Tag Archives: arizona

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Brewer’s Death Panel Racks Up Another One

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is having a fine week. First, she shows her lack of respect for the President of the United States by wagging her finger at him in a heated discussion as he deplaned Air Force One. She claims he “intimidated her” and walked away from her mid-sentence. Too bad the mayors of Phoenix and Mesa, AZ were both standing there and said he did no such thing. What were they discussing? The fact that she chose to write in her recent book that a previous meeting (which she is on video as describing as cordial) was less than polite. So, the POTUS called her on it, and she chose to try to browbeat him. Nice work.

Now comes word that Brewer’s death panel has claimed another victim. To be fair, there really isn’t a panel. She just pulled funding from the state program that helped patients on the transplant list get their organs. When she first pulled the funding, there were 99. One was lost last year, almost immediately after the funding was pulled. And another was lost later that year. Now, yet another has lost their life. From ThinkProgress:

Now, the University of Arizona Medical Center has told the press that another patient passed away in late December because they were unable to get their organ transplant funded. Although the attending physicians declined to release the name of the patient out of respect for the family’s privacy, they confirmed that the patient that passed away was one of the 98 Arizonans cut off from organ transplants by Brewer and the GOP-controlled state legislature. He “was our patient. He was on our list,” said surgery department spokeswoman Jo Marie Gellerman.

Local news station KGUN reported the second death and tracked down two patients who are still waiting for transplants. They interviewed 48-year old David Hernandez, who has a terminal lung disease and will die without a transplant. They also highlighted the case of 27-year old Tiffany Tate, who also needs a lung transplant to save her life. Despite placing three phone calls and an e-mail, the station was unable to receive any response from Brewer’s office.

These aren’t deadbeats. They’re folks who genuinely have a need for a transplant and have no other way to fund them. Under the old funding, they would have received their transplants and gone on to live better lives. Now, they just get to wait to die.

Yup, Brewer’s having a hell of a week.

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“Isolated Incident” Waiting To Happen

 

Image is a capture from Facebook by Phoenix New Times

This story out of Phoenix today crossed my sight. It seems a police officer in Peoria, AZ Police Department posted a picture on his Facebook page showing a group of teens with weapons, proudly holding up a bullet-hole ridden Obama t-shirt.

In an interview with Sergeant Shearer, the officer in question, he says “I don’t think that the shooting of that T-shirt is that big of a deal.” …”It was more of a political statement.” He added, “It’s not like they were going to go out and shoot the president.”

Really? I wonder how many targets Jared Loughner used before he took aim and killed 9 last year? How does this police officer know that all of these kids were “just making a political statement”?

And when, just when, did this become something we’re expected to accept? Let’s look at just the last week, shall we? Crosshairs left on the offices of Democratic senators in Missouri. A Democratic campaign manager comes home with his family to find the family cat mutilated with the word “Liberal” painted on it. The governor of the state of Arizona shows the lack of respect we’d expect to see on Jerry Springer wagging her finger at the President, then lies about what happened (per the two mayors who were standing there). And this.

In one week.

The rhetoric is getting worse, and instead of figuring out how to cool it off, these kids are being featured on a cop’s Facebook page.

When the next nutjob goes after a Democrat, or kills innocent citizens because he’s afraid his guns are being taken away, it won’t be an “isolated incident”. We’ve seen it coming from a long way away.

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Are We Going To See More “Isolated” Incidents?

Palin Crosshair map

It has barely been a year since the tragic shooting in Arizona that killed nine and nearly killed Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. This week, she announced her resignation from the House in order to focus on her recovery.

One year.

Also this week, five Democratic state senators in Missouri found images of sniper crosshairs on their office doors. You’ll recall that Gabby Giffords was “targeted” by Sarah Palin with crosshairs on a map before she was shot.

Are we getting ready to start seeing more “isolated incidents“?

To be sure, the blame for the attack in Arizona last year cannot be laid squarely at Palin’s feet. And until they catch – if ever – the individuals that placed the crosshairs on the office doors, there’s no way to know their political leaning. But it’s about the atmosphere that has been created.

Somewhere, it became acceptable, and even encouraged to make physical threats. Last week, the campaign manager for a Democrat in Arkansas came home with his kids to find their cat dead and the word “Liberal” carved into it. At what point did this become acceptable, in any way?

Have we not learned the lessons that violent rhetoric only makes the problem worse? How long will it be until we get another “isolated incident” that will be disavowed and put off to coincidence? As the campaign rhetoric heats up, and as the candidates make their cases, how long until someone decides to eliminate a candidate for good?

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Respect: What The GOP Has No Clue About

The President is a cool customer. I'd have been tempted to snap that thing off.

If you listen to the blowhards on the debate stage lately, particularly Gingrich, you’d think they were being flayed alive for being asked questions they find uncomfortable. They rail against the media, against “gotcha” questions, against the timing of questions – you name it. And they demand that they be shown some respect. I’ve got two words for them:

You first.

Ever since President Obama took office – and the Tea Party started gaining some ground – the concepts of respect and civility have gone out the window. Need some examples? How about heckling and namecalling during  the State of the Union address – multiple years. How about flat out derision of the President? Not disagreement with policies or positions, but plain ol’ insult? What about the still active birther movement? All of these show a contemptible lack of respect for the man and the office of President of the United States.

I’m not saying you can’t disagree, even vociferously. But when it just comes down to insult, you’ve hit bottom. And the is where the GOP is. Today in Arizona was a perfect example.

When the President stepped off Air Force One on his way to an event at the Intel plant in Chandler, AZ, he was greeted by Governor Jan Brewer. The President apparently expressed his displeasure with her, as he believes she mischaracterized a meeting they had last year in her recently released book. What then ensued included Brewer raising her voice, talking over the President, and wagging her finger at him. Yup, like a mom scolding a child, or perhaps a servant.

Again, disagreements are fine. Discussion is fine. But her attitude, her demeanor, her means of addressing The President of the United States of America was beyond rude, beyond disrespectful. Had he done the same to her – the Republicans would be screaming about an elitist attitude and condescending demeanor. Can you imagine if someone had displayed the temerity to do the same to Bush while he was in office?

And how many times was Bush heckled during his State if the Union addresses? How many times did someone feel that it was appropriate to yell “LIAR!” while George was in front of Congress? But these current crop of Republicans all think it’s more than ok to do so, perfectly acceptable to show no respect for the President.

A couple of days ago, the NHL Champion Boston Bruins were invited to the White House, as are all professional champion teams. And all but one attended – Tim Thomas, the goaltender. Why? Was there an illness in his family? A prior engagement? No. He just disagrees with the President’s policies. So he chose not to attend.

It’s his right. It’s also completely classless and disrespectful to his team and to the President. But again, that’s the new crop of Republicans. Demand respect and give none. If a foreign dignitary had been invited to the White House and declined it because he “disagreed” with the President’s policies, there would be a holy furor to beat the band. It would be considered unacceptable and an affront against not just the President, but the country. But Thomas is an American, and believes that gives him the right to be rude and disrespectful. It doesn’t matter what your politics are – or the President’s. To be invited is an honor, and to not go is disrespectful to the office of the President, not just the man who holds it.

We see this even within the debates, when candidates flatly state that they don’t care what the rules are, don’t care what the moderator says and won’t answer the questions asked because they don’t want to. As usual, everybody has to follow the rules except them.

Yes, there are folks on the left side of the fence that are disrespectful. Some of the “professional left” are as rude and sometimes worse. Guess what? My daughter doesn’t get away with “They do it too” excuses. When I heard folks disrespect the last President, I was just as appalled. I didn’t agree with the guy, and had plenty of reasons for that. But I guarantee that if somehow I had been invited to the White House, I’d have been there. I’d have shaken his hand. And I’ve have said it was an honor to meet him. Because it would be an honor to meet the President of the Unites States. It doesn’t matter who’s holding the office.

There are probably as many reasons for this as there are stars in the sky. Might some be racist? Sure. Some making it a political play? Yup. It doesn’t matter. It all boils down to one thing: Lack of respect for the President of the United States. Will you continue to stand for that?

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Immunity prevents AZ senators arrest after fight with girlfriend | Fox 11 | KMSB Tucson – News

So, in Arizona, if you look to be dark-skinned, they want to ask you for papers to prove you’re not illegal. If you need an organ transplant and are on Medicaid, you’re out of luck. They want to name a state gun.

But get in a physical altercation with your girlfriend on the side of the road, and you’re immune from prosecution.

via Immunity prevents AZ senators arrest after fight with girlfriend | Fox 11 | KMSB Tucson – News

PHOENIX – The majority leader of the Arizona State Senate was involved in a domestic violence dispute that erupted on the side of a busy freeway.Phoenix police say they responded to a call of a man pulling a woman out of a car next to the median northbound on State Route 51 south of Cactus on Friday just after 11 p.m.When officers responded to the scene they determined the individuals involved were Sen. Scott Bundgaard, 43, and his girlfriend Aubrey Michelle Ballard, 34.Officers say both of them had marks on them indicating they had been involved in a physical altercation.Both Bundgaard and Ballard were taken into custody but only Ballard was arrested because Bundgaard has immunity while legislature is in session.

I understand that the immunity is part of the AZ Constitution. I get it. But this is an abuse of that statute. He gets to walk free because he’s a politician, his girlfriend ends up spending 17 hours in jail.

I don’t care what the argument was about, who started it, who was right, etc. But if she had to go to jail, he should as well, or neither of them.

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Does Arizona Need An Official Firearm? – Phoenix News Story – KPHO Phoenix

via Does Arizona Need An Official Firearm? – Phoenix News Story – KPHO Phoenix.

PHOENIX — Arizona has a state flower, a state tree, even an official state neck wear. And coming this year it could have its own official state firearm.

Senate Bill 1610 would amend the Arizona Constitution to name the Colt single-action army revolver as the state’s official firearm.

Really? Shouldn’t be all that surprising, but a state gun? What’s the next official state item? I shudder to think…

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Shawna Forde Trial Under Way

Testimony in the trial of Shawna Forde today included that of Gina Gonzalez, the mother of a 9-year-old daughter that was murdered during an alleged botched “raid” by a Minuteman splinter group. The group, led by Forde, allegedly thought they were “raiding” the home of a drug dealer.

Gonzalez’ husband was killed first, and Gonzalez was shot. But the gunman ran out of ammunition.

From AZStarNet.com:

As she lay there bleeding and listening to her husband’s last breaths, Gina Gonzalez commanded herself to stop shaking like a leaf.

She thought that if she didn’t stop, the tall white man would realize she was still alive and finish her off. If she could just stay still, maybe, just maybe the home invaders would leave and she could grab and protect her 9-year-old daughter, Brisenia.

They didn’t leave.

Instead, the tall man began demanding answers from the little girl. He wanted to know where her sister was, if the female on the floor was her sister. When she told him her sister was at her Nana’s, he wanted to know where her Nana lived, Gonzalez said.

“She was really scared. Her voice was shaking. I know she’s crying and really scared,” Gonzalez cried.

Brisenia demanded to know why the man had shot her father and when she realized it was her mom on the floor near the couch, she wanted to know why he’d shot her mom, too, Gonzalez said.

“He’s all out of bullets because he used them on me and Junior and he stands there and he loads the gun right in front of her,” Gonzalez sobbed. “I can hear her say ‘Please don’t shoot me.”

Gonzalez said she heard the shot and saw her daughter go flying back. She then heard the second shot.

The trial continues. Forde will likely face the death penalty if convicted.

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In Memory Of A Nine-Year-Old

She was killed in Arizona in a senseless act by the bullet aimed at her. Shot in the head, after he father was killed and mother wounded.

No, this isn’t about Christina-Taylor Green. It’s about Brisenia Flores.

Brisenia FloresBrisenia was killed during a “raid” by an Arizona offshoot of the Minutemen run by Shawna Forde. Forde and her cohorts had come up with a scheme to raid drug smugglers and use the money to fund their militia operations. On bad information, they raided the Flores home, killing Brisenia’s father Raul, and while her mother begged for their lives, shot Brisenia in the head.

The Forde trial began with opening statements on Friday in Tucson, with the memory of the January 8th shootings still smoldering.

But there is a distinct difference between the two cases. Jared Loughner is undoubtedly unbalanced. His motives for the killing are still being deciphered, his grasp on reality in question. But that’s not the case with the Forde killings. The deaths of Raul and Brisenia Flores, and the shooting of Gina Gonzalez, Brisenia’s mother, were committed by multiple individuals acting as “militia”. Thugs would be more accurate.

The question over the past few days is whether this case will be covered with as much urgency as the Loughner case. Will the deaths of two and the attempted murder of another have the same coverage? Or, because it is less about a deranged individual and more about organized, armed groups cause it to be swept aside?