News Roundup for Wednesday, November 15

...with some opinions thrown in for good measure. :)

- - - Jack Abramoff went to federal prison today in PA. In an email to friends sent prior to entering the prison, he bemoaned the "nightmare political scandal" that he's involved in. (Yahoo! News)

Awwww.

- - - Robert Novak, like many, keeps associating JD Hayworth's (and others') loss last week with his stance on immigration. (Human Events)

He lost because he was a loud, mean-spirited, arrogant, deceptive blowhard whose favorite topic was immigration.

He lost because he campaigned on fear, distortions, and outright lies.


He lost because Harry Mitchell was a better candidate, and the voters of CD5 recognized that.


- - - The 2008 Presidential Prognostication Pundits are warming up their crystal balls already.

Novak did it, calling John McCain, Governor Tim Pawlenty of MN (both from the Republican side), Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Governor Brian Schweitzer of MT (from the Democratic side) the "winners" of the 2006 election cycle, and John Kerry and Mitt Romney, as well as the aforementioned immigration hawks, the "losers" of the cycle.

Of course, one week before the election, Darth Novak predicted that JD would win reelection.

- - - Of course, the 2010 Governor Guessing Game has begun in earnest, too.

Writing in the Phoenix Business Journal, Mike Sunnucks discusses potential candidates. He specifically mentioned Congressfolk JD, Rick Renzi, Jeff Flake, as well as Mary Peters and Rick Romley as possible Rep contenders, and Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon and AZ AG Terry Goddard as possible Dem aspirants.

Interestingly enough, a couple of us spoke about this very topic just last week. Our conversation was mostly about the Dem contenders, and we came to the same conclusions as Mr. Sunnucks about Phil Gordon's plans.

We saw the same "Phil Gordon is everywhere at once" phenomenon this cycle and thought that his efforts were for one of two reasons:

1. He's trying to increase his name recognition both with the Democratic Party faithful and with the voters in general; or

2. He's an attention whore.

In the end, we agreed that it was likely that both statements are accurate. :)

BTW - Rick Renzi as Governor???? I'm not even sure he'd consider it, unless the State of Arizona begins awarding defense contracts.

Mantech just wouldn't get enough of a return on their investment otherwise.

- - - In what was perhaps the least surprising news of the week, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl was elected as Republican Conference Chairman in the Senate.

- - - Writing in the Arizona Republic, Bob Schuster observes that by elevating uber-conservative Thayer Verschoor to the position of Senate Majority Leader, the AZGOP is sending a message to Governor Napolitano.

That message?? Get ready "for another long, needlessly contentious legislative session."

Anyway, more later!!