State Senator John Huppenthal is facing two misdemeanor charges for allegedly taking down campaign signs that he did not like.  It seems interesting, however, that he still says this is a democratic party pushed item… it was the Scottsdale court that brought the charges not the party.  It appears that he has his focus on the wrong issue– its not about the democrats but about his own behavior.

I have little doubt that Hupps was pulling down signs without authorization because when I mentioned the incident to a friend of mine on election day, my friend said he saw Hupp pulling down another sign in another area.  It seems hard to believe that Hupps was able to obtain permission from numerous landowners all on the morning of election day.

On a positive note, he probably will not do this behavior in the future.

State Senator Linda Gray is showing unusual holiday cheer by trying to block the City of Phoenix’s attempt to allow domestic-partner registry. Councilman Tom Simplot has introduced a city ordinance that would allow domestic partners to register with the city that then would give the domestic partner visiting rights to a hospital. Sounds reasonable… unless you happen to be Linda “the Grinch” Gray.

It appears that Gray thinks this is bad public policy and encourages domestic partners to hire a lawyer rather than register. Interesting, it appears that a lawyer has little ability to help because the law prohibits domestic rights (that’s why Simplot is changing it), but it would certainly run up some legal fees. Let’s see, if the law was changed than we would not need to incur legal expenses… thanks Linda. Great reasoning.

Gray also cites the administrative cost to have someone sign the list and the city to administer it. Simplot’s bill calls for a $50 registry fee… So cost does not seem to be the issue. She is reported as saying she worries that people could forge a certificate. You have got to be kidding… why forge a certificate rather than just get one? That’s silly logic.

What then is Gray’s objection with a loved one visiting one’s partner in the hospital? I suspect it is because the two people happen to be of the same sex. I guess in Gray’s mind it would be better to let a gay or lesbian just lay in bed with no visitors rather than a loved one. Sure am glad Linda Gray is wanting to poke her nose in other peoples’ private lives.

Gray is quoted in the Arizona Republic (12-15-08) A1 as saying, “The devil is in the details.” Hum, it appears Linda Gray is in the details. Oops– I apologize, I repeat myself.

Kudos to Tom Simplot for trying to fix a problem and Merry Christmas, Linda.

The Arizona Republic’s Political Insider (12-14-08 B3) interviewed Randy Hartless, the Executive Director of the Parker Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hartless is lamenting because the Chamber just purchased 300 license plate frames which obstruct the name Arizona and starting January 1, 2009 said plates are illegal. He plans to ship the 300 “useless” plates saying, “Parker Area Chamber of Commerce: We Mean Business”to Senator Chuck Grey as a way to protest to, “the bonehead that thought up the new law.” Ouch.

Of course, rather than whine, there is a rather effective, simple solution. Rather than ask patrons too put the frames on their Arizona plates, ask them to get a front plate (perhaps something catchy with the word(s) “Parker” or “La Paz County” or “Arizona”) and put the frame around the front plate. Since Arizona requires no front plate, it is wide open spaces– much like Parker.

Come on Randy, show some creativity; after all, the police have a legitimate public safety concern keeping the rear plate unobstructed.

Historians will look at December 12, 2008 as the date President George Bush was completely marginalized by his own party.  The President had no influence on getting his party’s senator to support the $14 billion automobile bailout.

What I can not understand is why does Bush have no power over his Secretary of Treasury?  Hank Paulson was just handed $700 billion by Congress.  One would think that a call from Bush to his employee saying that he wants 2% of Paulson’s cash to be shifted to the Big 3 and that would solve this problem.  I can see the senators snubbing Bush but Paulson?

It appears that County Attorney Andrew Thomas is upset that retired Judge Kenneth Fields has been named the residing judge in the high-profile Don stapley case.  Because of a shortage of justices, Fields has been pulled out of retirement.

It appears that because Fields gave a legal contribution to Thomas’ opponent and once reported Thomas to the bar with an ethics complaint that was triggered by Fields being an officer of the court.  Thomas wants him to recuce himself.  Following Thomas’ logic a judge can not have an opinion outside his professional life (contribution) or an ethical duty to report (bar complaint) and remain objective.  Perhaps this is more a reflection of Thomas realizing that perhaps he could not remain objective… or, to put it another way, Thomas would make a lousy judge.

Judge Fields had a distinguished career on the bench.  He is a man with tremendous integrity, knowledge of the law and temperament.

It appears that Thomas is burning bridges with judges.  First Judge Tim Ryan and now Fields… he is slowly alienating himself from the court….

President-Elect Barack Obama has reintroduced science to the White House with the naming of Berkeley Livermore Laboratory Director Steven Chu to head up the Department of Energy.  Professor Chu won a Noble Prize for Physics and was head of Stanford’s Physics Department.  The Bush White House has been abysmal in incorporating science into its public policy (Global Warming comes to mind).  Is it not wonderful to have a president who puts value on science?
Professor Chu has focused his studies on alternative-energy.  Looks like some serious CHANGE in the field of energy!  Bravo.

The public trust has been seriously shaken in Illinois where Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich is arrested at his home in the early morning accused of auctioning off Barack Obama’s Sebate seat.  This is a national tragedy.  The proble, however, is here at home too.
Politicians abusing their positions erodes public confidence in the system.  After an election where the youth of America finally have been energized, Blagojevich, Supervisor Don Stapley and even little known political pol-wannabe Jarrett Maupin II all feed into the cynicism surrounding politics and turn people off participating.  Of course, turning off the least interested voters just feeds into the power of those who stay in the game.  Nothing is worse for a crooked politician than large citizen participation.

In Illinois  it appears its Governor may be joining its previous Governor George Ryan who is serving six years in the big house (not talking the governor’s mansion in Springfield).  That state seems to have a history of political corruption.

What’s going on in Arizona?  The paper today headlines a Captain Joel Fox is being charged a $315,000 fine for illegal contributions (Arizona Republic B1).  Don Stapley has been indicted on 118 charges.  Maupin is accused of filing a false police report against his opponent. State Senator John Huppenthal allegedly is running around on election day pulling down signs and getting into shoving matches with voters….  It has got to stop or the cynical people who finally are participating will leave in disgust.  Losing those citizens hurt all of us.

According to the Yellow Sheets, Senator Jack Harper is explaining Jan Brewer’s statement about a possible tax increase to be a revenue neutral proposal. That basically means any tax increase must be off set by a tax decrease.

Jack Harper, who never met a poor person he ever liked, threw out teh suggestion that the income tax can be lowered for a higher recessive sales tax. Great to see that during these tough economic times, Harper suggests screwing the poor.

I doubt that Brewer’s statement was revenue neutral when she is facing balancing the state budget. A revenue neutral proposal does nothing to help with the crisis and if, as Harper suggests, her agenda is more focused on shifting the income tax to sales tax without helping the budget crisis, she’s completely off base. I, however, suggest that Brewer is focused on the budget and it is Harper that is, once again, off base.

Hubby of incoming Governor John Brewer appears to have done the same evils as Don Stapley, the recently indicted Maricopa County Supervisor.  Dr. John Brewer, it appears, lied about his credentials in 2001 when he was the Executive Director of the Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners.

To cover his tracks, Dr. Brewer started up the old shredding machine.  Dr. John “Ollie North” Brewer, got a slap on the wrist for shredding state property.  It should be interesting to see if Andrew Thomas gos after this…. perhaps statutue of limitations will protect Dr. Brewer.

In May 2001, the Arizona Republic reported that Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners fired its executive director, John L. Brewer, D.C., following allegations that he shredded documents, copied exams, and misrepresented his credentials.  According to a report in the Arizona Republic, a board member had discovered that Brewer did not receive a naturopathic degree from a college in Los Angeles as he had claimed on his license application{May 21, 2001).

In June 2000, the Arizona Auditor General had severely criticized the board’s performance.  The most serious deficiencies involved the naturopathic licensing examination, which had not been validated to ensure that it tests what naturopaths would need to practice safely.  Even worse, the board consistently “adjusted” scores upward so that everyone taking the exam since 1998 passed it.  With the February 1999 exam, for example:

• Although none of the 18 applicants scored the necessary 75%, all scores were adjusted upward.
• The board gave full credit for about one-sixth that were “too difficult.”
• Since 9 out of 18 applicants were still to low, additional “adjustments” were made.
• One applicant got full credit for 90 incorrect answers on part 2 of the 3-part test.
• The Auditor General’s report also noted that complaints to the board had not received adequate attention and that record-keeping and overall management had been inadequate {Davenport DK. Performance Audit: Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Board of Medical Examiners. Report No. 00-9, June 2000.}.

Oh well, at least, unlike Stapley, Dr. Brewer will always be able to get a pardon if Thomas goes after him.