Redistricting -- Arizona's latest crisis

Thomas Paine, to galvanize the American people to support the Revolution against Great Britain in the 1770s, put the American Crisis in perspective, opening the essay "These are the times that try men's souls." Well, we have an Arizona crisis. The tyranny of would be theocrats today in Arizona is no less than that faced by American colonists more than 200 years ago.

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly...

The tyranny of the rabid tea partiers and the would be despots they elected to make laws for our state have gone uncheck for far too long. Life goes on in our communities and in our families, with an increasing number facing joblessness and foreclosure on their homes.

We fight a political battle (not with guns but with words) from which we must never back down.

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With that in mind, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission convenes a Public Outreach Hearing at 6pm this evening, practically in my backyard. The Granite Reef Senior Center is located just north of McDowell Rd on Granite Reef Rd (about a mile west of Loop 101 in south Scottsdale).

Last night, the AIRC hearing in Peoria went about an hour and 20 minutes and featured an assortment of testimony, including very eloquent denunciation of the GOP power grab which threatens to undermine and subvert the very essence of our representative form of government.

I expect more of the same tonight.

As one might expect, the GOP is trying to tighten the screws down on any action the AIRC might take in light of the attempted removal of its chair.

The Appellate Courts Commission on Appointments, which is responsible for screening applicants for AIRC seats moments ago announced an emergency meeting to be held on Monday, November 7 at 1pm, in room 101 of the state courts building, 1501 W Washington, Phoenix.

The emergency meeting may include an executive session but will include a call to the public and announcement of a proposed schedule for the process of nominating three names for appointment to the AIRC.

The meeting will be presided over by Chief Justice Burch who has recused herself from the special action filed by the AIRC to block Mathis' removal.

Stay tuned.