The L Factor — Libertarian.

You might recall last year when numerous Democratic candidates, officials and voters were complaining about “spoiler” 3rd party candidates … but this year we hear a different cry.  Now some Democratic people want us to believe they are looking out for and in the best interest of Libertarian voters.

Nothing could be further from the truth … it’s just that some of these Democratic folks finally figured out that 3rd party candidates may not have been such a bad idea after all.

Will HB2305 prevent future Arizona Libertarian candidates from running?  The answer is no.  Before the passage of HB2305, Libertarian candidates had to collect signatures from other limited Libertarian registered voters who were hard to find.  Now Libertarians can collect signatures across the broader political spectrum via Republican, Independent and Democratic voters — not just from fellow Libertarians.

An independent-thinking and good Democratic voter via Gail Shoultes remembers the signatures that were required for independent candidate Mike Stauffer in 2012.  She said:

I’m not sure HB2305 will even affect independent candidates since they are not considered a party but they are the 2nd largest bloc of voters ahead of democrats. In the last election, for instance, the Maricopa county sheriff’s race the democratic candidate, Penzone had to gather about 2,500 signatures, Arpaio had to collect about 3,500 and the independent candidate, Mike Stauffer had to collect 19,000 valid signatures. Don’t talk to me about signature fairness until that gets fixed.

What should Libertarians do in our State of Arizona?  Continue the mass exodus of the Republican Party Gary Johnson began for starters…. meanwhile, maybe some of those Democratic folks who were crying about 3rd Party “spoilers” will re-think their future political strategies since their cries botched it up for everyone else because Independent and Libertarian candidates tend to pull votes from conservatives.

Next time you see a Libertarian, independent or 3rd party candidate — be sure to give ‘em a hug next time.   They really did do more good than you think.

To those Democrats who complained about the independent and libertarian candidates we supported while calling them “spoilers”:  Thanks for nothing.  Maybe you’ll think with better foresight in the future.

A breakthrough on legal immigration reform seems to be advancing and it could be because of the recent CBO report that  estimated the Senate’s immigration bill currently under consideration would slash the federal deficit by $197 billion over the next 10 years, and an extra $700 billion in the following decade.

According to Reuters:

After days of intensive negotiations, a small group of senators had hit upon a compromise that was being floated more broadly in order to gauge support, Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee told reporters.

“I think we’ve overcome the issues that have separated the group in negotiations. I think we’re together now,” Corker said.

It was unclear how the new package might be received by senators who are considered to be undecided and Corker did not want to reveal details of the potential compromise.

A positive response could mean that the Senate next week would approve a sweeping immigration bill by a huge margin, giving it greater chances of success in the House of Representatives.

FULL STORY>>>

Jan Brewer signs HB2305.

I predicted the Arizona Governor Jan Brewer would sign HB2305 — a bill having to do with initiatives, circulators and filings.

What does this legislation mean?  It means Chicanos and Latinos should mail in their ballots on time and not rely on anyone to take care of it for them.

Numerous issues were addressed within this bill with regard to recalls, circulators, and initiatives.

According to the AZ REPUBLIC:

The legislation also prevents anyone working for an organization [like Citizens for Better Arizona, Promise Arizona] or a political party from collecting an individual’s ballot and dropping it off at a polling place. Voters as well as the person returning their ballot must sign an affidavit saying both parties are aware of the transaction.

I do not trust handing over my early ballot to organizers — and nobody else should for that matter. 

We should continue to rely on the postman who has an obligation to ensure your early ballot gets mailed to the appropriate entity.

I believe HB 2305 has much to do with the likes of Randy Parraz and Petra Falcon who have been grandstanding how many ballots they have collected and were in their possession.   There was enormous outcry during the 2012 November election cycle when counting delays occurred and now I believe HB2305 is a consequence of that.   Indeed during the 2012 Presidential election cycle, Arizonan’s witnessed a provisional ballot debacle.

On November 6, 2012, AZ Family interviewed the Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell who is in charge of elections for the county.

According to Purcell, people who had requested and received early voting ballots in the mail were asked to cast

Helen Purcell: Voter confusion part of ballot problem

provisional ballots if they showed up at polling places in order to avoid double counting votes.  She also said registered voters who showed up at the polls with the wrong forms of identification had to cast provisional ballots.

Purcell estimated that 75,000 provisional ballots were cast in Maricopa County.  In addition to that, she said about 100,000 early voting ballots were dropped off at polling places or arrived in the mail on Tuesday.  She said counting of mail-in and provisional ballots would start Wednesday afternoon.

“Every ballot that can be counted, will be counted,” said Purcell, trying to ease the fears of some people who were complaining or worried that their provisional ballots didn’t hold as much weight as regular ballots.

According to Purcell, it could take election officials 10 days to count the roughly 175,000 early and provisional ballots, meaning close races could take days to call.  Election results will be updated every day at 5:00pm.

 

Petra Falcon (Promise Arizona) & Randy Parraz (Citizens for Better Arizona)

Lou who is the host of a Jewish – Chicano Radio show in Arizona states:

Here’s a video of Randy Parraz (CBA) and Petra Falcon (Promise Arizona) exploiting their collection of ballots, Randy informing that about 700 ballots were gathered in a four day period (that’s about 1,000 a week). This is grandstanding, and if it had not been done, maybe the provision in HB 2305 trying to stop the gathering of ballots by groups like CBA would not have been included. Say what you want about whether or not any group has the right to collect and hold ballots, Parraz’s behavior brought this matter to the attention of Arizona lawmakers.

 

Here’s a recent fact sheet by the Arizona State Senate:

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-First Legislature, First Regular Session

 

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2305

initiatives; filings; circulators

 

Purpose

Requires a political committee that files petitions with the Secretary of State (SOS) to organize and group petition signature sheets as prescribed.  Permits any political committee to submit to the SOS a list of all petition circulators and a copy of a criminal records check performed on each circulator.

 

Background

According to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §§ 19-112(C), 19-114 and 19-118, any person who is qualified to register to vote is permitted to circulate petitions and any person who is not qualified to register to vote is prohibited from circulating petitions.  A petition circulator is not required to be a resident of this state but otherwise must be qualified to register to vote in this state.  Additionally, petition circulators that are not residents of this state are required to register as a circulator with the SOS.  Statute also details the requirements that must be met in order for petition signatures to be valid and counted, notably including the following: a) a petition circulator must indicate which petition is being circulated by listing the official serial number assigned to the petition; b) a petition circulator must indicate the address the circulator agrees to accept service of process, if different than the residential address provided; c) a petition circulator is required to sign the Affidavit of Circulator in the presence of a notary public; and d) a petition circulator must state on an initiative or referendum petition whether the circulator is a paid or volunteer circulator by checking the appropriate line on the petition prior to circulation (A.R.S. §§ 19-101, 19-102 and 19-112). The SOS is required to remove petition signature sheets and petition signatures that do not meet certain specified requirements (A.R.S § 19-121.01).

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

1. Requires a political committee that files petitions with the SOS to organize and group the signature sheets as follows:

a)     by the county of residence of the majority of the persons signing the signature sheet;

b)     by circulator; and

c)     by the notary public who notarized the circulator’s signature on the sheet.

 

2. Permits the SOS to return as unfiled any signature sheets that are not grouped and organized as required.

 

3. States that the political committee that is the proponent of the petition is solely responsible for compliance with specified requirements.

 

4. Permits any political committee to submit to the SOS, 45 days before the deadline for filing a petition, a list of all petition circulators and a copy of a criminal records check verified through source documents performed on each circulator.

 

5. Specifies that a criminal records check is one that is verified through source documents and performed by a licensed entity.

 

6. Stipulates that, if the background check was performed and provided by a person or entity who was engaged in an arm’s length transaction with the political committee, a presumption arises and any challenge to those petition circulators must be rebutted by a showing of a preponderance of the evidence that the circulator was not eligible to register to vote in this state.

 

7. Permits the SOS to adopt by rule appropriate standards for determining whether a transaction between a political committee and the person or entity providing the circulators’ background checks constitutes an arm’s length transaction.

 

8. Defines arm’s length transaction.

 

9. Defines affiliate.

 

10. Makes technical changes.

 

11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee

• Modifies the deadline a political committee may submit to the SOS a list of all petition circulators and a copy of a criminal records check performed on each circulator.

 

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

• Specifies that a presumption arises if the petition circulators’ background checks were performed and provided by a person or entity engaged in an arm’s length transaction with the political committee, and requires that any challenge to those petition circulators must be rebutted by a showing of the preponderance of the evidence.

Paula Deen on Food Network

The Food Network ought to cancel Paula Deen’s show for her racist remarks.

We are counting down the days to see if they will eliminate bigotry from their Channel.

We hope to see Paula Deen’s sponsors flee from her like kryptonite and her “wedding slave” situation reminds me of a controversial statement made by golfer Fuzzy Zoeller when he referred to Tiger Woods as “that little boy” and urged him not to order fried chicken or collard greens for the Champions Dinner the following year.

From the HUFFPO:

Paula Deen is no stranger to controversy, but new allegations of racism leveled against the Southern chef may shock even those who have followed her troubles most closely.

The National Enquirer claims to have acquired a video of a deposition in which Deen admits to using the N-word and making racist and anti-semitic jokes. She also allegedly describes her interest in hiring black waiters dressed to look like “slaves” at a wedding.  FULL STORY>>>

Some people just can’t seem to help themselves.  Racism to some of these southerners is like heroin to a junkie.  They just can’t stop with their racist remarks can they?

From ColorLines:

Paula Deen on Food Network

Well, at least Paula Deen is an honest racist. The cooking show host is currently embroiled in a million dollar lawsuit over racist behavior at her Savannah restaurant. Deen and her brother Bubba allegedly threw around the N-word and told racist and sexist jokes that, so far, she doesn’t deny. But then she said something about wanting to hire black cater waiters to act as slaves at a Southern wedding, and she replied:

“The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie. I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America… after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War… It was not only black men, it was black women… I would say they were slaves.”

Totally honest. Completely crazy. White privilege, y’all.

(H/T Jezebel)

An Arizona Frida Kahlo painting by fine artist El Moises will be featured in a San Francisco gallery in honor of celebrating Frida’s birthday on July 2nd, 2013.

The Pasión de Frida is curated by San Franciscan Bird Levy — and she wants you to rejoice and review the Frida inspired arwork created by artists from California and beyond.

Our opening reception is on Tuesday, July 2nd from 3pm to 5pm where art enthusiasts can enjoy music, food and some fabulous surprises.   Wearing your favorite Frida ensemble is encouraged.

For your viewing pleasure, Pasión de Frida will run until Tuesday, August 27th.

_____________________________________

The work of artist Frida Kahlo brought together various worlds – the world of fantasy and reality, mythology and history, Mexican and European art. Her work included themes of sexuality, race, gender. She identified as a mestiza both culturally and through her sexual orientation.

Its no wonder that the work of Frida Kahlo transcends time and carries over to the lives and experiences we live in the 21st century.

WIN FREE TICKETS TO SEE GRUPO CONTROL!

Tune into 88.3 FM — Radio La Campesina to win some.

Grupo Control is coming to Arizona to help raise immigration reform awareness in light of the important comprehensive immigration reform discussions taking place in Washington D.C. right now.

Grupo Control llega a Phoenix a apoyar a la reforma migratoria!  La Campesina los invita a bailar la cumbiaaaaaaa toda la noche el sabado 29 de Junio!  ¿Quien se apunta?

There is huge outcry from people here in the southwest with regard to the broken immigration system and with regard to several reports of Sheriff Joe Arpaio racially profiling and targeting neighborhoods, but death threats are NOT the way to go, folks.

From the HUFFPO:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, reportedly received a death threat from a man who said he wanted to “personally blow” his “head off.”

An arrest warrant was issued for 22-year-old Caesar David Nunez on Monday, MCSO spokesman Deputy Joaquin Enriquez told ABC15.

“I want to personally blow Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s head off,” Nunez said in a Tweet in April, according to Enriquez. Nunez reportedly admitted he wrote the threat because he disagrees with Arpaio’s stance on undocumented immigration.

The answer is to get involved politically.

Death threats will land you in jail.

Call Congress and tell them to support legal immigration reform that will essentially fix the broken immigration system.  If you want to retaliate against Arpaio — then do so by productive and constructive means and call every U.S. Senator and Congressman in the southwest.

Call toll free:  866-834-8040

NumbersUSA

Looks like another Cuban-American politician via Ted Cruz is offering his help and support to suppress Mexican-American voters here in the southwest.

I wonder how long it will take Cruz to figure out he is receiving support from one of the largest anti-immigrant organizations via Numbers USA?

From The Hill:

Cruz offers voting amendment after Supreme Court nixes Arizona law

The Supreme Court’s decision Monday to overturn an Arizona law requiring people to prove their U.S. citizenship before taking part in the federal “motor voter” registration program immediately reverberated in the Senate’s debate on immigration reform

The 7-2 ruling written by Justice Antonin Scalia prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to announce an amendment to the Senate bill that would permit states to require people to prove their citizenship before registering to vote.

“This hole in federal statutory law allows non-citizens to register and thereby encourages voter fraud,” Cruz wrote on his Facebook page. “I will file a commonsense amendment to the immigration bill that permits states to require I.D. before registering voters.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/306101-cruz-offers-voting-amendment-after-supremes-nix-arizona-law#ixzz2WaInETC6

Diaz-Balart said Monday that the issue of healthcare subsidies remains the final hurdle to a legal immigration reform deal.

He said:

“Should the taxpayer be stuck with the bill of the healthcare of the 10 million or 11 million people? Or should those folks who are going to be legalized — earn legalization — should they be responsible for their health care bill?” he asked. “That’s the issue we haven’t solved yet. I think once we do that, we’ll hopefully have a bipartisan proposal.”

But what about the government paychecks and free healthcare given to Cuban immigrants under the Cuban Adjustment Act?

Is a Cuban immigrant really different than a Mexican immigrant?  Cubans come to our country to benefit economically, and in fact we give them paychecks for at least one year once their wet foot touches dry land.  [The Cuban Adjustment Act and the benefits (which come with taxpayer-funded U.S. government benefits, are afforded to Cuban Americans under it.]

Why are members of Cuban immigrant families s so quick to shut the door behind them after they have been given government benefits?