TERRORIST ATTACK AT AZ POWER PLANT!

Posted: 2014-06-11

Sean Holstege, The Republic | azcentral.com 7:42 p.m. MST June 11, 2014 AZ Republic 6-11-14

FBI and ATF agents responded to a Nogales power plant after a makeshift bomb went off Wednesday.

A makeshift bomb exploded at a Nogales, Ariz. power plant Wednesday, rupturing a large fuel tank and prompting the FBI and federal bomb experts to respond.

Local officials were alerted at 9:30 a.m. to a call of “suspicious activity” at the UniSource Energy Services Valencia Plant. An explosion had ruptured a diesel storage tank and caused what Nogales Police Lt. Carlos Jimenez described as a relatively small spill that was confined to the immediate area.

Officials closed off the power plant and an adjacent car dealership on North Grand Avenue. The FBI, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Arizona Department of Public Safety were called.

Agents were still processing the scene at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Arizona Corporation Commission spokesman Rebecca Wilder said there were no power disruptions related to the explosion and the plant sustained only minor damage.

“The reason for the high-scale response is the plant is an electrical substation and critical to the area,” Jimenez said, explaining that as many as 30,000 customers in the area – the entire town of Nogales and its environs – depends on the plant for power.

“The whole city of Nogales could have been compromised,” he added.

There were no reports of injuries and authorities said they knew of no suspects or witnesses.

They described the explosive as “a suspicious device,” but would not elaborate. The fuel did not ignite, Jimenez said.

The investigation continues.

Staff Writer Mary Jo Pitzl contributed to this report.

 

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/2014/06/11/nogales-explosion-power-plant-arizona-abrk/10351107/

Recall Effort Against Sheriff Joe Arpaio Fails-Law Suit Against ” Respect Arizona” Continues

by DEBRA HEINE 30 May 2013 405POST A COMMENT

A liberal group, “Respect Arizona” failed in its effort to recall popular Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Thursday, but a voter group represented by Larry Klayman, is still suing Respect Arizona because he says the recall effort was illegal under Arizona law to begin with.
Here is the press release from Klayman’s group, Citizens to Protect Fair Election Results:

 Today, predictably, the attempted recall of Sheriff Joe Arpaio by a group which ironically calls itself Respect Arizona, failed in its bid to begin a recall of this respected law enforcement official, who has just been reelected to office for a sixth term. While admitting that they did not get the required number of signatures to begin a recall, obviously because the people of Maricopa County are happy to have Sheriff Arpaio remain in office, the Respect Arizona spokesmen failed to mention that their attempted recall was illegal in any event, as not proscribed by the Arizona Constitution at Article 8, part 1, section 5, which prohibits a recall within six months after an elected official is sworn in. In this regard, the lawsuit filed by attorney Larry Klayman on behalf of the voters of Maricopa County, through his client, the Citizens to Protect Fair Election Results, is set for hearing on June 25, 2013 at 1:30 pm before Judge Michael Herrod.

“Despite Respect Arizona’s miserable failure to get the requisite number of signatures needed to conduct an illegal recall, prohibited by the Arizona Constitution, we maintain that the case must still be decided on the merits, as this abuse of process is capable of repetitive acts – that is other elected officials, including judges, could be subject to similar improper schemes to thwart the will of the voting public and nullify their votes. Moreover, the use of a premature and illegal recall effort to raise funds for an organization such as Respect Arizona, defrauds donors to the recall effort and wastes valuable county and state resources. It is thus no wonder that Respect Arizona has refused to make public the signatures which it claims to have collected, as they were procured under false pretenses,” stated Klayman.

“The case against Respect Arizona and the county agencies which allowed this illegal attempted recall to go forward is thus proceeding in court, as this illegal conduct cannot be allowed to happen in the future. We need a ruling by the court upholding the Arizona Constitution, to protect the voters of this great state and elected officials and judges who won their elections fair and square,” added Klayman.

http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/05/30/Recall-Effort-Against-Sheriff-Joe-Arpaio-Fails

Assasination Attempt On Joe Arpaio

4-12-13

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities are investigating an explosive device addressed to Arizona’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America” known for his strict treatment of jail inmates and cracking down on illegal immigrants.

The device intercepted in Flagstaff late Thursday was in a package addressed to Arpaio at his downtown Phoenix office, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

It appeared suspicious, so it was X-rayed and the device was detected. A bomb squad team neutralized the explosive, the statement said.

Arpaio’s chief deputy, Jerry Sheridan, told The Arizona Republic that investigators believe the package was picked up on Thursday at a rural Post Office box. Flagstaff is about 140 miles north of Phoenix.

Tom Mangan, a spokesman in Phoenix for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said initial reports indicated that the package was a box that may have been damaged in transit and leaked gunpowder.

Following the killing of a West Virginia sheriff last week, Arpaio said elected law enforcement officials across the nation seem to be targeted.

A national hero to conservatives on immigration issues, Arpaio himself has been the target of numerous threats. That prompted the need for a security detail for the lawman also known for dressing jail inmates in pink underwear and making them sleep in tents in the heat of the Arizona desert.

A campaign to recall Arpaio began just weeks after he started his sixth term in January.

Critics contend Arpaio should be ousted because his office failed to adequately investigate more than 400 sex-crimes cases, allegedly racially profiled Latinos in its trademark immigration patrols and has cost the county $25 million in legal settlements over treatment in county jails.

Arpaio has denied that his deputies racially profiled Latinos in traffic patrols targeting illegal immigration. His office has moved to clear up the sex-crime cases and moved to prevent the problem from happening again, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/explosive-addressed-sheriff-joe-arpaio-defused-133618040.html

Statement by Andy Biggs, AZ Senate President Regarding Medicaid Expansion

(Email forwarded from Senate President Biggs 3-22-12)

“Recently local talk show host and Medicaid Expansion spokesperson Mike Broomhead wrote a column aimed at rebutting the Republican Legislative District 15 Resolution against the proposal to restore the entire population of Proposition 204, as well as expanding coverage to fully implement Obamacare.  In the debates over Obamacare, Mr. Broomhead was a harsh critic, calling it socialized medicine. Now he’s on the frontlines in support of the expansion in Arizona.

The fact is that the Medicaid expansion is full implementation of Obamacare. It far exceeds the will of the voters expressed in Prop 204. It disregards the will of the voters expressed in Prop 106.  It expands government.  It fails to eliminate the “hidden healthcare tax.” It was not in harmony with the Republican principles espoused when Obamacare was debated at the federal level, nor is it in harmony with Republican and free market principles today. Elected Precinct Committemen, County Republican Officers, and elected leaders of legislative districts are expressing their discontent with the Governor’s proposal. Instead of being heard by our elected officials, they are being attacked by them.   Paid shills and hirelings of the hospitals (who want to expand their profits) are using every medium to give the appearance that there is widespread support for this Democratic supported proposal among Republicans. Perhaps supporters of this proposal would do well to listen to the base of the Party.

The following is an answer to Mr. Broomhead. A point-counterpoint approach would be very difficult to follow, so I will summarize his assertions,  getting to the foundation of his position, and then respond.

Mr. Broomhead asserts:

*            Proposition 204 was approved by the voters, and the Governor’s plan to expand Medicaid honors the will of the voters.  

The  proposal to expand government healthcare isn’t limited to the 100% Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) population covered by Prop 204 but instead expands the target population to 138% FPL.  Further, when Prop 204 was put forward the Prop 204 population was said to be about 40,000 and health care for this group was to be paid from tobacco taxes.   The voters did not approve a massive expansion of the population who would receive taxpayer funded healthcare when they passed Prop 204.  In the meantime the voters voiced their opposition to Obamacare when they passed Prop 106 in 2010.

*            The expansion/implementation is limited to Prop 204 and has nothing to do with AHCCCS or Obamacare.

In reality the proposal has everything to do with AHCCCS because that is the state agency that will administer the full implementation of Obamacare contemplated in the planned expansion, controlling the new hospital bed tax, and enforcing the tax.  AHCCCS will be required to make sure there are enough providers and will have to monitor the expanded population for costs, fraud, and other administrative functions. Further, the population at issue is the optional care population, so that expanding Medicaid coverage (which is called AHCCCS in Arizona) is actually full implementation of Obamacare.  It is optional.  It is not mandatory.

*            The State General Fund is protected because of the Hospital Bed Tax and the “Circuit Breaker” will protect the state in case the Feds fail to fully fund the matching funds.

Proponents of the expansion claim to protect Arizona when the Feds reduce the amount of money now promised to Arizona to pay for the expansion of Obamacare.  The Feds promise to pay 10 times the amount Arizona will pay – billions of dollars per year- and then the Feds will reduce that amount to 90% over six years.  If the Feds drop below 80% the 400,000 people who will be added to the program will all be booted off.

If the political fallout from removing 50,000 people from socialized medicine is enough to make Republicans go wobbly, surely a similar move with eight times as many people will result in apoplexy by the Republicans in the Legislature.

The Feds have consistently broken their promises to fund federal programs.  Under the current sequester Arizona’s Department of Economic Security is having to scramble to deal with pull-backs in federal funding.  In fact, the Feds have recently reduced Medicare coverage.  When the Feds breach their promises on the expansion, the State’s General Fund will be on the hook.  The costs will crowd out other state programs such as education.

*             The hospitals will not pass the expense of the bed tax onto insurers.  In other words the “hidden health care tax” will disappear.

“Uncompensated care” is defined as care that is provided to a patient who doesn’t pay for it.   Hospitals make up for this by negotiating with insurers to receive higher compensation from those who pay for insurance, to cover the cost of care for those who don’t pay the full freight.  So there is really no “uncompensated” care.  Admittedly it gets passed on to insurance companies, and onto ratepayers. This process is called the “hidden health care tax.”

This is exactly what will happen under the expansion proposal with the $254 million dollars that hospitals will be taxed each year in order to receive the federal dollars. They will pass it along to insurance companies, who will pass it onto insurance customers.  In the legislation proposed there is no protection against the “hidden health care tax.”  There is no transparency or audit provisions to make sure the cost isn’t passed along.  And more telling, there is not even a general statement preventing the costs from being passed to consumers.

*              The absolute delegation of powers to the AHCCCS director by the Legislature is  similar to the limited fee making authority that the legislature occasionally gives to various state agencies.

One of the differences is that the new authority is unbridled. The fee authority is given to any AHCCCS Director with no expiration of that authority.  That means that a director serving under a future governor will have the same authority that is given in the expansion proposal.  The legislation also delegates authority to the Federal government.  There are simply not the same checks on the proposed delegation of power to an unelected state bureaucrat that the legislature typically places on agencies in other cases.  This is a recipe for tyranny.

*             The Governor fought against Obamacare and should be supported in her decision to implement the Medicaid Expansion, which isn’t “Obamacare.”

This expansion is not mandated. This expansion is optional.  So, regardless of Arizona’s previous position against Obamacare, implementation of this optional expansion is a submission to Obamacare.

*             Anyone who opposes the Obamacare expansion is a naïve idealist and not being realistic.

Let’s examine some of the arguments in support of the expansion that are either idealistic, naïve, or simply without merit.  One argument used is that this expansion is the law of the land.  That statement is untrue.  The expansion is optional.  Even the U.S. Supreme Court held that this portion of Obamacare is optional.

Another argument is that expansion is justified because our competitor states are all doing it.  CEOs have recently rated Arizona as a top-ten state to do business.  Our competitors are the other states in the top ten, not our regional neighbors that aren’t business friendly (Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado).  Of the top-ten, only Florida’s governor has opted to expand Obamacare, and the Florida legislature is fighting his plan.  Other top business states (Texas, Indiana, Utah, etc,) are rejecting the expansion.

Is it realistic for Arizona to optionally expand Obamacare, much like the fiscal basket cases in the region, such as Nevada and California?

It isn’t realistic to claim that full implementation of Obamacare by expanding those covered by taxpayer funded healthcare from 100% of the federal poverty level (approved in Prop 204) to 138% of FPL is a “slight” increase and is merely implementing the will of the voters.  That is like paying $4.00 per gallon of gas yesterday, and today paying $5.52. No one thinks that $5.52 is a “slight” increase over $4.00.

It is not realistic to claim that if we don’t take federal dollars some other state will get Arizona money.  If that is true, then it’s also true that we will be depriving another state of federal dollars if we take the money.  That isn’t realistic, either.

The federal structural deficit is nearly $17 trillion. Further, the United States annual structural deficit, when including Medicare and Social Security obligations, exceeds $4 trillion.  Expanding Obamacare places an unfair economic burden on future generations in order to pay for the healthcare of people today. That is the reality.

*              Republicans shouldn’t tear each other apart on this issue.

It isn’t those opposed to the Obamacare expansion who are attacking their fellow Republicans.  It’s people like Mr. Broomhead who insult those who oppose the plan.  It is those who back the plan who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to send out postcards to people urging them to harass their legislators into supporting the expansion.  They have also paid for television ads.  Supporters of Obamacare have hired a lobbyist to try and rally the base, when the base of the Republican party is speaking loudly against the expansion without the aid of a paid lobbyist to direct them.  Political leaders who support the plan have produced ads and mailers while the opposition is the result of a groundswell of the Republican base.

*              The plan to fully implement Obamacare is merely a safety net.

To say that expansion of socialized medicine is merely a safety net does not track.  Arizona has always been very generous in its state sponsored healthcare program.  Currently there are about 1.2 million people receiving this taxpayer funded care.  The expansion will take that number up to 1.6 million people.  That will be about one-fourth of Arizona’s entire population receiving taxpayer funded healthcare. This isn’t a safety net anymore, this is an incentive program to join socialized medicine.

*             Obamacare is limited government.

Increasing Obamacare by 33% increases government.  Since I arrived at the legislature I have seen the program grow in caseload and in general fund obligations.  All efforts to minimize the program have been rejected by the federal government. “

Andy Biggs, President
Arizona Senate
LD12

From: “Mike Broomhead, Honorary Chairman, Restoring Arizona” <info@restoringarizona.com>
Date: March 13, 2013, 6:18:07 PM MST
Subject: Medicaid Resolution Seriously Flawed

 

Response to: The Maricopa County Legislative District 15 Republican Committee’s Resolution In Opposition to the Governor’s Medicaid Plan

LD 15 says: WHEREAS, the Voters of Arizona clearly expressed their will to reject implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) by amending the Arizona Constitution via Proposition 106 in 2010, and thus preventing an individual mandate; and TRUTH: It was Republican Governor Fife Symington, who first proposed the idea of covering adults in the mid-90s. Then Arizona voters approved the measure in 1996 and again in 2000 via Proposition 204. The support from Arizona voters was overwhelming. The Governor’s plan simply honors the will of the voters. The Governor’s Medicaid plan has nothing to do with enforcing the individual mandate. In fact, it was clear that Proposition 106 did not affect the AHCCCS program whatsoever. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, the State of Arizona cannot afford to be saddled with the costs of implementing this federal program and the “Circuit Breaker” clause is insufficient to prevent an out of control escalation of said costs; and TRUTH: The Governor’s plan protects the State’s General Fund and takes Prop. 204 costs off the State’s books by working collaboratively with the hospital industry to formulate an assessment. The State is clearly able to terminate this proposal at any time, so the “circuit breaker” also protects the State from any federal “bait and switch.” LD 15 says: WHEREAS, the “assessment” on hospitals is in reality just a hidden tax that will ultimately be passed on to hospital patients in the form of higher costs and is a disingenuous attempt to subvert the legislative process requiring tax increases receive super-majority approval in the legislature; and TRUTH: Under the Phoenix Access to Care Ordinance, which the Governor has proposed adopting at a statewide level, hospitals are forbidden from passing on the costs to consumers. No law, however, protects consumers from hospitals passing on their costs of uncompensated care. We – all of us – are paying for uncompensated care. We are all covering the cost of care for people who do not have insurance but who still get cancer or people who get in a motorcycle accident and end up needing care in a trauma center. Recent studies put this at nearly $2,000 per family. The assessment is similar to current programs, like the Managed Care Premium assessment and the recently passed Nursing Home assessment. It is well within the bounds of the Arizona Constitution and the precedent set by the legislature to allow agencies to set their own assessments for the industries that they regulate. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, no government entitlement program has ever been scaled back, eliminated or held within its initial costs [sic] projections, and the long term and evolving costs of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion will cause a severe financial hardship on Arizona’s budget, just as surely as Obamacare will do the same to the country; and TRUTH: Not in Arizona – in 2011, when the state’s general fund was spread too thin, Governor Brewer led the effort to reduce the AHCCCS budget by $2.5 billion, including eliminating the program that provided coverage for people with catastrophic medical events, known as the spend-down program. Further, the State froze enrollment for its KidsCare and childless adult program. In total, these efforts reduced the rolls by about 180,000 people. Although the goal was always to restore access to this population to respect the will of the voters, when the state has faced difficult fiscal times, the Governor and legislature have not been afraid to scale back government entitlements. Further, Arizona already knows what it takes to provide coverage to the Proposition 204 population; it has been studied by experts from Harvard and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The cost of this care is already well known to actuaries. And finally, Governor Brewer’s plan calls for an automatic “circuit breaker.” Under this provision, the expansion population would automatically be repealed without another vote of the legislature if the federal government’s share falls below 80%. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court explicitly rules that each State is free to reject implementation of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion and Insurance Exchanges, the two cornerstones of the Affordable Care Act, without which Obamacare collapses as a practical and functioning program; and TRUTH: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. Although Governor Brewer vehemently and courageously opposed the passage of the legislation, and participated in the lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court that sought to strike down the act, the Affordable Care Act is here to stay. Twenty-six states, including Arizona have rejected the Act’s offer to set up state exchanges; this will not stop the federal government from setting up a federal exchange. Similarly, failure to accept the federal government’s offer to fund the restoration of Arizona’s Medicaid program will not have any meaningful impact on the success or failure of the overall legislation. The Governor’s plan is about Arizona. It is not ObamaCare. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, the Federal government is incapable of implementing these programs by 2014 or even 2016 without the local organization, legwork, and the financial subsidies of the States; The fastest and most efficient means to end Obamacare is simply for each State to refuse their implementation and allow them to fail; and TRUTH: The fastest and most efficient means to end ObamaCare would have been for the American electorate to vote for Mr. Romney, whom the Governor endorsed, campaigned for and fully supported. Elections have consequences. Elected leaders have a duty to govern and make tough choices. Her plan does right by Arizonans. Resolutions like these come from those who have the luxury of living in their ideological worlds without having to understand the real-life implications of their theories. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, by holding AHCCCS as the conservative model for Medicaid and an example to the other states, Governor Brewer is advocating for a conservative expansion of socialism, a truly contradictory concept; and TRUTH: This is a time for Republicans to rebuild and unite, not tear each other apart. Since when is it socialist to provide a safety net for the elderly, the disabled, the poor? And the AHCCCS system is truly a shining example of limited government where care is managed by private health plans and provided by private physicians and hospitals, the very same ones we all see for our own care. LD 15 says: WHEREAS, supporting a government takeover of our health care system, even to secure large amounts of federal funds, does NOT reflect the values of the Republican Party or the interests of the taxpayers of Arizona; now therefore be it TRUTH: Once again, the Governor’s plan is about Arizona and Arizona’s system is one of limited government. Limited government works. As the leader of the Republican Party, the one whom Republican precinct committeemen have been elected to support, Governor Brewer’s plan is the embodiment of the Republican values of private sector partnerships and limited government interference. LD 15 says: RESOLVED, that we, the Maricopa County Legislative District 15 Republican Committee do (unanimously) affirm and declare our opposition to the Governor’s plan to expand Medicaid in support of Obamacare; and, be it further RESOLVED, that we, the Maricopa County Legislative District 15 Republican Committee demand that the Legislators of the Arizona State House and Senate stand with the people of Arizona in opposition to the Governor’s plan to expand Medicaid in support of Obamacare by defeating any bill to such ends. TRUTH: Opposing the Governor’s proposal to restore Arizona’s innovative and nationally acclaimed AHCCCS program ignores the will of the voters, the fiscal realities of our state and the escalating costs of uncompensated care that threaten to drive up the costs of private health insurance premiums, hurt Arizona businesses and make Arizona uncompetitive. Preserving a strong and competitive economy and fostering the free-market ideals that AHCCCS embraces are at the core of the Republican Party’s beliefs. So much so, in fact, that the AHCCCS enabling legislation was passed by a Republican-led legislature in 1981. Then, Republicans understood that their role as elected officials was not to “hold the line” but to come up with pragmatic, responsible solutions to the state’s healthcare crisis. Now, our elected officials are faced with the same choice. Governor Brewer has proven she understands that her primary responsibility is to improve the lives of the citizens of Arizona; it is unfortunate that the Pima County GOP does not hold itself to the same standard. The Governor’s plan supports Arizona. It is not in support of ObamaCare.

 

Republicans Who Voted Against SB1182 (Paycheck Protection)

These four Republican senators voted NO with the Democrats

to a very important union bill, SB1182 (Paycheck Protection)

which protects workers’ freedom of association with unions.

 Please contact all these Senators and ask them to support

the Arizona taxpayer and worker freedom by voting for

Paycheck Protection the next time it comes to the

Senate floor or to any Senate committees.

 

Sen. Rich Crandall (R-Mesa/LD16) 602-926-3020 rcrandall@azleg.gov ,

Sen. Adam Driggs (R-Paradise Valley/LD28) adriggs@azleg.gov 602-926-3016

Sen. John McComish (R-Ahwatukee/LD 18) jmccomish@azleg.gov 602-926-5898

Sen. Bob Worsley (R-Mesa/LD 25) bworsley@azleg.gov 602-926-5760

FYI- Steve Pierce decided to just not vote at all. I would include him in your contacts.

Sen. Steve Pierce – spierce@azleg.gov 602-926-5584.

SAMPLE EMAILS:

Copy and paste send: rcrandall@azleg.gov , adriggs@azleg.gov , jmccomish@azleg.gov , bworsley@azleg.gov , spierce@azleg.gov

 

Re: Paycheck Protection bill SB1182

 

Dear Senator,

 

I am writing to respectfully request that you vote for Paycheck Protection the next time you get a chance. Please do not attempt to appease the unions. If you believe in freedom of choice for workers then you should support this bill. If you believe unions should not have a political slush fund, then you should support this bill.

Please contact these two Senators, Andy Tobin and Bob Robson and ask them to allow ALL union reform bills to get out of the Rules Committee.

 

Copy and paste send: atobin@azleg.gov, brobson@azleg.gov

 

Re: Union Bills

 

Dear Senator,

I am writing you to respectfully request that you allow ALL of the labor reform bills (SB 1349, HB 2438, HB 2330, HB 2343 and HB 2026) to get out of the Rules Committee and go to floor votes in the House.

 

Thank you, 

Thank you all for holding our representatives feet to the fire.

 

AGENDA 21 CLOSING MORE ACCESS POINTS EVERY YEAR ON ARIZONA RIVERS

TO ALL MY GREAT PADDLERS, A  BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE WHILE WE MOVED INTO OUR NEW  LOCATION IN EAST MESA.

WOW WHAT A RAIN WE HAD. THIS  IS GREAT NEWS FOR OUR RIVERS AND LAKES. THE UPPER AND LOWER SALT SHOULD BE  FLOWING GOOD AND THE VERDE SHOULD HAVE GREAT FLOWS TOO.

THIS IS GREAT  NEWS FOR OUR WHITEWATER PADDLERS THIS TIME OF YEAR. FEEL FREE TO CALL US ANYTIME FOR ALL  YOUR WHITEWATER NEEDS.

A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED  SINCE MY LAST EMAIL. ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS THE CHAINS UP AT THE LOWER SALT  SAYING “CLOSED FOR THE SEASON”.

IN OVER 30 YEARS GOING TO THE  LOWER SALT THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE CHAINS HAVE BEEN UP FOR THE WHOLE  WINTER. MANY RENTERS ASKED ME WHY, AND THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION.  WHY?

I’LL LET MY PADDLERS ANSWER  THAT.

ONE THING IS FOR SURE. IT IS  UNDISPUTABLE AND ABSOLUTE. THAT IS THE FACT THAT EVERY YEAR WE LOSE ACCESS  POINTS WHETHER IT’S IN THE HIGH COUNTRY OR CLOSE TO TOWN. EVERY YEAR WE LOSE  ACCESS POINTS.

SO I TELL MY PADDLERS THE  GLASS IS STILL HALF FULL. ENJOY THE SITES WHILE YOU ARE ABLE TO. NOT JUST FOR  PADDLING BUT FOR BIKING, HIKING, CAMPING, FISHING, ETC. ETC. THE SITES YOU ARE  ENJOYING TODAY MAY HAVE A CHAIN AND LOCK ON THEM PREVENTING ACCESS TOMORROW. SO  GET IT WHILE THE GETTIN IS GOOD AND TAKE THE KIDS TOO.

THE RAINS SHOULD MAKE FOR  GREAT SUMMER FLOATS DOWN THE LOWER SALT AND ALL OUR DESERT LAKES TOO. THIS AS  ALL GREAT NEWS COURTESY OF MOTHER NATURE. FEEL FREE TO CALL US FOR ALL YOUR  CANOEING AND KAYAKING NEEDS NOW AND AS IT WARMS UP.

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO ALL  LIBERTY WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE REFIGURING THE EMAIL LISTS SO REPLY BACK TO  ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT YOUR FROM LIBERTY AND RECIEVED THIS  EMAIL.

ALSO WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF  OUR PADDLERS ON THE LIST HAVE MOVED OR RENTED WHILE ON VACATION IN ARIZONA AND  ARE NOW OUT OF STATE–SIMPLY REPLY BACK WITH “REMOVE” AND WE’LL TAKE YOU OFF THE  EMAILING LIST.

I WANT TO LET ALL MY  GREAT PADDLERS KNOW THAT THE CAPTAIN IS STILL KICKING AND FEEL FREE TO CALL  ANYTIME ON 480-345-SALT(7258) AS YOU ALL KNOW, I AM USUALLY LIFTING AND MOVING  BOATS ALL DAY OUT BACK, SO AS ALWAYS BEST REACHED BY PHONE ON  480-345-SALT(7258). IF YOU CAN WAIT A DAY OR TWO FOR A REPLY FEEL FREE TO EMAIL  US AT SALTRIVERFUN@COX.NET.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE AND  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SEASON.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD  MOVING ALL MY HUNDREDS OF BOATS TO THE NEW LOCATION IT HAS BEEN A HUGE  UNDERTAKING. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT AND PADDLING WITH YOU IN THE  NEAR FUTURE.

THANKS  AGAIN

SINCERELY, (local outfitter)

‘Marijuana cannon’ fires pot across border fence

The “marijuana cannon” (Mexicali Public Safety Department)

Mexican police have confiscated an improvised cannon that they say was used to fire packages of marijuana across a border fence into California.

The makeshift cannon was made of plastic pipe and powered by compressed air sourced from an old car engine, police in the border city of Mexicali said. The device was able to fire cylinders packed with up to 30 pounds of pot.

The cannon was discovered on Tuesday after U.S. officers told Mexican police that they had been confiscating a large number of drug packages that appeared to have been fired over the border, the Associated Press said.

It’s not the first time drug traffickers have used a cannon to transport marijuana across the border. In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials recovered more than 30 cans of marijuana scattered in Yuma, Ariz., near the Colorado River.

According to NBC, an investigation of the area “determined that the cans were fired from about 500 feet away with a pneumatic-powered cannon” and that a “carbon-dioxide tank was found nearby.”

In that case, the cannon was not found. But Mexican border police said on Tuesday that they have confiscated similar devices in recent years.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/marijuana-cannon-pot-border-mexico-us-141040996.html

Another Crazed Cop Hating Leftist In Mesa This Time

Posted: Friday, February 15, 2013 8:44 am

Man with gun arrested while protesting Mesa Police on streetcornerBy Michelle Reese, TribuneEast Valley Tribune

A man protesting law enforcement in Mesa was found to be in possession of a loaded gun when arrested early Wednesday morning for disorderly conduct.

Mesa Police said Jeremy Wiseman, 36, had been on the corner of Alma School Road and University Drive for several hours holding a sign that read “Stop the harassment Mesa Police,” along with a phone number reported to be his own. Police say Wiseman started yelling obscenities at officers who were called to the scene when a bicyclist said the suspect harassed him.

Up until the call from the bicyclist, which police received about 3 a.m., police had not contacted him because he was exercising his First Amendment rights, according to a press released by Mesa Police Sgt. Tony Landato.

Upon responding to the call, police said, Wiseman started screaming at them.

In an audio released by Mesa Police, a man is heard screaming “Stop Mesa Police harassment.” An officer responds, “I need to talk to you.” A moment later another officer is heard saying, “He’s got a gun,” and two officers start ordering the suspect to the ground.

Police first noticed the butt of the gun holding up the sign and ordered Wiseman to put the gun and the sign down. When he did not, two officers used a stun gun to subdue him and take him into custody, according to the police press release.

During an interview after he was booked into the Mesa City Jail, Wiseman said he had the gun to protect himself from Mesa Police.

According to the release, he then made threats saying the officer talking to him, “was stirring up a hornets nest” and Wiseman made a reference to former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner and his manifesto against police. Dorner is believed to have killed multiple police officers and civilians in California this week, leading to a multi-state manhunt.

Before the interview was over, police said Wiseman stated he would bond out and take care of “the problem.”

He was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and threats.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/cop_shop/article_ac2b5028-7786-11e2-8a8d-001a4bcf887a.html

Secret jihadi army created by Muslim American group; undercover NYPD informant reveals details in new book

Christian Action Network: For more information call 434-237-8201

FOREST, VA—An informant with the New York Police Department (NYPD) , who worked for eight years undercover in Muslim American compounds, reveals that the group known as Muslims of the Americas has been training its members to wage jihad—holy war—against American citizens for decades, and has created a secret jihadi army within the United States.

The undercover informant, Ali Aziz of New York, was drafted by the NYPD to inform on Muslims of the Americas (MOA) as part of a long-term, ongoing surveillance program of potential Islamic terrorist activity conducted by the NYPD.

Aziz, who said he wants to tell his story and put an end to his double life, insists he has given enough information of criminal activity—including guerilla training exercises; stockpiling illegal weapons; welfare fraud; physical abuse of women, children and elderly MOA members; forced polygamous marriages—to law enforcement to shut down the camps.

Aziz’s story is told in a new book published by PRB Publishing, Twilight in America: The Untold Story of Islamic Terror Training Camps in America, by Christian Action Network President Martin Mawyer. In it, Aziz reveals that MOA has established a secret army of well-trained Islamists who are ready to attack “at one word” from their leader in Pakistan, Sheikh Mubarik Ali Gilani.

“It’s very simple,” Ali says in the book. “MOA is asleep. They are asleep. They are a bomb.” 

MOA was founded in the 1980s by Sheikh Gilani as a front group for the more radical terrorist network known as Jamaat Al Fuqra (“community of the impoverished”).  The group has recruited mostly from the black community, beginning in New York City where Gilani began cementing power. Since then, Al Fuqra has been linked to at least 17 terrorist-related crimes in the United States going back to the 1980s, among them welfare fraud, white-collar crimes, gun running, firebombing, drug crimes, weapons crimes and murder.

An Al Fuqra member was convicted in 2009 of murdering a rival imam in Tucson, Ariz., in 1990, after stabbing him at least 19 times. The group was also involved in the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, and the Day of Terror plot in 1993—in which numerous New York City landmarks, including the Holland and Lincoln tunnels, were targeted for attack.

In Twilight in America, Aziz describes his work as an undercover informant for the NYPD, how they promised to make his immigration problems go away if he would provide them with information about his associates within MOA.

“This is what the NYPD had wanted for the past 20 years,” Aziz said of his move to the Hancock, New York, headquarters of MOA. “They wanted someone living inside the Hancock camp who’s an undercover informant.”

Aziz’s martial arts skills were highly valued within MOA, and they drafted him to help train recruits and members. Because of his education and ability to speak both Arabic and English, Aziz worked closely with the MOA leadership, including Hancock leader Barry (Hussein) Adams, who Aziz says will one day become the leader of MOA worldwide.

Crimes committed by MOA members go beyond financial, drug running and thievery, Aziz revealed. “A lot of the children that grow up there become drug dealers. Some become murderers …

“I was providing information to the NYPD about people who committed some very serious crimes. I’m talking about  … What is the worse crime you can commit?

“I have evidence … bad people. And people got hurt very badly. And guess what? The crimes haven’t been solved. The NYPD can solve these crimes. They could solve them. They have the evidence.”

It’s unclear how many MOA compounds are in existence today. At one time the State Department identified 35 compounds in rural areas of the United States, including: Philadelphia, Pa.; Fairfax, Va.; Redhouse, Va.; York, S.C.; Commerce, Ga.; Jessup, Ga.; Buena Vista, Co. (raided and shut down in 1992); Baladulla, Ca. (raided and shut down in 2002); and more.

As noted above, several compounds been shut down after law enforcement raids discovered illegal activity being conducted. Others have purposely disbanded, according to Aziz, with members assimilating into nearby neighborhoods. This is what Aziz meant when he said “they are asleep,” according to the author.

The most shocking revelation came when Aziz told the author of Twilight in America that MOA has formed a secret army within the United States ready to carry out Sheikh Gilani’s orders. Although he said MOA no longer does “mass military training” at its camps—because they know they are being watched by law enforcement—they still have members ready to be called up.

“It’s like a formed military squad,” Aziz says in the book. “It’s certain groups. Certain individuals. Certain names. Certain guys. It is a very, very select group they have. It’s a lot of people. But it’s not like they train every day. It’s various people training in different positions.”

Twilight in America also delves into the kidnapping, beheading and dismemberment in 2002 of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Pearl was in Pakistan investigating links between the shoebomber (Richard Reid) and Al Fuqra/MOA. Pearl was on his way to an interview in Pakistan with Sheikh Gilani when he was kidnapped. Although Gilani was briefly detained and questioned in 2002 in Pakistan following Pearl’s death, he was released and never charged. In his book, Mawyer researches the links between the self-confessed murderer of Pearl, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, Gilani and other terrorists involved in the kidnapping.

“Muslims of the Americas pretends to be a peaceful organization of poor Muslims who want to live separated from the rest of the world, free to practice their religion away from American influences,” says author Mawyer. “Nothing could be further from the truth. There are so many connections to terrorist activity, not to mention connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and proven, prosecuted acts of terrorism, white-collar crime and outright murder, that law enforcement needs to shut these camps down.”

Mawyer believes the information provided by Aziz, as well as other undercover informants, is more than enough to raid the camps, rescue the abused members, and shut them down—but law enforcement at all levels is afraid to act against them for fear of being labeled anti-Muslim.

“I hope this book is a wake-up call to American citizens,” said Mawyer. “It is not a question of being anti-Muslim to investigate and shut these camps. It is a question of being anti-terrorism … and keeping America safe.” 

Mawyer is the founder and President of Christian Action Network, a non-profit public advocacy and education group based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Mawyer has authored several books, including Silent Shame, The Pro-Family Contract With America and Pathways to Success. He has also produced a number of documentary films, including Homegrown Jihad, Islam Rising, Sacrificed Survivors and America’s Islamic Threat. He has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity, Larry King Live, Pat Robertson’s 700 Club, NBC’s Today Show and Entertainment Tonight.

Co-Author Patti A. Pierucci is an award-winning journalist and documentary scriptwriter. She has worked as a ghostwriter for numerous national personalities, including members of Congress.

Martin Mawyer is the Founder and President of Christian Action Network, a non-profit public advocacy and education group based in Lynchburg, Virginia. He began his career as a freelance journalist and has authored several books, including “Silent Shame,” “The Pro-Family Contract With America,” “Pathways to Success,” and his most recent, “Twilight in America: The Untold Story of Islamic Terrorist Training Camps Inside America.” He has produced a number of documentary films, including Homegrown Jihad, Islam Rising, Sacrificed Survivors and America’s Islamic Threat. Mawyer has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity, Larry King Live, Pat Robertson’s 700 Club, NBC’s Today Show, Entertainment Tonight and Fox and Friends.  His latest book, “Twilight in America,” co-authored by Patti A. Pierucci, details the activities of Islamic terrorist training camps scattered throughout the United States. It can be purchased at TwilightInAmerica.com or Amazon.com in book or Kindle version

http://www.christianaction.org/new-book-twilight-in-america-just-released/

Hamas-linked CAIR-Arizona chairman leads Arizona lawmakers in anti-Jewish, anti-Christian prayer

Jihad Watch

“Hlayhel, who also serves as the part time imam of the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley led the lawmakers and all those in attendance through the reading of al-Fatiha…”

The Fatihah, the first sura of the Qur’an, contains this:

“Guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.” (1:6-7)

The traditional Islamic understanding of this is that the “straight path” is Islam — cf. Islamic apologist John Esposito’s book Islam: The Straight Path. The path of those who have earned Allah’s anger are the Jews, and those who have gone astray are the Christians.

The classic Qur’anic commentator Ibn Kathir explains that “the two paths He described here are both misguided,” and that those “two paths are the paths of the Christians and Jews, a fact that the believer should beware of so that he avoids them. The path of the believers is knowledge of the truth and abiding by it. In comparison, the Jews abandoned practicing the religion, while the Christians lost the true knowledge. This is why ‘anger’ descended upon the Jews, while being described as ‘led astray’ is more appropriate of the Christians.”

Ibn Kathir’s understanding of this passage is not a lone “extremist” interpretation. In fact, most Muslim commentators believe that the Jews are those who have earned Allah’s wrath and the Christians are those who have gone astray. This is the view of Tabari, Zamakhshari, the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, the Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas, and Ibn Arabi, as well as Ibn Kathir. One contrasting, but not majority view, is that of Nisaburi, who says that “those who have incurred Allah’s wrath are the people of negligence, and those who have gone astray are the people of immoderation.”

Wahhabis drew criticism a few years back for adding “such as the Jews” and “such as the Christians” into parenthetical glosses on this passage in Qur’ans printed in Saudi Arabia. Some Western commentators imagined that the Saudis originated this interpretation, and indeed the whole idea of Qur’anic hostility toward Jews and Christians. They found it inconceivable that Muslims all over the world would learn as a matter of course that the central prayer of their faith anathematizes Jews and Christians.

But unfortunately, this interpretation is venerable and mainstream in Islamic theology. The printing of the interpretation in parenthetical glosses into a translation would be unlikely to affect Muslim attitudes, since the Arabic text is always and everywhere normative in any case, and since so many mainstream commentaries contain the idea that the Jews and Christians are being criticized here. Seventeen times a day, by the pious. And in the Arizona State Senate, with the willing participation of the foolish kuffar.

“CAIR-AZ Chairman Leads Prayer on Arizona Senate Floor,” from CAIR Arizona, February 7:

On Thursday, February 7th, 2013 – the Arizona State Senate’s prayer invocation was led by Anas Hlayhel – the Chairman of the Arizona Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ.)Hlayhel, who also serves as the part time imam of the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley led the lawmakers and all those in attendance through the reading of al-Fatiha (the opening chapter of the Holy Quran) in addition to an additional prayer thereafter….

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/02/hamas-linked-cair-arizona-chairman-leads-arizona-lawmakers-in-anti-jewish-anti-christian-prayer.html