The Guardian UK is a well read newspaper in our Nation and I was proud to chime in on a discussion panel of women as it relates to the topic of Mitt Romney and his “binders of women.”

I was happy to address what has been burning in my heart –  and, as a woman who proudly served in our Armed Forces as a bomb dog handler …  I believe it is time for women to be part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Let’s break that glass ceiling.

We need to pick our battles more carefully as it relates to war, and since many of us have children of our own who could be drafted, then I believe we should be part of the strategic decisions.

You can read the entire discussion here, and was amongst 6 other women who contributed to the panel.  Here is my contribution:

 

It will be very hard for Mitt Romney to improve his image with women voters because he has reversed his stance on the pro-choice/pro-life issue too many times. His reversals make him appear like a populist politician driven by polls. Remember, Romney gave an oath to protect a woman’s right to choose until he decided to run under the Republican presidential ticket. How can a pro-choice woman trust Romney after he went back on his word? On the other hand, how can a pro-life woman trust him when his campaign recently stated that abortion “should be an option” in certain cases?

In order for Romney to garner the trust of women voters, he will have to pick a side and stick with it to the end, else mistrust will continue to pile up. Right now, women do not know what his real conviction on the issue, and we become much more considerate of politicians who stick to their convictions. As it stands, we still do not know where his heart is really at.

A woman has never served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS); therefore, any president promoting women to the JCS within his first 100 days would give many of us a sigh of relief and encouragement. So many women in the US are related to sons, daughters or relatives currently serving our armed forces, and we are feeling apprehensive and pressure with regard to the multiple wars we have been engaged in. It would be helpful knowing that more women are part of the “advisory committee”, which helps plan joint operations and resolutions of military problems because, as it stands, there appears to be too much testosterone fueling those key decisions. It would be helpful for us to see balance at a strategic leadership level.

DeeDee Garcia Blase: ‘[Romney] will have to pick a side and stick with it to the end’

DeeDee Garcia Blase is founder of Somos Republicans, and the president of the National Tequila Party Movement, which promotes Hispanic Get Out the Vote initiatives

Friends,  If you aren’t on the distribution for MsRepresentation, you may want to read some of the stories here. Each hotlink takes you to another source for the story. I’ve highlighted a few I’m suggesting out of the bunch. You will be amazed at what some people think, say or do… Sadly not a big surprise, but worth noting.

( Please know that I offer this without regard to your political affiliation. I believe, as MsRepresentation does, that women need better representation in Congress and at other levels of American government. )

BRIEF: Nobody Puts Baby In A Binder

Posted by WCF on October 17th, 2012

What the Flip?
It might seem like it should be against the law to flip-flop on your abortion stance the way Mitt Romney does, but it’d just be unconstitutional to take away his right to choose what’s best for him and his situation.

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Moderately Offensive
Even after receiving pressure from both campaigns to not do her job as moderator by, y’know, moderating, Candy Crowley didn’t let anything get in the way of showing them who’s boss at the Presidential Debate last night. Further proof that if you need a job done right, you gotta call a woman. Which should be easy since Mitt Romney’s got binders full of ‘em! Hey-o!

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Nobody Puts Baby In A Binder
Ladies, our “issues” are totes becoming a primary focus of the Presidential race, with both candidates desperately trying to appeal to women voters. Dang, my back hurts from having this entire election resting on my shoulders.

Women and Politics

Misogyny and misanthropy is alive and well in the political world.  Most women politicos have known this for some time.  In fact, I remember both men and women take issue with Hillary Clinton being referred to as a “shrill“.  Women, especially Hillary Clinton supporters loathed it.  These days men are referring to women as a princess and so forth in an effort to minimize their hard work and activism.  Bottom line, if women don’t agree with them … they will do whatever it takes to minimize those women.  These same men have the audacity to criticize a woman who quits her career for the immigration cause.  The below is a sexist remark, and the reason why the writer doesn’t believe it isn’t a sexist remark is because he is a man.

At one point in Arizona, male politicos screamed, cried and kicked when Republican State Senator Scott Bundgaard abused his girlfriend, yet now we have these same men wanting to turn a blind eye to candidate Paul Penzone? They are mad because I’m a woman independent voter who supports Mike Stauffer for Sheriff? This does not compute.

My actions speak for itself with regard to how far I will travel to protest the corrupt Sheriff Joe Arpaio … so much so we drove over 5000 miles in order to protest him at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.  In fact, we have been protesting Arpaio at his own Catholic Church at Fountain Hills, Arizona.

Yet, these male chauvinists will make every attempt to steal a woman’s hard work and minimize her efforts. Below is just one little sliver of what we do.  Misogynists look the other way when women in politics are out in 104 degree weather protesting Arpaio at church, and they look the other way when we travel thousands of miles to help a family who lost a loved one (DREAM Act student), and they certainly look the other way when a woman protests the Republican National Convention.

Slide 1 of 8.
Tequila Party protesting Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Tampa Florida at their GOP Convention (Long Trip from Arizona)
Slide 2 of 8.
Tequila Party protesting Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Tampa Florida at their GOP Convention (Long Trip from Arizona)
Slide 3 of 8.
DeeDee Garcia Blase protesting Sheriff Joe Arpaio at GOP Convention in Florida. This national reporter receives a copy of a letter written by Joaquin Luna's mother (DREAMER who committed suicide).
Slide 4 of 8.
DeeDee Garcia Blase alongside other protesters of the GOP Convention
Slide 5 of 8.
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Slide 8 of 8.

….Back to why bloggers are mad about my support for Mike Stauffer (Independent candidate) instead of the alleged wife beater via Paul Penzone….

Below are photos I took from the Arizona Republic Newspaper.  You can see Scott Bundgaard’s bruises but you cannot see Aubrey Ballard’s bruises and this is because Aubrey had her bruises on her breasts, knees and elsewhere.  Just on it’s face value, one could easily assume that the woman abused Mr. Bundgaard.  This was not the case.  Through extensive testimony at a hearing I attended, I personally saw photos of Aubrey’s cuts and bruises on other parts of her body.

Just because I am an independent voter who is against political candidates who have shoved their wives into a doorway leading to documented injuries, does not mean I have to turn a blind eye to that.  Sorry.  No can do.  I refuse to turn a blind eye to men who abuse their wives.  Paul Penzone is a very large man, and for any larger person to pick on smaller framed women should not be tolerated. Again, Susan B. Penzone told the Glendale Police that he followed her and shoved her into the doorway. You can read the entire police report here. And since most people don’t like to read everything, I’m going to hone in on “her side of the story” because I’m a woman who used to help supervise the Protection From Abuse case desk when I worked as a Trial Court Clerk in a US District Court.  By and large I saw women who were abused, not men, and even though there have been men who have been abused by women — mostly it is men who take advantage of their large scaled body and strength over a woman.

Furthermore, like Scott Bundgaard, it is my opinion that Paul Penzone knew how to work the system and invoke some professional courtesy and/or get out of the bad situation that could cost him his weapon and his job. Remember when Scott Bundgaard used his “I’m a Senator card” in order to have his abused girl take the fall?

Question #1:  Why didn’t the investigator interview the neighbor who saw the abuse going on between Susan and Paul Penzone?

Question #2:  Why didn’t Penzone’s son get interviewed?

Question #3:  Why was Susan Penzone the first person to call 911 and hung up? (Did she feel like the police protect their own?  She was scared enough to call her lawyer).  By the way, I am former law enforcement, and I did see professional courtesy extended to fellow officers so we can’t pretend this doesn’t exist and rule this out.

Question #4:  Why was Susan Penzone successful in obtaining a Protection Order where the Courts viewed Paul Penzone (the Defendant) as a credible threat (enough so to take his weapon away)?

Indeed, Susan B. Penzone told the Glendale Police Department that Paul Penzone pursued her when she went for some hockey sticks, and then shoved her into the doorway leading to a documented injury.  It appears she struck back in defense after he shoved her.

I realize I have agitated people who want me to shut up with regard to shedding light on Paul Penzone’s domestic violence background — but there is more to the alleged wife beating incident.

For instance, like the Arizona Gov.  Jan Brewer, Penzone doesn’t even have a college degree, yet he wants to lead the 3rd largest Sheriff’s County in the country. Penzone does not have the experience to run a complex organization because if you take a look at his personnel records, you will find that his top rank was that of only a sergeant.  He could not make it to lieutenant, and he expects us to believe he can run one of the largest sheriff’s department in the Nation?  In addition, Penzone focused on media relations than actual field operations work. We have already established that the corrupt Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a media whore, but now let’s take a look at what Penzone did before he retired in 2009.

1. 2004 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of appearing on the Povich show.
2. 2005 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of appearing on the Povich television show, Channel 3, Channel 12 and radio.
3. 2006 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of working with the local media on the PEAK, KTAR, ESPN, Channel 12 News Detective Files and so forth.
4. 2007 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of being assigned to the Public Affairs Bureau. Let’s not forget the presentation given to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.  One wonders if he received perks or free tickets with the Diamondbacks?
5. 2008 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of working with local media again and the laborious job in helping with a Golf Tournament.
6. 2009 – Penzone’s performance record highlights consisted of (again) working with radio, print, and television media.  They highlighted the fact that his span of control was six employees.  A mere six employees!?  And he wants to run the 3rd largest county sheriff’s department in the nation?!

Six years before Penzone retired in 2009, his notable accomplishments were in media, helping in golf tournaments, giving presentations to Arizona Diamondbacks employees, getting a free Escalade for the department, and more golf tournaments. Where is candidate Paul Penzone’s experience in FIELD OPERATIONS where it matters? Where is his detention experience?  Where is his command leadership experience at? Did you know in his last year before he retired he managed 6 employees?  Yet, he wants us to believe that as a sergeant — he can lead the 3rd largest sheriff’s department in the Nation?

The Penzone supporting bloggers have no experience in law enforcement.  I DO!  I know what really matters and we don’t need another media whore in Arizona.  This is why I support Mike Stauffer who is Joe Arpaio’s strongest opponent.

See the below excerpt of Paul Penzone’s performance record showing he managed a whopping 6 employees.  Yet, he wants you to believe he can lead the 3rd largest sheriff’s department in the Nation?

Paul Penzone Performance Report excerpt dated January 31, 2009

In addition to Penzone spending his last years with the Phoenix Police Department  in public affairs.  He was coined as a Nancy Grace Suck Up by writer James King (who actually produced well written stories).  Since then he has moved to New York, Arizonans like me sure do miss his real work.

I’m not the only one who thinks Penzone is a type of media whore.  Look at this headline:

What I find interesting is how some of these Paul Penzone supporters were very quick and loud in  giving  Scott Bundgaard hell for abusing his authority when he abused his girlfriend, yet here they are turning a blind eye to Penzone’s domestic violence background.   You cannot run a Republican through the slaughter house for abusing his girlfriend, and on the flip side ignore another candidate’s domestic violence nature just because he has a (D) beside his name.

There was an actual Protection Order filed against Paul Penzone when the Judge stated he was a credible threat against the Plaintiff and had his weapon and ammunition taken away.

See below protection order (click to enlarge):

Paul Penzone was ordered to turn in his firearm to Glendale Law Enforcement agency via Protection Order filed by his wife when she told the police he struck her.

Last but certainly not least, the below is why Mike Stauffer will beat the corrupt sheriff Joe Arpaio.  You would think so called writers would spend more of their time attacking people who have abused their authority and hit women, but instead, I see these hypocrites attacking a brown woman who refuses to look the other way on domestic violence.

I want to personally thank bloggers out there who are exposing the alleged wife beating Paul Penzone for who he really is, and for giving Mike Stauffer the much needed name recognition he needs.  Mike Stauffer will replace Arpaio because I know most Republicans in our state cannot support a man with a (D) next to his name.  Independents, Republicans, smart Democrats and Libertarians are behind Stauffer this year.