I just got back from walking my dog, the one that survived the africanized bee attack a few weeks ago. I walk her after dark as in Tucson it takes a few hours to cool off enough in the evening for me to want to take a quick jog around the neighborhood. It is 9 pm and 91 degrees.
UMC is just down the street and a helicopter took off from the helipad on the roof while we were walking. I cannot see that sight, even a year and a half later, without thinking of that January day when Tucson changed forever. Tonight that memory was very close to the surface with today’s special election to fill Gabby Giffords’ seat for the rest of her term until this fall and the regular Congressional election.
The two major party contenders and a green party candidate vied for her old seat.
Ron Barber, the Democratic candidate, who was also shot twice on January 8,2011, is ahead as I write this, 53 to 45 percent with half of the votes in. This percentage has held fairly steady for the last hour. I’m breathing a bit easier. Jesse Kelly, the Republican candidate, is to the right of even most Tea Bag Types. He ran against Gabby in 2010 in what was a very, very close election. He hosted the target practice with automatic weaponry that “targeted” Gabby in what I still believe was one of the ugly acts that tainted the atmosphere and energy in Tucson that a very disturbed young man picked up on and interpreted as encouragement to act that horrible Winter day. I attended debates where there were Kelly supporters in Nazi attire.
The white supremacist in Arizona politics is, unfortunately, common enough to bring many individuals and groups to mind at its mention. J. T. Reading, an avowed Neo-Nazi, was running for Pinal County Sheriff when he killed his family and himself earlier this year. Reading was Russell Pearce’s buddy, before Pearce was recalled as Arizona Senate member and president. The border militias that have much in common with the Tea Party, have Nazi and Aryan connections as the trials for murders of a family in Arivaca showed. And of course there is the northern Arizona connection with Tim McVeigh. This shit is real. In this state the border militias, neo-nazis, ultra-conservatives, mingle with the conservatives in what I find to be a very disturbing manner. RNC money was backing Jesse Kelly like he was a good Republican.
Ron Barber has been declared the winner, Kelly has conceded, and Barber has given his acceptance speech. Gabby is right on stage with Ron. There is chanting of “Gabby” from the audience. It signals a bit of closure for us here.
I have made no bones about not being aligned with the Blue Dog Democrat that Gabby was in Congress. But she was my representative. There was an assassination attempt on her life. I was at the UMC vigil the day of the shooting. Tucson came together in a way that was amazing, for her and all the injured, and for those we lost. The event changed us all and political nuances became completely unimportant. Citizens came together to support a public servant who had nearly given her life.
For me, this election has been an extension of the journey we Tucsonans and Southern Arizonans all began 18 months ago. Gabby next to Ron on that stage tonight was the best closing of this particular circle within Arizona history that could have happened.
I’m breathing so much easier tonight than I have since it became obvious that national money, Rove and the RNC, was coming in early on to support the extremist right wing candidate Kelly, complete with his High School diploma and construction experience in his father’s company.
But the November elections are fast approaching and Kelly will probably run again. The redistricting changes the districts for this fall’s elections a bit.
Stream of Consciousness Notes from the Ron Barber GOTV Concert
Stream of Consciousness Notes from the Get Out The Vote Concert
9 June 2012
Rialto Theater
5-8 p.m.
Get Out the vote concert in support of Ron Barber.
“Higher ground” music as the set up ended — Stevie still rocks the vote.
Jen Cox, Ron’s campaign manager introduced the mayor.
Jon Rothshchild, Mayor, “We have three days to win. The nation is watching.”
Kevin Pakoulis with Amy Langley opened with their Rockabilly 50 50 deal — not what you hear at Republican rallies, I suspect. Uncle Harlan was the second number. Green thumbs and volunteers. Amy sang lead on the third song. Something about her voice reminded me of Bobbi Gentry. Now that is a blast from the past. “So this is your style…” Nest song was off of “Shadesville” album. All is forgiven. They have that Tucson minor chord twang in this song… with the lyrical spoken word lyrics at times. Amy has a really strong voice. I will have to check ’em out on iTunes. Next song Mockingbird Radio….Utah…Canyons now that is a SW song. He has a wah wah pedal… not to be confused whammy bar.
Duncan ? on keyboards amy – vocals , Kevin on bass, Johnny ben wah wah? on drums Terry (Kerry..?) lead guitar.
Last song’s Chorus: “Outside of Tucson, got my groove on, in the shadow of Rincons…me and this desert, man we get along. It is hot here, hot as hell here. swamp cooler and a cold beer. i ain’t saying we got it made, but we’re getting there.”
Couple hundred in seats. Hundred plus more dancing and swaying.
Next set being set up while Hubby fetched water and went down to the dance floor to mingle and take pics.
Ron Barber and family
Thanks to Rialto
maestro charley levy (his 3rd get out the vote concert) organized this concert.
must get everyone out to vote!
Staff: jennifer cox,
nancy barber
more family: kieran ailsa jenny blaine elliot chrissy jason
june 20th
45th anniversary of ron and nancy’s marriage and celebration of a win if we get out the vote.
Salvador Duran
guitar with standing bass at side (from calexico?)
spanish language ballad about beautiful woman
2nd song -light land
3rd was… traditional guitart that made my feet want to move.
intense and passionate
tapping
whistling
wishing people would shut up and listen
4th traditional story
He played a bit too long.
Sergio Mendoza y la Orkestra with special guests Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico.
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Jenn Cox 211 new shifts signed up for today.
4262 doors knocked on today.
21000+calls, did not get exact number, made today!
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just your 11 piece latin orkestra
can see ron and nancy dancing back stage
intermission music songs of my father linda ronstadt
as Calexico warms up.
jenn again.
jessica schultz com director
Ron Barber with Gabby and Mark coming up on stage was an amazing site. Gabby looked good and was exuding happiness. Such a huge role to play. She provides so much inspiration. Just a year ago they were driving by the Rialto and Gabby read the marque out loud, Tucson Loves Gabby.
The wonder of Joey Calexico with Sergio Mendoza y la Orkestra and Salvador Duran on several songs with them. Then just Calexico.
Then special song for Gabby and Mark.
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Hubby and I both popped out a bit early as the sound level, heat and dehydration had left us both with headaches. When did we become old farts?
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Quite the political day hubby went to the Trident with other military vets as extras, this am, to film a Carmona commercial. It is very, very important we get former Surgeon General Richard Carmona in the Senate to replace Kyl.
A Concert To Benefit the Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding
It is very, very difficult to try to talk about anything good associated with the January 8th assassination attempt on U. S. House of Representative Member, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that left six dead and 13 physically wounded. Countless Tucson families and citizens and all the networks all these people touched were also emotionally changed, and indeed the very community itself was injured, for when a community member is hurt, the community itself is injured. And Tucson is a community. We are the biggest small town in America. We are healing, but the perception of our community, our dear Old Pueblo, is forever changed. When talking heads use the word Tucson now they are referring to a few seconds of violence, the act of a madman, that attempted to change the vibe (We talk that way here.) of Tucson. It isn’t going to happen; Tucson will be more like Tucson than ever in the coming weeks, months and years. Not all communities could attract such a diverse and positive musical outreach and support network as Tucson has in the Benefit Concert featuring Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona’s Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding.
ly live together. We are a University town, we are one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America. We are artists, writers, musicians, hikers, birders, and we have given rise to many political families as well. People who come to Tucson, even if they move on through it, are touched by it.