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A long-simmering movement by liberal stalwarts in southern Arizona to break away from the rest of the largely conservative state is at a boiling point as secession backers press to bring their longshot ambition to the forefront of Arizona politics.
A group of lawyers from the Democratic stronghold of Tucson and surrounding Pima County have launched a petition drive seeking support for a November 2012 ballot question on whether the 48th state should be divided in two.
Considering what the rest of the state’s politics are like, often appearing to be one-part Yosemite Sam and one-part George Wallace becoming one entire Joe Arpaio, I cannot say I blame them for wanting the hell out of the State, but it isn’t going to happen.
Besides, they just want to be a new State, but stay in the union.
Unlike some States that maybe should have tried a bit harder 150 years ago to leave…
After initial objections, lawmakers in Tennessee are moving a new version (pdf) of the most expansive anti-Sharia bill yet…when a Muslim starts practicing Islam with partners or in a group, they are forming a “Sharia organization”
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I’m the leader of Austin Secede.
If Texas secedes from the Union, we here in Austin are going to secede from Texas.
Shocklash
Both constitutional and expedient.
Once again we see the drive for the “Big Solution” rather than doing the tedious work needed to actually achieve a result. It is time for Arizonans, as it is time for those from other states such as Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, etc to take back the states from the rabid republicans one public office at a time.
The Progressives, Real Democrats or what ever name the Social Moderates would prefer must vote in new selectmen, new councillors, new commissioners, new dog catchers if you will one at a time building a base that will overwhelm the right wing. It may take years, it may take decades but it will work as it has worked for the Green Party in Europe and as it has worked for the crazies over here.
Too much time and energy is spent looking for a “Grand Achievement” and not enough time is spent doing the day to day stamp licking, envelope stuffing and door to door hand shaking that will result, eventually, in a less maniacal right wing government and a more understanding, peaceful even, dare I say it, liberal government.
Pima County’s surrounded by wackaloons and wingnuts. They need a corridor to maintain contiguity with New Mexico and sanity.
Good morning all.
Good morning all.
It took half an hour to access FDL this morning still can’t access EW something about an ad jugler7 and hangs up at that point. Is it just my computer?
Any one else having access problems to FDL and EW this morning ?
I had the same problem. Also on rawstory, which I was just able to get on.
Yes.
Concast?
Big time….to Arizona, as when it’s time to get a divorce, let it go….
I have always thought Lincoln should have funded the Underground railroad, started a jobs program, built schools and skipped the war.
@tjbs, #7
Couldn’t get on anything anywhere on the webz this morning at home. Here at work seems okay [knocking head on wooden desk].
No. Time Warner.
U.S. was one of the few countries that fought a war to ‘get rid of slavery.’
Heard a lecture (prolly author on booktv) that civil war was to prevent secession, which is constitutional. I suppose that there is plenty of history of western civil wars fought over secession.
Oh, please don’t….not a pretty sight and we’ll miss you.
I give them credit for thinking outside the box. This country needs a lot more of that!
Thoughtful comment.
Switch in the couple of towns around me from R to D occurred years ago over specific issues: Keeping Walmart out, and preventing a gigantic development on the mountain, both successful.
Not to be an early morning pessimist, it is still the case that the progressive fight is against huge money on the other side. So the bigger the govt unit becomes, the more that the corp interests will put the money into fighting. Current local issue is fracking and Hinchey, who always won by large margin, won by narrow margin last time bc gas corps poured huge sums into defeating him
Heard story this morning about state Gov. taking over city control….I thought how much Perry would like to do that in Austin; probably working on it right now…..
I am not having any problems this morning. Have you cleared your browser cache? Try rebooting the router or modem (for DSL) that connects your house to the Internet.
Good morning, pups.
That is pretty much what’s happening in Michigan. Rachel Maddow has covered it extensively.
NYS took over various portions of NYC govt when NYC went bust (Ford to NYC: FU) decades ago. Details are fuzzy bc it was so long ago and I was not active politically at the time.
I had problems via Roadrunner and via whatever ISP is used here at work.
We’ll take Ohio back. Ever my crazy GOPer neighbor ain’t crazy enough to go after the cops and teachers.
Boxturtle (Cops? Teachers? We’re spending too damn much money on politicians! – Crazy GOP Neighbor)
Eeek my rhubarb is blooming. I have to make strawberry rhubarb pies today… In the meanwhile just in case you want to have oodles of fun.
Here in NH the crazies have taken over so boldly and badly that the “real” republicans are pissed at them. Internecine warfare coming along nicely.
Did you read the letter i last Sunday’s NYT about the average hedge fund salary being able to fund 15,000 teachers?
God, yes!
The “United” States of America would have been so much better off if we had let them fend for themselves.
The “average” hedge fund salary is about $500 million then? That does not seem credible. Do you have a link?
Good news this morning that shows protesting does work
Since “the market” always works, hedge fund managers must contribute 15,000 times the average teacher to the economy. /s
Thanks for the link. Need some reinforcement from time to time.
Grrrr. Tried to get the link from the NYT but to o avail. However the letter was in the May8th edition in letters to the editor.
I will keep trying…where is Marion when I need her :)
I remember numbers in that order of magnitude, but don’t have a link.
I will never be denied!!
Interestingly your math assumes a salary of $120,000+
There is no citation given for Mr. Schiffenbauer’s claim either. I remain skeptical that the “average income” is really $1 billion.
And no, I assumed a salary of about $35K. Which is in the ballpark.
ROFLMAO!
Progressives breathing fire!!!
Giant Cosmic Leafblower!
You nailed it.
I’m not MAD!
@ nomolos, #31:
Here at work. Couldn’t get on the webz this morning at home. GRRRR….
However, this may be the letter you’re referring to.
The author got it wrong (as apologists for the South so often do), because the whole point of Secession was to protect the capital locked up in slaves. Having their own country would have ensured that for slave-owners. Being in a bigger country meant they always ran the risk that at some point in the future, slavery might be abolished or at least legally confined. Since any risk of that kind has an immediate effect on asset values (as you know so well), they decided to get rid of the capital risk by assuming a much greater political risk. Sort of like the Bush administration with oil and Iraq.
One problem though. Most independents in AZ think Republicans are too liberal
Top five average hedge fund folks may average one billion – but most I suspect are in the annual tens of millions, poor souls.
For 2009:
Top Earning Fund Mangers
1.David Tepper, Appaloosa Management
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $4 billion
2. George Soros, Soros Fund Management
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $3.3 billion
3. James Simons, Renaissance Technologies
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $2.5 billion
4: John Paulson, Paulson & Company
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $2.3 billion
5: Steve Cohen, SAC Capital Advisors
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $1.4 billion
6. (tie): Carl Icahn, Icahn Capital
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $1.3 billion
6. (tie): Edward Lampert, ESL Investments
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $1.3 billion
8. (tie): Kenneth Griffin, Citadel Investment Group
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $900 million
8. (tie): John Arnold, Centaurus Advisors
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $900 million
10. Philip Falcone, Harbinger Capital Partners
Est. 2009 personal earnings: $825 million
$600 million gets you 15000 teachers at $40,000 a year (only inner city urban jobs get you much more that $40,000. Indeed medium sized town in Maine where a relative works is around $30,000 after 10 years.