Dee Dee Garcia Blase is the Foundress and immediate past Co-President of the National Tequila Party Movement which is a woman-led political movement that pushes for immigrant friendly policies and is a national Latino Get Out the Vote Effort motivating Latinos to vote for pro-immigrant politicians in 2012. Shirl Mora James, Civil Rights and Immigration lawyer is now leading the new charge of this Latina-led movement. Shirl Mora James is the current President of SOMOS INDEPENDENTS (formerly the Tequila Party) -- a movement consisting of Independents, Progressive Democrats, Moderate Republicans and Libertarians.
DeeDee Garcia Blase has professionally penned / given opinions for the UK Guardian - a well respected news organization. In addition to writing for the Tucson Citizen, she writes for Latino Voices a(n affiliate of the Huffington post) when blogging for much needed Chicana/Latina political activism.
Several years ago, DeeDee Garcia Blase founded the largest Hispanic Republican group in the nation via SOMOS REPUBLICANS that began in Arizona and later grew out of crisis when we reached an anti-immigrant fevered pitch. Blase finally had enough with the Republican Party and left it for good. She stepped down as the President of SOMOS REPUBLICANS and switched to the Independent Party. Most pro-immigrant Mexican-Americans / Latinos left the GOP registering themselves as Independent voters now in light of the anti-immigrant platform the GOP accepted in 2012.
For immediate updates please follow us on our SOMOS INDEPENDENT a/k/a Tequila Party Facebook Page.
The big night is nearly here!
Paul and Patty Johnson
Invite you to join us for an election night celebration for Prop 121.
Your support and commitment to this important initiative has been overwhelming, and we hope you will join us for an election night party.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
6:30 PM Tom’s Tavern
2 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(Independent candidate) Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff. Stauffer believes the Sheriff Office should be NON PARTISAN.
Just in from the Mike Stauffer campaign:
With just 48 hours left, the insatiable hunger of the media to silence and discredit the Stauffer campaign has proven exceptionally beneficial. This race for sheriff has proven “all press is good press.”
With each feeble attempt by our media to share with the public that Stauffer has no name recognition, they fail to see past their own vale of bias the intrigue for yet more of their audience to
discover who Mike Stauffer is.Thanks to everyone who has made this campaign possible and for each of you for sticking with us. While we don’t have “Team Awesome”, we do have an “Awesome Team” of diehard supporter and volunteers who have worked tirelessly.
Although the media has attempted to call this election and our Democratic opponent is busy making excuses and naming scapegoats for his loss that has not occurred yet, we continue to move forward to Election Day with confidence and optimism in the voters and the American system.
Vote Stauffer!
Rumors are flying around about Independent Candidate Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff Race and Arizona voters are being lied to. I have received texts, messages and
Voter Demographics in Maricopa County regarding Sheriff Joe Arpaio race
apparently the rumor is stemming from below tweet by Brahm Resnik of Channel 12.
I just spoke with West Kenyon, campaign advisor to Mike Stauffer and he told me that Mike Stauffer is in the race to win. Independent voters are the 2nd largest voting bloc in Maricopa County and in Arizona (surpassing Democratic voters) and this is precisely why we are supporting Mike Stauffer for sheriff.
We know that Stauffer will pull moderate Republican votes as well as Independent voters. Paul Penzone will more than like pull Democratic votes.
We also know that independent voters lean conservative in our state, which is why Mike Stauffer is a strong conservative candidate. Stauffer left the Republican Party after being a long life GOPer.
I repeat: Independent candidate Mike Stauffer is fully in the race despite rumors circulating out there.
Furthermore, I was informed by Stauffer campaign:
“….that the “no activity” page was mistakenly included in their online finance filing. It is obviously an error since the rest of the report shows activity. A biased reporter ran with a story based on assumptions instead of real research.”
Be advised, both Party bosses are shook up about independent voters and both have tried to minimize our independent voice.
If you are sick and tired of the partisanship of the 2 major Party system, and if you believe that both major parties have failed Americans then please vote for independent conservative Mike Stauffer for Sheriff and vote YES TO PROP 121 – Arizona Open Primary!
Brahm Resnik is wrong. Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff IS STAYING in race to win moderate Republicans and Independent voters.
Joe Arpaio has been spending millions of dollars against Democratic Paul Penzone and in fact exposed Penzone’s domestic violence Glendale Police report and the Protection order filed by his ex-wife.
Below is a mass mailer that hit every mailbox in our County, and we predicted Arpaio would attack the weakest candidate based on the domestic history. More importantly, there are more women voters than male voters in our State — and Arpaio really hurt Penzone on that front. We cannot support flawed and weak candidates and we have to support independent Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff because there are more of us and we are the 2nd largest voting bloc now.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio sendt mass mailer to every mailbox in Maricopa County (this past weekend) addressing independent candidate Mike Stauffer for wanting to shut down tent city and exposing (D) Paul Penzone on his domestic violence history.
VOTE YES Prop 121 – Voto SI en Proposicion 121.
Deep discontent is driving the YES vote for Proposition 121, the Top-two Primary. Its two-step process, long used by Arizona voters in local non-partisan elections, lets all voters, regardless of party, vote in a single primary election. Voters narrow the list to the top two, who competes in the general election. Voters, not political parties, control access to the general election ballot.
A survey of 1,065 Arizona voters by 8Sages.com found that if the election were held today, Proposition 121 would win by 14 points. Independents, independent-minded Democrats and Republicans are giving the initiative a resounding lead (by 24, 29, and 15 points, respectively). Even strong Republicans favor it by 3 points, and it trails by one point among committed Democrats.
Why such broad-based support?
The survey shows the dominant theme this election is unhappy voters. They are displeased with the president’s performance and may even vote him out of office. But before Republicans dust off their dancingshoes, they should consider that a majority also would vote Governor Jan Brewer out of office if she were on the ballot.
Hard data on discontent is evident in voter self-identification. Without any reregistration campaign, voters are quietly abandoning all political parties. Democrats have been losing registration since the 1940s, Republicans since the mid-1980s.
Proposition 121 sends a constructive, positive message. It strengthens the consent of the governed. It increases the pool of voices that hold politicians accountable. Americans are good at this. Since our founding, we have expanded the franchise – from landed white men, to landless white men, black men, women, Native Americans, and then young people who were eligible to serve, but not vote for their country.
Proposition 121 might be the tipping point to change the national picture. Its critics know it. Undisclosed California sources have pumped almost half a million dollars into Arizona to oppose Proposition 121. The money was funneled into the Americans for Responsible Leadership, chaired by Robert Graham a candidate for the Republican State Party Chair. Once more Arizona is on the cusp of nudging the nation.
Open primary elections is changing the marketplace, increasing competition between candidates, even if they are in the same party. Washington State and California have embraced Proposition 121-like voting systems. Ballotpedia.com ranks California’s 2012 legislative elections the most competitive in the country.
This year, for the first time in US history, 66 US Senators and Representatives - 12% of the Congress – must answer to all the people who elected them in California andWashington State.
Add Arizona’s 2 Senators and 9 Representatives to California and Washington State in 2014, then 77 members of Congress will be voter, not party, nominated. When my friend and legislative colleague Bill Konopnicki and I wrote the first draft of this initiative, we called it the “Sweet Seventy-seven.” We imagined our Western Congressmen who must appeal to all the voters in their states to get on the general ballot and be elected. They might less focused on partisan loyalty and more on our shared regional interests. Proposition 121 offers a better way to express the consent of the governed.
Ted Downing, former two-term state legislator who leads the Arizona Independent Voting Project
VOTE YES Prop 121 – Voto SI en Proposicion 121.
Terminate Political Corruption in Politics!
Right now special interest groups outside of Arizona are fighting giving Independent voters like ourselves the ability to root out extremism on both sides of the aisle.
Now is our time to fight back by voting YES to Prop 121.
Ted Downing is helping do just that as we all work together to communicate the message below.
Termina con la corrupción política.
Tu voto NO es tu voz sin diversidad de candidatos. Los candidatos deben ser eligidios no por los interés especialaes sino por la gente.
Voto SI en Proposición 121.
More from Brenda Sperduti:
By Brenda Sperduti on 11/01/2012 in arizona, Primarias Abiertas
Artículo traducido del original «Anti-Prop 121 Mailer Backfires in Arizona Open Elections Initiative» escrito por Brenda Sperduti.
(Arizona) – Las armas políticas a veces se vuelven en su contra, ayudando en lugar de dañando a la oposición.
Un pedazo de propaganda en contra de Prop 121 y financiado de manera anónima de 8 1/4 x 13,5 pulgadas fue enviada esta semana a los votantes de Arizona. Cuenta con una gran foto sádico de una mujer con los ojos abiertos y con cinta de embalar cubriendo su boca, aparentemente para vincular el miedo de las mujeres a ser silenciadas o secuestradas a las acciones de los partidarios de las elecciones abiertas.
Irónicamente, esa misma propaganda puede ser contraproducente, generando votos a favor de la Prop121.
Los defensores de las elecciones abiertas se hacen la misma pregunta que aparece en la propaganda. “¿Por qué están tratando de tratando de eliminar su voto los Intereses Especiales?” El anuncio publicitario es pagado por un grupo de intereses especiales llamado Los Americanos para el Liderazgo Responsable (A4RL), que ha recibido cerca de 1/2 millones de dólares para oponerse a 121, pero que niega nombrar a sus donantes. Una demanda está tratando de revelar los intereses especiales detrás de dinero utilizado para esta propaganda y otras acciones llevadas para oponerse a medidas en California y Arizona. Robert Graham, el agente de A4RL y candidato a la Presidencia del Partido Republicano del Estado de Arizona, se niega categóricamente a revelar sus donantes.
Opciones. La propaganda sostiene que si pasa el Prop 121, los votantes no tendrán opción entre los partidos políticos en las elecciones generales. Los partidarios de la iniciativa dicen que hay más posibilidades de selección en las elecciones primarias de modo de aumentar las opciones y la voz del votante en la elección general.
Bajo las actuales primarias semicerradas de Arizona, sólo los miembros registrados con el partido pueden votar. Los independientes pueden votar en las primarias, siempre que votan para un solo partido y sólo si los partidos lo permiten. Incluso si un candidato quien pierde en una primaria muestra un fuerte apoyo, la ley de los “malos perdedores” les prohíbe lanzarse de nuevo en la Elección General. Son las partidos y no el pueblo que son los dueños de las elecciones generales.
Ted Downing, fundador del Proyecto para Votantes Independientes de Arizona luchó exitosamente para las reformas electorales cuando era miembro de la legislatura de Arizona señaló que los partidos políticos siempre han adaptado las leyes electorales para limitar las opciones de los votantes. Downing dice que “bajo las actuales primarias semi-cerradas en Arizona, el candidato es él quien más prefieren los fieles del partido”. Este sistema se previene por la Prop 121. Los dos candidatos con más votos proceder a la Elección General en virtud de un concurso abierto. “La verdadera selección bajo Prop 121 es entre un solo ganador escogido por el partido y dos finalistas escogidos por los electores”, explicó Downing.
Opositores de la Prop 121 opinan sobre la medida en la parte posterior de la propaganda.
Barbara Klein, presidente de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Arizona, dice, “una de nuestras grandes preocupaciones es que en la elección general, puede haber candidatos de un solo partido.” Klein no comprende el propósito básico de ir a votar. “Si pasa la Prop121, las elecciones ya no se trataría de escoger un partido, sino escoger un candidato”, dijo Janelle Wood, líder comunal y ex candidata independiente para gobernador. Ella dijo: “Si la Prop 121 es aprobada, se abrirá el camino para que todos los votantes registrados votan por los candidatos que mejor representan el electorado en general.”
Warren Severin, Presidente del Partido Libertario Arizona alega que la Prop 121 “destruirá a los tercer partidos en Arizona.” Severin está preocupado porque conforme las “reglas de igualdad de condiciones”, necesitará el mismo número de firmas para conseguir que un Libertario aparezca en el voto ya que todos los candidatos y podrá no recibir los votos suficientes para aparecer entre los primeros dos en la Elección General. Ningún candidato de un partido tercero ha sido elegido para la legislatura en toda la historia del estado.” ¿Se trata verdaderamente de las personas que piden equilibrar la justicia?” pregunta Pablo Winger, Presidente Nacional de Abolición de Personalidad Corporativa
Bill Montgomery, Presidente del Comité contra Prop 121 demuestra su falta total de comprensión de las elecciones en Arizona al afirmar que “las elecciones abiertas quita la posibilidad de que la gente vaya a votar para su candidato preferido en las elecciones generales – ¡donde más cuenta!” Verificación: De los 30 distritos legislativos de Arizona, representantes de los partidos integrantes de la Comisión Independiente de Redistribución de Distritos creó 25 distritos no competitivos, donde domina un solo partido. Esto deja sólo 5 carreras competitivas donde las opciones de los votadores cuentan en la Elección General. Downing, un arquitecto de la medida, señala que en virtud de las elecciones abiertas, todos los distritos legislativos tendrán carreras competitivas entre los candidatos que lograron más votos en la primaria abierta. Señala que en California, cuatro candidatos del Partido Paz y Libertad llegaron a la Elección General.
The Top Two Arizona Open Primary via prop 121 is similar to California’s — except Arizona’s proposition is better. I am in support of Arizona’s prop 121 because I firmly believe in taking power away from the two major Party system. The fringe groups are destroying the unity fabric of our Nation, and the Top Two will give the power back to where it belongs — the reasonable average and ordinary hard working American.
If you are sick of elitism and Party bosses, I encourage Americans to say YES to Prop 121.
Former Lt. Governor of California via Abel Maldonado is son of Latino immigrant farm workers-turned-farm owners.
There are several rumors circulating out there where folks are stating myths with regard to how the Top Two will hurt Latinos. Nothing could be further from the truth and we have California to thank.
Below is a story of a Mexican-American politician via Abel Maldonado who was the former Lt. Governor of California. He introduced California’s top two open primary and I want to share his success story with Arizona Latinos:
Abel Maldonado: “Top Two” Success Story
With few exceptions, the “Top Two” primary system reform adopted by the voters in 2010 was a bust in 2012.
Proponents hoped that the new process would produce more moderate candidates and fewer candidates at the political extremes. When the votes were counted, the usual suspects from both major parties remained in place, and third party candidates have virtually disappeared.
One exception occurred in the new 24th Congressional district, where moderate Republican Abel Maldonado finished in second place behind Democratic incumbent Lois Capps. Conservative Republican Chris Mitchum finished third.
Under the old system, Mitchum might have won a Republican primary in which more conservative voters turned out. But with the “Top Two” model, voters of any party (or no party) could choose whomever they wanted, with the two candidates receiving the most votes competing in November.
That takes us to Maldonado.
Historically the odd man out in California’s conservative-dominated Republican party, Maldonado is a departure from the norm.
The son of Latino immigrant farm workers-turned-farm owners, Maldonado occasionally bucked the direction of his Republican colleagues by voting for an assault weapons ban, opposing off-shore oil drilling, and supporting abortion rights.
Most significantly, he was among a handful of legislators to vote for tax increases under then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 2009, Maldonado’s last full year in the state senate, Capitol Weekly, a non-partisan observer of state politics, gave him a score of 55 on the conservative-to-liberal continuum, with 0 being the most conservative and 100 being the most liberal.
Maldonado’s relatively moderate posture puts him in good stead in a district that is radically different than the one Capps has served over the past 14 years.
After the 2000 census, Democrats had an 11 point advantage in Capps’ district. After the 2010 census and work of the Citizens’ Independent Redistricting Commission, the Democratic majority in Capps’ district fell to three percent.
Interestingly enough, it was Maldonado who extracted a commitment from the legislature to place the “Top Two” primary system on the ballot in 2010 as part of his price for voting for more taxes. Now he may be in position to cash in.
Larry Gerston teaches political science at San Jose State University and is the political analyst for NBC Bay Area.
A Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff table is being set up as the Stauffer campaign introduces itself to ASU Students on October 31, 2012. Both (R) Sheriff Joe Arpaio and (D) Candidate Paul Penzone were a no show for the students.
Independent “Maverick” Voters have ability to eliminate Extremism via Prop 121 and voting for Independent Mike Stauffer for Sheriff.
I don’t believe the Maricopa County sheriff’s office should be a partisan one, and it is time to stop wasting millions of dollars in tax payer dollars due to expensive lawsuits over mysterious deaths. Mike Stauffer wants to eliminate tent city which is a lawsuit magnet. He has a plan because currently there are approximately 8000 inmates; yet, we have facilities that will house 10,000 inmates. It’s time to open those VACANT facilities and put them to use. If we can house dogs in sheltered facilities, then we can house human beings, too.
Also, I believe the two major party system has failed Americans with their bickering, fringe groups (like the Tea Party) and partisanship games.
Yesterday we discussed the importance of early voting and the rise of the center via independent voters.
Voter Demographics in Maricopa County regarding Sheriff Joe Arpaio race
It’s pretty sad when the 2 major party systems agree on only one thing – Losing power via Prop 121.
In fact, the anti-Prop 121 folks sent out a mailer and it backfired.
Anti-Prop 121 Mailer Backfires in Arizona Open Elections Initiative
An anonymously funded 8 1/4 x 13.5 inch piece opposing Prop 121 was sent this week to Arizona voters. It features a large, sadistic photo of a wide-eyed woman with duct tape covering her mouth, appearing to tie a women’s fear of being silenced or abducted to the actions of Open Elections supporters.
Ironically, the mailer may be backfiring, generating YES votes for Prop 121.
The proponents of Open Elections are asking the same question featured on the mailer. “Why are Special Interests Trying to Eliminate Your Vote?” The mailer is paid for by Americans for Responsible Leadership (A4RL), a special interest group that has received nearly 1/2 million dollars to oppose 121, but refuses to name its donors. A court case is attempting to reveal the special interests behind money used for this mailer and other actions to oppose measures in California and Arizona. Robert Graham, the agent for A4RL and candidate for Arizona Republican Party State Chair, steadfastly refuses to reveal his donors.
Choice. The mailer claims that if 121 passes, voters will not have a choice of political parties in General Elections. The supporters of the initiative say there is more choice in the primary election thereby increasing voter choice and voice in the General Election.
Under Arizona’s current Semi-Closed Primaries, only registered party members may vote. Independents may vote in the primaries provided they vote a straight party ticket and only then if the Parties let them. Even if a losing candidate in a primary shows strong support, Arizona’s “sore loser” law forbids them from running again in the General Election. The parties, not the people, own positions on the General Election Ballot. READ FULL STORY>>>
This is precisely why I voted and said YES to prop 121.
Do you believe both parties have worked in a bipartisanship fashion for the past decade?
Can they do better?
Absolutely, and it is pretty sad when the one thing they will agree on is maintaining their Party power. It’s time to give power back to the people.
VOTE YES ON PROP 121!
Sheriff Joe Arpaio sent a mass mailer to every one who lives in Maricopa County over the weekend — 9 days before the 2012 Maricopa County Sheriff elections.
In his mailer, Arpaio targets the independent candidate Mike Stauffer for sheriff who wants to eliminate tent city.
In this video below, independent candidate Mike Stauffer for Maricopa County Sheriff reiterates his commitment to close the lawsuit magnet and inhumane “Tent City” published October 2, 2012, by the Stauffer campaign. For the record: Penzone has not taken a strong stance against tent city and does not address it on his website.
Back to Arpaio’s mass mailer … I would rather be the Independent Candidate Mike Stauffer for shutting down tent city than Democratic candidate Paul Penzone with regard to his domestic violence history in the mass mailer scenario.
I can only imagine what women voters are saying these days in small little communities, rural neighborhoods and etc.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio sends mass mailer to every mailbox in Maricopa County exposing (D) Paul Penzone on his domestic violence history and shedding light to independent candidate Mike Stauffer for wanting to shut down tent city.
As an independent voter of Arizona, I want former independent voter and U.S. candidate Richard Carmona to beat Jeff Flake.
Like Senator John McCain, U.S. Senate Candidate via Richard Carmona served our Armed Forces when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While enlisted, he joined the United States Army Special Forces, became a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, and began his career in medicine as a Special Forces medic.
Jeff Flake has proven to us that he is willing to toe the extremist Tea Party line; Whereas Richard Carmona has proven he can work in a bipartisanship fashion.
What can Richard Carmona consider in these last 10 days before the November 6th election day that will cinch in the win from key Arizona independent voters?
Most Arizonans believe Arizona has a maverick history (some ugly and some good) that stems back from the Martin Luther King Holiday issue. Arizona was one of the few states in the United States that did not support MLK Holiday. Recall to your memory when Senator John McCain did not support Martin Luther King Holiday way back when it was being discussed? Indeed there was a big hoopla over it.
According to TIME:
At the time, only 27 states and Washington, D.C., honored the holiday. Most famously, all three Arizona House Republicans including current Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain, voted against the bill in ’83. The state did not vote in favor of recognizing the holiday until 1992, not only rejecting pleas from Reagan and then Arizona governor Evan Mecham but also losing the NFL’s support when the league moved Super Bowl XXVII from Sun Devil Stadium, in Tempe, to California in protest. Arizona was not the only state openly contemptuous of federal law. In 2000, 17 years after the law’s official passage and the same year it pulled the Confederate flag down from its statehouse dome, South Carolina became the last state to sign a bill recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday.
In a sense, Carmona proved his “maverick” status because after he was appointed by President Bush to become the 17th Surgeon General of the United States, he became highly critical of the Bush administration for suppressing scientific findings which conflicted with the Administration’s ideological agenda.
These days, polling is very hard to rely upon, and if Carmona feels like things are too close for comfort — I encourage him to prove his independence by supporting Prop 121 in these last days of the election cycle — after all, independent voters are the 2nd largest voting bloc in Arizona and independents are pushing the Arizona Open Primary measure. In fact, Prop 121 is expected to pass by 5% if you believe the polls provided bythe Independent Voter Network.
Why should Carmona consider Prop 121?
Because it will empower independent voters in Arizona and it will make them happy. Independent Voter Network (IVN ) has more information below:
IndependentVoting.org, a national strategy, communications, and organizing center working to connect and empower the 40% of Americans who identify themselves as independents, has begun conducting a survey to educate and activate Arizona voters about Proposition 121, the Top-Two Open Primary Initiative.
Early results show that when independents learn about Prop 121 and how top-two open primaries work, by allowing independents to vote in the first and often decisive round of voting, they strongly support it. 84% said they plan to vote yes on Proposition 121 after hearing the specifics of the measure.
For the first time in Arizona history — independent voters have become the 2nd largest voting bloc because many of us believe the 2 major party system has failed Americans due to extremism and the fringe groups. It would be wonderful to see two veterans serving the U.S. Senate side-by-side that will bring a much needed Ronald Reagan/Tip O’Neill atmosphere to Washington D.C.
It’s time to snap our state out of extremism — and it’s time for balance to be restored. Tea Party supporters have done enough damage already with their obstructionism, and we cannot do it with Flake who has proven to toe the tea party line that hurts Veterans. Veterans who have served our Armed Forces and put their lives on the line for this great Nation.
