Comments on: Why I’m Not Celebrating the Vetoes, And You Shouldn’t Be Either

By: Rex

Rex — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:01:02 +0000

Brewer is attempting to triangulate between the Democrats and her own party’s legislative leadership. Thus, I agree with Mark that she is already mapping out her strategy for a general election. Imitation being one form of flattery (I don’t agree with the old saw that it it the most sincere form), it could be argued that she is trying to have the public view her in the same way that Janet always sought to be seen as the grown-up in the room when she was playing her own triangulation games with the Legislature.

Brewer, however, has completely misjudged not only her own level of support, but also the ideological composition of her own party. While she has tried to get Chamber of Commerce-types behind her five-point plan, she has forgotten that those folks will not call the tune in any primary, another point where I agree with Mark. She would have been smarter to get into the game earlier, cultivate some supporters in the Legislature other than Carolyn Allen and also get out onto the hustings by talking to the grass roots about her plans, not just the corporate elite in this state.

The reason she might yet survive a primary is because it is unlikely that the Right will coalesce its support behind one candidate who is also palatable to other Republicans, including those Brewer was schmoozing. Those people might then do what they have been threatening to do for some time and mount a third-party bid that would almost guarantee a Democrat as our next governor. It would then be essential for virtually every legislative district to be targeted by the state party so that the new guv could actually have a working majority on their side.

By: Eli_Blake

Eli_Blake — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:58:32 +0000

Mark:

As I said, Calamity Jane all over again.

Let’s be smarter this time around.

By: Mark DeSimone

Mark DeSimone — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:10:23 +0000

I think what she has done bodes well for the general. It is the primary she keeps making more difficult. She is being perceived as fighting for education and that is a very mainstream ideal. Chuck Coughlin is smart. He is already fighting for November 2010.

By: Thane Eichenauer

Thane Eichenauer — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:59:08 +0000

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in the special session (my guess is that tax hikes won’t pass nor will tax “changes” pass as proposed by the Democrats). Since none of the various factions are willing to give up their political plums in compromise to the other factions I can only assume we get more stalemate.
I wonder which legislators are already off on vacation and how many will remain in Phoenix come Monday.

By: sonorandesertrat

sonorandesertrat — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:46:48 +0000

I’m not celebrating it; I’m just laughing at it all in disbelief, because at this point there’s nothing else you can really do. Just when you think it can’t get anymore absurd, they up the ante.