Gallego
Steller’s piece on Gallego
Hard to miss the irony: The candidate being scolded is winning precisely because he refuses to audition for the party’s ideological talent show. No purity tests, no slogan compliance, no guilt-by-association theatrics with Eric Swalwell. Just a message that lands with working-class voters the party has been hemorrhaging. If the goal is to win elections, maybe stop attacking the one guy actually doing it.
Kurtis Rupe
Oro Valley
'Spoiler' minor party candidates
Gary Swing raises important concerns about ballot access and electoral fairness, but his proposals, however thoughtful, won't be adopted in time to affect 2026 elections.
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We need to distinguish between two separate issues.
First, minor parties like the Greens understandably want nominees who genuinely reflect their values. That is largely an internal party matter; major parties, too, sometimes face insincere candidates in their primaries.
Second is the “spoiler” effect. While its impact is debated, it's plausible that minor-party candidates can influence close outcomes. Ironically, a sincere Green candidate may be more likely to draw votes away from a major-party candidate than a “sham” candidate who lacks real support.
In a close race, voters may respond strategically. Some may even support an insincere candidate in a Green primary to reduce the likelihood of vote-splitting in the general election.
In the real world of 2026, such trade-offs cannot be ignored.
Green Party write-in candidate for state representative in LD7,
Richard Grayson
West side
Our 'rights'?
Rep. Fink quotes the Declaration of Independence, where it says we have the right to "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as the basis for her bill to protect the unvaccinated. It does indeed protect my right to sit in my house and consume all the alcohol I want. It does not protect my right to drive to a store at that point. An old legal axiom states "my right to swing my fist stops where your nose begins." The concept of "the greater good" takes precedence. Or in other words, what happens when my lack of a vaccination threatens your health?
Tim Canny
Oracle
Protections for the unvaccinated
In 2021, I cared for a critically ill, unvaccinated COVID-19 patient who consumed massive amounts of staff time and hospital resources. He had convinced his wife and daughter not to get vaccinated; both became ill and died from COVID after being exposed to him.
Finally off the machine, he asked where his wife and daughter were. I told him of their deaths, recommending a COVID vaccine, since he wasn't immune to all strains. Verbally abusive, he criticized me for infringing on his "freedom".
Our GOP leaders want to make this "freedom” the rule with Senate HB 2248. Protecting your family from preventable diseases isn’t their priority.
Both Franklin and Jefferson promoted smallpox inoculation as vital to the new nation’s survival (Jeanne Abrams April 14, Wall Street Journal).
Dismantling/ discrediting the CDC and destroying our public health system are actions that threaten all of us. Vote out anti-science, anti-vaccination legislators.
Steven Oscherwitz
Northeast side
More prayer needed?
Last September, our Oh-so-Christian "leader" Donald Trump (who recently posted a portrayal of himself as Jesus) urged Americans to pray an hour per week for the country. This was his "America Prays" initiative, recently resurrected as part of his new "America reads the Bible" initiative -- crafted to further politicize faith as he sees his popularity tanking. Maybe Trump feels the "America Prays" initiative hasn't worked so well. Perhaps people aren't praying hard enough? His Iran war isn't going too great. He continues his hateful, divisive ways — wars on science, medicine, public schools, illegals, people of color, DEI, voting rights, etc. Yes, maybe more prayer is in order! Pray to whatever Supreme Being you feel an affinity for; Buddha, Allah, God, Triple Goddess of Wicca, or some formless nebulous Supreme Being of your choice -- doesn't matter. Pray that our democracy can survive the evil and harm Trump is causing. Given that Congress cannot escape the mire of FOD (Fear Of Donald), prayer just may be our last hope.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
AZ bill seeks protection for unvaccinated
Are you kidding me!? HB2248 is going to protect people who refuse to get vaccinated from being denied services or employment. Unless there is a valid medical exemption (not political) these people should be fined and do possible jail time for endangering the health of themselves and the people around them. Vaccinated people are better for everyone.
Richard Govern
Foothills
Can there be any doubt?
With the polls showing major losses to Trump and a possible Democratic sweep in November, accompanied by thorough investigations into corruption, not to mention a possible third impeachment, added to the voting on redistricting, voicing loud and clear dissatisfaction with him, it looks pretty obvious that Trump will look for an escape hatch. He will try to create an excuse to resign so that he can blame the Republicans for the losses. We surely know that he's not responsible for any of it. Just ask him. On second thought, we should just let him go.
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Put the adults in charge
We now realize that the confabulator in chief’s (DJT) antics are wearing thin on the American people and the rest of the world. It might have been cute to hear him spin stories about electric boats and wind turbines that vary throughout the day, but is he serious or just being “The Donald?” I, for one, am extremely tired and anxious about these antics. I have even sworn off watching the news in the morning until I can hear better accounts of what has transpired overnight after his handlers sort things out. We now hear his most loyal minions are not comfortable with him in the situation room, afraid of him causing chaos during serious (?) discussion about the many situations he has walked us into. This “Groundhog Day” scenario needs to stop. When will the adults with expertise step forward to remedy this situation and preserve our country and reputation?
Alan Barreuther
Foothills
The West Wing
With today’s political scene as crazy as it is, I’ve started watching “The West Wing” circa 1999 to 2006. Funny, how a TV show gives me peace on what a government should look like, unlike the current administration run by the cowardly lion. This show was an excellent TV show for entertainment back then. Today, it should be required viewing to show how government should be run, unlike today’s Banana Republic, with its main export of stupidity, dominated by the rich who could care less of the people they represent. For those interested, the show is available on YouTube for $25 per season, seven seasons. The world is upside down with the current administration being a “Saturday Night Live” skit and “The West Wing” being the government we’d appreciate more as Americans.
Alexander Maldonado
Midtown
Freedom, Vaccines and the public good
Now the state Republicans want to remove vaccine mandates because "this is the United States" and the Declaration promises "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and government shouldn't tell people what to do.
Using this logic: Let's let people with active TB walk around untreated; let's let people drive on the wrong side of the road, not obey speed limits, stop signs, or traffic lights; let's let people shoot their guns whenever and wherever they want; let's let people drive drunk. After all, this is the United States, and the government shouldn't be telling us what to do.
Why don't we do all that and more? Oh, that's right...the public good. When we agree to form a government to secure our rights, we surrender some of our rights for the public good.
To those who want to remove vaccine mandates; when your child contracts a disease that could have been prevented by vaccines, exercise your freedom and do not seek medical care.
Larry Hammond
Southwest side
'AZ bill seeks protections for unvaccinated'
Rep. Lisa Fink's purported "declaration of independence" from vaccinations contains enough verbal garbage to gag the Founding Fathers. When will she and her party learn that the flip side of freedom is responsibility? Any fifth grader can tell you that.
She crows that her bill "ensures that Arizonans are not forced to choose between their bodily autonomy and their ability" to do what they want — because this is America. News flash: if you live in society — not in a cave — you are in fact not 100% free, even in America.
Vaccination not only protects the vaccinated, but all of those with whom they come into contact — thus in fact enabling all persons to do what they want to do.
It's not rocket science. Or politics. Or "philosophy." Just common sense.
Regula Case
Midtown
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