Citizens For a Sane Arizona

From a prominent East Valley businessman who said he wished he could help except
"The chance of retribution is just too big."

This from a concerned involved citizen fearful of expressing his opinions freely for fear of retribution. In America? The writer is a longtime and highly sophisticated observer of Arizona politics. Such fears are well-founded. Pearce's chief political operative has publicly threatened anyone who dares oppose Russell Pearce. Is government by fear and intimidation what we want?

From a former Valley resident who left the state some years ago and had been thinking of returning here to retire:

"The hate and right-wing venom had simply become too stark and could not be ignored or avoided. Consequently, we gave up any further consideration of one day retiring to Arizona. I have very fond memories of Arizona. I continue to think its physical environment is beautiful. Our 10-day drift down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon remains a high point of our life. I have many friends who remain there. It saddens me to see where its politics have led. Thanks for your commentary."

Is this the Arizona we want to be?

I saw the article about you and the site in the AZ Rep. today—amazing what people will do to keep in office.

My question for you and anyone looking at the site—how does Russell Pearce keep his good standing with the Mormon Church??—he looks like he has honesty problems to me. Thanks for standing up!!!

We are so glad we saw the article about you and your website in the Arizona Republic. Russell Pearce is my senator but he has never represented me. He is an embarrassment to the State of Arizona, a cancer that has been allowed to grow unchallenged. I feel we can finally get rid of this pathetic individual hopefully once and for all.

I strongly support your efforts regarding Russell Pearce and the sad state of affairs in Arizona politics. Please add my email to your distribution list. Thanks.

I oppose Russell Pearce very much. I am doing all I can to ensure that he is not elected in LD 18 for another term. I appreciate what you put on the website regarding the rule of law. I think that this needs to be a key part of the campaign against Pearce. He only believes the rule of law applies in immigration and to other people, but when it comes to the MVD, spousal abuse, the Fiesta Bowl, etc. he does not think it is as important.

I do not make enough money to contribute or have enough free time from my overworked job, but have sent your link around and want to say thanks much for helping stop the embarrassment of living in an Arizona run by bullies. Thanks.

I was so happy to read the story about you in this morning’s paper. More people – myself included – need to take a stand if we are going to turn this state, and our country, around.

My husband and I fully support your position on Russell Pearce. He has brought a climate of hate to Arizona that is unprecedented. If citizens do not come forward against this type of political malfeasance, Arizona will be less than what it should be. We are already very low in national ratings i.e., job loss, real estate markets, mental health, poverty levels rising etc. We need to vote for ethical, law abiding Arizonans who have the best interests of this state in mind and not hidden agendas. Thank you sir, for taking a position that might put your business at risk. We consider your actions courageous and ethical. Please keep us informed.

It’s so important for opinion shapers to step up and deal with this crowd of – words fail me.

(WE WERE BLOWN AWAY BY THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF THIS PARTICULAR LETTER):

I stand for classical American values, which I base on the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, and which are best perpetuated through a free, classical liberal arts public education. I really do believe in liberty and equality for all, and I don’t see an asterisk after “all.” I stand for everything Pearce and this governor opposes, and I oppose everything they stand for. That they are in charge of my state is a terrible embarrassment, and I fear for our children’s hearts and minds under their influence.

We’ve had undocumented workers in AZ since forever. It’s a way of life here. Our oldest families are Mexican. So isn’t it curious that “illegal immigration” became a “crisis” just when privatized, for-profit prisons paid on a per capita/per diem basis became the norm? Horrific that it was all ginned up by one madman (John Tanton) against all respectable economic data, and how it was promptly snatched up by the Far Right to drive voter turnout and divert Americans’ attention from the real thieves and looters—by which I mean the beneficiaries of the last 30 years of wage stagnation, loss of benefits, outsourcing, etc.

The America I know is going down the drain, and someone need to explain to the guys down at Trak Auto and the gals at the mall just exactly what’s wrong with this picture. They aren’t paying attention, and they aren’t particularly well educated, but they are angry and afraid. That makes them easy pickings for demagogues like Pearce. So far, except for progressives, we’ve pretty much left them to that fate. Moderates and sane conservatives have abandoned the field, along with clergy and educators and other respected community leaders.

But just because they’re simple people, it doesn’t follow that they deserve to be railroaded and lied to and screwed. Folks like you, who have significant influence and resources, can prevent that. It’s in all our interests that you do so. So welcome to the fight, and thank you for this initiative. I wish you every success and hope that you can rally others with influence in the moderate center and sane conservative right to the cause.