Pray for me. Pray for Arizona.

[jillan]

He took her. He took Janet Napolitano.
The only thing that kept Arizona from the wacko repukes that run this state.
She vetoed all their bullshit. Infact, she has one of the highest, if not the highest, records of the most vetoes.

She will be replaced by one of them. One of those extreme wackos.
Jan Brewer.

Arizona is so screwed.

I guess the time has come for me and my fellow 'zonies' to get involved, deeply involved, in state politics.

Keep the democrats of Arizona in your prayers please!


edit to ad this cartoon that was in the local paper last week:

[LostinVA]

1. Yeah, I have been thinking of that

That is a sucky side effect.

[roguevalley]

61. Could be worse. You could have had Sarah Palin. :) Hang in there.

They only get four years and she will be against a blue tide eventually.

[Uzybone]

2. You think she should have refused?

After all it was her choice.

[jillan]

5. No - of course not.

She was an excellent choice for Homeland Security.

I am just in mourning of losing her voice in our state.

[saracat]

18. Yes. It was cold calculating and political. We were used.

I asked her at a cocktail party in Sept not to leave us with Brewer and I saw it in her eyes that it was a "done" deal. I said " your going to do it aren't you" ? And she wouldn't answer. We are so screwed.

[Colobo]

23. She's an excellent choice for Homeland Security.

[Shakespeare]

24. Yes, how dare she accept an offer to serve our country!!

Spare me. :eyes:

I'm sorry you're losing her in Arizona, but she'll be great at homeland security, and I can't imagine ANYBODY turning down an offer to serve under Obama.

It's YOUR job, as a resident of Arizona, to get busy and elect more democrats.

[jillan]

27. Saracat has tried. She is very involved in Az politics.

We need more backing from the DNC or better leadership in this state.

We are getting closer to turning blue but definitely have more work to do.
This past election was a reminder of that.

[TuxedoKat]

33. So sorry Pirhana!

I didn't know you were in AZ. Yes, let us know how to help, who to donate to, etc.

[Shakespeare]

35. That's great. And if she is, then she should understand why the governor took that job.

And not see it as a personal betrayal.

Y'all definitely have your work cut out for you, and I admire all of you who are active in that work. :thumbsup:

[saracat]

37. Better leadership. That state party screwed the pooch. They had the money and the

momentum. They blew it.

[yardwork]

3. The Democrats in Indiana turned the state around. Let us know how to help.

[jillan]

10. I will take you up on that.

[prolesunited]

36. Umm, Indiana *re-elected* a Republican governor

just sayin'

[Alexander]

40. At the same time they gave their electoral votes to Obama.

just sayin'

[GrantDem]

70. And expanded the Democratic majority in the State House...

Just sayin'...

[TheDoorbellRang]

4. When does the governorship come up for election?

I know you're stuck with the whack job replacement right now, but how soon can you vote in a new governor?

[jillan]

6. 2010.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Unintended consequences. That is really scary.

[smoogatz]

8. Democrats in Wisconsin have take their state back, finally

after the Republicans ran it into the ground. It took several election cycles (first the governor, then the assembly, now finally the senate), but we can finally begin the work of cleaning up the Republican mess. Why can't Republicans govern? Oh, right--their ideology is completely divorced from reality.

[mvd]

9. I will keep you in my thoughts

I wish there was more I could say to console you.. think about McCain winning his home state by less than 10%, and how Obama will at least provide some check on their power with federal law.

[jillan]

13. Janet won re-election in 2006 by 15%.

I just hope we have someone strong enough to win in 2010.

[mvd]

21. Best of luck!

I remember how hopeless it seemed in PA when we had Santorum, Ridge, and Specter - but it turned around, as two of them are now out. With the third maybe coming.

[ben_meyers]

15. McCain is almost as hated by the wingers in Arizona

as Obama is, he's considered a liberal. Don't forget that Sheriff Joe won re-election by a comfortable margin and our anti-gay marriage amendment passed easily. Now we get Brewer and she has a 2 year lead on 2010.

[jillan]

25. I was shocked that Sheriff Joe won by as much as he did.

Even the Tribune tried to take him down.

The election was such a huge disappointment in Az.
The only thing that helped me sleep at nite was that Janet was in charge :(

Somehow, someway, we have got to make the DNC understand that we really need their help.
We were ignored in 2004 and 2008. At the same time we are getting closer to turning blue.
With a little help, we just may do it.

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. I'm very sorry to hear that

I love Arizona. It was encouraging to see the state slowly turning blue :(

[AndrewP]

12. I don't pray, but you have my best thoughts in dealing with those vile pigs

[vanderBeth]

14. Good Luck!

[riqster]

16. That truly sucks

IMNSHO, this is the only mistake I have seen PE Obama make so far. There were lots of other qualified people for the DC gig, but only Napolitano could keep Arizona fropm circling the drain.

[dbackjon]

17. I am pissed that she is abandoning us.

[jillan]

20. jon - we have got to hold Brewer's feet to the fire.

Are you in?

I am going to pay more attention to state politics than I have in the 36 years that I have lived here. I'm scared...I really am.

[dbackjon]

39. I am in as well

But I can't even get my Neaderthal Reps to return calls as it is. They are ignoring us.


We need to have a coup in the State Democratic Party Leadership as well.

[saracat]

41. Yes we do, but we have no candidates for state chair! Except the incumbant.

[jillan]

45. We have nobody - do we?

Seriously - who is going to run against Brewer in 2010?

What the hell happened? I cannot believe that *ahem* Jim Larson didn't win.
or Rae Waters or Hettsmansperger (my area).

The Az Dem party needs a good shaking up.
Now that things are looking pretty good in DC, I need to spend my spare time seeing what's going on in this state. I don't even know who is running the Az Dem party anymore.

[saracat]

47. Terry is going to run and is already gearing up. I thought Rae won?

She didn't win election night but pulled ahead later.Did she lose "again" ? Don Bivens, who was an "inside" connection was brought in to succeed David Waid who was the former Exec Director who was brought in to succeed Harry Mitchell when Harry first ran for congress against JD.And we have no one to run against Don Bivens.

[jillan]

56. Rae lost by 2 %.

http://www.azcentral.com/elections/

So I take it you don't have alot of respect for Bivens.
I obviously don't know anything about him.

We really need to get some strong Dems in this state. Look at when Pederson ran against Kyl. Pederson ran the worst campaign. What a shame. I loathe Kyl.

Meh - at least we picked up a couple seats in Congress.

I was really hoping Janet would run against McCain in 2010.

Do you think Obama or Biden have any clue how much stress they caused us?
That said - Janet will be a 'heckuva' lot better than Chertoff.

[amb123]

58. Actually Rae Waters did win her House race.

The official Canvass was released today:

State House - District 20 (top two get elected)
* John McComish (R) 39,820 34.8
* Rae Waters (D) 37,639 32.9
Jeff Dial (R) 36,964 32.3

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/General/Canvass2008GE.pdf

not close enough for a recount either.

[jillan]

59. omg - that is fantastic news!

I'll have to go over to that site.

[saracat]

63. One seat. Anne Kirkpatrick.The rest were incumbents

several of which had no real opposition.And Jim Pederson is the one who put the Arizona Democratic party on the map. Without him Janet would not have been elected and we would never have been noticed by the national party.

He is the fourth largest donor to any political party in American history. He gave almost 18 million dollars to the Democratic party to put us on the map.He might not have run the best campaign in the world and he may not be the worlds best politician but the Arizona Democratic party and the national party owes him big time.
At least he ran,and self funded himself in addition to the other money he contributed.

And Jim Pederson is a very nice man and a genuine human being.

And I think Obama /Biden "knows" how much stress they have caused as does Janet and none of them care. Janet , however, likely feels a bit bad but not enough to say "no" or ask that an inter-min Sec. be appointed.This was suggested by one of our Dem State Senators. It is impossible that they don't know.That is why I am angry.

[kiva]

19. Ouch! Sorry about that...n/t

[CrispyQ]

22. Great cartoon.

Sorry about Brewer. How was she selected?

I didn't pay attention to politics for many, many years. When I finally woke up, I realized our government had been infiltrated with wackos at every level. The thing about wackos is they don't believe in 'live & let live.' They want to force everyone to live the way they do. And while millions like myself paid no attention, they got their foot in the door & are taking a sledge hammer to everything good & fine about our country.

It will be work, but you can do it. It took a few elections, but we finally got that horrid Musgrave thing out of District 4. I've sent more money to her opponents than I have to dems running in my blue district.

[jillan]

26. Jan Brewer was Sec of State. It's sucksession. She was next in line.

:(

[cooolandrew]

28. To be fair leaving it all to Napolitano might of been a tiny bit unfair. But sounds a good plan to>

me.

[gauguin57]

29. I know you have some committed Democrats out there ...

... when I was in the Phoenix area last year on vacation, I came across a streetcorner protest (in downtown Tempe) against Bush and the war, and I picked up a sign and joined in -- I talked to so many great progressives that night. So I know there is an enthusiastic bunch there who'd love to turn things around.

Godspeed.

[AspenRose]

30. Hopefully some folks from surrounding blue states can help out

at a grassroots level (NM, NV, CO and maybe even CA)

I don't envy you at all. :-( :hug:

[grantcart]

31. Talking with an Arizona pollster earlier in the year they said that

the numbers clearly indicate that new arrivals will turn AZ into a 'leaning blue state' by 2010 and that had McCain not been on the ballot that Obama would have clearly won the state this year.

This could be the right motivation for Democrats to get organized and take power in AZ. The fact that the Republican Party has such a large 'looney wing' in Arizona means that it will be easier to divide and conquer.

[jillan]

34. I was thinking that too. It's kinda like Bush.

He made the Democratic Party stronger.

Hopefully this will have the same effect. The Dems have been fighting hard here.
There was so much hope before the election. The volunteer centers were packed.
But in the end, the wackos won re-election. We are getting closer. This could be the final kick in the behind to put us over the edge. Speaking for myself, I will be giving local politics my complete attention. Hopefully other Az dems will too.

This could be a blessing in disguise.

[saracat]

38. It had very little to do with Mccain and everything to do with the RW

coming out to vote against "gay marriage and prop 102 , while the finacially bloated Stae Party did little to oppose it. McCain alone would have caused the RW to stay home.

[TexasObserver]

32. Don't cry for me Ar-i-ZO-naaaaaa!

[Clio the Leo]

42. He didn't TAKE her ... he simply gave her a nicer chair ....

... with a better view.

[DesertRat]

43. I'm just sick about it

:(

[political_Dem]

44. I'm extremely saddened by this news.

I don't know how Mr. Obama could do this to Arizona. Surely, there are others who are just as qualified to take such a position? Gov. Napolitano needs to stay in Arizona so we can turn it blue.

Or else, Arizona will have a Sarah Palin situation. I mean, wasn't anyone thinking that far ahead when the suggestions for these positions came up?

[DevonRex]

46. Can you do a recall? Can you petition for a special election?

There has got to be something you can do. Keep us posted.

[jillan]

48. Rachel Maddow just offered her apologies to Arizona.

Thank you Rachel for noticing what happened to us.

[Zynx]

50. Maybe Arizona needs to see what the far right has to offer in order to reject it.

Arizona is a lost cause politically at the moment. Your state is full of reactionary conservatives. The only consolation is that you have a Democratic Congressional delegation.

[saracat]

51. Excuse me? We have already seen what the far right has had to offer

This isn't the first time they have controlled both houses and the governorship! We had made a lot of progress in the last decade and now it was all moved backward. We weren't a lost cause this cycle and we would have taken a majority of the leg if we weren't mismanaged.Statements like this really piss me off. I'll bet you didn't even know Arizona used to be a Democratic state! And we were on our way back until this cycle and now this appointment, if Janet is confirmed, will place us way behind the curve.

[Zynx]

66. I know political history very well. Arizona was considered by Harry Truman to be his best

shot in the West during the darkest days of the 1948 campaign. He ended up winning most of the West, but he felt he could always rely on Arizona. The fact is though that the state seems to want to experiment with the far right wing. I've seen a progression of crazy shit out of that state. I hope it reverses for your sake.

[onetwo]

49. Let me talk you down...

...Arizona governors are limited to two terms. For Napolitano, 2010 was it.

Yes, you'll have to deal with this Brewer lady for a bit, but your state didn't lose someone who wasn't already going to be lost in the near future.

[saracat]

52. You have no idea what these folks are like and the damage they will do in two years.

It isn't losing Janet that matter , it is when, and this is the worst possible time.

[SoCalDem]

65. One thing that may happen, is that with the housing crunch you (and we)

are experiencing, maybe some of those right wingers who speculated, might get foreclosed on, and start leaving.. Maybe the core group "left behind" will be progressives..:hug:

Just please... dump Mccain in '10... Is there ANYONE who can challenge him & win??

[jillan]

54. It's just that the person who will replace her is as bad as it gets.

The rw controls the state Senate and they are extreme. Ya know - the kind that think corporations rule the world and f*ck over the little people.
They even tried to pass a law to make it legal to carry guns in bars. Yeah - just what everyone wants - drunk, pissed off republicans with guns.

Janet vetoed all their shit. Brewer will sign it all into law.

[ribrepin]

53. Aw Pirhana

You were should a good soul supporting Joe Biden and they do this to you. I remember when you put a Biden button on your daughter's cut-out of Obama. :hug:

How long will this woman serve and how do chances look for a Democrat next election?

[jillan]

55. Hey you - it's good to see you :)

Who knew that when I put that Biden button on the life size cutout of Obama I was predicting the future :P Big Obama, little Biden.

About Brewer, she will be in office for a long two years. Hopefully we can get rid of her in 2010.

[ribrepin]

64. Yeah, who knew it would be Obama/Biden

I think was a dream ticket. I've watched Biden for years stick it to the Bushies on C-span. I don't spend much time on DU these days. There's a lot of negativity about cabinet picks and I just want to bask in the glow of getting rid of the little man (our president).

Husband's job is shaky after eight years of Republican rule and he may be laid off, but I am in my happy place right now.

Sorry about your governor...maybe the new one will prove to be as incompetent as Bush. That's an awful thought, but it seems to be the only way we can get rid of these right-wing republicans.

[NMDemDist2]

57. Jsn Brewer??

I'm so sorry.

she's a nut case of the highest variety

[jillan]

60. Yep - that's the one.

Be glad you got out of here when you did.

[Danger Mouse]

62. I'm so sorry. I hope you guys manage to turn it around, somehow.

You're one of my favorite Duer's. Just fyi.
Best of luck to all of you. :hug:

[LynneSin]

67. Wowza - looks like you got a Palin mini-me

:cry:

[demo dutch]

68. How terrible... Why is she leaving AZ behind if she know how bad it will be!

[jillan]

72. How could she refuse Obama? But at the same time,

I was really, really hoping she would run against McCain in 2010.

How can such a beautiful state have such f-ed up politics? :(

[PatSeg]

69. Saw the subject line and KNEW it was you!

The cartoon says it all, doesn't it? That really sucks.

[atimetocome]

71. LUV your comic in the OP. Sorry to hear that

your gov with go off to DC. Hope your thanksgiving day was grand.

[tbyg52]

73. I am so sorry. Best hopes and wishes. nt