Under an uncharacteristic -- yet, seemingly appropriate -- gray Phoenix sky, Governor Jan Brewer was sworn in this afternoon in front of the Arizona State Capitol to become the state's 22nd governor.
Brewer, who trounced her opponent -- now-former Attorney General Terry Goddard -- in the general election in November, spoke for about seven minutes after taking the oath of office, beginning her speech with sigh of relief.
Brewer, as you may recall, was not elected to the post the first time she took the oath of office (she assumed the office when Governor Janet Napolitano became the director of Homeland Security) and, at one point during her brief administration, was one of the least-popular government officials in the country due to the state's dreary fiscal outlook and
other budgetary woes. In other words, if you asked most pundits in February if they anticipated attending Brewer's second inauguration, they would have laughed in your face -- at the time, it seemed Brewer couldn't get elected dog catcher in Arizona.
Then SB 1070 happened, and Brewer's signature on Arizona's controversial, new immigration law made her the Conservative darling behind which Arizona's predominantly Republican electorate could rally -- no matter how dopey their hero came across throughout her campaign.
"Let's face it, I wasn't all that popular [earlier this year]," Brewer told hundreds of supporters seated in front of the Capitol. "But I saw what needed to be done and did it."
Brewer went on to discuss the state's economic shortcomings and budget problems. She brought up the immigration issue, which was met with "boos" from several members of the peanut gallery standing just outside of a partition separating invited guests from the general public.
Brewer told the crowd that winning an election -- as oppose to falling face-first into the state's highest office -- has its advantages.
"Nothin' like an election to make the office feel a whole lot better," she says.
So that's that, Arizonans -- Governor Glug-Glug's here to stay.
In case you forgot, below is a quick reminder of who you elected to run the entire state of Arizona for the next four years -- (ahem) well done.
