U.S. Republican Party

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 >>

Russell Pearce's Pal Constantin Querard Pimps Medical Marijuana Industry

As Mr. Zimmerman once crooned long ago, the times they are a changin', and though progress has generally leap-frogged our benighted state, there are odd signs that Arizona is slouching toward the 21th Century, like some rough beast come round at last. See also: -Arizona Organix Steps Out as the Sta ... 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 >>

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 >>

After Election Day, AZ's Far Right Now Has a Fight on Its Hands

Joe Arpaio Triumphant and More Wreckage from Election Night

Last night was 2008 all over again: Obama wins, while those of us who must live in still deeply red Maricopa County lose. That is, those who want justice, racial and ethnic harmony, and competent, effective law enforcement. As in 2008, we are in the minority. Though percentage-wise, we may have g ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Sure Ain't a Conservative, and Here's Why

Ron Barber in Trouble for Calling House GOP, With 86 Percent White Men, a "Bunch of White Guys"

Democratic Congressman Ron Barber -- who won the special election in June to fill the seat of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- is already fighting for his reelection, and he's already made his Republican opponent angry.Martha McSally's campaign put out a press release condemning Barber for ... More >>

Pearce Could be Toast, Sinema on Top, Schweikert Leads Quayle in Unofficial Primary Results

Russell Pearce's political career could be dead in the water with Bob Worsley maintaining a more than 10 percentage point lead over the former, recalled state senator in unofficial results from Tuesday's primary election. Kyrsten Sinema also was fending off challengers David Schapir ... More >>

How to Speak Republican

Do Republicans Really Want to Ban Porn and Tipping Strippers?

Many Republican candidates for state and federal office would like you to believe that they want people to go to prison for selling porn, and think tipping strippers should be illegal.The lobbyists at the Center for Arizona Policy released the candidates' answers to their questionnaires for this ye ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, May 3

DREAM Act Has Support From 73 Percent of Arizonans, According to Poll

If you trust public-opinion polling, then Arizonans aren't the hard-asses about illegal immigration that they're portrayed to be.According to a new poll from the Merrill/Morrison Institute -- which found earlier in the week that the race between President Obama and eventual GOP nominee Mitt Romney i ... More >>

Obama Winning Arizona: Not as Dumb of an Idea as People Thought, According to Poll

Thinking President Obama's reelection bid could include a victory in Arizona is apparently not a romantic left-wing fantasy, a new poll suggests.Sure there's some time left between April and November, and its only 488 registered Arizona voters, but a contest between President Obama and GOP nominee-i ... More >>

Conservative Group: GOP Leadership May Be Favoring Ben Quayle Over David Schweikert

​To the casual observer, Congressmen Ben Quayle and David Schweikert may seem like the same dude.They're both freshman in the House, and they've voted the same in 94 percent of the 1,146 roll call votes they both voted on.They're both running for the Republican nomination in Arizona's Sixth Congre ... 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 >>

Bad Mormon: Mitt Romney's Anti-Immigrant Stance Doesn't Jibe with LDS Teachings

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 >>

Rick Santorum Schmoozing Joe Arpaio Today -- A Tactic Which Hasn't Exactly Been Successful

​Former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum is meeting with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio today -- at least, according to the sheriff -- to become the next in the line of GOP candidates to come kiss Arpaio's rings.According to Arpaio, or his flak, presidential candidates Mit ... More >>

Joe Arpaio's Endorsement Still Worth Something, if Polls are to Be Trusted

​If public-opinion polls are to be trusted, then Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's endorsement still is worth something to Arizonans.Arpaio's endorsement of some candidates hasn't worked out too well -- like former U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, ousted Senate President Russell Pearce ... More >>

Flesh Forward

Russell Pearce-Worship, and Corrupt Proxy Voting at the County GOP

Why are non-loony Republicans always on the outs in the county and state GOP, with the insaniac Mexican-haters firmly in control?In her blog on Sunday, moderate Republican Paula Pennypacker described one of the main tactics of GOP county chairman Rob Haney's nativist cult: The gaming of the proxy sy ... 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 >>

Hispanic Republican Group: Joe Arpaio's Endorsement is Final Nail in Rick Perry's Coffin

​Rick Perry's presidential campaign is on life support at the moment, and according to a group of Hispanic Republicans, Joe Arpaio's recent endorsement of Perry could be the final nail in the Texas Governor's coffin."We believe the Arpaio endorsement is a colossal blunder from which Rick Perry wi ... More >>

Jan Brewer BODY-SLAMMED by Arizona Supreme Court on Redistricting, Again

Man, this drama is getting moldier than a rerun of 21 Jump Street.  This afternoon, the Arizona Supreme Court -- for the second time -- handed Governor Jan Brewer a big fat loss on her attempt to remove Colleen Mathis, chairwoman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, the panel ch ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Lame Attempts to Rehabilitate His Image, Part I

Would you buy a used car from this man? Um, so why would you buy anything else he has to say?With the November 8 recall election advancing on him like an out-of-control semi, state Senate President Russell Pearce is attempting to morph himself into an honorable man, a practical politician and rehabi ... More >>

Arizona's Redistricting Commission Should Regard the Tea Party as Disruptive Loons

Tea Party Calls for Redistricting Chair's Head: Republican and Democratic Commissioners Support Her

Republican AZIRC commissioner Scott Freeman supports Mathis, though the Tea Party wants her removedDespite calls from Tea Party activists and some Republicans for the resignation of Colleen Mathis, chairwoman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, both Republican commissioner Scott Fre ... More >>

July 22 In Blogs: Tea Party, Jean-Luc Picard, Alkaline Trio, Two Hippies, and Jason Dubin

​​​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:

Donald Trump and Sarah Palin Not in the Good Graces of Arizona Voters, According to Poll

politisite.com​A poll of 623 Arizona voters released today reflects a couple things -- almost nobody likes Donald Trump, and most people would prefer Sarah Palin not move here. In the poll -- from Public Policy Polling -- opinions are recorded about possible GOP nominees for the 2012 presidential ... More >>

Mark Spinks, Former Congressional Candidate/Neighborhood Nudist, to Be Axed From "Consulting" Post at Arizona GOP, Sources Say

The State PressMark Spinks (fully clothed)​Former Congressional candidate Mark Spinks is a big fan of state Republican Party Chairman Tom Morrissey. In fact, he recently sent a scathing email to those looking to get the chairman booted from his post (we got a copy of it, which you can see below). ... More >>

Arizona's Senate-Approved Birther Bill Could Force Presidential Candidates to Provide Documentation Describing What Their Penis Looks Like to Get on Ballot

www.scaredmonkeys.com​They don't call Arizona the "meth lab of Democracy" for nothing -- where else could a lack of foreskin prove citizenship?The Arizona Senate formally passed the "Birther Bill" today, but not in its original version. Apparently, requiring presidential candidates to provide a lo ... More >>

Morning Poll: Are Republicans to Blame for Fiesta Bowl Fiasco?

​Yesterday, Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny issued a statement bashing Republicans for turning "the Fiesta Bowl into a front for funneling illegal campaign contributions to Republican politicians."Cherny failed to mention in his statement that several of those who benefited from th ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Comeuppance? Don't Count Him Out Just Yet

The Killer Shark of the Senate, always on the attack They're practically singing hosannas in the streets, the pro-immigration folks, or just those who'd like to see an end to Arizona's tsunami of hate. This, over the defeat of five anti-immigrant bills on the state Senate floor yesterday, including ... More >>

Jon Hulburd's a Turncoat, and Terry Goddard's Weak. So Who Are This Year's Democratic Role Models?

Conflicting Poll Numbers For AG's Race Prompt "Thank You" to Republicans From Arizona Dems

www.vote-az.orgDemocratic candidate for attorney general, Felecia Rotellini​As always, we take all polls with a grain of salt. And two polls -- one released by the Arizona Republican Party, and one released by the Republican candidate for Attorney General, Tom Horne -- are part of the reason why.T ... More >>

Over the Rainbow: Matt Salmon's Son Wants to Make a Name For Himself in Republican Politics -- Only He's Gay

Tom Horne, Andy Thomas Bloody Each Other in Horizon Debate

If you missed the "Clean Elections" Republican state Attorney General debate last night on Horizon between state schools superintendent Tom Horne and former Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas, it was a real cage fight. I'm surprised blood didn't spatter the TV screen. Fortunately, if yo ... More >>

Birther Bill Officially Passed by Arizona House of Representatives

www.imbleedingprofusely.com​Well... they really did it.The Arizona House of Representatives -- well on it's way to becoming the laughing stock of the entire country -- passed the infamous "Birther Bill" this afternoon. If it becomes law, it would require President Barack Obama to show h ... More >>

Jan Brewer Leader in GOP Primary for Arizona Governor, Poll Finds

www.sonoranweeklyreview.com We can't believe it either, Jan.​Arizona Governor Jan Brewer got a dash of good news over the weekend in her bid to go from accidental governor to elected governor -- the latest poll number puts her as the leader in the crowded field of GOP candidates for guv.Nee ... More >>

New GOP Poll Shows Brewer to be Top Elephant in Gov Race

www.allhatnocattle.com​In a seemingly meager attempt to impress, the Vernon Parker Exploratory Committee issued a press release today about some "interesting" new poll results for the 2010 gubernatorial election.Before reading the release, we thought to ourselves "hey, maybe junior's got a shot ." ... More >>

One Stinkin' Republican Vote Seperates Arizona From a State Budget

www.cama.com​At this point, there are three reasons Arizona still has a $3.4 billion budget gap: state senators Pamela Gorman, Ron Gould, and Carolyn Allen.Senate Republicans are one vote away from the 16 they need to pass a plan that would bridge the budget gap, and the ... 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 >>

Secretary of State Finds "Reasonable Cause" to Believe Arizona GOP Broke the Law

By Sarah Fenske The Arizona Secretary of State has found "reasonable cause" to believe the Arizona Republican Party broke the law by accepting $105,000 in contributions from a high ranking member of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's staff. The finding came last week, according to public records obtained by New ... More >>

Hot Links: McCain's Arizona Lead Withers, Feds Collar Mongols, Food Network's Fieri Feasts in Flagstaff.

Andrea Dworkin's ghost haunts the Maricopa County Republican Party.

Nudist GOP camps for kids? Sure, just keep your hands off my Horst Kraus.

Flashes

3-D Vision

Flashes