One thing was for certain.  President Ronald Reagan was no coward. 

That said, whatever happened to those “Tear Down the Wall” Reagan Republicans?  Did the Tea Party silence them all?  When will those ol’ Reagan Republicans tear down the walls and storm through the barricades within their own?

How is it that those old time Reagan Republicans advocated for tearing down walls in other countries, but they are nowhere to be found when it comes to our very own back yard?

Remember when Americans applauded President Ronald Reagan when he went overseas and advocated Tearing Down the Walls?  “Tear down this wall!” was the challenge issued by United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin. Reagan challenged Gorbachev, who was then the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to tear it down as an emblem of Gorbachev’s desire to increase freedom in the Eastern Bloc.

How was it right to tell other Nations to tear down their walls when we don’t take our own advice?

How is it that we spend millions and billions of dollars destroying other Nations and wasting billions to rebuild their infrastructure?  Don’t you think it’s time we stop bombing other nations and wasting billions of tax payer dollars just to rebuild what we bomb?   Don’t you think it’s time decreasing throwing our money away while investing it in our own continent instead?

Am I advocating for open borders?

No, I am not.

I realize we are living in the post 9-11 era, and as a veteran of the Armed Forces, I do believe in secure borders with a reasonable legal immigration plan.  We must think with foresight, and if all hell breaks loose (and it will), it is imperative our neighborly relations with Mexico and Canada are in pristine condition.  The American government has taken a position advocating there to be peace in the Mideast as we call countries to be more neighborly – and we must follow our own advice.

I repeat, mayhem will eventually break out in other parts and continents of the world.  It is imperative we have the ultimate back-up plan with our soil neighbors.

It is imperative we have a back-up plan with our neighboring countries and look to our tri-country continent resources – pulling them together in the event of a global disaster.

May Americans continue to rise without a party affiliation and look to what is in the best interest of our Nation instead of an organization(s) that has proven to be divisive.   We are the United States – not the divided states, and it is hella time for an American party to rise up from this mess.  As an independent voter, I can say this with great conviction.  Our greatest strength is unity, and when we capture that idea and harness it — we will survive the hard times.

I leave you with this video below  by Gary Johnson who was a long time Republican and left the GOP for the Libertarian Party.  Gary Johnson was a Republican Governor of New Mexico.

There are a lot of “1st times” in Arizona  this 2012 election cycle.

Independent Voters will vote in Arizona in record numbers thanks to Prop 121

The  Democratic Party  lost approximately 52,000 registered Democratic voters in 2011 and is now in 3rd place.  Currently Independent voters hold an 8.8% lead over Democrats in 2012 while in 2008 Independents were outnumbered 10.4% by Democrats. Republicans have a 23% advantage over Democrats, and only a 16.3% advantage over Independents a difference of 7%.

For the first time in Maricopa County history, Independents now out rank the Democratic Party in registered voters. While Independent voters are largely apathetic in their voting turnout, the Open Government initiative has been set to appear on this years election ballot. The 33% of newly registered Independent voters are sure to turn out in record numbers to support a “top-two” measure to level the political playing field.  Most Independent voters have left the party structure in favor of more freedom in elections and less political bias and therefore will be more likely to vote for a candidate working toward that goal.

Did you know that both sides of the political spectrum fought hard against Prop 121?

Indeed, Arizona Open Government had to defend the rights of Arizona voters five times regarding the amendment. The political bosses (from both sides)  and lobbyists were determined to stop them  because they knew the best way to defeat the Open Elections/Open Government initiative was to block it from going to the ballot. But finally, it’s time to let the voters decide.

The Prop 121 folks aren’t the only ones who want to break the vicious partisanship cycle.

Independent Candidate Mike Stauffer (who is on the record for supporting Prop 121) wants to break the cycle, too.  And as an Independent voter, I also believe that partisanship does NOT belong in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office.

Today, Independent Candidate Mike Stauffer wrote:

Remember the Arizona State lawmaker Kyrsten Sinema who was tough on immigration during a time Latinos were being kicked down? Well guess what?  She is running for Congress and the National Tequila Party Movement — a female led political movement will never support her and let her forget what she did when she decided to get “tough on immigration.”

I suspect she wanted her tough on immigration bill implemented because she knew darn well she was going to run for Congress and she wanted “in” on demonizing the immigrants.

Don’t believe me?  Read this story below:

Latino Democrat Steve Gallardo stands up against Kyrsten Sinema’s SB1225, her get “tough on immigration” bill

Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times picks up the SB1225 saga and includes some more insight into growing Latino opposition to it.

Steve Gallardo stands up against Kyrsten Sinema’s ‘tough on immigration’ SB1225.

The right-wing loves Kyrsten Sinema’s “tough on immigration” bill SB1225, and indeed she has 10 Republican co-sponsors, but Democrats are not on board yet, and especially not the Latino Democrats such as Steve Gallardo.

Below is an excerpt from The Bird’s article that shows this cultural conflict, and it will only escalate in my opinion.

“I and many other members at the legislature have taken the stance that immigration bills really need to be put on hold for now,” Gallardo said. “Our focus should be the budget. Let’s focus on the economy, let’s focus on jobs, let’s focus on the deficit. That should be our focus.”

I have to interject and add that I strongly agree with Gallardo. We do not need any more immigration bills, and we don’t need to give Sheriff Arpaio more power to get “tough on immigration.” Focus on the economy!

FULL STORY HERE.

Kyrsten Sinema not only managed to piss off the Democrats, she has angered feminists, the gay community, Libertarians and Republicans, too, and they are coming at her with a vengeance.

This image below  is going viral on social networks and facebook.  In case Sinema decides to deny this or spin her way out of it, you can read it in the Tribune for yourselves here.

Read reaction from Arizona females with regard to the push back Sinema will be receiving during 2012.

Trisha Wright reminds us what Sinema said in 2006: “I’m worried that we’re (women) regressing. For instance, this supposed New Feminism. these women who act like staying at home, leeching off their husbands or boyfriends, and just cashing their checks is some sort of feminism because they’re choosing to live that life.

Kyrsten Sinema D-Phx (East Valley Tribune, Oct. 25, 2006 p. A14)”

 

Andrea Glasscock Garcia writes: “She’s a total hypocrite even among Democrats. She claims support of the GLBT community yet destroyed Steve Mays for being gay. I guess being a Republican was just that evil.”

Halina Reed wrote: “Awkward…maybe she was being sarcastic? Or maybe it was right after her divorce and she was bitter? Or, um…”