Tucson Speaks Out: Nov. 18

Thank you, Kyrsten Sinema!

I sincerely and gratefully thank former AZ Senator Kyrsten Sinema (and former Senator Joe Manchin) for refusing to alter the filibuster rules in the U.S. Senate in 2022. It still takes 60 votes to get a bill passed in the Upper Chamber. Thank goodness!

If you'll recall, Sinema was ardently vilified for this. Yet, she was a senator with longer-term thinking than the norm in Congress or in business, or society in general, for that matter: politicians think self-interest; businesses the next-quarter profits, society the price of eggs. And this filibuster decision was the biggie! Sinema said, in March 2024, "The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic, attacking your opponents on cable news or social media. I believe in my approach. But it is not what America wants right now."

Sinema quit the games played, after serving Arizona for 20 years. She now deserves everyone's thanks. We can have hope!

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

Time is running out for democracy

Congress will adjourn this month, leaving the Senate little time to confirm 16 pending judicial nominees for 45 remaining vacancies. These judges will shape critical decisions on civil rights, voting laws, and constitutional protections for years to come.

As of Nov. 15, the Senate has confirmed 213 of President Biden's judicial nominees. Leaving the remaining vacancies open risks them being filled by MAGA-aligned picks who will push Trump's agenda from the bench. Pro-democracy judges are essential to safeguarding the Constitution and ensuring justice for all Americans.

Arizonans must act now. Contact your senators and urge them to prioritize confirming these nominees before Congress adjourns on Nov. 22. These lifetime appointments are critical to preserving our democracy. Time is short — we must act.

Kim Miklofsky Bayne

What I'd like to be

This morning, during a routine visit to my dentist, I asked him whether he thought I'd make a good dentist. He gave me a quizzical look until I explained: Our President is appointing people to some of the highest-level positions in the country. Generally, these appointees have no background, education or expertise in any of the exalted slots. If they can do a job without any qualifications why can't I, with absolutely no résumé for the job, become a dentist? I doubt that I will become a dentist but apparently it isn't any longer necessary to have some preparations to undertake a lofty job like these anointed ones.

Philip Reinecker

East side

The '0% Generation'

From January 2002 until January 2022, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates near 0%. Except for a few years before the pandemic, when it rose to 2.4%, there had been a distortion of the normal interest rates from the historical average of 5.5%, which is where it is now.

For most of the last 50 years, the inflation rate has been below the Fed Fund Rate, making it prudent to save money. But during the time I'll call the "0% Generation", the inflation rate was above the fund rate. It made more sense to spend. Now that the equilibrium must be re-established, it makes more sense to save, something the "0% Generation" of consumers are not used to.

This analysis is difficult to bring to voters. No president of the United States will be able to bring down food prices, the price of gasoline or other assets. The federal bondholders need to make money. The "0% Generation" spending expectations can't continue. It's time to cut back.

Matt Somers

Donald Lame Duck

The left can rest and recuperate as they only have to deal with "The Donald" for about three years. He then becomes "Donald Lame Duck."

I believe the big reason he was elected, is because he is the "Devil we know", as opposed to the, "Devil we don't know." With his bombastic attitude and his bombastic appointees, they promise to clean up the government, where in three years, a functioning government can be passed on to the successor, whoever that may be.

With Elon Musk as the "eliminator in chief," if the conservatives don't succeed in reducing the size of the government, eliminating obsolete agencies, minimizing waste, stopping existing wars, curbing inflation, securing the borders, becoming energy independent, and establishing a functioning health care system, the left will prevail in the next election.

If the conservatives get it right, the left can be rest assured that they are in good hands for the next 12 years. Left or right, we will be fine. Remember, though, no good deed goes unpunished.

Ed LeGendre

East side

Projecting fear

There you go again, projecting your fears and actions onto Democrats. James Quigley compares the free speech of some unnamed Democratic governors to the start of the Civil War. James, get a grip, it was your people on Jan. 6, 2021 who stormed the Capitol, broke up the furniture, peed on the carpet and pooped in desk drawers. Do you remember that?

It took Barack Obama two terms to dig us out of the Bush mess after the '08 recession, and most of Biden's term to avoid another recession after Trump's disastrous handling of the Covid pandemic.

The only good to come from the '24 election is that all the marbles belong to the Republicans, and they can now do any damn thing they please. So, Republicans, put on your 'big boy pants' and get to work on some of the real problems — like the debt and a balanced budget, and stop whining that the other side doesn't agree with you.

Ted Morrison

The future lies ahead, in several senses

Let's have a guessing game. Which will happen first: the brutal dismemberment of Ukraine, and all weapons shipments redirected to Israel; heartrending scenes as Latino and Muslim families are torn apart in deportations, tossing away their MAGA hats as they go; another deadly virus from pet meat, no vaccines available, but Kristi Noem orders a holocaust of pets; kiddie porn passed around in Congress; tax cuts for the rich are paid for cutting Social Security and the abolition of Obamacare; tariffs cause huge rise in cost of living; all Civil Service jobs are abolished; all those guilty of Jan. 6 offenses are pardoned; Trump pardons himself of 34 offenses; government documents at Mar-a-Lago sold as souvenirs; the sale of Trump-used Sharpies that can redirect hurricanes and tornadoes; Trump says he was just kidding about vetoing a national abortion ban; contraceptives banned also.

Herbert Schneidau

Just asking

So, we're facing the possibility of having an anti-science, anti-vaccine, I-have-a-brain-worm conspiracy theorist in charge of America's health care agencies; a sex-trafficking, illicit drug user in charge of our federal law enforcement department; Putin's darling as overseer of the CIA, FBI, etc.; a know-nothing TV host in charge of the military and national defense; and all of them beholden to a ringleader who's a convicted felon. What could possibly go wrong? Just asking.

Mona Udstuen

Northwest side

Poor quality control

Nominee to lead Pentagon surprises Trump with troubling history ... This story reflects the unfortunate, but not unexpected, outcome when one takes shortcuts in proper vetting. There will be more of these surprises, but they seem acceptable if you consider the criminal backgrounds of our proposed leaders-to-be. Scary ...

Dale Malloy

Northwest side

Whose 'common sense'?

James Quigley (Nov. 12) asserts that the recent election was a victory against the "swamp." His complaint and the victory are really against anyone with actual knowledge, particularly specialized knowledge, which contradicts the uninformed views of Donald Trump. Quigley also asks if Democrats have heard of "common sense." Has he? Who possessing common sense would support a man who brags about everything about himself (including assaulting women), never admits to any mistake and always blames and denigrates someone else for his own. So no, I have no plans to embrace Trump in response to a plea for unity. But unlike Trump supporters, I don't have any plans to riot at the U.S. Capitol building to disrupt a valid constitutional proceeding. I am respecting the outcome of a valid election. That is all that is required of any loyal American not part of the cult of Trump.

Ronald Baird

The swamp

Remember the mantra "Drain the Swamp!"? It appears that 47 is more than willing to fill that same swamp with a large number of ignoble appointees to appease his ego and take our country to the worst backwaters imaginable! It seems possible, given the irrational choices he is advancing, that the worm has moved into 47's head! Could it be that he really is a Putin Puppet and is being led down this path to weaken our government and encourage our worst enemies?

I shudder to think.

Jim Schilling

Oro Valley