The Saddlebrooke Democrats, Tom O'Halleran and Ruben Gallego

My foray into the world of an Arizona Democratic Party Dinner

Fitz at Saddlebrooke Country Club surrounded by Democrats

Oh how I love to make fun of Saddlebrooke as a Trumpian enclave and after attending the Saddlebrooke Democratic Club, oh, how I am eating my words, along with a sampling of crow, with a side of humble pie.

Last Sunday night, at the invitation of the Saddlebrooke Democrats, I had the pleasure of celebrating the life and noteworthy career of Arizona Congressman Thomas O’Halloran.

My take on Congressman O’Halleran

Saddlebrooke is one of the many retirement communities surrounding my hometown of Tucson. Green Valley is to the south, Sun City and Dove Mountain are to the northwest and Saddlebrooke is due north of town. A lot of “Let’s Go Brandon” banners decorate the yards and quite a few golf carts, commandeered by terribly oppressed white retirees sport Trump flags. Many of my liberal friends who reside in these enclaves among the “tread upon” are “closeted”.

Or are they?

The dinner I attended was packed. Packed!

If you have EVER been attempted to join your local democratic club I can tell you every soul is welcome. I’ve had the pleasure of addressing various democratic enclaves here in southern Arizona. Groups like the Saddlebrooke Democrats, the Oro Valley Democrats,the Democrats of Greater Tucson, the Young Democrats and the Santa Rita Democrats are thriving organizations. Find one on the list in this link and join the good fight:

https://www.saddlebrookedemocrats.org/local-dem-orgs-clubs

Back to “retiring” Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran.

A miracle: Two Irishmen not at a bar.

My task was easy for two reasons.

Number one: Tom’s Irish mug was a pleasure to draw. (I’ve seen that amiable archetypal Irish kisser at every family reunion I’ve ever attended.)

And Two: All I had to do was listen to Tom O’Halleran’s remarks that evening. When it was this Irishman’s turn at the podium I said, “Folks, we just heard the humor, wisdom, common sense, pragmatism, compassion and patriotic spirit that earned this good man three terms in Congress, representing the good people of his district.”

Sizing up my target, Arizona Congressman O’Halleran.

I admire the man. But not enough to keep from roasting him, Fitz-style.

O’Halleran served in our legislature as a Republican. He soon learned all his fellow Republican lawmakers wanted to do was to work 24/7 to cleanse the statehouse of Democrats rather than work with them 24/7 to better the lives of all of our citizens. Tom became a Democrat, ran for congress and won three terms.

He will never forget January 6th. A former Chicago cop, O’Halleran was shaken to the core by the insurrection.

(It was far too dignified an affair for me to note that his district had been gerrymandered out from under him, and handed on a silver platter to a Trump tool, a carp who has no interest in serving all the citizens of his District; serving only the narrow destructive, disruptive and deluded Trump dupes who elected him.)

I was happy to hear O’Halleran, in spite of being out of the spotlight, will continue to serve and fight for what he believes is right.

“I don’t know. Why did God create whiskey?” “To keep the Irish from taking over the world.”

I was blown away by the numbers and the diversity of the turnout for a Democratic gathering in a community I was sure was Mar-a-lago with Saguaros.

A cabal of friendly Saddlebrooke Democrats. I would have gotten their names if I’d been sober.

My remarks preceded the arrival of an energetic man named Ruben Gallego, a veteran of Iraq who rose through persistence and sweat from absolute poverty to graduate from Harvard.

Gallego is running for the United States Senate crossing our state working around the clock to defeat, Kyrsten “Thirstin’ for Corporate Cash” Sinema.

Saddlebrooke Democratic Club Chair Maureen Borald, a former social worker who served as a Director of Health and Human Services in three states, welcomes Ruben Gallego to the podium.

While Sinema serves the big dollar donors I believe Gallego will serve the people of our state and nation. After hearing Mr. Gallego I am a believer. Click below to see and hear my recording of Ruben Gallego’s campaign speech.

I have faith in Ruben Gallego. And I have faith in the Saddlebrooke Democrats working together on his behalf to kick ass in the upcoming election. Allow me to rephrase that. I have faith in the Democrats all across this state working together with Ruben Gallego to kick elephant in the upcoming election.

Casas Adobes Silver Alert: If you see this hobbit call his shire.

If you have EVER been tempted to find out what it’s like to join such a group, find the group near you online, make the leap and show up at any one of their meetings, grab a newcomer name tag and get ready to make some new friends.

Friends who are as normal and patriotic and thoughtful as you are; friends who are as weary of the hate peddlers as you are, friends happy to embrace you and help you find ways that you can contribute in a variety of fun and meaningful ways, whether it’s stuffing mailers, knocking on doors, helping with fundraisers, just spreading the good word or showing up for the meetings and get-togethers.

Saddlebrooke Democrats

You will find there are other sane citizens in our state who see the insanity around us, citizens willing to take a stand and chip in and fight for our democratic republic. And maybe have a second sip of wine.

Not sure. Could be Jan, Karen and Barbara or “Thelma and Louise” and another good Democrat. Probably their Probation officer.

All this talk about political polarization, as an Arizona ranch hand with no manners might say, is, well, horse shit.

If America is polarized, it’s not between Republicans and Democrats.

The way this sidewinder sees it the gap is only between the sane and the deluded.

And the deluded are dangerous. They insist on shoveling their big lies, that the election was stolen, that you want open borders, that you want to take away all their guns, that you hate America and on and on and on. You can smell the stench of that horse manure from Gila Bend to Heber and from Quartzite to Douglas. Mis amigos, my friends, my fellow Arizonans, it is time to stand up and fight back against the madness. Join the fight. Walk into your nearest party headquarter and enlist on behalf of the America you love.

.