McCain Flip-Flop Endangers National Security
U.S. Sen. John McCain's flip-flopping on the issue of "don't ask, don't tell" would sacrifice national security on the altar of homophobia and his newfound adherence to far-right wing ideology.

In 2006, the Arizona Senator (who spends more time in New Hampshire) told MSNBC viewers that he would agree to overturn the outdated military policy the moment the top military commanders told him it was time. Top commanders said as much yesterday, but instead of saluting, McCain became outraged that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs would even express an opinion on the matter.

McCain's cynical flip-flop would allow the petty fears of a few to continue to jeopardize the readiness of our armed forces. Top pilots, platoon sergeants, special forces operators and logisticians would be drummed out of the military, simply because a few extremists harbor outdated hostilities toward gay servicemembers. Read the rest of the message.

Celebrate the Life of Activist and Friend, Maurice Grossman
Maurice Grossman, a long time Pima County Democratic acivist and simply "the nicest person you'd ever want to meet," passed away last week due to complications following heart surgery. He was 82.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:30 PM on Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave.

Maurice was a native of Michigan. In 1955, he moved to Tucson, where he founded the University of Arizona's Ceramic Arts program the following year. He taught at the UA for 35 years and was the recipient of the UA's Creative Teaching Award.

Maurice studied in Japan as a Fullbright Scholar, and he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1986. He was internationally recognized for his pottery, and very involved in the local arts community.

Maurice worked tirelessly on Democratic Party causes. After the death of his wife, he came out as a gay man, and he fought for GLBT rights, as well as many other social causes. Read the rest of the message.

Lopez and Tea Partiers Tear Down Tucson; Uhlich and Romero Tend to the Business of the City
This Saturday, while the tea partiers are busy tearing Tucson apart with a frivolous recall campaign, Pima County Democrats will be cleaning up the community and working to create more jobs.

Tucson City Council Member Karin Uhlich will be helping the Rillito Basin Coalition in cleaning up Tucson. She will then join Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for a small business workshop to find ways to improve the local economy.

Council Member Regina Romero and her staff are working with multiple groups on Saturday. Romero and staff will be at Reid Park for the Senior Olympics and then at the westside Silvercroft Neighborhood pocket park groundbreaking celebration. Her staff will then be hosting a water conservation working group at the Ward 1 Council office.

Meanwhile, the sour-grapes crowd will be busy trying to enable a wealthy developer's do-over and force voters back to the polls to re-affirm three-month-old election results. Read the rest of the message.