(The Arizona Republic) Endorsement: Hillary Clinton is the only choice to move America ahead

[Princess Turandot]

Source: The Arizona Republic

Since The Arizona Republic began publication in 1890, we have never endorsed a Democrat over a Republican for president. Never. This reflects a deep philosophical appreciation for conservative ideals and Republican principles.

This year is different.

The 2016 Republican candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified.

That’s why, for the first time in our history, The Arizona Republic will support a Democrat for president.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/09/27/hillary-clinton-endorsement/91198668/

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The Arizona Republic is the largest newspaper in the state, per Wikipedia.

Circulation (2012):
321,600 weekdays
347,134 Saturdays
538,579 Sundays

[Raster]

1. The 2016 Republican candidate is not conservative and he is not qualified.

That’s why, for the first time in our history, The Arizona Republic will support a Democrat for president.

Hell has just frozen over!

[ffr]

2. Rational thinking shines through.

[Grassy Knoll]

3. That's Gonna Leave A Mark...

[Astraea]

4. Just an aside; I wonder why they never endorsed a Democrat

The Republican party of 1890 is certainly not the Republican party of today.

[Grown2Hate]

5. Way to go, AZ! I'll be voting early for her. Hope this moves the needle in Maricopa County.

I see her winning Pima County, anyhow, so a strong showing in Phoenix MAY just push us blue!

[ailsagirl]

6. Has any (legitimate) newspaper endorsed drumpf?

[ailsagirl]

21. Found the answer: NOT ONE news medium has endorsed dumdum!!!!!

Zero
Zip
Nada



Saw this on Rachel tonight

[PSPS]

7. Trump will tweet that "Arizonans are just a bunch of losers just like McCain!!1!"

[ooky]

8. Has to be hard for Republicans to do that. Really appreciate their integrity

and hope to see more like them fall in line with this kind of thinking. The thoroughness and thoughtfulness of their endorsement is very powerful.

[canetoad]

9. Geez, it wasn't even a short and reluctant endorsement

Went into great detail.
Fabulous!

[brer cat]

10. Very lengthy and thoughtful endorsement.

I had to lol at this:

Trump responds to criticism with the petulance of verbal spit wads.

That’s beneath our national dignity.

When the president of the United States speaks, the world expects substance. Not a blistering tweet.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. This money quote -

Yet despite her flaws, Clinton is the superior choice. She does not casually say things that embolden our adversaries and frighten our allies. Her approach to governance is mature, confident and rational. That cannot be said of her opponent.

Clinton retains her composure under pressure. She’s tough. She doesn’t back down. Trump responds to criticism with the petulance of verbal spit wads. That’s beneath our national dignity.

When the president of the United States speaks, the world expects substance. Not a blistering tweet.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/09/27/hillary-clinton-endorsement/91198668/

"Verbal spit wad".

Apparently this paper leans towards the (old-style) "National Review"/W.F. Buckley elitist wing of the Republican party, although they have allowed the teabaggers to hijack their message.

[BunkieBandit]

13. An endorsement or a step back?

Meaning if said candidate was conservative, they would endorse said candidate.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Their party has gone so RW fascist

that it has become unrecognizable to the "original" establishment GOP. The editorial notes that Clinton is a "centrist", which suggests that they would rather have that than have an erratic lunatic (and his RW-extremist groupies) running the show.

I.e., it seems that they don't want their entire party to go down in flames so I expect they are re-grouping as a long-term strategy, to perhaps purge some of the "social wedge issues" part of their platform that garners the most vitriol in the political discourse (at least in public discussion), in order to go back to their usual "less government, less taxes, personal responsibility, free trade, pro-business, American exceptionalist" point of view, instead of the "Ban all Muslims!!11!!!! Embrace Russia and eliminate NATO!1!!!111! Build a wall and deport every immigrant (from the southern border countries)!!!1!!11

I know some have postulated that Pence was put in there in case Trump were to resign or was hauled off to jail, or whatever. But even his previous governance still embraced and focused on the teabagger wedge issues versus the core principles, which are better reflected in this newspaper's native GOP son Senator Jeff Flake -someone who has publicly and roundly condemned Trump. And at this point, I expect their focus is also on maintaining the legislative branch.

This was like the 4th GOP-embracing newspaper that has endorsed her (or neglected to endorse the GOP candidate) for the first time in decades (or ever) - joining the Dallas Morning News, New Hampshire Union Leader, & Cincinnati Enquirer.

[Paladin]

12. First the Dallas Morning News, now the Arizona Republic.

Trump's toxicity knows no bounds.

[joshcryer]

14. The video at the link is DEVASTATING to Trump. 126 years of endorsing Republicans.

Clinton is the true uniter.

[leftynyc]

15. I went to AZ State back in the 80s

My mouth literally dropped open when I heard about this.

[joeybee12]

17. it's long but we'll worth reading. knr

[Coventina]

18. This is going to cost them. They will lose subscribers, and the cosy relationship they currently

enjoy with local party elites.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. That's gonna leave a blister, and I can see the threats of violence already for the editorial board.

[former9thward]

20. I live in AZ and the Republic routinely endorses Democrats for state and local races.

I did not know they have never endorsed a Democrat at the presidential level but they are not a "Republican" paper by any measure.

[ailsagirl]

22. I just spoke to a customer representative from Arizona Republic

...and congratulated them for endorsing HRC. I said that I was sorry to hear some people were giving them a bad time (death threats, can you believe it?) but that I commended them for their courage in doing the right thing. The poor guy I spoke to perked up once he heard my message-- I can only imagine how hassled those poor reps must be.

[ailsagirl]

23. Threatening a newspaper (death threats!!) is plain, flat-out WACKO

If MY local newspaper decided to endorse cheato, I would probably complain but I would never, in a million years, make death threats. What kind of person would do that? That's clearly irrational (not to mention, illegal)-- that just cements my belief cheato's followers are, to say the least, NUTS