Is the Obama Presidency stuck in campaign mode? ...

This article at the Feathered Bastard (White House Staffer Disappoints Phoenix Latino Leaders in Meeting at El Portal) shows an administration that is either not quite aware of the environment Latinos are stuck in here in Arizona or one that is remarkably insensitive to their plight as it appears they sent a representative to meet with "about 70 to 80 activists, politicians, and business people" but who was completely unprepared to answer questions about the out-of-control 'law enforcement' as well as immigration issues in general. A philosophy of

... accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

just does not work with such issues as people's rights no matter how much the 'pragmatic' Obama would like it to.

The article also leaves the impression that the Obama administration and Janet Napolitano may not be doing anything about the discriminatory practices because they are afraid. [Afraid of Sheriff Joe but nevertheless they propose to keep us safe by refusing to let us see pictures of past crimes.]

An update to the article follows:

UPDATE: A White House aide called me this morning, asking that I point out that the White House has a meeting scheduled on June 17 with congressional leaders of both parties to discuss immigration. Originally, the meeting was scheduled for June 8. The aide, who did not wish to be identified, could not explain the discrepancy between what Odio told Latino leaders last week, or with Abrams' statement to me quoted above. Nor could the aide tell me if the meeting will be held in public or private. The following is what the aide would say on the record:

"The president is inviting a small group of bipartisan Senate and House leaders on the immigration issue to the White House for a meeting to have an honest discussion of the issues, identify areas of agreement, and areas where we still have work to do." [emphasis added]

Get that, a 'White House aide' who one would assume is following someone's instructions in making this call does not want to be identified? And why not? And WHY did Stephen Lemons accept this type of information under those conditions? There is no reason whatsoever for the bearer of this information to be incognito.

Prediction from the Border Reporter?

It’s a new day but it’s an old border. Watch the U.S.’s next maneuver toward placing soldiers on the border. It’ll be interesting to see how it manifests itself. Will someone (Napolitano) directly propose it? Or will it begin with an incident; training exercises along Cabeza Prieta, maybe.

Ain't politics a crock ...

Irony of ironies: McCain, Kyl back Napolitano for Cabinet

Kyl said he doesn't expect Napolitano to start "bringing home the bacon" in her new role but said Arizona stands to benefit from a Homeland Security secretary well-versed in the state's concerns.

That's quite a compliment from one of the corruption crowd.

We already know Repugs make all the wrong financial decisions ...

... wrong for the people, that is. Often very 'right' for their own pocketbooks, though.

And Janet Napolitano is leaving Arizona in the hands of a Republican governor: Uneasiness over how [Jan] Brewer might cut budget.

Don't trust Politico ...

The heading and early paragraphs proclaim

Arizonan will head Homeland Security

Arizona Demcratic Gov. Janet Napolitano has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Barack Obama, Democratic officials said

Then down toward the end of the article this

The Democratic officials said Napolitano has not been officially offered the job but is likely to be named and to accept. The selection was first reported by CNN.

These people should be selling cars in a roadless country.

Scarpinato, the transcriber ...

... or the common journalist pretender who's real goal is a passive aggressive attack. Whatever the case Daniel Scarpinato does not elicit much information in Governor won't talk about the Cabinet does he?

But really were these questions meant to acquire information or to put Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on the defensive:

• Does working on the transition team conflict with negotiating the budget?
• How does uncertainty about leaving for a Cabinet position affect those negotiations?

I wonder what a transcript would show about the rest of Scarpinato's questions.

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Today's QUOTES: ... News outlets are little tiny cogs in giant corporate machines whose business interests far outweigh ratings and news revenue, much less truth and objectivity. GE (NBC) is a defense contractor which benefits from endless war; Viacom (CBS) is a vast media empire which requires lax ownership rules to stay together; News Corp. (Fox) is another vast media empire, and (bonus!) is owned by a right-wing loon. In short, Republican rule is far more profitable to the media's parent companies than the best and most exciting news programming on Earth could ever be, so that's what they strive for. Their primary objective is not good journalism, not even ratings, but simply to do all they can to get Republicans elected... without making it too obvious. That's why their relationship with the right-wing "Liberal bias!" screamers isn't really adversarial at all - it's symbiotic. Those accusations provide valuable cover, so that whenever the media get busted shilling for Republicans, they just chuckle with mock exasperation and say that they're getting it from both sides, so they must be doing their job. --Elephant Pimples by Eli at firedoglake

From Arizona's governor ...

Watching, these past 7 plus years, how Republicans work one can just imagine the 'feds' working to cause Arizona's crops to fail. The state may lean Republican, but its still rational enough to elect a Democratic Governor.

We've learned that Republicans deal solely in dirty, corrupt and criminal politics. The Republican Authoritarian State uber alles.

Governor, don't trust the Bush appointed gangsters. But I'm sure you know that already ...

Friday, February 29, 2008

Dear Friends,

While the federal government continues to kick the can down the road on comprehensive immigration reform, we all know that Arizona is paying a high price. For instance, about 90 percent of the lettuce served and eaten in the entire country during the winter is grown and picked in Yuma County – but growers there continually report that they can’t find workers for the harvest because of a dysfunctional guest worker system.

The federal H-2A visa system is supposed to allow seasonal workers from other countries to enter the U.S. temporarily to fill these kinds of jobs. But the program is riddled with bureaucratic inefficiencies, and is so unsuccessful that it accounts for only two percent of farm jobs in our country.

It’s essential that even while the federal government fails to make needed reforms in immigration policy, we do what we can to address the challenges of the border in Arizona. That’s why I am proposing that Arizona become a pilot state to test out a revamped temporary guest worker program, so that a broken system doesn’t cause our crops to rot in the fields.

Earlier this month, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor began a long-overdue process to update the H-2A system and rewrite its regulations to make it work better. This week, in Washington, D.C., I met with Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to talk about needed changes to the H-2A system, and to extend Arizona’s offer to lead in reform efforts and to pilot a new and improved guest worker program. States, particularly border states, are best suited to help develop a sensible program that will help our agricultural communities thrive. I will continue to push this idea forward in Washington, so that Arizona leads on an issue so important to our state.

We must find an interim approach that resolves these agricultural labor woes, creates a more efficient system, and protects the rights of workers. When the federal bureaucracy continues to block real reform, states like Arizona must step up to lead and get things done.

As always, feel free to call my office at 602-542-1318 if you have questions or thoughts. Or, please visit our Web site at www.azgovernor.gov for information and news in state government.

Yours very truly,

Janet Napolitano
Governor

If I were younger I think I would move to a state ...

... that is not growing by leaps and bounds.

The following is a missive from the Arizona Democratic Party:

Managing explosive growth will be one of the most important chapters in the "Story of Arizona," Governor Janet Napolitano told us in her State of the State Address on Monday.

In anticipation of the doubling of our state's population in the next few decades, we have made enormous strides in the past five years, the Governor said.

"We've added 652 new lane miles of freeway, and secured hundreds of millions more dollars for transportation projects. We've implemented a forest health strategy, created our first-ever statewide drought and water conservation plan, and worked to prevent wildfires. We passed the most significant air-quality legislation in a decade. And just last month, we signed an historic agreement among the Basin States to manage Colorado River water."

Growth will continue to challenge us all, and the Governor proposed strategic initiatives to protect our resources while building the critical infrastructure to eliminate the "time tax." She said we should:

Invest in rail transit, including a Tucson-to-Phoenix line;

Build on our water conservation efforts;

Send voters a statewide transportation plan to approve in 2008 or 2009;

Send voters a plan for state trust land reform to approve in 2008;

Enact an energy and climate change bill that would move Arizona's conservation efforts forward in the following ways:

• Require utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources;
• Require that 10 percent of fuel sold in Arizona is low in carbon emissions;
• Implement statewide energy conservation standards for new construction, replacing the patchwork of local rules that exists now;
• Implement new energy efficiency standards for appliances and new standards to reduce emissions of diesel exhaust.

Growth creates opportunities, and as we grow together, we must work to grow smart at every level of government. Please voice your support for the Governor's growth proposals by writing a letter to the editor, or by writing to your state legislators to ask them for their support, too.

For more information about Governor Napolitano's State of the State Address, or a copy of the speech, please visit www.azgovernor.gov

Please note that I have no quarrel with Janet Napolitano. I doubt, even if she was so inclined, that she could change the 'growth' mentality in the state of Arizona and she is probably a better manager than any Republican we have in the state. Still I am very sad about where Arizona is taking itself. It's a beautiful state but will not be so in a few decades if the signs are correct.

We, they or whomever is going to do to Arizona what was done to California. I don't know this because I thought ahead and tried to stop it. I know this because I've lived and participated in it. Even benefited from it. Nothing (not hippies, not Edward Abbey, not global warming) will stop humans from fowling their own nest in the name of growth, economy, wealth and opportunity. Nothing until the last shoe drops, that is.

Have a good day!

Success ...

The responsible people with jobs and kids who pay taxes and pay their bills are leaving. Just like the Arizona Legislature and, evidently, Governor Napolitano wanted. I feel so secure now ...

Crackdown has illegal immigrants leaving Arizona

Robbing Peter to pay Paul ...

BushCo's at it again. Now they are soliciting members of the Border Patrol with a $134,114 for a one-year contract, plus a $25,000 signing bonus (via DynCorp) to go to Iraq to train Iraqi's in how to 'guard their border.' Is this a joke?

First Bush takes the US into an unnecessary and illegal war. Then he destroys our armed services. He removes most of the National Guard from their intended role of providing security here at home and moves them and their equipment to Iraq leaving the US without needed resources. Now it's the Border Patrol's turn. Are you sure George W. Bush isn't working for the enemy?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The US is going to keep comedians and terrorists in business for years to come.

_____________________
Arizona Daily Star: Bidding war is on for border agents --Private company offers six figures for year in Iraq by Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

Having a Democratic Governor helps ...

Arizona's Governor, Janet Napolitano, vetoed another idiotic piece of legislation concocted by our moronic GOoPer legislators.

Is Rick Renzi safe now ...

According to an article posted March 19th in The Nation:

In September 2006, just weeks before pivotal Congressional midterm elections, Paul Charlton, US Attorney for Arizona, opened a preliminary investigation into Republican Representative Rick Renzi of the state's First Congressional District for an alleged pattern of corruption involving influence-peddling and land deals. Almost immediately, Charlton's name was added to a blacklist of federal prosecutors the White House wanted to force from their jobs. Charlton is someone "we should now consider pushing out," D. Kyle Sampson, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez's chief of staff, wrote to then White House Counsel Harriet Miers on September 16.

It appears that the Arizona Daily Star cannot be bothered with any corrupt politicians who happen to be Republican. When Arizona District US Attorney Paul Charlton was fired the Star, under the byline of Josh Brodesky, looked only at the possibility that his replacement may be Diane Humetewa who is Hopi. Of course, if she does succeed Charlton, her own integrity will be in question.

Arizona newspapers, as far as I can find and I'm not all that good at googling, have not reported any great expression of concern from either of Arizona's two Senators about the AttorneyGate in general nor about Charlton in particular. The newspapers themselves write fluff or print articles from the Associated Press like this one of March 14 that has a line following the article stating that Arizona Daily Star reporter Josh Brodesky contributed to the report. Notice that the only reference to the resulting 'get out of jail card' for Rick Renzi in the report is the following sentence:

Democrats have suggested Charlton was targeted by the administration for his work on a corruption investigation of Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz. But the timing is unclear.

Notice it's the Democrats, not the evidence. And notice how the Associated Press, the Arizona Daily Star and Josh Brodesky seem unable or unwilling to comment the timing of the events in their reports other than to say that the 'timing is unclear.' The timing isn't unclear. Timing alone is not proof but it is certainly a reason to look further. But these parties can't even present the timing in a straight forward manner.

On March 14 the Arizona Republic reports a little 'clouding' of the reasons behind the firing of Charlton. Mike Madden of the Republic Washington Bureau states that Charlton was not on the original list of those to be fired and that Bush's aides were very involved in these firings. The article mentions Rick Renzi, almost in a 'nothing to see here, move along' kind of way.

Also on the 14 of March, the Phoenix Business Journal reports on the governor's reaction to AttorneyGate:

Governor calls federal prosecutor purge 'appalling'

Billy House of the Arizona Republic's Washington Bureau reports on March 6 that AttorneyGate results in: Inquiries leave officials in limbo. Of course, we can assume, Rick Renzi already knows the status of the inquiry into his dealings as far as his buddies in the White House are concerned.