UNBELIEVABLE!
Arizona Republicans, are you listening?
Note in an earlier version of this column I mistakenly referred to the Maricopa County Recorder as the Controller. It has been corrected and I apologize for my error.
“Unbelievable.”
It’s the standard reaction from my friends and family to the insult vomit that’s flowed from the Mad King’s mouth for a decade (yes, he’s infected us that long!). Over the past six weeks, an unhinged Trump deployed his toxic bile nonstop in a futile effort to blunt the rise of Kamala Harris. He’s throttled up the MAGA sewage into a stinking torrent of “Unbelievable.”
Though, “Unbelievable” could also describe the Democratic party since 2020.
For four years Trump’s cult dominated news cycles with disinformation that scared the bejesus out of old White people, stole women’s reproductive healthcare, and delivered a punishing brand of “Christianity.” The Dem response was feeble, risk averse, and clueless to what inflation was doing to the working class and the optics of the southern border. Until a month ago, Dems actually thought babbling, Good Old Joe - he of the 38% approval rating - could defeat bloody eared Trump.
“Fight, Fight, Fight!” You could feel the landslide building.
“Unbelievable.”
Believe It! The Script Has Flipped!
Somehow, a month after dumping a loser ticket, the Dems have become MAGA-CRUSHERS!
This past week, a prepared, focused, energized, “we’re not going back” Democratic Party finally showed its fangs. Clearly, MAGA is feeling the pain.
A breathtaking cast of diverse players, the polar opposite of the RNC’s MAGA coronation and whatever Biden would have brought, delivered a bully-busting reality check to the Mad King and his cult. After the failure of the “when they go low, we go high” response to Trump’s lying, seditious, misogynistic, homophobic, dictator-like behavior, The Empire Struck Back.
Believe It!
Michelle Obama - “It’s his same old con. His same old con. Doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.”
Barack Obama - “Here’s a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he is afraid of losing to Kamala. There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.”
Nominee Kamala Harris – “Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails, and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States. Not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had: himself.”
Nominee Tim Walz – “Their Project 2025 will make things much, much harder for people who are just trying to live their lives. They spend a lot of time pretending they know nothing about this. But look, I coached high school football long enough to know, and trust me on this: When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re going to use it.”
Arizona, Were You Listening?
From the DNC stage, faces familiar to State 48’s Independents and trad Republicans had a message…
Mesa Mayor John Giles, a Republican and member of the LDS Church: “I have an urgent message for the majority of Americans who, like me, are in the political middle. John McCain’s Republican Party is gone, and you don’t owe a damn thing to what’s been left behind.”
Former Trump Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham: “He (Trump) has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth. He used to tell me, ‘It doesn’t matter what you say, Stephanie. Say it enough, and people will believe you.’”
Congressman, U.S. Senate nominee and former Marine Ruben Gallego: "But politicians like Donald Trump, they don't stand with us. They call patriots like Senator McCain losers. John McCain was an American hero. Show some respect."
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords: "Kamala can beat the gun lobby."
These Moments Should Bring AZ Change
“Arizonans will get to choose between allowing insurrectionists, white supremacists, and indicted fake electors to continue to control the Legislature, or Democratic candidates who are focused on lowering everyday costs for Arizonans, investing in public education, and restoring reproductive freedom.” - Governor Katie Hobbs
But before we get too giddy, remember, MAGA’s death grip on AZ remains strong. The polls may have elevated us to an in-play swing state. Governor Katie Hobbs may have doubled her efforts to flip QAnon West (AKA the Arizona Legislature). But, the July primary results are a reality check. Here’s why.
Next to the abortion rights initiative, there’s no more important local 2024 race than Maricopa County Controller. The Controller’s office runs elections in the Arizona’s most populous county. It’s been under attack nonstop from 2020 election deniers.
Republican Recorder Stephen Richter held off the chaos. He even sued 2022 MAGA gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake for defamation. In July, Richter was rewarded by being booted by MAGA state legislator Justin Heap of Mesa. Heap’s campaign centers on undermining the election system. Unless Democrat Tim Stringham wins in November, expect chaos and recounts and disenfranchisement by Heap.
While the Recorder operates the election mechanics, the Maricopa County Supervisors oversee the result. Supervisors Bill Gates and Clint Hickman, Republicans who defended democracy from 2020 election deniers, were chased out by threats and harassment. Now, MAGA ring kissers like former West Valley Congresswoman Debbie Lesko are poised to rule the Board. Not good.
Republican primary voters did make one positive decision, dumping Tucson area Senator Justine Wadsack after she tangled with a cop over a speeding ticket. But, they also kicked out Yavapai County’s Ken Bennett opting for bomb throwing Trumper Mark Finchem. Finchem’s buddy, seditionist Senator Wendy Rogers beat her primary opponent too. Together, they’ll be an infinite source of hate and CRAZY.
Then, there’s gutless former Republican governor Doug Ducey, allegedly the kind of traditional Republican John Giles was speaking to, with an endorsement of both Trump and Kari Lake. Ducey is as spineless as the overpriced ice cream he used to peddle, and exhibit A of the “unbelievable” Trump-abused Republicans who continue to support him.
Polls & Winnable Races Say One Thing…
…reality in Arizona is much starker. Even a Trump loss probably won’t change State 48.
Why?
AZ’s White Supremacy politics are older than MAGA and much deeper. Some political scientists believe MAGA started here nearly 70 years ago with Barry Goldwater. AZ’s extremism mirror the southern segregationists who kept the Confederacy alive 100 years after Appomattox.
Until 2016, voters elected Joe Arpaio six times. His former Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, a race baiter and rights crusher, could reclaim the Maricopa Sheriff’s office in November.
Arizona’s Hitler Youth, masquerading as Turning Point USA, delivered 20,000 cultists to Trump’s rally in Glendale Friday. Turning Point is a relentless source of disinformation and hate in the state.
Plus, there are MAGA groups threatening intimidation at ballot drop boxes. On the ground in State 48, MAGA still holds sway.
So, Instead of Calling it “Unbelievable”….
…I’d tag traditional Arizona Republicans as “shameful,” for not realizing the ease of this choice. It’s crazy vs. normal. But, as we’ve all heard a zillion times, you can’t spell crazy without AZ.
So, Right leaning Independents and Trad Republicans, let’s try this again:
Who makes you feel safer inside the daily shit storm that’s business-as-usual in the White House?
Is it the incoherent mobster whose “good day” prioritizes demeaning his fellow Americans and rigging the system to reward himself? Do you feel safer with a convicted felon handling the nuclear codes? Do you feel safer with an unstable narcissist who shows off stolen national security documents?
Who gives you more confidence when the Red Phone rings and Putin or Xi Jinping is on the line?
Is it someone who is both highly intelligent and lives the values of equity and hope? Is it someone who made honorable public service her goal? Is it someone with a record of protecting people from predators and scam artists?
I never bought the Oprah craze, but she’s spot on. “Values and character matter most of all.”
If, simply because there’s a “D” on your ballot next to Kamala Harris, you choose the mobster in November, than that’s truly…
Unbelievable.