Every day I return home from the daily grind to turn on the television and watch my recorded programs. The DVR has become an intimate friend who shares moments with me I may otherwise miss, and that might otherwise relegate me to searching through the Internet to capture tidbits of what I am looking for amongst the hundreds of thousands of items that pop up when I use a keyword search phrase.
I am sure that the hottest search word this past week is CPAC or Conservative Political Action Conference as it is otherwise known.
A tidbit about CPAC:
The conference was founded in 1973 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom as a small gathering of dedicated conservatives. Over the years it has grown to thousands of attendees annually. Roughly half of those in attendance in the past few years have been college-aged.
Speakers have included Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Pat Buchanan, Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tony Snow, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Allen West, Michele Bachmann, and other conservative public figures. Before, during, and after his presidency, Ronald Reagan spoke at CPAC a total of 12 times. In his 1985 speech, he referred to CPAC as his “opportunity to dance with the one that brung ya”, referring to CPAC having been a contributing factor to his political success.
CPAC has featured “groups at odds with conservative orthodoxy in years past—including the American Civil Liberties Union,” and, more recently, the gay Republican group GOProud, which has attracted major controversy.
Okay, enough of the Wikipedia crap! Let’s get to the nuts of this blog. First of all, if the damn conference couldn’t already be appropriately defined as a boatload of extremist Republicans meeting once a year to teach their hypocritical followers how to spin the their lies, it certainly can be defined in that manner this year. This year, more than ever, CPAC has gone completely extremist and anti-Obama.
As if that wasn’t bad enough the contraceptive controversy surfaced just as CPAC launched it’s misinformation conference. Boy howdy, they grabbed this one by the horns and they been riding it for all it’s worth. Some of the titles on the right wing blogosphere are “Catholic Bishops: Obama‘s Contraception Mandate Change “Unacceptable”, “Limbaugh on So-Called HHS ‘Accommodation’: There‘s no ’Compromise,‘ It’s all BS!”, “Pastor Rick Warren: “I’d Go to Jail Rather Than Cave to Contraceptive Mandate”, “Gloves Off: Sen. Rand Paul Blasts HHS Mandate as “Authoritarian” & “Totalitarian.” Well, you get the drift.
Those titles are like red meat for the right, of which there are no longer what could be considered “reasonable Republicans” if there was ever such a thing, but simply put, these are extremists who’d rather see this country divided and failed, rather than allow a successful presidency under a black president.
As they tried their best to spin the contraceptive controversy into a wedge issue, successfully getting even some Democrats to criticize the president, The 2012 candidate and sitting president Barack Hussein Obama (yes I used his middle name) did what he always does, he stood back, observed the mayhem and effectively took the wind out of their sails by modifying his mandate to accommodate the religious organizations that care less about their flock than their supposed “religious principles.”
We are into day three of CPAC and the stink emitting from the conference is intolerable. I can smell it all the way here to Arizona. It’s so bad, it’s almost overshadowing the stink coming from the Arizona State legislature. Let me clarify, I said almost, since the Arizona State Legislature is putrid with hate and rancor towards it’s underprivileged, Latinos, Immigrants, women and children.
The speakers at CPAC are as classic as the previous years, one tries to top the other, until I’m sure one of them will go so far overboard, as they always do, that everyone will act offended and supposedly repudiate the offensive rhetoric as they giggle amongst themselves at their mixers or in their hotel rooms while their wives down their contraceptives and the husband makes a pass at the housekeeper that enters the room to turn down their bed covers.
Alas, observe the Republican creature in his natural environment, it’s called CPAC.
Something stinks to high heaven
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and W60 AM Radio, Los Angeles, San Diego and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed col
Well Cain is out. We knew it was coming. Simply put, Herman Cain isn’t presidential material. We know it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, given that we have a black president. No, Cain’s problem was, amongst many, the fact that he wasn’t up to speed on the “issues.” Put aside the womanizing and the lying, which in the past, have actually been qualifiers for the presidency, simply put, Cain is a political dunce.
I couldn’t help but visualize Cain with 3×5 index cards in his hands as he struggled with the Libya issue in a recent interview with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel editorial board. He was also visualizing those index cards, and unfortunately for him, his brain couldn’t access his memory banks quick enough, causing him to have what many call a Jan Brewer or Rick Perry moment.
As Cain drew upon his memory he muttered:
“Okay, Libya,” said Cain, glancing up. “President Obama supported the uprising, correct? President Obama called for the removal of [Muammar] Gaddafi. Just wanted to make sure we’re talking about the same thing before I say, ‘Yes, I agreed. No, I didn’t agree,’” said Cain.
“I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason,” Cain started, before cutting himself off. “Nope, that’s a different one.” Cain shifted in his chair, adjusted his jacket and looked up again.
“I got all this stuff twirling around in my head,” he added.
It was a painful moment even for me. I think most of us were aware that this was the start of his demise. As I previously stated, Cain’s womanizing didn’t seem to be a problem for the GOP or the faithful Tea Baggers that yearned to see a black man give the other black man occupying the white house a run for his money. It was amazing to watch these hypocrites, men and women alike, paint the women who reported Cain’s extracurricular activities as promiscuous vixens.
Keep in mind that when someone runs for the presidency, their entire family is subject to scrutiny, and even if they themselves are squeaky clean, as in Gloria Cain’s case, they have to deal with the candidates misdeeds, missteps and misconduct.
I Imagine the pressure for Gloria Cain was just too much to bear. I don’t doubt one bit that Gloria was aware of Herman’s sexual promiscuity, many women in long marriages are well aware of their husbands infidelity and choose to ignore it for the sake of preserving their marriage. For God’s sake, if you’re married to a man for 43 years you know his every whim, desire and faults.
Eventually Cain’s sexual appetite proved to be his demise. One too many accusations. Ginger White and his alleged 13 year affair proved to be the final nail in his political coffin.
Cain eventually decided that he would allow Gloria to decide whether or not he would leave the race for the GOP nomination. Why does the song I’m Leaving It All Up To You” come to mind?
Gloria’s decision was loud and clear. Gloria said no more, and the Cainster hung up his political apron, much dirtier than the one he wore while running Godfather pizza.
Remember, I said Cain was a political dunce, I never said he isn’t a greedy S.O.B. that has lied and cheated his way to the top. Cain suspended his campaign. He didn’t dissolve his campaign! The difference is, that when you suspend your campaign you can continue to raise and receive funds to pay off any outstanding debts, and of course, the clincher, Cain get’s matching federal funds next year. In layman’s terms, matching federal funds means you and I will be handing Cain some of our hard earned bucks, also referred to as taxpayer money.
During Cain’s long drawn out and often babbling campaign suspension speech in which his wife was acknowledged by the mostly Tea Party supporters by chanting “Gloria, Gloria Gloria”, Cain announced the launch of a new project, a website.He plugged the site www.thecainsolutions.com as if he were plugging his infamous and flawed 9-9-9 plan.
Cain doesn’t want to have to return the millions received as he rose in the polls touting his 9-9-9 plan, I suspect he’ll turn his campaign into a PAC, which is of course allowed under FEC rules. That allows Cain to stay in the political manipulation game by using his political action committee.
So the Herman will go back to being Herman! Womanizing, lobbying, and rubbing shoulders with those who buy politicians like him.
His relationship with the Koch brothers I suspect will get better. After all, he followed orders well and did exactly what he was told. The Koch brothers ties to his campaign were obvious. Mark Block, “the smoker” from the Cain campaign youtube video also worked alongside Cain lobbying for Americans For Prosperity, one of the Koch brothers advocacy organizations from 2005 to 2011. Block was Cain’s campaign manager and served as overseer for the Koch brothers.
Cain has always known his place around rich white men. He learned it from his father who was a chauffeur for Coca Cola’s president Robert Woodruff.
Herman Cain is living proof that the good old “boy” system is alive and well, and the masters of that system are the major players in the Grand Old Party.
Nein, Nein, Nein I did not have sex with these women
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and W60 AM Radio, Los Angeles, San Diego and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen in Arizona.
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Herman Cain is political toast. In baseball it’s three strikes and you’re out. In politics you normally get one strike and it could potentially take you out of the political game, but four strikes? Come on? Herman Cain might as well hang up his mitt and allow the other Mitt to take the lead.
Now that a fourth woman has come out with some serious allegations and a description of Cain’s “unwanted advances,” you would think that Cain would slip into the political shadows. However, Cain’s arrogance and his financial backing from the Koch bros will drive him to try and survive the lethal wound delivered by Sharon Bialek a former employee of the National restaurant Association.
The words were real, from a real person, something that the public had not yet seen. Cain’s invisible accusers and victims according to settlements reached with The National Restaurant Association permitted Cain to dodge the bullet. As long as these women stayed silent and refused to place a face on the accusations, Cain was able to duck and run by refusing to openly address the accusations and the details.
Bialek an Anglo woman with a college degree and mother of a thirteen year old boy decided to be that face and that voice. Her words were harsh, descriptive and politically fatal.
“He reached over and he put his hand on my leg under my skirt and reached for my genitals,” Bialek said, her voice breaking with emotion. “He also grabbed my head and brought it towards his crotch. I was very, very surprised and very shocked. I said, ‘What are you doing? You know I have a boyfriend. This isn’t what I came here for.’”
To which Cain responded:
“You want a job, right?” Bialek said she asked him to stop, and Cain complied. She then asked to be driven back to her hotel, and she said Cain promptly complied with that request as well.
In my opinion, Herman Cain is an inept candidate. He’s proven that, time and time again. On foreign and national policy, he’s a 0-0-0.
When the Koch brothers hired him in 2005 to speak publicly for Americans For Prosperity, they cited his public speaking ability. I think what they were referring to is his ability to sell snake oil. Cain is nothing more than a polished, wealthy, snake oil salesman, and of course, a political token for the Koch brothers.
His political career was a short lived one and was failed from the start. Those who followed him and continue to be supportive of his misbehavior by justifying sexual harassment in the workplace and now possibly sexual assault, are those same American’s who are willing to abandon their ideals, values and principles in the name of politics, hate and the promotion of the wealthy in this country. These are the same people who claim to love America and claim to own patriotism, dismissing anyone who doesn’t fall in line as a traitor.
This brings to mind Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous quote,
“When a whole nation is roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and purity of its heart.”
Maybe someone should let Cain know that his political career is dead. The coffin is waiting. He should save himself some embarrassment and lay down already!
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen. Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
When I was advised that Bachmann would be scurrying into town, I decided to skedaddle on over to Sheriff Joe’s office to see what she had to say, and of course to keep the mainstream media honest. I didn’t figure anyone would ask the hard questions, or at least a question that would put her on the hot seat, particularly regarding the fact that we have millions of undocumented workers in the United States. What would she do with them if she won the most prized post as leader of the world? Of course I knew she wouldn’t answer directly when asked.
Nobody wants to admit that we are completely dependent on the low skilled undocumented labor that we import from Mexico. Nobody wants to admit that we are complicit to the existence of the undocumented workers. Everyone wants to live in denial and in the houses built by these “culprits”. They want to stuff their faces with the vegetables picked by them. They want to enjoy their manicured lawns mowed and trimmed by them, and they want to enjoy their shiny cars after going through the local car wash spiffed up by these undocumented car wash employees. The list goes on and on of jobs filled by the undocumented worker that an average American absolutely will not fill, and, if they were to work that job, they wouldn’t last.
So Bachmann answered my question like any other politician would. You know? Using code words meant to incite emotion from Immigrant haters and deniers, and meant to make her appear responsible and in tune with the topic. “We have to secure the border first”, “We have to remove those magnets that draw them here.” Blah, blah, blah.
Bachmann proved she was just another talking head out of touch with the undocumented Immigration issue, seeking to fill a job she just is absolutely not qualified to fill. She did however, look like Sheriff Joe’s drooling lap dog, looking for his endorsement by touting his stardom and by winking her enlarged eyes while converting her cynical smirk to a beauty queen smile.
As for Sheriff Joe, when asked whether he would give Bachmann his endorsement, he responded by saying that he hadn’t decided yet. Ah, Sheriff Joe, always the astute politician. Why would he commit to endorsing one candidate so early in the game when he could possibly be courted by other candidates as the Republican field narrows down to two viable candidates for the Republican nomination to replace the black man sleeping in the White House.
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana Arizona and the Tucson Citizen. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
Facing a harsh economic reality and under close scrutiny after having been bailed out by the TARP program, Bank of America is in an absolute free fall and is desperate to purchase a politician that’s willing to engage in overt pay to play politics.
So B of A throws the bait out, what will this secessionist tea bagging theocratic political whale ask for, and what will he promise?
The video below highlights the offer made by James Mahoney, Bank of America’s director of public policy. Mahoney to Perry, “good job governor, Bank of America, “we’ll help you out.”
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen. Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
Local pro Latino groups continue to criticize President Obama. One washed up Latino politician called him a liar on Spanish language television. So are they siding with the Republicans and the Tea Party by being critical of our president right around the corner from the 2012 elections?
Has the Immigrant community allowed their “Latino leaders” to dangle the Immigration carrot in front of their nose while placing blinders on them?
I will cover this topic and more on today’s Straight Talk Tucson
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen. Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
If you look up the word hypocrisy in the dictionary nowadays, you’re likely to find a picture of the Republican logo. What’s worse, is that they are shameless. They don’t care that they originally opposed stem cell research and that they now support it. They don’t care that the very wealthy pay less taxes than the poor. They don’t care that their representatives in Congress claim they are not part of the establishment while they’re sitting in Washington like fat cats stuffing their faces at luncheons and being lobbied by special interest. They are simply shameless liars. They claim one thing and do another.
I never have liked the Republican party, whom I affectionately call the Rethuglicans. There has always been this air of arrogance about them,and the hypocrisy is deeply embedded, but the new Republican and their aggressive and extreme splinter, the Tea Party, has taken hypocrisy to new heights.
Frankly, I don’t know how they look at themselves in the mirror in the morning, with what all they are doing to this country daily.
The Republicans have actually been successful in convincing many of those in the middle or lower class to shoot themselves in the foot. To watch your average American fighting for tax loopholes for the wealthy is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. It’s just plain unadulterated ignorance. They are kept wallowing in their ignorance by their political leaders and the millionaire pundits who benefit from those same tax loopholes these poor imbeciles are fighting for.
The Republicans scream class warfare as if the wealthy have to be protected from an attack. The wealthy are the ones calling the shots, funding political campaigns, buying favors and ruining this great country. Class warfare? Unbelievable!!!
The conservatives controlled by the very wealthy are the one’s hell bent on eliminating the middle class. They yearn for a class system that is defined by the very rich and the very poor. So, every time I hear a wealthy political pundit or a conservative politician scream class warfare I can’t help but see that “H” tattooed on their forehead, and every time I hear a conservative blue collar worker say the same in order to protect the very wealthy, I cringe, shake my head and wonder if this person realizes that he’ll be next in the soup line.
You may be wondering, hypocrisy? What is the actual definition? I’ve helped you out a little below.
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen. Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
Frankly I’m disgusted with the behavior of these so called conservatives. They aren’t conservatives. They’re hypocrites. Two face, double dealing liars, labeling themselves as Republicans. Many of them claiming to be Christians. I call them domestic terrorists. They’re not only responsible for allowing the worst attack on U.S. soil under their idol George Bush’s regime, but they have systematically ruined this country. The Republican’s behavior is appalling and disgusting.
Why are we putting up with these worthless traitors that call themselves Americans? They empower themselves by wearing guns strapped to their waist and flaunting their large cache of weapons. Why don’t we all do the same? They fly the American flag as if it only belongs to them. Why aren’t we taking back patriotism. We own patriotism just as much as they do, and don’t you forget it. Why aren’t we using the same rhetoric as they are? In fact, let’s do it! Lock and load! Don’t retreat, reload! Fight fire with fire! We have allowed these bottom feeders to take over this country, and for what reason? Because we want to take the high road? There is no high road nowadays. There is just one road! It’s one lane, and we shouldn’t move over! Let’s walk, drive, barrel right over these road hogs. Let’s take this country back from these parasitic mutated creatures called Republicans.
If we don’t do something now, we will certainly see a communist country brought to you courtesy of the cockroaches after they finish George Bush’s dirty work by selling the country off to China. Hell, they own our debt, they just about own our land.
These Republican leeches idolize Ronald Reagan and preach from the no tax bible, and yet Reagan raised taxes 11 times when he was in office. Half of these parasites don’t possess critical thinking skills, let alone the ability to actually do any research. They follow the monkey see monkey do mentality, if they heard it from another primate, they repeat it themselves regardless of the consequences to themselves, their family or their country.
They’re so willing to be right, that they sink this country and unfortunately the left will actually apologize! Let’s put a stop to this mayhem, the next time you hear a loudmouth lying Republican open his lying trap, set him straight and send him packing.
As far as I’m concerned, as long as they keep stomping on the right side of the scales, I’m going to stomp on the left, hell, I’ll go one further, I’ll push them of the scales! Politically of course! It’s nothing different than what they’ve been doing to us and this country.
Oh, and for you Republicans that are pitching a fit right now, calling me a hater, and an inciter of violence, and so on and so forth. Please, don’t take this out of context. It’s all just related to politics and not meant to be offensive.
Thanks Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and the rest of you right wing demagogues, I took a page out of your book.
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana and the Tucson Citizen. Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
Within the next couple of weeks the Arizona Department of Corrections will be recommending the company or companies that will be awarded a contract with the State of Arizona. That private detention corporation(s) will be charged with building a couple of new facilities to house inmates.
Although we’ve seen a decline in crime and a decline in a need for new facilities, the private prison industry continues to expand their operations in Arizona by and through relationships like the one they maintain with Chuck Coughlin who owns and runs High Ground Public Affairs and who in turn lobbies for Corrections Corporation of America. Coughlin, amazingly enough, is Governor Jan Brewer’s top political adviser. Although much of this may be a refresher course for many of you, it’s crucial to set the foundation for those who may not be aware of these very highly publicized facts.
In a declining market, a bad economy, and desperately trying to pull out of a recession, we find that the private prison industry has established ties that have allowed it to continue profiting to the tune of 5 billion dollars per year. Like a game of chess, the pawns were put in place while many Arizonans were sleeping on the political job. Once established these private corrections corporations have been able to maintain many states in a virtual checkmate.
As an example of failed policies and unneeded private prisons or as many of us call them, concentration camps, we need to look at Littlefield Texas who bought into the idea of building a private prison. Hell the idea seemed good enough. The private corrections corporation would build the prison at their own cost. There would be no subsidiaries in the form of taxpayer money and everything would be done up to code. Once built, profits would be shared, it would create jobs, it sounded like a great plan, especially given the fact that many of these prisons depend on undocumented Immigrants to fill them, and of course, officials in Littlefield are well aware of Texas’ stand on illegal immigration and the enacting of laws that are aimed at the undocumented Immigrant, therefore creating more prisoners to fill those jails.
Somehow the perfect model collapsed and Littlefield is stuck with a private prison that nobody wants and that is actually costing them money to maintain. In fact for the last couple of years Littlefield is having to dish out $65,000.00 a month to pay the note on the prison. The corrections corporation giant GEO bailed out and the contractors and snake oil salesmen all made their money leaving Littlefield holding the jailer’s keys.
What Littlefield and those in the private prison industry did not take into consideration is the fact that creating these laws would cause panic amongst their potential dweller, which would in turn caused a massive exodus from those states who would most likely benefit from incarcerating these potential inmates.
Another factor not considered by the private prison industry or those seeking to profit from the incarceration of Immigrants is the fact that securing the border has swayed many from making that dangerous trek across our border. Therefore denying the private prison industry of the desperately needed fodder for their private prisons.
I would imagine that there must be a behind the scenes struggle between the private prison industry who seeks a porous border in order to allow their favorite customers in and the Tea Party driven politician who insists that they want an even more secure border further damaging profits for private corrections purveyors.
In any event, Arizona is hell bent on building more private prisons. They have a commitment to those correctional giants and by golly they plan on keeping their word. So who’s going to be building these new prisons? Who get’s the latest contract? They’ve all got horrible track records, from escape, to abusing inmates, although, I don’t think Clarence Thomas would object to the latter, seeing as how he has displayed his support for inmate abuse by rendering dissenting opinions on such matters from the SCOTUS bench, however, that’s another story for another time. Let’s take a look at the bidders’ track record.
The bidders
Those companies are:
- Geo Group Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla. A publicly-traded company, Geo operates about 80,000 prison beds at 116 federal, state and local prisons and treatment facilities in the U.S. and three other countries. It reported $62.8 million in net income on $1.27 billion in revenues for its most recent fiscal year ending Jan. 2. It operates three prisons under contract with the Arizona Department of Corrections: the Central Arizona Correctional Facility (medium security) in Florence, and the minimum-security Phoenix West and Florence West prisons.
Geo has had at least 27 escapes in the past seven years, according to press accounts, including one three years ago that led to a murder in a convenience store in Houston. In 2007, Texas canceled an $8 million contract with Geo and closed the Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, citing filthy conditions. The company is currently fighting a suit by the American Civil Liberties Union alleging the use of excessive force, and unconstitutional and barbaric conditions at its Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Walnut Grove, Miss. Meanwhile, the FBI and a federal grand jury are investigating alleged illegalities in the appropriations and the construction of Geo’s $120 million Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Florida. The company did not respond to calls and e-mails seeking comment.
- Management & Training Corp., of Centerville, Utah. A privately-held company, MTC operates 20 prisons in seven states, with a capacity of 26,000 prisoners. It does not publicly release financial data. It began in 1981 operating federal Job Corps centers. MTC operates two prisons under contract with the Arizona Department of Corrections, a medium/minimum security facility in Kingman and a minimum-security facility at Marana.
MTC currently faces lawsuits over the deaths of an Oklahoma couple killed after three inmates escaped from its Kingman prison last year. The company has also had escapes from prisons it operates in Texas and Utah. In two separate instances, it has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor to repay a total of more than $650,000 in back wages to officers from whom it withheld overtime pay in Texas and four other states. MTC spokeswoman Issa Arnita noted that the Utah escapees were inmates working outside the prison. And she said MTC added razor wire – not then required by Texas at minimum-security facilities – after the Texas escapes. She said that after the Department of Labor determination, MTC voluntarily audited all its facilities and compensated any employees who were due back wages.
- Correctional Corp. of America, of Nashville, Tenn. CCA is the largest private-prison company in the U.S., housing about 80,000 federal and state prisoners in 66 facilities across 19 states and the District of Columbia. A publicly-traded company, CCA reported net income of $157 million on $1.67 billion in revenues for 2010. It has no contracts with the Arizona Department of Corrections, but houses federal inmates and inmates from Hawaii, California and Washington at six prisons in Eloy and Florence.
CCA has had at least 21 escapes at various facilities over the past decade, including several that have led to assaults and other crimes. CCA also faces several lawsuits over its Idaho Correctional Center, dubbed the “Gladiator School” for allegations that guards and supervisors there regularly allowed violent inmates to assault and beat other inmates during 2009 and 2010. In January 2010, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear ordered hundreds of female prisoners removed from CCA’s Otter Creek Correctional Complex after a series of charges that guards regularly sexually assaulted female inmates there. CCA did not respond to calls and e-mails seeking comment.
- Emerald Correctional Management, of Lafayette, La. A privately-held company, Emerald operates about 3,800 beds at six federal, state and local prisons. It has no contracts with the Arizona Department of Corrections, but operates the San Luis Regional Detention Center south of Yuma in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It has had at least five escapes in the past decade.
Last year, the Houston Chronicle, reporting on the death of a Cuban immigrant, investigated the company’s Rolling Plains Regional Jail and Detention Center in Texas. It noted that the company had no doctors to care for more than 500 immigration detainees at the facility, using only poorly supervised vocational nurses. Emerald did not respond to calls for comment.
- LaSalle Southwest Corrections, of Ruston, La. A privately-held company, LaSalle operates about 7,700 beds at 12 prisons in Texas and Louisiana. It has no contracts with the Arizona Department of Corrections. It has had eight escapes in the past six years, including three of minimum-security prisoners who walked away while on work crews outside the prisons.
Source: www.azcentral.com
The corporate giant’s on this list have successfully bought their way into Arizona politics utilizing the hot button issue nowadays “immigration”, while funding local corrupt and profoundly racist politicians. I really doubt that Arizona will end up with a Littlefield, Texas problem, especially given the fact that if anything does go wrong, Arizona’s Republican led administration will ensure that you, the tax payer, flip the bill for their mistakes.
Welcome to Arizona, where everything is for sale to the highest bidder, from the Arizona State Capitol Building that’s already been sold, to the politicians contained within that are bought and sold daily, to our Immigrant labor that can be used for profit by corporations involved in manufacturing, agriculture, food, or the latest, the correctional industry.
America Tangled In The Private Prison Industry
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
Carlos what do you think about those saying no support for Obama until he stops deporting?
My response may make some of you angry, but at least you know I am honest. I say what many of you think, but are not willing to say. By the way, the Rethuglicans need not jump on board. You are what’s wrong with Arizona and the United States.
So here is my response to the aforementioned question:
It’s the typical shoot yourself in the foot mentality. Let’s see what’s the alternative? Romney? Nah, don’t think he’ll stop the deportations! Oh, I know, Herman Cain, oh…he is afraid of Muslims and he said they shouldn’t permit birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents, Ron Paul said the same! So he’s not the guy! Should I go on?
We all know there won’t be opposition from the Dems in the primary, so……. It’s Obama and whomever the Rethuglicans nominate. So would we want any of those thugs sitting as Commander in Chief. Will they stop the deportations? NO….We know how much the GOP uses the undocumented people issue to rev up their base!
All these nay sayers are hurting because of what is happening to our people. I am too. Believe me I advocate every day and have been arrested and threatened and my wife was even assaulted, However, I’m a pragmatist while still allowing myself to dream at least a little. These nay sayers that claim they won’t support President Obama should just stop with their support of the Rethuglicans! Oh, did I say that out loud?
Any negative feedback for President Obama lends credibility to the right’s complaints and fuels the fire. It’s time the Dem lights and the failed leaders shut up! They didn’t do a damn thing when Bush was in office! Most of these policies, including the “secure communities” program were put in place under Bush’s administration.
These pseudo leaders and pseudo activists ran their non-profits, marched people in the streets and refused to register them to vote. Then they expected to bully their way through the political system. For years they profited from the oppressed who yearn for CIR. They have failed to properly lead and meet the needs of our beloved undocumented friends and family members. They didn’t stop to realize that the Blacks were in line, the gays were in line, the people demanding health care were in line, the Dems with power who supported Obama were in line. Everyone had and has had their hand out. No! They’ve had their fists out! They have been pounding it, insisting they will bail out on any support for President Obama if he doesn’t cough up what they want.
Victoria, just stop and think, if each state would have had the proper leadership, and had they been pragmatists when they saw what Bush was doing and how Immigrants were being used as scapegoats, they could have and should have prevented this attack at a state level.
However, you see these same activists in bed with the police chiefs who are more harmful with their police forces than Joe Arpaio! Daily they detain and arrest our people for things that are absurd, e.g. broken tail lights, broken windshields etc. They then take them to the local jail for processing through the 287g program. You have never seen these pseudo activists or pseudo leaders go after the local politicians, such as the mayors who hold hands with these police chiefs. They don’t go after the city council members who pass city rules that deny the acceptance of the matricula consular as an alternative identification to present to police officers, like they did here in Phoenix many years before the actual matricula law was passed this legislative session.
No Victoria, this is a much more complex issue. The local pseudo leaders and activists in each state and each “Latino” organization like to point fingers and yell at President Obama.
In the end, it diverts attention from their failed leadership.
In solidarity,
Carlos E. Galindo
What's your option? A Rethuglican?
Carlos E. Galindo is a radio talk show host & political analyst conducting radio shows in both English and Spanish on four radio stations in Arizona. Mr. Galindo is a weekly contributor to KPFK 98.7 FM Los Angeles and has appeared on CNN, Univision and Telemundo as a political analyst. Mr. Galindo is also an Op-Ed columnist on Prensa Hispana Arizona. www.nospinonair.com/http://www.carlosgalindo.com
Listen to our live radio broadcast every Friday from 5-7 PM on The JOLT Tucson 1330 AM or via the web on www.nospinonair.com
