I’m pleased Governor Brewer chose to veto SB 1062 and recognize the pitfall it entailed for the people of Arizona. This legislation was not about “religious freedom” as supporters claimed, it was about legalizing discrimination against a portion of the Arizona populace. I think America has learned well no good comes from legislating and sanctioning discrimination against segments of its society based on ignorant beliefs.
A good day for Arizona.
The United States Supreme Court made what can only really be called a split decision over Arizona’s SB1070 immigration law. Some see it as a win for the state of Arizona, others as a win for Federal supremacy. I did laugh at the range of headlines form assorted newspapers and internet sites in response to ruling as it became evident what political stripe said groups were in based on their choice of headline. Perhaps the most amusing was HuffPuff’s (aka Huffington Post) use of the term “gutted”
in their headline, when the ruling was actually quite the opposite.
What was upheld:
This was one of the hot button issues involved with the law and one most often criticized as an overreach by the state of Arizona into Federal powers. With this ruling, the SCOTUS has made it clear that enforcement of immigration law for non-immigration related issues is lawful and appropriate.
What was struck down:
I could see why these three were struck down. They could be seen as violating an array of laws and civil rights such as double jeopardy and protections from illegal search seizure to name but two.
Ultimately it is what it is: a split decision of which neither side can claim
complete victory. Already the pro-illegal supporters claim victory while
the anti-illegal supporters also do so. Overall, I’d say the decision was an minor victory for Arizona as the SCOTUS kept a key provision that the Federal government argued was their purview alone. That alone was a slap at the current administration’s dictatorial attitude and arrogant self righteousness of the Department of Justice towards the States. I also see the decision as a push by the SCOTUS against the Federal government to start enforcing existing U.S. immigration law and working on genuine reform, not just pandering and declarative amnesty by politicians looking to be re-elected to office.
Regardless of the decision, it still does not address keys issues that needs to be resolved by the United States: immigration reform and illegal immigrants. Obama simply can not “wave his hand” and claim so called “Dreamers” effectively a free pass and not bring on the ire of many American citizens and legal immigrants, especially in states that bore the brunt of illegals eating up local services, who are tired of government policies that give the perception (rightly or wrongly) of favoring illegals and law breakers over those are citizens, legal residents, and law abiding. Solve the immigration policies and problems and you’ll solve much of the debate and concern over illegal aliens.
Unfortunately, given the issues surrounding illegals has been around since long before I was born and we have self serving politicians more interested in their party and their greed than the well being of the nation I don’t see any resolution coming in the near future. All I see is pandering and promises to Hispanics in vain attempts to get votes, not workable solutions.
Normally, I’d simply allow the COP Animal Control and Police to deal with the dog attack at my mother’s property today but given the number of small children and residents with small pets I feel the need to put out this warning for residence in Phoenix ZIP Code 85014, particularly in the Longview Neighborhood and surrounding area in which the below incidents occured.
Aggressive Animal Alert
ZIP: 85014
If the following two dangerous animals and/or their owner are spotted or if one know where they reside, please contact City of Phoenix Animal Control with this information so the community can be better protected.
Animals:
2 Dogs, breeds unknown, mixed
Dog 1: Small, black, possible white markings on chest.
Dog 2: Small, white with tan/brown patches.
Incident(s) of Aggression/Dangerous Animal Behavior:
1. Attempted to attack cat and then charged owner trying to shoo dogs out of backyard. Dogs’ owner encouraged dogs to attack and made no effort to restrain animals when asked to do so. Time: Approx: 8 a.m.
2. Snapped at two people trying to chase the dogs away from kittens the dogs mauled to death. Incident took place in backyard of private resident and was reported to City of Phoenix PD and Animal Control. Time: Approx: 12:30 p.m.
3. Dogs returned to location of second attack, chased off after charging owner. Approx: 2 p.m.
Animal(s) Owner:
Name: Unknown.
Description: Hispanic male, about late 20s to mid 30s, 5’9″ to 5’10”, approx 150-170 lbs, brown eyes, short black hair, clean shaven, last seen wearing ball cap, sleeveless shirt.
Other Information:
Owner allows animals to run around without leashes in violation of the law. Encourages animals to attack.
Known to frequent corner gas station/convenience store near Longview Elementary. Believed to live in area bordered by Fairmount, 12th St, Osborn Rd and 7th St.
Evidence is being compiled for potential criminal and civil charges against dogs’ owner.
Arizona Looks to Outlaw Internet Trolling | Techland | TIME.com
It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend, to use ANY ELECTRONIC OR DIGITAL DEVICE and use any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act, or threaten to inflict physical harm to the person or property of any person.
While I applaud the State’s efforts to update existing laws to ensure new technological means are not used to skirt anti-harassment and intimidation protections, this law will likely not hold up in court because the terms “annoy or offend” were made into “criminal” offenses. Such vague terminology could be used to suppress 1st Amendment rights in Arizona by those who become “annoyed” or “offended” by something someone writes on the Internet. Every day people are “offended” and “annoyed” by the most innocuous of things. That doesn’t mean it’s criminal to say or write them, especially when they are of a non-threatening nature.
Who decides what is “offensive” and there for criminal? I find the derogatory comments about Arizona from progressives, pro-illegal alien supporters and extremist groups like La Raza to harm Arizona businesses via boycotts offensive; so is that a criminal offense? Does that justify 25 years of incarceration? Of course not. And then there is the whole “profane language” part, which the SCOTUS ruled long ago as protected speech, regardless of the level of offense.
A well intentioned law but ultimately one that has been subverted by those desiring to quash free expression in this nation.
Arizona lottery looks into identical tickets
Two lottery tickets bought at the same time have the same exact numbers.
Interesting and sort of funny.
I would be somewhat suspicious myself, especially since it took an individual going to the media to get any response from Arizona Lottery officials. I doubt it was anything more than a malfunction with the machine or program running the random number generator but a little more transparency by official would have been better received by the public.
As an aside, congratulations to the winners of last night’s Mega Millions jackpot.
I may be somewhat harsh in the following post towards those supporting the anti-contraception bill but that is simply because I am no longer willing to remain polite towards those who feel they have the right to interfere in the lives and affairs of others simply to push their own beliefs and opinions on others through legal means and trickery. This is especially so for politicians who somehow have come to think being elected to political office means they have been ordained by God or whatever higher being they believe in to become dictators and oppressors of the people who elected them.
Senate agrees to vote again on birth control bill
The Senate narrowly rejected the bill Wednesday but Republican Sen. Nancy Barto of Scottsdale on Thursday won voice approval of her motion to have a reconsideration vote.
In other words, the little Christian fascists couldn’t get through their backdoor attempts to ban contraception and make women subservient chattel (their real goal) so they try again. It amazes me that over a hundred years of women fighting over something as simple as birth control is being undermined be uneducated Luddites and backwards ideologues under the guise of “religious or moral objections”, especially from other women like State Senator Barto. Of course, these are the same would be dictators in the Arizona legislature that want to deny women medical knowledge about their pregnancy in order to “prevent abortions” so I’m not that surprised. Infuriated by the pigs kowtowing to the extremist Christian fascists, yes, but unsurprised by these weak-willed fools and hypocrites.
It’s people like these that simply harden my pro-choice stand on all women’s reproductive issues. The extremists Christians like Barto and her ilk will not stop until the bad old day’s of white male, Anglo-Saxon protestant Christian fundamentalism has women and minorities “put back in their place”. I suppose I should be happy the Christian Talib [1] haven’t tried to re-institute the old U.S. Federal morality laws (the Comstock Laws [2]) that banned even discussing contraception back in the early 1900’s but I imagine the right wing crazies will try that next to continue their war on Americans who disagree with their religious social agenda.
Enough is enough already. People need to mind their own business and get out over everyone else’s business. If the extremist Christians don’t like contraception and abortion that’s they’re right, but they don’t have the right to force their views on others or invade their privacy to enforce their “morality”. If they think they do have the right to force their views on others then they have absolutely no right to complain if or when others demand that religious institutions be required to teach Evolution, accept gay marriage, provide contraceptive services, or be forced to accept those not of similar inclination of belief into of leadership in their organizations. Turn about is fair play after all, right? Not so fun for the Christian extremists when they are being told what to do and how to live is it?
So there’s a simple solution: Everyone needs to stop forcing their opinion and interfering in other people’s private lives and matters. Obviously too many Americans have forgotten the core principles of our country’s foundation when we have so many who believe they have the right to rule over others without regard for individual rights, freedoms, and liberties. It saddens me to see Arizona and the United States destroying itself within because so many are willing to stand by and let it happen because they think they will somehow benefit and never become one of the oppressed.
[1]Talib literally means student or seeker in Arabic and refers to a student of Islam. Talib gave birth to the name of the radical Pakistan created Islamist group, the Taliban. In this case, Christian Talib is appropriate given extremist fundamental Christian’s similar attitude, beliefs, and behavior to the backwards minded Taliban regarding women, other religions, and minorities. I probably should use the more proper plural term of talib which is tullab but the distinction would probably be lost on most religious extremists anyway.
[2]The Comstock Act of 1873 made it illegal at a Federal level to send obscene, lewd, or lascivious materials through the mail and targeted not only pornography but specifically the distribution of contraceptive and reproductive health information and devices through the mail. A number of states had similar laws and collectively said laws were used to suppress individuals advocating women’s health issues. The act was found unconstitutional in 1936 but did not end the suppression of women’s contraceptive rights until key SCOTUS rulings in 1965 (allowing contraceptives for married couples) and 1972 (allowing contraceptives for single people).
Unfortunately I can’t blame some of the stupidity and ignorance coming out of the Arizona Legislature on the recent coronal mass ejections (aka solar flares).
Minimum Wage
Arizona minimum wage may lower to federal level
Arizona’s minimum-wage law is more generous than the federal standard. But a measure advancing in the state Legislature would remove that distinction and effectively end the rate voters approved six years ago.
On Monday, the House gave preliminary approval to House Concurrent Resolution 2056, which would ask voters in November to tie Arizona’s minimum wage to the federal level. Currently, Arizona requires a minimum of $7.65 an hour; the federal rate is $7.25.
Why am I not surprised that the insipid monkeys that make up the Arizona Legislature is once again not focusing on the issues Arizona citizens want addressed. I think they’ll be hard pressed to find any citizens that support the lowering of minimum wage (i.e. targeting and attacking the wages) of the poor and increasing numbers of underemployed individuals in this state. Fortunately it doubt this will pass if it gets put on the November ballot (which would be required in this case) as the average Arizonan isn’t going to buy the idea that the State’s higher than Federal minimum wage is somehow hurting businesses. And if a business can’t make it on a forty cent per hour difference in wages then those businesses are clearly failing anyway.
“Wrongful Birth” Bill
The very term “wrongful birth” tells me that the woman behind this bill (Nancy Barto), as well as her supporters, are complete and utter morons. I say if they pass this bill than we should make retroactive abortions legal to eliminate the idiots who create bills like this one.
It’s called a “wrongful birth” bill and it’s all about preventing women from having an abortion, even if it kills them. The Arizona Senate passed a bill this week that gives doctors a free pass to not inform pregnant women of prenatal problems because such information could lead to an abortion.
I don’t care if you are for or again abortions, no one has the right to deny any woman medical information regarding their pregnancy or the status of their fetus. For that matter no patient should be denied medical information regarding their state of their body and health, especially for such an obviously political move as the one this bill is pushing for.
The bill may protect doctors from lawsuits for not informing women of their medical issues, but they can still be charged with an assortment of murder related charges (negligent homicide or manslaughter would be appropriate I think) if the denied information could have saved the mother or a child’s life.
The author of the article put it best:
This is an egregious bill that will lead to higher mortality rates for infants and mothers. Doctors should be held accountable for not disclosing information learned from prenatal examinations. Pregnant women have the right to know if their future child is going to have a disability or if the pregnancy may require an induced abortion to save their lives. Any decision that is made as a result of the information is the mothers own. Doctors should not be allowed to make decisions for pregnant women as a way to prevent abortions. Women have the right to make their own health decisions and hiding critical information is irresponsible, unconscionable, and risks lives. In the end, Republicans are only putting more lives in jeopardy. They might as well call this the ‘let women die’ bill.
This bill is why I am pro-choice even though I would never personally have an abortion. The hatred towards women clearly demonstrated by this bill disgusts me to no end. These radical anti-abortionists would rather see people (mothers and children alike) suffer and/or die than allow abortions to remain legal.
Get the fuck over it already! I’m tired of extremist assholes from the right and left wing trying to push their views on everyone else. Stay the fuck out of my life and I’ll stay the fuck out of yours. Deal?
Group that funded DiCiccio recall attempt investigated
“The fact that PVR formed at or around the same time as Save Phoenix Taxpayers and was the largest contributor to the political committee does not mean PVR is a sham entity or that it violated the law,” Desai wrote in a letter to the Secretary of State.
No, but it is highly suspicious if it is also true that all but about $100 dollars of Save Phoenix Taxpayers DiCiccio recall campaign was funded by Scott Phelps’ Protect Voters’ Rights (PVR) organization. That sounds sounds worthy of investigating given the Supreme Court of the United States’ questionable ruling:
Groups like Protect Voters’ Rights have become more prevalent after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. The court ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections as long as they don’t coordinate with a campaign or give directly to a candidate.
The question, and investigation, is over whether PVR illegally coordinated a political campaign effort by created a sham company. All groups such as these, regardless of political stripe, should be investigated and if found to be violating the law prosecuted and punished so that elections don’t become any more corrupt than they have already have thanks to the SCOTUS’s poor decision.
As to Save Phoenix Taxpayers, I figured the group was a sham anyway. I was approached three separate times to support the recall effort. In each instance when I asked them to give me legitimate, non-politically motivated reasons (i.e. illegal activity, failure to perform the duties of their office, etc.) to have DiCiccio recalled none could do so. The worst was the third individual who claimed he was only collecting signatures for a paycheck and had no interest in the recall effort what so ever. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the organization there.
Job Shop: Lawmaker Wants to End Unemployment Discrimination
Democratic state Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix says the bill would add “long-term unemployment status” to the list of factors that employers are prohibited from considering.
Yesterday I posted about California addressing the discrimination against the unemployed. Today, an Arizona representative in the state house wants to put forth a bill addressing the issue. I think it’s a good idea, but unfortunately the representative putting the bill forward may have killed it due to his efforts to repeal SB1070, efforts that are dead on arrival in the state legislature if legislative leaders are to be believed.
Hopefully, his fellow representatives can look past his anti-SB1070 efforts and work together in crafting an anti-discrimination bill for the unemployed. I say hopefully because rhetoric from the anti-SB1070 crowd has poisoned much political discourse here in Arizona an a variety of issues by those few who’ve tried to turn everything into an issue of race or ethnicity. Most have put in on the back burner until the SCOTUS makes a final determination later this year but there always those who fixate on issues.
Lawmakers Propose Local Fast and Furious Probe
Now state lawmakers are taking the investigation into their own hands. House Speaker Andy Tobin and other Arizona lawmakers are forming a bi-partisan committee to investigate whether Fast and Furious broke any state laws or if any new laws are needed.
I’m not surprised at this since United States AG Holder’s Justice Department refuses to do a proper investigation into the issue and agencies involved. Unfortunately, I also already know what associated federal agencies are going to do: claim immunity under federal law for any potential criminal activity that they participated in. In other words, more corruption from the federal government in it’s failure to protect the American people and uphold the law.
Occupy Phoenix prostesters demand release of those arrested
Reporters and protesters on the scene saw an estimated 40 people detained at Margaret T. Hance Park just north of downtown Phoenix. In a Sunday morning news release, Phoenix police said 45 arrests had been made for criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.
If they were arrested for violating the law then the Occupy Phoenix protesters have no right to complain about the police enforcing the law. The article clearly states, and isn’t disputed by any other reports I’ve read from Occupy Phoenix participants and supporters, that the protesters were informed of the regulation and chose to refuse to obey it. If anything all indications are that the police and protesters were cooperating nicely with one another throughout the day and early evening.
When the Occupy Wall Street protests started I had no problem with them. They did have legitimate points about the banks manipulating parts of the economy into collapse by fueling speculation on oil and commodities, as well as how these same banks profited from foreclosures and tax payer bailouts, the undue political influence that corporations have been given over the voice of the people (the Citizen’s United Supreme Court ruling), and the return of stricter oversight and regulation (such as the Glass-Steagal Act). These are among the same issues that brought so much attention and popular support to the T.E.A. Party before it was hijacked by special interests.
Unfortunately I now see OWS as being hijacked as well as they have a growing litany of complaints that are more akin to Marxist-Leninist socialist/communist dogma and anarchy than legitimate complaints. Among the demands I’ve heard/read around the news and internet (some good, some bad):
Now these are all well and good, whether you agree with them or not, but many of the demands now have little to nothing to do with the direct complaint that the leaders of the financial industry were not held to account for their industries actions, not were the regulatory commissions and the government officials (elected and bureaucratic) that created the conditions that led to the collapse of the U.S. economy. Worse, OWS is targeting the wrong crowd: the bankers rather than the politicans in Washington D.C. Another major flaw to some of the demands are when the issues are self-inflicted such as personal debt due to individuals choosing to spend beyond their means by choosing to have credit cards, student loans, and mortgages. In those cases, sympathy for their cause is lost by generations of Americans who’ve taken responsibility for their debt and worked through it regardless of whether financial times were booming or, as now, a bust.
Worse, when you add in their top speakers at the assorted rallies are avowed anti-capitalist, communists, socialists, and anarchists it makes it neigh impossible for the common American citizen to feel any connection with them. Then comes the perceived hostile environment of the OWS protesters towards the media, the wealthy, or anyone else they view as the “enemy” (usually anyone who questions their intent). Add to it those extremists amongst OWS who seem to be trying to incite violent clashes and disrupt the general public and you’ve a recipe for failure.
If OWS wishes to get the support of the people they need to focus their message back on issues that the average American is concerned about instead of the demands that are perceived as either socialist/communist dogma or whining by liberal elitists upset over the rejection of their agenda by the public. Do as the T.E.A. Party did before it was corrupted by the right wing elements of the nation. OWS protesters needs to reject the extremists among them, the general hostility they have towards anyone not deemed “one of them”, and the radicalization; focus back on issues all Americans can agree on: the lack of oversight by the government, the corruption of the political and financial system and the ways to correct these problems.
Engendering class, social, economic, and ideological warfare will not win the day, only inclusion, respect, genuine dialogue and genuine cooperation will result in success. Look to grow and build, not redistribute and destroy.
So, those are just some of my rambling thoughts on Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Phoenix. Take them for what you will.
Gray3's Thirdsphere 