Several years before launched his Senate campaign, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, seen here speaking at former-President Donald Trump’s Save America rally in Prescott Valley in July 2022, had formed relationships with border vigilantes and far-right organizers. His son, Cade Lamb is the founder of the Sonoran Asset Group — one of various vigilante organizations that target aid workers and migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Who are we?
I think we need to take Mark Lamb’s question seriously and apply it nationally.
If you’re looking for a CEO to run a multitrillion-dollar enterprise, would you hire someone with no experience, or someone with “time in the trenches”? If the enterprise is a government, it includes all the people. If the enterprise is a business, the singular focus is profit margin. Running a government requires balancing vision with jurisdictional stewardship and committing to public service. Running a business requires vision, committing to your investors (and not ”stiffing” your workers or contractors), avoiding ignorance, negligence, arrogance, misfeasance, destruction, and bankruptcy. Do you see the United States as a society or a business? Your answer will determine your vote. Remember our selections in 2016 and 2020? Remember the recent bi-partisan border bill? How have these turned out? Why?
Our choice, our vote, our children’s future.
Spencer Elliott
Oro Valley
County Supervisor election
On several occasions since 2021 I’ve spoken with Supervisor Rex Scott about Pima County issues and I’ve seen him in action at board meetings. Based on these experiences I want to encourage District 1 voters to re-elect Rex Scott. From what I’ve seen, he gives serious and thoughtful consideration to all issues coming before the board, he is always willing to listen to his constituents, and he consistently exhibits kindness and decency. In short, Rex Scott is an outstanding public servant and an excellent representative for District 1. I encourage everyone to vote and to re-elect Rex Scott.
John Halliday
Oro Valley
Above the law
I firmly believe that all these college protesters have gone over the laws of the USA. Since they feel that they can go above the law destroying college property that is giving them their education, and praising murdering Palestinians, as well as the Iranian Government, let them go live there and see what it is like over there.
Also, since they think that they are above the law, take away their student loans and do not let them apply for new student loans if they have been arrested for rioting since they feel that Palestine is a better place.
To let these students go on rampage over the war in Israel, that most of them do not even know what it is all about is a crime against our Country and the freedom we live in.
We have fought hard for this freedom. We do not need young, unknowledgeable students try to take it away from us.
Jacques Fauxbel
Green Valley
Assisting those in need
We have all seen the encampments around town. Most of these people are simply broke, victims of violence or mentally/physically unwell. Many children live in these circumstances as well. I myself have been fighting SSDA for six years.
Government’s reaction is to clear them out and destroy their few belongings: shelter, food, clothing, etc. They need help, hope and respect for being human beings, just like the rest of us. How would you and your innocent children survive extreme heat 24 hours a day?
So my question is why don’t you just kill them? Instead of torturing them and stripping away their dignity? Sheesh. Think of the taxpayer money saved so it can fund current political shenanigans. No more blight on society.
America, with all of its wealth, should be able to afford its citizens basic needs and assist them in their times of dignity. Shame on us!
Kellie Gibson
Midtown
Those signs are everywhere
Judging by the dimensions of those Juan Ciscomani signs on every corner, he believes size matters. The only thing that doesn’t matter are the voters in his district. He voted for the Default on America Act that would have cut 10 billion dollars from federal law enforcement. He cheered the end of Roe v Wade. He refused to denounce the white nationalist rhetoric of fellow congressional colleagues from Arizona saying they just “reflected the people they represent.” He continually decries Washington spending too much money but had no trouble taking a $2,000 PPP loan for his consulting firm. He’s trying very hard to get voters to remember his name come election time. Let’s skip the name recognition and look at the issues and his voting record instead.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Hypocritical MAGAs
Verdict in — 34-0 guilty! Donnie Jr. is crying that the Democrats got their way! Hello people, No. 45 threatened the judge and his daughter with constant death threats. But his puppets believe that’s how you treat people of they don’t agree with your lies. No. 45 gave the jurors death-like stares as they walked by him. His puppets who sat at the trail wore their white shirts and red ties trying to intimidate the jurors by staring at them. Now we will see some violence, because they believe No. 45 telling his puppets over and over as President he is above the LAW. God help us now! A felon can’t run for President! All should know by now, the MAGA’s or Fascists have a backup plan to do another Jan. 6th now with weapons. God save our Country! Good luck to all of us at this historic event! A former President who knew what he was doing, trying to overthrow the United States government.
David E. Leon
Vail
Our country has not gone to hell
“Our country has gone to hell,” whined Donald Trump following his conviction on all 34 felony counts.
I disagree.
What I see is that our country and our judicial system is working. A jury of Donald Trump’s peers took a solemn oath pledging to act fairly and impartially and follow the law as explained by the judge. After carefully listening to and reviewing the evidence, they decided — without a shadow of doubt — that Donald Trump committed 34 felony crimes as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election.
What I see from that is hope. Hope that we will someday recover from the painful, partisan divisions that have been stoked by Donald Trump since he announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in 2015.
What I see — more than at anytime in the past nine years — is that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”
Thea Chalow
Oro Valley
Trump’s felony conviction
“A shameful day in American history.” House Speaker Johnson’s assessment couldn’t be more accurate. And Donald Trump’s criminal conduct is solely responsible for bringing us to this juncture.
As a retired senior military officer, educated to the ethos of our representative democracy, serving with women and men who commit to protecting this nation’s core values and concerned with our grandchildren’s future, I revel in today’s court decision as a moral victory for America. But the only meaningful victory is preventing DJT from returning to the Oval Office. As our forefathers oft opined, only an internal force can destroy us. The divisive, chaotic and cancerous effect of Trump must be eliminated by caring, critical thinking Americans.
As a point of balance, the Biden Administration has been notably unfocused and ineffective on many critical fronts. But even in its most questionable policy actions, it maintains this nation’s most desired values.
Michael Cravens
Northwest side
It is not acceptable
In Pima County there is a situation where one of the Democratic candidates for Pima County Attorney — Mike Jette — is accepting donations from some of Pima County’s most prominent contributors to candidates and policy positions that are totally contrary to what Democrats support. These contributors have donated to Trump, Ciscomani, Lake, Finchem and others including Wendy Rogers before and even after she was censured by the Arizona state senate for her comments and behavior in support of white nationalism. In addition, one of these contributors has donated to the “It Goes Too Far” committee whose purpose is to defeat the Arizona Abortion Access Act which will enshrine in the Arizona Constitution a woman’s right to choose and to determine her healthcare options.
Mike, do the right thing: do not take their money and condone who and what they support; walk away from them and return their contributions.
Contribution data available at the Arizona Secretary of State’s website and the Open Secrets website.
Sandy Salz
Oro Valley
Ex-President convicted
Today ex-President Trump was convicted of 34 felonies. You read right (34). He is officially a convict. Of course, the expected backlash is starting to arrive. The prosecutor was dishonest, the judge was biased, all the jurors looked the other way, the media couldn’t face the truth. For those of you who believe he is the person for our next President will you please do me a small favor. Open your minds, just for a minute, and consider that he isn’t who you thought he was. Consider that he is, in fact, a bigoted, low level liar who cannot get out of the way of his crimes. Is this really who you want to lead our great country? Please don’t, with a straight face, say yes. Maybe Biden is shaky and not as sharp as he once was but, he isn’t a crook. Doesn’t that mean something to you. Do all of us a favor and not allow this convict within a mile of our next presidency.
Philip Reinecker
East side
100% correct
I wonder whether any Trump supporters have asked themselves the question: Why is the electoral system and the judicial system rigged when Trump and other of his sycophants lose, but not rigged when they win? A lot of Republicans won in 2022, in fact a majority of the Arizona Legislature is Republican, yet the system was rigged against Kari Lake, and against Trump in the 2020 election. Why not against all the rest of the Republicans?
And now a jury of twelve non-politicians, carefully screened to protect against biases, has looked at a lot of evidence and concluded that he was guilty. Is everyone else who has been found guilty also innocent, or only Trump?
Aren’t you the least bit suspicious of a person who is always right?
Beth Dingman
Green Valley
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