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Tweedledum & Tweedledee

Ralph G. Smith | Cave Creek

It seems that the brouhaha over the bonuses paid to AIG executives in recognition of their services (that’s a joke, son) shows no sign of going away any time soon. Some anonymous nursery rhyme composer back in the early 1800s may have been a latter-day Nostradamus, when he wrote:

“Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.”

(Don’t blame me for the political incorrectness – I never wrote nursery rhymes, although this seems to be the time for them, with all the sub-juvenal white-haired pundits forever throwing their fingers out of joint with all the pointing at each other.)

The Tweedle brothers also appear in the Alice in Wonderland saga, which is, I think, the perfect place for them.

Of course the Tweedle family has lots of members not mentioned in the nursery rhyme – there are TweedleDodd and TweedleFrank, and probably TweedleBama and others crowding the House and Senate Chambers.

Apparently there is little we can do, at least until the next election, when we may be able to throw them all out (or at least teach them to speed-read their own legislation).

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Getting to work

Steve LaMar | Councilman Elect, Cave Creek

There are many wise old sayings that fit our time: When the going gets tough, the tough get going; what does not kill us makes us stronger; better to die fighting than break and run to a thousand deaths … etc, etc. Different ways of describing an ethic we share of working to make things better.

Expressing sincere thanks, it seems, requires some careful consideration of exactly what it is we are thankful for. Without thought the thanks at best rings hollow, and most times seems and little self serving.

So, having given it some thought, I want to sincerely thank the Cave Creek residents who, through their vote of confidence, gave me a chance to work on the Cave Creek Town Council to make things better. I will honor that trust.

The campaign continues for some folks. For what it is worth, I think that the Town will be best served with the election of Jim Bruce and Tom McGuire. They both have a great deal of experience and a proven dedication to service to the town.

If there is any gift of talent, thought, or time you have to help the town acquire the annexed open space, build new trails, promote business, or save on the town budget, be heard, volunteer. Together let’s get to work and make things better.

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Voters of Carefree

Peter Koteas | Candidate for town council

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all my fellow citizens that voted for me in the recent primary election. With your continued support in the May 19 General Election I pledge to represent ALL Carefree residents honestly and with integrity while keeping an open ear to your concerns.

I humbly ask for your continued support as we work together to “restore” Carefree to what the founders envisioned: a charming, tranquil, yet vibrant semi-rural community – and to guide Carefree town government back on the path of representing ALL Carefree citizens.

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Someone who represents all of us

John and Linda Budge | Cave Creek

On May 19, Cave Creek will be having one of the most important elections in the history of the town.

With the economic downturn, it will be critical to elect council members that can do the job of working with the mayor, town manager and staff to develop new programs to stabilize the towns economic future and at the same time preserve what it is that makes Cave Creek, Cave Creek.

It will take a council member with not only the ability to work with others, but the ability to make the touch decisions that can be made only by those without an underlying agenda.
Jim Bruce is such a man.

He is not only passionate in his love for Cave Creek; he shows it by his involvement with many organizations. He is chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee. He is on or has been on several boards including Kiwanis and Sonoran Arts League. He and his lovely wife Judy work countless hours for the betterment of the town, often holding money raising events to support such things as children’s educational workshops.

We need someone to represent all of us, not just some of us and make decisions based on non-agenda thinking.

We need someone that appreciates the town’s acquisition of the water company, which will bear fruit for generations to come.

Most of all we need to have council members that work together, even if they have disagreeing points, and be able to move on when decisions are made. We do not need to have the council meetings likened to a war zone.

Jim Bruce is an ideal person to fill a council seat. He is bright, intelligent and able to look at multiple views before making a decision.

We urge you to vote for Jim Bruce for council.

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Thank you Don

Bob Coady | Councilman

On behalf of the Town of Carefree I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your contribution and dedication to Carefree’s recycling programs. With your support, our recycling programs have been recognized not only locally but nationally as well.

To be honest, we could not have done it without you.

Please accept my thanks and know that you have been a major contributor in helping to preserve our fragile desert environment.

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Cautious Optimism

John Traynor | Carefree

Round one of the Carefree political season has ended with several somewhat surprising results. First and foremost, congratulations to the Primary Election winners, Carefree residents. Yes, Bob Coady, Doug Stavoe, and Glenn Miller are due congratulations as well.

Residents have also reaffirmed their right to elect representatives every two years by defeating the incumbent supported Prop 403. Well done! Another surprise was how poorly most of the incumbents fared; voters are smart people. They can’t be fooled for very long and they don’t want to be subjected to vicious, negative campaigns.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came a week after the election when three notable incumbents, including combative mayor Wayne Fulcher, dropped out of the race without explanation. The retirement of Town Administrator Jon Pearson, in concert with the voluntary departure of three ranking incumbents, might suggest that cleverly hidden landmines lie ahead. The good people of Carefree, by their vote, will address the future. As for the departed, one can speculate on their reasons, or offer them a pleasant farewell. While I can do both, I certainly favor the latter.

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Taking note

Bob Moore | Cave Creek

To the person who mentioned my name in the Your View column of March 18, I have this to say: If you are really responsible enough to write and yet hide behind the skirts of this column, perhaps one day you will be brave enough to actually meet with me personally to discuss and review the facts.

I would be happy to share the documentation of any and all “negative, shameful, and damaging” remarks you attribute to me. I believe there is really another side you should consider listening to: The Realistic Truth.

It should not be considered “Negativism: for a citizen of Cave Creek to rise and express concern over budget issue projected shortfalls some 18 months ago when the Planning and Zoning Commission was barely meeting to review any new projects and a number of commercial businesses were closing their doors. Many of the town’s revenue lines were falling well short of budget estimates. It should be rightly called “realism.” And I hardly feel “shameful” about it.

So if you really care, step out from behind the skirts of this column and meet with me personally. I am not going away and I intend to be around a long time because I too care about Cave Creek. I just do not wear the same rose colored glasses. Independently, I believe in standing up and asking serious questions supported by facts and records.

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Arpaio vows to not back down

Deputy Lindsey Smith | Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Twenty three more illegal aliens were arrested by Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies last night in two separate traffic stops in the valley, Sheriff Joe Arpaio says, bringing the total number of illegal immigrants arrested in just the last two weeks to 108. Half of those arrested in the past 14 days were booked in to jail on felony charges.

“My promise to the taxpayers of this county is this: as illegal aliens continue to pour into this country from Mexico, and they do, my deputies will meet them head on within the borders of this county with an equal degree of determination to stop them in their tracks,” Arpaio says.

Arpaio, whose law enforcement agency remains the only one in Arizona to enforce all aspects of the state human smuggling laws, says he will not be intimidated by the March 10, 2009 announcement of an investigation into racial profiling by the U.S. Justice Department.
He has ordered his deputies to continue to crack down during the last two weeks – by raiding business establishments which knowingly hire illegal aliens, enforcing the Arizona anti-human smuggling laws, finding and shutting down drop houses, and enforcing the 287 G immigration laws which ultimately has resulted in the deportation of hundreds of illegal aliens.

He has also expanded his Tent City jail complex to make room for an increased number of arrests related, in part, to illegal immigration.

“I would be remiss in duties as Sheriff if I would succumb to the pressures of those fighting me on this issue,” Arpaio says.

“Murder and kidnapping are a direct result of human smuggling traffic, though few politicians will admit it or even talk about it.”

Despite the controversy they seem to generate by protestors, elected officials and critics, Arpaio says his deputies are making plans for a new crime suppression operation soon in a location that will be announced at a later time.

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Another major mistake

Joseph B. Ryan | Sun City West

From the Internet: "Yesterday at Phoenix Sky Harbor ceremony, USDOT Secy. La Hood said this area, as the rest of America, has a future in light rail."

Apparently President Obama's administration has sold out to special interests. Secretary LaHood ignores the fact that both the FEIS and the Record of Decision of the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Project contain major errors.

It has been clearly shown to President Bush's appointees at the FTA and EPA that the infrastructure and operations of that project are increasing the production of air pollutants.

Those data should be in departmental records.

Furthermore, a grade-level system is more costly per revenue passenger mile than an elevated system using far lighter equipment. Also, elevated systems do not delay traffic in surface vehicles. Taxpayers also must cover the higher insurance costs and medical bills that are caused by the grade-level rail systems that are more dangerous than elevated systems, like John Shaw's RapiTran system, with no grade-level crossing.
When will Secretary LaHood wake up to the real world?

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An open letter to President Obama

Dawn J. Cook | Cave Creek

Mr. President,

I cannot and will not in any way be part of the diabolical “Freedom of Choice Act.” Any person with an ounce of common sense can see that “FOCA” is against all that our country stands for.

Therefore, let me remind you just what our “Declaration of the United States” says, and I quote, “We hold that these truths be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Tell me, Mr. President, what you do not understand about these self-evident truths. How can you (who call yourself Christian), put yourself above not only the “Declaration of the United States” but above the Almighty God Himself and His Law – Thou shalt not kill?

And again, we say “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, ONE NATION UNDER GOD with liberty and justice for ALL.
Tell me Mr. President, what don’t you understand? My great grandfather gave his life for these principles and his name is written on the Gettysburg Monument. My brothers fought in World War II for these principles. Yes, Mr. President, our family comes from damn good stock. We are not afraid to put our life on the line for these principles, which we hold dear!
But you, Mr. President, would rather KILL innocent defenseless babies! What about their rights? You blaspheme God and the sanctity of ALL life.

You speak of change, yes change is your famous word. Change our Declaration of Independence with an adulterous FOCA – Freedom of Choice Act? NO THANK YOU!

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OK, Adam, step down

Greg Smith | Cave Creek

OK, Adam, it's time to do the right thing: step down.

We can skip the May runoff election if you become the second candidate to pull out.
Your future might be big – your ambition certainly is. You even showed up outside the polling place to lobby voters. But lobbying and putting a horse on your campaign signs isn't enough. You must live here for a few years to understand this complex little town.

One year doesn't cut it. Please step down.

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One thousand days

Rev. Robert Fritch | Surprise

Please put an article in your newspaper making recognition that it has now been 1000 days that Isreali Defense soldier Gilad Shalit has been held by Hamas, and that the United States should stop sending any more money to Gaza until he is released unharmed.

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