It is the duty of law enforcement to protect the public. Being forced to let illegal immigrants go free after finding them at a drop house or in a van is not in the best interest of the public.

April 17, 2006

Senators are without honor in their own land too.

The only thing slower than a newspaper that prints hard copies on dead trees, is a newspaper that prints hard copies on dead trees...once a week.

New Times has a long feature on Jon Kyl in which they point out that he is (gasp) Conservative as well as obscure for lack of self promotion.

Arizona has two U.S. senators: John McCain and that other guy.

The other guy is a decent man, so decent that in his 11 years as a senator in Washington, D.C., he has often seemed constitutionally incapable of promoting himself in the manner common of national political figures such as our hero, John McCain.

And in a remarkable example of poor timing, while New Times laments Kyl's obscurity, Time Magazine lauds his effectiveness. In fact, Time magazine has named Kyl to its list of top 10 Senators.

As the Miers fight showed, Kyl does not always find himself on the same side of the battlements as President Bush. The Senator was a leading opponent of the immigration reform compromise backed by the President that collapsed earlier this month. When the Senate returns from recess next week, the Judiciary Committee will take up the immigration debate again. Watch for Kyl to play a pivotal role—if perhaps not the most conspicuous one. "You can accomplish a lot if you're not necessarily out in front on everything," he says.

Now it's getting Personal

From the Chicago Sun Times

MEXICO CITY -- "Nothing gringo," warns the rallying cry of Mexican activists calling for a boycott of all U.S. businesses south of the border May 1.

The campaign was timed to coincide with the "Great American Boycott," in which illegal immigrants in the United States are urged to skip work and avoid spending money to show their importance to the U.S. economy.

The Mexican boycott was being promoted online and through e-mails, one of which warns that "people shouldn't buy anything from . . . Dunkin' Donuts . . . McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Sears, Krispy Kreme or Wal-Mart."

This is despite the fact U.S. business supports legalization or guest-worker programs.

The article is on the Spanish side of azcentral, but it's not on the English side yet.

The Goldwater Institute finds a Conflict...OUCH

Last month, ASU’s Education Policy Studies Laboratory (EPSL) headed by Professor Alex Molnar unveiled a new Think Tank Review Project. “Many think tank reports are little more than ideological argumentation dressed up as research,” explained Professor Molnar.

One wonders whether Professor Molnar recalls whether those living in glass houses ought to throw stones.

In 2002, an EPSL report offered the concluding recommendation that: “No existing charter school or private school voucher program funded by public money should be expanded,” arguing, “The existing evidence fails to support such expansion.” That year, Columbia University researchers issued a report analyzing 35 empirical studies testing the effects of school choice. They found that “a sizable majority of these studies report beneficial effects of competition across all outcomes.”

One might wonder why Arizona taxpayers are being forced to pay for such questionable research. Worse still, it seems that Arizona taxpayers may be involuntarily teaming up with the National Education Association (NEA) to produce it.

Under new Department of Labor regulations, the NEA and other employee unions must file reports documenting how they spend member dues. We recently dug through the NEA’s 455-page filing. In addition to spending nearly $25 million on “political activities and lobbying,” the NEA awarded $250,000 to ASU’s “Office for Sponsored Research.”

What kind of research is the NEA sponsoring? We placed calls to the Office of Sponsored Research and the Education Policy Studies Laboratory, and the College of Education to ask whether it had received NEA funding for targeted research. The Office of Sponsored Research had no record of any NEA grants. And after four days, the EPSL still hasn’t responded.

Taxpayers deserve an answer.

April 15, 2006

AZ in the National Spotlight

This from the New York Times

In Arizona, the state's Chamber of Commerce sponsored a breakfast earlier this week with a Republican congressman, Jeff Flake, in Phoenix, and immigration was one of the hottest topics. Mr. Flake voted for the tough border security bill in the House, although he has long favored a guest worker program and was stymied in his efforts to offer an amendment along those lines.

Businesses in Arizona have long felt the acute tensions between border security and some type of temporary worker program. Farrell Quinlan, a chamber vice president, boasted that his state's delegation in Congress, led by Republican Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, needed little prodding.

"There's a pretty broad consensus that this is the year we should tackle the issue," Mr. Quinlan said. "Do we want to see a wall or a fence go up on the border? I don't know. If that's what it takes to get a guest worker program right now, then that might be the price to pay."

Media Alert:

I'll be on channel 12's Sunday Square Off immediately after Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

Update: I thought Bob Grossfeld and Montini got the best of me, but a couple people emailed and said that I held my own.

That was the first time that I had met E.J. Montini and I must say that I was impressed. I've occasionally been critical of some of his columns, but he's no Jon Talton.

Let me add that I will never be critical of a TV reporter again. Reading from a teleprompter is surprisingly difficult. You only get to see about five words at a time and without the ability to see the whole sentence, it's difficult to get the inflection right. The first couple times I sounded like an automated answering machine--despite the fact that I had written the text. There is no way that I could stand in front of a blank green screen, look into a monitor and tell you that a cold front is moving across the upper Midwest.

Here's How They Handle Illegal Immigration Down South.

Folks here like to point at Representatives like Russell Pearce and whine about his support of "Draconian" immigration policies. But let's take a look at Mexican law.

“A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of three hundred to five thousand pesos will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally.” (Article 123)

Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico – such as working with out a permit – can also be imprisoned.

Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)

Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)

I thought it was just me.

Last week, I explained why I don't write about Carolyn Allen. I received this letter on Saturday.

Greg

I took great delight in reading that Carolyn scares you, too.

I've attached a copy of my column in which she ordered me out of Scottsdale. When I wrote that lobbyists were scared of her, she said that she and all her friends thought that was the silliest thing she ever heard. Oh yeah?

Becky Fenger

Sure enough, here's an excerpt from a column that she wrote nearly two years ago.

I have a confession to make. In my column writing of the last five years I have not taken aim at Sen. Allen the way I do other big-spending Republicans. She scares the hell out of me in the same manner a leopard with deadly claws does. This feeling is not singular to me. Big time lobbyists at the legislature have confided that she scares them, too.

April 13, 2006

Feeling strongly Both Ways

I try not to ever mention Senator Carolyn Allen because she, like, you know...really scares me.

But I thought her reaction to Senate Bill 1157, "trespassing by illegal aliens" was interesting

Six Republicans voted against the measure anyway, saying its provisions would be difficult to implement.

"I think it's totally unworkable," said Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, who called the bill a "feel good" measure.

Golly, she probably should have thought of that before she sponsored it.

Lost in Translation

The Supreme Court has decided that you have a Constitutional right to burn an American flag, but don't try burning a Mexican one.

A Tucson man was arrested Tuesday for his role in the burning of a Mexican flag as part of a counterprotest at a pro-immigration rally.

At about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Tucson police cited Roy Warden, 58, on suspicion of assault, criminal damage and reckless burning, and then released him, according to Sgt. Decio Hopffer.

Teaming up Again...

Dean Martin on Taxes

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Dean Martin, a Phoenix Republican, supports property and income tax cuts, as well as a one-time expenditure to improve bottlenecks on Interstate 17 north of Phoenix and Interstate 10 in the West Valley.

Jerry Lewis on Spending

The chief culprits are the House Appropriators, led by Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis of California and his 13 subcommittee chairmen known as "cardinals." If Republicans lose the House--and they are well on their way--Mr. Lewis deserves the moniker of the minority maker.

The Dog that Didn't Bark

Tuesday morning, I walked to lunch along a portion of the march route and noticed an empty water bottle on the ground. The sight made me realize that it was the only evidence that 100,000 people had been there the day before. There was not one cigarette butt, no candy wrappers, in fact, Adams street was looking pretty trashy before the march...looks great now. Wow, I got a half day off and the street by my office is clean. We should have parades more often.

Former Republic Columnist Ruben Navarrette...

The Democrats Sell Out Latinos

Who killed immigration reform? The autopsy shows it was Senate Democrats.

It's tempting to put a pox on both parties. But it wouldn't be fair. Republicans were tireless in search of comprehensive, and bipartisan, reform. Sen. John McCain of Arizona joined with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to draft the guest-worker legislation, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter made that legislation central to what his committee sent to the full Senate. Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and Sam Brownback of Kansas were vocal in their support. Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska offered a helpful compromise. And Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist showed leadership by reaching out to the other side.

Searching for a one armed Economist

We've heard all the rhetoric from politicians, but here's how economists discuss the wall.

Should we just build a big fence? To keep out Mexicans, that is.

For purposes of argument, let us say you are anti-immigration. And let us say the fence would cost nothing to build and maintain. You still might not want one.

Mexicans illegals enter the U.S. through two major channels. They run (or swim) across the border, or they buy illegal papers. Usually the papers cost more than the hiring the crossing guide. The papers make for an easier and safer journey, for obvious reasons. Mexican women, I might add, are more likely to use false papers, given their (their father's?) greater aversion to the physical strain of four days in the desert.

If you shut off the desert walks (assume the fence is impregnable, ha!), more Mexicans will use illegal papers.

Did I add I would expect the cost of the papers to fall, not rise? Many Mexicans don't trust the purchase of papers, as opposed to the desert walk. If the walk were impossible, networks for manufacture and sale of the papers would become much better developed. The illegal papers would become much cheaper and much more widely used.

In other words, more young women will come. Many of the Mexican men will have wives here, not back home. Many more young Mexicans will be born on U.S. soil.

Get the picture? Hispanamerica is coming, like it or not. Let's deal with it constructively.

April 12, 2006

Bush Announces the Invasion of Poland

Here's a not so subtle slam by the Associated Press. How hard do you think the photographer had to work to take a picture from this angle?

Prezelski on Mitchell...OUCH

I received a letter this weekend from David Waid, who is currently Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party. He is running for chairman of the party, which is highly unusual, but doesn't violate any sort of rules. Heck, he's been running the party for months anyway.

I'm a Moderate...Yeah, that's the Ticket.

If I ever run for public office I'm ready with an ad.

I'm Greg Patterson, I'm running for the United States Senate because I believe that our state is looking for centrist, moderate leadership. It's time that Arizona's leaders set aside partisanship and recognize that neither end of the political spectrum has the answer. We must have a Senator who can govern from the center, a man of ideas who will be a voice of moderation...for all Arizonans. I'm that man.

Announcer..."Greg Patterson...centrist leadership for troubled times."

Not buying it? You mean that I can't write espresso pundit for a couple years and then claim to be a moderate when I run for office? Dang, you guys are smarter than I thought.

Do you think I should just be honest and say that I'm conservative and stand by the things that I've said and written over the last several years? You know, be, like...honest?

So what's up with Jim Pederson's TV Commercial?

I’m Jim Pederson. I sponsored this ad because I don’t care if it’s a Republican idea or a Democrat idea. I’ll be an independent senator who gets results and puts the people of Arizona ahead of party politics.

Dude, Jim Pederson is the former head of the State Democratic Party, he has given over 6 million dollars to Democratic causes. He appeared on stage with Howard Dean when Janet Napolitano couldn't attend because she was too busy sorting her sock drawer.

Jim Pederson has the best Democratic credentials in the state...and more importantly, everyone knows it.

What kind of idiots does he take us for?

Why not just stand up and say that the country is going in the wrong direction since Republicans have been in charge and proclaim that he has devoted his life to the Democratic Party because he believes in what they stand for and he would like your vote in November?

You know, the honest approach.

As it is, that commercial is going to run three times and then a rooster is going to crow.

Do you ever Wonder About Your Legacy?

If, like me, you have already hit middle age, you may have come to the same realization that I have...I'm not going to be famous. The baseball player, president, actor thing didn't pan out. International arms dealing has become too competitive, the CIA thing is secret (well duh, I should have thought of that).

So, if I'm not going to be famous, then what, if anything, am I going to be remembered for? John Hay is remembered because he was Abraham Linclon's Secretary. Ralph Abernathy was famous for being Dr. King's right hand man.

I've decided that I'm going to be famous for subleasing office space from former Senate Majority Leader Rusty Bowers.

Folks are starting to notice the quality of Rusty's sculptures and his career as an artist is really taking off. He's going to be really famous once he's dead. Me too. My great grandkids are going to tell people that I used to rent an office from Rusty Bowers. THE Rusty Bowers.

But I can't completely sugar coat his legacy. Van Gogh had the ear thing; Da Vinci was a terrible procrastinator and Rusty Bowers solves most of his problems with duct tape.

Here's a picture of Rusty's truck...you may insert a Jeff Foxworthy joke here.

Duct tape only lasts so long and Rusty came to work one day without the door. He said felt a rush of wind and the last time he saw the door, it was coming to rest in the gore lane by his off ramp.

Still, I guess it's better than the ear thing.

April 11, 2006

We Got the Memo

My office is on the march route, so I was an eye witness to plenty of American flags but no Mexican ones. This was a good move on the part of the organizers.

God Bless America

I heard an interesting quote yesterday on Spanish station KIDR 740 AM. One of the callers finished his call by switching to English and saying "God Bless America."

The host responded by agreeing "God Bless America" and then switched back to Spanish and said "From Alaska to Patagonia, God Bless America."

Show me the Money

Goldwater institute on School Funding

The Census Bureau released a ranking of states according to their education spending, and Arizona ranks near the bottom. Time for a red alert?

Hardly. Such rankings erroneously put the focus on education inputs (dollars) when what we should be focused on education outputs (student performance). This is the equivalent of measuring steel mills by the amount of ore going in, rather than by the amount of steel products coming out.

Rankings of these sorts vary wildly according to which spending categories are included or excluded. When you include all revenues, however, Arizonans provide on average over $8,000 in revenue per pupil. In return for this, we receive a system which fails to teach approximately half our 4th graders basic reading skills. Meanwhile, average private school tuition in the state is less than $4,000.

Arizona’s public school officials often complain that capital costs squeeze operational and instructional spending in the state. Pity then, that they continue to oppose reforms such as expanded charter school, school voucher and tax credit programs which can put children in schools of their parent’s choice without the need to incur debt on new buildings.

If per-pupil spending rankings ensured student learning, Washington, D.C. would have the best school system in the country. To the contrary, it has one of the worst. Spending more money for the sake of spending more money gets us no where. We should instead focus on the value received for every dollar spent.

The Gray Lady is a Fickle Mistress.

The New York Times Crowd's love affair with John McCain is ending badly. McCain has appealed to the East Coast intelligentsia by voting against the Bush tax decreases, sponsoring the disastrous McCain Feingold bill and making life miserable for conservatives in the name of "straight talk."

Now that his presidential aspirations have forced McCain to openly support President Bush, mend bridges with Jerry Falwell and remind voters of his conservative pedigree, the NPR/New York Times Crowd is feeling jilted...and they don't like feeling jilted. The film Fatal Attraction comes to mind and McCain is going to come home one evening and discover that Maureen Dowd has boiled his rabbit.

Republic Blogger Dan Nowicki has been all over the story.

The East Coast media establishment isn't exactly known for its original ideas.

Witness the recent cycle of columns scrutinizing the question of whether Sen. John McCain is a "maverick" Republican or a regular conservative one.

(McCain's apostasy in reaching out to the Religious Right's Jerry Falwell really has some elements of the punditocracy and the blogosphere in a fury, but his press started taking a nosedive long before that.)

As Good As it Gets

The march went off without a hitch but the nice lady at the Industrial Commission Cafeteria took the day off so I didn't get my daily tuna melt. Thank goodness the lawn guy comes on Wednesdays or I would have been a wreck.

April 10, 2006

The Great Communicator

The mark of a good politician is his ability to get out his message. Reagan was the “Great Communicator.” Clinton could bite that quivering lower lip and make you think he was sincere. Bush…well maybe “nuculer” will someday be an acceptable alternate pronunciation...kind of like “tomata.”

The true communication expert can get a message to the intended recipient and maintain plausible deniability that he sent it. For example, immediately after one of his depositions, Bill Clinton met with his secretary Betty Curie to “clear up some confusion” by saying “I was never alone with Miss Lewinski, right?”

Governor Napolitano has been clearing up some confusion of her own. Check out this press advisory that her office issued last Friday.

She lists some helpful information, like these beauties:

Advisory: Incorrect information regarding Monday's march

Heavy traffic congestion is expected in the Capitol area in the afternoon.

State employees may also avail themselves of flex schedules and telecommuting.

Well duh.

But this little gem is tucked into the middle of the media advisory.

State employees who wish to participate in the march may do so, by using annual leave and coordinating with their supervisors.

How many civil servants does is take to connect those dots? After all, the march is one part protest, one part aerobic exercise and several parts voter registration drive.

Here's