Since I’m only around these parts every other week, stuff just piles up in my head and then gushes forth.
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill said that all politics are local. I believe that, even more than that, politics are personal. How can I not take it personally when I see that the state I love is being ruled (not governed!) by a cabal of kid-hating, self-serving corporate butt-kissers who have power, but lack the compassion and vision with which to use that power wisely?
Until last week, Doug Douche-y chose not to include in the Arizona budget an item that would have provided FREE health care to 30,000 Arizona kids who live at or below the poverty line. The federal government would have picked up the entire cost; it would cost Arizona ZERO DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS. Instead, Douche-y seemed content to let the state he’s supposed to care about and look after remain the only one in the entire country without a health care system for poor kids. Even the fiscal blast crater that used to be Kansas takes advantage of the program. Douche-y may be the worst Catholic since Bishop Hudal. (He’s that Vatican guy who helped all the former Nazis escape to South America after World War II.)
However, Douche-y didn’t do it by himself. Despite the fact that a lot of Republicans and virtually all of the Democrats in the state Legislature supported the program, it never got a look because one slimy individual—Senate President Andy Biggs—refused to let it come up for a vote in the Senate, knowing that it would pass over his objection and Douche-y’s indifference. (It finally passed, exactly that way, late last week.)
Biggs claimed to be acting on some vague principle, but the only principle he follows is to screw over people who don’t look and think like he does.
I can’t stand Andy Biggs. He wins the lottery and then takes that to mean that God thinks he’s special. While writing this, I was daydreaming that Biggs would get boils all over his smug face, boils that churn and bubble most of the time, but when he’s lying (as when he’s giving a speech), they burst forth, spraying pus and particles all over the first three rows of the audience.
Biggs is six feet of feces in an ill-fitting suit.
As Robert Wuhl once said, “Not much gray area there.”
Having said that, I would now like to state that I’d consider it a personal favor if you would vote No on Prop 123. Yeah, I know … but Tom, your wife is a teacher! She also has self-respect, which is part of the reason that I’m voting against it.
My wife, with all those advanced degrees, years of dedication to her profession, and induction into multiple Halls of Fame, is making less money now than she did 10 years ago when the clods in Phoenix began their crusade to dick education in the name of corporate charity. She certainly deserves a pay raise, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want one as the result of extortion (which is what Prop 123 is).
(And I have this to say to the guy who is constantly claiming that I am forcing my wife to remain a teacher just so I can live off her. My wife is a teacher because she enjoys being a teacher. She has always said that if the day ever came that she didn’t enjoy being in the classroom, then she would go do something else. Or nothing. There’s no way I can force my wife to work … or not work. Whoa! I just got a shudder thinking about even trying to tell my wife what to do.)
Anyway, I hear the impassioned pleas of “The schools and the teachers desperately need the money.”
Well, they needed the money back in 2008 when the scoundrels came to the teachers, hat in hand, asking for a one-time pass on upholding their constitutional obligations. And they needed it in 2009 when the crooks in the Legislature figured, “Heck, we got away with it last year. Let’s do it again.”
The schools needed it in 2010 and 2011, when the back-stabbers didn’t even give a thought to doing their damn jobs. They needed it in 2012 and 2013, when the courts started landing on the Legislature. And they’ve needed it ever since, while the legislative thieves and scalawags lost in court and then decided to ignore the Constitution and the separation of powers.
Proposition 123 is a good deal only for the vile crooks who wrote it. In personal terms, it’s as though they owed me $20, then took $10 out of my left pocket, skimmed off $3 to give to their rich buddies, then gave me $7 to put in my right pocket. That’s not compromise; that’s theft. Put simply, I don’t trust Douche-y, Biggs, et al to act in the best interest of Arizona’s kids, EVER! If Prop 123 passes, I don’t believe the money will end up where it’s supposed to. They’ll figure out a way to steal it and give it to their buddies.
Most disgustingly, we’re told by Douche-y and the others that 123 is “a first step.” If that’s the case, what comes next? Indentured servitude?
This article appears in May 12-18, 2016.
What can you say? When he’s right, he’s right!
Boy, is she in a mood. Very civil Tammy, very civil.
Right on, Tom.
Tom, your juvenile name calling makes it hard to take anything you say seriously, and offends the more gentile readers. I can see why they have cut your columns (if you can call them that) down to every other week.
Mark, I seem to remember some rather “juvenile” comments from you at other times as well. Were we to not take those seriously, either? In addition, while I will not presume to know who you will vote for come November, it would seem, using your above critique as a guide, Mr. Trump is a big “no.”
@Mark Robert Heywood: Maybe the column will offend gentile readers, but what about readers of the Jewish persuasion?
Shalom, I meant it as a religious person. 4. gentile – a Christian; “Christians refer to themselves as gentiles”
I am sure that Jewish people could be offended as well.
Brad, yes I did stoop to Danehey’s level at times, and for that I am ashamed
@ Shalom, I meant it as a religious person
4. gentile – a Christian; “Christians refer to themselves as gentiles”
@ Brad, yes at times I stooped to Danehy’s level out of frustration, and for that I am ashamed
CW13 – Way off topic…but my updated profile pic is of S’mores Slutty Cakes from Shopsin’s in the Essex Street Market on the Lower East Side. Ever been?
Mark – Very decent response. Knowing that, though, would seem to make you more prone to either looking past Tom’s “stooping” and focusing on the content or, at the very least, understanding his “juvenile” behavior may well have been borne from a frustration similar (or at least as justified) as yours. I realize this sounds “preachy.” It just seems like a lot of emphasis is placed on how uncivil or rude or juvenile Tom can be by (generally) the most rude posters on the site. Just seems like a waste of time.
Tom – I agree with you 100%!
Indeed I have. I used to fix the elevators in a building on Hester St. one block over. Great place to get all sorts of treats. I had a funny feeling what ever that was, you got it in the real world.
Too cool. We’re going back in July to see a couple of shows and will eat at Shopsin’s again. We’ll go back to Joe’s as well, and Juniors. Could easily live there!
Thank you, Mr. Danehy. It is refreshing to see the courageous and insightful manner in which you call out corruption in our state government. So many people seem intimidated and cowed by the sweeping austerity measures meted out by our dark-money Governor, and hesitate to fight back. You give them reasoned language and and bold prescriptions.
The article is based in facts and written to entertain. Is it unacceptable for some because of the use of names or for saying what many prefer not to be said. From an ExArmy and West Phoenix perspective, it is actually very politically correct. Perhaps some of you should come into our schools to see what the poor pay and lack of quality teachers is doing to our youth of today. Perhaps then you would focus on the truth in his message and not focused on his name calling!
Brad. When you get to Essex St. you should go a few blocks east to Clinton ST. Rizzo’s fine pizza. The Sicilian is to die for. It’s just the name of the street that turns me off !! Be assured you’ll thank me.
Paul. We’re common folk around here. Save the big words. No one is impressed. The last time you poo-pooed what I had to say, dopey ol’ me shredded your argument.
Ralph. It’s obvious you’re new here. Daney rips us on the right for not being civil. However, he can say what he wants. Gives a whole new meaning to phony hypocrite.
What do you think of when you hear Clinton St? Two gutters. And the Mrs is circling the drain.
Love it !!!
WSHD? What should Hillary do?
http://dailycaller.com/2016/05/13/report-bill-clinton-directed-millions-to-company-owned-by-family-friend/
Have you seen all the pro-123 TV ads? How much do you think they cost? I couldn’t help thinking that anybody who really wanted to help the schools could have taken all that money and given it to the school system instead.
In fact, I have a general rule about elections; whenever you see lots of fancy ads, TV or glossy print, it means that *big money* wants you to vote that way — so ALWAYS VOTE FOR THE OTHER GUY!!!
CW13 – I will proudly take your advice and eat on Clinton Street! It’s Trump Tower I’ll steer clear of!
Leslie, I felt the same way for 50 years as I watched teachers donate their income to unions that harm education and then ask for more money. In a small way the teachers have caused this. They could have given their dues to the school if they care about kids so much. Maybe it is time for the unions to get out of education.
That’s fine with me. After all, it’s what makes the world go round. I’m serious about Rizzo’s pizza. I’d walk back to N.Y. for a slice.
I tell Brad about a great pizza joint to try when he goes back to N.Y.C. I get 9 dislikes for my trouble. You people are weird.
“And I have this to say to the guy who is constantly claiming that I am forcing my wife to remain a teacher just so I can live off her.”
You are referring to me; yes, I am the guy constantly pointing out that you are living off your wife.
[Note: Next time go ahead and print my name: “Danehick Sux”.]
I know I know I know, you claim to hold several jobs … from coaching girls basketball (which pays $2 bucks an hour) and writing for the TW (which pays less than $2 bucks an hour).
Oh yeah, you also deliver TW newspapers on your bike (that new Schwinn 3 speed with the banana seat and bell on the handle bars that I saw you peddling down the street the other day, wearing your black, Walmart KISS t-shirt) ….
Yes – technically speaking – you may have employment, but they all are jobs which any 9 year old could perform.
Embarrassing, isn’t it ….
You can add me to that list. The bum never had a real job in his life. The fact that he lives off his wife is bad enough. The worse part is he’s proud of it. What a loser.
Danehick Sux – You have a problem with KISS?
CW…are you sill your old ladies pimp ?
Whenever I see Ducy with his twenties hairdo, very greasy looking, I have flashbacks to the picture of Alfonse Capone in his white suit, smiling at the cameras. Why is that?