U.S. Republican Party Politics

Brett Mecum, AZ's Republican Superhero, Lands Job with State AG Tom Horne as Legislative Liaison

Brett Mecum, local Republican Party operative and dirt magnet, has landed a job as legislative liaison for someone with a reputation even more tarnished than his: State Attorney General Tom Horne. Mecum was fired as the Arizona GOP's executive director in May of 2011 for unknown reasons. But it was ... More >>

Russell Pearce and Cohorts Plead for Amnesty, LD 25 RiNOs Give It To Them

Followers of disgraced, recalled ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce practically begged for amnesty Wednesday night in Mesa from their blood-rivals, the moderate GOPers they derisively refer to as RiNOs (Republicans in Name Only). And more than two hours into a tense, divided meeting of Republ ... More >>

Russell Pearce Endorses Robert Graham for GOP Chair; LD 25 Do-Over Tonight

Disgraced, recalled two-time loser, ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce, has endorsed businessman Robert Graham for chair of the Arizona Republican Party, according to notices in both the SonoranAlliance and SeeingRedAZ blogs. See also: -Russell Pearce's "Wee Man" Rob Haney Crushed Like a Bug ... More >>

Arizona's Top Ten News Stories of 2012

All in all, 2012 hasn't been that bad of a year. Some good stuff transpired, and some of it happened because New Times' scribes made it happen. Usually to some very deserving recipients. The great H.L. Mencken said it long ago, and it still holds true today: "Journalism is to politician as dog is t ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Mad Elf Rob Haney: Sued on Christmas Eve

What two things do Maricopa County GOP Chairman Rob Haney and erstwhile Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong have in common? Each despises democracy, and each boasts a brain dipped in formaldehyde. See also: -Joe Arpaio's Birther Bud Tom Morrissey Punks Out of GOP Chair Race; Russell Pearce ... More >>

Is Arizona GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey a "Birther"?

Arizona Republican Party chairman Tom Morrissey insists he is not a "birther."However, Morrissey says, "In my opinion, what I have seen from the president, produced as a birth certificate, does not convince me that it is a real document."See also:-Arizona GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey Says He's Not a " ... More >>

Arizona GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey Says He's Not a "Birther," but Obama's Birth Certificate Doesn't Seem Real

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's joke of an "investigation" into President Obama's birth certificate is still an issue.Now, even after President Obama's re-election, Arizona Republican Party chairman Tom Morrissey -- who insists he's not a "birther" -- says he does not believe the president's bi ... More >>

Brett Mecum: Speeder, Alleged Stalker, Fired GOP Director, and Now, Water Board Candidate

Brett Mecum wants your vote for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District board. Never mind that he's no water issues expert. Or that he was fired in the spring of 2011 as the executive director of the Arizona Republican party. And naturally he'd prefer you forgot all about his many mini-sc ... More >>

Democrat Rich Carmona Races Toward the U.S. Senate

Jeff Flake Endorses Russell Pearce Foe Bob Worsley at 11th Hour

Why did Republican Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Flake wait till practically the last possible minute to endorse Bob Worsley, the foe of recalled, disgraced ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce in the GOP primary for Legislative District 25? After all, the tusker golden-boy has nev ... More >>

Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Leading Far Ahead of Republican Challengers

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu has an early, and unsurmountable, lead with more than 62 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results in the Pinal County Sheriff's race. Only about half of the precinct votes have been counted. It isn't surprising that Babeu will beat out three other Repub ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Republican National Convention Role Doesn't Exist, So He'll Be at a Nearby Zoo

Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be in Tampa next week during the Republican National Convention.He's not actually part of the convention, though -- he'll be giving a speech to an audience of people and exotic animals at a zoo about seven miles away from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the actual GOP heavyw ... More >>

DREAMers Score a Win with Obama's Immigration Initiative, But the War Is Far from Over

Russell Pearce Freaks Out in the Bunker in Downfall Spoof

Think Pearce will laugh? Yeah, probably notMy good friend Dennis Gilman was kind enough to upload this delicious new parody for me of the much-spoofed "raving fuhrer" scene from the 2004 German film Downfall, starring Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler.Long have I dreamed of having one of these Downfall spo ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Softer, Gentler Side, via the Video Stylings of Constantin Querard

Soft and cuddly this Mesa muttonhead will never beI sure hope recalled ex-state Senate President Russell Pearce doesn't bow out of the GOP state Senate primary in Legislative District 25, as some have been speculatin' in the blogosphere.Why? Well, because that would rob me of the immense pleasure of ... More >>

Joel Fox, Former Captain in Sheriff Arpaio's Office, Blames Stress for Lies to State Criminal Investigators

Joel Fox, a former captain in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, was "floored" when state criminal investigators showed up with a search warrant at his house on March 31, 2009. "I couldn't believe it," Fox said on the stand this morning, testifying in his attempt to get his job back. These were m ... More >>

Russell Pearce, Serial Liar, Endorses Mitt Romney, Tells the Truth for Once

According to a recent item in the Washington Post's Election 2012 Blog, recalled state Senate President Russell Pearce has endorsed Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential primary, more than a month after Romney won Sand Land's GOP contest. As a result, Romney immediately called a press ... More >>

Is it Really "Insulting" for Arizona's House Republicans to Keep Pictures of Latino Kids on Their Desks?

Democratic State Senator Steve Gallardo was none to pleased when he saw some Republican House members were keeping pictures of Latino kids on their desks, symbols of the state's school-choice program.Gallardo told New Times yesterday it was "insulting" for these House Republicans to have the pictur ... More >>

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 >>

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama Dead Even in Arizona, New Poll Shows

A new survey of Arizona voters by Public Policy Polling shows that President Barack Obama stands an even chance of turning Arizona blue in November.The poll shows Obama surging in our redder than red state, tying Republican Mitt Romney at 47 percent. Against GOPer Rick Santorum he does one point wor ... More >>

Arizona Republican Party Hate-Fest Video

Above is videographer Dennis Gilman's take on the state GOP meeting in January, which I covered in a previous post.As you'll see, a lot of Arizona Republicans, not unlike their national counterparts, define themselves by what they hate: President Barack Obama, minorities, gays, and the undocumented. ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Targeted by Republican Paula Pennypacker in Purple Letter Campaign

The problem with the opposition to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, as I see it, is that the loudest voices calling for Arpaio's resignation are perceived to be those of leftists.In reality, there are many GOPers that I hear from who are weary of fellow Republican Arpaio, his wasteful spending, h ... 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 >>

Joe Arpaio to Endorse Rick Perry for President? Yeah...We're Scratching Our Heads, Too

​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man who's made a career out of bootin' brown folks back across the border, is reportedly going to endorse Rick Perry as the Republican nominee for president -- which is more than a little surprising (if it's true, that is), when you consider some of Perry's r ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Opponent Mike Stauffer to Run For Sheriff as an Independent

​Scottsdale Lieutenant Mike Stauffer, the man who hopes to unseat Joe Arpaio as Maricopa County sheriff, announced Friday that he's switching party affiliation to run as an Independent.It's probably a pretty good move -- Stauffer originally was running as a Republican, which means he would have ha ... More >>

Brett Mecum, Former State GOP Director, Takes Plea in 2009 Speeding Case; Completes Defensive Driving School

Brett Mecum, former executive director for the state Republican Party, lost his speeding case last month after a two-year court battle.​The criminal speeding case of Brett Mecum, former executive director for the state Republican Party, ended last month after a two-year odyssey through the court s ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Pal Thayer Verschoor to Take Over for Brett Mecum as AZ GOP's Executive Director, Sources Say

Thayer Verschoor​With the ouster of now-former Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party Brett Mecum, Thayer Verschoor, a veteran of the Arizona Legislature and short-lived communications director for the AZ GOP, is getting a promotion.Sources tell New Times Verschoor has been slated to t ... More >>

State Representative Jim Weiers Won't Explain Reported Role in SCA Criminal Investigation

  Image: www.jimweiers.com State Representative Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix, told investigators that he didn't remember referring Sheriff Arpaio's men to GOP consultant Chris Baker, as Baker said he did.​We've given it the old college try, but State Representative Jim Weiers (R-Phoenix ... More >>

Tom Horne Defers SCA Investigation to Feds; State AG Won't Go After Sheriff's Office

Tom Horne has "elected" to defer the SCA case to the feds.​ Tom Horne, the state Attorney General, inherited the SCA case from his predecessor, Terry Goddard. The case is all about the dirty politics played by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the state Republican Party. Briefly, it in ... More >>

Congressman Jeff Flake's Senate Bid Gets Nod From Utah Senator Mike Lee

Congressman Jeff Flake wants to be Senator Jeff Flake.​Congressman Jeff Flake's bid to become Senator Jeff Flake is picking up steam -- and GOP senators are beginning to take notice, including Utah Senator Mike Lee, who endorsed Flake's candidacy today."Jeff Flake's record on fiscal conservatism s ... More >>

Is Sarah Palin Considering a Senate Run...in Arizona?

Arizona Senator Sarah Palin?​Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, we learned earlier this week, is rumored to be planning to base her hypothetical presidential campaign in Scottsdale, but GOP sources tell New Times the one-time darling of the Conservative movement might be coming to the Grand Canyo ... 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 >>

Joel Fox of Sheriff's Office Owes $450 in SCA Case, But Still on Hook for Larger Fine

Just in: In the case of Maricopa Sheriff's Captain Joel Fox and the mysterious SCA donation to the Republican Party, Fox owes $450. That's right -- there's a whole lot less zeroes in that fine than some expected. Fox was on the hook for $315,000 in penalties. But don't turn up the house lights ... More >>

County: Republican Party had Negative Balance After Illegal Donation Returned; Implies Money Went to Smear Ads

The Arizona Republican Party last year returned the dirty $105,000 donated by the mysterious "Sheriff's Command Association." But in doing so, it left the party with a massive negative balance. That's because it had already spent a good chunk of the money, app ... More >>

Lisa James on Randy Pullen, Sheriff Joe, and the Battle for the AZ Republican Party

  We're not going so far as to predict another Thrilla in Manila, but we will say this: the fight for the chairmanship of the state Republican party is getting good -- in a juicy, knockdown, drag-out kind of way. Just how we like it! Here's the background for all you non-politi ... More >>

Conservative Blog Site Says Kirk Adams is New State House Speaker

Political Satire Videos Become Big Viral Hits for Local Production Companies

Arpaio's "Watergate": Yellow Sheet Finds MCSO's Prints on Anti-Saban Ad Money.

Nathan Sproul's anti-Pearce MVD flier; and LD18's Ron Middlebrook and Cecil Ash take money from neo-Nazi J.T. Ready.

Donkey Kong

After looking like political asses in the '90s, Arizona Democrats have the money, moderation and 800-pound gorilla to kick some pachyderm tail

Send in the Clowns

Don't bother, they're here. After a decade of voter-mandated reform, the Arizona Legislature is as out of touch as ever

Say No to Joe

Voters have the best chance ever of kicking Outlaw Joe to the curb on September 7.

Primary Post-Mortem

You know it was a weird election if The Spike is actually missing John McCain

Flashes

From the week of May 3, 2001

Thirty Nuggets

Budget Bonanza or Bust?

Discord between GOP lawmakers and the governor is just one reason the budget battle might get ugly.

The Clash of '98

John Kaites and Tom McGovern — John McCain's and Grant Woods' hand-picked candidates for attorney general — are duking it out like schoolboys, while the Dems' Janet Napolitano goes to school on them

Hee-Haw Politics

Clinton won, Fife lost, and now state Dems have high hopes for '98. But they're in for a wild-ass ride

POLS TO THE WALL

THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE

WOULD-BE POWER COUPLE TOM AND LINDA RAWLES WANT VOTES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE