New wind blowing in AZGOP race, Part I

[Arizona Freedom Alliance]

We have been systematically talking to State Committeemen about how they plan to vote for AZGOP Chairman. What we hear most of the time is some version of, “I don't really like any of them.” Understood. All come with considerable baggage.

Let's take Frank Thorwald. First, he teamed up with Tim Horn to get a plan of action to run on.  Then he ignored an important meeting and just didn't show up with no expanation.  Character counts!  He seems not to be campaigning for the job, preferring, we think, to believe he will waltz into the job on the reputation of Robert Graham.  He is “good friends” with Graham and we are told Graham recruited him to run, promising him the donor list.  That is a cherished list!   He sits on a Board of which Graham is Chairman. The company is a bit of a nothing company but that isn't the point. Or maybe it is. Small, nothing companies seek out their friends to sit on their boards because there are no others to do it. If you believe that birds of a feather actually do stick together, then a good measure of Frank is the friends he hangs with. Like Robert Graham. A peek at Graham should give you pause.

Here are a few facts about Robert Graham:

• He was charged with money laundering in California when he took a charitable 501c3 PAC (tax deductible) and moved the money to a political 501c4 (non-deductible) allowing donors to donate to the c3, deduct the donation, effectively skirting the law on what are and are not deductible donations. Illegal. He used the money to lobby for an issue in California. He was charged. He was fined $1,000,000 to get rid of the case so as not to have it on his record.  You can search Robert Graham on this site and find plenty of articles we ran at the time, 2012 forward.

• He along with an associate purchased a closed paper mill in Groveton, New Hampshire. The city fathers were told he would demo the buildings for salvage and then build or sell to someone who would build on the land. The mill was a major eyesore and the city fathers wanted it gone. Now. Several years later, the mill still stood and they sued Graham.  Eventually, someone else came along recently and built on the land.  That was close to a decade it stood as a monument to failure in the middle of a very small town.

• He is banned for life from working in the securities business in Massachusetts, the land of broken laws. He convinced an elderly artist in MA to invest her entire life savings that were in two trusts – one for her disabled brother and another for her even more elderly mother. It was $400,000. He used the money to buy the paper mill in Groveton that sat for years and she lost every penny. She had signed a form required by law that she had a low risk tolerance. Meaning, CDs were her investment of choice, most likely.

• He money laundered-funds while Chairman of AZGOP. AZRA members combed through his financial reports and found several very obvious problems in the managing of money. The AZRA Treasurer filed a complaint with the FEC. The complaint was pulled, reputed by John McCain. But after McCain was out of the picture, the AZGOP was fined for their misdeeds and will be fined again in the coming months, according to published reports.  Not one FEC report he filed was accurate.  The FEC doesn't have a sense of humor!

• It was also suspected that Graham was using AZGOP money for his personal use. That has not yet been proven but still might be.

• Graham was notorious for changing the locks on the AZGOP doors after he shooed all the conservative volunteers, who had been there for quite some time, right out the door.  He hired people to take jobs that had paid $0 to $60K a year and paid them $120,000 a year, squandering funds intended for candidates. And no one answered a phone for four years!

• He took RNC money in 2016 that was earmarked for electing Trump and used it primarily to get McCain elected.

• There are other serious problems with the FEC reports from the four years Graham was there that still plague the AZGOP.

So what does that have to do with Frank Thorwald? Birds of a feather... Frank may not be as dishonest as Graham but he's buddies with Graham and the last, or nearly last, thing AZGOP needs is Graham back influencing decisions.

That brings us to Jonathan Lines. Graham tagged him at the last minute in 2015 to run for AZGOP treasurer and only after others filed intent-to-run forms. Graham claimed he barely knew Lines but we posted photos with them together at Lines parties.  Graham couldn't afford to allow a non-advocate to take a look at the books so he brought in Lines at the last minute, who did not even know, so he said, that AZGOP was in hock up to their ears in outstanding loans. Neither did he report that until it came out from others. Birds of a feather... We wonder, were misappropriated funds involved? Just curious.

But let's not stop there with Lines. He kept the doors locked and no one ever answered the phone or returned phone calls.  He was the ghost of Christmas past, never seen except at social events. Someone else was running the store with little to no oversight by the “chairman.” What happened in the 2018 elections? That's right. They helped no one who needed it. Money for Secretary of State candidate? Superintendent candidate? Legislators who were in close elections? Nope, nope and nope. They even worked against Maria Syms in LD28 and got a democrat in that seat. They are thrilled.

This past fall, he orchestrated the re-organizational meeting in Yuma in secret.  The bulk of the PCs didn't know it was coming, were not given a chance to be nominated for State Committeemen or officers and received their call letters the day of the meeing, some never got one.  These are supposed to be sent 10 days prior to the meeting but most chairmen alert their members a few MONTHS in advance.  He refused to allow nominations from the floor seeing as how he had already stacked the deck in his favor and then, he had his two sons count the ballots.  Nothing to see here, folks.  Business as usual.  We also covered Jonathan Lines extensively two years ago and you can find out more by searching "Jonathan Lines"  on this site.

Really, Gov Ducey. Do you really think Lines deserves re-election? His endorsement may mean the fix is in and if so, whoever trails Lines better call for a roll call vote! By district.

That brings us to Kelli Ward. She has been campaigning hard. But is she the right person for the job? Some think so. They supported her bid for Senator, twice. Between the two above, she stands out in the minds of many. We don't believe she is as conservative as she claims and that is due to the fact that we checked her voting record at the State Senate. She didn't have any outstanding bills and didn't always vote conservative. HB2184 still stands out in our minds. More HERE That was her bill that was given up as a striker to try to strip the Superintendent of her authority. Fortunately, that failed. Search "Kelli Ward 2184" for more info. Her biggest problem is her husband, Michael. Reportedly, he uses several personas on Facebook and has conversations about Kelli between these personas and uses highly inappropriate commentary about people he/they/he doesn't like. Odd and duplicitous, at least. Recently, he was arrested for spitting in the eye of a Ward volunteer. He has done that before and been cited. He has quite a temper that goes off on a whim, a loose cannon, as does she, and anyone could end up a target. Yes, spouses in this position do matter. The AZGOP chairman will be traveling and meeting important political figures at fancy events. Word spreads fast in politics. Many have told us it is her husband that will keep them from voting for her. Others have their reasons.  Annoying the RNC results in no money to the AZGOP for the 2020 election.  Let that percolate into your thinking.

Our take is that she is the best of the three, but...

Part II to come.

[Patricia Gillenwater]

First Jaspergoat,  I read everyone's comments. I am not obligated to share their views. People often throw out incredible allegations about this person or another. Up to me to do the best I can to research the negatives and arrive at my own conclusions. Give me a break just how does a candidate who threw his name in the ring at almost the 12th hour ensure that Lines will be defeated? I question this ploy.

This assertion about emotion as if a decision is made from that point alone I find disrespectful. Throwing that allegation out informs me that it is a shutdown attempt akin to Hillary declaring her deplorable basket folks.

You make no progress convincing me to not cast my vote for Ward. 

[Jaspersgoat]

No offense intended, Patricia.  Just voicing my opinion.  But you didn't answer my question: What if?  Why would we not look objectively at all candidates?  Why does the  date he threw his hat in the ring matter so much that you would not even take a look?  To me, that is a totally emotional reaction when we should want the very best person possible.  I would vote for Ward among the first three but I will wait until I know more about this candidate and I don't really care what date he announced.  Such a date changes nothing about who he is. Again, my point of view.

[Patricia Gillenwater]

Jasper ... I thought I made it clear that I did my research --  I also have heard 3 of the candidates.

Thorwald introduction of himself and much more of his address to us I came away with a view of him thinking I wouldn't vote for him to be dog catcher. Not interested since info surfaced last month and well my tried and true gut was correct once again.

In a lot of ways his late entry speaks volumes to me.

[Nan M Nicoll PC Mohave Mesa 02]

Doyle Shamley should know better than wait until the last minute. I have met him and he seems to be a straight shooter and on the right. He should have stepped up a long time ago.  Knows the Constitution and how to get around the establishment to keep things American.  He should have stepped up a long time ago.

  We have a good candidate in Kelli Ward. Some of the legislation that people complain about had to do with a situation involving the Superintendent of Public Instruction who asked certain legislation be drafted.  I watched the video of the meeting after it was filed. In a committee meetingt  Andy Biggs supported what was done.  I watched it on AzLegislature. The whole two or three hours. At least it seemed that long.

Kelli know how to raise money, knows grass roots principles and applies them to her life and work and will make an excellent chairman.  No one associated with Robert Graham or John McCain should be considered. Period.  

[Patricia Gillenwater]

Nan, You have an impressive head on your shoulders. Hope I have the pleasure of meeting you. If you are an SC and will be at the Sat. mtg. I will be with the Yavapai County folks and identifiable by being an old lady in a wheelchair wearing my red MEGA hat.

[Nan M Nicoll PC Mohave Mesa 02]

I plan to be there. I am with Mohave County. I will seek you out.  Yavapai should be easy to find.  Did I meet you in Scottsdale with the Kelli Ward people? You sound familiar.

[Patricia Gillenwater]

Nan, No I do not think we have met so mtg.  you next Sat. will be a real treat.

[Nan M Nicoll PC Mohave Mesa 02]

I will look for you. This will be something to look forward to.

[Pat J]

I have nothing against a candidate who runs as a write-in.  There are many legit reasons this man may not have gotten on the ballot.  I can't get into his head on that but I do think we are in big BIG trouble in the AZGOP and we better elect the very best candidate.  Ward carries a ton of baggage. I'm surprised the dems haven't put that out but then, she has never been a threat in her senate races except momentarily.  I checked out her FEC reports and she did not raise much money after the initial swoon by Ingraham and Bannon, who recovered quickly.  I have to wonder if their opposition research revealed the baggage but they did abandon her even before McSally.  Maybe she can raise money, maybe not, but her two runs for senate suggests that she can't.  She continues to be controversial for many reasons and her husband and her own hot temper are legendary. 

I would be open minded about this really critical election.  I love my mate who is a wonderful intelligent person but don't know if I would vote them for a political job.  Republicans are good at one thing: circle the wagons and shoot each other. We are not good about researching the back stories of candidates and it's hard to do but we keep putting up candidates who can't or shouldn't win.  "If we do what we've always done, we will get what we've always got."  In politics, this is a critical addage that has driven Republicans forever. Seems it will continue and we will get what we always got.  failure.

[Myrna Lieberman]

This is repeating the same narrative as the Sonoran Alliance.  Sonoran is liberal and clearly hates Dr  Ward.  The story about the spouse was debunked on Republican briefs today. Frankly I don't give a damn about spouses of candidates.  Millions of dollars was raised by liberal PACS to defeat Ward  which  consisted of blatant lies. 

[Patricia Gillenwater]

Myrna, Thanks for posting truths here. Elect Dr. Ward.

To fellow members of AFA truly consider in your heart to not waste an opportunity to defeat the incumbent J. Lines. What counts now for 2019 - 2020 is working towards not only keeping Az red but another term for our President along with uniting conservatives into the fold of AZGOP.

Ward has never faltered with her message of our President, America First Agenda and build that dang border wall.

[Arizona Freedom Alliance]

Myrna: you must know by now that AFA is made up of totally committed platform Republicans.  We would never read Sonoran Alliance.  Whether they are liberal or not is immaterial.  Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn some of the time.  Maybe they just hit on an acorn!  

Politics is full of lies.  It's just the nature of the beast.  That is why we ask people to do their own research and that does not mean ask candidates questions.  Everyone is a conservative at election time.  We believe Shamley is the best candidate: he is highly qualified based on his accomplishments and history working in political circles, both local and national, for state and national issues.  He carries no baggage.  He's well liked on the reservations which one of our team found out when he ran for LD7.  He's introspective and even tempered in tight situations.  He's not a show horse.  It is for these and other reasons that we find him to be above all of the other candidates.  Clair is the only person on this thread that says he interviewed the man himself and he comes to the same conclusion we have.  If anyone else interviewed him, we would like to hear (see) your thoughts.  And yes, spouses do count when they are expected to attend national events representing Arizona.