Arizona State’s Matthew Scully, Sarah Palin’s Speechwriter

By Amy Silverman She’s from a different “A” state, but turns out, Sarah Palin has a big Arizona connection — and I’m not talking about John McCain. Matthew Scully — Arizona State University grad, one-time writer for Dan Quayle and also George W. — is writing tonight’s speech. Scully is…

Hot Links: Russell Pearce wins his primary, ditto for Tim Nelson, Mayor Gordon breaks back, St. Louis slays D-Backs, Cards fans named worst in NFL.

By Stephen Lemons Mesa GOPers grant victory to neo-Nazi-hugger Russell Pearce. Maybe J.T. Ready should run for something. Tim Nelson gets Dem nod for County Attorney contest against Candy Thomas. (Go get him, Tim.) Hay and Kirkpatrick will duke it out for Rick Renzi’s Congressional seat. Mayor Gordon breaks his…

Hang Glider Pilot Who Forgot To Buckle Up Was Local Realtor, Father

By Ray Stern What happened to hang glider pilot Kunio Yoshimura on Saturday was the sort of fatal blunder that reads like fodder for a Darwin award. As local news reports like this one detailed yesterday, Yoshimura forgot to connect himself to his hang glider before jumping off a windy…

Tony Bouie signs defaced with vile, racist sticker.

The racist sticker is in the middle of the “o” in “Tony.” Campaign signs for Tony Bouie, an African-American candidate in the LD6 GOP primary for state House, were hit primary day with a crude, racist sticker showing a nude black man in silhouette with target sights around his body…

Hot Links: Sarah Palin’s pregnant kid, Steve Berman’s latest gaffe, Matt Leinart pissed at not starting, and more.

By Stephen Lemons Sarah Palin’s kid is preggers, and the GOP’s in a tizzy. On the hypocrisy beat, Grampa McCain fought dolo for pregnant teens. Reps replace Rudy Giuliani with snooze-inducers Joe Lieberman and Fred Thompson. PoliticoMafioso blog reports on racist, anti-Tony Bouie vandalism. Gannett slashes Republic newsroom, again. Matt…

Would the Real Susan Bitter-Smith Please Stand Up?

By John Dickerson The smiling face of Susan Bitter-Smith is popping up on campaign signs across Tempe and Scottsdale. Only problem is that the campaign photo of Bitter-Smith doesn’t resemble other photos of her, critics say. Bitter-Smith’s campaign photo (top) doesn’t resemble this 2006 photo (bottom) or other recent photos…

Hot Links: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be McCain’s Veep, Cave Creek Mayor says wife racially profiled, Tucson’s pro-sex Baptist preacher, porn on airplanes, and more.

By Stephen Lemons Wife racially profiled, says Cave Creek Mayor. NTSB releases crash report on Phoenix copter collision. Old Man McCain picks a (relatively) young hottie as Veep. According to Tucson preacher, bumpin’ uglies is part of God’s design. God or the Devil, we’ll take it. Sun Devils looking forward…

Month in Photos: August 2008

Another month and another “Month in Photos.” Take a look back at the stories that made August 2008 a hot, sweaty, Phoenix month to remember by checking out this slideshow…

Hot Links: Phil Gordon recall sigs due, Joe Arpaio arrests landscapers (ignores criminals), Lush gals get nekkid, LPGA’s English-only rule slammed, plus Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, and Bono.

By Stephen Lemons Recall sigs against Mayor Phil due in today. Expect that recall to go down like a Van Buren hooker. Arpaio arrests everyone at Valley landscaping biz, including citizen, legal workers. Hey, who needs civil rights, it’s only America? Lush girls get nekkid in Scottsdale to get us…