Sen. Judy Burges embraces her inner conspiracy theorist

 Of course, with Judy "Birther" Burges, her inner conspiracy theorist isn't exactly "inner."

Not hardly.

She hasn't even proposed any legislation for the coming session yet, but she's already declared her candidacy for the Legislative Loon Award.

From Jerod MacDonald-Evoy at the AZ Mirror -

GOP senator wants Brnovich to investigate collusion to block ivermectin as a COVID treatment

Sun City West Republican Sen. Judy Burges wants Attorney General Mark Brnovich to weigh in on whether doctors and pharmacists can prescribe unproven COVID-19 treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine without being punished by state regulators. 

And she wants the Republican AG to launch an investigation into what she says is a wide-ranging conspiracy by the the federal government, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, state public health officials and regulators to block access to so-called therapeutic treatments for COVID-19.

The FDA advises folks to not use ivermectin for Covid -

Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19

COVID-19. We’ve been living with it for what sometimes seems like forever. Given the number of deaths that have occurred from the disease, it’s perhaps not surprising that some consumers are turning to drugs not approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

One of the FDA’s jobs is to carefully evaluate the scientific data on a drug to be sure that it is both safe and effective for a particular use. In some instances, it can be highly dangerous to use a medicine for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 that has not been approved by or has not received emergency use authorization from the FDA. 

There seems to be a growing interest in a drug called ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans. Certain animal formulations of ivermectin such as pour-on, injectable, paste, and "drench," are approved in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals. For humans, ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

However, the FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for livestock.

The American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) have a similar advisory.

AMA, APhA, ASHP statement on ending use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19

The American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) strongly oppose the ordering, prescribing, or dispensing of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial.

Ivermectin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use to treat infections caused by internal and external parasites. It is not approved to prevent or treat COVID-19. Ivermectin is also available to treat certain veterinary conditions; medications formulated or intended for use in animals should not be used by humans. We are alarmed by reports that outpatient prescribing for and dispensing of ivermectin have increased 24-fold since before the pandemic and increased exponentially over the past few months. As such, we are calling for an immediate end to the prescribing, dispensing, and use of ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 outside of a clinical trial. In addition, we are urging physicians, pharmacists, and other prescribers—trusted health care professionals in their communities—to warn patients against the use of ivermectin outside of FDA-approved indications and guidance, whether intended for use in humans or animals, as well as purchasing ivermectin from online stores. Veterinary forms of this medication are highly concentrated for large animals and pose a significant toxicity risk for humans.

There may be a conspiracy at work here, but it's a conspiracy to not kill people, and Judy Burges is not part of it.

Maybe Gov. Greg Abbott should read some court decisions before running his mouth

From Militarycom via Yahoo! News -

'He Is Not Your Commander-in-Chief:' Texas Governor Promises Guardsmen He'll Fight Biden Over Vaccine Mandate

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is digging in against COVID-19 vaccinations and related mandates, telling National Guardsmen in his state they can ignore Pentagon inoculation rules and will not face any retribution for not getting coronavirus vaccines.

On Tuesday, the Republican governor, who is facing challenges from his political right in a reelection bid next year, threatened to file a federal lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's authority to order troops to be inoculated against COVID-19.

Abbott's filing is here.

From the filing -

From Article 4, Section 7 of the Texas Constitution -

From AP via Military Times -

Judge rejects Oklahoma’s lawsuit over National Guard vaccine mandate

A federal judge in Oklahoma on Tuesday ruled against the state in its lawsuit challenging the vaccine mandates for members of the Oklahoma National Guard in a dispute that is the first critical test of the military’s authority to require National Guard troops to get the shot.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot denied Oklahoma’s request for a preliminary injunction, saying the claims by Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General John O’Connor and 16 anonymous Oklahoma National Guard members were without merit.

From Stitt's own press release on the suit -

Governor Stitt, Attorney General O’Connor Sue Biden Administration Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate

“The U.S. Constitution, the Oklahoma Constitution, and U.S. Code Title 32 are all clear: as governor, I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Oklahoma National Guard.

“Therefore, unless mobilized by the President of the United States under U.S. Code Title10, I retain the authority for all training and governance of the Oklahoma National Guard – including determining if and how training guidelines issued by the president will be implemented.

From the Oklahoma Constitution -

The language in Oklahoma's constitution looks very similar to the language in Texas', but I'm not a lawyer.  My guess is that Abbott's suit will face the same fate as Stitt's.

Of course, I could be wrong.

From the website of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division (where Abbott filed his lawsuit) -

Both district judges were appointed by Trump, while the magistrate judge circled in blue was appointed by George W. Bush.

Trump cancels commemorative presser on January 6 but rest assured AZ Trumpkins, he'll be here on January 15

From KSAZ -

Former President Donald Trump cancels Jan. 6 news conference; to discuss topic during Arizona rally

Former President Donald Trump announced on Jan. 4 that he is canceling a news conference in Florida that was set to be held on the one-year anniversary of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

"In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday," the former president wrote.

He'll be in Florence at the Country Thunder Festival Grounds.

Yet another reason for me to dislike country music.

"Big Lie" proponents running for AZSOS: Arizona back in the national news, and not for good reasons

From NPR -

Here's where election-denying candidates are running to control voting

Rep. Mark Finchem, of Arizona, gestures as he speaks during an election, Va., in October.

in Richmond, Va, in October. Steve Helber/AP

Mark Finchem was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

He says he didn't go inside, but he snapped some photos of people who did.

"What happens when the People feel they have been ignored, and Congress refuses to acknowledge rampant fraud. #stopthesteal," he tweeted.

The Arizona state representative was there to share what he called "evidence" of an "irredeemably compromised" 2020 election with Republican lawmakers from his home state of Arizona. To be clear, Republican election officials in the state deemed the results "free, fair, and accurate" and even a discredited GOP-led "audit" run in the state's largest county agreed Biden won.

[snip]

Election doubters and deniers running for Secretary of State in 2022

[snip]

Her 2021 bill, HB2720, didn't succeed.

There's a pattern: If you criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, his police will get involved

From WPLG (FL) i

‘The governor is an enemy of the people,’ well-known activist says as he’s handcuffed ahead of DeSantis news conference

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a scheduled COVID-19 news conference Tuesday morning at the Florida Department of Health – Duval County in Jacksonville, but it was a well-known activist who showed up at the news conference ahead of the governor who stole the show.

“It’s time for him to address the people. Go and get him,” the man, identified as Ben Frazier, tells an apparent aide to the governor after he was approached and asked to leave.

DeSantis has a history of utilizing the police to attack his critics.

From WebMD dated 12/2020 -

Florida State Police Raid Home of DeSantis Critic

Armed officers with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement served a search warrant Monday morning at the home of a fired state coronavirus data scientist who has said Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to downplay the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebekah Jones, who helped create the COVID dashboard for the state Department of Health, posted a video on Twitter of officers holding what appear to be drawn firearms inside her Tallahassee residence, where she lives with her husband and two children. She said officers seized a phone and computer she uses to post coronavirus case numbers.

Republicans aren't concerned with being popular with voters, which is fair, because voters aren't popular with them

Pointed to the top item by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From FiveThirtyEight -

Why The Republican Party Isn’t Concerned With Popularity

After Mitt Romney lost the 2012 presidential election, the Republican National Committee published what became known as the “GOP autopsy report,” an effort to identify and address the party’s ongoing political weaknesses. But eight years later, after losing another close race, the GOP appears wholly uninterested in reviewing or reforming its agenda. In fact, despite capturing the presidency, the Democratic Party has been far more interested in developing an attractive issue agenda. “There is only one political party that is terrified of losing an election because it looks too extreme,” said Seth Masket, a FiveThirtyEight contributor and political scientist at the University of Denver. “There’s a huge party asymmetry.”

But despite the fact that the GOP is quite unpopular and that much of its current agenda — such as overturning the Affordable Care Act or advancing restrictive immigration policies — does not appeal to a majority of voters, the party is in an enviable position heading into the 2022 midterm elections and beyond. What is to make of this glaring disconnect?

Mission accomplished.

From Bob Christie of  the AP, published in the Arizona Capitol Times -

Republicans eye repealing, replacing huge Arizona tax cuts

Arizona Republican lawmakers who pushed through a nearly $2 billion income tax cut in the last session are looking to repeal it and replace it with a new version, a move that would end a voter referendum that has stopped the tax cut law from taking effect.  

The acknowledgement to The Associated Press from Rep. Ben Toma and Sen. J.D. Mesnard, key architects of the flat tax proposal and bills that sidestep a tax on the wealthy that voters approved in 2020, comes a week after a judge rejected a challenge to the referendum. 

The bill mentioned by Toma and Shope has not been introduced as of this writing.

The court case mentioned in the article was CV2021-011491.

If Gosar really thinks that censure has been a "boon" for him, maybe he'll just *love* a treason indictment

From KJZZ -

Gosar says censure has been a boon, not a black eye

After his House colleagues censured him and stripped him of his committee assignments in November, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar says he has more free time to do what he finds most effective.

The vote to censure the Republican congressman, almost entirely along party lines, followed his tweet of an altered anime video that showed him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a sword.

Gosar described himself as a “free agent” now that he has no committee obligations.

Hey, Paul - people in prison have even fewer obligations than you do now.

Maybe you should just travel to the DC office of the DOJ, confess your treason, and throw yourself on the mercy of whatever court you end up in.

Just offering an idea.

If an election doesn't go how you like, just sue

And for once, I'm not talking about Cheeto and his minions and their efforts to overturn the election results of 2020.

From Community Impact (Gilbert edition) -

Gilbert resident takes lawsuit disputing bond election results to Arizona Supreme Court

Having struck out in Maricopa County Superior Court and with the Arizona Court of Appeals, a Gilbert resident will make a final attempt to get the results of Gilbert’s street bond election thrown out.

The attorney for sign maker Jim Torgeson has appealed the decision to the Arizona Supreme Court, though no hearing date has been set.

The case number in Maricopa County Superior Court is CV2021-017974.

Devin Nunes does his part to make two organizations less dirty, on average

From The Hill -

Nunes formally resigns from Congress

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) formally resigned from Congress on Monday, as the California Republican departs to run former President Trump's new media and technology company.

Nunes’s resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor during a pro forma session on Monday. It is set to take effect at 11:59 p.m. today.

No loss to Congress; if only he could have taken Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs with him.

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) formally resigned from Congress on Monday, as the California Republican departs to run former President Trump's new media and technology company.

Nunes’s resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor during a pro forma session on Monday. It is set to take effect at 11:59 p.m. today.

Turns out that 41% of Americans are incredibly stupid

And here you were, thinking that the number was higher. :)

Pointed toward this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From the ABCNews story about the poll -

Majority of Americans think Jan. 6 attack threatened democracy: POLL

Nearly a year after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a strong majority of Americans condemn it and believe former President Donald Trump is at least partially to blame. But partisan splits have hardened over time, with Republicans still largely backing Trump's version of events, a new ABC/Ipsos poll finds.

An overwhelming majority (72%) of Americans believe the people involved in the attack on the Capitol were "threatening democracy," while 1 in 4 Americans believes that the individuals involved were "protecting democracy." Broken down by party identification, Democrats are nearly unanimous (96%) in believing that those involved in the attacks were threatening democracy. Republicans are more split, with 45% saying it was a threat and 52% saying those involved in the riot were "protecting democracy."

Where did I get the "41%" figure?

From the Ipsos study/topline -

This is in line with other Trump approval ratings.

From RealClearPolitics -

About the Ipsos poll (there's more) -

I recommend reading the entire Ipsos document.

Cheeto likes to claim that he had no part in the insurrection of January 6

 But he plans to commemorate it.

From Politico -

One year after Jan. 6, Trumpism isn't gone. It's 'almost a religion.'

Donald Trump has already telegraphed the remarks he plans to give at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, the anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

If he follows the script laid out in his announcement of the news conference, he will commit a whitewashing of the day, repeating the lie that the 2020 election was rigged and defending his part in fomenting the insurrection — all while a solemn prayer service is held at the Capitol, in a vivid split-screen moment. And, as Trump castigates Republicans not toeing his line, his event will also serve as a marker of Trump’s extraordinary dominion over the GOP.

From NPR -

Trump still says his supporters weren't behind the Jan. 6 attack — but I was there

Editor's note: This story contains language that may be offensive.

"I was standing amid thousands of Trump supporters on the lawn rising up to the Washington Monument," says NPR's Tom Bowman. "Then Trump came on stage to raucous applause."

Bowman was reporting from the "Save America" rally in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. Up until the point when former President Trump began speaking, the rally held a festive air, almost like a football game, he said. "Some Trump supporters were singing YMCA but using the letters M-A-G-A."

State Committees update - legislative

From the website of the Arizona Secretary of State -

Ignore the districts for which these committees were formed; a majority, if not all, were formed based on old district lines and names created before 2021 redistricting. Without knowing the residential addresses of the (potential) candidates, I couldn't even begin to speculate on which new district they are in.  Don't go by committee addresses; while many are based in the homes of the candidates, they aren't required to be.

Edited to add:

Not comprehensive - some folks have really common names, and I couldn't find anything in a quick search.

Also, forming a committee is the only requirement to be listed here.  A listing here is no guarantee that anyone so listed will be on a primary ballot.

Lastly, nothing here is a prediction on which candidates will emerge from their respective primaries.

Steven Beaver is actually running for Congress.

Rachel Jones is pro-covid/anti-vaccine.

Bliss is a professor at Yavapai College who calls herself a "patriot" in her LinkedIn profile.

Chabin is a former member of the legislature.

Stahl Hamilton is a current member of the legislature.

Abraham is a current member of the legislature.

Verdin is a business owner in Tucson.

Almond is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Radford has run for office before.

Martinez is a current member of the legislature...who works for Paul Gosar.

Orth is a Big Lie participant.

Shamp has been endorsed by Mark Finchem.

Gier is a teacher at Arizona Western College.  He's had his issues.

Griffin is a current member of the legislature.

Diaz is a current member of the legislature.

Kaiser is a current member of the legislature.

Barlet, the fact that he is seeking Clean Elections funding notwithstanding, is a pro-covid Libertarian.

McKnight runs a charter school in San Tan Valley.

Hardin is an IT person.

Maes is colorful.

Willoughby has run for office before.

Chaston is a CPA.

McMillan is a Libertarian.

Richardson is a professional speaker.

Travers is a veterans' and children's advocate.

Weich is a lawyer.

Roe is a member of the Chandler City Council.

Guadalupe Chavira Contreras is a current member of the legislature.

Oyegbola is acting mayor of South Tucson.

Lamar is an IT person.

Loftus has a pic of Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack as the profile pic on his LinkedIn profile.

Waychoff is a chiropractor.

Pingerelli is a current member of the legislature.

Hutchinson is a member of the El Mirage City Council.

Holbrook is a veteran and athlete.

Nguyen is an IT guy.

Mitchell is a former member of the legislature.  He lives in Fountain Hills now (He used to be in Litchfield Park).

Blattman is a businessman in Scottsdale.

Chaplik is a current member of the legislature.

Kolodin is an attorney with questionable taste in clients/purveyors of the Big Lie.

Arnold is a financial advisor..

Westbrook is a community activist.

Longdon is a current member of the legislature.

Mendoza is, umm, colorful.

Darrow is a trumpkin who sells jewelry.

Salman is a current member of the legislature.

Leasy is a retired football player.

Pena is a charter school person.

Quinonez is a current member of the legislature.

Lucking is an attorney.

Carroll is a business person.

Liguori is a current member of the legislature.

Bragg has run for office before.

Solorio is a current member of the legislature.

Bravo is a community activist.

Meza is a current member of the legislature.

Lugo works for CPLC.

Fernandez was in the legislature but has since resigned to join the Biden administration.

McCoy is a former member of the city council in Lake Havasu City.

Gillette opposes...*everything*, or at least, modern society.

Marshall is nuts.

Barton is a current member of the legislature.

Carter is a current member of the legislature.

Pratt has passed away since forming this committee.

Lewis is a faculty member at U of A.

Reichenberg's listing says he a Democrat, but I'm guessing he's not.

Mathis is a current member of the legislature.

Evans is NOT the actress.

Davis is a small businessman.

Fann is a current member of the legislature.

Zipperman is 1st Vice Chair of the Yavapai County GOP.

Campbell is a former member of the legislature.

Ward challenged Paul Gosar...from the right.

Engel is running for Congress.

Young is retired doctor.

Hamilton is a current member of the legislature.

Leach is a current member of the legislature.  He's nuts.

Barto is a current member of the legislature.

Fierro is a physical therapist.

Townsend is a current member of the legislature.

Kurdoglu is a businessman.

Epstein is a current member of the legislature.

Remus was running for both legislature and governor, but both committees have been terminated.

Kern is a former member of the legislature.  He was involved in both the January 6th insurrection and the fraudit.

LeVault is the mayor of Youngtown.

Eldridge has had his issues.

Van Steenwyk has run for office before.  Many times.

Sandoval is president of the governing board of the Peoria Unified School District.

Carroll is a current member of the legislature.

Ugenti-Rita is running for AZ Secretary of State.

Dubauskas is an attorney who is challenging the person below...from the right. Which I didn't think was possible, but she's doing so.

Kavanagh is a current member of the legislature.

Starczyk is a businessman.

Alston is a current member of the legislature.

Mendez is a current member of the legislature.

Andrade is a current member of the legislature.

Chavez is a current member of the legislature.

Teran is a current member of the legislature.

Riggs is mayor of Gila Bend.

Cobb is running for state treasurer.

Rogers is a current member of the legislature.  She's nuts.

Shope is a current member of the legislature.

Covid is swamping Phoenix hospitals

 From AZFamily (Phoenix channels 3 and5) -

'It's basically a war zone,' says Phoenix ER doc about slammed hospitals

Health care workers watching the pandemic from the frontlines have seen the COVID-19 numbers rise and more patients in need of care.

Dr. Arya Chowdhury is an independent contractor, so she works at several hospitals in the Phoenix area. "For literally the last six months, in certain facilities, I have been seeing patients in the waiting room, and sometimes, the waiting room is so full, there's not enough chairs for patients there, so they're standing," she said. 

From the Arizona Department of Health Services -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Ron DeSantis of Florida is missing while the number of Covid cases in FL soar

As bad as Doug Ducey is, at least he hasn't abandoned his post.  Yet.

Of course, his hesitation may be due to the fact that the next person up in Arizona's line of succession to the governorship is Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.

From The Independent (UK) -

‘Florida is on fire and Ron is missing’: DeSantis trolled by plane with banner accusing him of being AWOL

A campaign group seeking to unseat Florida governor Ron DeSantis has joined in the row over his recent absence from public view by flying a plane with a mocking banner over his state.

Launched by Remove Ron, which is led by an activist who has stalked Florida beaches during the pandemic dressed as the grim reaper, the plane’s banner reads “Florida is on fire and Ron is missing” – a reference to the governor’s near-disappearance in recent weeks.

From NBC News -

Florida Democrats blast 'MIA' Gov. Ron DeSantis as Covid cases surge

Gov. Ron DeSantis has been missing in action as Covid cases in the state have spiked to new heights, Florida Democratic officials charge.

"Counties are overwhelmed w/ lines that stretch for miles," state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, tweeted Thursday. "It's every man/woman for themselves, because leadership is MIA," he added.

Florida's line of succession includes mostly Republicans who could probably be counted on to continue DeSantis' depravity and lies about Covid, so I'm not sure why he didn't just have one of them act as governor.

From Spectrum Bay News 9 (a cable news outlet in Florida) -

From Alachua County (FL) -

I mean, a Lieutenant Governor's position exists exists only for one reason.

Why deprive an LG of the chance to be an Acting Governor?

Edited on 1/2/2022 to add:

From WPLG (FL) -

Florida reports 56,865 new COVID cases, positivity rate continues to soar

After days of record-breaking COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State, Florida reported 56,865 new cases on Saturday and the positivity rates in South Florida continue to soar.

According to the latest figures released, both Miami-Dade and Broward counties have positivity rates of 30%.