Arizona's Own Espresso Pundit

Deer in the Headlights

OK, I admit it.  I used to look down on TV news anchors.  How hard can it be to read a 30-second story about forest fires from a Teleprompter?  Dude, it's dang near impossible!  Give those guys a raise. 

I've done Sunday Square Off 6 or 7 times now, and each time I have to write a 30 second final thought; at the end of the show I get to read my words of wisdom from a Teleprompter.  I invariably look like Mr. Magoo reading from a cue card. 

My son watched it this morning and said "It looks like you are reading."  My response was. "Well duh."  Here's how it was supposed to sound.   

Now that the dust has settled on the Election, it's clear that Arizona had two big winners--Jon Kyl and Governor Napolitano. Senator Kyl faced an opponent who spent 10 million dollars in the worst year for Republicans since Watergate and Kyl still won by 10 points.  If he can win this race in this year, he can win any race in any year and it's doubtful that he will ever draw another serious opponent. 

And Governor Napolitano?  Her huge margin of victory is a clear mandate.  But a mandate for what?  Her Commercials would lead me to believe that her mandate is to secure the border and cut taxes.  I'm sure the Republican legislature would be happy to help her succeed in that mandate.

As Nearly Free As Possible?

This letter raises an interesting question.  If you know the answer, please leave it in the comment section.

Greg-

I watched your appearance on Sunday Square Off this morning and I too have questions on the finances of ASU.

Last winter, ASU issued an RFP to invest an extra $200. million it had on hand, intending to invest the money in bonds of up to 5 years duration.

http://www.asu.edu/purchasing/bids/pdfs/280608.pdf  links you to the RFP.

What was particularly interesting about the timing of the RFP is that it occurred when the City of Phoenix had its big bond proposals pending which sought funding for downtown ASU.  With an extra $200. million on hand at ASU, why were the property owners of the CITY of Phoenix being asked to finance the construction of a new campus of Arizona STATE University?

We sent this RFP to numerous reporters, personally handed it to an Arizona Republic reporter, and only the Sonoran News ran a story on it.  We also asked Mr. Crowe and Mayor Gordon for an explanation and neither responded.

Why such huge increases in tuition during a period of low inflation and with so much extra cash on hand?  A full and complete audit of ASU's finances is in order before any more tax revenue is allocated to the institution.

Lynne Weaver

District 11 Debate

If you are just now getting to the District 11 story, you would do well to scroll down a few entries and start with the post called "Fife's Running."  As you scroll back toward the top, you will get a response from Rob Haney, Randy Pullen and Fife Symington.

Make sure to read the comments as well. 

Here's a letter from Fife.

Greg,

I have been reading Espresso Pundit with great interest.  Of course I decided to run for LD11 Chair before the election!  As I said, I am a grass roots guy who has long nurtured our Republican Party from many different positions….precinct committeeman, State Finance Chairman, Trunk and Tusk head, Governor…to name a few.  I first decided to run because I was very concerned about the deep divisions in LD 11 and I was convinced that these divisions would lead to problems for Republican candidates.  I felt that my prior experience at all political levels could benefit the District and bring us together.  My fears came true when we had a huge failure on election day with the loss of a legislative seat (the first in over 30 years).  One can make many excuses for failure, but this serious defeat clearly lays at the feet of current leadership. I hear that the word is out that I haven’t been to meetings in the District.  Well, I am a recent arrival and just ran for precinct committeeman.  But, seriously, how could anyone believe that I am not a dedicated Republican warrior?  I have been to more Republican meetings around this State, spoken on behalf of more candidates, and held more fundraisers  than most.  I ran statewide for office five times (two primaries and three generals) successfully and I know how vital it is to have a united effort at the grassroots in order to succeed on election day !

Thanks,

Fife

More On District 11

Here's a letter from Randy Pullen.

Greg,

As an elected Precinct Committeeman in Legislative District 11, I am well
aware of the efforts of the Grassroots Arizona PAC to unseat Rob Haney as
the District Chairman. I found it interesting to read your interview of
Fife.   I know Rob and Fife quite well and count them both as friends. The
plan for Fife to run against Rob was in the works well before the general
election and was part of a well orchestrated plan to seize control of LD11.
The effort fizzled out in the primary when Grassroots Arizona PAC failed to
elect enough of their Precinct Committeemen in a multitude of contested
precinct races in the district. If someone is interested in learning more
about the Grassroots Arizona PAC and why their only interest is in LD11
Republican Party elections, I suggest they can search the Secretary of
State's website to learn who the founders and supporters are.

Fife states his decision to run for Chairman is based on Don Hesselbrock
losing his race for the Arizona State House; although, Fife's name had
already been placed in nomination in LD11 two weeks before the November 7th
election. Don lost a very closely contested race for a number of reasons,
none of which could be attributed to the lack of effort by our Precinct
Committeemen. The Democrats had a very good candidate; there was a lot of
single shot voting going on amongst Republican Adam Drigg's supporters; The
Arizona Democratic Party spent a tremendous amount of money on legislative
races, easily outspending the Republican Party; and Democratic legislative
candidates rode the coattails of Janet's reelection victory.  On top of
these issues, I have not even mentioned the national issues, which resulted
in the loss of the senate and house to the Democrats and spilled over into
local state races.

Also, this is not the first time that LD11 has gone Democratic.  One need
only look to 2002 when LD11 went for Janet Napolitano and effectively cost
Matt Salmon the governorship.  Since that loss in 2002, Rob has worked very
hard to build LD11 into the strongest Republican grassroots district in the
state with over 400 Precinct Committeemen. Isn't that what district chairs
are suppose to do?

Fife was right in supporting Rob in his calling attention to the precinct
committeemen in LD11 who publicly supported Janet Napolitano in this past
election.  While it is certainly all right for a citizen who belongs to
either party to vote for whomever they so desire in the voting booth, it is
not OK for an elected precinct committeeman to publicly support a candidate
of the other party.  These Precinct Committeemen should have had enough
respect for the party to which they claim allegiance to resign their elected
position before declaring for Janet Napolitano.  After all, as Precinct
Committeemen, they have access to a tremendous amount of confidential
information provided by the Republican Party.

In closing, I am confident that Republicans will regain the lost LD11 house
seat in 2008 along with a number of other legislative seats around the
State; as well as congressional districts 5 and 8.

Cordially,

Randy Pullen
Arizona Republican National Committeeman

UPDATE from Greg:  Several folks have commented that Fife got in the race before Hesslebrock lost.  I don't find that to be inconsistent with his statements in the interview.  It looks to me like Symington may have decided to get into the race before the General Election, but Hesslebrock's loss is a good example of why he's running. 

Here's Haney's Response

If you are following the District 11 election, you will want to check out Rob Haney's comment on the Symington interview.  I've coppied it here. 

Greg

There is no requirement in State, County, or District meetings to place a resolution on a pre-meeting Agenda. The fact is that resolutions are regularly introduce without prior notice. There absolutely was a quorum, but no one even asked about one until the following month's meeting. It is not the responsibility of PCs to blindly follow an arrogant politician who disses the Platform and the Constitution.

Greg, time for some "straight talk express". That was a pathetic interview you posted with Fife. When Fife stated that he was running because we lost a legislative seat, did it ever dawn on you that Fife
entered his name for Chairman on October 26. Hesselbrock didn't lose until Nov 7. Fife attending meetings? Not in Dist 11, nor in Dist 8. Nor have Fife's top two running mates attended any meetings. The 9 Republican PCs for Janet elected in Dist 11 are all directly linked
to McCain. Embarrass McCain? Hardly. Just trying to give voice to the grass root Republicans who are outraged over McCain's representation. I could go on indefinitely, but I know where you stand ever since you squelched the story on the scandle ridden Dist 20 election. Thomas, Schweikert, et al.
burried that one deep. This election is all about shutting down all opposition to McCain's presidential run. You know it,I know it,and so does everyone else. Say here's one Greg, why don't you look into who authorized the $10,000 donation from the Arizona Republican Party to the Groscost family. Doesn't pass the smell test with me, but looking into that one may offend some of your close associates, so better not.

Rob Haney

Also, hotazitgets has posted a letter in support of Symington's candidacy signed by Kyl, Shadegg, Flake, Renzi, Horne, Thomas, Tully, Pierce, Waring and Knaperek. 

While you are visiting hotazitgets, make sure to mark it as a favorite.  They do great work

Sunday Square Off

I'll be on Sunday Square Off with Kyrsten Sinema and Albero Gutier this Sunday at about 8:05 on channel 12. 

Fife's Running

In the 1990s I represented District 26 in the House of Representatives.  In 2000, most of District 26 was combined with pieces of Districts 18 and 24 to form a huge Republican swath from Central Phoenix through Paradise Valley and Arcadia to the Scottsdale boarder.  The whole amalgamation was rechristened District 11.

Republican have been  buzzing for the last couple of years over the events in District 11.  A few years back, a Conservative Republican named Rob Haney worked incredibly hard, recruited a ton of Precinct Committeemen and was elected District Chairman.  Unfortunately few folks realized that one of his big priorities was trying to embarrass John McCain.  He actually managed to get the District 11 Republican Party to vote to censure McCain. 

As my mom always said.  "That's all fun and games until someone loses an eye."  Well District 11 just lost an eye.  Representative John Allen was defeated by two Republicans in the Primary and one of those Republicans was defeated by a Democrat in the General Election.  For the first time in at least 30 years, District 11 is represented by a Democrat in the House.   

Someone needs to straighten things out and Fife Symington has announced that he is running for the District 11 Chairmanship.

Symington and I met for coffee at the Starbucks in the Scottsdale Seville to discuss his race. 

Espresso Pundit.  "You developed this shopping center, didn't you?"

Fife Symington:  "Yes and this one never failed.  It's a great project." 

He went on to enthusiastically explain zoning issues, drainage problems and the other details that it took to get the project built.   I asked about the District 11 race.

EP:  "You are a former Governor, why are you running to be Chairman of a Legislative District?"

FS:  "I'm a grass roots guy.  When I was Governor, we took Government on the road. I like to get out and meet people."

EP:  "Have you  been attending District 11 meetings?"

FS:  "No, I've just moved in from District 8.  I'm a legal immigrant.  I have a lot of connections with District 11.  My father in law John Pritzlaff represented the District and I lived in it for many years."

EP: "Why are you running?"

FS:  "I'm upset that we lost a legislative Seat.  Don Hesslebrock is the dead body in the room.  We need to retake that seat.   A District Chairman's duty is to hold the District together.  If the District Chairman just participates with his own agenda, it depresses the vote.  The Chairman has to keep the family together. 

EP: "What about the folks who are Republican Precinct Committeemen but worked on Janet Napolitano's Campaign?

FS:  "When you jump ship and back a liberal Democrat, there are consequences.  There's a price to be paid for that."  Symington added,  "Janet will lead us off the cliff.  But by then, she will be long gone."

We talked a bit about the recent elections and the coverage then a question dawned on me.

EP:  "Do you subscribe to the Republic?"

FS:  "No, and my life is much happier."

EP:  "Where do you get your news?"

FS:  "I read Espresso Pundit and I have a vast email network.   I read the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times and the Weekly Standard, and occasionally, I read the New York Times."

EP: "Any closing thoughts?"

FS:  "I'm still young enough.  I've still got life and energy in me and the whole District 11 could benefit from my experience."

EP:  Thanks for meeting with me.

FS:  Thank you Greg.

Bee Announces Committee Chairs

Here's the list of all the Senate Chairs.

Download chairmen.doc

Power Behind the Throne

Alan Stephens, the Governor's Chief of Staff, was featured prominently in the now infamous Tribune article.  Stephens has always had reputation as a man not to be trifled with, a man who moved political pieces around like Bobby Fisher.  Sometimes the reputation was deserved and sometimes it wasn't.  I played a role in one of the times that it wasn't.

I first met Stephens in 1990 when I was running for the House of Representatives.  I didn't know a thing about politics so I called the Republican Party and asked what district I lived in and what I needed to do to get elected.  They told me that I had to go to the Secretary of State's office and get a "signature packet." 

As I was leaving the Secretary of State's office a man on the elevator saw my Legislative packet and introduced himself as Alan Stephens.   He told me that he was the Senate minority leader and asked me if I was running for office.  He was the first Legislator I had ever met and, naturally, I was quite impressed.  I told him that I was a Republican and that I planned to run against the two incumbents in District 26.  He responded that one of those incumbents was the House Majority Leader.

Stephens asked how much I was planning to spend and I told him that my wife and I had saved $1,000 as a down payment on a house but that I was going to use the money to get elected.  He patiently informed me that a credible race for contested House seat would cost about $60,000.  That was a pretty sobering elevator ride. 

Later, I went to the District 26 meeting to introduce myself and someone asked me how much I thought it would take to run a campaign.  I said "Alan Stephens told me that it will cost about $60,000 to run a credible race."

Boom.

Little did I know that folks in the district thought I was part of Alan Stephens' brilliant plan to take out the House Majority Leader.  Folks were stunned at his audacity.

Meanwhile, I spent $119 on palm cards, borrowed a walking list for the district, and walked door-to-door for six months.  I spent the rest of the money on yard signs.  I received a couple checks in late August and I used them to buy 2x8 signs.  The signs took so long to assemble and install that I was still putting some up on election day.  I won by 250 votes. 

It's possible that even today, there are a few folks in the district who wonder if Alan Stephens got me elected.