This partisan pelican often lights into GOPers, but he'll give 'em one thing: They know how to take a joke. Pullen had read a blog post by The Bird's online cousin, Feathered Bastard, who referred to Pullen as "a withered old nativist prune-face." Still, the chairman didn't blow The Bird off. He answered the questions put to him, commenting sarcastically, "I can't wait to see what you write about this one."
Outside, as folks milled about, Panama-hatted political consultant Constantin Querard defended Pullen on the notorious Saban ad, arguing that it was a fair hit.
Stephen Lemons
Above: Paul Eckerstrom, the AZ Dems' new chairman. Below: Randy Pullen scores a second term as the state's top GOPer.
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"Fair hit?" squawked this sapsucker. "Are you telling me you've never masturbated before?"
"On the government clock?" he quacked. "Is that a payroll question or a timing question?"
Nearby was Nickel Bag Joe, holding court with a Pullen sticker on his sweater, natch. Joe, whose nose could rival W.C. Fields' in bulbousness these days, played at dodging this dove, then relented. The Bird asked our clownish top constable when the next anti-immigrant sweep was coming.
"I heard you almost got arrested in the last one," Arpaio said, avoiding the question. "Heard you were interfering with some of my deputies."
"Last time I checked, Joe, it wasn't against the law to observe cops out in the open," this sparrow spat. "And, by the way, why do they have to wear ski masks to pull people on traffic violations?"
"That's so you don't take their picture," he winked.
The Bird asked how Arpaio's G. Gordon Liddy, Captain Joel Fox, was going to come up with $315K if he ends up getting fined for the illegal contribution to the state GOP. Did the sheriff have a slush fund? Maybe some pink underwear money?
"Aw, I don't know anything about that," he waved, walking away.
"Gee, Joe, you might have to sell one of those secret plots of land you own. You know, one of the ones [former New Times columnist] John Dougherty wrote about way back?"
"Now you're getting personal, Bird," he warned, waving his finger, shuffling off.
Later, this pelican got to shake hands with Pinal County Sheriff and Republican Paul Babeu, who single-handedly ended Redflex's radar tyranny in his county, and GOP Representative Sam Crump, whose bill to end photo enforcement is chugging through the Legislature.
Also on hand was Candy Thomas' slithery Gollum-like aide Barnett Lotstein, spying for his master, no doubt (though he claimed not to be). On the other end of the food chain, this avian got to hobnob with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a classy, thoughtful fellow who aims to take on Candy when they both run for the AG's office in 2010.
Sleepy-eyed Congressman Trent Franks made the scene, too, though he remained neutral on the James/Pullen bout. Even Governor Jan Brewer showed up briefly, albeit too briefly for The Bird to lob any queries her way.
The Dems' wingding was more wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am. But this avian did pal around a bit with former county attorney hopeful Gerald Richard, now with the AG's office, and Jeff Farias, whose indie online talk show continues to be popular with local liberals.
As mentioned, the Jackie Brown of Zona politics, Corporation Commish Sandra Kennedy was in the house, looking magnificent as always. And before Bivens went down for the count, the outrageous oriole chatted with executive director Weeg, who admitted that there had been "talks" between Bivens and her as to whether she'd be staying on. Weeg was literally biting her nails as the vote took place. And as soon as Eckerstrom took his seat as the new chair, she was up on the dais, whispering into his ear at length.
Thing is, if Bivens had cut her loose before the meeting, there probably would've been no challenge to begin with. That Weeg's got glue on her heels! Or wears the right perfume. Or something.
