CARMONA ENTERS U.S. SENATE RACE

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

Democrat Richard Carmona is running for U.S. Senate.

He's the second Democrat to enter the race, following Don Bivens.

The former U.S. Surgeon General’s name has been tossed around for months as a potential candidate, as Arizona Democrats search for a candidate to field in the U.S. Senate race next year.

Sen. Jon Kyl is not seeking reelection, leaving the state with a rare open seat.

Democrats have been hesitant to enter the race, with several potential candidates, including Carmona, saying they wanted to wait to see what U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will do. She was rumored to be interested in the Senate race before she was critically wounded in the Jan. 8 shooting.

Several Republicans have announced their candidacy. The most high profile Republican in the race so far is Congressman Jeff Flake, and developer Wil Cardon is also running.

NON-VOTERS: SUICIDE BY COP-OUT

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Where were you Tuesday?

Yes, you. You know who you are.

You’re one of the more than 100,000 registered Tucson voters who didn’t bother to cast a ballot in the city election. And they made it so easy this time. Pick up your mail, vote, mail your ballot back. You didn’t even need a stamp.

It was maddening to read that some people were excited by the record turnout of 42 percent. That’s less than half of those registered. And when you consider those who don’t even bother to register, we’re down to just one in four citizens of Tucson who took part in our democratic exercise called the election.

As for those of you who haven’t registered, are you that cynical, that jaded about democracy that you can’t muster the energy to sign up and fill in the ovals on a ballot?

One suspects that you think the system is corrupt and you’ve decided to check out. Big money, extremist conservatives and extremist liberals have taken over.

As a result, you’ve turned in your U.S. citizen badge because you think there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, you are doing something about it. In fact, you’re contributing to the corruption of the system.

Your absence from democracy is creating a vacuum that others are filling. They’re filling it with their candidates, their influence, their money and their votes.

You’re on the sidelines complaining. Your surrender is as much a cause of the problems as is the activity of those working to bend the system to the shapes they want.

Winston Churchill once said, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

One wonders what Churchill would have thought of you, the non-voter.

Perhaps he would have deferred to Founding Father John Adams who noted: "There never was a democracy that didn’t commit suicide.”

If our democracy commits suicide, you non-voters loaded the gun.

PEARCE COLLEAGUE: OUSTER 'DEEPLY DISTURBING'

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs said Tuesday night he found the recall of colleague Russell Pearce "deeply disturbing."

Fellow Republican and state Rep. Eddie Farnsworth said that in ousting Pearce in Tuesday's recall election, the voters had "traded the most successful legislator in the country for somebody who will be very unsuccessful.”

Both made the comments in interview with the [Arizona Capitol Times]'(http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2011/11/08/lewis-winning-early-votes-in-pearce-recall/) Luige del Puerto, the state Senate reporter who will appear on Arizona Week Friday to discuss the story.

Pearce, the state Senate president and widely regarded as one of the two most powerful elected state officials, was defeated by fellow Republican Jerry Lewis, 53 percent to 45 percent.

Pearce's loss makes him the first politician in Arizona's 100-year history as a state to be removed from office by recall.

Pearce is known nationally for his authorship of one of the country's strictest anti-immigration laws, SB1070, major parts of which are on hold while appeals over them work their ways through the courts.

His defeat likely won't change the conservative nature of legislative leadership, but it might take the edge off some of the rhetoric on both sides of the immigration debate.

VETERANS DAY PROGRAM

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Lucy Valencia

The federal Veterans Day holiday is only about a week away.

Though it often feels as if this is a nation can half-forget that its sons and daughters are in combat when most of us are busy with our daily lives, Veterans Day calls the entire country to stop and honor those who have fought for our freedom.

On Friday, the 11th day of the 11th month, the U.S. pays homage to all veterans who have served our country in past and current conflicts.

We remember in the same way that the families of soldiers, sailors, Marines and aviators always remember one thing—war can never be erased. And war can never be forgotten. Not even for a single second.

But how are our communities helping those who have returned from war? How have those who risked their own lives coped with residing in American daily life? How are we honoring those who lost their lives fighting for freedom?

Arizona Week's Michael Chihak spoke with Commander of the Order of the Purple Heart, David Alegria, last week to discuss the importance of the Purple Heart and how his life forever changed once he had been at war.

Vietnam veteran Dan Ross and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Abel Moreno will be interviewed side-by-side this Wednesday to discuss some of the issues local veterans face.

Arizona Week will also be interviewing Cathi Starr, the Regional Manager for the Arizona Department of Veteran Services in Tucson and Air Force Veteran from the Gulf War era. Starr has worked with veterans and their families to help them receive their benefits for more than a decade.

Tune in on Friday to hear more on what these brave veterans share with us for the special Veterans Day program.

JAN PAC

posted to Political Buzz by Christopher Conover

The federal PAC formed by Brewer is a way for the governor to fund federal candidates who she supports. According to the committee's website the purpose is to back candidates who agree with Governor Brewer's ideas when it comes to securing the border and opposing the federal health care law.

The PAC is new so right now it has filed no monetary reports with the Federal Elections Commission. The first financial data for Jan PAC will be released in January.

UNFLATTERING LIGHT SHINES AGAIN ON AZ

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

"Bully meets Nice Guy" is the headline on a full-page story in the current issue of The Economist magazine, portraying the recall election race between Russell Pearce and Jerry Lewis in Mesa.

The story calls state Senate President Pearce "a tough-talking Mormon Republican from Mesa" who manifests a "gun-loving and government-hating conservatism."

It describes the matchup between Pearce and Lewis this way: "Next to Mr. Pearce's aggression, Mr. Lewis embodies niceness and politeness."

The story says that in Tuesday's recall election, the choice is one of tone and style rather than substance, although it allows that the tone and style have become substance.

A poll last week from the Arizona Capitol Times shows the race a virtual dead heat, giving Lewis a slight lead that is within the poll's margin of error.

The outcome, as The Economist suggests, may change who serves in the Senate and the manner in which he serves, but it won't change the conservative bent of the Republican majority.