DENNIS DURBAND

Pssst ... Conservatives Apparently Had a Bad Year
 

According to the Arizona Republic, conservatives have had a very lackluster year. They apparently haven't accomplished much, in the view of the state's largest liberal newspaper. When the Republic's Dec. 21 edition asked readers to vote for the "Arizonan of the Year," only two known conservatives were included in the list of 10 candidates. 

U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl and Cong. Jeff Flake made the list of candidates. There is no mention of Cong. Rick Renzi, one of the most productive members of Congress in 2003, no mention of congressmen Trent Franks, John Shadegg or J.D. Hayworth, one of the leading spokesmen for the Republican Party. Len Munsil, Arizona's leading cultural warrior, was not included. Nor were State Senate president Ken Bennett or Speaker of the House Jake Flake.

 

Among the others who are on list are:

 

Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University. Crow succeeded in getting $400 million of state money for research, and he also succeeded in getting thrown out of an angry Gov. Janet Napolitano's office during an argument with her highness.

 

Carol Kamin, who, according to the Republic, "is a driving force behind CPS reform," and "Helps governor successfully free up millions in Legislature." There is no generosity of Kamin's part; she's advocating the spending of your dollars. She is no friend of the taxpayer.

 

Sen. McCain, "Perhaps most powerful independent in country. His campaign finance reform law upheld by U.S. Supreme Court," the Republic claims. McCain will also go down as one of the leaders in the campaign against the First Amendment and freedom of speech, and the man whose recall effort was cancelled because of 9/11.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, "Democratic governor largely gets her way with GOP Legislature in budget negotiations. Pushes through major spending reforms on prisons and child protection services." The Republic did not state that Napolitano largely got her way with a court that is tucked in her back pocket, supporting her on highly unethical veto procedures. One of those judges was on her campaign team in 2002.

Sandra Day O'Connor, "U.S. Supreme Court justice and arguably most powerful woman in America. Was pivotal vote in landmark affirmative action and campaign finance reform rulings." Justice O'Connor is actually one of America's greatest traitors, not just because she has a liberal record, but because of her admitted dependence on international law at the expense of the U.S. Constitution.

Skip Rimsza, "Retiring mayor of Phoenix sets in motion major projects such as light rail and Civic Plaza that will reshape his city for years to come." Once again, it's easy to spend millions of other people's dollars, as Rimsza has done. Light rail is a guaranteed money loser, and the future of Phoenix is the 101 corridor, not downtown.

Elaine Scruggs, "Mayor of Glendale brings NHL Coyotes and NFL Cardinals to her city, turning the West Valley into a destination point and remaking geography of the Valley."
 

The late Lori Piestewa, "U.S. soldier gives her life in defense of her country in Iraq. Becomes symbol of service and sacrifice to Native Americans and all Arizonans." The governor politicized Piestewa for personal gain, circumventing protocol to name a mountain and a freeway after the fallen soldier from Tuba City.

 

The Republic gives readers an opportunity to vote for any of these individuals, or to write to them with another selection. I would highly recommend:

 

• State Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, House majority leader and one of the legislators who helped reign in the free-spending governor.

• Kathy McKee and Rusty Childress, leaders of the highly popular Protect Arizona Now ballot proposition. If they get enough signatures, PAN will be placed on the 2004 election ballot.

• State representatives Randy Graf and Russell Pearce, who have led the fight to secure Arizona's borders from the invasion that federal officials refuse to control.

• Len Munsil, the leading voice in Arizona for traditional values. His radio commentaries, church flyers and e-lerts inform thousands of Arizonans about radical agendas and mobilize people to get active in the culture war.

• Cong. Renzi. No one is working harder for their congressional district than Renzi. He has introduced several bills which have become law, in service to rural Arizona.

• Alan Sears, president of the Alliance Defense Fund, which has protected many an American from the abuses of constitutionally-challenged liberals. And protected Arizona's law on marriage from two homosexual men who tried to use the court to radically alter Arizona through social engineering.

• Tim Keller and Clint Bolick of the Institute for Justice, which exposed eminent domain abuse by the City of Mesa in winning the highly-publicized Randy Bailey court appeal.

• Emergency medical technicians, police officers, fire fighters, and service men and women defending liberty.

 

Plugged Out

 

While on the topic of the Arizona Republic, have you seen the paper's list of "Plugged In" columnists? Once again, balance is lacking. Former Gov. Fife Symington is one of the only conservative voices tolerated by the Republic. Among the columnists are liberals Gretchen Wolfe, Grant Woods, Ken Cheuvront, Randall Gnant, Craig Columbus, Joanie Flatt, RINO Tom Liddy, moderate Stan Barnes and Libertarian Darcy Olsen. I thought conservatives had a lot to say, but I must have been mistaken.

Dennis Durband is publisher and editor of The Arizona Conservative, and is also a freelance writer and webmaster. The longtime newspaper editor serves as media watchdog for The Arizona Conservative. He welcomes reader submissions about examples of liberal media bias among Arizona's media.

Dennis Durband's Archives:

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Our Liberal Brethren Find Religion

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Ten Big Conservative Victories in 2004

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Humanist Education, Your Tax Dollars and Instruction in Oral Sex

No, Sen. Allen; Informed Consent Not About Your Re-Election Chances

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Arizona Republic Nervous About Success of PAN

All Five Major Daily Papers in Arizona Support Illegal Aliens, Border Invasion