Politico.com

Arizona Has a Higher Percentage of Global-Warming Believers Than Any Other State

People in Arizona are more likely to believe that global warming is a real thing than people in any other state.It may be easy to believe, since a large portion of the state is essentially a Crock-Pot that cooks humans during the summer, but it may also be difficult to believe, given the conspiracy- ... More >>

Jim Kolbe, Republican Ex-Congressman, Wants LGBT Couples Covered in Immigration Reform

A Republican testified before a Senate committee Monday to call the "Gang of Eight" immigration bill an "excellent starting point," but said he feels that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families were left out of the proposed legislation.No, this isn't the The Onion.See also:-Pervgate

Republican Blogger Jeff Vath Fought for Sanity in the AZ GOP

Politico Mafioso's Jeff Vath, the GOP's "Badass Blogger," Dies following Ulcer Surgery

One of Arizona's most influential bloggers, Jeff Vath, the man behind the widely-read, GOP-centric Politico Mafioso blog, passed away Tuesday night at John C. Lincoln Hospital in Deer Valley. He was 52. According to his wife of 24 years, Mary Anne, Vath's death was due to complications from surgery ... More >>

Arizona's Republican Congressmen Take the Jan Brewer Route on Immigration Proposals

The anti-immigration-reform crowd's broken record is currently playing in the offices of Republican Congressmen Matt Salmon, Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, and David Schweikert.The congressmen, like Governor Jan Brewer, insist that they can only even fathom immigration reform proposals if the border is s ... More >>

Tempe Wingnut Is the Ideal Man to Run the County GOP -- and Here's Why

David Horowitz Has Made Taunting College Students a Spectator Sport

Obama Campaign Reportedly "Gives Up" on Arizona -- Surprised?

President Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina says they're done trying to win Arizona, now that the election's a few days away, according to Politico."Messina called Arizona an 'enticing prospect' and said that public and private polling has shown the state fairly close," the Politico report says. ... More >>

Obama vs. Romney: Arizona's Anti-Immigration Law Gets Mention During Second Presidential Debate

Arizona's anti-immigration laws and policies were center stage during part of the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in New York. President Barack Obama criticized Governor Mitt Romney for pledging to veto the DREAM Act and saying that "self deportation" was his plan to address the mi ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Stooge Mike Stauffer May Be Getting IE Help from an Odd Source

Republican-turned-Independent candidate for sheriff Mike Stauffer may have almost no money, little support and may be regarded as a massive joke by nearly everyone with a lick of sense in Maricopa County. Nevertheless, he soon could be getting some indirect assistance from a new independent expend ... More >>

Mike Stauffer's Biggest Supporter Is a Wrecking Ball in Sheriff's Race

Jon Kyl Accuses Obama Administration of Apologizing to Embassy Protesters, Goes Straight for the Rape Analogy

See also: Jon Kyl's Lies "Not Intended to be Factual Statement"Attention Senator Jon Kyl's press secretary: please re-send the statement clarifying that the senator's words are "not intended to be a factual statement." Kyl's getting attention now because he told a group of reporters that a press rel ... More >>

David Schweikert Ads Accusing Ben Quayle of Involvement in Non-Existent FBI Investigation Take an Exit

See also: Ben Quayle Accused of Swimming, Which Is a Scandal or SomethingSee also: Ben Quayle Confirms He Was in the Israeli Lake to "Secure a Jar of Water"If you've heard that Congressman Ben Quayle was the subject of an FBI investigation, you probably heard that from his primary opponent, Congress ... More >>

Are You Buying Ben Quayle's Israeli Lake Story?

See also: Ben Quayle Accused of SwimmingSee also: Ben Quayle Confirms He Was in the Israeli Lake to "Secure a Jar of Water"Congressman Ben Quayle is accused of swimming in a lake in Israel, and possibly witnessing one of his colleagues remove his clothes before jumping in that same lake.Congressman ... More >>

David Schweikert Supporters Go Banana-Hammock Shopping for Ben Quayle

See also: Ben Quayle Accused of SwimmingSee also: Ben Quayle Confirms He Was in the Israeli Lake to "Secure a Jar of Water"Oh boy, the scandal involving Congressman Ben Quayle is getting sexy -- so sexy that supporters of his primary opponent went shopping for a floral-print banana hammock for Quayl ... More >>

Ben Quayle Confirms He Was in the Israeli Lake to "Secure a Jar of Water"

See also: Ben Quayle Accused of Swimming, Which Is a Scandal or SomethingThe non-scandal involving Congressman Ben Quayle is even less scandalous than it sounds, according to Quayle's recollection of events.Congressman Kevin Yoder, of Kansas, hopped in naked during a Republican congressional delegat ... More >>

Ben Quayle Accused of Swimming, Which Is a Scandal or Something

Republican Congressman Ben Quayle is accused of swimming in a lake.Politico published the story last night, claiming several Republican congressmen jumped in a lake last year in Israel during a trip funded by a pro-Israel lobbyist organization.Congressman Kevin Yoder, of Kansas, hopped in naked. Qua ... More >>

Papa John's CEO Warns Obamacare Will Mean Higher Pizza Prices -- Okay, Slightly Higher Pizza Prices -- Okay, Barely Noticeable Higher Pizza Prices -- But Still, GRRR!

Strong words of warning from John Schnatter, founder and CEO of Papa John's to those who love themselves a slice of chain-store pizza. Last week, Schnatter (a Mitt Romney backer) said during a phone call with shareholders that if Obamacare is passed, the new healthcare law (set to go into effect i ... More >>

David Schweikert Cites "Brock Landers" as Ben Quayle Denies Changing Stance on Immigration

Congressman Ben Quayle denies changing his stance on immigration policy, contrary to what Congressman David Schweikert and a few others have suggested.The Schweikert campaign's response to that: you're going to trust Brock Landers?Yes, Quayle's past contributions to TheDirty.com -- then known as Dir ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, April 12, 2012

Brett Mecum, Fired State GOP Director, Working on State Senator Frank Antenori's Congressional Campaign

​Since being fired as state Republican Party executive director last summer, Brett Mecum has found work as a political consultant and is helping out on state Senator Frank Antenori's Congressional bid.Antenori's one of several Republicans seeking to fill the seat left vacant by Congresswoman Gabri ... More >>

Russell Pearce Scores GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey's Endorsement for First Vice Chair

Unless you frequent right wing blogs such as Sonoran Alliance or SeeingRedAZ, you may have missed the tidbit that disgraced ex-state Senator Russell Pearce has won the endorsement of Arizona GOP Chair Tom Morrissey for the unpaid position Pearce is seeking: First Vice Chair of the Arizona Republican ... More >>

Barack Obama Was In Phoenix Today -- And Jan Brewer Had to Make a Scene

Sierra for ArizonaArizona said goodbye to the wrong elected official today.​Leave it to Jan Brewer to humiliate Arizona -- yet again...President Barack Obama was in town today to tour an Intel factory getting built in Chandler -- and it took Brewer all of five seconds to make a goddamned scene.A s ... More >>

Paul Babeu on Lovejoy Case in '07: Sheriff Arpaio Driven by "Insatiable Appetite for Media Attention"

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who wants Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's support in his newly announced bid for Congress, had strong words for Arpaio after the 2007 arrest of officer Thomas Lovejoy. Babeu questioned Arpaio's motives in the arrest, saying they were driven not by honest enforc ... More >>

Russell Pearce, Wanna-Be First Vice Chair of the State GOP?

File this one under, "Something wicked this way comes." The non-crazy GOP blog Politico Mafioso is reporting that disgraced nativist standard bearer, recalled ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce is seeking the position of First Vice Chair of the Arizona Republican Party, where he'd be carrying ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Chad Willems Worked for Group Opposing Mormon Temple in North Phoenix

FacebookChad Willems' pet snake Constantin: Just a joke, people. I don't know if that snake is his pet...Props to the ever-entertaining and informative Politoco Mafioso blog for scoring the following intriguing info concerning Summit Consulting's Chad Willems, state Senate President Russell Pea ... More >>

Complaining to Congressman Ben Quayle Could Cost You Up to $50

New TimesCongressman Ben Quayle​Congressman Ben Quayle took a beating from constituents during a town hall meeting in Anthem back in May. Now, the congressman is catching even more heat, this time for not having any town hall meetings at all -- that constituents don't have to pay to attend, anyway ... More >>

Jeff Flake Finally Has a Primary Opponent; Wil Cardon (Repped By Jason Rose) to Enter Race

Congressional hunk Jeff Flake​For months, there's been a lot of speculation about who will challenge Congressman Jeff Flake in his bid to take over the Senate seat getting vacated by Senator Jon Kyl next year. Finally, someone's actually pulled the trigger and will challenge the Congressional beef ... More >>

John McCain's Bigotry Earns Hashtag, Near-Universal Ridicule, Help from Bigot-Boy Sheriff

TwitterNo hash pipe for McCain, but his stupidity has scored him his own hashtagGuess I've heard the last from U.S. Senator John McCain's haughty, over-paid flack Brooke Buchanan.Yesterday, in the midst of a PR meltdown that's turned McCain (once again) into a political laughingstock, his office iss ... More >>

Senator Jon Kyl's Press Secretary Admits the "Not Intended to be Factual Statement" Line Made No Sense

politico.com​Senator Jon Kyl's press secretary has taken the blame for the senator reporting "statistics" last week about Planned Parenthood he found in the land of make-believe, and later saying it "was not intended to be a factual statement." In case you missed it, Kyl completely BS'd the a ... More >>

Jennifer Barber, Former Goodyear Council Candidate, Stands by Story About For-Sale Arpaio Endorsement

  Jennifer Barber, former Goodyear City Council candidate, says she was told by a state GOP staffer that she could get Sheriff Arpaio's endorsement if she paid $2,000 to a political consultant.​A former Goodyear City Council candidate is sticking to her story that a state Republic ... More >>

Congressman Ben Quayle Yucks it Up at Congressional Correspondents' Dinner. Response From Crowd: Crickets

New Times photo illustration The above image is much funnier than Congressman Ben Quayle's performance at the Congressional Correspondents' Dinner.​Arizona Congressman Ben Quayle spoke at the Congressional Correspondents' Dinner in Washington D.C. last night, and heard only the soft chirpin ... More >>

Palin Invasion of Arizona Continues: Sarah Palin Would Base Presidential Campaign in Scottsdale, According to Rumor Mill

Arizona could be the base for Sarah Palin's presidential campaign.​Fresh from the rumor mill: if Sarah Palin runs for president, she will base her campaign out of Scottsdale, continuing the Palin family's invasion of Arizona.As you know, Palin's daughter Bristol recently/inexplicably bought a home ... More >>

Congressman Trent Franks Wants to Impeach Barack Obama Over Gay Marriage

www.politico.comGay people getting married apparently makes Congressman Trent Franks nervous.​Of all the reasons Republicans think they have to impeach President Barack Obama, doing it because he doesn't necessarily view gay people getting married as the end of the world is one of the stupidest (t ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Able to Speak -- and She Wants Toast

She speaks! Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords reportedly asked for toast with her breakfast this morning.​Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords wanted toast for breakfast this morning, and that's reportedly what she verbally told those caring for her at a Houston hospital this morning.CBS' The Early Sho ... More >>

December 22: Joshua Pearce, William Reed, Girl Talk, Decanting Wine, and Christopher Smith

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

Dec. 21 In Blogs: CityScape, Paramore, Silvana Salcido Esparza, and Christopher Smith

​​​In the 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries:

Keith Olbermann Suspended Without Pay for Donating to Arizona Congressional Campaigns

Keith Olbermann: Making Sean Hannity seem sane since 2003.​Since our earlier post about MSNBC's most obnoxious liberal commentator, Keith Olbermann, and some controversial donations he made to the campaigns of two Arizona Congressional candidates, MSNBC has suspended the Edward Murrow wannabe inde ... More >>

Tater Tot: Ben Quayle's Smart. He Can Spell Potato. But He Wouldn't Be a GOP Congressional Nominee Without the Name Daddy Dan Made Infamous

Politico Backs Off Claim That Ben Quayle Lied About The Dirty

Ben Quayle​Remember when Politico claimed Congressional candidate Ben Quayle lied about his connection with the raunchy Web site The Dirty? And the news that he lied spread like wildfire around the Internet, ultimately making its way to the front page of the New York Times? The (ahem) funny thing ... More >>

Melissa Rein, Of Ben-Quayle-Contributed-to-The-Dirty Fame, Chimes in On Relationship With Nik Richie; Sounds Pretty BFF-ish if You Ask Us

"The book"Melissa Rein​We just spent a few minutes chatting with Melissa Rein, the former director of public relations at Rose & Allyn Public Relations, the firm that likely planted the story about Congressional candidate Ben Quayle's ties to The Dirty.If you're unfamiliar with the saga, click ... More >>

Is Jason Rose Behind "The Dirty" Bomb Dropped on Ben Quayle Campaign?

PR honcho Jason Rose​One look at Jason Rose's Twitter page and you'll realize the dude's got a hard on for  Congressional candidate Ben Quayle.In the past few days, Rose's Twitter page has been bash-Ben-Quayle central, and with the latest news that Quayle may have been involved in the e ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Immigration Bill Moving President Barack Obama to Action on Immigration Reform? Nah, Doesn't look like it

Hard to fathom that there could be  Russell Pearce​anything positive about state Senator Russell Pearce's immigration bill, SB 1070, an extremist "solution" to undocumented immigrants in Arizona that makes their mere presence in here state a crime.The bill would also allo ... More >>

Grant Woods Fuels J.D. Hayworth "Dracula-Gate" With Awesome Twitter Post

Grant Woods seems hell-bent on sticking things in J.D. Hayworth.​Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods wants to put an end to the latest dose of J.D. Hayworth buffoonery, but he may just be adding fuel to J.D.s paranoid fire.In an interview with Newsweek earlier this week, Woods joked: ... More >>

J.D. Hayworth Interprets Grant Woods Vampire Quip as Death Threat

Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth​What do you call a vampire who's running for the U.S. Senate? Don't bother asking Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth because the guy's apparently humorless, can't take a joke.Hayworth seems to think that a vampire quip made by former Arizona Attorney General ... More >>

Congressman Flake Apologizes for Saying "Pansy" to Wolf Blitzer Yesterday

www.advocate.com Congressman Jeff Flake​ www.imdb.com Owen Wilson ​                 Congressman Jeff Flake, who looks more and more like Owen Wilson every time you look at him, is doing some damage control over a comment he made to CNN's Wol ... More >>

Napolitano, Meghan McCain, Among "D.C.'s Most Eligible Singles," Says Politico.com

Image: DHSNapolitano's dating life seems like it needs CPR​ Arizonans Janet Napolitano and Meghan McCain are two of "D.C.'s Most Eligible Singles" according to an an article published recently by Politico.com. Writer Patrick Gavin says of the 20 "eligible singles:" They're cute and con ... More >>

Brett Mecum Article Removed by Popular Right-Wing Blog; Sonoran Alliance Denies Republican Party Influenced Decision

One of our fleet-fingered readers managed to cut and paste the text of a right-wing blog post and its comments about Brett Mecum (above), executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, just before blog site deleted the content. Like many blog sites, including our own Valley ... More >>

That Person Calling You on Behalf of John Shadegg Just Might be a Perv

FLASHES