genmalia's Comments (176)

“It can definitely be considered a hell hole; I've lived here for 12 years.

Republicans in this State were fortunate to have Sec. of State Brewer replace Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, as Gov because we have no Lieutenant Gov. position. Republicans control the State Legislature, yet despite our state deficit, they couldn't come up with a comprehensive budget that didn't gut public school and social services while at the same time giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Arizonans.

Democrats, in the mean time, had been almost completely shut out of the process.

When Brewer vetoed sections of the budget, the Republican legislature had the gall to put the same budget before her with only one revision. After Brewer signed more portios of the budget, she blamed Democrats for the budget problem.

On top of prioritizing allowing guns in bars, legalization of fireworks in our dry state, and a host of other unimportant legislation, we still haven't solved the budget crisis.”

“So true! Great article Dawn! Just like Americans needed a fundamental change in direction for our great country, we need fundamental change in healthcare. And it can't wait - this is the story of NOW!”

“Thank you for writing this Dawn!

As an ASU Alum and Obama Delegate, I've just sent correspondence to President Crow.

http://president.asu.edu/contact”

“Thanks for writing this Dawn!

The Sherrif Joe philosophy of if your skin is brown, you're guily-unti­l-proven-i­nnocent has got to go! Although when Phoenix has a great candidate to run against Joe, like Dan Saban, Dan is outspent by Joe and his "outside groups" that are being investigated for illegal campaign funding. How can he be responsible for upholding the law when he doesn't follow it?!

Maricopa County residents have been told so many times that undocumented immigrants are to blame for all of Phoenix's problems that they keep voting for Sherrif Joe despite the fact that he is costing County Residents millions for his show-boating, publicity-seeking ways.

I hope Janet Napoltano brings it hard to Sherrif Joe! We still need her support so badly in Arizona!”

“I live in Phoenix. It is true, tax breaks were given to developers and large businesses to give incentives to build/relocate here, but they still pay a large tax rate comparitively.

But you also have a part-time, Republican-run, State Legislature who spends a ridiculous amount of time voting on special issues to the legislators, refuses to vote for any tax increases or spending increases to invest in the infrastructure. But they will spend millions of dollars on special interest projects like guns in schools and bars (yes, some want this to be allowed), and maintain a full-time, year-round staff who literally plays games and watch tv when they are not in session.

Add to that, a county attorney (Andrew Thomas) who loses something like 70% of their cases, and is so ill-prepared to go to trial that they pay millions in lawsuits and farm out $11 Million to private law firms to handle the work. And our ridiculous sherrif (Joe Arpaio) who is under FBI investigation for discrimination, saturates poor neighborhoods with deputies to write tickets for cracked windshields so they can check their citizenship, and faces millions of dollars in lawsuits.

And even then, you have Arizona citizens who vote for these people to stay and office and pass Prop 102 to change our Constitution to prevent gay marriage which is already illegal here - that's a few more $million to spend.

Our problems go waaaaay deeper than real estate!”

“The point is, the people who signed the petitions were not given the actual purpose of the proposition. The name of the ballot initiative make it look like a Civil Rights initiative, which is intentionally misleading.

The fact that this is supported by white supremacy groups is questionable.”

“Being from Arizona and having been approached by the signature gatherers at my home residence, I can tell you they did not provide the appropriate information on this legislation. They made it sound as if it was about providing equal opportunity to minorities and when I explained that the wording on the petition did not say that, they made comments about 'how could I be against equal opportuinity when I have an Obama sign in my front yard and in my window?' Now, if any regular Joe had been pitched this petition, they might have signed it, but the validity of the petitions based on signature gatherers' information provided (or NOT provided) should be disqualified. If I have to vote on that in November, I will be sick to my stomach.

It should be noted that this proposition has been supported by white supremacy groups and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas had better start explaining how he could be associated with this proposition. Where are the journalists doing research on this?

As for Kyrsten Sinema, she is amazing! She is a powerhouse in Arizona Politics and I wish she my my Representative!”

“I'm not sure if you're an Obama supporter or just anti-Hillary, but this is way too low a blow. You do whoever you support a disservice.

Volunteers for the Obama campaign in my city have a guidleine we follow - speak and act as though Senator Obama were watching over your shoulder. We got his message for a positive campaign and we stick with it.”

“So does this make Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich the only former Democratic candidates who haven't formally endorsed Obama?”

“Did John McCain pay off anyone's debts? Specifically, Mitt Romney's $47M or so that he leaned his campaign?

I think someone should find that out before we start talking about paying anyone's debts back on the Dem side.”

“Did no one catch that Clinton said her heart goes out to Burma instead of Myanmar in her speech last night?

Ms. Experience didn't realize that Burma no longer exists and hasn't since 1989 or so. Not exactly up on current events, or a big F-you to the current regime in Myanmar.”

“Oddly, I just received an email from a friend, a simple volunteer, not a former president who can draw big crowds, but someone who has travelled all over the country to volunteer for the Obama campaign and who spent the weekend knocking on doors and phonebanking. She noted that everyone was so excited about the campaign, and even though they had already voted early for Obama, asked her to leave the literature as a memento of this historic primary.

You mention that once people had seen Clinton, they decided to vote for her. In fact, that very thing is true of Obama, or have you some other explanation of why a little-known Senator from Illinois with dark skin and a funny name has been able to out-campaign, out-fundraise, and, for all intents and purposes, out-do the most powerful political family for the Democrats. Obama is not just running against Hillary, he is running against Bill and much of establishment Washington.”

“I agree with a lot of what you said about Clinton, but I still believe that some Republicans are better than others (I can hardly believe I said that!). And I'd rather have Clinton over McCain - I would prefer not to have a draft or WWIII in my lifetime, which is almost assured if McCain gets the WH. Without the votes for the Dem, which I'm sure will be Obama, McCain has a very good chance of winning. Too much damage can be done in 4 years.

And if Clinton does get the nom - I will be campaigning hard - for my local Dems to take out the Repubs in my state.”

“For anyone who is "for" Obama or Clinton that refuses to vote for the other or vote for McCain, it only shows your lack of character and weakness of conviction. And I'm saying this as an Obama supporter and volunteer since he first declared, and I am a pledged delegate for Obama, and John McCain is my Senator.

To be blunt, if you truly support either Obama or Clinton, your ideology and political views are not so different from any other Democratic supporter out there. Their policy standpoints are similar, and the reasons for choosing one over the other are small in comparison with voting for John McCain, or staying home and not voting at all.

Think of the last 8 years and what has happened to our country. We've gone through so much and due to the poor Republican leadership (some worse than others) we were not united in tragedy but divided, and our civil liberties, security and decency as the greatest country in the world has been trampled on. John McCain has nearly promised to continue this path towards destruction, and in some cases (Bomb-bomb-Iran) make it worse.

Voting for McCain is the worst thing you could do to honor the candidate you support if they lose. Not voting is the same thing as advocating for McCain. If you really want to see this country at least move in the right direction, Obama or Clinton is lightyears better than McCain.”

“You do know that Obama graduated from college, became a community organizer in the South side of Chigago to help those devastated by steel mill closures, working with churches to open community centers, provide job training and strengthn the impoverished community, as well as becoming a civil rights attorney.

Have you read his detailed health care policy and not the short blurb on it? He goes farther to cut costs than any other candidate, and he isn't talking about forcing anyone to pay for insurance they don't want. Those who choose not to purchase a signaificantly cheaper plan and then try to take advantage of it later will have to pay a penalty.

Don't be so righteous thinking you've figured it all out if you haven't taken the time to read the policy proposals or watch his policy speeches. Considering the president doesn't present the legislation, but can guide it shows how he has tailored his policies so they will have maximum political support from both sides of the aisle without ramming it down everyone's throat.”

“Like it or not, some people view these things as an issue. I spent almost 15 minutes on the phone with her (I know I' not supposed to do that while phone banking), and in the end, she didn't change her mind, but she said that by my talking with her, and letting her know the facts, she would vote for Obama in the general if he got the nomination instead of staying at home like she intended. I consider the conversation a success.

This is my greatest lesson in working on this campaign: One voice can reach many, and the power of many voices is unsurpassable. Getting involved and reaching out to folks who don’t traditionally get involved in the process, or who vote based on the minutiae, can still be reached and can still make a difference. Like Obama has said all along, ‘people who love their country can change it.’”

“I was phone banking PA voters for Obama this weekend, and a woman said that she wasn't voting for Obama because he wouldn't wear a flag pin or hold his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegiance. After I cleared up the pledge vs. anthem bit, she still thought he should do it since everyone else on stage held their hand over their heart, and that wearing a flag pin is something so simple to do, yet he refuses. I told her that Hillary Clinton doesn't wear a flag pin, and she said that it didn't matter because she didn't wear it and then decide not to.

Her other justification was that since Obama was a Harvard grad, and she hadn't gone to college, that he couldn't relate to her position like Hillary could. After I expanded on Hillary's ivy league education, it didn't matter, because the educated support Obama and that meant he couldn't relate, regardless even though he and Michelle barely paid off their student loans, moved out of a condo in recent years, was raised by a single mother, went to school on scholarships made, and that he was living proof of the American Dream.

Like it or not, it is an issue.

This voter didn't come off as a racist, or angry, it just seemed that she was uninformed. Like someone had told her the Clintons were average folks and has been standing up for the working class their whole lives and Obama hadn't.”

“I understand your frustration. I was elected as one of two Obama delegates in my district last month and I was up against some very tough competition; although in my red state, there were only 30 people vying for 2 Obama slots. To select the 2 delegates took over 4 hours - I hope you can appreciate the logistical task that was at hand for selecting delegates.

I was supporting a fellow Camp Obama atendee and volunteer until today when his name was stricken from the At-large list with over 90 people vying for 5 spots. Simply put, there were more people who were involved in the party and who knew the decision makers that could. If everyone had been allowed to run, it would have taken over 10 hours to select just 5 delegates.

I consider it a fantastic thing that so many people consider themselves to be active enough to be considered for the delegate position. 900 people in your district running - that is something to be applauded, not frowned upon. Part of the appeal of Obama's campaign is that he brings SO many new people into the process.

Disappointment is understandable - this is going to be an incredible convention and everyone wants to be a part of it. Can you really blame the campaign for trying to make the process as efficient as possible?”

“When you make a contribution, you do have to state who you work for. I work in the lodging industry, but that doesn't mean the company I work for has endorsed Obama. That also doesn't mean the campaign received a check from Exxon for $12,370. I believe it does mean that that amount has been received from Exxon employees. If I am wrong, I will stand corrected, and disappointed to boot.

Oddly, I don't see the numbers from the Clinton campaign on how much they have accepted from corporations, lobbyists, and PACs.”

“When you make a contribution, you do have to state who you work for. I work in the lodging industry, but that doesn't mean the company I work for has endorsed Obama. That also doesn't mean the campaign received a check from Exxon for $12,370. I believe it does mean that that amount has been received from Exxon employees. If I am wrong, I will stand corrected, and disappointed to boot.

Oddly, I don't see the numbers from the Clinton campaign on how much they have accepted from corporations, lobbyists, and PACs.”

“I think I finally get why you support Hillary Ann: You were married to or know people who have accomplished things, and therefore, you believe you have somehow gleaned that information and are as qualified to speak or act on it! And *poof* there you have experience!

Obama taught several classes per year over the course of several years. I know people who have taken his classes. To somehow think he is not a professor even after the University he taught at confirms it shows (like in your previous post) that you believe Denial is a river in Egypt.”

“I think I finally get why you support Hillary Ann: You were married to or know people who have accomplished things, and therefore, you believe you have somehow gleaned that information and are as qualified to speak or act on it! And *poof* there you have experience!

Obama taught several classes per year over the course of several years. I know people who have taken his classes. To somehow think he is not a professor even after the University he taught at confirms it shows (like in your previous post) that you believe Denial is a river in Egypt.”

“I was recently elected to be a pledged delegate for Obama. And I can tell you, one of the things I ran on was that I would not "switch sides." The rules were that to elect a delegate, you had to declare for Obama or Clinton. I needed to demonstrate that the last year of volunteering for this campaign, the time, effort, and commitment I've put into it made me qualified to pledge my vote to Barack Obama. I went up against some long-time party activists and a staffer of a prominent endorser of Obama (along with 13 others for one delegate seat). In the end, I won in a landslide in the first round of voting, and I'm off to Denver to vote for Obama, as I have pledged to do.

Any pledged delegate who switches sides after their pledge, after they were elected to carry out a certain task, is at risk of becoming a pariah in the party. Notwithstanding a major disqualification, those who do not vote for the person they pledge to support is - at best - a liar.

I will be armed (with digital recorders and cameras) to capture any attempts to sway my or anyone else's vote and I have no problem blowing that whistle far and wide.”

“I was recently elected to be a pledged delegate for Obama. And I can tell you, one of the things I ran on was that I would not "switch sides." The rules were that to elect a delegate, you had to declare for Obama or Clinton. I needed to demonstrate that the last year of volunteering for this campaign, the time, effort, and commitment I've put into it made me qualified to pledge my vote to Barack Obama. I went up against some long-time party activists and a staffer of a prominent endorser of Obama (along with 13 others for one delegate seat). In the end, I won in a landslide in the first round of voting, and I'm off to Denver to vote for Obama, as I have pledged to do.

Any pledged delegate who switches sides after their pledge, after they were elected to carry out a certain task, is at risk of becoming a pariah in the party. Notwithstanding a major disqualification, those who do not vote for the person they pledge to support is - at best - a liar.

I will be armed (with digital recorders and cameras) to capture any attempts to sway my or anyone else's vote and I have no problem blowing that whistle far and wide.”

“That would be assuming that because California and New York (Democratic states) voted for Clinton, they will go Republican in November if Obama is the nominee.”