1. The House lobby. A lot of shite goes down in the House lobby but one thing captures my imagination more than any other. It's home base away from home for those wily Williams fluffers. And they're hot. We all think Mike is a genius. Some probably believe an evil genius but who can deny his success. Even though the term "fluffer" has a fairly pejorative meaning unless you're incredibly open minded, no one really holds their disdain for Mike against these lovely ladies, except maybe the hyper-competitive women who are lobbying for someone else, themselves, or who work at the Legislature as staff. But guys get it. They're just looking to look hot for an honest day's wage. And to find them doing that, and some other lookers, just look to the House lobby, the open-windowed palace of dreams.
2. Durants. Need I say more? No. Will I? Yes. Not only is the food here amazing and each drink perfectly mixed, but you can find some heaping portions of hot political ass here during session. At lunch, just look around at the neighboring tables. At night, the bar, if you can find a seat, is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with the Players. But one unmistakable component of being a top political hack is one's ability to buy/impress young "talent" that you otherwise would never get but thanks to their Machiavellian aspirations and your political capital, they're right next to you at the bar. For me to hit on.
3. Lux. This is where you'll find the alternative-lifestyled hot political ass. The sexy guys and gals who make this independent coffee shop their home base are younger, more fun, more open-minded, and basically just cooler than the tools who used to spend their after hours drinking beer at Nixon's... You know who you are, tools. Not to mention, their coffee is great, and there's plenty of non-politicos to keep you sane.
4. Anywhere Kristen Boilini goes... A couple of the authors of this little blog have a bit of a crush on Kristen.
5. The Roosevelt. The initial cool factor has worn off for many but it's still a great place to see some sexy poli-divas doing their thing while daintily noshing on one of those amazing cheese plates and sipping on one glass of wine. You know you're actually interesting or powerful enough that they have no choice when she orders a second glass. Let you heart be your guide. Watch out if she orders a beer. For me that's an instant sign of poor grooming or hyper-competitiveness... and it makes me sound like a misogynist. But I'm not. I just play a lot of Texas hold'em and evaluate the hell out of people.
8.04.2008
Looking for a real leader?
The Democratic Party is fresh out at the top. Sure Barack Obama is fresh and new and presents all kinds of images of real leadership but the Clinton folks were right when they said, "He's untested." So who represents the Democratic Party, Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? Howard Dean!?!
This is absolutely unacceptable. It's like both Parties have been taken over by the drooling, knuckle dragging, wactivists found in the extreme wings of their party. What the hell is going wrong in this country that we are so starved for leader that John "my friends" McCain't is actually a viable candidate for President of the United States.
Take a look around...the world is leaving us behind. While we search for an adequate leader China and India are growing their way into the future by investing in infrastructure like roads, higher education, and technology. China's technological capacity has doubled that of the United States and is leading them to virtual government built to serve a population that is rapidly growing and becoming more educated.
We don't condone the type of politics China practices as it continues an endless attack on our environment and its residents' civil rights. But, their government is led by individuals with a vision for a better future, one where China is the world's recognized dominating power, not the United States. Unbelievable? Take a look at the U.S. dollars' stature in the world's economy. Now look at China's dollar. Oops. Not quite as strong as we used to be.
While our economy is in the crapper at the moment and as we hemorrhage jobs and the middle class is evicted from their foreclosed homes the rest of the world is taking advantage...taking advantage of this world power's lack of leadership.
This is absolutely unacceptable. It's like both Parties have been taken over by the drooling, knuckle dragging, wactivists found in the extreme wings of their party. What the hell is going wrong in this country that we are so starved for leader that John "my friends" McCain't is actually a viable candidate for President of the United States.
Take a look around...the world is leaving us behind. While we search for an adequate leader China and India are growing their way into the future by investing in infrastructure like roads, higher education, and technology. China's technological capacity has doubled that of the United States and is leading them to virtual government built to serve a population that is rapidly growing and becoming more educated.
We don't condone the type of politics China practices as it continues an endless attack on our environment and its residents' civil rights. But, their government is led by individuals with a vision for a better future, one where China is the world's recognized dominating power, not the United States. Unbelievable? Take a look at the U.S. dollars' stature in the world's economy. Now look at China's dollar. Oops. Not quite as strong as we used to be.
While our economy is in the crapper at the moment and as we hemorrhage jobs and the middle class is evicted from their foreclosed homes the rest of the world is taking advantage...taking advantage of this world power's lack of leadership.
8.01.2008
Text Message Organizing
An old friend adds your number to their cellular address book after a recent professional interaction and you'll think nothing of it. Until, you receive a text message at 7:30 PM on a Thursday evening. It reads "Arpaio is sweeping in Maryvale, 15 detainees, 3325 W. Durango." Now you have to make a decision, do I go, is this a protest, YES.
So, reluctantly, you tell your family that you have to (almost as if required) go to a protest, head to your car and drive into the Maricopa County Sheriff''s Complex where you'll keep an eye on Joe.
As you pull into the Complex there is a press conference happening, the Sheriff is talking about the sweep. He moans into the microphones of every major news station in Phoenix, "These are illegal street vendors without a permit and we have reason to believe that they are getting their corn from illegal drop houses." Seriously!
There are two women wearing white knee length laboratory coats searching the street vendor's make-shift convenient stores for "Health code violations" and taking temperatures of jars of mayonnaise. All this is happening while Arpaio spews into the microphone about how he's making Arizona a safer place. Blatantly describing his racially motivated schemes to media and anyone else who will listen.
Other organizers begin to show, a city councilman and his staffer, real citizen activists all motivated to show-up by a text message.
Last night at least 15 men and women were detained by Sheriff Joe Arpaio for selling corn out of a shopping cart. Organizers counted more than 50 Sheriff's Deputies among other county officials on the site. All this happened for 15 men and women trying to make an honest living five blocks from one of the most active gang neighborhoods in Phoenix. Maybe we should re-evaluate our priorities.
All this with a simple text message from an unlikely re-acquaintance with an old friend who happened to put your cell phone number in their address book. The more organizing changes the more it stays the same.
So, reluctantly, you tell your family that you have to (almost as if required) go to a protest, head to your car and drive into the Maricopa County Sheriff''s Complex where you'll keep an eye on Joe.
As you pull into the Complex there is a press conference happening, the Sheriff is talking about the sweep. He moans into the microphones of every major news station in Phoenix, "These are illegal street vendors without a permit and we have reason to believe that they are getting their corn from illegal drop houses." Seriously!
There are two women wearing white knee length laboratory coats searching the street vendor's make-shift convenient stores for "Health code violations" and taking temperatures of jars of mayonnaise. All this is happening while Arpaio spews into the microphone about how he's making Arizona a safer place. Blatantly describing his racially motivated schemes to media and anyone else who will listen.
Other organizers begin to show, a city councilman and his staffer, real citizen activists all motivated to show-up by a text message.
Last night at least 15 men and women were detained by Sheriff Joe Arpaio for selling corn out of a shopping cart. Organizers counted more than 50 Sheriff's Deputies among other county officials on the site. All this happened for 15 men and women trying to make an honest living five blocks from one of the most active gang neighborhoods in Phoenix. Maybe we should re-evaluate our priorities.
All this with a simple text message from an unlikely re-acquaintance with an old friend who happened to put your cell phone number in their address book. The more organizing changes the more it stays the same.
7.31.2008
My kingdom for 230,047 valid petition signatures
Greg Patterson over at Espresso has been all over the TIME initiative’s possible signature shortfall. I mean who doesn’t love a little hubris now and then?
But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Many hacks believe a number of ballot measures may be lacking.
The list of possible flops includes Prop 100, No New Home Taxes and Prop 104, Arizona Civil Rights Initiative.
For the moment, it’s up to Jan Brewer and the 15 county recorders to determine who’s got the right stuff.
After that, expect a slew of lawsuits aiming to knock off low hanging fruit. I hear there’s at least one petition checking sweat shop going line by line.
Only time will tell which stay and which go.
But, the fun doesn’t stop there. Many hacks believe a number of ballot measures may be lacking.
The list of possible flops includes Prop 100, No New Home Taxes and Prop 104, Arizona Civil Rights Initiative.
For the moment, it’s up to Jan Brewer and the 15 county recorders to determine who’s got the right stuff.
After that, expect a slew of lawsuits aiming to knock off low hanging fruit. I hear there’s at least one petition checking sweat shop going line by line.
Only time will tell which stay and which go.
The Breakfast Meeting
This morning I went to a meeting to discuss Majority Rules (Prop 105) an initiative on the ballot this coming November. Our meeting was at Matt's Big Breakfast.
Matt's is probably the best breakfast in town with a full menu of delectable treats including Arizona's best griddlecakes. The location is small and almost always has a line out the door but during the week, if you're there early enough, there is usually seating available. If you have to wait, trust me, it's worth it.
Now that we've established that the meeting location was adequate and met the culinary needs of the meeting participants let's talk about Majority Rules. Prop 105 is intended to stifle the initiative process by requiring 50% + 1 of all registered voters to approve ballot initiatives that increase spending in any way. Think this through for a second, average turn-out for an Arizona election in a non-presidential year is around 62% causing a ballot initiative to gain 81% of the vote to make up for the 38% who stayed home. Here's the major flaw: There are more than 130,000 deceased voters still on the voter rolls in counties across the state. Majority Rules not only gives a voice to apathy but also to deceased voters.
That means ballot initiatives that increase state fees for an individual (i.e. licensing fees), creates a board or commission, or puts more money in Arizona's public schools would now be impossible to pass by the Arizona electorate.
This initiative literally gives full autonomy to the Arizona legislature to shape statutory and constitutional policy. I think most of us can agree that giving a legislature and a Governor, who has run the state into a $2.2 billion deficit, that kind of power is bad for Arizona's future.
Matt's is probably the best breakfast in town with a full menu of delectable treats including Arizona's best griddlecakes. The location is small and almost always has a line out the door but during the week, if you're there early enough, there is usually seating available. If you have to wait, trust me, it's worth it.
Now that we've established that the meeting location was adequate and met the culinary needs of the meeting participants let's talk about Majority Rules. Prop 105 is intended to stifle the initiative process by requiring 50% + 1 of all registered voters to approve ballot initiatives that increase spending in any way. Think this through for a second, average turn-out for an Arizona election in a non-presidential year is around 62% causing a ballot initiative to gain 81% of the vote to make up for the 38% who stayed home. Here's the major flaw: There are more than 130,000 deceased voters still on the voter rolls in counties across the state. Majority Rules not only gives a voice to apathy but also to deceased voters.
That means ballot initiatives that increase state fees for an individual (i.e. licensing fees), creates a board or commission, or puts more money in Arizona's public schools would now be impossible to pass by the Arizona electorate.
This initiative literally gives full autonomy to the Arizona legislature to shape statutory and constitutional policy. I think most of us can agree that giving a legislature and a Governor, who has run the state into a $2.2 billion deficit, that kind of power is bad for Arizona's future.
7.30.2008
Oh how I love thee, Scott Wyland and the Stone Temple Pilots
House bands are the staple of many a good lounge. As a political operator, I try to host many of my meetings in dark and formerly smokey places like the Chez Nous . Now there’s nothing wrong with Roscoe or Soul Power, but they aren’t my top choice for mood music. After last night’s show all I can think of is STP.
Here are 7 reasons to love STP in the form of a lame love poem. Enjoy.
Oh how I love thee, Scott Wyland and the Stone Temple Pilots
1) You, Scott, stumble on to stage in a three piece suit and cowboy hat and promptly fall and almost knock over the entire drum kit.
2) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, bang out with incredible force a set list that includes innumerable hits.
3) You, Scott, proceed to disrobe through the show.
4) You, Scott, throw nearly everything you get your hands on into the audience (e.g. clothing, bullhorn, towels, etc)
5) You, Scott, clearly ignore the advice of loved ones and medical practitioners and continue your heroin habit.
6) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, remind me of the limited happy days of my adolescence.
7) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, provide me with more than one song to populate my “getting’ luck play list.”
Here are 7 reasons to love STP in the form of a lame love poem. Enjoy.
Oh how I love thee, Scott Wyland and the Stone Temple Pilots
1) You, Scott, stumble on to stage in a three piece suit and cowboy hat and promptly fall and almost knock over the entire drum kit.
2) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, bang out with incredible force a set list that includes innumerable hits.
3) You, Scott, proceed to disrobe through the show.
4) You, Scott, throw nearly everything you get your hands on into the audience (e.g. clothing, bullhorn, towels, etc)
5) You, Scott, clearly ignore the advice of loved ones and medical practitioners and continue your heroin habit.
6) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, remind me of the limited happy days of my adolescence.
7) You, Scott and the Stone Temple Pilots, provide me with more than one song to populate my “getting’ luck play list.”
Time for a reality check...
Arizona's blogging community is getting larger by the day. There are dozens of blogs committed to talking about a wide variety of issues including politics and lifestyle. Here's the issue: none of the current blogs recognize that there is a clear community of political hacks who's career and lifestyle are slaves to the political environment of Arizona. This blog is intended to provide a forum for discussion, debate, and discourse for vital issues facing Arizona's political community. At the same time this blog will discuss many other topics related to the community such as fashion, music, art, and other culturally ambitious topics. Please join us daily for articles that will make you think about Arizona differently.
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