FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Jerry Lewis' Big Announcement

It was almost one year ago when the S.U.I.T. (Shameful Useful Idiot Tool), Jerry Lewis, announced he planned to run against fellow Republican Senator, Russell Pearce, in the LD18 recall election.


When reviewing some past video footage of that day, we noticed a few familiar faces. 

There was, of course, Don Stapley who knows agitator activist Randy Parraz well from the numerous Maricopa County Board of Supervisor meetings Parraz crashed.  Stapley, along with several of his friends (who he is seen talking to on the right side of the photo) and his son, must not have gotten the memo that the LEWIS election night party was being held at a different location and not at the WRIGHT HOUSE.  Under normal conditions, this might have been construed as an "oversight".  However, not only did Stapley show up at the leftist election night party, he also participated in a video commentary along with radical leftists such as Chad Snow, Randy Parraz, Lydia Guzman, and activist lawyer who is suing Arizona Sheriffs and County Attorneys, Daniel Ortega.

Oops.

Stapley made it over to Lewis' party that night, eventually.

Also seen in the background of the video on the right side of the screen is radical progressive New Times writer, Stephen Lemons.

Following right behind Mr. Lemons is Todd Landfried.  The spokesman for the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform and who pushed for a Utah-style Compact in Arizona.  Mr. Landfried is VERY familiar with the Wright House.

He also showed up there at a celebration party the day CBA submitted their recall petitions.

(seen with his back to the camera talking to activist Roberto Reveles from the ACLU and Parraz)

Here's Landfried (seen in the background) when CBA submitted their recall petitions.

Landfried also became very familiar with Jerry Lewis.

(Hey, isn't that one of Kirk Adams' "A-TEAM" members in the picture?)

Here is Mr. Landfried at Jerry Lewis' election night party with agitator, D.D. Blase, who prides herself in thwarting the fundraising efforts of Russell Pearce last evening by threatening restaurants to discriminate against his supporters.

Who's intolerant again?

In the video, Don Stapley claimed that people all over the country would say to him, "What's wrong with you people?"

We can say the same of him.

Yeah, Mr. Stapley. 

What's wrong with you people?

More On Steve Chucri, In Case You Didn't Get The Memo Before

We vetted Steve Chucri before.

Steve Chucri is running for one of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisor positions, along with Randy Parraz's wife, Lilia Alvarez.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which way the Board would lean should they both win the election. 

We've learned by now that the Board of Supervisors meetings is where Randy Parraz and his ilk like to go and stage their feigned anger protests against people like Russell Pearce or Joe Arpaio.  You know, because they create and enforce laws that crack down on illegals.

Like this time.

And this time.

And this time.

And who can forget one of the FIRST times?

( Don Stapley caught at the Parraz Election night party at the Wright House in Mesa either before or after he showed up at Lewis' party.)

Did we mention that while Chucri was the President of the Arizona Restaurant Association, the ARA PAC donated to Jeff Flake's brother in law, Kevin Gibbons, when he attempted to run against Russell Pearce in 2008?

And that he is on the board of the Arizona Tourism Alliance who came out with an official statement on SB1070:

The Tourism Industry is deeply concerned about the repercussions that will result from the debate around Senate Bill 1070. Arizona tourism is currently in a very fragile state of recovery and the negative perceptions surrounding this legislation are tarnishing Arizona’s image and could easily have a devastating effect on visitation to our state.

The Tourism Industry was not part of the development of this legislation, but unfortunately is certain to experience the unintended consequences of the economic backlash. As we’ve seen many times in recent years, tourism is being used as leverage for a political issue with no direct connection to our industry.
Instead of driving our state’s economy even further into decline and punishing the 200,000 families who rely on tourism for their livelihoods, we proudly ask all Arizonans’ to support the diverse and global workforce that comprises the Tourism Industry and to invite friends, family, associations and businesses to visit and experience Arizona firsthand.


Chucri then went on record as having said this about SB1070:

"The Arizona Restaurant Association says business was better than expected in 2010 -- up more than $80 million over the previous year. But, President Steve Chucri wondered if it could have been better without 1070."

And this:

"Similar fears are being expressed in the restaurant industry. Steve Chucri,  president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, said some local restaurants are already feeling the affect of the new law.

"I can tell you I know that there have been cancellations of conferences," he  said, adding that that has an indirect impact to local restaurants.

Even though those who work in the restaurants are likely to be legal  immigrants, Chucri said "there's always been a sense of uneasiness since 2007,"  when the state passed a law that cracks down on employers who hire undocumented  immigrants.

"To take one's business license is serious action. When you saw that in 2007,  so many things happened. There is one thing clear: there is a need for  immigration reform in the nation," Chucri said. "When is Washington going to  wake up and answer the call?"

 (What about if our own state Senator, Raul Grijalva, hadn't called for a BOYCOTT on HIS OWN STATE? Where was his outrage over Grijalva's instigations and potential damage to the industries he represented?)
It also sounds like Mr. Chucri is still dwelling on the lawsuit he filed as President of the Arizona Restaurant Association against the State of Arizona over E-Verify in 2008.  Which is funny because just recently, Chucri said of Don Stapley, who is embroiled in legal troubles of his own,

"It's hard to ask for someone's vote, all the while suing them.  I think there's a fundamental disconnect."

Exactly how much of our tax dollars were spent defending the lawsuit Chucri filed against the state?  And now he's asking for us to vote for him too?

Shortly after E-Verify passed, Chucri alluded that the law created an increase in race-based attacks:

But other restaurant owners also have seen an increase in race-based attacks, said Steve Chucri, president and chief executive of the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, one of several business groups suing to block the employer sanctions law from taking effect on the grounds that the law is unconstitutional.

Adding it all up, it's pretty clear that Chucri isn't too fond of E-Verify and it's not looking like he's a big fan of SB1070 either.  Again, how will he be able to stand up to the pressure that awaits him should he win the election?  Will he agree to the leftist propaganda if they parade the "Arizona Accord" in front of the board?  Will he pacify the Parraz group?  The DREAM activists?  Will he vote to deny funding for our Sheriff that is intended to go towards illegal immigration enforcement as was already done by the board?


Chucri said,

"When is Washington going to wake up and answer the call?"

Is Washington the sole authority on how we can protect our citizens from those who choose to enter our country illegally?  That sounds like the same argument that the leftist "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" crowd takes.  Which sounds an awful lot like the shameless argument the DOJ used in front of the Supreme Court over the constitutionality of portions of SB1070.  It's WASHINGTON'S fault!  States don't have the authority to enforce immigration law!

We'll, we'll just have to see about that next month when the Supreme Court rules in favor of Arizona and SB1070.

Saul Alinsky. We Were Spot On.

Andrew Breitbart was preparing to vet President Obama before his untimely death.  His spirit, however, will live on.

The first of many anticipated installments appeared yesterday entitled:

The Vetting, Part I: Barack's Love Song To Alinsky

The piece mentions how Alinsky was happy about manipulating the Christian community to back his programs.   We already suspected this was the strategy since many of his alliances include "faith-based" organizations which typically have the word "interfaith" in their title.

Arizona Interfaith Network

Valley Interfaith Project

Northern Arizona Interfaith Council

One Arizona Interfaith Leaders

Pima County Interfaith Council

Yuma County Interfaith Council

Remember, the community organizer behind the Russell Pearce recall effort, Randy Parraz, was trained in Dallas at the Alinsky Industrial Areas Foundation.

Remember, also, that one of the tactics was to publicly attempt to get political leaders to sign agreements before a large assembly of their constituents like the recent Arizona Accord or Mesa Compact. 

The same kind of agreement which people like newly elected Senator, Jerry Lewis, along with countless members of the LDS faith were more than happy to endorse. Thus, willingly and ignorantly aligning themselves with the tactics and philosophies of Saul Alinsky.

You do what you can with what you have and

clothe it with moral garments

 The same Alinsky whose ideals shaped who President Obama is today.

The same Alinsky who has prepared an army that will test the faith of members of the LDS church should Romney win the Republican nomination.  Including those who have already proven themselves to be fools.

The first thing you need to understand is that the political Left in America operates an Alinsky Death Star that it aims at those who stand in the way of Barack Obama’s re-election. The Left was exiled in the political wilderness for 30 years until Obama’s election; Leftists will not give up control of the country easily and will employ every attack in their arsenal to secure Obama a second term. There is no “stun” setting on the Alinsky Death Star — the one and only setting is “obliterate” and it’s being powered up to hit Salt Lake City with laser-focused persecution and ridicule you’ve clearly never imagined possible. Because Romney is not only a Mormon but served in key leadership positions in your church, Mormons and Mormonism will be targets in the all-out-war the Left wages to keep Obama in power this summer and fall.


Wheats and tares.


  

Kirk Adams And Fellow Bill Co-Sponsor Phil Lopes

We have mentioned the Guest Worker Bill that Kirk Adams co-sponsored in 2008 along with fellow Representative Phil Lopes and a slew of other leftist/Progressives in the legislature.

There has been talk about how Progressive Rep. Lopes was while he was in the House.  Let's take a closer look at just HOW Progressive former Rep. Lopes really is....

Aside from his being the Coordinator of the Tucson Progressive Democrats of America.....

(Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform

 the Democratic Party and our country.)

One video of former Rep. Lopes shows him speaking at a Tucson Progressives Conference in April 2011.  He says,

We want to try to move the Democratic agenda in our

Progressive, Liberal direction. We have

1.  Co sponsored the End the Wars Peace march

2.  Co sponsored the Solidarity MLK march

3.  Worked with Moveon.org on their event supporting the Wisconsin workers

4.  Peace Fair/Parade honoring Cesar Chavez

5.  Again with Moveon.org, we did a protest of Bank of America

6.  Wrote a letter to Pima County Board of Supervisors opposing their action to remove retirees under sixty-five years of age from their HMO plan

7.  Co hosted with the Arizona Advocacy Network to save Arizona Clean Elections

8.  Participated in events related to the Senator Pearce recall

He then introduced Senator Grijalva who at one point stated that there would be a Congressional Progressive Caucus tour which would go to cities around the country and

talk about the budget, talk about jobs and beat up on the opposition......so we're gonna make crow.

This was a video of Rep. Lopes at a recent Progressive Democrats of Arizona Caucus in January 2012.  Also in attendance were Fred Barlam (with Randy Parraz's group Citizens for a Better Arizona and donor to Jerry Lewis), Carolyn Cooper (also with Parraz's group), and Todd Landfried (Spokesman for Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform and Jerry Lewis supporter).

He offered advice to those in attendance.  He said,

How do we energize, motivate our 800 plus members?  There's one thing we can all do relatively easily and that is when you have a parade of candidates coming up here, think about the issues that are important to Progressives.  Think about Medicare for all.  Think about publicly financed elections.  Think about clean energy and clean air and think about getting out of Afghanistan....the better question should be
 'WILL YOU VOTE FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL...SINGLE PAYER?' 
 DEMAND AN ANSWER!

Good advice.  I think those who have the opportunity, should ask the same of Republican candidates, including Kirk Adams, Jeff Flake, Steve Chucri and Don Stapley. 

WILL YOU VOTE AGAINST ANY COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLS? 

WILL YOU NOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF NON-BINDING IMMIGRATION COMPACT OR ACCORD?

Steve Chucri: Be Careful What You Wish For

Don Stapley needs to go. 

But, who should replace him?

Steve Chucri has announced plans to run against Don Stapley but before we trip all over ourselves with glee, it is important to look at his past associations to see if we would just be trading really bad with just as bad.

Jeff Moorad (AZ Dbacks); Mac Magruder (Chairman of Wake Up AZ and McDonald’s franchise owner); Ray Arvizu (Arvizu Advertising and Promotions); Jason LeVecke (AZ Employers for Immigration Reform; owner of Carl’s Jr. franchises); Steve Chucri (CEO of AZ Restaurant Association)

(A refresher course on Wake Up Arizona can be found HERE)

Chucri is currently on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

He is also the President of the Arizona Restaurant Association. 

The AZ Restaurant Association was one of the organizations mentioned in a previous entry who was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the state of Arizona over employer sanctions laws in 2007.

  Chucri was the President of the ARA at the time of the lawsuit.

**UPDATE**It appears that AZ Central has scrubbed the article with the Chucri quote below titled

Sanctions law spurs racial profiling, lawyers say

Discrimination rising for Hispanics, some say

Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 30, 2007 12:00 AM .

(However, they can not control cache memory.)

 

 

But other restaurant owners also have seen an increase in race-based attacks,said Steve Chucri, president and chief executive of the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, one of several business groups suing to block the employer-sanctions law from taking effect on the grounds that the law is unconstitutional.

Supporters of the employers sanctions laws showed their disapproval of the lawsuit in their own way.

Chucri donated to Kirk Adams' Campaign in 2008  and again in 2010.

He supported Tony Bouie along with several familiar names we have discussed in the past (Kirk Adams, Jason LeVecke, Mac Magruder, Farrell Quinlan).

To quote Thomas Paine:

Every man who acts beyond the lien of private life, must expect to pass through two severe examinations. 

First, as to his motives;

secondly, as to his conduct. 

 On the former of these

depends his character for honesty;

 on the later for wisdom.

Recall Election Night Interviews

The usual cast of characters?  Or is it......

Jerry Lewis stating that SB1070 is only about law enforcement and is an issue he cares about a lot and should consider how it affects families, education and all aspects of immigration......check.

Randy Parraz saying that Republicans, Independents worked together for a better place for our children......check.

Chad Snow stating that hispanics and "members of the church " worked for this and that Russell Pearce is not a good representative for "the church"......check.

Daniel Ortega, another immigration activist lawyer for added emphasis......check.

Saul Solis, Lydia Guzman.......the "faith-based" guy who showed up at a recent Mesa City Council meeting to push the Mesa Compact as well as another immigration activist and founder of Respect/Respecto whose partial duties included gathering "testimony" of civil rights abuses and racial profiling..................check and check.



Don Stapley?
"We are going to change the immigration laws to make for a better state of Arizona and for the whole nation."

What was a "Republican" like Don Stapley doing at the election night celebration party held at the Wright House sponsored by a radical group headed by Randy Parraz?

They must have gotten chummy from all of those Board of Supervisors meetings that Parraz attended.

There's a word for guys like Stapley.   Several words actually but we'll refrain from the ones with only four letters and stick with this one instead:

TRAITOR.

Exposing those behind the Compact: Todd Landfried

Todd Landfried is the point man for ImmigrationWorks USA.

Landfried is also the spokesman for the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform (AZEIR).

AZEIR organized the Arizona Immigration Conferences held around the State this last year in an effort to work towards "sensible immigration reform for our state and country."

You can see his comments here.

It was Landfried who traveled to Utah by invitation of Utah politicians and businessmen last February with Lydia Guzman (also from Somos America and one of Randy Parraz's pals) to oppose enforcement-only immigration laws set to be discussed in the Utah Legislature. 

On the heels of Utah's immigration bills and the various "newsroom" statements by anonymous authors intended to sway members of the LDS church, it was no coincidence that a letter drafted by a slew of Arizona CEOs suddenly appeared days before a series of new immigration bills were set for vote at the Arizona legislature.  Landfried, of course, was always willing to make a statement decrying the evils of bills attempting to curb illegal immigration.

The people in the business community finally said, ‘Enough is enough,'

and told the Senate president that moving these bills forward now is damaging us.

At a time when businesses are moving out of the state and people are getting laid off, this is not good for the economy or the people of Arizona. We have to stop this.

Within days of the CEO letter, Landfried was using the opportunity to link the principles of the Utah Compact with those of local business leaders. (Remember, the coalition must be "authentic") 

 "...the path to compromise on the issue might be through the business community."  

Landfried was busy following Randy Parraz throughout the recall effort of Russell Pearce as well as promoting the principles of the Utah Compact and the "myths and misconceptions" of immigration.

During the statewide push over the summer to rally support for a similar Utah Compact here in Arizona, Landfried wrote an opinion piece on AZ Central titled, "Let's Find Real Immigration Solutions". It is chock full of the immigration buzz words, spin and half-truths.

It is understandable to see Landfried with the likes of Parraz and the Democrats, but he seemed to appear in some of the most unlikely places throughout the recall/election process.

Like here at the Jerry Lewis announcment at the Wright House in July
 (He can be seen appearing in the background during the Don Stapley interview around 6:25)

and at the Jerry Lewis Election Night Party.

Remember his resume?
Earlier in his career, Landfried worked for the Clinton Administration's "reinventing government team" and also worked with Vice President Al Gore's "Intergovernmental Team." After leaving Washington, Landfried had a Democratic-oriented radio program in Phoenix for several years which one newspaper called a "far-lefty" program. He recently served as the Executive Director of the Maricopa County (Phoenix area) Democratic Party organization
and subsequently as a party officer.

Landfried sent out a news release through AZEIR days after the recall election in LD18.
 In his statement, he says,

 "We believe the voters for whom immigration was an important issue recognized the differences between Pearce and Lewis and voted accordingly...They recognized Lewis' practical and balanced perspective and his call for a permanent  federal solution as the only effective way to secure the border, while providing access to essential labor and addressing the questions of how to deal with those who are already here.

AZEIR welcomes Lewis' fresh and much-needed change in approach to solving this critically important problem....We hope political parties and candidates

realize elections can be won with this approach."

Politics sure makes strange bedfellows.

Election Night November 8, 2011

It appears some people were making the rounds on election night.  Those standing in the background sure look an awful lot like Don Stapley and his son, Tom, talking to what looks like Stapley's long time friend, Merwin Grant.

 

The picture was taken at the Wright House on election night.  The Wright House was the location of the Citizens for a Better Arizona recall group party.  Notice the matching PAZ (Promise Arizona en Accion)  t-shirts.  This group of activists were key to getting out the vote for Lewis.  Other attendees included Petra Falcon, Salvador Reza, Raquel Teran, Steve Gallardo, Domingo Garcia (one of the largest contributors to CBA) and other misc. activists.  It's not every day you can get all of these people together in the same room, let alone, have someone like Mr. Stapley show up.  What are the odds?

 In this video clip, you can see what appears to be Don Stapley and Merwin Grant in the background (1:07) in a circle talking to other notable characters and wearing the same outfits.  Only this video was taken at the Jerry Lewis celebration party, also on election night. 

Don Stapley was no stranger to Randy Parraz.  Stapley knew who Parraz was from back in the day when Parraz caused a ruckus at a couple of Board of Supervisors meetings in 2008 along with his cohort, Raquel Teran from PAZ.

You can read a completely unbiased media report of the incident here.  Sure, it's an article written by Stephen Lemons in the New Times, but I'm sure it is factually accurate.