Maybe I could have headlined this "Raytheon official to political process: stop us before we kill again." That and Michele Reagan's ankle after the jump.
What? Not us: Taylor Lawrence, head of Raytheon Missile Systems, had something interesting to say to a business group in Tucson. According to the Arizona Daily Star:
[H]e urged local business and community leaders to send a strong message to our state Legislature to stop passing 'embarrassingly idiotic bills' that create the impression that Arizona discriminates.
Strong messages, like charity, begin at home, Mr. Lawrence. Among the people supported by Raytheon's political action committee are
a gaggle of hard right politicos including two of the three sponsors of discrimination-legalizing SB1062.
The ankle and mouth are connected: Republican legislative candidate Michele Regan ducked a TV appearance with opponent Terry Goddard yesterday morning. Her reason: she twisted her ankle.
Something tells me that her absence had more to do with how badly she's done during past appearances with Goddard. I don't know; I'm just guessing.
Actually, this has been a common problem with the statewide candidates. It seems like they are not interested in making appearances in front of audiences that aren't Valley-area Republicans. Diane Douglas, the candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, has ducked just about every appearance with David García. Gubernatorial candidate Doug Ducey has been relatively scarce as well, even ducking a joint appearance with Fred Duval set up by a veterans' organization.
It's no way to prove you can or prepare you to run a state as diverse as ours.
And in Phoenix: One of the propositions on the ballot before Phoenix voters is Prop. 487, a "pension reform" proposal that would gut the benefits that many lifetime municipal workers have worked for. Local police and fire unions are wary of 487, even though they are excluded from it, because they think that their benefits are next on the list. Supporters say it's nonsense.
So, here comes Phoenix City Councilman and relentless e-mailer Sal DiCicco with his latest communique:
We all love our firefighters and respect them for the hard work they give our city. You're probably wondering why they're coming in droves to our neighborhoods handing out misleading information on pension reform? Especially since they're clearly excluded from the pension reform proposal. Why, because they're concerned that they may be next for reform.
Note that he doesn't deny that they are next anywhere in the e-mail, and the fact that this follows a long description of an anonymous millionaire firefighter leaves no doubt about what is next.
"Reformers" who claim that this is not about public safety may want to have a conversation with their loudest booster.