Image by Washington Post

Anyone notice how Congress waited until after Tax Day to release the comprehensive immigration plan? April 15th is “D-Day” — or the deadline to submit your tax paperwork and have it in the mail to the IRS.

Taxes help pay for our roads, wars, and etc., but they also sustains government benefits for the government programs that are out there — especially for our elderly. I believe in taking care of our elderly, but at some point we must address the approximate 85 million aging Americans. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will soon exhaust all federal tax revenues and we are heading towards a retirement crisis if Congress will not take proactive steps to secure it.

The government needs the additional tax revenues that new tax payers via the immigrants will generate in order to sustain the burgeoning entitlement programs baby boomers require as they continue to retire. By developing a reasonable legal immigration plan, we create a system where immigrants share American tax burdens as they continue to contribute millions of dollars into our tax coffers. New immigrants sharing our tax burdens will help discourage our government from increasing taxes, because under the current system these entitlement programs will drain all federal revenues within 15 years.

Taking Apart the Federal Budget

I do not believe in taxation without representation. Recall to memory the Boston Tea Party and the purpose of it.

According to Jacob Silverman:

At its core, the Boston Tea Party was a conflict over taxation. You may have heard the phrase “taxation without representation,” which developed in this era. Unlike their British brethren, the people living in the 13 colonies did not have direct representatives in the British parliament. Because of that, the colonists had no way to vote for how they would be taxed or who would represent them. And because of this lack of representation, the British government was free to tax the colonists in any way — and for any amount — that it saw fit. With no way to fight taxation and no way to claim their rights, many colonists feared that their property could be taken away through debilitating taxes.

Yet according to the Associated Press:

“Bipartisan immigration legislation emerging in the Senate could prevent hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. illegally from ever becoming citizens..” and in essence preventing them from voting.

It appears politicians are fine with taking tax revenues from immigrants without giving them the ability to vote — especially from those who are from the Republican Party. Essentially they fear President Obama signing and supporting a comprehensive immigration reform bill that might create generational Latin Democrats.

One politician who stands out to me is Senator Marco Rubio who is of Cuban descent helping decide the fate of those who are of Mexican descent. Keep in mind that the Tea Party darling Rubio has family members that benefited from the Cuban privileged amnesty under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Cuban immigrants receive government benefits without those immigrants first contributing to the tax payer system because once their wet-foot touches our dry-land, Cubans are able to receive government benefits and it is the American tax payers like ourselves who have been paying for those benefits. Mexican immigrants do not get those Cuban immigrant government benefits once their dry foot reaches dry land, and this is precisely why it appears Cuban-American Rubio does not want those of Mexican descent to advance. He more than likely knows that Mexicans account for almost 70% of the entire Latin population pie. The time will come when we see a Mexican-American United States Senator rise to the political occasion helping to keep things fair and balanced.

Rubio states:

“…it will allow them to stay in the US, work, travel and pay taxes. They will not qualify for any federal benefits of any kind, including Obamacare and they will have to be in that system for over ten years before they can apply to the existing legal immigration system for a green card…”

Meanwhile, Cuban-American Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is MIA (missing in action) even though Texas is the only state in the Union that shares the longest border length that includes over 20 ports of entry. Texas shares a whopping 64% of the border with Mexico. It is a no-brainer that a Texas official would know more with regard to the economic impact of immigrants than an official from a non-border state like Florida, and this is precisely why you will see the Mexican-Americans trust Mexican-American Texas officials like Congressman Joaquin Castro.

100 days deep: Rep. Joaquin Castro leading charge for immigration reform

It is no secret the Mexican-American community has been hurt the most in light of the record deportations that involves those of Mexican descent — so naturally we are going to gravitate to Mexican-American leadership. Rep. Castro understands our pain. I believe Cuban Senators Rubio and Cruz do not — and this is evident when they are MIA or support ideas that virtually embraces a Mexican underclass. It appears these 2 Cuban-American Senators pull their Latin card when it is convenient for them and when they want the Hispanic lime light benefits. Cubans only account for 3% of the Latin population pie, and it is only a matter of time before the tail stops wagging the dog as we get the dog to eventually wag the tail.

Nevertheless, we are keeping score.

We are documenting Rubio’s every move because we know that once that door is cracked open — we will kick and knock over those unfair obstacles within the next decade. Numbers are on the side of the Mexican-American Community, and as those numbers catch up, you will find that we are going to be the ones who ultimately take care of our American elderly. After all, those of Mexican descent are indigenous and native to our Nation, and we believe in taking care of Her and the people who dwell in it. We have proved our Patriotic Hearts with the blood we have shed to keep our Nation safe.

From the PEJ:

By Emily Guskin and Amy Mitchell of the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

The ethnic media play an important role by providing news in both foreign languages and in English about places and issues that are often absent from the mainstream media.  To provide greater depth, this year’s Annual Report on the State of the News Media offers reports on different groups at different times.  To read our earlier report on African American media, click here.

Spanish-language media remain important to a changing, more acculturated, and more U.S.-born Hispanic population in the United States. And in the last year, Spanish-language media tended to fare better overall than their mainstream English-language counterparts.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the nation’s Latino population grew to more than 50 million, more than double its size in 1990, and up 46.3% since 2000.¹  It is also the nation’s youngest ethnic group. The median age of Latinos is 27, while for non-Hispanic whites it is 42 and for non-Hispanic blacks it is 32. Among Latinos, a majority are bilingual. However, as births have become more important for Hispanic population growth than the arrival of new immigrants, the nation’s Latino population is also becoming more U.S.-born. All of these factors could pose a threat to Spanish-language media operations. So far though, the contrary has occurred.²

Hispanic newspapers overall lost circulation in 2010, but not nearly to the extent of the English-language press. The total number of Spanish-language newspapers remained stable.

The story in television was even more positive. Univision, the largest Spanish-language network by far, continued to grow, reaching audience sizes that compete with the three major English-language broadcast networks (ABC, CBS and NBC). In 2011, it also announced the launch of a 24-hour Spanish-language news station.

Radio is growing as well. The number of Spanish-language radio stations increased in 2010, and more Spanish-language radio companies began measuring for Arbitron, the standard method of rating radio stations.

Magazines showed improvement too, with year-over-year growth in ad spending.

On the digital front, while Hispanic Americans do not access the internet at the same rates as other Americans, there is growth, and bilingual Latinos are already heavily online.  FULL STORY>>>

Stevie Ray Vaughan Icon and Legend

In the spirit of the 30^thAnniversary with regard to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double

30th anniversary

Trouble – Texas Flood
(2-CD 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition) …. Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, recently announced the release of an expanded two-disc 30th anniversary edition of Texas Flood, the electrifying debut album by the American blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, now available everywhere. 

I have been having fun with a creative series named: “If Guitars Could Talk.”  It’s extremely rewarding to me to pull words from guitar riffs — from a creative standpoint.  It’s a huge outlet.

This Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) guitar instrumental is a one of my favorites when doing cardio on a treadmill. He’s an absolute legend from Texas, and of course someone as great as SRV had to be made in Texas, right?

Today I asked what SRV’s guitar was saying to me if it could talk, and here is what it said to me:

[If my lyrical words needed a title below, it would be Joy Ride]

:00 Minute mark of this music video

It’s a bright and shiny da-a-a-ay – let’s go out for a little drive (leave your jacket home)
It’s a bright and shiny da-a-a-ay – let’s go out for a little drive (put the music on)

:16 Minute Mark
Let’s explore these winding curves together, like a roller coaster
These hills will take us to the top

:23 Minute Mark
It’s a bright and shiny da-a-a-ay – let’s go out for a little drive (forget all your troubles, not going to be singing the blues today)
Bright and shiny da-a-a-ay —  C’mon get it on
Let’s bring it on

:38 Minute Mark
Let’s take a trip, baby, come with me …  we’re not gonna waste anymore time to get to that mountain top
Because I’m the one who’s gonna take us there

:45 Minute Mark
Now come on and get in
Leave your jacket at home
Turn the music on
Roll the windows down
So I can see it baby
Put the stick in drive
For a wild ride
Curves are calling for it
I’m driving faster baby
We’ll find the peaks my darling
Together climbing to the top
I ain’t stopping til we drop
(uh)

1:10 Minute Mark
Leave your jacket at home
Turn the music on
Roll the windows down
So I can see it baby
Put the stick in drive
For a wild ride
Curves are calling for it
I’m driving faster baby
We’ll find the peaks my darling
Together climbing to the top
I ain’t stopping til we drop

1:31 -  1:55 Minute Mark [kick ass guitar part]

1:55 Minute Mark
Honey, all I wanna see  (whoa) from below
All I ever wanna see on this long and windi-i-ing road
Nature’s beauty calling out to me, Nothing but  sight and see
It’s calling out to me, yes it’s calling out to me

2:10 Minute Mark
Winding roads
Peaks and Valleys
This road is gonna take us all the way to the top
You’re gonna see , just you wait and see

2:18 Minute Mark
Get in the car darling
On a joy  ride
Chasing that sunset
Let’s…time…it…right…this…time – finding rhythm, you and me
Oh what the hell let’s just go with the flow
Melt away all the pressures
That’s what this little joy ride’s gonna bring to you
Oh yeah…that’s what we’re gonna do

2:40 Minute Mark
Leave your jacket at home (come on)
Turn the music on (come on)
Roll the windows down (come on)
So I can see it baby
Put the stick in drive
For a wild ride
Curves are calling for it
I’m driving faster baby
We’ll find the peaks my darling
Together climbing to the top
I ain’t stopping til we drop

3:01 Minute Mark
It’s a bright and shiny da-a-a-ay – let’s go out for a little drive (leave your jacket home)
It’s a bright and shiny da-a-a-ay – let’s go out for a little drive (put the music on)
Explore the winding curves together, like a roller coaster
These hills will take us to the top

I stumbled into the Songbird coffee shop recently and met the owners of a wonderful coffee shop located in downtown Phoenix.  The art culture in downtown Phoenix is amazing and this particular shop displays very large pieces, too, within it’s shared space.  I was fortunate enough to meet both owners and had a nice chat with Jonathan Carroll where we exchanged building coffee shop stories. It is so neat to see this couple live out their business dreams.  I am so happy to see this little business flourish.  I am having to locate a new favorite coffee shop since I sold mine several years ago, and since my favorite coffee C4 Coffee shop of Cave Creek, Arizona,  closed their doors, too.  Perhaps I will find a new favorite home within the Songbird Coffee Shop — particularly since they are introducing a free concert series this month!  Indeed, Music Lives!  I’m told Steff Koeppen & The Articles will be traveling from Tucson to play at the very first concert of the concert series.   Right on!

Songbird Coffee Shop is introducing the Songbird Saturday Concert Series coming to The Lot located at 1005 North Second Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

It will begin Saturday, February 23rd from 6-10pm with local bands Russian Arms & Optics, Bear State, Steff Koeppen & The Articles (Tucson), & Good Friends Great Enemies. Luncha Libre will be in attendance and we’re partnering up with Angel’s Trumpet Ale House & Carly’s Bistro (who will give those who attend the event special deals for the night — after 10pm).

Songbird will give those attending stamps so the businesses will know to give you the deal. Bring a blanket, cuddle up in the lawn, grab some Luncha Libre, watch and listen to some great local bands. FREE. Angel’s Trumpet Ale House is offering $1 off ALL BEERS — just show them your stamped hand with the Songbird logo on it to get the dealio. Carly’s Bistro will be offering these specials after 10pm: $4 glasses of house wine, $3 drafts and 1/2 off select appetizers.

Here are the details:

Songbird Saturday Concert Series
By Songbird Coffee & Tea House

Writing what I want to write is such a blessing.  I believe in the Power of Music at the highest levels.  I have had quite a bit of fun forming words from guitar riffs in the spirit.   It’s quite a creative outlet, and while I absolutely love electric guitar … the Mariachi guitar is my favorite.  What can I say? I’m Mexican… I think the Mariachi guitar is the most romantic of all.

This ‘inspiring’ guitar instrumental has a very nice Mariachi feel to it and it can be viewed at the beginning of Robert Rodriguez’s film Once Upon A Time In Mexico.  It’s extremely soothing with maximum dopamine affect giving you chills — and it is an inspiration. Today I asked what Antonio Bandera’s  guitar (within movie) was saying to me if it could talk, and here is what the guitar said:

[If my lyrical words needed a title below, it would be DESERT THORNY ROSE]

:53 Minute Mark of this musical video

Desert thorny rose, desert thorny rose, desert thorny rose – all alone
Desert thorny rose, desert thorny rose – pricks are causing them to leave
Desert thorny rose, desert thorny rose –  for all to admire n’ to see

1:12 Minute Mark
I see the winds, rains, floods and the violent storms demanding you to conform…

1:20 Minute Mark
Yet, you just resist them all

1:29 Minute Mark
PEACE … seems the only thing you seek

1:35 Minute Mark
But, didn’t you at least see me?

1:39 Minute Mark
I was hiding …. hiding in the shadows, admiring from far away… (can’t you see me)

1:50 Minute Mark
Pokes preclude the petals
Mostly jagged edges
Hoping Mother Nature will chisel pain away

2:01 Minute Mark
Pokes preclude the petals
Look; Don’t touch the needles
Waiting for the weather to soften your hardness away

2:12 – 2:27 Minute Mark — Instrumental Break  with soft whisper of “Illusion is the perfect solution”

2:28 Minute Mark
You can’t fool me!
The thorns won’t keep me away (they won’t keep me away from you…)

2:42 Minute Mark
It’s a beautiful sacrifice I’ve chosen to make despite my cuts to get to you…(exhale sigh)

Music With Political Messages More Influential Than Political Punditry

By DeeDee Garcia Blase

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once penned: “Music is the universal language of mankind — poetry their universal pastime and delight.”

Many of us have fond memories when it comes to lyrics we identify with in songs sung by the likes of Bob Marley, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, Pink Floyd and so forth.  How is it that a John Lennon or Marvin Gaye song has everlasting global and sustaining reach when they sing of peace or war?

Why is a lyricist/musician more influential than a political pundit?  People remember songs moreso than a political column.

Political pundits and writers seem to be losing their edge these days, and the columns and opinions they write seem to be worth their salt for only a day or two.  The goal is to keep the masses more informed about our surroundings and the direction of our Nation, but pundit writers are having a difficult time with making politics sexy and/or because of their negative non-addicting views.  Mundane topics equate to loss of interest which leads to a lack of knowledge.

More importantly, mere political pundits forget the “unity” message when they increase divisiveness in our “United” States.  Many of them add fuel to the fire when stubborn lines are drawn between Democrats and Republicans.  Shouldn’t resolutions be based on issues – not necessarily the team you are on when toeing the Party line?  Shouldn’t the United States in essence be one big team?

As a former hard core political activist searching high and low for penetrating messages that will leave a long-lasting impression within people’s minds – I have come to the absolute conclusion that musicians and great writers are the ones who come up with memorable coined phrases and quotes leaving a lasting global ripple effect.  I believe words should be like a type of hot branding iron being seared onto leather.  Writers want our words to be branded and forever remembered in the minds of people.

Dopamine is an addicting feel-good chemical, and according to researchers reported in the journal Nature Neuroscience  our brains can pump out dopamine both during the phase of musical anticipation and at the moment when chills hit in full force.  And since people love music, I believe there is a need for more positive political expression by way of music right now in an effort to tap into the masses, increasing knowledge and good energy.

Some of the most brilliant minds in history have relied on soothing music as a venue to open up creative ideas, or to simply be soothed and relaxed during times of trials and tribulations.

During my teens I learnt how King Saul tapped into music, in order to be soothed and for negative energy to flee him.

1 Samuel 16:23 states:

“So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well…”

It doesn’t surprise me to learn King David (in essence) sold millions of copies of his lyrics in print, and performances of his work all over the world earning him the title of the best selling musician of all time.  Books and literary works continue to be sold referencing the Song of Psalms, not to mention the countless musicians who have created music based on his lyrical expression.  King David poured out his soul, his love and agony – offering the sweetest poetry of Israel.

Does anyone remember what Jane Fonda said when she spoke against war?  Yet everyone seems to remember John Lennon’s message about Peace.  Music taps into emotions of the human spirit and it also connects it to a memory.

The world is ready for new and emerging talented lyricists and musicians who are able to express ideas that embrace love, life, and positive political messages.  Musicians who have a sincere concern for the direction of our Nation ought to rise up – because the time is now for their message to be received by others in the most memorable medium possible.

They say Spanish is the language of Love and it is wonderful to hear the fusion of English and Spanish music challenging hate and bigotry.

Today is December 21, 2012.

We survived the end of the world even though some predicted it would end, but in my view, 12-21-12, marks the beginning of a new era.   Some of us have already caught the winds of change and the aura of a heightened awakening.

As we become more alert to our surroundings, we might ask ourselves if we want to continue to do things the old

Artist: El Moises (Famous Mexican-American artist in Phoenix, Arizona) 

way in a time when those ideas seem to have expired and are boring.  I think many of us feel that things have become stale and ineffective, and we yearn for invigoration.  How many more years will it take in order for Chicanos to wake up and snap out of the blind sheep mentality?

The old way of doing things is no longer working for us anymore.  Chicanos have become too passive and have not asserted ourselves to changing things that have a direct impact on our community.  How can we snap out of it, only to reinvent ourselves, adapt with changing times, and leapfrog things 10 years in advance?  Why does it seem that more of us react to things instead working on proactive ideas?

I believe one way to get out of the rut is to look and learn from other visionaries like Steve Jobs.  Jobs was no fool – he said: “One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.” He studied the history of other visionaries like Einstein and Alexander Graham Bell as his journey in life took him on turns, valley dips and the peaks of hills.

It was his passion and assertiveness that changed the entire globe. It was his ability to master intuitiveness because he did not allow the noise and clamor of the others to take him off focus.  He was a natural-born hippie that allowed him to be comfortable in his own skin as he worked autonomously in key decisions in his life.  Jobs had a gift and the ability to focus, and because he believed – he often got what he wanted.

Many people did not know that Steve Jobs was emotional.  He was extremely passionate and would sometimes burst into tears on matters that affected the companies he created.  It is all right to be passionate.  It is all right to be emotional.  Jobs viewed himself an artist – and he was because an artist is a person who creates.  Jobs helped to create tools that help humanity.  The ripple in the pond he gave us continues to permeate even after his death.

In reading the Steve Jobs book by Walter Isaacson, I was happy to learn that Jobs did not easily receive ideas from just anyone. He scrutinized the ideas. In my view, he wanted to be convinced. He had to be convinced. He wanted folks who were selling him an idea to guarantee why their ideas would work. He wanted to see if people had foresight and knew what the hell they were really talking about. He never seemed to just easily accept what others told him because he wanted to be resolved and had to believe in those ideas in order to defend them.

How many Chicanos out there easily accept what others tell them without verifying it first? We see this happen in religion, the school systems, politics, foundations, business culture, groups and organizations.

Jobs challenged others with sheer veracity and would sometimes put a person through a meat grinder before he would finally agree with them. Mexican-Americans ought to do the same. Jobs also believed the laws of nature didn’t apply to him thereby giving him the ability to think differently. How many times do Chicanos limit themselves because they get stuck into the groove of things? [Steve Jobs asked this of himself and constantly worked at reinventing himself.] Do we have tunnel vision? Do we get caught up in certain paradigms and/or belief systems? Do we really want to invite others who carry a defeatist attitude into our lives? Or do we want to use our minds and create solutions that are not the norm? We ought not put limits on ourselves.

Are you passionate about changing the school systems for the better? Are you passionate about creating a business entity that can fill a need? Are you passionate about the direction of our Nation? The globe?

How many more years will it take before we see more Chicanos take the bull by the horns and become more innovative – working on making decisions that are 10 years ahead of our time?

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you sick of how delayed we seem to be in solving problems?

We must assert ourselves and be ahead of the curve as the revolutionary awakening grabs hold. I urge friends and loved ones to look at other heroes and visionaries throughout history. The Steve Jobs book by Walter Isaacson will make an excellent gift for the New Year season to anyone who wants to try to become fresh new spirits; and I particularly recommend this book because Jobs was ahead of his time. We must and we ought to think of solutions that will bring us ahead of the curve.

The way we communicate moving forward is vital. Gone are the days of old excuses and playing the victim card. We now have innovative tools the previous generation didn’t have, and we should consider ourselves lucky to have this inventive platform in place where we can launch our ideas.

As we look to new ways of communication in an attempt to solving the complex problems of our universe – we ought to consider why a John Lennon or Marvin Gaye song has everlasting global and sustaining reach instead of the pundit who is merely criticizing others without producing and working on solutions to problems at hand.

Look at your leaders. Are they merely reactionary? Or, are they proactive and working on solving problems 10 years ahead.

I think it’s time to snap out of this crusty old thinking, and it might be a healthy idea for us to evaluate whether or not we are becoming blind sheep. Life-giving blood is constantly on the move in our veins, but do we act like it? Should we not be more alive, passionate and become a positive source of energy?

Our Year in Review and some of our accomplishments held in preparation of the 2012 Presidential Cycle.

We didn’t just talk the talk — we walked the walk.

It is impossible to list everything we have done over the past  approximate year. Thousands of photos have yet to be uploaded,  and you can see more regarding what we have done in our facebook wall photos and/or in our albums or/or by visiting  www.nationaltequilapartymovement.com and www.somosindependents.com.

We had Get Out the Vote initiatives/rallies in New York, Washington D.C., Colorado, Nevada, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, New Mexico and more.

We are unique because we are Mexican-led and Latina led, and we know Mexican-Americans make up almost 70% of the Latino population.  We refuse to allow the Cuban-Americans and whites to be our voice.  We believe we are smart enough to be our own voice and we know we can articulate our own opinions to that political regard as Chicanas.

The Tequila Party Movement is a woman-led counter movement to the extreme Tea Party Movement. We are a national movement to get out the Latino Vote so that we can support immigrant friendly politicians.

Structural and leadership changes being made with the Tequila party movement and Somos Independents; but, Shirl Mora James (lead co-president and Civil Rights / Immigration Lawyer) at the helm as several of leaders are going to take a sabbatical through rest of the year in light of the approaching holiday season, and DeeDee Blase will be retiring from the hard core political grassroots activism.

Congratulations to President Obamafrom Arizona!

Photo taken by DeeDee Blase in Phoenix while watching Obama’s re-election speech.

The best line in his speech last night was when he said:

“We are and forever will be the United States of America.”

It was my first time voting for a Democratic President – ever.

Indeed it has been a crazy election year, and I am glad to retire from hard core grassroots activism now.

I was surprised to learn that it was the Republican Presidential Candidate via Mitt Romney who profited  approximately $50 million in the abortion industry via Stericycle despite their pro life platform.  How did the Republican Party support a man who made $50 million dollars regarding abortions?  Did the GOP change that much?  Indeed they did; in fact, the RNC included an anti-immigrant official platform one week before their 2012 Convention in Florida.  The John Tanton Network and FAIR thoroughly hijacked them. Republicans are now being viewed more and more each day as the modern-day Dixiecrats of old (reminiscent of the pre Civil Rights era).

What must the Democratic Party do in order to prevent Latinos from registering as independent voters?

Indeed we did listen to Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s victory speech on television last night where he told the whole world that “he is merely enforcing the law” and if “people” have a problem with the law then the law should be changed.  This should be a clear signal to all how Arpaio and his minions are hungry to place more blame on the Democratic Party and this is precisely why the Democratic Party must act swiftly.

We all know that Latino and immigration activists sent the Democratic Party a signal earlier this year by threatening not voting for Democratic candidates if they did not see fixes to immigration reform.

We then saw the Deferred Action take place.

Indeed the deferred action is a temporary fix, but it beats the self-deportation policies the Republicans were supporting.  That said, the Democratic Party must act fast and not insult the intelligence of Latino voters anymore.  We are glad to learn that the Nevada Senator Harry Reid has vowed to work on legal immigration reform.

She lost her daughter when she left them to a “Christian” couple to take care of when she had to leave for a bit. When she returned to take them back, they refused and she filed a lawsuit. She lost.

The Democratic Party has less than two years (well before the 2014 midterm election cycle) to fix the broken immigration system while offering a legal immigration comprehensive plan.  If and when the Democratic Party finds itself becoming threatened by restrictionist, isolationist and protectionist Republicans in the House of Representatives … the Democratic Party must outwit them and micro-target 2014 House seats where an increase and heavy Latino voting population exists.

The Democratic Party must take proactive moves and outmaneuver the isolationists or risk alienating Mexican-Americans (the fast growing ethnic group within the Latino population).

The responsibility does not rest on the Democratic Party either because we will be watching so-called Latino leaders and immigration activists accountable, too, to see if they hold Democratic Party leadership and their feet to the fire.  Will Latino and immigration activists look the other way and continue to be sheeple?  Or will they be more assertive with regard to the immigration issue?

Time will tell.

In any event, the Democratic Party must make moves to the legal immigration regard or else deal with Ruben Navarrette’s continued finger pointing.

Mexican-Americans are tired of the immigration issue being used as a political football, and now that Latinos and women essentially helped vote in  President Obama … and in light of key Democratic U.S. Senate seats being won – there are no excuses with regard to taking care of Homeland issues.  Indeed Americans are tired of spending millions of dollars on war and abroad – it is time to fix things here at home that will only benefit the American economy and our aging population.

A healthy and legal immigration solution will secure our borders, create a safer North American Continent and promote a stronger relationship with our contiguous neighbors.  Enforcement-only initiatives promote a situation that emulates the failed days of Prohibition, which serves only to encourage the underground labor market.  Our government needs the additional tax revenues that new immigrants generate in order to sustain the burgeoning entitlement programs baby boomers require as they continue to retire.  By developing a reasonable legal immigration plan, we create a system where immigrants share American tax burdens as they continue to contribute millions of dollars into our tax coffers.  New immigrants sharing our tax burdens will help discourage our government from increasing taxes, because under the current system these entitlement programs will drain all federal revenues within 15 years.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio had a multi-million dollar war chest where several outside interest groups were funneling millions to ensure his re-election. With 99% reporting, he led by almost 10 point swing.

Basic math:  Arpaio’s 52% – Penzone’s 42% = 10%  point difference.    

*Note: Independent Stauffer only pulled 4 points

We were hoping that Arizona wouldn’t be so “red” but it was clear that the Tea Party spirit is still strong despite an increase of Latino voters and the millions poured into campaigns like Richard Carmona.  [Keep in mind that Richard Carmona was an independent for a very long time until last year.]

Here are the results thus far with 99% reporting:

Contrast the above to Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s 2008 election cycle when he ran against Democratic Dan Sabin below:

In looking at the above figures, it appears fewer voters voted in the 2012 MCSO race compared to how we voted in 2008, and it seems that the Democratic candidate cannot seem to get passed the 42%. 

2008 Democratic Opponent Dan Saban managed only to receive 42.2% when he ran against Arpaio 4 years ago, and with 99% reporting, it appears that the 2012 Democratic Candidate Paul Penzone couldn’t break the 42% either.   Apparently there are provisional ballots still in question, but with Arpaio’s strong approximate 10 point lead — it is not likely we will see provisional ballot voters make their way into the County office to show ID or other measures within three days of election day.

More importantly, it is clear that Mike Stauffer (former Republican, now independent voter) was not a spoiler to the MCSO race as several falsely accused.

Mike Stauffer knew that it would take a conservative to beat Arpaio, and the weak candidate produced by Ann Wallack (Maricopa County Democratic Chair) did not help because of Penzone’s lack of experience, education and domestic violence history in his background. Let this be a crystal clear reminder to the Democratic Party that weak candidates don’t pay and any candidate going up against Arpaio must be VETTED to avoid the below mass mailers that hit almost every mailbox in the County.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio sent mass mailers 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.

Mike Stauffer, a conservative was the first to put his hat in the race during a time when people should have united and gotten behind him. I made my crystal clear explanation why I supported Stauffer here. 

You see … WE KNOW THAT THIS COUNTY SWINGS CONSERVATIVELY, and the fact that this state supported Romney, Jeff Flake, Arpaio, Bill Montgomery et al should be telling to us all.  It is also a known fact to the more politically astute that the Democratic Party lost approximately 52,000 Democratic voters in 2011; and with those hard numbers we saw prior to the November 6, 2012, election it is hard to dispute the conservative nature of our County and our State.

Nonetheless, as Mexican-American demographics continue to grow, we will eventually see this state emulate New Mexico in due time.

It’s just a matter of time, even though we wanted to see that time earlier than later.

We’ve learned several political lessons this year, and I was glad to see Mike Stauffer run a classy act.  He didn’t run a negative campaign despite Arpaio crushing both Penzone and Stauffer. Make no mistake, we also witnessed the Arpaio campaign turn Arpaio into an animal lover depicting a “nicer” side of him.  It’s just too bad Arpaio can’t give human beings the same humane treatment he affords animals.

I listened to Arpaio’s victory speech last night and now we are told that he wants to reach out to the Latino community.

I can’t bring myself to believe him.

A Latino Veteran of the Armed Forces died in his jail this past year, and we saw no remorse from Arpaio to that regard.  If Arpaio cannot show remorse for a veteran who served our country — then I doubt he will show remorse for anyone.  I want to believe that Arpaio wants to reach out to us — but all I see is a hardened heart.  It’s a shame, too, that the Catholic Leadership via the Phoenix Diocese could not publicly condemn Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s culture of death he brings to his prison (in light of the mysterious Mexican deaths) and to our State.

What good is “religion” when their leaders are too cowardly to be a light when their sheep have been oppressed by those who partake with them?

We will closely watch the DOJ’s actions moving forward. Will the DOJ under the Obama administration continue to be swift and strong against our Arizona version of Eugene “Bull” Connor?

Time will tell.

The Tequila Party Movement protested Sheriff Joe Arpaio numerous times at his Catholic Church in his own backyard of Fountain Hills,and in fact we dueled with his Tea Party supporters — but the Phoenix Catholic Diocese did nothing. They did not publicly condemen Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s culture of death in light of the mysterious Latino deaths occurring in his prison. We suppose Arpaio is too powerful for them.