Artgal's BlogWire
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What’s Brewing With Brewer?
by Artgal on April 19, 2011This evening, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed two major bills: the campus carry bill and the birther bill. From what I am seeing on various social media sites, Gov. Brewer has many very unhappy supporters this evening. Some have even resorted to calling her a ‘traitor’ on her personal Facebook page which I do not find at all fair. I at least want to hear her reasoning. Though I am disappointed with the outcome of the campus carry bill (and I mean that also in the sense of how it was watered down in the state senate), I am also mindful that Gov. Brewer has been a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and has greatly expanded the state’s gun laws since taking office in...
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Immigration Bills: How Far is Too Far?
by Artgal on April 11, 2011On St. Patrick’s day, five senate bills regarding immigration went to the floor of the Arizona state house for a vote and failed. With almost lightning speed, Facebook and other social media outlets lit up with the Arizona Delegation (the citizen activists here) responding to the news – quite angrily, I might add. Most of us were puzzled, livid and even embarrassed. My first response was in wondering if so much pressure was coming down from the federal government that we finally ‘found our level’ in the state house. I wrote to my representative in the Arizona State Senate, Frank Antenori, after I called his office asking for clarification. Ultimately, Antenori voted in favor of three bills and voted down two. ...
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Arizona Smart Girls Leading The Way
by Artgal on April 8, 2011Since May of 2009, Jennifer Leslie has organized monthly meet and greets to help spread the word about Smart Girl Politics in Arizona and introduced the public to new candidates. She has given a forum to everyone from state officials to town council candidates and was very instrumental in introducing Ruth McClung and Jesse Kelly when they announced their respective congressional campaigns in May of 2009 – the very first Tucson meet and greet. After the primaries of 2010, Leslie began focusing on outreach beyond meeting candidates. She began providing empowerment sources for members. In September, a self-defense meet and greet with Michael Francis, owner of Tucson’s L.O.S.T. (Last One Standing Tactics), a personal protection company, was offered. In November 2010, Smart Girl Politics became the first...
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Reflections From A Free Spirit in The Wild Southwest
by Artgal on April 5, 2011A free spirit. That is how my mother always describes me; therefore, it is only fitting I would live in a state that is the embodiment of the free spirit in every possible way. Apparently, I am in good company in The Old Pueblo and as news unfolds in Arizona (as expected), it will be my pleasure to introduce to you those I am honored to stand with on the frontlines in The New American Revolution. Arizona became a state on Valentine’s Day in 1912 after many tumultuous years surrounded by war and changing territorial claims. For three hundred years, Arizona was claimed by the Spanish who, in fact, named some of the earliest, most prominent regions – like Tucson. After Mexico declared its independence from Spain in...