Nearly from top to bottom in Arizona our politicians are from the same political party. One-party rule decreases accountability, bipartisanship, cooperation and compromise. I don't care if our politicians are Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberal, men or women or from the tea, coffee or office party. However, I do want them to be intelligent, caring, capable of voting independent of their party mandates when needed and I want them to be ethical and be free of accepting special treatment from individuals or companies that are attempting to curry favor.
In other words, our current crop of GOP lawmakers need to be retired and replaced by a more balanced and representative group of legislators that will place the welfare of our state before their own interests or that of their party.
Many Democrats and Republicans will only vote for candidates from their own party. However, those of us registered as Independents can put ideas and intelligence before ideology to help restore checks and balances to our state government in the next election.
Richard K. Meszar, Mesa
Dale Whiting posted at 8:22 am on Fri, May 6, 2011.
Richard,
Why be a "registered Independent." As a registered Republican, in the primary when I see two or more medeocre Republicans running and a decent Democrate running [normally unopposed in state offices], I can vote for the more unpopular Republican in the Primary hoping he or she gets the nomination, then switch to the Democrate in the General.
This tactic does not often work. In 2000 I voted for McCain in the primary yet Bush 43 got the nomination anyway. But its better than staying home during the primaries!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:35 am on Fri, May 6, 2011.
What a load of ..."loser-whining".........did anybody ever hear any of this "blather" when the Democrats were jamming ...Obama Socialism.....down Americans throats ???
Sorry Democrats....you lost the Novermber 2nd, 2010 National Election.
As they say in Sports...."the Election was your's to lose"...and Boy did you !!!
So quit..........the "whining".......I know you are only following the example of your "Messsiah" ....it's been 3 years since Obama was elected and our "born again American" President is still ...."whining and blaming Bush"...let it go, Barack, it's your ball game now....prove the the American Public you are not and ..."Empty Suit".
Rich posted at 8:47 am on Fri, May 6, 2011.
"I do want them to be intelligent, caring, capable of voting independent of their party mandates when needed and I want them to be ethical and be free of accepting special treatment from individuals or companies that are attempting to curry favor."
The last one like that retired in 1872, after losing all three elections he ran in. So long as two parties have a lock on the ballots and voters feel that they have to choose the lesser of two evils, you'll always end up with an evil.
Accuracy posted at 8:53 am on Fri, May 6, 2011.
Richard K. Meszar concluded: “However, those of us registered as Independents can put ideas and intelligence before ideology to help restore checks and balances to our state government in the next election.”
Barry Hess expressed the same ideas when he ran as a Libertarian candidate in the 2002 - and in 2006 – and in the 2010 Arizona governor race. Libertarian Hess’ gubernatorial campaign, each time, was “Democrat or Republican is a one-party. ”
Cerulean posted at 12:39 pm on Fri, May 6, 2011.
“In other words, our current crop of GOP lawmakers need to be retired and replaced by a more balanced and representative group of legislators that will place the welfare of our state before their own interests or that of their party.”
So true.
Dale Whiting posted at 2:14 pm on Fri, May 6, 2011.
So true, Rich, so true.
"So long as two parties have a lock on the ballots and voters feel that they have to choose the lesser of two evils, you'll always end up with an evil."
That's what happened in 2000. And for us true conservatives, it happened again in 2008. Clearly Obama was the far lesser evil. Can you imagine Sarah Palin negotiating with members of Congress on a buget plan? Anyone ask her a question and she would have to fake an intelligent response.
LinMesa posted at 4:22 pm on Sun, May 8, 2011.
Dale, as an Independent voter I have been able to choose which ballot I wanted to vote on in the past. However, I do seem to remember that the Republicans want to change that probably for the very reason you stated. However, as bad as it has been, it has been an excellent example of what the citizens of Arizona get when they vote Republican. In this case I'm not sure they got what they asked for.