We (the Arizona voters) heard last week they would be attending a meeting here in Mesa to have a “Conversation” about the immigration reform bill that the “Gang of Eight” (of which they are both members) muscled through the U.S. Senate several weeks ago!
Yesterday in an eleventh hour announcement, I heard via email (addressed to “our valued customers”) from “The Arizona Republic, 12 News and azcentral.com” that the “Conversation” would be limited to “Valley Leadership & Business Groups” and would be moderated by Channel 12’s Lin Sue Cooney & Mark Curtis! And, oh by the way, unfortunately because of limited space; there would be no seating available for the general public (the Arizona voters)! Imagine that! Of course, the general public (the Arizona voters) were encouraged to follow along online;
convenient huh?
As it turns out; it wasn’t much of a “conversation” at all! It was very reminiscent of one of those Congressional hearings where all of the invited witnesses are sure to agree with whatever “bill of goods” that particular Congressional Committee is trying to sell us at the time. McCain’s last “town hall” didn’t go too well for him, so I guess he wouldn't want to attempt that again! It would appear to me that this “conversation” was one that Senators McCain & Flake were not real enthusiastic about having with the general public (the Arizona voters)! You think?
My first clue was that it was scheduled for 10:00 AM on Tuesday; a time when most of the general public (the Arizona voters) are at work! That would make it pretty difficult to follow online! Second clue, handpicked media; give me a break! Third clue, handpicked audience; just who the hell are the “Valley leaders and Business Groups” and who decided which ones would be invited?
My fourth and final clue, no seating available for the general public; give me a break! There was plenty of seating
there when I attended a meeting in that same venue last week with Arizona’s 4 U.S. House members! Watching the
rerun on azcentral.com; I noticed there were plenty of seats open, even up front in the VIP section! No seating
available huh?
Oh well! I can’t say that I’m surprised or shocked! It’s the kind of thing I have come to expect from McCain during his long Senate tenure (way too long I might add). Since losing the election in 2008, McCain has been nothing more than a water boy for the Obama Administration! Too bad he kept a muzzle on Palin; otherwise, things might have been different!
As for Flake; the jury is still out, I guess! So far, he’s has been hard to read but, teaming up with the “gang of 8” was definitely a bad move! He needs to get on the right side of the “Gun Control” issue and he needs to put some distance between him and the likes of McCain, Graham and the rest of those clowns! If he doesn’t, I’ll be supporting his opponent in the next primary if his name appears on the ballot! You can take that to the bank!
In summation; thanks guys, for nothing! If it was a "conversation" then it was most certainly "a one-sided conversation" at best! What would I call it? It was just one more “Dog & Pony Show” in typical D.C. fashion to impress the “low information voters”, who unfortunately, seem to be in the majority right now!
And a goodtime was had by all!
God help us!
Dave Allen
Arizonaoldfart