Pullen on the fall of ACORN

"One too many nuts have fallen from this tree," said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, as public outcry mounts for a transparent and accountable investigation into the activities of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN.)

Widely reported in the national news media, ACORN employees were recently filmed giving two individuals posing as a pimp and prostitute, illicit financial advice encouraging them to scam the Internal Revenue Service. This comes on the heals of nearly a dozen arrest warrants being issued in Miami for ACORN workers suspected of falsifying information on hundreds of voter registration cards last year, and States from coast to coast clamping down public funding to the corrupt organization.

"Over the years, we've all suspected that ACORN was involved in nefarious activities," said Chairman Pullen. "Now we can see exactly what they are up to, and it is as disturbing as it is appalling. ACORN officials would have you believe that the actions of a few employees are not representative of their organization, but a few poisoned apples makes me suspicious of the whole barrel. I suspect the more people look into the ACORN's activities, the more irregularities they will find. I think that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg."

"Ironically, they are appointing someone to oversee an internal investigation who already has a criminal record," the Chairman continued. "Henry Cisneros, who may be best known for being caught lying to the FBI prior to being named as Clinton's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will participate in the probe into ACORN's practices. I can think of no better person to advise ACORN on legal issues than someone who had a mistress convicted of bank fraud and obstruction of justice," he said. "This man also sat on the board of Countrywide Financial which was roundly criticized for their dubious mortgage practices which allowed borrowers to buy homes without down payments, income verification and who allowed monthly payments that didn't even cover the interest. This is the guy they want looking into their misdeeds? You couldn't make this up if you tried."

"More troubling is the media's coverage and President Obama response," said Chairman Pullen. "All but one of last Sunday's talk shows failed to address the issue, but when they did, the President brushed it off as if he was vaguely aware of the controversy. President Obama has evidently seems to be suffering from have short-term memory loss when it comes to his involvement with ACORN. He worked with ACORN for 20 years. He was a community organizer, Director of Project Vote in Chicago, and even served as their attorney. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised by this approach towards his involvement with ACORN. During the campaign he denied had been an ACORN trainer until the New York Times proved he was. We all know that the President has a soft spot in his heart for ACORN, but these recent revelations warrant a strong and immediate response from President Obama."

"Some Democrats like the New York Attorney General have launched full investigations and we need more to follow the lead of Republican Governors from Georgia, Louisiana and California who have already halted ACORN's funding. Even the nonpartisan Census Bureau has severed ties with the group. The question is, 'Who will be the last person left on this sinking ship'?"

PULLEN WRITES ON LATINO AND GOP VALUES.

The following was published in the September issue of "Latino Perspective" magazine.
my perspective on: Latinos and the Arizona Republican Party
A sharing of values
By Randy Pullen

Imagine a political organization that is truly built from the ground up. An organization that learns from its mistakes and gets better. A group of people who believe in self reliance and encourage an independent spirit. An organization that implements new and innovative strategies in public policy. An organization which believes that individual rights and responsibilities are the foundation of a free society. That political organization exists. And it is the Arizona Republican Party.

Last year’s Democrat tsunami taught Republicans around the country a valuable lesson. Americans will hold you accountable if you get off track. While other Republican states were unable to withstand a political tsunami of Democrat support, I am proud to say that Republicans in Arizona did remarkably well. In fact, we picked up seats in the state Legislature and scored wins at nearly every level of elective office. While we are proud of those achievements, we will not rest on our laurels.

Since being reelected as chairman of the AZGOP last January, the party has undergone a thoughtful and thorough review of our operations. We have identified areas of concern and have taken steps toward improving our political organization.

One of the areas in which we have rededicated ourselves is our outreach efforts into the Latino community. The Republican Party shares much in common with Latinos. We maintain strong bonds with family and we are strongly patriotic. We have great appreciation for our military troops and those who have fought for our freedom. Our commitment to protecting life and our religious traditions endure. We take pride in our ability to be productive citizens. As Ronald Reagan once said, a person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend not a foe. The Republican Party understands that we need to do a better job communicating the values we share, instead of letting others mistakenly define that relationship for us.

The AZGOP has added a new Coalitions Department to our organization to improve this effort. We are creating new materials promoting our intent and have incorporated new technologies to enhance our ability to communicate the Republican message of lower taxes and smaller government. With Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs and a new Web site, we will expand our effort to encourage participation and an ongoing dialog.

Improving our relationship with Latino voters is a top priority for the Arizona Republican Party. For too long, the Democratic party has taken the Latino vote for granted and pushed liberal, anti-family policies assuming that Latinos will vote Democrat regardless of how little they represent the Latino values. I think it might be time for that to change. For those frustrated with the leadership of the Democrat Party, I would suggest that they take a look at the Republican Party platform and discover how much we have in common.

Much has been made of declining voter enrollments for the Republican and Democrat parties. Across the nation, the Republican Party lost ground to the Democrats in voter registration throughout the 2008 election cycle.

Although Republicans still maintain the advantage in registration totals, there is still plenty of work to be done in order to prepare for the 2010 election cycle. We must work harder than ever to register voters, successfully communicate our message and recruit strong candidates that can win on Election Day.

The Latino community is a vital part of the Arizona Republican Party as we share a wide range of common interests. Working together, we can make a difference in Arizona’s future. A future which reflects our principles and values. A future that respects the right to self-determination and a level playing field on which to achieve it.

Randy Pullen is the Arizona Republican Party Chairman and Republican National Committee Treasurer.






This article appears in the September 2009 issue of Latino Perspectives Magazine.

GOP - Giffords Out of Touch with Voters

From the Arizona Republican Party

Friday, August 14, 2009
GABBY GIFFORDS UNRAVELS


As pressure mounts on members of congress to reveal how they will vote on health care reform, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords appears to be unraveling at the seams. In two incomprehensible yet telling events, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her staff have demonstrated their contempt towards the 8th congressional district by canceling events or accusing those concerned with the direction of healthcare reform of racism.

According to published reports, Gifford's staff recent accused community organizers of “manipulation and racism to spread their message.” In response, local citizens advocating against a government takeover of healthcare say “Giffords is lying” and they “have no intention of hurting her. And they're not racists.” If that wasn't enough, Congresswoman Giffords bagged an event in Sahuarita/Green Valley refusing access to their duly elected representative.

Augustus Shaw, 1st Vice Chair of the AZGOP and a founding member of the Coalition of Arizona African American Republicans said “Organizing a diverse group of Arizonans to make their opinions known about healthcare reform is not manipulative or racist, it’s the cornerstone of our American form of Democracy, a concept the staff of Rep. Giffords apparently no longer believes in.”

“Resorting to outlandish claims and name calling clearly shows Congresswoman Giffords is losing touch with her constituents and reality,” said Chairman Randy Pullen. “Her feeble attempt to blame her own voters for their frustration with a potential government takeover or healthcare is bordering on insane. All people want is an open and transparent process that takes their concerns into account. Canceling events, skipping out on advertised ‘Town Halls or limiting access where only a few can speak their mind is absurd. People want to hear what she has to say and have their own voices heard. It’s really that simple, and yet she doesn't seem to get it.”

Pullen Says Obama Presidency; Broken Promises, Rampant Spending, Chicago-style Politics

From Matt Roberts,
Arizona Republican Party

Broken promises, rampant government spending, and Chicago-style politics have marred the first 200 days of the Obama Presidency according to Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen. After examining the achievements of President Obama’s first six months in office, Chairman Pullen has concluded that the soaring rhetoric didn't produce the results Americans so sorely need during this time of economic turmoil.

As unemployment continues to rise and the President’s approval ratings decline, many are taking inventory of the progress made by the Obama Administration and have been disappointed with results. Nationwide polling from respected organizations like the Wall Street Journal, Gallup and CNN have shown President Obama’s polling numbers deteriorate the more Americans learn about him and his political agenda.

“President Obama campaigned on a platform of hope for a better tomorrow,” said Chairman Pullen. “If government spending was the answer to the problems Americans are experiencing right now he certainly has made his best effort to solve the crisis. But we know that burdening future generations with debt is as wrong as it is ineffective in dealing with the today’s economy. But the President seems to think otherwise.”

“During the Democrat President’s first 200 days, he has seemingly made it his mission to spend us into oblivion and Americans are beginning to see the President for what he is. Another big-government, big-spending liberal who thinks that all of our problems can be solved with government intervention,” the Chairman said.

“The President and his administration even found time to bully the state of Arizona and try to intimidate our Senators Kyl and McCain by threatening to withhold stimulus dollars,” the Chairman continued. “That type politics may work for Chicago community organizers, but it is offensive from the President of the United States.”

“I do have to say that President Obama was successful in one thing, motivating our grassroots and improving Republican fundraising,” said Pullen. “People are rightfully concerned with the spending spree that our Democrat President is leading us on. Many feel that under the President’s leadership our country is gotten seriously off track and they need to do something about it. Whether that be taking part in grassroots activism or contributing to our efforts to fight a plan to institute a government-run healthcare system.”

“So far Democrats have shown that they are part of the problem not the solution. The Republican Party will capitalize on that reality and show that the Party of ideas is alive and well in Arizona, and around the country,” the Chairman concluded.

JEFF VATH CLAIMS GHOST WROTE POST, NOT HIM

Politico Mafioso bloger Jeff Vath, who on Wednesday, May 20, published a long rant attacking Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, accusing him of creative accounting and insinuating racism, now claims he didn't write the post, Ghost did - unlike Vath, we can't make this stuff up.


Vath, a die-hard McCain supporter and operative, who is notorious for throwing dirt and running vicious smear campaigns against conservative Republicans, which are rarely supported by facts, found himself mentioned in the Capitol Times' Yellow Sheet, "Jeff Vath, an LD-6 Republican, put out a hit on Pullen today on Political Mafioso, accusing him of creative accounting with the state party's books to include illegal "earmarking and spending" to fund a TV ad."

On Friday, Vath responded to the Capitol Times' Yellow Sheet report with a post titled, "Hey Phil....Reading is Fundamental!!!" The title was followed by an attack on Phil Risk, "We are going to send the 'READING IS FUNDAMENTAL' Learn to Read Program to award winning AZ Capitol Times reporter PHIL RISKE since he seems to be have a 'reading comprehension' problem."

Vath then claims that he didn't write the post that was published in his blog, the Ghost wrote it.

Vath, or whomever is writing his blog said,
"The Ghost" is one of the 'premiere' Investigative Bloggers in Arizona. Everything posted in the article is backed up with links. I stand with "The Ghost" as I do all the Politico Mafioso Team! After nearly 4 years & 4,023 posts (including this one), our readers know I am NOT a writer. I started this Blog to protect my friends from the 'Evil Ones' that infest the local Republican Party. I enjoy finding funny photos to post rather than writing articles."

The words "Evil Ones," Vath referred to were hyper-linked to the "Gila Courier" and "Seeing Red Arizona," two well respected political blogs. Mr. Vath may enjoy posting funny photo's rather then writing articles, his "Ghost" however, seems to take great delight in destroying the good name of conservative Republicans, especially those who are not hard core McCain supporters or who support employer sanctions.

The American Conservative Republican, (ACR), would like to contact Mr. or Ms. Ghost for a comment, but his/her number seems to be unlisted.

Vath or Ghost or whoever wrote the post published in his blog, then claimed that he didn't post some funny photo's of the Arizona Republican Party Executive Director, Brett Mecum, having fun at a Halloween party, he just linked to them. All hair-splitting aside, the photo's were merely an oblique attempt to further smear the Arizona GOP chairman by attacking the party executive director.

A statement by Vath was then directed at the state party chairman, "If Mr. Pullen doesn't like what was posted, we will give him the opportunity to answer in his own words, ------- NO Editing or DELETING like some of the other blogs." The words NO and DELETING were hyper-linked to the Sonoran Alliance and Seeing Red blogs.

I would advise our party chairman not to reply to Vath's invitation, he asked me to write an endorsement once of Arizona House candidate Carl Seel during the primary. Vath didn't edit or delete what I wrote, he just posted it under a photo taken of me having some fun at a New Year's Eve party and under the title, "Far Right Wacko Racist McCain Hater Bob Haran Endorsed Con-Man Carl Seel." For the record, I'm not a racist or McCain hater, however, far right and wacko are open to interpretation.

After attacking; The Arizona Capitol Times, Phil Riske, The Gila Courier, Seeing Red Arizona, Randy Pullen, Brett Mecum, the Arizona Republican Party and, the Sonoran Alliance, Vath again attempts to smear me with the following,

"In a related story, we received a story from another Blogger by the name of BOB HARAN, who is also the 2nd Vice-Chairman of LD-6.
Haran, who we have profiled before, has made a career of bashing political folks who don't agree with him, including Congressman John Shadegg, who just 6 short months ago endorsed him for the 2nd Vice position. But Haran now wrote a 'scathing' article chastizing Shadegg called:

SHADEGG DECLARES WAR ON ARIZONA GOP
By Bob Haran, American Conservative Republican (great way to thank the Congressman Mr. Haran)"

The misspelling of the word "chastising" above is by Vath and his "Politico Mafioso" and not the ACR and the words "profiled before" are hyper-linked to a photo of Dustin Hoffman from the movie, "Rain Man," under the caption, "this is Bob Haran," the other photo is the aforementioned one taken of me during a New Years Eve party.

The scathing article "chastizing" Congressman John Shadegg that Vath mentioned can be easily accessed by going to the ACR archive for April 17, 2009, I stand by the accuracy of the article, it was written by me and not a "ghost writer."

It is true that Congressmen Shadegg endorsed me for Republican Second Vice Chairman of Legislative District 6, an endorsement however does not exempt any public official from criticism or restrain me from exercising my First Amendment Rights under the United States Constitution. Mr. Vath may disagree, but I believe my congressmen works for me and not the other way around.

Vath ends his post by giving me an award, (which I have displayed at the top of this page), "The First Annual Moran Award," for being the most popular student in the sixth grade.... for five straight years!

I'm deeply honored with receiving the award from "Politico Mafioso," I don't appreciate Vath "chastizing" me however for telling the truth on him and his ghost writer.

For the record, The American Conservative Republican believes in God and country, but we don't believe in Ghost.

For the good of the party,

Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican

McCain Hit Man Targets Pullen

Jeff Vath (the one in the picture with breasts), AKA "Fat Boy", has viciously attacked Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen in his blog, Political Mafioso.
In a multi-colored, garish post, the McCain sycophant, who has obviously overindulged in the McCain Kool-Aid, goes on a long rant against the Arizona GOP chairman with multi, unfounded accusations and lies.

Vath is a Republican Precinct Committeemen and die hard John McCain worshipper who counts among his friends two time loser for state chairman, Lisa James, and her husband, Wake Up Arizona Coalition member and employer sanctions opponent, Gordon James.

The Wake Up Arizona Coalition is a group that has taken the extreme vow to defeat any legislator or candidate who supports sanctions against employers who illegally hire undocumented workers. Randy Pullen is one of those who supports enforcement of our immigration laws, including employer sanctions.

He also counts among his Republican friends on Facebook, Arizona Corporation Commissioner and former campaign aid and staff member to Democrat Governor Janet Napolitano, Kris Mayes. In addition, the notorious Nathan Spruol, who was the director of a vicious character assassination campaign against Arizona Senator Russell Pearce, the author of Arizona's Employer Sanctions Law is a friend of Vath.

Also listed as a friend of Vath are professional illegal immigrant advocate and hater of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Daniel Ortega.

Vath also lists among his friends, Democratic-Socialist and self proclaimed bi-sexual, Arizona Representative Kyrstin Sinema, along with Democrats Terry Goddard and Paul Newman, (not the actor - the Arizona politician).

Obviously Jeff Vath is far from being a loyal Republican, in fact, becoming a RINO would be a step up for him.

I don't know where Vath gets his information, the word attribution seems to have no meaning to the overindulgent author of the McCain followers', Political Mafioso.

I don't know why, maybe it's because he's such a blind follower of McCain, but Vath has extreme hostility toward anyone who ever dared to disagree with Arizona's senior senator. It seems as thou Vath would prefer that everyone in the GOP act like sheep and blindly fellow, as he does.

Thankfully, Arizona Republicans are not followers and don't like Kola-Aid, they twice went against McCain and certain members of the GOP congressional delegation and defeated, Ms. James, and elected Randy Pullen as their state chairman.

Unfortunately for the Arizona Republican party, some members of the delegation are like children and when they don't get their way they throw a tantrum. McCain, and therefore his followers, didn't want Pullen and they didn't care what the grassroots of the party wanted, they wanted Pullen out and James in. They didn't get who they wanted as chairman and therefore went to war against the Arizona Republican Party.

This disrespect for the will of the majority of the Republican grassroots in Arizona by McCain and his gang has caused a great deal of friction between the Arizona Republican congressional delegation, with the exception of Trent Franks, and the Arizona Republican Party.

Congressman John Shadegg recently went so far as to first advise people not to get involved with the party because of what he described as poor leadership at the state and county level and then reversed himself and asked that people get involved to turn out the current leadership.

The disagreement between the grassroots, who Pullen represents, and the delegation is centered on the illegal immigration issue. A disconnect has developed between the grassroots of the party and those who have been in Washington too long. The grassroots of the party, and the majority of the people of Arizona, demanded that illegal immigration be controlled and the enforcement of all our immigration laws. Our Washington politicians came back and told us the solution to illegal immigration was a guest worker program and making those here illegally, legally here, but don't call it an amnesty, call it a path to citizenship.

They obviously were more concerned with providing cheap labor for their big dollar campaign contributors and pandering to the growing Hispanic vote, than defending American sovereignty. Our cheap, pandering, Washington politicians put party before country and politics before principle and instead of listening to the people, they told us that we were all racist for opposing illegal immigration.

Interestingly, McCain, members of the Arizona delegation, and many of the elected officials who supported Lisa James for state chairman had also received campaign contributions from members of the anti - employer sanctions group, the Wake Up Arizona Coalition.

Near the end of Vath's long rant against Pullen he writes, "The people of Arizona have lived through this long enough - now Pullen is attempting to bring his brand of the Wild West to D.C. and the RNC. The guy is a liability to the future of the Republican Party."

Randy Pullen is not a liability to the party, he represents the grassroots of the party, he represents the heart and soul of the GOP.

Pullen has worked for party unity from the day he was first elected by the party as their chairman. Pullen loyally supported John McCain, the GOP nominee for president, often being criticized by some in the conservative wing for doing so. In fact, since Pullen became state chairman, I can't remember him ever saying anything negative about McCain.

No, Pullen is not a liability to the future of the Republican Party, U.S. Senators who miss more then half of the votes in the senate may be a liability, overly ambitious Washington politicians who forget that they work for us and not the other way around may be a liability, Republican Members of Congress who attack the party leadership may be a liability, and overstuffed bloggers who viciously attack all who they disagree with may be a liability to the future of the Republican Party, but those that work for unity and represent the Republican grassroots will never be a liability to the future of our party.

For God and country,
Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican

PS, to those who might object to my reference to Mr. Vath's obesity, I don't care, he has no problem viciously ridiculing others, he does it all the time, he has done it to me, let him have a taste of his own medicine. Jeff Vath is a coward and undeserving of any respect.

Pullen Wants State Bar to Stop Partisan Game Playing

It's time for the Arizona State Bar to stop playing games

By Randy Pullen,
Chairman,
Arizona Republican Party.

We need fair and impartial jurists, and today I called upon the State Bar of Arizona to stop playing games with Arizona’s judicial selection system and submit a slate of nominees for the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments that actually have a chance of being confirmed by the state Senate. Constitutionally, the Governor is mandated to select one nominee from the list provided by the State Bar and forward the selection to the Senate for consideration. But the State Bar only forwarded one name to Governor Brewer for consideration, forcing the submission of an unacceptable nominee who stands little if any chance of being confirmed.

The people of Arizona expect more from their judicial selection system, and this cast of trial lawyers at the State Bar is making a mockery of the so-called merit selection and retention system. For years, the State Bar has promoted the names of the chosen, liberal few. They should be ashamed of themselves for failing in their constitutionally mandated duties.

According to the Arizona Nominating Commission, there are three judicial nominating commissions in Arizona -- the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments and the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments. Each commission has 16 members: 10 public members and 5 attorneys, plus the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court or a designated Supreme Court justice, who serves as a voting chairperson.

These Commission members are to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Public members may not be judges or practicing attorneys. Attorney members must have practiced law in Arizona for five years and are recommended to the Governor by the State Bar of Arizona.

When Governor Brewer received the selection for the commission, she immediately wrote a letter to the State Bar requesting additional nominees. We all know that the State Bar had a willing partner in pushing a radical, liberal judicial agenda with Governor Napolitano. With Governor Brewer now occupying the 9th Floor, a balanced and impartial court system will hopefully be in order. But I’m not going to hold my breath. As the State Bar did the same thing to former Governor Symington. It is difficult to take the State Bar seriously when they are so obviously partisan in their selections to the judicial nominating committee.

SHADEGG DECLARES WAR ON ARIZONA GOP

It seems that there will be an opening for a new Member of Congress from Arizona's Third Congressional District, currently represented by John Shadegg.

Based on recent remarks by Shadegg against the Arizona Republican Party and the Maricopa County Republican Committee and their respective chairmen, rumors of his retirement must be true.

According to a report in the GOPUSA NEWS, which has been confirmed, John Shadegg, first elected to Congress as a Republican in 1994, has declared war on the Arizona Republican Party and the choice Republican State Committeemen made to elect Randy Pullen as their state chairman and the Maricopa County Republican Committee because they elected Rob Haney as their chairman.

On Monday, April 13, Shadegg was the quest speaker at a meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition in Scottsdale, AZ.

According to GOPUSA NEWS, Shadegg talked about a wide range of issues that included encouraging other members of Congress not to interact with CAIR (the Council on American Islamic Relations) about which he distributed literature, the lack of commitment by many Republicans in Congress to freedom and free market principles, and the Republican Party in general.

Shadegg said that once Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, many were corrupted by their power as the majority. This led to excess government spending, increased use of earmarks, and more corruption. Shadegg further said that the real election calling for change was in 2006, when the Democrats were elected to the majority.

After distancing himself from the Republicans in Congress, Shadegg took questions from the audience.

The GOPUSA News article said that in response to a question about getting involved in political organizations, Rep. Shadegg encouraged conservatives to get involved in grassroots organizations such as the Republican Jewish Coalition, contact their elected officials, and talk to people about issues in order to present a conservative view.

Shadegg then said, again, according to GOPUSA, that getting involved in the Arizona Republican Party or the Maricopa County Republican Committee was a bad idea because they were being poorly led and were at the lowest level since Evan Mecham was governor. He also said the leaders of the Arizona state party and the Maricopa Committee used the illegal immigration issue to create conflicts in the Republican Party.

Obviously Shadegg does not consider attacking his fellow Republicans in Congress and the Arizona Republican Party and the state and county Republican Chairman as a cause of conflict within the Republican Party.

After saying that the Republican Party leaders should focus on having a big tent, he said he is definitely not supportive of people like Russell Pearce who wants to arrest and deport illegal immigrants on a huge scale.

In response to another question Shadegg back-peddled from his recommendation, not to get involved with the Arizona Republican Party and apologized for saying that and then said, people should get involved in the GOP to remove the elected state and county chairman.

It would appear that after 15 years in Washington, Shadegg no longer believes that the grassroots of the Republican party are competent enough to elect their own state and county chairman or to take a position on illegal immigration. Perhaps he wants us to just drink the Shadegg brand of Kool Aid and let McCain and the other Republican members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation appoint our officers and tell us what position to take on the issues. It seems that Shadegg believes a political party should be run like a corporation, with control coming from the top down instead of from the grassroots up.

If Congressmen John Shadegg dislikes the selection of Randy Pullen by the grassroots of the Arizona Republican Party as their state chairman and, the election of Rob Haney has their county chairman, perhaps Shadegg should do the honorable thing and leave the party he no longer supports.

Unfortunately for Shadegg, there are only two major political parties in America, the Democratic and Republican parties, and both are governed from the bottom up. Two parties controlled from the top down were the Fascist and the Communist, and both were failures, therefore, Shadegg can do and say what he wants, but we the Republican precinct and state committeemen, who represent the Republican voters, are the Republican Party and not the Republicans, INC.

Therefore, the Republicans of CD 3, will need a good conservative Republican candidate who has enough respect for the grassroots of the GOP to allow them to select their own leaders and to make their own decisions on the issues to represent them as the Republican candidate for Congress, to be selected by the people of CD 3 in 2010.

Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican

PULLEN, AZ DEMS WANT TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND

AZGOP NEWS

Wednesday, April 01, 2009
PULLEN: DEMOCRATS PROPOSAL RIDICULOUSLY SHORTSIGHTED

Phoenix, AZ – Faced with Arizona’s staggering state budget shortfall, the Arizona House Democrats’ plan is to spend more. “Apparently, Rep. Kirsten Sinema and Chad Campbell agree with President Obama’s plan to spend us out of our economic crisis,” said AZGOP Chairman Randy Pullen. “We have tried this before and it does not work.” Their plan calls for spending most of the stimulus money this year and next and raising taxes $700 million in order to pay for more state spending, while recklessly shifting responsibility for future budget deficits down the road.


“It seems that House Democrats would rather stick their head in the sand when it comes to dealing with our state’s financial crisis,” said Chairman Pullen. “The Democrats proposal is ridiculously shortsighted and would raise taxes on certain Arizonans, thereby creating a sense of class warfare. Governor Brewer is proposing a budget that reduces the size of government, reforms the budget process and reinvents the way we will move forward from the spending problems that have plagued us under our former Governor, Janet Napolitano.”

The House Democrat proposes $700 million in new or higher taxes, while failing to eliminate waste in our educational system and inefficient social programs.

“On its face, it appears that House Democrats are saying ‘Why fix today, what we can put off until tomorrow?’ Arizona Democrats believe that they can embrace President Obama’s plans to spend, spend, spend and have us all pay for it after they leave office,” Chairman Pullen said. “Fortunately for us, our state’s treasury cannot print money like the federal government to pay for their wasteful spending. We need real solutions and real results, and this plan fails on both counts,” Chairman Pullen said.

“With the Governor and Republican Leadership in the House and Senate working together to make responsible choices that meets the needs of Arizonans, I’m confident that we will continue to move forward to a stable economic climate. It is a shame that Democrats in the Arizona House don’t seem to get it.” Chairman Pullen concluded.

-30-

Arizona GOP has New Communications Director, Welcome Mr. Roberts

From the Arizona Republican Party


Tuesday, March 31, 2009
AZGOP Names Communications Director

Phoenix, AZ –Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen today announced that he has named Matthew Roberts Communications Director for the AZGOP.


“Matt’s experience with media and political communications will enhance our ability to promote the positive message of reducing taxes, reforming government and controlled state spending,” said Chairman Pullen. “I am pleased that our team continues to grow and look forward to laying the groundwork for successful state and local elections in 2010.”


“Matt comes to us with an extensive background in governmental and political communications which fits perfectly into our team,” said Brett Mecum, executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. “Matt has the ability to effectively communicate the thoughts and concerns of the AZGOP and develop a message that will resonate with voters around Arizona.


“It is an honor and privilege to join the team at the Arizona Republican Party,” said Roberts. “Chairman Pullen has put together a fantastic team to lead us through next year’s elections, and we will work hard to build upon the recent successful results that the Republican Party has enjoyed.”


Matt Roberts joins the AZGOP after a serving as Director of Communications for two members of the New York State Senate. He also worked as Resource Administrator for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, organizing voter outreach efforts and campaign communications for Republican members of the State Senate.


Mr. Roberts will be organizing the communications efforts of the Arizona Republican Party and promoting Chairman Pullen’s effort to build and expand upon the successful grassroots strategies that have delivered positive results for Republican officials around the state.


-30-

GOP Poll Finds Support for Tax

From the Arizona Republican Party.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Statewide Survey Shows Support for Balanced Budget Approach


Results show support for statewide sales tax as part of comprehensive plan
including cuts and use of stimulus funds.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Republican Party released results from a recent survey today showing strong public support for a temporary 1% statewide sales tax as part of a balanced budget approach.


The statewide survey conducted in partnership with Margaret C. Kenski, Ph.D. of Arizona Opinion and HighGround, Inc. was conducted over March 6 - 12, 2009, interviewing 607 high-efficacy, likely voters. When it came to taxes, here was the comprehensive question that was asked:


“I’d like to ask you how acceptable or unacceptable you find the following measures which would be considered in addition to spending cuts in order to preserve critical education and public health funding while the economy begins to recover. These taxes would be in the form of a constitutionally limited tax that would last for no more than three years and would automatically be eliminated without another public vote.


Let’s assume for the purposes of these questions that the Legislature and the Governor have already cut nearly $1 billion dollars in State spending by 2010, used all of the federal stimulus funds to balance the budget and still have a billion dollar per year budget deficit. All of the funds raised from these taxes would be dedicated towards maintaining 2010 spending levels for K-12 education, universities, community colleges, and health care for the poor. Each of the following measures would raise approximately a billion dollars per year.”


The results showed that 66.6% of the electorate supported a temporary 1% increase in the statewide sales tax to help bridge the gap to economic recovery, with nearly 40% considering it a very acceptable option.


39.7 % Very Acceptable

26.9% Somewhat Acceptable

9.1% Neutral

5.9% Somewhat Unacceptable

18.0% Very Unacceptable

.5% Unsure


The question gathered widespread support spanning party lines - Republicans found the sales tax 62.5% acceptable, Democrats 71.6% acceptable and Independents 64.6% acceptable.


“We were surprised by the level of support expressed by the electorate. It appears that Arizona voters would support a balanced approach in solving the budget crisis,” said Randy Pullen, Chairman of AZGOP. “Former Governor Napolitano and the Democrats in the legislature left us with a financial crisis on our hands. We all recognize Arizona government must learn to live within its means by reducing spending and reforming government. This Governor and Republican legislature have already made larger budget reductions and reforms than any previous governor and legislature. However, with continuing bad news on all fronts about declining tax revenues and the state having to borrow money next month to make payroll, the sooner the budget is balanced the better it will be for all Arizonans.


“We encourage the Governor and the Legislature to pursue any and all means necessary to right our current budget crisis and restore fiscal sanity to the state of Arizona,” concluded Pullen.


-30-

Pullen Blasts Democrats "Bill of Attainder."

From the Arizona Republican Party:

Wednesday, March 24, 2009

DEMOCRATS PROPOSE SHREDDING CONSTITUTION IN EFFORT TO SAVE FACE

Phoenix, AZ – Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, and treasurer of the Republican National Committee, was critical of the Democrats move to seize bonus money paid to AIG employees by legislating punitive tax code.

Pullen believes, as do many others, that passing legislation specifically targeting AIG executives would constitute a “bill of attainder” meaning that a group of people have been found guilty of a crime without having been given a fair trial by a court of law. Article I, section 9, clause 3 of the United States Constitution reads: “No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.”

“Using the power of their office to go after individual Americans who have upset them is frightening. It is AIG employees this week and maybe it will be Ford employees next month or maybe Google executives who have angered them about something else next year. This is no way to run a third world country let alone the United States of America.”

Congressional Democrats are in a frenzy to fix this glaring political error on their part. As has been reported, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), introduced language into the stimulus bill protecting these employee bonuses. Now Democrats want to tax them away in order to cover up the misdeeds of one of their own. “They are willing to trample the constitution and set a dangerous precedent for this country,” said Pullen.

While the Democrats may feel pious and exonerated by their actions, it is contrary to the very fabric on which our great republic was founded. Perhaps next time, the Democrats will do a better job of reading and reviewing, and understanding the ramifications of legislation they pass before it becomes law,” concluded Pullen.

Shadegg Hires Lisa James.

Since I've been bloging, this is the hardest post I have had to write about because it involves a long time friend and also a Member of Congress that I have to utmost respect for.

My source for this news comes from my good friend Sean Noble's blog, Noble Thinking, http://noblethinking.com/ , which reports that Lisa James has joined Shadegg's Phoenix office as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Lisa James ran for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party in 2007 and lost to Randy Pullen by only four votes. She ran again in 2009 for state chairman in a very contentious campaign which came down to Pullen representing the grassroots of the party and power coming from the bottom up and, James representing the establishment and country club Republicans and power coming from the top down with the party telling the grassroots what position to take on the such issues as immigration and employer sanctions. James again lost to Pullen in 2009 but by a much wider margin.

What concerned many GOP activist, including myself, was James connection with the Wake Up Arizona Coalition led by Mac Magruder, the owner of McDonald fast food franchises.

The Wake Up Arizona Coalition was formed in response to the passage in 2007 of Arizona's employer sanctions law against knowingly hiring undocumented workers, the Fair and Legal Employment Act. The coalition vowed to defeat any candidate or legislator who supports employer sanctions. Gordon James, the husband of Lisa James and owner of a public relations firm is a member of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition. Wake Up Arizona has been at the forefront of obstructing enforcement of the employer sanctions law in Arizona through legal challenges, all of which they lost. Since the law was suppose to go into effect in January 2008, no employers have yet been prosecuted for violating it.

In November 2008, Arizona voters soundly defeated a well financed initiative backed by the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, Prop. 202, which was designed to make the Fair and Legal Employment Act impossible to enforce.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen is a strong supporter of enforcement of our immigration laws, including the Fair and Legal Employment Act.

Both the Maricopa County Republican Committee and the Arizona Republican Party at their most recent meetings have overwhelmingly passed resolutions written and introduced by me that "firmly support sanctions against employers who knowingly hire unauthorized aliens and supports aggressive enforcement of the Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act."

It would seem that Shadegg has become out of touch with Arizona grassroots Republicans and doesn't understand the depth of feeling in the party over illegal immigration and the need to aggressively enforce sanctions against those employers who illegally hire illegal aliens. A unsecured border and the availability of jobs in America for illegal aliens is the greatest cause of the massive illegal immigration problem we face and Arizona taxpayers have been forced to pay for.

Hiring someone so closely connected as Lisa James is with the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, which has been very much at war with Arizona Republicans, is a slap in the face to grassroots Republicans.

Sean Noble and myself have been friends since we both helped John Shadegg win his GOP primary for Congress in 1994. Sean was Shadegg's campaign manager and I was considered Shadegg's top volunteer, I counted 76 4 x 8 signs I put up for Shadegg in that Campaign. Both Sean and me were very proud of the work we did and proud of Shadegg's performance in Congress. Every time there was a close vote in the U.S. House that went the right way, we felt we had something to do with it by getting Shadegg elected. With the exception of my service as a U.S. Marine, I have always considered having something to do with getting John Shadegg elected to Congress as one of my greatest contributions to my country.

Sean went to Washington with Shadegg and became his Chief of Staff. I was elected Chairman of my district, the old District 17, which is about the same area that is now District 9 and in 2000 I was the GOP nominee for the Arizona House in the old District 20, which was south Glendale and the Alhambra and Maryvale sections of Phoenix.

John Shadegg has been a good conservative Member of Congress and I'm still proud of having had a hand in getting him elected to his first term, however, the hiring of Lisa James is a big political mistake that will only hurt him with Arizona Republicans.

Sean Noble is a good man, good husband and father and a good friend. We have supported opposing candidates in the past but have always remained friends and I know we will not let politics get in the way of our friendship, however, on this issue we seem to be on opposite sides.

Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican





The members of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition are:

* Mac Magruder, owner of McDonald fast food franchises.

* Ray Arvizu, owner of Arvizu Advertising & Promotions.

* Tom Barnett, owns Good Egg and Eggery restaurants and Burger King franchises.

* Steve Chucri, of the Arizona Restaurant Association.

* Jim Click, a Tucson auto dealer.

*Jerry Colangelo, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks.

* Brian Day O'Connor, owner of a commercial real estate firm and a carwash, is the son of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

* Nicole Dreier, representing Burger King franchises.

* Barry Goldwater Jr. son of the former senator.

* Danny Hendon, owner of Danny's Family Car Washes.

* Steve Hilton, Chief executive, Meritage Homes.

* Gordon James, husband of Lisa James and owner of public relations firm.

* James LeVecke, owns Carl's Jr. franchises.

* Jeff Moorad, general manager, Arizona Diamondbacks.

* Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County supervisor and owner of El Portal restaurant.


Thankfully, people are wide awake to the Wake Up Arizona Coalition.

Pullen Responds to Norquist Opposition to AZ Tax Increase

Grover Norquest of Americans for Tax Reform sent an e-mail to Arizona legislators opposing Governor Jan Brewer's suggestion of a possible $1 billion tax Increase.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen published his response to Norquist's e-mail on his blog, "Pullen for the Party." http://azgop.typepad.com/

Here is the original e-mail to Arizona legislators from Norquest followed by Pullen's response.

Dear Legislator,

I am writing to strongly urge that you oppose Governor Jan Brewer’s plans for a $1 billion in annual tax increases on Arizona taxpayers.

One of the few things economists of all political stripes can agree on is that the last thing you want to do in a recession is raise taxes. Raising taxes in the current economic downturn will hurt Arizona families and encourage businesses to relocate across state lines, taking jobs with them.

According to the Center for Fiscal Accountability, Arizona taxpayers already spend 194 days – more than half the year – working just to pay for the cost of government. Furthermore, many Arizonans are already wondering how to cope if President Barack Obama’s budget – which contains over $1 trillion in tax hikes over the next 10 years – is passed into law. In this environment, Gov. Brewer’s proposed tax hikes will serve as the proverbial straw that breaks the state’s economic back. Irrespective of the form in which it passes, it will have an adverse and deleterious impact on the Arizona economy and taxpayers.

I urge you not to be fooled by claims this tax hike would be “temporary”. History has proven that ‘temporary’ tax hikes are about as prevalent in nature as unicorns. Point of fact, Arizonans that have land line phones are still paying the “temporary” tax hike put in place to fund the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Do not forget – Arizona does not have a budget shortfall – it has an overspending problem. According to the Goldwater Institute, the state’s general fund spending has grown at double the rate of population and inflation over the last five years – 66 percent compared to 33 percent. For the Arizona economy to recover and prosper, the size of government must be reigned in.

Families all over the Grand Canyon State are cutting back, making tough decisions, and prioritizing in order to live within reduced means. The state must do likewise.

Some elected officials view taxpayers, rather than tenured bureaucrats, union bosses and other spending interests, as their constituents. Americans for Tax Reform commends those elected officials who work for Arizona taxpayers rather than against them. Feel free to call on me or ATR’s state government affairs manager, Patrick Gleason (pgleason@atr.org) with any questions or concerns.


Onward,
Grover G. Norquist

This is Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen's response.

A Modest Response to Americans for Tax Reform

Friends,

Earlier today, Americans for Tax Reform sent an e-mail to Arizona legislators highly critical of Governor Brewer's budget plan. While I think Grover Norquist and his team are incredibly smart people whom I consider friends, their e-mail warranted a response:

I understand your perspective on Arizona not having a shortfall but an overspending problem. I agree. It has been that way since Governor Napolitano essentially took control of the budget process after the 2006 election. With a weak republican legislature, she had her way. Now with the worst recession since 1982, we are in dire straits. As I said at the meeting yesterday, If we had Tabor in place during the entire decade, we would still have overspent by $200 million in 2008, $1.5 billion in 2009, $2 billion in 2010 and $2 billion in 2011 and so on. It would slowly start to decline and later this decade (2015+) it would be back to balanced. My point is this is no longer just government overspending, this is a real structural deficit and tax revenues are in free fall.

Do the governor and legislature need to continue to cut spending? Absolutely, and they will. This governor has already cut more than any governor before her. Besides pay cuts for teachers and state employees, 1,300 employees have been laid off and 15,000 have taken furloughs, and more to come.

There have been suggestions that the state sell buildings. In case you have not noticed, now is not the best time to be selling real estate, especially in Arizona. OK, that will generate a billion dollars, it would help, but it will also cost $80 to $90 million a year to lease back the buildings, which adds to the structural deficit (if the building were sold in an up market, the annual cost would be $30 million a year less).

The Goldwater institute has some good ideas on additional cuts and they need to be included where possible. They don’t have a plan for balancing the budget. They also have some ideas which represent their libertarian agenda and are not politically mainstream.

Finally, I do appreciate your position and respect what ATR is trying to do – reduce the size of government. Government will be greatly downsized in Arizona and rolled back literally five years to at least the 2006 level. I wish we could do more if possible, but we do run up against the reality of elections. If we want to continue to govern, we need to remain the majority party. While I am not in a position quite yet to be able to evaluate that risk, I will be in the near future. This is as much art as it is science and a balancing act. I will trust my instincts as they have been more right than wrong.

In the past 50 days, we have seen truly what it means to be the party in the minority. My goal is not to replicate this in Arizona in 2010.

Your hard hitting attack with claims such as taxes never go away, and this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back are inflammatory and will not change the outcome of this debate in Arizona. If it ends up being a tax increase then Arizona taxpayers and tax credit receivers will have to give Arizona about 20% of their tax rebate from Obama. A real back breaker. If you are right, then the Ds will win in November because we will have destroyed Arizona’s economy and voters will throw us out and replace us with Ds and we will have more liberals gone wild in Arizona. I will retire and get to do a lot more fishing. You will be able to say I told you so. If you are wrong, we will have a stronger republican party, smaller government and a mandate to continue reforming government in Arizona. I will retire and get to do a lot more fishing. You will have learned a valuable lesson that will serve you well the rest of your professional life. I hope you will appreciate the gift.

Randy Pullen

Employer Sanctions Wins Again

What part of illegal don't these people understand?

The latest attempt by opponents of Arizona's employer sanction law, the Fair and Legal Employment Act, has been defeated, again. Hiring undocumented workers is illegal under federal law. The Arizona law allows the state to pull the license of any business that knowingly hires undocumented workers.

On Monday, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear a challenge to the constitutionally of the Arizona law. In September of 2008, the federal appeals court ruled in favor of upholding Arizona's employer sanctions law.

There has been strong opposition to the Arizona law since it was passed by the legislature and signed by former Governor Napolitano in 2007. The law took effect in January of 2008, legal challenges, however, by groups such as the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, have obstructed enforcement and no employers have been prosecuted for violating Arizona's employer sanctions law thus far.

In November, Arizona voters soundly defeated an initiative backed by the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, Prop. 202, which was designed to make Arizona's employer sanctions law impossible to enforce.

In 2007, the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, headed by McDonald's franchise owner, Mac Magruder, vowed to defeat any candidate or legislator who supports employer sanctions.

Lisa James, who is the wife of Wake Up Arizona Coalition member, Gordon C. James, ran for chairman of the Arizona Republican Party and lost to incumbent Randy Pullen in January 2009. Pullen supports employer sanctions and helped to defeat Prop. 202.

The members of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition are:

* Mac Magruder, owner of McDonald fast food franchises.

* Ray Arvizu, owner of Arvizu Advertising & Promotions.

* Tom Barnett, owns Good Egg and Eggery restaurants and Burger King franchises.

* Steve Chucri, of the Arizona Restaurant Association.

* Jim Click, a Tucson auto dealer.

*Jerry Colangelo, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks.

* Brian Day O'Connor, owner of a commercial real estate firm and a carwash, is the son of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

* Nicole Dreier, representing Burger King franchises.

* Barry Goldwater Jr. son of the former senator.

* Danny Hendon, owner of Danny's Family Car Washes.

* Steve Hilton, Chief executive, Meritage Homes.

* Gordon James, husband of Lisa James and owner of public relations firm.

* James LeVecke, owns Carl's Jr. franchises.

* Jeff Moorad, general manager, Arizona Diamondbacks.

* Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County supervisor and owner of El Portal restaurant.

Thankfully, people are wide awake to the Wake Up Arizona Coalition.

Brett Mecum Appointed GOP Executive Director.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen has appointed Brett Mecum as the state party executive director.

Mecum was hired in February 2007 as the Arizona GOP communications director and later was promoted to political director.

Pullen said, "Brett has proven time and again that he has the abilities and talents to do the job of executive director effectively." Mecum said he was honored by the trust and confidence that chairman Pullen has in him and pointed out that, "the Republican Party in Arizona is in a strong position to capitalize on its 2008 electoral victories." As Republicans were taking a beating in other states, the number of Republicans in the Arizona Legislature increased. Pullen says that Mecum has, "earned the confidence of party activists," and that, "he is the right person to help move the Republican Party forward through the 2010 election cycle."

The Arizona Conservative Republican applauds Chairman Pullen's choice of Brett Mecum as executive director. Mecum has never been just an employee of the Republican Party, he has always been active and energetic at whatever job he has held with the party and he has never taken a superior attitude toward long time Republican volunteer activists, we appreciate that and urge all Arizona Republicans to fully cooperate with Chairman Pullen and Mr. Mecum and make the Arizona Republican Party even stronger in 2010.

Congratulations to Brett Mecum.

Arizona Democratic Chair Resigns.

I'm out of here, that is pretty much is what newly elected Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Paul Eckerstrom told the party's state committee.

Taking a page from the Obama playbook, Arizona Democrats issued a news release late Friday that Eckerstrom, who was just elected two weeks ago, was stepping down as Arizona Democratic Chair.

Just one week ago, again late on a Friday, Democrats announced that Tom Daschle, Obama's choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, had an issue with some tax "errors," On Tuesday, Daschle withdrew his nomination as secretary of HHS over those tax "errors."

Eckerstrom, who lives and works in Tucson and is the former Pima County Democratic Chair, told the state committee that the logistical demands of the job were insurmountable. Two weeks ago, on the same day that Arizona Republicans voted to keep Randy Pullen as their chairman, Democrats decided it was time for change and elected Eckerstrom in an upset victory over their incumbent chairman, Don Bivens.

Conservatives, who dominate the GOP, try to conserve that which works and believe that change should come gradually and only when necessary. Liberals, who dominate the Democratic Party leadership, like to experiment with change for the sake of change and don't tend to look at the consequences of that change.

Sometimes change can be good if it is well thought out, or it could be disastrous if it is not. Two weeks ago, when Eckerstrom and the Arizona Democrats decided it was time for a change, didn't take into consider the fact that Tucson is over 120 miles from Phoenix, which might cause insurmountable logistical demands for a chairman who lives and works in Tucson when their headquarters is in Phoenix.

Harriet Young, the Arizona Democratic Party First Vice Chair, will act as interim party chair until Democrats select a new chairman. Young asked Eckerstrom to serve as the chair of the Democrats Advisory Committee on Strategic Planning to win back the governorship and the Legislature from the Republicans.

Having Eckerstrom in charge of strategic planning for the Democrats may cause the GOP to be overly confident about the 2010 election, which just might be the secret behind the Democrat's strategic plan.

The American Conservative Republican will be watching for more change from the Democrats late next Friday.

Gee, I Wish I Wrote This.

Sometimes we come across a post in another blog that is so good we say, "gee, I wish I wrote that" The ACR felt that the following post was so good that we asked permission of Sonoran Alliance http://sonoranalliance.com/ to reproduce it on American Conservative Republican, which SA kindly did.

By the Sonoran Alliance

Winners and LosersPosted by AZ Insider under Campaigns & Elections , Political Parties[22] Comments


With the GOP Convention finally behind us, its time to take a look at the day’s winners and losers. Before the comments sections asks why Lisa James isn’t listed on either list, we would suggest that it is far too early to judge that. Like almost every campaign, things got a bit rough and Pullen fans might rate her poorly for that. Then again, she handled the outcome with class and James fans (as well as nice Pullen fans) would rate her highly for that. Put those two diverse groups together and you really haven’t settled anything. We suggest that it is the next 12 months that will determine how she is to be rated. If she disappears from the Arizona Republican Party in general, she would be doing poorly. If she followed up on her campaign pledges to get involved, raise money and help the Party win in 2010, she would be doing very well. She didn’t have to win her race to keep most of her promises, and we’re hoping that she does just that. Now, on to the fun stuff.


LOSERS:

Kyl, Shadegg, Flake - If showing up is half the battle, then it was over before it began. On top of that, their candidate lost and staff members for one Congressman in particular were very active in the divisive nature of the race and the attacks on Pullen. How they imagine that will benefit their boss if and when he decides to run for higher office is a mystery. This is two conventions in a row that they have all ended up as a minority in their own party. When do you think the message will sink in?

Dean Martin - In some dramatic plays, the hero of the play is engaged in a fight with an enemy when the cowardly villain sneaks up behind him and stabs him with a long knife. Of course, the hero dies a lot in dramatic plays, so maybe that’s why Dean Martin thought it would work in real life. His speech shocked numerous conservatives who used to think well of him. We say used to, because this bridge was burned down by Martin’s flame-throwing attacks on Pullen. For whatever reason or reward, Martin agreed to take on the roll of attack dog, but came across as childish and petty. In terms Dean should understand, his investment was high-risk, low yield, and has cost him a very pretty penny.

Wake Up! Arizona - Okay, in fairness, it wasn’t just this weekend. These guys have blown millions and gotten their collective butts kicked since last year. The lobbyists, headliners, blogs, cheerleaders, and consultants associated with this effort find themselves wearing a Scarlet Letter within the Republican Party that may not go away for a long time, if ever.

Barry Goldwater Jr. - Want to hurt your reputation and damage your credibility? Spend a couple of days calling the Ron Paul State Committeemen to urge them to vote for Rudy Giuliani’s State Chairman. Sure, we’re quite sure they’ll fall for that, right Barry? From what the RPers were saying, it didn’t get James any votes, but it cost Goldwater more than a few.

Arizona Democrat Party - Janet’s gone, their state party is in disarray, and they’ve just elected a Pima County liberal whose first proclamation is that our taxes are too low.

Kevin DeMenna - The lobbyist bet big, at least with his mouth, against Pullen. After explaining the GOP wins in 2008 as a “blind squirrel tripping over an acorn now and again”, he has to deal with a Party Chairman who appears to be stocking up on acorns. Bad news Kevin, the squirrel can see, he’s hungry, and he’s looking for nuts. Got any?


WINNERS:

Randy Pullen - Okay, that was an easy one. He won his race, and with a U.S. Senate seat and a Governor’s race in 2010, the Congressional delegation cannot afford to pout or withhold support from the State Party anymore. Pullen’s margin was larger than many expected, and he already has the support of most of the County and LD leaders, as well as members of the Legislature. He is in a much stronger position than he was in 2008. And rumor has it that he is the front-runner for the post of RNC Treasurer, which will be a real boon to the Arizona GOP as well.

Trent Franks - He did not take sides in the contest, making him the only House member in the delegation to properly gauge the pulse of the conservative grassroots of the party. His speech was also given very high marks by those in attendance. Plus, these meetings are rare and feature State Committeemen from all over Arizona, and Trent was the only member of the entire delegation who cared enough to show up.

Jan Brewer - Great speech, and she is finally holding Napolitano responsible for the mess that was made over the last six years. The people of Arizona deserve the truth about that and the Arizona GOP will be stronger when people learn that it was our members who were fighting against Janet’s insane budgets.

Brett Mecum - He’s only thirty years old and he’s already the Executive Director of a red-state Republican Party. No, its not the first time its ever happened, but folks in both the Pullen and James camp seemed to have good things to say about this guy and if you can manage to pull that off, during a heated campaign? Well then, you must have some pretty good political skills.

Rob Haney - Up from the ashes, he lost in LD11 only to win higher office as County Chairman of the fourth largest county in the country. Then, his backed candidate won re-election as State Chairman. And the amnesty folks thought Haney was a problem to them before?

Rural GOP Counties - Pullen swept a number of rural counties, from Mohave in the North to Pinal and Cochise in the South. It is likely a result of their seeing Pullen quite a bit more over the last two years than their own Congressional delegation, so its fair to say that Pullen earned it. Still, they were the margin of victory for Pullen and he would be well served to remember that.

J.D. Hayworth - The worse Jeff Flake and his staff did, the better it was for whoever ends up in the primary for Arizona’s next U.S. Senate seat. We’re sure Flake & Company had their reasons for antagonizing the party’s conservative base, but we can’t figure out what it is. The end result is the same though. A louder call for a reliable, conservative alternative, who will listen to the Party. You hear us J.D.? We know you do.

The Arizona Republican Party - Of course, we couldn’t finish without stating the obvious. The theme over the weekend was “unity”, even if not all of the various players were acting that way. Still, the sense among the Committeemen was that unity would prevail when the contest was over and, judging from the numbers of people wearing James stickers that stayed around to wish Randy well, their sense might just be right. Add to that a new Republican governor and an Arizona Democrat Party in disarray, and things are very good indeed for the AZGOP.

Political Mercenary for Hire

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen was re-elected yesterday at the parties Statutory Meeting held at Camelback H.S. in Phoenix. The election was a repeat of 2007 but not as close. Pullen's opponent, political consultant Lisa James, lost by only four votes two years ago. The vote, as I recorded it when announced was Pullen 521, James 475, other final numbers are going around, up or down one or two points either way, but it was clear that Pullen won.

It wasn't just Randy Pullen that won yesterday, it was a great victory for the grassroots of the GOP, which Pullen clearly represented or maybe it would be more accurate to say that James clearly represented the special moneyed interest who hire lobbyist and consultants like her, in this particularly case, the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, which was formed to oppose enforcement of Arizona employer sanctions law against knowingly hiring undocumented workers, which James' husband, Gordon James, is a member.

There are many different characters and types in politics, one type is the mercenary. A mercenary is someone who serves merely for wages, they really have no loyalty except to themselves and the almighty dollar. Of course they would never call themselves mercenaries, they use titles such as lobbyist, political or public relations consultant, government affairs consultant and, some are even politicians, they work for who pays them. This is not to say that everyone with one of those titles is a mercenary, there are some very principled people in politics and some make a living as consultants and even as elected officials. As politics as become more and more like a business however, more and more of the participants are really just mercenaries.

Lisa James is a mercenary, she makes her living as a hired gun, she works for who pays her. If you go to the Arizona Secretary of State's web site, at http://www.azsos.gov/ and search campaign finance, contributors, and go as far back as the web site allows, 1998, you will find that Lisa James has never given a penny to the AZ GOP or any candidate, not in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, or 2008. She listed running the 2006 AZGOP Victory Program, for which she was paid $100, 000, as a qualification for her as state chairman, but still she wont contribute a single penny to any political candidate or party. Randy Pullen on the other hand has a long history of voluntary political work, for which he was never paid and, making political contributions.

There is another word that political mercenaries use to describe themselves, and that is as professionals and, those of us that are not in it for the money they refer to in a condescending manner as volunteers. Some of the people who are in it for the money I sometimes refer to as the hired help.

Yesterday the grassroots volunteers won and the Arizona GOP didn't slip into the hands of the mercenaries and those that pay them. The Arizona Republican Party still represents the average citizen and not the big money special interest and control of the Republican Party in Arizona is still from the bottom up under the leadership of principled people like Randy Pullen and not from the top down under the control of mercenaries like Lisa James.

Correction- see comments

Lisa James endorsed by Kyl

Senator Jon Kyl has endorsed public relations consultant Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.

Lisa James lost to Randy Pullen for chairman in 2007 by four votes.

In a press release issued by Gordon C. James Public Relations, Kyl is reported as issuing the following statement: "I support Lisa James for Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party because she will provide the leadership to increase Republican voter registration, raise funds, recruit candidates and execute a successful get out the vote effort."

ARIZONA CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN - Opinion

Jon Kyl's support can only help Lisa James, who has a paucity of significant endorsements, but it may further polarize a party already seriously divided over the issue of illegal immigration and sanctions against employers that illegally hire undocumented workers.

What is not being reported by the mainstream media is that Lisa James' husband, Gordon C. James, is a member of Mac Magruder's, Wake Up Arizona Coalition, which has backed legal action to block the Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act and who have vowed to defeat any candidate or legislator who supports sanctions employers that knowingly hire illegal aliens.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, who defeated Lisa James for Chairman in 2007, has long supported immigration enforcement and chaired the successful 2004 ballot initiative, Prop 200, which requires proof of citizenship before an individual may register to vote or apply for public benefits by the state of Arizona.

Pullen also help defeat the 2008 initiative backed by the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, Prop. 202, which would have gutted the Arizona employer sanctions law by making it impossible to enforce.

As state party chairman, Pullen helped make it the official policy of the Republican National Committee that America first secures it's border before pursuing other legislation related to immigration, such as guest worker schemes.

As a Republican president and the party have been experiencing the lowest approval ratings since Watergate, the Arizona GOP, under Pullen's leadership, has increased it's majorities in both the Arizona House and Senate and increased the number of elected Republican Precinct Committeemen statewide from 2,700 to over 3,000.

It's not Pullen's accomplishments as state chairman that matters to those opposed to him however, it's his support for immigration control and specifically his support for employer sanctions for knowingly hiring undocumented workers.

Randy Pullen has done a very good job as state party chairman under some of the worst conditions, including opposition from Arizona's Republican Congressional delegation. He is one of the best state chairman the Arizona GOP has had in a long time and he is popular with the grassroots of the party

Not only does Randy Pullen deserve re-election as state party chairman, he deserves re-election without opposition from our out of touch Congressional delegation, including Jon Kyl.

The Arizona Conservative Republican does not approve of Senator Kyl's decision to endorse Lisa James and further divide the Arizona Republican Party.

Let the greedy business people of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition know that the Arizona Republican party can't be bought with party donations and will not be pressured to support a wrong headed policy that puts profit before country and politics before principle and takes control of the party from the grassroots, keep our chairman as chairman, re-elect Randy Pullen.

Wake Up Arizona Coalition Members:
• Mac Magruder, owns McDonald’s franchises• Ray Arvizu, owns Arvizu Advertising & Promotions, a Hispanic marketing firm• Tom Barnett, owns Good Egg and Eggery restaurants and Burger King franchises• Steve Chucri, president, Arizona Restaurant Association• Jim Click, Tucson car dealer• Jerry Colangelo, former owner, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks• Brian Day O’Connor, owns a commercial real estate firm and a carwash; son of former U.S. Supreme Court justice• Nicole Dreier, representing Burger King franchises• Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former U.S. senator• Danny Hendon, owns Danny’s Family Car Washes• Steve Hilton, chief executive, Meritage Homes• GORDON JAMES, husband of LISA JAMES, owns public relations firm• James LeVecke, owns Carl’s Jr. franchises• Jeff Moorad, general manager, Arizona Diamondbacks• Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County supervisor, owner El Portal restaurant.