And the rankings are in...

Thanks to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire for the heads-up on this...

...courtesy of the National Journal.

[Note: I wasn't going to do this post as it's the type of post that Stacy at AZ Congress Watch usually does, and does very well. However, she skipped this one and covered the Humane Society's Congressional report card.

...Guess she thinks that puppies and kittens are more fun than ideology.

...Guess she's right. :)) ]

The National Journal has published in 2006 Congressional vote ratings and has ranked Congressfolk on a most conservative/liberal scale.

AZ Summary: Trent Franks (with the now-departed JD Hayworth close behind) was among the most conservative of all of members of the House; Jon Kyl was nearly the most conservative in the Senate. Raul Grijalva was among the most liberal members of the House.

The AZ delegation's numbers at a glance:

In the Senate (ranked as 'most conservative) -

Jon Kyl is the more conservative of our two U.S. Senators. He ranked 3rd overall, coming in as tied for the most conservative on economic policy, 19th on social policy, and tied for first on foreign policy;

John McCain is the 46th most conservative. He was 36th most conservative on economic policy, 53rd on social policy, and 42nd in foreign policy.

In the House -

Note: As new members, Gabrielle Giffords and Harry Mitchell are not part of these rankings.

[Key: overall ranking, economic policy votes, social policy votes, foreign policy votes]

Republicans, ranked as 'most conservative':

Rick Renzi (CD1) - 177th, 160th, 159th, 186th

Trent Franks (CD2) - 37th, 67th, 13th, 80th

John Shadegg (CD3) - 144th, 114th, 138th, 144th

JD Hayworth (CD5) - 46th, 88th, 15th, 82nd

Jeff Flake (CD6) - 216th, 182nd, 230th, 230th

Jim Kolbe (CD8) - 166th, 15th, 248th, 188th


Democrats, ranked as 'most liberal':

[Key: overall ranking, economic policy votes, social policy votes, foreign policy votes]

Ed Pastor (CD4) - 75th, 117th, 19th, 102nd.

Raul Grijalva (CD7) - 3rd, 25th, 3rd, 2nd


The only real surprise in all this?

I didn't realize that Jeff Flake is the face of the "reasonable conservative" in D.C. This isn't a dig at him or at his 'conservative' cred; have no fear, I think he is verrry conservative and disagree with him on most social and political issues.

I just didn't realize how much he votes the issue, his constituents, or even his conscience over the party line.

[Hey, it's either that or the Republican Party has moved so far to the loony end of the political spectrum that a staunch social and fiscal conservative like Flake looks like a moderate by comparison.]

Of course, the nutjob wing (aka - 'Coulter Wing') of the Repubs may look at the National Journal's numbers (and this post!) and run someone at Flake during the next primary as punishment for his backsliding.

Good God, I think I just complimented a Republican; even though the compliment is of a 'back-handed' nature, I must be tired.

Good night!