College athletes have earned their way into college, but veterans have not. Those aren’t my words but rather the sentiment of House Republicans such as John Kavanagh who refused to give military vets an exemption to the minimum tuition bill that recently made its way out of committee. Mr. Kavanagh said, “I’m a veteran and …
Read MoreArizona’s legislators have certainly made education reform a top priority at the Capitol. Unfortunately, their “fixes” do more harm than good. Let’s start with Senator Ron Gould’s guns on campus bill. Here’s a classic example of a legislator determined to fix something that isn’t broken. I speak about this bill in detail in an earlier …
Read More“Coercion and intimidation are the tools of mobs and tyrants…” This was the final, stinging line in conservative editorialist Kathleen Parker’s article on the Susan G. Komen controversy. Her message to the women responsible for the Komen reversal was this: using your voice to express opposition is considered to be an act of intimidation, a …
Read MoreFundamental to American life is the idea that if one works hard, studies hard, he/she can overcome a life of poverty and realize the American Dream. But these days, the American Dream is virtually impossible without a college degree, and while President Obama works to make college tuition more affordable, Arizona’s Republican legislators take the …
Read MoreLess than two years ago, Arizona’s reputation was scarred by the signing of SB1070. Businesses, particularly those in the tourism industry, lost millions of dollars while the world listened to the harsh rhetoric of former State Senator Russell Pearce and learned of the discriminatory practices of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Many residents wondered aloud …
Read MoreFor the last decade, many Arizonans have come to believe “charter” is synonymous with “better.” Our public education system has consistently ranked among the worst in the nation, while media reports have highlighted some successful Arizona charter schools bucking the trends. But now we learn that a large percentage of Arizona’s charter schools aren’t so …
Read MoreWhen my oldest son was in preschool, the teachers had a daily ritual where they would gather the kids in a circle and ask what each child was thankful for. After hearing a story about Martin Luther King, Jr., my son said, “I’m thankful I’m white.” Though shocked to hear my four-year-old make such a …
Read MoreThough university administrators, student leaders, professors, and other stakeholders have made it known they do not want guns on campus, state Senator Ron Gould and company have made it known they intend to overrule them anyway. Why? Well according to Gould and other Republican legislators, guns on college campuses will protect students. The argument goes …
Read MoreI sat down with Channel 3’s Frank Camacho on his show, Politics Unplugged, to discuss civil discourse, Sheriff Arpaio and the decriminalization of marijuana. We also spoke about some of my predictions for 2012.
Read MoreIn 2012, we should “expect the unexpected.” How do I know that? Well, according to numerologists, 2012 is a number five year (this is based on the sum total of the numbers: 2+0+1+2=5). And the only thing one can predict in a number five year is that it is unpredictable. Taking that into consideration, I …
Read MoreThat’s what Jack Harper, the Republican Representative from Surprise and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, wants you to do. Mr. Harper believes the current law, one that allows homeowners who are underwater in their mortgages to walk away from their loans, is hurting banks and should be repealed. He’s quoted as saying, …
Read More“America’s Toughest Sheriff” may soon be getting a new title, “America’s Most Disgraced Sheriff.” That’s a more fitting title for a man who allowed rapists and child molesters to roam free while hundreds of young girls and mothers lived in fear and shock after their reports of sexual assaults were dismissed by the Sheriff’s department …
Read MoreI’ve often thought voters are too harsh when condemning a politician’s flip on an issue. After all, don’t we want leaders who are humble enough to realize they may not always have enough information to take an educated stance on a subject? The problem, though, occurs when a candidate flips not on one or even …
Read MoreFast and Furious was a conspiracy by President Obama to destroy the Second Amendment. Fast and Furious was actually the brainchild of the Bush administration, and the ATF simply continued the operation under a new name. These are two of the conflicting conspiracy theories now surrounding the infamous gun-walking strategy dubbed Operation Fast and Furious. …
Read MoreBased upon everything I’ve read about Governor Jan Brewer’s book tour, I’m inclined to believe she’s had one too many scorpions for breakfast. Perhaps it’s time to inject a bit of antivenom into the poisonous remarks that have filled the airwaves. In an interview with NewsMax.com, Governor Brewer spoke about the cost of illegal immigration, …
Read MoreJournalists tell stories. It’s what they love. It’s what they’re paid to do. But sometimes, the journalist becomes the story and usually, it’s not a story the journalist ever wished to tell. This was how I felt after my husband was killed in September 2007. I had never imagined a day when reporters, some of …
Read MoreTuesday was a historic election in Arizona. A political giant, a powerhouse among conservatives and a leader in the anti-immigration movement was removed from office. A mayoral candidate endorsed by the unions and openly opposed to SB1070 defeated an anti-union candidate backed by Arizona’s most influential Republicans. Since Tuesday, the speculation has begun on what …
Read MoreIn today’s Arizona Republic, columnist E.J. Montini admits he politicized the death of Glendale Police Officer Bradley Jones. Why? To call out all the politicians who characterize police officers and firefighters as heroes when they die in the line of duty and leaches when debating wages and benefits. This past spring I wrote an article …
Read MoreIn today’s Arizona Republic, I was quoted as saying, “We need to take a lash to politicians who say they favor comprehensive reform but do nothing.” The quote should have said, “We need to take TO TASK politicians who say they favor comprehensive reform but do nothing.” I was speaking about holding politicians accountable. I would …
Read MoreI’ve been hesitant to comment on the Occupy Wall Street movement, mainly because I haven’t quite figured out how I feel about it. It’s provocative. It’s inspiring. It’s annoying. It’s many things wrapped up in one and nothing in particular. On the one hand, I feel I understand and can relate to the underlying message …
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