Thursday, February 26th, 2009...5:24 pm
Say It Ain’t So, Raúl
Argh. No Comment.
Dear State Committeeperson,
Throughout my career, as a School Board Member, a County Supervisor, and as a Congressman I have come to appreciate what a difference an effective State Party Chair can make to our election outcomes. Even more importantly, as an activist who is in politics to fight for people, to fight for fairness and justice, and to make the differences with the other party as clear as I know how, I have come to value leaders who bring passion and commitment to our politics. These are the reasons I am supporting Don Bivens as our Democratic State Party Chair.
Don has shown he can lead, can raise the money and can unify the party. If we want to win in 2010 we better start that campaign right now, and Don has the preparation, proven commitment and plan to do so.
I urge you to join me, the full slate of state party officers, every County Chair, well over half the Legislative District Chairs and the now 100+ State Committee members who have already pledged their support to Don.
Raúl M.Grijalva
Member of Congress
17 Comments
February 26th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I think the heads of every progressive democrat in Az. just exploded.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Remember folks, all of these endorsements are of an unopposed Don Bivens. Bob Lord still wins in a walk if he throws his hat in the ring.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I dunno about that anymore. I think Bivens has done a good job actually campaigning, admitting his mistakes and asking for support. If Lord were to announce, say tomorrow that he was running, he would have a good shot. If he tries to pull an Eckerstrom then I think it would be a close one.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I love the ever-present “can raise the money” argument. Does Don really know people that any other credible person running wouldn’t know?
And what’s the point of raising money if you waste it anyway.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:26 am
The last line from Concerned is a good one.
An endorsement from Grijalva is obviously directed at us Baja Arizonans, the uppity ones who caused all the ruckus in the first place. Getting the highest ranking and most progressive official in Pima County on board is meant to get us to fall in line. Brilliant move.
I hope Mr. Bivens uses this kind of skill to benefit Democrats in every LD 2010 elections.
February 27th, 2009 at 6:29 am
I love how everyone seems to complain but don’t produce an actual candidate. I just hope March 7th gets here fast – this not having a chair is costing time and money for the party.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I remember hearing some of the same comments as those above back when Grijalva endorsed Giffords in the 2006 CD8 primary. Why do we always expect people to fit the narrow views we have of them? “Progressives” sometimes remind me of conservatives who are quick to affix the RINO label when someone parts company from them.
Grijalva states that “if we want to win in 2010 we better start that campaign right now.” The election for party chair is in eight days and no one else has declared, right? Makes me wonder if no one else has a plan for what to do if they win. Grijalva is someone who has always had a plan to get his voters out, so I’m inclined to trust his judgment…especially in the absence of an alternative to Bivens.
I’m not on the state committee, but I am a concerned Democrat who feels that the state party mismanaged the 2008 election in some respects. My hunch is that Bivens knows that feeling is widespread and will work to change things. Let’s move on and get ready to take on the Republicans next year. With every vote their legislators cast, they are making it more and more likely that we can have success in districts where we haven’t tasted it in the past.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Since Eckerstrom’s election, the state has been very concerned about losing Bivens’ fundraising network. So we get that back, and that’s nice.
I just hope that Bivens has learned from his mistakes. I hope he has learned to listen and that he recognizes that a return to business as usual will just result in him getting ousted again.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:51 am
I have washed my hands of this situation, whatever man. See if Checks to the state party roll in from Pima County this year. I urge all big donors to keep their money in their county.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:21 am
This train wreck was a good thing. It forced Bivens to get a “ground game” and meet the activists in every county. If he wins, he’ll be different Bivens than he was. Yesterday, I received an e mail from Ken Smith, Sr. Vice Chair, in which he said there are now two announced candidates and that an e mail announcement from the other one will come soon. Still a mystery as of this morning.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:26 am
No comment about Grijalva.
February 27th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I’m sure Bivens learned his lesson also but I’m just not sure I’m willing to trust that Bivens suddenly has seen the light and knows how to fix everything after screwing it up so badly.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Uh, Carol, if you have no comment, why did you make one? ;0)
February 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
ADP in such a sorry state, only one person is jumping at the chance to run it (again). Everyone else is taking weeks to think it over. We need a strong leader.
Is the tradeoff for this strong fundraising network going to be an erosion of loyalty & fractured or lukewarm support?
Is half of the party going to consider Bivens as “on probation” for the next 6 months or a year and see more anonymous proposals like “Building a Stronger ADP” while we piss away time & energy?
At least Bivens is willing to step up. He should probably get the job, but he better be working on party building and unity for the next few months.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am
If Bivens is re-elected, not much will change. He will try to make it seem as if things have changed, but the people outside of Maricopa County saw the same arrogant ******* when he came hat-in-hand after being beaten by Eckerstrom.
Yes, there is a trade-off. Bivens with an ambivalent base, or a new guy without traditional fundraising. The old power structure in Arizona is crumbling, and the old money families are desperately trying to hold onto whatever power they can. They WANT Bivens to keep the party ambivalent, uninvolved, and frustrated because they want the status quo. Either those guys writing the big checks support the party — or they don’t. I think we saw their true allegiance when Eckerstrom was elected. I say, let’s bite the bullet and do what’s good long-term. If those donors want to walk, let them. Look for new donors who truly support the goals of Arizona Democrats. It might just be the bad-tasting medicine we need to heal this sick party.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Maybe Bivens promised (to) or (not to) hire one of the Grijalvistas as Arizona ADP executive director…….how about Sami Hayed?
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Don Bivens is going to win Saturday. If you wanted to beat him you had a chance a month ago but you picked the wrong guy to do it.
Now, after the budget cuts this year, the Republicans have been clearly shown to be what they are.
We can unite to beat the Republicans next year, or we can form a circular firing squad.