My Recent Comments

• Wish all the best for Gracie. We missed him in the broadcast booth. Most of all, I hope he gets where he needs to be.
  7 months ago
• This is wonderful news. He will be the next Andrew Thomas. Run for election and then lose and then melt away into irrelevant political ether. He obviously learned nothing from the Pearce recall. I SO hope he focuses on illegal immigration instead of the economy. That will assure his political demise.
  Jan 5, 2012
• Thanks Bob. It is kind of like when Russell Pearce got on Greta's show on FOX and said a bunch of slanderous stuff about Jerry Lewis with absolutely no basis in fact. At some point, you lose your credibility. I would hope that my Republican party would show some discretion. There's political speech an then there's just bull.
  Dec 2, 2011
• Did anyone check to see if these folks are illegal immigrants? Didn't think so.
  Dec 2, 2011
• The author of this article apparently buys into that grand canard that citizenship or legal residency should be bell weather for participation in American society. While there is a superficial attractiveness to that line of thought (they shouldn't be here), closer examination suggests that there is a certain level of hypocrisy to this line of thinking. Many who are here "illegally" actually entered legally with a visa. Overstaying a visa is a civil offense not unlike the fine one would get say, for filing one's taxes beyond time. Those who are here "illegally" more often than not, pay taxes (income tax withheld from checks, SSI and medicare, rent and property taxes). To somehow assert that they are somehow taking something that they shouldn't receive is truly facile thinking. Until our recent statues denying instate tuition to illegal immigrants, RESIDENCY was the only requirement. It would make as much sense to say illegal red light runners, or those illegally intoxicated should have their in state tuition raised. While there are those who have crossed without identification and have therefore committed a crime, it is not a felony, at least the first time around. We need to give great though to whether the misery we are foisting on our fellow human beings for a minor "illegal" act, is worthy of us as an historically immigrant society. Seemingly, there is no "give me your tired, your poor" when it comes to our southern neighbors. Secondly, there is a large amount of hypocrisy when one takes the position that anyone who breaks the law is an "illegal." Under that standard, we are probably a nation of "illegals." For example, ever shared your prescription meds with someone with a sore throat or a tooth ache? If so, you have just violated federal law which is punishable by a long term of imprisonment and a large fine. See 21 U.S.C sec. 844(A). How about all the other laws people seemingly ignore such as contracting without a license, or even violating city codes by building sheds in the back yard, altering plumbing or construction additions to a home without a proper permit or inspections. Why focus on immigration crimes more than all the other ones that are routinely broken. Why not deny the drug sharers a driver's license? Why not deny a license to those who attempt to fraudulently modify a driving record? That being said, nobody advocates simply opening the doors and letting folks in. But it does bear consideration that when we deport parents of American children, there is a consequence. When we refuse a reasonable opportunity to educate oneself, there are consequences. To me the danger of maintaining such an underclass is far greater than taking steps to allow all segments of society to progress. For example, reverting back to a simple "residency" requirement for college like at least 13 other states have done makes common sense. We don't need to give anyone amnesty, and that includes all the American law breakers we have next door. There has to be a reasonable middle road. Absent a willingness to find a reasonable, moral and rational solution that does not necessarily lead to citizenship, I must conclude that there are forces at play that should have been squelched during the 1960's. Thanks Dale Whiting for your comments. Also, contrary to what has been bandied about, only four states have adopted anything like SB1070 and approximately 30 states have REJECTED it. Moreover, as noted, at least 13 states have adopted policies allowing for in state tuition for undocumented students. Thus, the suggestion that California is out of step is unsupported by the simple fact that more states are adopting in state tuition for undocumented students, than are adopting anything like SB1070.
  Nov 10, 2011
• Such great news for all of Arizona. You've got to love the tremendous common sense approach that Senator Pierce, a Rancher, will bring to the Senate. He refused to back down to Russell Pearce and his over the top enforcement only immigration policies. More importantly, Senator Pierce sought to keep the focus on improving Arizona's economy while, at the same time he introduced legislation that would help financially strapped Arizona residents. This appears to me to reflect that the Senate, at least, has taken heed of the wake up call that was the ouster of Russell Pearce. Divisiveness, invective and prejudice have no place in our legislature. All Arizonans need to work together to heal this state and bring it back to the respectability that it deserves.
  Nov 10, 2011
• If Russell Pearce loses this election he will be pilloried. If he wins he will still be despised.
  Oct 31, 2011
• And by the way, the outsiders are in Mr. Pearce's camp. Just look at the recent campaign finance reports. A great majority of Mr. Pearce's support comes from out of state. I wonder who is controlling whom here?
  Oct 28, 2011
• I love Linda Turley and usually agree with her position. However, she's either misinformed or delirious when it comes to Mr. Pearce. Just because crime had decreased, doesn't mean that SB1070 or any other nativist legislation that Mr. Pearce has been behind, has had anything to do with it. The facts are that crime decreased dramatically at the same time that illegal increased. The FBI crime statistics dramatically point this out. And so, Ms. Turley, please explain how you get your figures. AZ Fact Check has addressed these fallacies that Mr. Pearce continually chants, and has found them to either be misleading or wholly unsupported by any reliable facts. Please, Ms. Turley, check your facts (not Russell Pearce's "facts"), and maintain your position as one on whom the public can rely for accurate and fair commentary. You've just about lost it on this one.
  Oct 28, 2011
• Let's see who the outsiders are. Mr. Pearce has complained that "outsiders" are behind his opponent, Jerry Lewis. Lewis has already reported that 68% of his donations came from within Mesa. The Pearce Patriots and other PACs come 90% from outside Mesa and of the Mesans who contributed, it appears that a majority come from outside LD18. So the question remains, who is behind whom? It appears that thus far, LD18 voters are behind Mr. Lewis whereas "outsiders," including four labor unions, are behind Mr. Pearce.
  Oct 28, 2011