Our independent registered voter group supports Ms. Jean Schodorf for Kansas Secretary of State for reasons mentioned in the New York Times below.  Schodorf is a true moderate that will restore sanity to the Secretary of State's office.  Schodorf is formerly Republican, now running as a Democrat.

"Ms. Schodorf, a former Republican state senator who switched parties after a purge of legislative moderates by Governor Brownback, accused Mr. Kobach of creating a “mess” in the secretary of state’s office while traveling the country to pick ideological fights. These include lobbying the Texas Legislature to allow shooting feral hogs from helicopters.

...

If Mr. Kobach loses his job, said Burdett A. Loomis, a University of Kansas political scientist, it will be because of perceptions he has overly politicized his office. “That’s how Democrats win in a state like Kansas,” he said.

At the candidates’ forum, Hannah Anderson, a loan processor from Lawrence, said she favored Ms. Schodorf. “My biggest problem is the whole Roberts thing,” she said. “I think Kobach has a personal agenda.”

 

  He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:7

 

Phoenix, AZ --  Somos Independents is an independent voter group led by women comprising of a former long life Republican voter and former long life Democratic voter.  Independent voters are now the largest voting bloc in Arizona, and we believe it is time to blow the whistle against male chauvinist and sexist remarks made against Democratic lawmaker Catherine Miranda. It is unacceptable for Robert Rowley -- leader of Stonewall Democrats, to refer to Democratic lawmaker Catherine Miranda as a "cunt."

 

 Robert Rowley's referring to Democratic Latina lawmaker as a "cunt" is the height of white male privilege perpetuating women of color into believing they have no value. As a Mexican-American / Chicana-led organiztion, we cannot turn a blind eye nor will we allow Anglos to refer to Chicanas and/or Latinas as a "cunt."  We believe Rowley takes away Catherine Miranda's humanity when he referred to her as a body part -- the vagina in the most horrific terms. 

 

Robert Rowley leader of the Stonewall Democrats refuses to apologize for that sexist remark, therefore we implore the below Democratic leaders to disavow their endorsement by Robert Rowley and his organization for refusing to take back that sexist remark against a woman of color. 

 

Furthermore, our independent voter group stands firmly against wasting tax payer dollars on a recall effort being organized against (D) Rep. Catherine Miranda.  Democrats ought to handle their own 'vendetta' messes within the Democratic Party structure -- not at the expense of Arizona tax payer dollars.  We refuse to watch male Democratic public figures "stone Miranda to death" for endorsing a Republican, when they themselves have endorsed Republican politicians, too, in the past.  Our group does not agree with Miranda's endorsement of Ducey, however, we do not agree with hypocrisy and male chauvinistic sexist remarks either.

 

We implore below Democratic officials to disavow Stonewall Democrats endorsements forthwith.

 

The Stonewall Endorsements:

 

Governor: Fred DuVal

Attorney General: Felecia Rotellini

Secretary of State: Terry Goddard

Superintendent of Public Instruction: David Garcia

Corporation Commission: Jim Holway and Sandra Kennedy

LD2 House: Demion Clinco

LD3 Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford

LD8 Senate: Barbara McGuire

LD9 House: Randall Freise and Victoria Steele

LD10 Senate: David Bradley

LD10 House: Stefanie Mach and Bruce Wheeler

LD11 Senate: Jo Holt

LD11 House: Holly Lyon

LD13 Senate: Terri Woodmansee

LD16 Senate: Scott Prior

LD16 House: Cara Prior

LD17 Senate: Kristie O'Brien

LD18 Senate: Janie Hydrick

LD19 Senate: Lupe Chavira Contreras

LD20 Senate: Patty Kennedy

LD21 Senate: Carolyn Vasko

LD22 House: Larry Woods

LD24 Senate: Katie Hobbs

LD24 House: Lela Alston and Ken Clark

LD26 House: Norma Numoz and Rebecca Rios

LD27 Senate: Aaron Marquez

LD29 Senate: Martin J. Quezada

LD29 House: Ceci Velasquez

LD30 House: Debbie McCune Davis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Rodriguez: “Dumb advice for people to say stay home and not vote.”

Somos Independents is a national independent registered voter group led by American-born women of Mexican heritage.  There are more women voters than male, and we know that Mexican American / Latinos are one of the fastest growing demographic in our Nation.  We understand and support pro growth economic policies that have spared our Nation from bankruptcy.   Independent registered voters become independents because we are tired of gridlock and extremism from both sides of the political spectrum and as such it makes sense for our organization to support Kansas Independent Candidate Greg Orman for United States Senate. 

We congratulate independent candidate Orman's success with being ahead in the political polls particularly since Sen. Pat Roberts was one of only 32 senators who voted against the Farm Bill, which luckily for Kansas, passed easily without his help.   Roberts later then tried to take credit for something he voted against. 

There are 65,531 farms in Kansas that sell approximately $14.4 billion in agricultural products.  Noncitizen farmworkers accounted for 16% of all farmworkers in Kansas between 2007 and 2011. According to one study, in 2020 an expanded temporary worker program – like the one provided by the Senate bill – would mean 757 new jobs for U.S. citizens and immigrants (including jobs not only in agriculture, but also retail trade, construction, and other sectors) in Kansas, and increase Kansas’s real personal income by $46million in 2012 dollars.    

Therefore, we are signaling to key swing independent registered moderate voters to consider independent candidate Greg Orman who is running for Kansas United States Senate.  We believe Orman is setting a new standard in the political arena as more and more Americans become independent registered voters in light of partisanship and bickering.  We encourage business owners and farmers to vote their pocket book in order to secure Kansas' future.

Padre Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and  El Grito de Delores

Today is El Grito Day, a/k/a El Grito de Independencia (or the yelling for independence).

The Californian eloquently explains El Grito Day:

Music, food, dance and lots of pride will fill independence day celebrations in the coming week, not just for one or two Latin American countries but for eight.

Brazil celebrated its independence from Portugal on Sept. 7. Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua will mark their emergence from Spain’s governance on Monday, Mexico will do the same on Tuesday and Chile follows suit on Thursday.  Residents of the Central Coast will commemorate these events over the weekend, whether in public or at home, as a way to enhance Latin American heritage and pride for new generations to discover. “Costa Rica’s independence from Spain was on September 15th, 1821, same day as the Guatemala’s Captaincy General participants (Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras),” said Adriana Sisfuentes, a Salinas resident from Costa Rica. “Although, the actual independence act was signed several months later.”

On Sept. 15, 1810, in the middle of the night, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a pastor for the Church of Dolores, Hidalgo México, rang the bell to gather a civilian army that started the independence movement from Spain. Other countries took the cue from Mexico and began to pursue their own independence and freedom. That event is called El Grito de Independencia (The yelling for independence).  Mexicans all over the world celebrate Mexico´s Independence with a reenactment of this episode by ringing a bell followed by yelling “Viva México, Viva Hidalgo, Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria” and then “Viva México” three times.  FULL STORY>>>

 

As we celebrate past independence from Spain, my prayer is that my people will reject the temptation of voter apathy and believe their combined indigenous vote is a powerful one.  May Americans of Mexican heritage remember the sacrifices by Chicano movement greats such as Corky Gonzales and Dr. Hector P. Garcia.  I pray Latino Republicans will punish the Republican Party and Reince Priebus for adopting a draconian anti-immigrant policy in 2012 that was essentially handwritten and blessed by Kris Kobach -- who is the author of many anti-Mexican, anti-Latino laws.  I pray Latino Democrats will not get discouraged with how immigration and redistricting issues have been used as political futbols -- and instead vote. 

Lastly, I pray more of mi gente will join the rising independent registered voters who will ultimately force both sides to solving tough issues -- else the 2 major party system will continue to lose more of their voting bloc while independents move the 2 major party system to do what is in the best interest of our Nation because a divided Country will not stand. Like Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, we hope to ring the bell that will begin our independence and freedom of those who try to oppress us and suppress our Chicano and/or Latin indigenous history.

It is a well known fact that many died for our right to vote, and we must not squander that away.  Therefore, we believe in utilizing all creative measures necessary in order to overcome voter apathy within our community. 

Cruise To The Polls is a national campaign encouraging Chicano and/or all other lowrider owners to remember election day on November 4, 2014.  Somos Independents is an independent voter group led by American women of Mexican descent, and we are  concentrating our efforts in the southwest leading up to a national campaign via "Cruise To The Polls" that targets Chicano and lowrider owners to remember to vote on November 4, 2014, election day.  The campaign will kick off on November 1, 2014, as several lowrider clubs will participate in a lowrider cruise in key high Chicano / Latino markets that will send a message with regard to how important our voting responsibility is.  Often times, Tea Party Republicans make the mistake of lumping all brown people together and believe we should all go back to Mexico -- even though we were born here and indigenous to the United States long before the Mayflower landed near Plymouth Rock.

Cruise To The Polls creatively revives the Chicano movement and raises awareness to the expanding lowrider culture.  It embraces Chicano art, music and more.  

For lowrider car clubs who are interested in participating in Cruise To The Polls, please contact:  (480) 200-3748. 

2014 1st edition Cruise To The Polls artwork created by El Moises

Dear independent registered voters,

I received an email from the GOP 3 hours ago clearly telling key swing moderate and centrist voters across America they have decided to dig in their heels and embrace tea party extremism and bigotry.  It appears the RNC Chairman Reince Priebus continues to fail in reaching out to the moderate, women and Chicano/Latino voters because moderates loathe extremism, bigotry and gridlock. 

"The current Congress has an average 9.2 percent approval rating and 84.2 percent disapproval rating. ... These numbers point to a grave problem: the House of Representatives is utterly unrepresentative."  

In the below screen shot from the GOP email, the Republican Party eliminates the fact that moderate independent registered voters are also against tea party extremism and bigotry.  The GOP lies about tax abuse, too.  Republican politicians had the opportunity to do away with tax subsidies in the oil industry.  The Republican Party is and has been for crony capitalism (not true capitalism) when they support tax subsidies for corporate millionaires.  The GOP is also guilty of millions of dollars that are wasted subsidizing the private prison industry when they house immigrants for working in the agricultural fields, hotels, construction work sites and more. 

The GOP very much supports tax subsidized programs yet lie to their sheeple about it.

Independent voters continue to make a stand against bull shit.  We do not owe loyalty to any party and we will continue to signal to moderate voices pointing out who is more extreme than the other. As of today, the GOP has decided to embrace tea party extremism to their own demise. 

When Independent Arizona candidate Angel Garcia was asked if he supported the top two initiative (an issue important to independent voters), here is how he answered and this is why we support him.

Question: Do you support implementing a top two primary system?

Answer: Angel does not support a taxpayer funded primary system at all. Parties pick and choose their darlings and engage in endorsements before a primary anyway. If parties want a primary they should save the taxpayers the money and fund it themselves. That being said, the question is in regards to a top two primary system. Angel feels if there is going to be a primary system top two is a great way to go as long as party labels are stripped from the ballot and the voting is conducted in a nonpartisan manner. My top choice would be an "instant runoff" voting system, but most voters have never even heard of that.

 

• Scott Peters who identifies as a Democrat was named the fourth most independent Democrat by the National Journal. He voted against the party majority 17 times. He has also had to work harder to reach out to independent voters that can swing the pendulum either way. This is a great example of what can happen if we had a top two primary system in place.

 

Having a nonpartisan top two primary will push candidates to better represent their constituents by making them realize the bases traditionally pandered to on the far right and far left do not represent a majority of Americans. This will hopefully cause politicians to approach politics in a more moderate manner and end some of the gridlock we have seen in government. By implementing top two we will see a broader range of ideas injected into the political marketplace due to increased competition from not only members of the same political party, but other political parties as well.

 

Nonpartisan top two primaries will give independent voter a larger voice in the political arena. With the current system politicians know they will make it past the party based primary, so they spend all of their time catering messages and pandering to their base. They don't even try to introduce ideology that would be seen as middle of the road or moderate. Often times independents are ignored because parties feel that independent don't vote. Angel usually responds to that by saying, "If a party gave a worthwhile candidate that represented the constituents maybe independents would actually vote for that parties candidate and there would be an increased voter turn out."

 

Nonpartisan top two primaries will also give third parties a fighting chance to get their people elected into office. People might find they actually have more in common with the third party candidates than they do the "big two" parties when researching what the people who are running stand for. Removing party labels would push the average voter to have to do more homework on the candidate and hopefully leave them feeling more educated on where that particular candidate stands on the issue.

Bilingual National Radio Show Host via Carlos Galindo is calling Maureen Dowd's myth making to the carpet.

Recently, Maureen Dowd became a critic of President Obama's golfing time, however, it is common knowledge quite a bit of  business is discussed on the golf course by men.  That said, key swing independent moderate voters are wondering why Maureen is not looking at the whole leisure time picture?

For instance, Galindo tweeted: 

 

Carlos Galindo @carlosgalindo  ·  

At same time as @BarackObama in his presidency, George Bush took 407 days vacation compared 2 Obama's 125 days. http://www.carlosgalindo.com/listennow/ 

Carlos Galindo @carlosgalindo  ·  

@BarackObama had taken 19 vacations totaling 125 days so far while in office.

One of the things we independent voters cannot stand to see in politics is dark money operations.

I wasn't familiar with Mario Diaz of Friends of Arizona til today, and after my conversation with him I can honestly equate him to being a corporate servant instead of a servant to the people.  I liken Mario Diaz to Jaime Molera / Ruben Alvarez (two vendidos) who were later found out to be lobbyists for the Private Prison Industry via CCA -- a huge corporate entity.  They make money from prisons who put our gente in prison.

Apparently Mario Diaz doesn't care about Independent voters in Arizona even though we are now the largest voting bloc in the state (and growing).  I was trying to ascertain information with regard to his attack ads with regard to the Catherine Miranda and Lydia Hernandez campaign, and he didn't feel he had to answer questions as it pertains to key swing independent voters within our group. 

Mario Diaz made a bad mistake.  Independent voters are not people to be taken lightly and in fact, we are independent voters because we are sick of partisanship, gridlock and dirty politicians.

I called Mario Diaz, because I believe in giving a person the benefit of the doubt in an effort to do some fact finding -- but Diaz was not interested in answering my questions.  [Note:  Corporations may want to distance themselves from Mario Diaz who is making enemies with those organizing the growing independent voting leaders.]   Therefore, I now have no other option but to hyperlink to inconsistencies and dark money operations in our state and help shine some light in order for Independent voters to be more informed in Arizona elections.

For the record, the State of Arizona has had a problem with dark money operations.   A notable person to remember is Sean Noble who is known as the Dark Money Man.  Essentially Sean Noble moved the Kochs’ cash into politics and made millions. 

Guess who Sean Noble endorsed?  You guessed it:  Mr. Mario Diaz.

Here's the tweet below:

Latino leaders in our community told me Mario Diaz is also in support of Doug Little  and Tom Forese who are running for Corporation Commissioner positions.  The purpose of my call into Diaz was to see if that was true, but he told me he didn't feel as if he should have to answer any of my questions.  That said, it is common knowledge that both Little and Forese are huge advocates for APS.  

According to Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Central, there is:

Secret campaign to elect Forese/Little nears $1 million

".... APS officials won't say whether they're behind the stealth campaign, a campaign that is totally legal and totally scary.

To think that APS could be secretly funding the campaign to choose who will regulate APS.

It's startling that no one on the Corporation Commission seems to be too exercised about what's going on here. Corporation Commission Chairman Bob Stump seems to be more concerned about out-of-state rooftop solar companies sinking money into the race."

Is Mario Diaz on contract with APS? 

It appears Mario Diaz is running "Friends of Arizona" IEs on behalf of APS targeting races opposite of many good Democrats like Martin Quezada.  

Does Mario Diaz have any idea how Lydia Hernandez refused to apologize to the LGBT community when her campaign supporter made fun of gays and lesbians?

More importantly, is APS condoning LGBT bigotry if they are giving money for IE attacks that aid campaigns who make fun of gay and lesbian voters?

Is APS essentially helping Lydia Hernandez via IEs when mass mailers are sent out attacking her opponent because she voted in support of  HB 2485 in 2013? If you look at this HB2485, you will see it stands to benefit large corporations such as APS, that essentially reduces their accountability, transparency and liability.  It prevents audits from being disclosed to the public so that ordinary voters like you and me will not hold APS accountable.  

We are making a commitment to keep our eyes on Mario Diaz and corporations like APS so that we can expose their dark money and tactics for the informed independent voter in Arizona.