Saturday, August 10, 2024

Arizona Republican Mayor Blasts 'Out of Touch' GOP, Backs Harris

A GOP mayor in Arizona explained why he doesn't "recognize" his party even as he felt "a little out of place" at Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign rally in Glendale on Friday. Mesa Mayor John Giles, who the Arizona GOP once censured in 2022 over his endorsement of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over Trump-backed challenger Blake Masters, said his party has been taken over by "extremists" committed to forcing "people in the center of the political spectrum out" of the GOP.

Posted by tonyroma at 07:30 PM | 6 COMMENTS | permalink

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"So I have something to say to those of us who are in the political middle: you don't owe a damn thing to that party," said the lifelong Republican at the rally, which attracted an estimated crowd of over 15,000 people.

"In particular, you do not owe anything to a party that is out of touch and hell-bent on taking us backward. And by all means, you owe no displaced loyalty to a candidate that is morally and ethically bankrupt.

I would say in the spirit of the late Sen. John McCain, please, please, please join me in putting country over party and stopping Donald Trump and protecting the rule of law, protecting our Constitution and protecting the democracy of this great country," Giles told the crowd.

Couldn't put it any better myself. Carry on hizzoner, carry on.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-10 09:46 AM

This may be a Big Deal type of political development in AZ. Giles is mayor of a huge metropolitan area and he is about as mainline establishment Mormon as you can get (en.wikipedia.org(mayor)). He gets around and he seems to have good credibility. He's giving Mormoms whose eyes are rolling around in their noggins permission to vote for Harris/Walz. In other words, it's not just Rusty Bowers. And that, in AZ and at this time, is potentially yuuge.

#2 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2024-08-10 03:55 PM

I have famky members who need to hear that speech and understand that they don't owe rhe GQP any tging and just the reference tp Qabob should alert any mainstream Republican that MAGA isn't mainstream Republican it's hard core Fascist based on hate for minorities, resentment of women etc. My wish is that that guy will get to speak to a much larger audience. The nation needs to hear him.

#3 | Posted by danni at 2024-08-10 09:49 PM

#3 | Posted by DANNI

Check this out. Friends - old school Republicans - have one of these signs in their yard:

www.facebook.com

They're selling like hotcakes online.

#4 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-08-11 12:05 AM

When this guy said he was a Republican at the rally the crowd loudly applauded. Good message to all anti Trump Republicans that we are on the same team to save our democracy.

#5 | Posted by AlternateFacts at 2024-08-11 03:08 AM

As a progressive, I am perfectly fine with a strong central Republican Party returning to the political scene. Our style of democracy needs at least two very strong independent political parties to give choice to the voters. I don't care who it is, the best, the wisest...but after a long time in office people get complacent, they get territorial, they need competition, as does America. That competition, more than anything, keeps America strong.
However, when one party has degenerated into a fascist, we own it all party, democracy is constantly under attack.

#6 | Posted by Hughmass at 2024-08-11 06:32 AM

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