Another edition of the Political Roundtable: Democratic strategist Rodd McLeod and Republican strategist Jonathan Paton talk about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery, the Arizona Supreme Court’s smackdown of Gov. Jan Brewer’s removal of Colleen Mathis from the Independent Redistricting Commission, the future of Occupy Tucson and other news of the week with Arizona Public Media reporter Christopher Conover and yours truly.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2011.
Paton is so full of it. The draft maps WILL be changed. However, even then, it’s obvious the whiny Rep’licans will sue anyway. McLeod made a very important point to put Paton’s nonsense in perspective. He pointed out that Paton was wrong about whether the Supreme Court would accept jurisdiction. Paton expressed his viewpoint on what the ruling we will eventually see from the Court on the Mathis reinstatement and he did so with absolute certainty. How can he be so certain? That certainty reflects hubris. Whether or not he ends up being right or wrong is not the issue. Paton’s words were also quite certain about the claim that the AZ Constitution gives the governor absolute power over the AIRC with the only check being whether she can get 20 senators to ratify. He COMPLETELY ignores the concept of legislative intent. ALL attorneys, whether they argue against it or not, understand the significance of legislative intent. And the intent of the voters (and drafters) on Prop 106 is exquisitely clear. Brewer’s folly is that she thinks she has a right to exercise oversight of the AIRC.
right, is our whining and sueing like the liberals, or is it different, what a idiot to post such garbage, he must be a OWS prtester, dont know crap
The Republicans will continue to trample and steamroller the AZ Constitution & the will of the people. Guv Brewhead does NOT have the right to become the Dictator she is trying to be. The people will rise up against her & the Legislators who side with her. We are tired of being led around by our noses & having our lives micromanaged. They need to stay out of our homes, stay out of our vaginas & LISTEN to what their constituents want – NOT just do whatever they please.
We saw the “strategists” being tacticians, as usual. It’s not their fault.
AZPM’s Christopher Conover’s nickname is “Buzz.”
In Paton’s illogical tirade about Romero’s proposal, he displays his ignorance of the difference between a RIGHT and a PRIVILEGE.
Freedom of speech and assembly are RIGHTS authorized under the Constitution.
PERMITS deal only with PRIVILEGES…. in this case the privilege of holding a commercial or celebratory event in a park. But, Occupy Tucson is not holding a commercial or celebratory event. The occupiers are there for purposes of redress of grievances against our now corporate-owned government. That is clearly and unambiguously exactly what the first amendment right was created for…. freedom of speech and assembly for redress of grievances against the government!
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS always trump laws regarding privileges!