We miss the democracy in our wannabe "democratic" party. Arizona's just the tip of the iceberg.

Bernie needs delegates and needs our help

This election, Helen Purcell shut down polling places all over Maricopa County, many in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, as a part of a so-called “cost saving” plan. The result? People all over Maricopa County had to wait hours to vote or were told their vote would not count; and many more were discouraged from ever voting. Aracely Calderon, a recently naturalized immigrant from Guatemala reported waiting over five hours to vote. She arrived at one of the few polling places that was kept open until 7 p.m. and wasn’t able to cast her vote until after midnight! With more than 30% of Maricopa County identifying as Latino it’s hard not to see Helen Purcell’s strategy as a plan to prevent Latinos, people of color, young people, and other first time voters from participating in our nation’s democracy. Even if Purcell tells herself and others that this wasn’t her intent, it was clearly the effect of her plan. This isn’t the first election Helen Purcell has been responsible for that has been a disaster. In 2012, Presente members forced Helen Purcell to count hundreds of thousands of votes that could have swung the election against the racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio. It took weeks to count those votes and they could have swung the election against Sheriff Arpaio. This after Purcell sent out the wrong date for that election as a “reminder” to Spanish speaking voters. Just one of these disasters should have been enough for Helen Purcell to lose her job. Now, there should be no question that for the good of the country, and for integrity of our democracy, Helen Purcell should resign immediately. She needs to make way for a Maricopa County Recorder that’s more concerned with making sure every eligible person votes, and that all their votes count, than she is with “cost saving” plans that prevent Latinos from voting.

We have two Councilmen, Steve Jones and Kris Beard, who refuse to accept the District Attorney's 4th recommendation to investigate the no-show, Public Safety Administrator position that was illegally created for our former Fire Chief, David Barlag. Mr. Barlag had allegedly never reported for work from September until November 2014 although we were paying him a six figure salary. Please tell our City Manager and our City Council that you are not going to let this be swept under the rug. Let our city leaders know that you do not support sweetheart back room deals to cover up a major nepotism scandal that blew up in the former Mayor's face. Tell them that you demand transparency and accountability.

On March 16, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called for Republican Senator Ron Johnson and his fellow Senate Republicans to do their jobs and give President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland a hearing. [1] Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins [2] and Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk [3] have called for the Senate to vote. But so far, Sen. Johnson is siding with Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump rather than with "moderate" Senate Republicans like Susan Collins and Mark Kirk. [4] Urge Ron Johnson to press McConnell for the Senate to vote on the nomination of Judge Garland by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/senate-must-do-its-job-and-give-merrick-garland-a-hearing-b99689013z1--372246861.html 2. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/2016/03/senate_gop_in_1997_playing_politics_with_judges_is_unfair 3. http://www.wlsam.com/2016/03/21/kirk-protesters-despite-support-of-vote-on-scotus-nominee/ 4. http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Sen-Johnson-discusses-opposition-to-Supreme-Court-nominee-373313071.html

We, the LGBT community of Palm Springs, ask the City to pass an immediate resolution supporting the Equality Act.

John McCain is one of seven current Republican Senators who voted in 1997 to confirm Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the second most important court in the nation. The then-Republican Senate confirmed Garland 76-23. Maine Senator Susan Collins is another of the seven remaining Republicans who voted to confirm Garland in 1997. Now, Senator Collins is one of two Republican Senators calling for a vote on President Obama's nomination of Judge Garland to the Supreme Court. But John McCain has been silent. [1] The other Republican Senator calling for a vote on the Garland nomination is Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who told a Chicago radio station his colleagues should "man up" and vote. [2] Urge "Straight Talk McCain" to join Susan Collins and Mark Kirk in calling on Senate Republican leaders for a vote on the nomination of Judge Garland by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/2016/03/senate_gop_in_1997_playing_politics_with_judges_is_unfair 2. http://www.wlsam.com/2016/03/21/kirk-protesters-despite-support-of-vote-on-scotus-nominee/

The NRA leadership is once more trying to flex its corporate muscles where it should NOT: By actively working to derail the U.S. Senate confirmation of Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate really needs to hear from us, because by outward appearances the NRA shenanigans seem to be working. On Fox News Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell actually said: “[I] can’t imagine that a Republican majority in the United States Senate would want to confirm…a nominee opposed by the National Rifle Association...” Was McConnell implying that gun industry lobbyists like the NRA leadership have the power to advise and consent on Supreme Court confirmations? Outrageous! Tell Leader McConnell and the U.S. Senate that gun industry lobbyists like the NRA should not be permitted to dictate who sits on the U.S. Supreme Court and that the Senate should do its job and move forward on Judge Garland’s confirmation now!

For months, thousands of Maricopa County, Arizona voters had been eagerly awaiting their opportunity to vote in the primary election on March 22, only to learn upon arrival that their polling station had been closed with no notice. With record turnouts in previous primaries this year, it is unconscionable why Helen Purcell would choose to cut the number of polling station locations by more than two-thirds, other than to deliberately suppress voter turnout. Adding insult to injury, Helen Purcell is blaming voters for the lines, issuing a statement saying that voters could have cast their vote early. Send a message to Helen Purcell that voter suppression will not be tolerated! Recall Helen Purcell!

The 2008 financial crisis demonstrated that when the markets aren’t being watched, working people can become victims. While Dodd-Frank reform was a huge step toward fixing regulatory failures within the financial system, more needs to be done. Hedge funds enjoy special tax breaks. But when something goes wrong, everyday Americans pay for it. Our retirement savings are embedded in these funds, and today’s standards fall well short of protecting working families’ hard-earned money. Dodd-Frank gave federal regulators the authority to monitor institutions outside the banking sector and hedge funds need to be at the top of the list. It is time to end the fiction that wealthy investors alone will protect us from the risks these forces pose. Our legislators need to take action.

Retirement security is a crisis we must face head-on. If nothing changes, more than half of today’s working-age households will not be able to maintain their standard of living into retirement. Too many retirees rely only on Social Security. In the private sector, workers have been losing out as pensions have been frozen or cut in favor of less generous 401(k) plans. Half of workers have no retirement plan at all, and far too many have saved little or nothing on their own. Retirees encounter high hurdles in making their savings last throughout their lives. Saving for retirement is a luxury many working families can’t afford. Wages have been essentially flat for decades, and only the very rich have benefited from our nation’s economic growth. The shortcomings of 401(k) plans are glaring. Too many workers are unable to contribute what they need to survive retirement. Fees and expenses are too high. Workers end up making crucial decisions with bad advice or none at all, and there’s no safety net to protect them. Seniors are facing higher costs, but today’s Social Security program isn’t keeping pace. We must reject any calls for cuts and create new plans that fill the evolving needs of all workers and retirees.

Arizona primaries results just don't add up. Voter suppression, DNC fraud and a seemingly lazy Bernie Sander's Campaign are starting to get on real progressive's nerves.