That's how Jon Stewart so appropriately responded to the hateful lot who demonize the influx of unaccompanied minors into the US. It's been difficult to watch the hysterics as lawmakers and others make ridiculous claims about disease risks. Equally disturbing are those screaming "you're not welcome here" chants as refugee children arrive at detention centers here in Arizona and elsewhere.

(Leave it to the foreign press to intelligently unravel the alarmist and unfounded responses to the unaccompanied minors  - The Guardian has an excellent article methodically debunking 5 immigration myths. Don't miss it.)

For me, the important question is indeed what the f..k is wrong with people who can muster up such venom and disgust toward migrant children? Just who were those unpleasant folks in Oracle, Arizona yelling at the bus of children?

Unfortunately, the answer may have just been revealed: Arizona doesn't seem to care much for children. Nope. The Annie E Casey Foundation's 2014 KIDS COUNT Report shows that when it comes to the well-being of children, Arizona remains among the worst 5 states, in the company of Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Nevada. Its failings in education are astounding: only a third of Arizona's children attend preschool; most (72%) fourth graders are not proficient in reading; and most (69%) eight graders are not proficient in math. Social and economic challenges abound as 27% of children live in poverty; 38% live in single parent households; and 13% lack health insurance.

These findings are not surprising, given the blatant disregard for children in statewide and local politics here in Arizona. Shame on them. Some highlights (actually, lowlights) include:

• Recently, the courts were forced to reinstate voter-approved funding adjustments for public schools. State lawmakers continued to insist that education costs were not a priority and had stridently refused to pay up.
• Arizona's per-pupil spending is the lowest in the nation, and barely half of those dollars are spent at the classroom level in public schools.
  
• Inexcusable deficiencies in Child Protective Services were revealed in the past year, leading to investigations, legislation, and funding of a new Department of Child Safety. But, how did we get here in the first place? Why did the State not care enough to have sufficient oversight and resources to prevent such problems? And, why do we have so many children in need of protective services?
• The State legislature continues to waste funds on frivolous lawsuits, particularly by passing infantile legislation that leads directly to court challenges. They'd rather spend money playing games than investing in the future of our children.
• State legislators continue to propose, and often pass, bills that favor expanded gun rights over the safety of children (and just plain common sense).
• Arizona maintains a tax structure that cannot generate sufficient funds for much of anything. It protects business interests, and a growing number of migrant retirees who provide neither their fair share of taxes nor much interest in supporting the next generations in Arizona.

"KIDS COUNT" is an important effort by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, focused on the growing pillars of our future. The State of Arizona appears committed to proving that here, kids actually don't count. We must ensure that this changes with the 2014 election. Kids really, really do count. Everyone knows that, don't they?

On the recent HBO series "Real Time," Bill Maher rather cruelly urged Hillary Clinton to "just go away" so that she doesn't "blow it." While often acerbic and reactionary, Maher  is spot on with this. He suggests that Clinton limit her airtime as to decrease the likelihood that she'll get flustered and "blow it" in the next two years. Good idea, really.

While I remain convinced that Secretary Clinton could serve us well as President, I am uncertain that she can win an election in her current state of being. She hasn't done her personal "work" yet, despite claims about having rested up after a grueling stint as Secretary of State. She still needs refinement. When her buttons get pushed, she too often reacts in ways that many are uncomfortable with. We've seen it doom her before, and it could happen again. Additionally, she doesn't look well and up to the charge.

(Not to confuse things, I found the Secretary's firm "with all due respect" response at the Benghazi hearings to be appropriate and admirable. That's not what Bill Maher or I are talking about. I have no complaints about that or other examples of her capacities to think and communicate smart and fast. We need that skillful, quite presidential, aspect of Hillary.)

So, is the book tour really that important? If so, can Hillary stick to signing copies and avoid the stress of the media? Can her agent guide her to stay on point with book promotion and avoid the conflicts? Or should she simply get out of the public light for awhile?

The more important advice for Hillary is exactly what she should be doing while she is "away" (besides being a new grandmother). I suggest that she engage as much advice and support as possible to re-program how she responds to unpleasant questioning and button-pushing. Whether it is accomplished with behavioral therapy, media training, or a guru - this is something extremely important to her success in a presidential campaign. And, on whom does she currently rely to help frame issues and finesse prepared answers? She needs a new one of those, for sure. In the ABC interview, why did she bumble on about the Clinton's finances rather than summing up with something admirable like "yes, and now we've had the blessing of becoming major philanthropists through our foundation." Even worse, where were her clean, smooth responses to what should have been easily anticipated questions about Benghazi?  Clinton stumbled terribly, as evidenced by the Washington Post headline "Diane Sawyer destroys Hillary Rodham Clinton on Benghazi." Inexcusable for someone who's already lost a presidential run and wants to try again.

Indeed Hillary has a lot to do while she is away. And, yes, she needs to lose weight. Yup, I said it. She is already being bombarded with rumors about her health, and her age is an increasing disadvantage. More and more, Americans vote for people who are attractive and healthy (that goes for men and women). For herself, and for those of us who'd like to vote for her, she needs to get her health and inherent attractiveness back into place. It's all part of the game, and she must play it if she wants the job.

I hope she'll hear us and respond by retreating and regrouping. This is essential if she is to be our first woman President. If not, then the task may fall to the future, perhaps with a courageous spirit named Elizabeth Warren.