LiberalDesert

• The Column May Have Died, But The ...

  The Column May Have Died, But The Annual Tax Credit Column Lives On
  
  As my virtual readers know, I don’t have a newspaper column anymore. I’d feel bad about it, except that after they dropped me, the newspaper went bankrupt. Say goodbye to the house liberal, then say [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 3:22pm EST
  

• A Beautiful DayNo records broken, ...

  A Beautiful Day
  
  No records broken, but a very nice 24 hours. Friday afternoon I drove to Tucson for El Tour de Tucson. I only get to ride every 4 or 5 years, because usually we have a Devereux Foundation meeting the weekend before Thanksgiving, but this year--thanks [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 12:58pm EST
  

• Page CountsIn 1993, nobody ever ...

  Page Counts
  
  In 1993, nobody ever asked if anyone who voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement had read all 3,000+ pages. Apparently, page counts only matter for stuff Republicans don't like.
  
  Besides, while the House health care bill may have 2,000 pages, the Authorization' [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 10:46am EST
  

• Like Father, Like ...

  Like Father, Like Son
  
  It's a That 70's Show remake! It's Freaky Friday but with marching and music! And YouTube!
  
  You can check the Harvard University Band blog for the official (but not yet posted) videos, but a Band parent has already posted' [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:58am EST
  

• Maira Kalman ...

  Maira Kalman on Our Democracy
  
  Recommended. [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:56am EST
  

• Jon Kyl Decides It's ...

  Jon Kyl Decides It's More Important To Hurt Democrats Than To Help Doctors
  
  Announces he'll vote againt his own bill. Maybe he's a secret health care mole somehow? It's not very easy to get the AMA mad at Republicans, that's a nice trick.' [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 11:05am EDT
  

• Non-Prize-Winning JokesWorking on the proper ...

  Non-Prize-Winning Jokes
  
  Working on the proper humorous reaction to today's Nobel Peace Prize announcement:
  Sure, it's nice, but it's not like it's an honorary degree from ASUDon't react immediately; instead, wait for David Broder and Robert Robb to explain how this actually is good news for the RepublicansThere goes' [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 9:58am EDT
  

• Tour de Scottsdale 2009Seventy miles, ...

  Tour de Scottsdale 2009
  
  Seventy miles, 3:39:09. The organizers give the time down to the tenth of a second, which is what we call in the business either (a) excessive or (b) a joke. But if you're keeping score at home, officially it was 3:39:09.2. Full results here.' [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 9:10am EDT
  

• "If It's Only Broke ...

  "If It's Only Broke For Tens Of Millions Of People, Don't Fix It."
  
  Financing health care for anyone less than 65 years old is socialism, I tell you. Socialism!
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 03, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
  

• At Least ...

  At Least Dan Quayle Wasn't Elected in '96, Either
  
  I'm now old enough that I'm eligible for a college newspaper's dive into the archives. I look scarily young (and presumably healthy). I don't recall the Tucson rally as focused on health care, but [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 10:32am EDT
  

• He Said, She Said: Special Muslim Man-on-the-Street ...

  He Said, She Said: Special Muslim Man-on-the-Street Edition!
  
  You could read this Arizona Republic article three times, as I did, and finish with absolutely no idea whether CAIR is evil and connected with terrorist organizations, or if its real crime is not being acceptable to right-wing Republicans. [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 9:54am EDT
  

• White People, Obsessed With ...

  White People, Obsessed With Race
  
  Of course they all have to ask the President. They probably don't know any other black people.
  
  See also Andy Borowitz: Criticism of Obama 'Not About Race,' Says New Poll of White People.' [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 9:44am EDT
  

• More Murtha, Less JohnstownNow the ...

  More Murtha, Less Johnstown
  
  Now the Wall Street Journal joins in, going after the Cambria County airport, another local earmark-fest. Here's Matthew Yglesias, taking the long view more expansively than my prior post. We're getting to critical mass here, which can't be good for Johnstown.
  [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 6:16am EDT
  

• My Home TownsMy original home ...

  My Home Towns
  
  My original home town gets a visit from The New Republic, and they can learn a lesson from my home town now. I fear Jason Zengerle gets Johnstown's economic future right. The community's leadership sees a diversified economy, moving away from dependence on government contracting [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 11:39pm EDT
  

• He "Overcame Great Privilege ...

  He "Overcame Great Privilege to Build a Life of Real Accomplishment."
  
  My Ted Kennedy appreciation in this week's Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. (Conclusion of rest of article: Yes, he was good for the Jews.)' [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 12:31pm EDT
  

• This Cartoon Was Much ...

  This Cartoon Was Much Funnier In The Original German
  
  
  Which must be why the Arizona Republic editorial page chose to print it this past Saturday. Special audience participation contest: See if you can count the number of unproved assumptions in one little cartoon. ("[...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 10:14pm EDT
  

• They Drop the House Liberal, and Nine ...

  They Drop the House Liberal, and Nine Months Later They're Bankrupt
  
  Freedom Communications to file for bankruptcy this coming week, according to the New York Times. It's cause for glee in some circles, however unseemly. So now the creditors can do to the owners what the owners [...]
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  Posted: August 30, 2009, 8:58pm EDT
  

• NYC Triathlon Results

  NYC Triathlon Results
  
  Age group 104/151
  Swim 18:21, rate 1:06
  T1 7:56
  Bike 1:24:51, rate 17.6
  T2 3:57
  Run 1:04:01, rate 10:19
  Total 2:59:03 -- Under 3 hours!
  Update: More Photos!
  Here's another picture, from the beginning of the run as we head into Central' [...]
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  Posted: July 26, 2009, 2:14pm EDT
  

• The Award-Winning Beth SchermerLast week ...

  The Award-Winning Beth Schermer
  
  Last week at the American Health Lawyers Association annual meeting in DC, Beth received the David J. Greenburg Service Award from AHLA. (The page has just been updated!) You’d never get Beth to admit that she’s been honored, so I thought I’d better let [...]
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  Posted: July 04, 2009, 7:52pm EDT
  

• The Internet! Now With ...

  The Internet! Now With Broadway Show Tunes!
  
  It's like they made it just for me.' [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2009, 10:36am EDT
  

• Lake Tahoe Century ...

  Lake Tahoe Century 2009
  
  It's called "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" and it probably is. I rode with my peeps from Westchester-Hudson Valley again, and had a great time. Thanks to the recession, we had much better accommodations (no disorientation from having to [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 8:54pm EDT
  

• When Jon Kyl Played The Race Card

  When Jon Kyl Played The Race Card
  
  In 2003, according to the Senate's #2 Republican, the only possible explanation for opposing confirmation of a Hispanic judge was prejudice:
  Republicans have seized on Mr. Estrada's stalled nomination to drive a wedge between the Democratic Party and Hispanic voters, whose [...]
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  Posted: May 30, 2009, 3:05pm EDT
  

• Constitutional Law with Jon KylSen. ...

  Constitutional Law with Jon Kyl
  
  Sen. Jon Kyl on the propriety of Senate filibusters of judicial nominees:
  

  "For 214 years it has been the tradition of the Senate to approve judicial nominees by a majority vote. Many of our judges and, for example, Clarence Thomas, people might recall," [...]

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  Posted: May 26, 2009, 11:30am EDT
  

• Promotional ...

  
  
  Promotional Consideration Provided To My Little Ol' Law Firm
  
  
  
  
  
  Which isn't quite so little anymore. Here's our updated announcement of our recent comings and going. The original appeared in the Arizona Attorney magazine, but the deadline for the ad' [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2009, 9:39am EDT
  

• Brief Moment of Self-Promotion (as opposed to ...

  Brief Moment of Self-Promotion (as opposed to all our other programming?)
  
  In the hope that this humble blog will become a must-visit destination for readers interested in both politics and resolving real estate boundary disputes short of litigation, click here or here for information about the continuing [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2009, 6:29pm EDT
  

• A Hot Time in TempeResults ...

  A Hot Time in Tempe
  
  Results from Sunday's Tempe International Triathlon are available here (scroll down for the Men 50-54 results.) (UPDATE: Photos!) It was a good swim, a barely OK (at best) bike, and a very long, very slow, and very hot run. I had hoped' [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2009, 6:19pm EDT
  

• The Tour ...

  The Tour Guide
  
  Our son (in orange shirt) leads a tour at Pomona College, courtesy of NYTimes.com. [...]
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  Posted: May 08, 2009, 3:55pm EDT
  

• The Only Coppersmiths With Regular ...

  The Only Coppersmiths With Regular Newspaper Gigs
  
  Are now Ben and Louis. [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2009, 1:04pm EDT
  

• It's Not the Centers for ...

  It's Not the Centers for Disease Control, But It's Probably Correct
  
  Do you have swine flu? Are you sure? [...]
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  Posted: April 29, 2009, 11:03am EDT
  

• You've Made Miss Teen South ...

  You've Made Miss Teen South Carolina Very, Very Happy
  
  At last, we have a different unsuccessful beauty pageant contestant over whom to obsess.
  
  
  H/t: Pandagon' [...]
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  Posted: April 24, 2009, 10:51pm EDT
  

• Hey, Wait a MinuteThe uniformly ...

  Hey, Wait a Minute
  
  The uniformly repeated 'winger comment on Arizona's budget crisis is to note that since 1993, state spending has increased more than the cumulative increase in inflation and population growth here. I've been wondering about that claim, which I assume is technically correct.
  
  First, why' [...]
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  Posted: April 14, 2009, 12:51pm EDT
  

• El Tour ...

  
  El Tour de Phoenix Fun
  
  A good day on the bike. It's 72 miles, and my time was 3:31:09, which is 10 minutes better than last year (3:41:56). 20.5 mph average speed--hooray for drafting. (Last year was 19.5 mph. I hung out with' [...]
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  Posted: April 05, 2009, 9:39pm EDT
  

• Steve Owens to DC

  Steve Owens to DC
  
  As Assistant Administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances at the Environmental Protection Agency. Here's the White House press release.' [...]
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  Posted: April 01, 2009, 6:46pm EDT
  

• Phoenix Guy Does Good (But Has To ...

  Phoenix Guy Does Good (But Has To Do It In Pittsburgh)
  
  The New York Times today writes about Pittsburgh's leadership in reusing existing buildings and converting both new and existing buildings into environmentally-efficient structures and uses. One of the business community's leaders in "going green" is former Phoenix [...]
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  Posted: April 01, 2009, 9:54am EDT
  

• Greetings from MontanaInterim ...

  Greetings from Montana
  
  Interim press reports on the Congress to Campus visit here. I've decided that when I grow up, I want to be Orval Hansen. I only have to run 13 more marathons to match his career total.' [...]
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  Posted: March 06, 2009, 9:31am EST
  

• My Planned Parenthood Action Fund Joke

  My Planned Parenthood Action Fund Joke
  
  I just don't understand this Legislature. The Republicans have two priorities, making Arizona a place where it's easier to drive dangerously but harder to enjoy sex safely. The GOP won't be happy until they get the photo radar cameras off the highways and' [...]
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  Posted: February 28, 2009, 9:28am EST
  

• ...

  
  Personal Items
  
  First, a preview of my 2009 Congress to Campus visit to the University of Montana in Missoula.
  Also, Desert Classic Duathlon results (22/29 in age group, scroll down to Men 50-54) and photos. It was [...]
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  Posted: February 27, 2009, 2:18pm EST
  

• "Cheap Just Does Not Do It"

  "Cheap Just Does Not Do It"
  
  In Arizona, we've had more than a decade and a half (since 1991) of working under the assumption that if we just made things less costly for business and the better-off -- cutting taxes, reducing regulation, you know the drill -- we'd do [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 12:34pm EST
  

• Our New Governor Is An Old Joke

  Our New Governor Is An Old Joke
  
  So you must know the old joke (claimed by the Ukranians, but also mangled almost beyond recognition by software developers) about the two envelopes that the predecessor leaves for the successor to open in the first crisis, and then the [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2009, 5:03pm EST
  

• The Super Bowl of Tax Policy

  The Super Bowl of Tax Policy
  
  What with all of the to-do over the Arizona Cardinals making the Super Bowl -- to the point where we know the family history of substitutes on the punt coverage team -- one salient fact seems absent from the discussion. The team wouldn't' [...]
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  Posted: January 31, 2009, 11:57am EST
  

• 1.20.09I couldn't watch. ...

  1.20.09
  
  I couldn't watch. I spent the morning holding my breath until the Inauguration concluded, fearing that somehow Dick Cheney would find a way to scuttle our hopes yet again.
  
  PS: Please click the link.
  ' [...]
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  Posted: January 20, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  

• Marc Cooper Doesn't Like New Times Much

  Marc Cooper Doesn't Like New Times Much
  
  A long, long, long post by Marc Cooper on the limitations of the New Times version of journalism, to the extent that it's journalism. Yes, it's long but it's worth reading. (H/t Ezra Klein). Thanks to the miracle of corporate [...]
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  Posted: January 13, 2009, 9:55pm EST
  

• You Geezers Get Off My ...

  You Geezers Get Off My Lawn!
  
  
  On a slow news Monday, the Arizona Republic reaches for the obvious. (But not too obvious for over 8 pages of commenters, so maybe they know their audience well.) [...]
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  Posted: January 12, 2009, 9:09pm EST
  

• Worrying About Bias Is Biased!I'm ...

  Worrying About Bias Is Biased!
  
  I'm a bit late to this particular rodeo, but I've watched with amusement the "concern" that the new Arizona political reporting website, The Arizona Guardian, needs to be watched (we should wait and see if the cliche "wait and see" becomes overused) [...]
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  Posted: January 12, 2009, 11:32am EST
  

• Sometimes It's Nice Not To Be Noticed

  Sometimes It's Nice Not To Be Noticed
  
  One interesting sidelight of the Bernard Madoff financial scandals, at least here in Arizona, is the lack of any gossip about local investors or institutions who have lost money invested with him. I've heard nothing, and I spend a lot of time [...]
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  Posted: January 10, 2009, 8:51am EST
  

• Your Arizona Real ...

  Your Arizona Real Estate Bubble In Action: 10933 W. Hopi Street, Avondale
  
  Anybody interested in just how screwed up the real estate market got in Arizona during the bubble needs to read this Wall Street Journal online article (complete with video and slide show) [...]
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  Posted: January 06, 2009, 2:26pm EST
  

• More "Magic Negro" ThoughtsTo follow ...

  More "Magic Negro" Thoughts
  
  To follow up on this post, Chris Rock points out that people who are so worried about "PC" attitudes on race have one thing going for them, namely their race. "You wouldn't switch places with me. And I'm rich." (H/t: Ta-Nehisi Coates.)
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 31, 2008, 6:26pm EST
  

• My Trib Gig Ends ThusHere’s ...

  My Trib Gig Ends Thus
  
  Here’s my last column for the print version of The East Valley Tribune. On Jan. 1, the paper ceases distribution in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Home delivery will be restricted to four days a week and only in certain neighborhoods (upscale ones, natch!) in [...]
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  Posted: December 29, 2008, 5:50pm EST
  

• Plus At No Extra Charge, We've Thrown ...

  Plus At No Extra Charge, We've Thrown In "The Star Spanglish Banner" Song, Too!
  
  It's uncanny how the same people who a few weeks ago got their knickers totally twisted over Pres.-elect Obama using the phrase "lipstick on a pig" are suddenly in the "light-hearted political parodies" [...]
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  Posted: December 26, 2008, 3:42pm EST
  

• Your Holiday GreetingsOur favorite Phoenix-area ...

  Your Holiday Greetings
  
  Our favorite Phoenix-area dim sum restaurant won't open for a couple of hours, but one of my favorite artists (especially this song) is part of an urban hipster Jewish Christmas Eve tradition. (And it's not the War on Christmas.) So from [...]
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  Posted: December 25, 2008, 7:00am EST