I'm mad as Hell, and I need to say why...

Today, the endless sky in Sedona was achingly gorgeous. I forced myself to stop, to clear my head, and take in the vastness of northern Arizona and the Verde Valley.

But, for those who’ve been following this blog (thank you for staying with me), you know I moved here, not for the beauty of the red rocks, but to flip Arizona from #redtoblue. Colonel (Ret.) Felicia French’s run for the state Senate in Legislative District 6 (along with Coral Evan’s race for LD 6’s corresponding state House seat), isn’t the kind of campaign that draws much national attention, unlike the congressional contest unfolding between Senator Martha McSally (who was appointed), and her Democratic challenger, astronaut and husband to Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly.

But, it is the kind of race, that highlights how awful and extreme the GOP has become, and why local (down-ballot) races are so critical.Let’s start by highlighting the fact that there are currently five members of the AZ GOP who have been accused of misconduct. And yet, the Republican-controlled legislature has done nothing to adopt a code of conduct for its legislators—even after the two most recent charges against Michelle Ugenti-Rita (LD 23) and David Cook (LD 8), for sexual harassment and violations of the state constitution, and worse!Unethical conduct aside, what really pisses me off are the heinous laws the GOP’s trying to pass—including policies to disenfranchise voters, violate civil rights, and funnel AZ tax dollars out of state to for-profit, parochial schools. In LD 6, Felicia’s opponent, incumbent Sylvia Allen (infamous for her publicly-held belief that the earth’s 6,000 years old), introduced a bill that would require amending the state’s constitution. It not only banned sanctuary cities, it also forced school district, community college, and county health center employees to assist federal ICE agents in the warrantless targeting of their neighbors. While that bill faced enough statewide opposition to fail, Allen has also sponsored SB 1224, which is still moving forward, to siphon tax dollars from the state’s public schools (already some of the most underfunded in the nation) to religious, charter schools outside Arizona.

Most recently, AZ Republicans introduced HB 2706, specifically to target transgender girls and prevent them from participating in any girl’s sports, from grade school to college and university teams. This type of hate-filled, fear-promoting legislation, makes my blood boil.

But as I write today, it’s not the only thing that’s making me mad…

My schedule for March, included organizing a weekend of action with 70+ Bay Area volunteers, from Swing Left and Sister District Project, to knock on the doors of thousands of Democratic voters. It also included travel to San Francisco, to reunite SDP’s San Francisco chapter with Felicia French, and at the same time, introduce Coral Evans, to help raise critical, early campaign funds. Both trips have now been canceled.

Why? Because of the DJT’s total abdication of responsibility in the face of the Coronavirus, and his administration’s utter ineptness in response to this health crises. Our government should’ve prioritized and planned a coordinated action with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other responsible federal agencies in January, when news about the outbreak in China first circulated.

Instead, it’s only now, because of the lurch in stock markets, and the potential downturn in the economy (which of course, matters only in that it might further depress DJT’s standing), that any response is even forthcoming. But how effective can it be, given the primary impetus isn’t for public health or safety, but rather for how it impacts DJT’s polling? And, more importantly, how effective is any response now, given how he’s decimated the ranks of our civil servants?All of this, leads me to my final tirade.What the GOP in Arizona and the White House (as well as the enabling GOP members of Congress) have in common, is a relentless fealty to corrupt self-interests. Their only purpose, at this point, is maintaining their desperate grip on power by any means necessary. Corruption, above all else, is what defines today’s Republicans.

Every single action, or inaction, by legislators and the DJT administration can be understood through this lens. Which is why, I’m beyond angry (and deeply bereft) that the only candidate who made anti-corruption the bedrock of their campaign, is no longer in the Democratic primary.

Elizabeth Warren didn’t simply grok the role of corruption and its danger to our constitutional democracy; she understood how to fight against that suffocating corruption. Her plans were literally blueprints for repairing all of the broken, but interconnected parts of our society—she provided clear, step-by-step recipes for bringing about the big structural change needed to effectively address the growing threats from global warming, the hyper-concentration of wealth, the crushing costs of education and health care, and the pernicious influence of money on our government.Did you know her plans included one released in January to deal with the Coronavirus specifically? And an updated one addressing the current economic impacts?

I mean seriously…as the literal antithesis to DJT, Warren was the right candidate, at the right time.

A woman who had the best qualifications, strongest skills, applicable experience, and demonstrable past successes, as well as the intellect, courage, and work ethic to root out the corrupt and anti-government ethos that defines today’s political system. A woman who fought to put our country on a visionary, new path forward. A woman sho demonstrated a real empathy for those struggling, a passion for the results of good policy, a predisposition for collaborating, and a killer-instinct for winning debates.

But, because she was a woman, her missteps made her imperfect. And for a woman, there is no option but to be perfect. So, I’m actually beyond mad as hell, because so many people (real ones, whom I know personally) chose not to vote for her, but yet denied any shadow of sexism, saying:

• She wasn’t electable because of the charge of her “claiming” native heritage—a spurious bit of fake news first raised by REPUBLICANS, when she ran for Senate.

• She wasn’t electable because, when candidates were called on how they would pay for Medicare for All, she didn't just dodge the tax implications for the middle class; instead, she took her already detailed plan and added to it in order to address the cost and private insurance concerns. I mean, internalizing criticism to improve your work product, who even does that?

• She wasn’t electable because she couldn’t “pick a lane”—after all, the media only has a binary frame through which to evaluate every complex, multi-faceted, three-dimensional issue on the planet: you’re either a crazy socialist bent on revolution, or the establishment’s moderate; you couldn’t possibly be a unity candidate with a mix of positions, who polled as the top second choice of all the candidates.

• She wasn’t electable because she was too aggressive, by confronting a sexist, pro-Republican, billionaire spoiler who bought, rather than earned, his primary votes and ticket onto the debate stage (does Biden even realize he totally owes her?).

• She wasn’t electable because she didn’t have a good narrative or memorable slogan. I guess being a janitor’s daughter, who dropped out of college to get married, went back to school to become a special-ed teacher, but then lost her job after getting pregnant, before getting support from an aunt, to be able to go on to law school, is not inspiring. Especially since she shared such an amazing rise as a parable about how good government policy enables social mobility, rather than as a tale of personal grit. And clearly, "Build an America that works for everyone" is just too hard to remember.

• Anyway, she wasn’t electable, because…you know…she was inauthentic, too school marmy, condescending—whatever, just not because she was a woman.

But the truth is, (many) voters don't want a woman as the President of this country. Period. What’s infuriating is why it’s so hard for those people to be honest. Just own it, already.In 2016, it was a strong, smart woman who had too much baggage from the corporate, elitist establishment, and who wasn't progressive enough (like her key rival Sanders).In 2020, it was a strong, smart woman who fought with every fiber of her being against that corporate, elitist establishment, and who was too progressive (because she spoke about intersectional injustice for women, people of color, LGBTQ community members, and people with disabilities, not just about class inequality).I only see one common denominator here. So, I’m taking every ounce of my fury to continue my fight for Felicia French, a strong, smart woman who WILL win—and to heed Warren’s advice:

I hope you will join me.