Rum, Romanism and Rebellion

A few years back, the University of Arizona allowed the family of Kemper Marley to donate a load of money to have a building named for him. Ironically, it was around the same time that the University was threatening to close the School of Journalism. If you miss out on why that is funny, click […]

I’ve been involved in this silliness long enough that I should be long past the point where I can expect constistency.
For example, I worked for Sam Coppersmith’s Senate race in 1994. Coppersmith was assailed by Dick Mahoney for being some sort of conservative sell-out. Mahoney even ran one ad where Coppersmith’s mustache went […]

Daily Kos and Wactivist are reporting some internal DCCC numbers that look very bad for J. D. Hayworth. I know, it will drive all of us into a funk.
Here are some numbers:
Larry King 37%
Rep. J. D. Hayworth 44%
Sen. Harry Mitchell 43%
Hayworth 42%
Sen. Chuck Blanchard 41%
Hayworth 40%
What the heck is that all about?
King is an […]

Here I thought that after her crushing, soul destroying, id hammering 61-39 defeat at the hands of Karin Uhlich, I would never have to write about Kathleen Dunbar again. Well, I wrote a few gloaty posts, but I thought she was done, finished, kaput, terminado.
No such luck.
Some of you may remember that during the last […]

Just to show that once in a while, even I can be wrong and I recognize that, I made an error, a faux pas, in my post about the State Treasurer’s race. I said that Laura Knaperek was a possible candidate for Senate in District 17.
I heard from my legion of fans. They […]

As I noted yesterday, Jim Nintzel mentioned this blog (as well as Espresso Pundit) as a source that was saying that State Treasurer David Petersen’s political career was sputtering towards its cessation. In one of those instances of “Man, deadlines suck!”, Petersen announced that he was not running ’round about the time that Nintzel’s Tucson […]

Local developer Don Bourn, from an article in this morning’s Arizona Daily Star:
“A lot of my development friends say ‘your nuts,’ ” he said, although he stressed he is still committed to the project.

I have a lot of trouble getting my students to avoid confusing possessive pronouns with contractions, but of course they are working […]

There are three items in today’s Skinny, and all three include either me or my brother. Oh, and my Mom is in one.
What Jim, you don’t like my Dad or something?
Soon, all will be Prezelski. Klaatu barada nikto.

Eli Segal, the attorney and entrepreneur who concieved and shepherded AmeriCorps and Welfare-to-Work, died Monday. Segal was a man who believed making the nation a better place is the highest calling, and he did so with dignified and patient force. Former Bill Clinton aide Bruce Reed has a tribute to him in […]

SEIU staged a press conference in the lobby of the County Administration building yesterday morning to make their case that county employees have the right to vote on “meet and confer” status.
One of the speakers was long time labor stalwart Charlie Salaz, a member of SOAR and the chairman of the District 29 Democratic Club. […]

Gabrielle Giffords’ campaign today announced that three labor organizations, the Arizona State Association of Electrical Workers, the State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, have all endorsed her candidacy.
Patty Weiss had previously announced that the United Transportation Union endorsed her.
Interestingly, the UTU and BLET both organize […]

Raúl Grijalva is having his campaign kickoff tommorrow at the El Casino Ballroom, at 26th Street and 3rd Avenue. The festivities start at 5:30 and continue until 8:00, or until the carne asada runs out.
In addition to being a campaign kickoff, it is the Congressman’s birthday. He will be turning 29.

The always polite and tasteful Sen. Jack Harper decided to use his time on the floor of the State Senate to launch an attack on the family of US Senate Candidate Jim Pederson. Pederson’s son was recently arrested on drug charges. Harper stated that this is an indication of “corruption in the Pederson household.”
Why […]

Actual thing I overheard my brother saying to a reporter yesterday:
A constituent contacted me at a Knockout Pills show…

Folks at the capitol are saying that the troubles in David Petersen’s office are worse than reported and he may resign before his term is up in January.
This creates a strange situation. The Governor appoints a replacement should there be a vacancy, but the replacement would have to be a Republican. I’m putting my money […]

I’m stealing from Espresso Pundit today, he won’t complain. Besides, what the heck is he going to do about it?
Sen. Dean Martin has taken out papers to run for State Treasurer, this at a time that David Petersen is talking about leaving the office amid criticism of his management style. His office has been […]

My brother found out yesterday that an AFSCME organizer has been calling him “anti-labor” because the organizer thinks that he has been writing critical things on a blog about them. The trouble is, my brother doesn’t have a blog. Hmm. What blog could they be talking about?
He wouldn’t be the first person […]

I’ve been getting e-mails and posts from people who claim not to understand why I support Gabrielle Giffords. Of course, I’ve said it a thousand times on here (okay, not a thousand…so don’t bother writing a correction).
I was thinking of writing a post saying that I only will support candidates that I’ve hung out with […]

I have been very critical about the legislature’s lack of support for higher education. It looks like Russell Pearce is finally doing something about it. Pearce’s bill, HB 2583, would mandate the display of Old Glory in all college classrooms in Arizona. HB 2583 passed a house committee yesterday.
Good to see that Pearce and the […]

I can’t believe I have more to write about this. Phx Kid accused me of a low blow when I remarked on the Vice-President’s accidental shooting of his friend. There are two things I’d like to point out here: one, there are a great many people joking about this incident, including conservative bloggers. Phx Kid’s […]