10 Comments
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Rachel Leingang, Hank Stephenson

While reading the latest debate melodrama, I recalled a book I read about Warren G Harding and his campaign for president. He lived near my hometown in Ohio and in was regularly visited by citizens taking the train to his hometown, walking from the station to his home and waiting out front for Mr. Harding to come out on the porch and talking to them about his agenda. It helped his messaging that he owned the local newspaper and that he had a small outbuilding on this property where reporters had access to a telephone and telegraph ( an early version of twitter). Remember President Truman’s train trips and similar campaign tactics from the old days? And to my utter dismay, I received in the mail, my What’s On My Ballot booklet that is the size of a phone book of a fair sized town. Lots of reading and homework, but our Representative form of government is worth the work. Now if adults would only vote!

Expand full comment
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Hank Stephenson, Rachel Leingang, Arizona Agenda

Now if only adults would only run for office. We need adults on both sides of the equation to make this all work.

Expand full comment
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Hank Stephenson, Rachel Leingang, Arizona Agenda

Yes, Arizona politics just as sane as ever.

Expand full comment
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Rachel Leingang, Hank Stephenson

Not crazy about the shift to using "pivot" when describing a dramatic turn in a candidate's position between the primary and general elections. The general public understands this action as a "flip-flop" (think back to the GOP hanging this label on John Kerry years ago), so why depart from using a well-known pejorative when describing this cynical action? Using "pivot" makes it sound like a neutral political strategy that we've all accepted, which I certainly hope is not the case.

Expand full comment
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Rachel Leingang, Hank Stephenson

"is that a real paper?"

wouldn't she like it much less if it was?

Expand full comment

I am terrified of Kari Lake becoming Governor, can’t read a bill and has no idea how tax law effects towns, cities and counties. She is a disaster and Katie Hobbs while being competent in government is not a strong candidate against a MAGA-gaga.

Expand full comment
Oct 13, 2022Liked by Rachel Leingang, Hank Stephenson

I'm also unhappy with PBS. Coincidentally, I received my annual renewal letter from them today. I may choose not to donate. This situation should not have happened. Having worked on the advertising side of The Arizona Republic, I can imagine how this happened. Very sadly.

Speaking of The Arizona Republic, where is EJ Montini? The newspaper doesn't usually comment when someone retires. No columns have been published since Sept 28. Would appreciate any information you may have & want to share, whether in your daily column or as a response to me.

Keep up the good work. Shocking that Kari Lake didn't know about you! (ha ha)

Lenore Simon

Expand full comment
author

Hm I hadn’t noticed he’s not publishing. Usually we hear if someone retires but I’ll ask around. Even Montini needs an occasional vacation?

Expand full comment

He retired. I know I’m pretty addle brained but I could swear he wrote a column about it. I seem to recall his wife, maybe, had been sick for a long time and I think his health wasn’t great???? Maybe someone else with a better memory remembers.

Expand full comment
author

He did write about his wife’s death but that was more than a year ago, and he’s written lots since. He hasn’t announced a retirement that I’ve seen anywhere.

Expand full comment