Arizona will be destroyed for years to come if Janet Napolitano leaves .

[saracat]

As a result of poor decisions by our state party, who were awash in money this last cycle, we lost almost every local office and our legislature and state senate are now controlled by worse right wing nuts than ever. We completely undid all the progress of the last ten years. We have the lunatic Sheriff Joe Arapio and the lunatic Andrew Thomas( his better half as County Attorney) remaining on their jobs removing human rights in Maricopa County, which is the third larges county in the US BTW,and Janet would be replaced by our arch RW SOS, Jan Brewer so we wouldn't even have Janet's veto pen to protect us.

After successfully defeating a Prop 8 like Bill in 2006, we passed similar one this cycle altering the AZ Constitution to makes sure gay folks can't marry!

Sure , take Janet and stick a fork in us, we are done. No I don't want Janet to be Sec of Homeland Security, and BTW, if you didn't already know, she is a leader of the DLC.So maybe that might give some cheerleaders of her appointment some pause.

[Thrill]

1. Isn't her term almost up anyway?

[saracat]

3. Her term will be up in 2010. You have no idea how much damage could be done in that time.

They would outlaw abortion, and have already tried. They have just now prevented gay marriage. They would take away early childhood education and they would destroy tyhe educational syatem, which they have already put a dent in.We are now 49th in the nation.And what they would do to the enviornment is just scary. We already have arsenic in the drinking water and Janet had to go to DC to plead that Bush not allow uranium in our drinking water. The rest of our leg think this is AOK!

[Thrill]

9. Well I have read she has racked up record number of vetos trying to stop the repukes

But no one can fault her for taking such an important cabinet position. She may want to run for President one day or Senator. This is a great opportunity for her

[saracat]

11. Really? So her career is more important than our state?

[Thrill]

12. No but her country is. And she is leaving to serve the entire country

actually protect the entire country

[saracat]

13. I guess promises mean nothing as loyalty is overated. What about those

of us left behind that can't afford to move? What do we get out of this? Exactly how do Arizonans benefit?

[ccharles000]

2. Sheriff Joe Arpaio joins reality TV

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96554

Fox television is considering a comedic reality cop show whose pilot episode starred the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The premise of the show, tentatively titled “Smile! You’re Under Arrest,” is to lure fugitives to an unexpected arrest with bogus promises of prizes and riches, according to Scott Grogin, vice president of corporate communications for Fox.

“At this point it’s only a pilot,” Grogin said, meaning Fox has agreed to review the episode that was shot with the sheriff’s office to decide whether to pick it up as a series.

Fox airs the popular “Cops,” which has run on Saturday evenings for years.

Contacted last week and Tuesday, Arpaio and spokeswoman Lisa Allen MacPherson declined to comment on whether a Gilbert spa was used for filming a reality show involving the sheriff’s office Aug. 26.

MacPherson would only say that there are confidentiality agreements in place.

Dori Mead, owner of Xs Salon and Spa, 2730 S. Val Vista Drive, confirmed the spa was rented out Aug. 26 and there were undercover detectives present, but she declined further comment.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

30. Wow! That's really "life imitating art"

I think that they actually did something like that on a Simpsons (ironically owned by Fox) episode before.

[KamaAina]

64. Better title for the show: "Entrapment"

:wtf:

[CreekDog]

4. why is DLC relevant to homeland security?

DLC is mainly distinguished from mainline Dems because of economic and free trade policies. So I don't see what the big deal is. Besides, she's done in 2010 anyway.

Ps-you supported Edwards, not much different than Napolitano on policy until his 08 pres. Run and then you supported DLC Hillary. Do you keep up with your own opinions? I think you simply need something to complain about --that's the only consistency I see in your opinions.

[saracat]

6. I actually don't care about the DLC, but it is despised so much on DU

I just thought I would throw it in as icing on the cake of the argument against her leaving and if you think anyone could live in AZ under this current regime without Janet, you have no idea what the new reps are like. It is our worst nightmare come true.

[scheming daemons]

5. So the overall wel-being of the nation matters less than the well-being of one state.....

...got it.

:eyes:

I'm glad Gov. Napolitano isn't as selfish and myopic.

[saracat]

8. So the welfare of an entire state means NOTHING? And the people of Arizona are easily sacrificed?

There are lots of folks who could work for Homeland Security.We can have only one governor. Janet is one of the only Governor's whose departure would permanetly cripple a state. it isn't as though we have a Democratic Lt. Governor to succeed her. I don't think I'm the one expressing a myopic or selfish viewpoint.

[cali]

20. the people of your fair state voted in all the repukes

and voted for all the disgusting things you rightfully bemoan. take it up with your fellow sucky arizonans. and just move if it's so fucking oppressive. She's out in less than 2 years anyway.

[saracat]

23. So those of us who can't afford to move should just "suck it up" ?

When we could be given at least a measure of hope by Janet's veto pen?

[Phx_Dem]

49. ....

So those of us who can't afford to move should just "suck it up"? Yeah, pretty much. And, I include myself because I live here too although I have no desire to move.

We can argue about this until the cows come home, but Janet is not going to ask our opinion. SHe is going to accept the position when it's offered to her so you might as well prepare yourself now.

Have a glass of wine. It does the body good. :)

[saracat]

25. And the Democratic"people" of my fair state mostly didn't

vote at all or only voted Presidential because our State party didn't GOTV. So you believe we should all live in hell? Even though many other qualified candidates for HS are available? You obviously have NO idea the damage these folks can do. They support outlawing abortion, guns in schools, and the dismatlement of public education and ridding the state of any programs they view as entitlements. We had them onm the run and now they are prime for vengeance for our daring to oppose them.

And I would move in a heartbeat if I could afford it. What makes you think anyone can afford to move? Not that you give a damn but we can't afford to move as we had to take time off to work on a family election.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

27. It doesn't speak well of our State party. and please cease and desist with the personal attacks.

A little empathy toward some of us who worked our butts off in local elections and sacrificed our time health and money only to be screwed over might be in order. We have enough to deal with without your unrelenting snark. And as far as "evidence", when you know the numbers of your base and the numbers of Dems who voted and the over vote and undervote you can tell. I get daily udates from the County recorders office but they will not be mine to share for several days. You can look up basic numbers on the Maricopa County website.

[Phx_Dem]

48. Sadly, you are exactly right.

I'm an Arizonan who never ceases to be amazed and disgusted with my fellow, and competely assholish, Arizonans.

Janet isn't going to change who we are as a state all by herself, and how fucking selfish of us to try to stop her from moving on to bigger things. I can be selfish at times, but this level of selfishness is just not in my nature.

I'm am thrilled for her and for the country. She will be an awesome Secretary of Homeland Security.

[Neshanic]

36. Phoenician here, and I agree with you completely, but you know you are a traitor/troll/miscreant

to state as you did. There are NO options in selecting people, it's kinda like the draft. We will suffer horribly without her keeping the republicans in line. But that's OK, it's just us, a state with nobody in it, and besides we should not be living here either.

Hang in there....

[OwnedByFerrets]

22. Your argument would hold weight IF she were the only

qualified applicant. She isn't.

[Avalux]

7. You should try living in Texas. I don't mean to sound insensitive BUT -

Janet Napolitano would be excellent as head of DHS; she would use her talents for the entire country, not just one state.

[saracat]

10. I have friends in Texas. We are actually in a worse state then Texas is at the moment and Janet's

leaving would push us over the precipice.

[Uzybone]

32. Bullshit

Arizona is not worse than Texas. A democratic woman could never win governor in TX.

[slick8790]

41. Ummmmmm....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Richards

[Uzybone]

44. Texas has changed form the Ann Richards days

back then blue dog democrats actually voted for democrats. Now those blue dogs all vote republican.

[Neshanic]

37. Agree completely.

[madaboutharry]

14. I agree that Arizona has deteriorated into

a real jerkwater state. I lived there for a long time. Janet Napolitano was the only thing it had going for it. But people here are right. In two years she will be out of a job. Here she has the opportunity to serve the entire nation and come into her own in national politics. DLC or not, I think Janet Napolitano is great and the nation as a whole will be better off for having her serve it. And that includes AZ.

[liberalla]

15. I agree. I do't want her to leave AZ until 2010.

I hope President Obama will call on Janet Napolitano to serve in 2010, AFTER her term as Governor ends.

saracat - did you see this post? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7899812&mesg_id=7899812

[crispini]

16. Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear that.

Is your state party leadership up for election in the gubernatorial years? (ours are). If so, I'd suggest making plans now to dethrone them. Other than that, don't know what to say. Keep the faith. It's hard being a Democrat in a red state. You're doing a tough job and I have nothing but respect for you guys. :patriot:

[TheKentuckian]

17. I think its a tactical error as well. Or at least very potentially

Let's not pretend Napolitano is the only person for the job. If we pull her from the Arizona statehouse, odds are increased that the Republican that replaces her will ride the wave and lock up the statehouse. This isn't a myopic view or a selfish one. This is about putting long range strategy over a feel good moment. Put someone else in charge of Homeland Security or better yet disband that garbage and find something productive to the people for the talented Napolitano to do to.

[beachmom]

18. Isn't this not related to the fact the a local son was on the presidential ticket?

[saracat]

21. Very slightly. McCain is not popular. The National GOP even intervened

to fight pro McCain folks on the precinct level and have them replaced with more conservatives! Many local GOP folks said they would never vote for McCain. He only gets reelected because the Dems never mount a challenge. There isn't anyone else on the ballot!
We lost almost everything to the RW nuts,though we were slated to win and pickup seats in our State Senate and State legislature until we came up with our own version of Prop 8 called Prop 102. Despite such a measure having been defeated 2 years before, the measure drove the wingnuts to the polls in droves and we ended up undoing all the work of the past 10 years and actually losing seats in Dem strongholds. We retained the most horrible sherrif in America, who doesn't give a damn about human rights and his sidekick County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

We lost because we didn't even bother to fight 102. We just ignored it while we spent more money than we had ever had before on nothing.OTOH, the wingnuts brought in * million dollars in TV ads and got out the vote. AZ Dems both didn't vote at all or didn't vote down ballot.We cannot afford to lose Janet's veto pen. It is more imperative now than ever.

[Cleita]

19. I just heard someone staying that on the radio this morning.

That the person replacing her would be worse than Jean Schmidt.

[Catshrink]

24. That's right. Jan Brewer is an extreme wingnut.

who will take Arizona back 20 years.

[Neshanic]

38. She makes Jean look like the most compassionate, smartest person in the world.

[ClarkUSA]

28. It's her decision IF she is offered the post. She will weigh the risks and rewards.

I doubt her arm will be twisted as there are many who would be just as or more qualified - I can think of Richard Clarke off the top
of my head - to take the position. Whether she leaves now or in two years won't make much of a difference, IMO. What's going to
happen, will happen, sooner or later. You can't expect her to give up serving the nation in order to stave off the inevitable wingnut
tide for another two years, if that's her wish. Ultimately, that's the job of Arizona Democrats and the state party activists. I hope
she takes the job and then in two years she can challenge McCain for his Senate seat.

[saracat]

29. Actually, that isn't true. If she holds off. we can turn things around and she can clear the path

for Terry Goddard to be Governor. If you think two years won't make a difference with the arch wing nuts that got elected, you really don't know the situation.We will be set back 20 years. We invested a lot of time and certain folks invested millions to bring Arizona to the point it was at, including electing janet Governor. We had been poised to take back the legislature.Now it was all pissed away. And I can expect her to keep her promise. She said she would complete her term. But I guess loyalty doesn't mean much anymore. It isn't as though she is the only person who could do Homeland Security but she is the only one that stands between the RW nuts and complete chaos.

[ClarkUSA]

31. How can you "turn things around" in only two years against the rising deep red tide in AZ?

I doubt things can be turned around if her influence there hasn't done so already with the wind at Democrats' back this year.
And it's not a given that Terry Goddard can win the governorship in 2010 if the Gov. hangs around. Not at all.

Like I said, it'll be up to her. I'm sure she knows what's going on in AZ better than any of us but it's still her call. As for loyalty,
perhaps she might feel a great calling to serve her country under an Obama administration if she feels she can make more of a
difference there better than say, Richard Clarke, who has a prickly personal manner and no experience handling a huge
bureaucracy. HS is a mess and needs a good leader at the top who'll know where and how to effect bureaucratic change
and cut duplication of services and eliminate waste as well as corruption. It is also essential that the person who heads up
the biggest federal department gets along well with the new President and is a loyal supporter of his policies.

Arizona Democrats can't hang their hats on Napalitano to save their bacon from wingnut fire; they'd better start working their
butts off now for Terry Goddard in 2010. It sounds as if the State Democratic Party dropped the ball this past year.

[saracat]

34. Janet still welds a lot of influence and is the only Dem we have

who can beat McCain. Terry Goddard is actually even more popular than janet but even he would have trouble if we cede AZ to the GOP which we will be doing if Janet leaves.The State party was much more invested in the national political arena this time and forgot that "all politics" is local.

We need Janet more than the nation does. Others can do Homeland Security. No one else can weld a veto pen in Arizona.

I guess we shouldn't have been so loyal to Napolitano in 2006 if she doesn't have any obligation to us, if this is your opinion.

[ClarkUSA]

42. It's a thorny situation but there's only been rumors so far, so don't get too down.

I understand your concern. Hope it works out well but ultimately, it'll be up to your governor and Team O as to what's the best call.
If I've learned anything during this election year, it's that Team O sees the big picture better than anyone here at DU and I trust that.

[saracat]

43. You know, when your state and you personally are in immediate jeopardy, the "big picture" doesn't

count for so much anymore. It is what happens locally that will effect us.

[atimetocome]

66. so true. And understandable.

[AllentownJake]

33. Grassroots

The movement only survives if it is bottom up not top down.

Her prescence obviously didn't stop the bad things from happening. What makes you think her staying will reform the party from the top down?

[Phx_Dem]

35. Arizona won't be any more "destroyed" than

it has been with all the past wingnut Governors. Even though I will be sad to see her go, I'm thrilled at this great opportunity for her and think she'll do a superb job.

Napolitano only has two years left on her term. In the meantime, wingnut Jan Brewer will take over and, along with the Republican-controlled Congress, will do all kinds of wingnutty things. Unfortunately for us Arizonans, that is nothing new. But it might bite them in the ass in 2010 when the Governorship is up for re-election. Assuming, and I do, that Obama and the Dem-controlled Congress is doing a good job, Arizonans might look back fondly on Napolitano's term and vote in another Democratic Governor. At least that's my hope. Napolitano is very popular and she'll be missed by most Arizonans.

The way I look at it is, the entire country is more important than one single state. With her in charge of immigration and homeland security, we won't have to worry about her spying on us illegally or sitting around with her finger up her ass while an American city drowns. The country needs her. She will be our sacrifice to the "cause."

[saracat]

40. Jeez , Sorry if I don't want to make that kind of sacrifice.

Our lives are determined by those in local power, not those in DC and we are in deep doo do if Janet leaves. You say we won't have to worry about illegal spying on citizens? What about Sherrif Joes "list" of anyone that has ever even spoken to Mayor Gordon? And as for immigration, give me a break. It will simply get worse and worse and civil rights in AZ will be a thing of the past. And what about the enviornment? Do you expect to have good drinking water and air with the RW folks who have a zero rating on weviornemntal issues in charge? As for your single state theory, this country is made up of "single states" and the welfare of every state is effected by the welfare of each individual state.

And her "country" does NOT need her. it isn't as though no one else can do that job. There are lots of other candidates.

I certainly hope you are rich because life will soon be hell in AZ and the only way to escape will be with money. But hey, I am just "selfish , don't want to give up my civil rights and am furious that all our efforts of the last 10 years will be wiped out

[Phx_Dem]

47. I don't see why not. AZ is still a wingnut state, and

Janet, God bless her, has not changed that. It's not her fault -- we have a Republican majority in the legislature and they're assholes.

AZ just voted to ban same-sex marriage, and we voted to keep Sheriff Arpaio, who is a complete lunatic, for another term. This is our pattern. We are still a wing-nut state and Janet, alone, will not change that. It's kinda like a Democratic Governor trying to single-handledly reform Alabama. It ain't happening. Sure, she can veto bills but only for 2 more years - not your entire life. It's shitty to be so selfish and make a stink about keeping her for 2 fucking years when she can do some real good for the entire country.

Janet deserves the opportunity to serve her entire county, and her country needs her. We have to let her go.

:cry:

[blondeatlast]

50. It sucks to give her up but it's damn good for the country.

In the DHS position she can really address the border-crossing issue and who knows more about how the Feds should approach it than she?

We'll survive; we survived Eevan Mecham, for pity's sake!

[saracat]

52. Speaks one who has done little for the Dem down line in Az.

to the best of my knowledge. Can I ask , do you even care? And what exactly qualifies janet for this position, or does it matter?

[Phx_Dem]

55. sd

[saracat]

51. may i ask how long you have lived here? Jim Pederson put up his fortune to get Janet elected

and , thanks to him, we were well on our way to a Democratic majority, until our newly registered Dems didn't vote down ticket! And most others didn't vote at all because Obama was guaranteed to win. "Local" politics didn't matter, and now we are screwed. There are many of us who have worked for years only to be dumped on. We should have won and we would have but for Prop 102 which we never even attempted to answer.

[Phx_Dem]

56. First of all, whine much? Secondly, I am a second generation Arizonan.

Am I not entitled to am opinion if I haven't lived here long enough to suit you?

[saracat]

63. Certainly but apparently I am not. Never mind. it really doesn't matter.

[thatsrightimirish]

39. I'm sorry saracat

I love how the people not from Arizona are telling the author to get over it and that her term is up in 2010 anyway. I don't live there either but I would hate to lose my Democratic governor and having it be replaced with a wingnut governor and wingnut legislature. Have a little compassion people! Is there no one else qualified for this position in the entire country?

[blondeatlast]

45. We survived Fife Symington and Evan Mecham and the nation survived GWB

Our state party sucks by and large but is making progress by getting rid of some dead wood.

Brewer's a Katharine Harris like nutcase and we'll survive her until we can vote her simpering-ass self out.

[saracat]

46. Really? And what "dead wood would that be? We did sooo well this past cycle.

[davidpdx]

53. People have been bemoaning Dean's 50 state strategy

and the ability to compete in red states during the primary. This is exactly why we should be putting more resources into states like Arizona to get more D's elected. It's easy to pin the blame on Obama and say it's his fault, but it isn't his fault. He has every right to ask those he feels are best suited to do the job. The Arizona Democratic Party needs to get off the duff and find and recruit better candidates for state positions. The best analogy I can use is one of a football team and having a deep bench. If you have a pool of talented people who are up and coming in the party in the legislature and other state and local governments, then eventually it will pay off. Look at what is happening in my home state of Oregon.

[saracat]

54. Who is blaming Obama ? Not me. I blame our State Party!

[davidpdx]

59. I agree, the state party needs to be shook up

if they aren't doing their job. It's not something that can happen overnight though. If it is as bad as you say it is (and I am not directly familar with Arizona's situation) then it will take years to fix.

[stillcool]

57. you should call her up and tell her....

and while you're at it tell her off about her DLC involvement as well. I'm sure you're doing that already, as well as writing Letters to the Editor. Are Arizonans that bad that they can't be trusted to elect someone equally qualified to replace her? Ah well, I hope for your sake she turns it down.

[saracat]

61. Actually, I have told her, to her face.I don't think she is speaking to me anymore.

It is what it is.

[woolldog]

58. Why don't you just move then?

[ShadowLiberal]

60. Worst yet, a republican would become the new AZ governor

[backscatter712]

62. I don't suppose Obama could sic Holder on Arpaio, could he?

There's certainly enough evidence to make Arpaio spend a loooooooong time in his tent prison wearing pink underwear and eating green bologna...

[racaulk]

65. I was really hoping that she would make a run for McCain's seat in the Senate in 2010.

And whether or not McCain decides to run for reelection, I think she would have a decent shot at winning.