While the debate about debates could continue, we’ve finally reached the first of two scheduled showdowns between Democratic Congressman Ron Barber and his Republican opponent, Martha McSally. The two candidates will face each other live on TV tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. on PBS 6. If you can’t tune in, you’ll be able to watch the debate once it’s posted on AZPM’s web site, www.azpm.org.
Our lengthy look at the race here.
This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2014.
We watched the debate live but of course not in person. No unsupportive Tucson debate audiences for Colonel (Retired) McSally, no way. So she was talking mostly to the camera as she again and again told us how her history demonstrates her readiness to take on the whole dysfunctional Washington political world. She spent lots and los of words telling us all she doesn’t like about Barack Obama and Ron Barber, the pawn of Pelosi, but she had hardly a word to say about her concrete plans to bring change to Washington. She gives us to believe not that she has left the tea party behind but that she never sought to out-brew Sergeant Jesse Kelly — you remember large loud Jesse — two terribly long years ago. She challenged Barber to apologize for an add run by Americans for Responsible Solutions for which he bore absolutely no responsibility and which goaded her to change one element of her NRA-inspired position on guns. And Ron wordlessly implied that she could put her demand way out of sight. It’s interesting that two years after her rookie run the Colonel (Retired) has made cosmetic improvements and switched from espousing radical right positions to saying as nearly nothing as one can get while still spouting lots and lots of words, mostly the same ones over and over. I don’t think Martha will be going to Washington in January and I suspect that before the year 2015 is out her Tucson home will be vacant or rented out.
Then you have Barber who is just another Obama acolyte. When voting, the citizens need to keep three things in mind. Leon Panetta, H. Clinton and Gen. Dempsey. All three have turned on their master, calling a spade a spade. With even Obama’s own team turning against him, there are those bottom feeders that voted for him and are still supporting him. They are the ones that when reporters interview them and asks questions about the constitution, our history, current events, etc., all they can do is pick their noses and go “duh”. So all you nose pickers just go ahead and vote for Barber and keep the myth of Obama the magnificent, going.
For God’s sake, Barber sounded like a second grader when it came to border security and global issues. He doesn’t have a good record to run on. He can only get so much mileage out of January 8th. Oh yeah, he checked into that hearing that he whipped out the attendance sheet on, but he left before the vote for a meeting with constituents (his own admission in an interview after the debate that he conveniently left out during the debate). So, much like Obama while in the Senate, he was “present” without making a difference. He couldn’t have rescheduled the constituent meeting for a couple of hours earlier or later? I wanna know who these “constituents” were that were more important than voting to save the A-10. Such a flair for drama waving that piece of paper around that no one could read though, Ronnie boy! Washington has taught you well. Martha is passionate, almost to the point of looking pissed off, and determined. She has actually served our country. She actually has accomplishments under her belt. That’s who I want representing me.
Martha’s accomplishments were as a pilot in a fighter plane. Ron’s accomplishments are in dealing with human beings one on one and in groups through talk and listening. Which is more needed in Congress? Don’t think they are aiming airborne weapons at each other yet. And Martha’s were all done in a chain of command in which she was a lower member. Didn’t make general, despite all these wars. Ron answers to the public and he can’t make all of them happy, but the ones he does are the ones I am part of.
Barber did sound like a second grader. What I didn’t hear was solid examples of leadership. He’s our congressman in Washington. Had his chance to take charge. Typical example of the continued lack of really trying to move this economy forward. Time for change! Time for McSally.
Martha’s accomplishments were as a leader, not just a “pilot in a fighter plane”. She actually understands what is happening and what is going on not only nationally but here in Arizona. Careful Arizona, politicians like Duval and Barber will turn this state in CA. Just look at what has happened there. Time to look past change and hope!
“She actually understands what is happening and what is going on not only nationally but here in Arizona.” I sure wish Martha would share her understanding with the people who are going to be voting. I don’t think strident for her tone and vacuous for her content are inappropriate descriptors for her performance all throughout this election cycle, first in the primary where she had no need to be concerned about the token opposition, but also now when she faces an incumbent who knows the district and its issues and knows the Congress, where he is known as an independent mind and voice.
Ya gotta love cheap theater. I caught the last few moments of this debate and was amused to see the circus move with the piece of paper, a sort of “note from my mom” approach. Beyond that action the meeting with constituents over the A~10 COULD have been moved to another time since the A~10 is NOT nearly as important as is being made out.
McSally is the opposition candidate who will be the same as Barber when he first went to Congress. Her credentials, while of different experiences are no less than his which is why this is such a close election. II am excited that this is one of the most critical elections in the country but am disappointed that the campaign has been tainted by the intrusion of PACs favoring both sides.
Martha McSally has been instrumental in getting legislation passed. What has Ron accomplished? He’s a good soldier for the party. She’s a leader who fights for what she believes in. I know what dog I’d want in that fight.
It looks like the weakly has its work cut out to get Barber elected for a retirement check. When Barber said that he was only good for one term. He was right. Oh no he is not changing his mind is he? Remember Barber you are not allowed to change. Remember, remember?
Good one, Harlan. Ron, you said when you ran the first time that it was only to finish the term. You claim to know what McSally really means based on a statement taken out of context two years ago; however, it seems like you, Ron, don’t even know what YOU mean.
Ron Barber’s reasoning for supporting the Un Affordable Care Act are ridiculous. But even worse has been his lack of ideas on the border. Obama doesn’t want one. Looks like Ron’s with him on that too.
Carlos Danger, you are wrong on a number of points. Ron Barber did not leave the Homeland Security committee meeting “before the vote”. It was a committee hearing, and there was no vote scheduled. It was basically a question and answer session with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI. and the National Counterterrorism Center Director . You imply that he missed a vote to save the A-10. To be blunt. he missed no such vote on that day, or any other day. Why are you making up things that didn’t happen? That is worse than Martha McSally lying and saying that Ron Barber missed a meeting which he attended. If you want to read the hearing attendance sheet that Ron Barber waved around you can go to the ronbarberforcongress.com/ website.
For all of you posting and reading:
Martha McSally, on the other hand, is not from Arizona.. she does not know the needs of Southern Arizoniansm especially the hardscrable independent Tucsonians, but she knows what her Dark Money Investors want, and she will deliver.
And she doesn’t answer emails.
Barber was raised here, his family is from here. he ran a business here, he is “here”,, he knows the needs of the community, and is independent enough to work across the aisle, unlike most Republicans to get what the community needs. He’s even defied the leader of his party several times to get us what we need.
And he answers emails.
Martha, God Bless her, and many thanks and ^5s for her service to our country, is a “KOCH BROTHER’S ROBOT.”
She does not have a mind of her own, and has nothing in coimmon with Tucsonians, especiall the women of Tucson.
She is a product of the U. S. Air Force Academy, the institution I went to, and has brass ones bigger than most men. She is wha the Russians would call an “apparatichnuck”… one who can olnly follow the system she has been told to.
You want someone from Kansas and New York to tell you want to do, elect Marth McSally, and the Koch Bothers would be happy to give you their opinion, because at that point.. your’s wouldn’t count.
I’m voting for Ron Barber, and I approve this message.
Carmine
Rat T… not a bad post.. but way off base,
The Affordable Care Act is as good for this country as Social Secutiy, and Medicare.
If you lost your insurance under Obamacare, it was probably because you work for a cheapskate who didn’t want to pay more for better insurance, or your insurance compnay WOULDN’T meet the minimum Federal Guidelines.
Whichever, you now hae better insurance, better coverage, and yoiu’r insurance rates will stabgilize under Obamacare.
Well we heard from Barbers empolyoees. And ofcourse “WILLNOTBEFOOLED” I”WILL NOT BE FOOLED” into thinking that if its posted on Barbers web site that it is the truth. LOL
Barber’s defenders are really working overtime here. Koch brothers…ooohhh…scary. Every hear of a sociopath named George Soros? Follow the liberal money…you’ll find him…
Carmine, I must respectfully agree as well as disagree with some of your post.
The ACA is on a par with Social Security & Medicare but our perspectives differ. It is only as good or as bad as the other two based upon who is paying for it. Just imagine how much better my retirement and medical insurance would be if all the money I have poured into the latter two programs over a lifetime had been mine to choose to spend instead of taken from me by the govt.
Just this past week one of the worlds largest retailers cut insurance for employees working less than 30 hr/wk. That means these people now have to go find their own insurance and a company that can well afford the extra cost of insurance is, instead, increasing the burden on the employees. This isn’t Mitt Romney doing this or the Koch brothers but a company that peddles cheap crap, makes a lot of money and keep it.
There are many other local companies who have done the same thing, cut hours back to less than 30/wk to avoid any obligation to the employees who make the money for the company. One of those companies is a major donor to the DNC. Why? Because this law is in their best interests.
To paraphrase a previous president; “are you better off than four years ago?”.
Not sure if Harlan Thomas is implying the I am an employee of Ron Barber, but for the record I am not. Lucky for you Harlan Thomas, you now don’t have to go to Ron Barber’s website to get a look at the Homeland Security Committee’s Attendance sheet for the hearing in question, You can go to the AZDS factcheck of McSally’s claim here : http://tucson.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/fact-check-mcsally-s-protect-claim-on-isis-hearing/article_ccf147cc-7bae-5f49-b3ea-92bcc9c3ce23.html . Nice to see them confirm that McSally’s claim was “not true” , or as I would say , it was a lie. As far as Carlos Danger’s claim that the Barber defenders are really working overtime here: Somebody has to correct the misinformation you put in your posts, and there is plenty of that to keep several people pretty busy.
I will not be fooled either; instead I will rely on other fact checkers to expose a blatant lie as compared to an error by the candidate:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-c…