Just in case Arizona Democrats want to actually do something to keep the series of terrible bills currently making their way through our political system from becoming horrible state-crippling laws, here's something from Reuters. Admittedly, this particular technique might not work within the rules of order in Arizona, but some modicum of dissent would be nice:

A weary Wisconsin state Assembly on Wednesday continued debate on a Republican proposal to curb public sector union power after an all-night session that dealt with only a few of many Democratic objections.

[...]

The Assembly, where Republicans can form a quorum without the Democrats, took up the controversial measure on Tuesday morning. But Democrats have promised more than 200 amendments on the bill, according to website WisPolitics.

As of 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, only seven Democratic amendments had been considered, all rejected along party line votes. Republicans hold a 57-38 majority in the Assembly.

At one point, Republican state representative Joel Kleefisch urged Democrats to agree to suspend the rules and allow a vote on Walker's proposal.

"You don't like the bill. We get it. So you're going to try to stall it," Kleefisch said. "But at the end of the day a vote is going to come, folks."

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said he was determined to have his members heard.

"We're not trying to delay the process," Barca said. "We just want to let them have their say."

The Onion reports: "Embarrassed Republicans Admit They've Been Thinking Of Eisenhower Whole Time They've Been Praising Reagan"

Following his discovery, Priebus directed RNC staffers to inform top Republicans of the error and explain that it was Eisenhower, not Reagan, who carefully managed the nation's prosperity, warned citizens of the military-industrial complex's growing influence, and led the country with a mix of firm resolve and humble compassion.

"Wait, you're telling me Reagan advocated that trickle-down nonsense that was debunked years ago? That was Reagan?" Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said upon hearing of the mistake. "I can't believe I've been calling for a return to Reagan's America. I feel like an asshole."

According to sources, millions of younger Republicans have spent most of their lives viewing Reagan a stalwart of conservative principles, and many were "horrified" to learn that the former president illegally sold weapons to Iran, declared amnesty for 2.9 million illegal immigrants, costarred in a movie with a chimpanzee, funneled aid to Islamic militants in Afghanistan, and suffered from severe mental problems.

BTW: Have you noticed that in Arizona, it's getting really difficult to tell the difference between a real headline and an Onion story?

John Bryant Jr. says the new Onyx Room—which we mentioned earlier this week—will be “kind of like a supper club, like they run back East.”

The food, however, will be more like what they serve down South.

“We’re doing a nice, down-home Southern menu,” Bryant said about the yet-to-open Onyx Room. “Ribs, barbecued chicken, fried chicken, catfish, shrimp, smothered pork chops, beef brisket, mashed potatoes, gravy, rice and gravy, collard greens, fried okra, black-eyed peas.”

It must be noted that the above paragraph does not do justice to how Bryant speaks of this food. The way he says it makes it sound like Bob Dylan lyrics, or a hymn, or something else beautiful and lyrical. One can tell immediately that this will not be the first catfish Bryant has ever fried.

“You know, it’s just what we would cook at home, and that’s what we want to serve to people,” he said, adding that a barbecue-sauce-slathered po’ boy stuffed with a hotlink, French fries and coleslaw is also on the menu.

John Bryant Jr. will run the kitchen. His mother and father, Johnny Bryant Sr. and Beverly Bryant, will handle the rest of the business. They’ve been busy repainting and replacing ceiling fans with chandeliers, and are shooting for an opening in early March.

The Onyx Room will also feature a full bar, tons of drink specials and karaoke nights. You can follow the place on Facebook here.

• Suzi Hileman displays some of the hundreds of cards and letters she's received from well-wishers around the world. (Sheila Wilensky)

Writer Sheila Wilensky at The Arizona Jewish Post (an occasional Tucson Weekly contributor) has a wonderful interview with Jan. 8 shooting victim Suzi Hileman in the Feb. 25th Jewish Post. Hileman is the neighbor and family friend who took 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green to the Congress on Your Corner event that January morning.

You can read the entire interview here. Takeaway:

Hileman had planned that she and Christina would meet Giffords on Jan. 8 at the “Congress on Your Corner” at the northwest Safeway, have lunch together and get manicures. Hileman recalls picking Christina up at her home that morning; her mother asked Christina to take her sweatshirt. The next time Hileman saw that pink sweatshirt with a peace symbol on the front was after she came home from the hospital on Jan. 18; it was lying on the passenger seat of her car.

Christina will always be with her, says Hileman, noting that Christina was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and used to proudly ask people, “Did you know that I’m a symbol of America?”

Her friend was excited about meeting Giffords, and Hileman — in her mentoring role — told Christina that she could aspire to be a congresswoman.

In other news: Lauren Gambino of Cronkite News Service gives us the details on Sen. Kysten Sinema's bill to crack down on drop houses:

A state senator wants stiffer penalties for owners or renters of properties that are used for drop houses, saying it would make them more likely to turn against leaders of smuggling rings.

“We really want to bust these rings because they kidnap people, hold them for ransom and sometimes even rape and abuse people,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix.

Sinema authored SB 1225, which the state Senate approved Tuesday on a 26-3 vote and forwarded to the House.

The bill increases the penalty for drop house owners prosecuted under forgery laws from a Class 4 felony to a Class 3 felony.

“The hope is that the frontman, who is usually the person doing the lease, would then give information about the ring leaders of the criminal activity,” said Sinema, who has introduced this bill, with the support of former Attorney General Terry Goddard, three times.

Under current statute, forgery is when a person falsely makes or alters a written document, knowingly possesses a forged instrument or presents a forged document that contains

Update with playlist and download at bottom of post

Either Malaysia had a heck of a party planned, or it has a heck of a black market for prophylactics, since thieves stole some 725,000 condoms from a port where the items were destined for Japan.

• Photo Ryn Gargulinski
• Perhaps the thieves could have used some wine with their haul.

That story and more are up this week on Rynski’s Shattered Reality radio show on Party934.com and FM 94.9 in Hudson Valley, N.Y.

Next show is Wednesday, Feb. 23 (today!) and every Wednesday online at Party934.com. Showtime is 1 p.m. in Arizona, 3 p.m. EST.

Party 934 is a radio alternative for listeners sick of stations that play one song followed by 500 commercials.

More CRAZY songs are up this week, as is our weekly polka fix.

Thanks! to all who keep the song requests coming.

Cynder is a 5-year-old Chow mix currently recovering from surgery ... and a broken heart.

Easy going and so appreciative, Cynder is a dog you’re bound to fall in love with. House-trained, affectionate, and bursting with best friend potential, Cynder is destined for great things. Sadly Cynder’s lucky streak was cut short when her beloved owner passed away. When she returned to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, her former shelter buddies recognized her immediately from years prior. A favorite among staff and volunteers, Cynder gets plenty of belly rubs and hugs but remains in poor spirits knowing that she is once again homeless. Won’t you give this poor pup down on her luck a third chance for happiness? It would mean the world to Cynder to have the love and dignity of a home in her Golden Years.

And if that didn't win you over, watch Cynder being adorable in her very own YouTube video!

Come meet the Cynder! She's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

With Mayor Bob Walkup announcing he won't seek a fourth term this year, Republican Ron Asta told us he'd be running for the office.

The only other Republican now seeking the mayor's office is Shaun McClusky, who made his political debut with an unsuccessful campaign for the Ward 5 City Council seat in 2009. Democrat Jonathan Rothschild is also in the race.

Here's the announcement from Asta (and yes, he mentions the whole steak incident):

I have lived and worked in Tucson since 1964. I own a home in Tucson. My son was born, grew up and still lives in Tucson. I plan on living here the rest of my life—beginning with this announcement to be the next mayor of the city I have grown to love. But our city is in real need of new leadership.

I am the only candidate for mayor with proven leadership ability in an elected office—as the former chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

I am the only candidate with experience in urban planning. In fact, I have a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from the UA. And helped set the stage for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

I used to be a liberal Democrat whose base narrowed with extreme positions…the poster boy for anti-growth in Tucson…which means I am a candidate who admits to making mistakes…and seeing the error of his ways.

Now I’m a conservative Republican…and a businessman. I still care deeply about the environment. But I also want an environment in which our kids can find jobs. I believe Tucson will work again when Tucsonans are working again. So, with age, I’m a lot more committed when it comes to keeping and attracting businesses. And I’ve learned how to build

The Start Our State movement is underway:

Start Our State (SOS) has been formally established as a political committee registered in Pima County. SOS is dedicated to creating the 51st American state in Southern Arizona, separating us from the extremists in Phoenix. Our mission is to establish a new state in Southern Arizona free of the un-American, unconstitutional machinations of the Phoenix-controlled Arizona legislature and to restore our region's credibility as a place welcoming to others, open to commerce, and friendly to its neighbors. Our first and immediate goal is to place a referendum before the voters of Pima County on the 2012 ballot on the question of statehood.

We welcome other Arizona counties that wish to join this effort. In the meantime, we shouldn’t forget that, with a population of 1,020,200 (2009), Pima County has more people than Montana, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming. With an area of 9,189 square miles, Pima County is bigger than Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. There is legal precedent for the separation of a portion of an existing state from the original state in order to form a new one. In 1820, Maine split off from Massachusetts and was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state.

Find ’em on Facebook here.

Slideshow

The Remnants of Miracle Valley

Click to View 36 slides

If you blink while heading East on Highway 92 going through Palominas, you may miss the decaying ruins of one of southern Arizona’s most peculiar settlements. Nestled in between Healing and Deliverance Way, the main tabernacle of Miracle Valley stands tall off the side of the highway, but in ruin. You can catch a glimpse of the main service hall through the gaps in between wooden supports that once held up the church roof. Overgrown desert grass surrounds the tabernacle, and at first glance, it appears to stand alone.

Walking up on the chunked up pavement, I began to see that tabernacle was part of an abandoned community.

What was left were deserted buildings with traces of a once-thriving religious community. Entire apartments and offices left fully furnished, classrooms with desks lined up neatly and ready for eager young minds. There were books, magazines, bibles and records left scattered in nearly every room. Children’s toys and personal trinkets made dormitories feel eerily inhabited, as if its residents never planned to leave. Religious imagery always reminded you of where you were. One section of the living quarters was charred from a previous fire. The walls were black with ash and the roof looked like swiss cheese where flames burned holes in the ceiling. The entire time I kept wondering where I was. A small piece of paper taped up on a window of the main office read; “Miracle Valley.”

Originally founded in 1958 by Pentecostal evangelist, Asa A. Allen, Miracle valley was originally a bible school in southern Arizona. It functioned under the care of Allen for many years until he was found dead in a hotel room in San Francisco in 1970. He died of alcohol poisoning. Throughout the years, Miracle Valley has seen many religious fundamentalists come and go. In the 1980s, a series of conflicts occurred between locals and members of the Chicago-based Healing Center and Church that took residence in Miracle Valley, including the famed “Miracle Valley Shootout” in 1982 between church members and local authorities which ended in the death of two men. Miracle Valley has suffered numerous incidents of property damage that was forcefully left unattended to due to a lack of money. The men’s dorm was left charred from a previous fire. An entire section of the service hall roof is missing, allowing the elements to wreak havoc on the interior of the tabernacle.

Canadian couple, Gilles and Diane Langevin from Quebec, are now raising funds to restore Miracle Valley.