Gary LaMaster, Author and Democratic Perspective Contributor, Talks About His New Book — Podcast March 28, 2016

Posted on March 30, 2016 by William Timberman


Setting the Record Straight: A Catalog of Political Misinformation. Long-time Democratic Perspective contributor Gary LaMaster talks with us about his new book, Antidote to Fact-Free Politics: Debunking the Falsehoods, Fabrications and Distortions Told by Conservatives and Perpetuated by the Media. It’s a truism that politicians lie, but knowing that they’re lying isn’t much help unless we also know what they’re lying about. Fortunately, Gary has spent a lot of time and effort uncovering the facts behind the more egregious lies of our current election cycle. With his book as a reference, concerned voters can check out for themselves the truth behind the lies.

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Proposition 123 and Arizona’s Public Education Funding Crisis — Podcast March 21, 2016

Posted on March 22, 2016 by William Timberman


Proposition 123: A Good First Step, or a Surrender to Legislative Irresponsibility? Karen McClelland, Vice President of the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District #9 Governing Board, and Christian Palmer, Communications Director of the Let’s Vote Yes for Arizona Schools Committee, join Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson for a discussion of the pros and cons of Arizona Ballot Proposition 123, which, if passed, would increase the percentage of the State Land Trust income disbursed to the K-12 Public School System.

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Cottonwood Mayoral Candidates — Podcast March 14, 2016

Posted on March 18, 2016 by William Timberman


Tim Elinski and Terence Pratt: Two Candidates for Mayor, Two Visions for the Future of Cottonwood. Democratic Perspective continues its coverage of the 2016 national, state, and local election campaigns, focusing this time on the local mayoral election in Cottonwood.

With a population (in 2011) of 12,000, and a median annual household income (in 2013) of $33,000, Cottonwood, Arizona, might be considered typical of a number of small towns in the state, except that in the past ten years, in what we think is an admirable display of cooperation between local government and businesses, Cottonwood has been undergoing a remarkable economic renaissance. Terence and Tim, as veteran members of the Cottonwood City Council, have both made significant contributions to this success.

Now they’re both running for mayor. With the election still five months away, Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson give our listeners an early opportunity to hear why Tim and Terence are running, how they view the issues facing the city, and what they envision as the keys to future civic development.

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The Decline of the Republican Party — Podcast March 7, 2016

Posted on March 8, 2016 by William Timberman


From Abraham Lincoln to Donald Trump: Whatever Happened to the Grand Old Party? Democratic Perspective looks at the accelerating decline of the Republican Party. From Abraham Lincoln to Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump — whatever this progression signifies, it’s far from Theodore Parker and Martin Luther King’s vision of the  arc of the moral universe. The history of the Republican Party is a dark mirror of the social and political conflicts of the past 150 years of American history. Properly understood, it can offer us critical insights into the workings of the so-called law of unintended consequences.

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Art Babbott Interview — Podcast February 29, 2016

Posted on March 1, 2016 by William Timberman


The Open and Honest Coalition: Equal Representation In the Electoral Process Regardless of Party Affiliation. Democratic Perspective’s co-hosts, Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview Art Babbott, Coconino County District 1 Supervisor, and supporter of the Open and Honest Coalition, about the Coalition’s sponsorship of two proposed amendments to the Arizona State Constitution, which will appear as initiatives on the 2016 ballot. Hear why supporters of the Coalition believe that open primaries and the full disclosure of campaign contributions are the key to broader and more effective participation in our electoral process.

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Posted in Arizona Politics, Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Government, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Parties, Political Polarization | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Art Babbott Interview — Podcast February 29, 2016

Brent Bitz Interview — Podcast February 22, 2016

Posted on February 23, 2016 by William Timberman


The Verde River Basin: A Vital Resource for the Present and Future of Arizona. Democratic Perspective is pleased to welcome Brent Bitz, treasurer of the Verde River Basin Partnership, for another of our continuing series of programs devoted to the importance of preserving Arizona’s natural resources for future generations.

The Verde River Basin Partnership was created by federal legislation under Title II of Public Law No. 109-110, the Northern Arizona Land Exchange, and the Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005. Why was this legislation necessary? The mission statement of the Partnership states the answer very clearly:

The Verde River Basin’s surface water resources are critically connected to its groundwater supplies, local economies, citizen quality of life, and private property values. Surface waters are also a visual reminder of the condition of groundwater supplies that the eye cannot see.

Unfortunately, the Verde River’s continued existence as a perennial free-flowing river is, and has been for some time, under significant threat. Again, from the Partnership’s mission statement:

The Verde River has been identified by American Rivers as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers. The river is threatened by groundwater depletion and inefficient irrigation diversion and delivery of diverted river water.

Why is this happening, and how can we help do something about it? Listen to our podcast and find out.

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The Supreme Court, Political Polarization, and the Republican Meltdown — Podcast February 15, 2016

Posted on February 15, 2016 by William Timberman


Justice Scalia R.I.P.: On a Scale of 1-10, the Crazy Hits 11. Democratic Perspective’s Gary LaMaster and Steve Williamson put on their welding goggles and look straight into the flaming looniness of the upcoming fight over Antonin Scalia’s replacement on the Supreme Court bench, and the mud wrestle of last Saturday’s Republican debate. Eleven down and six to go — and it’s only February!

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Posted in Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Dark Money, Government, Judicial System, Jurisprudence, LIberals and Conservatives, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Political Lies, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Supreme Court | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Supreme Court, Political Polarization, and the Republican Meltdown — Podcast February 15, 2016

Rosemary Papa Interview — Podcast February 8, 2016

Posted on February 8, 2016 by William Timberman


The State of Education in Arizona: Ground Zero Is Not the Goal. Democratic Perspective talks to Dr. Rosemary Papa about the woeful state of public education funding in the state of Arizona. Dr. Papa currently serves as The Del and Jewel Lewis Endowed Chair in Learning Centered Leadership and Professor of Education Leadership in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University — a position she had held since 2007. As Dr. Papa explains, public education, publicly funded, was once considered the cornerstone of our democracy. Why the State Legislature of Arizona and the Superintendent of Public Instruction have rejected that view, and what are our children, and our future, are likely to suffer as a result.

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David R. Berman Interview — Podcast February 1, 2016

Posted on February 1, 2016 by William Timberman


The Mother’s Milk of Politics, or a Threat To Our Democracy: Dark Money and Its Consequences. On today’s Democratic Perspective, Dr. David R. Berman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Arizona State University, and Senior Research Fellow at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, shares his perspective on the issue of dark money — the unlimited and often untraceable contributions to political campaigns enabled by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the 2010 Citizens United case.

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Posted in Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Class Conflict, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Front Organizations, Government, Interviews, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on David R. Berman Interview — Podcast February 1, 2016

Nikki Bagley Interview — Podcast January 25, 2016

Posted on January 25, 2016 by William Timberman


Leadership for Arizona’s Future (And Lord Knows We Need It): Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson, welcome Nikki Bagley, Director of the Yavapai College Viticulture and Enology Program and former mayor of Jerome, to discuss her candidacy for the Arizona State Senate from AZ Legislative District 6. Hear her take on the issues facing Yavapai County, District 6, and the state at large, and on the challenges facing a Democrat running for office in Arizona in 2016.

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Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Continuing Education, Democratic Governance, Education Policy, Elections, Environmental Issues, Government, Growth, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, Local Politics, Oenology, Podcasts, Public Education, Public Policy, Small Business, Unemployment, Viticulture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nikki Bagley Interview — Podcast January 25, 2016