Monday Open Thread

Hello, everyone, sorry about the lack of pictures from last Wed.'s event. The site I use to host the pictures is messed up, but I'm working on it.

I have one blip. AZ Congress Watch blogged on Robert Robb's column concerning Harry Mitchell's campaign and his positions on the issues (or according to Robert the lack thereof). Harry officially kicked his campaign off less than one week ago. We are still more than six months from election day. This criticism isn't really fair considering Harry's entrance into the race all happened rather quickly.

On the other hand, what does J.D. Hayworth have to offer? He went on national television to tell the American people and the citizens of his district that their only problem and issue was illegal immigration. What kind of platform is that? Americans are more concerned about access to reliable and affordable healthcare, the increasing costs of college tuition and general decline in America's education standards, the skyrocketing costs of energy and ensuing inflation, and an effective strategy in Iraq (which by now most Americans relate to a withdrawal plan).

What's more enraging? People coming here to work and take care of their families, or paying nearly $3 a gallon for gasoline or paying hundreds of dollars for health plans that barely cover the necessities or our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters dying in Iraq while our President insists we stay the course.

What's enraging is J.D. Hayworth. He is a rubber-stamp Republican, who believes in the current course of action in Iraq. A course of action that is killing our troops, a course of action where the Iraqi "government" remains in a complete stay of disarry, a course of action that is losing us the war. He has voted to cut $12 billion in education funding from the budget when ASU students are looking at an 8.5% tuition rate increase and while No Child Left Behind continues to be an oxymoron.

Harry Mitchell spoke about values at his announcement. He is a man of values; along with being a dedicated family man and teacher, he is a principled man who believes in public service. What values does Hayworth possess? He is one of the largest receipients of dirty Abramoff money. He has dishonestly pushed the GOP rhetoric that Democrats ruined the immigration debate. He cares more about keeping brown people out of this country than the most important concerns of his constituents.

Come November, District Five will see through Hayworth's facade of fear and lies. They will remember the values Hayworth thinks are important (cronyism, corporate greed, supreme loyalty to party and president, xenophobism) and they will remember the values Mitchell thinks are important (family, community, honesty, liberty). Come November, the choice will be obvious.

This is an open thread, go!