Although it’s hard to believe, there is more to life than politics. I had to get out of the sandbox for a couple of days and when I returned discovered a veritable sandstorm.
Giffords’s ‘Quorum Queen’ ad blew up a whirlwind of commentary. Patty’s defenders fired off the ol’ “Liar, Liar Pants On Fire” attack and the Giffords campaign responded with an explanation from democratic legislative leaders saying that she had, indeed, accomplished exactly what the ad claimed. link
In continuing developments
## A new Giffords ad is running now, you can see it on TV as well as on her web site. link
## Patty’s ads are posted on her website, in case you missed them on TV. link
## The Latas campaign has started robo-calling, still flying under the radar. It makes political sense to remember that CD 8 is still essentially a multi candidate race.
22 comments:
Three prominent Democrats, Senator Bill Brotherton, Representative Linda Lopez and former Senator Slade Mead, stepped up and rebutted the anti-Giffords hysterics who falsely claimed that Giffords lied in her ad. The budget battle of 2003 is best recalled by those who were THERE, not cub reporters who write poorly researched stories. However, you can expect that Brotherton, Lopez and Mead will also be called "liars" by the anti-Giffords crew.
Patty Weiss, desperate to breathe some life into a campaign that has failed to attract the broad-based support Giffords has obtained, once again showed her willingness to engage in negative campaigning by jumping on this non-story.
The ad was an attempt to explain how Giffords employed know-how and guts to stop an injurious budget. The campaign had to make this case in an understandable, compelling way in a 30 second ad, which is no small challenge. You can fault them for engaging in hyperbole and showmanship, but calling it lying is the REAL lie.
The reporter didn't check all his facts. The anti-Giffords bloggers jumped to unwarranted conclusions. Patty Weiss once gain tried to raise unsubstantiated charges against Giffords in a vain attempt to disguise the fact that her campaign is in dire straits.
By the way, proof for the latter point can be found in the way that Weiss continually touts the results of a two-month old poll taken before mailings and TV ads started. Both the Latas and Giffords camps have questioned the staying power of the numbers Weiss bragged about as recently as last Saturday on Emil Franzi's radio show. Until fresh polling numbers come out, it is silly and sad for Weiss to claim she is the front-runner, especially as every major endorsement goes to Giffords.
All of us want a Democrat to be the next member of Congress from CD8. We shouldn't want it for our chosen candidate SO BADLY that we will lie about what other candidates have said and done. Giffords and most of the other Democrats in this race have stuck to talking about their records and platforms. The same can NOT be said for Patty Weiss, or for some of the Gabby-haters on these blogs.
My own canvassing, which so far has not extended past my own neighborhood, reveals that the winner of CD8 so far is "UNDECIDED." Kind of funny, in a way. For all the opinions we have here, the average Democrat still hasn't given this election a lot of thought. I will say that everyone knew that CD8 is about replacing Kolbe and everyone knew that Patty Weiss is a candidate and everyone was "undecided."
Liza,
Of course concur with you and anyone thinking the blogs reflect what is happening in our neighborhoods is nuts.
My own version of a "poll" is actually quite consistent with the mid-June Lake results, with most knowing Patty from tv and a smaller number knowing Giffords due to her holding office but more than one might think also due to her tire business. No one, and I mean no one, knows anyone else.
Got a hold of a Latas DVD and saw most of it. It is a nice piece of work and shows some cutting edge thinking, but how many will actually watch it? If others are anything like me when it comes to stuff that arrives in the mail, this thing gets tossed quite possibly not even being recognized as something other than an AOL disc.
If he had more money, he could use 30 second ads to plug himself AND his DVD, asking people to look for it and watch it. Another idea would be to invest in a big splash ad in the paper asking people to look for it.
I think and hope that Jeff has a future in politics. Will spare folks my thoughts on a certain ex-newscaster for the moment.
x4mr,
Those of us who support Jeff Latas are really excited about the DVD which, as you say, is very well done. It might get more attention than you think. I'm starting to get some feedback from the work I've been doing and I am proud to say it is VERY positive. Make no mistake about it, we are a lean, mean, fighting machine (smile).
Thank you for the feedback on the DVD because I value your opinion.
Kralmajales,
You are a man in love. I think it's very sweet.
Liza,
Just finished the DVD, and for what my opinion is worth, it is the Salette piece that hits the ball out of the park. Absolutely fabulous, completely genuine, and truly moving.
Sure, every campaign has its "rogue bloggers," but I completely respect the Latas campaign. If he prevails 9/12, he has my enthusiastic support going into November. If he does not prevail 9/12, I really hope this community finds a way to tap into what Jeff and Salette have to contribute.
We need people like this.
x4mr and cc burro,
Thanks for the positive feedback on the Jeff Latas DVD. So far, everything I have heard is positive.
kralmajales,
I'm looking forward to a big PARTY when we take back CD8. We are having one, aren't we?
Glad to see that the Tucson Citizen joined the Tucson Weekly in backing Giffords because both papers occupy different places in the journalistic world and in public perceptions. It shows the breadth of support Giffords is able to attract. Sorta like the fact that Democrats as diverse as Grijalva and Arzberger back her, too!
Patty Weiss is intelligent, personable and savvy. While she is not my first choice in this primary, she is someone I could proudly support as our nominee. Calling her "empty-headed" is a cheap shot with no basis in reality. Let's keep it civil, folks.
Truthfully, I will be happy to back any of our candidates with the exception of Johnson the xenophobe and Minuteman apologist.
kralmajales,
I don't have any favorite places, but I don't get out much. And, of course, my side of town is neo-conservative.
Well folks, just went to the upscale Republican Forum this evening, and it was, well, upscale.
Hosted at a fabulous church that featured massive big screen televisions that, when candidates reached final minute, started counting down 59, 58, 57, 56, for all including candidates to see.
If I were to start of list of x4mr's most compelling CD 8 election moments, we are up to three:
Willcox: "Gabby Gabby Gabby"
Nucleus: "Reporter from Fox News"
and now tonight, in a church before a room of conservative bible folk at a forum preceded by a prayer asking god to give the candidates clear thoughts, we have Bill Johnson's answer when asked about his position "on life."
Overpopulation is a terrible problem on this planet. I am not pro-choice. I am not pro-life. I think abortion should remain legal because it makes a good contraceptive.
For about 1.5 seconds, there was complete silence, as the collective consciousness of the room asked itself if it really did hear what it thought it heard, and then, upon reaching the conclusion that yes, this indeed was said, a strange sound emanated from a group of folks in the back center of the room, a mix of moan, gasp, and something else. What was interesting is that multiple people were making the same noise.
Antoneri was stellar and Patty was predictably eloquent, and must acknowledge tonight as an act of courage on her part.
I can understand Latas and Giffords choosing other endeavors for this evening, but I do not understand AT ALL Huffman's absence. Don't know his reasons, but I think he made a mistake missing tonight.
x4mr,
I love your account of the Republican forum. Makes me wish I had been there.
Roger,
It wasn't me who wrote the last post on Arizona 8th, it was one of my other contributers. Last night was my wedding anniversery and there is no way Mrs. Framer was going to allow us to spend it at a political forum :)
I believe they were referring to the Saddlebrook forum on Friday where Randy Graf tore Huffman's voting record apart to applause from the audience.
Huffman really isn't a public speaking kind of guy and these forums are a little bit of torture for him, especially since his voting record is way out of synch with the people who attend these events.
I have tried to remain even handed of Huffman and his campaign so far, however, if am really starting to be of the opinion that he and his staff have run possibly one of the worst campaigns in recent history. He has failed to capitalize on just about every advantage he has been given. This thing is not over by a long shot, but time is running out fast.
And finally, I am on Steve's mailing list and I haven't received an early ballot from him as yet. He probably should have hired you for his campaign manager, as your plans seem to be better than what he has going.
Roger,
Framer is correct about "The Committee" post at his blog. The Huffman/Graf thing was an earlier event. I concur with that post, by the way, and Antoneri is a man to be watched.
In case folks don't know, last night's thing was a pretty big deal. CD 8 was only first half. After that (if I recall correctly), all four republican candidates for governor went to the front for a blast Janet fest.
This group was solid R primary voters. I think the only people in the building not electing R nominees on 9/12 were myself, the D candidates, the two or so Giffords folks that brought literature, and a nice looking woman wearing a Weiss button.
Huffman was where?
Final remark is that this race has identified two up and comers well worth noticing: Latas on the blue side and Antoneri on the red.
Neither have any money and neither will win. This year.
Roger,
I haven't seen them, but apparently he is releasing an attack ad on Graf right now. At least that what some of the commenters on my site are saying.
I will be interested to see the ad.
x4mr,
You must have a crystal ball over there because you state definitively that neither Latas nor Antoneri will win. Perhaps you can help me with my portfolio as my chances of becoming a bag lady have increased dramatically in George Bush's America.
Art,
Where are you? Write something. This meandering thread has been consumed by Republicans and bears no relationship to your original post.
phx kid,
No, please stay. Literate, analytical Republicans who are not rabid are very scarce. However, I did notice that "summo cum latte" over on R,R@R. I would never make that mistake, of course, because I had two years of Latin.
I just think we're ready for a new subject.
No crystal ball, Liza, and remember I am willing to make assertions and be wrong.
It's just the math on my radar. We'll know 9/13. The primary is in exactly 4 weeks. I cannot tell between the ladies, but will project their aggregate to top 70% of the primary votes. Jeff will garner most of what is left. Alex will not reach 10%, Francine won't reach 5% and Johnson not even 2%.
Maybe Stacy will release some good polls soon over at AZ Watch.
By the way, if you want to mark these words and whack me silly on 9/13, it's ok. I won't take it personal and will still respect you, which I do.
I used to be married. There was a five year streak in there where I wasn't right once about a thing.
Liza...
Look for a new post today (it will probably drive everyone wild. :-)
I've been extremely busy the past two weeks, deep in rehearsals for the opening show of the Rogue Theatre season.
Art
Zona Dem is right. Push polling is a loathesome practice. No one should be subjected to it.
I am confident after making some inquiries that this is not a Giffords effort. Indeed, why would the campaign think this is even necessary? Other than a discredited story written by a cub reporter who used to be a College Republican, all the good news in the CD8 race is going OUR way. Going negative now would make NO SENSE.
Giffords supporters have also received phone calls from purported pollsters that have trashed our candidate. It is likely that the GOP is field testing negative attacks for the fall campaign aganst the two Dems most likely to be the nominee. Huffman has already used this tactic against Graf in their primary and, for all we know, this could be coming from his camp.
Gabby has been subject to more personal attacks on these blogs than anyone else. George Tuttle's blog (where things are supposed to be "relevant and civil") has been a bastion of Giffords-bashing. He also had one negative post against Weiss after Don Diamond contributed to her campaign.
If you look on the Weiss campaign website, there is a press release and a blog entry attacking Gabby. Weiss has also trashed Gabby on two radio shows, on Daily Kos and in the Tucson Weekly. I guess I can understand the strategic thinking behind these moves when all the support is going to Giffords, but if anyone has "gone negative," it's Patty!
If the Weiss camp can prove that this is coming from us, let them bring forth the evidence.
Wow,
A cigar and then dinner with daughter and I miss quite a blog fest.
Just one observation--somewhere between four to a dozen bloggers seem hellbent to trash Giffords. I've called them Giffonators in the spirit of humor, but not really thinking it's funny anymore.
Notice that there are no Weissinators or Latassinators, none. Sure perhaps a little jabbing between P and J, but nothing, not even close, to the venom directed at Giffords over these past few months.
I guess that's what it looks like when you are winning.
Just under 4 weeks, and it's a new game.
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