Good evening Baja. Our bitter cold winter is finally over and spring is here. It's supposed to get to 85 tomorrow. Enjoy it while it lasts because it won't be long 'til we're bitching about the Hellish heat. Membership in Baja Arizona Kossacks is approaching 50 and I thought it might be time for a roll-call.
Now, meet-ups can be fun. It's a good thing to hang out with people whose politics you share. But me, I'm in it for the politics. If meet-ups help build community, that's a good thing, but 2012 is what it's all about. I'd like to see us start showing up in numbers at rallies, debates and other political functions. We could get together to work on campaigns. For example, I don't live in his LD, but I think Cap'n Melvin is the Biggest Butthole in Baja and I would gladly donate, phone bank and walk precincts to unseat him. When we have numbers, candidates and the Party will take us seriously and we can begin to move them in a more progressive direction.
First Some News
As we all know by now, a movement has begun to separate Pima County from Arizona and start our own state. Most people are calling it Baja Arizona, although Richard Elias has joked that he wants the new state named after his pioneer family. The organization seeking to put a separation measure on the ballot is called "Start Our State" and was founded by former state Democratic chair Paul Eckerstrom and Peter Hormel. There's a website, baja-arizona.us and SOS has a Facebook page. More coverage at the Tucson Sentinel and the Tucson Citizen. Reporter Jim Nintzel, who has announced that he will run for governor of Baja, reports in the Tucson Weekly that Santa Cruz County wants in.
A Little Music
I don't know if we'll want an official song, but I put forward this candidate: We Got Cactus, here performed by, and used with the permission of, Al Perry.
An Official Firearm ?
Baja Kossack Mother Mags has been providing us with excellent coverage of the antics of the wingnuts and poo-painters up in the State House. As she reported yesterday, they have named the Colt Single Action Army revolver, otherwise known as the Model of 1873, as the official State Firearm. Now, guns are a divisive issue and I try to avoid that topic. However, if it should be decided that we in Baja need an official firearm, I nominate another Model of 1873, the Trapdoor Springfield. This was the weapon favored by a heroic figure in Baja Arizona history.
That's him on the right with the rifle version. The Trapdoor Springfield is a single shot breech-loader and fires the 45-70 Gov't black powder cartridge. It was also issued as a carbine for the cavalry, seen above, second from right, and below. The carbine was carried by 7th Cavalry at the Little Bighorn.
A Baja Hero
The Big Rumor
There's a rumor going around that wingnut wetdream Sarah Palin will move to Arizona to run for Jon Kyle's Senate seat in 2012. We know that daughter Bristol bought a house in Maricopa, the town not the county, which is located in Northern Baja, or Alta Baja. Bristol has also been offered a radio show in Maricopa, the county not the town. Some say Sarah will move in with Bristol, others that she will buy the house next door. We do know that she likes "Sheriff Joe". The picture at right, with son Trig, was taken during a Palin visit to Arizona to rally support for the bigoted POS sheriff. Could this have been the reason for Governor Bruja's recent trip to Alaska ? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, a Recall Brewer campaign has begun. No mention in the HuffPo piece of our own AgavePup who is gathering signatures.
My Personal Campaign
There is a popular mixed drink called a Cuba Libre. It consists of rum mixed with Coca-Cola. A Nica Libre was served in Managua after the Sandinista Revolution. It was a Cuba Libre served warm, because the ice plants were down, and in a baggie, because there were no cups. My goal is to raise awareness of and popularize the Baja Libre, tequila & Squirt. I've been drinking mine with the Mandarino flavor of a Mexican brand of soda called Jarritos which I get at the Fry's on 22nd. It has real sugar instead of HFCS. I chose tequila & Squirt because Squirt is more widely available and it's easier to say. I don't waste Horny Toad or Conmemorativo in these since it would be an insult to good aguardiente and Sauza blanco is sometimes available at Fry's for $10 a bottle.
A Final Note
Are y'all using the message board ? I'm finding it really useful. I'll sometimes post a link on there if I see a good story in the morning paper and it will be good for announcements. You can get at it with the button way at the upper left of every DKos page, in the dark orange by your username, or you can click the one in your gray box. The "delete selected" button is good too 'cuz your messages get cluttered up pretty fast if you're in a lot of groups.
The Roll-Call
OK, let's git' her started. Please give your username, Congressional District, Legislative District and location. If you're in The Old Pueblo, give your cross-streets, otherwise give your city or town. This will help in choosing meet-up venues and maybe carpooling to events. Feel free to tell us anything else you want to about yourself.