As far as Eckerstrom, as you know I went against a guy who I had a lot of respect for in order to vote for Eckerstrom based on his saying exactly what I’ve thought for some time about the need for stronger and more direct messaging.

That said, the election is over. Voters have now seen up front exactly what the GOP is about (and I’ve even heard some Republicans in my deep, deep red precinct grumbling about budget cuts to education) and in this environment we need to articulate a viable alternative. If we can, I think we can win.

Cuatro – The Arizona Legislature passing a budget that guts K-12 education funding, the universities, ACCCHS and other social services under the cover of night and behind closed doors.

I read that the (ahem) Governor wants it on her desk to sign before she leaves for the Super Bowl. Of course, we wouldn’t want her leaving for Tampa without taking immunizations away from kids or doubling university tuition.

Also – a note on the “rumors” out there about Paul Eckerstrom. I have known Paul for many years and got a chance to work with him a great deal when he was Pima County Chair and I was at the Party, and then later we worked together on the IEC that helped elect Karin Uhlich and Nina Trasoff. I think he is a bright, hard-working guy with a good political instinct. It’s time for all of us to come together to support him so we can get to the task of countering the Brewer Admin and the GOP Legislature and winning elections in 2010 – isn’t that what we are here for?