Matt Gaetz is a tease

From The Hill -

Gaetz says he ‘will resign’ if Democrats help elect a moderate Republican for Speaker

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of the main opponents to House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) becoming Speaker, said Thursday that he “will resign” from Congress if Democrats help to elect a moderate Republican Speaker instead.

Fox News’s Laura Ingraham asked Gaetz in an interview if he would be alright with an outcome in which there’s “ultimately a deal” struck with moderate Democrats on a consensus candidate in exchange for some kind of co-control of House committees.

If any Democrat is seen as aiding and abetting the circular firing squad otherwise known as the House Republican caucus, that person will be forever tainted...if only for taking away a great source of entertainment from the rest of us.  The GOP tantrum is the best thing on C-SPAN right now.

Still...if he agrees to take Paul Gosar with him I'll advise him to not let the door hit him in the ass on the way out.

Kevin McCarthy, the man who desperately wants to be Speaker of the US House, has achieved one thing. Insanity.

Widely attributed to Albert Einstein (but possibly not said by him), the main quote is "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

Kevin McCarthy has crossed that threshold.

Actually, the only way that he even sees it is to look into his rear view mirror.

From Politico -

McCarthy fails on 11th ballot amid hopes for tentative deal with conservatives

Kevin McCarthy and his conservative opponents have reached a tentative breakthrough after a days-long standoff, giving the California Republican’s speaker bid a needed momentum boost.

Conservatives will get more time to look over the details after Republicans agreed to adjourn the House until noon on Friday. But it’s a sign of life for McCarthy, who has struggled to show public strength after three days of 11 speaker ballots that have seen him fail to flip any of his opponents.

After 11 ballots, it seems to be time for McCarthy to seek professional help.

The President goes bipartisan when honoring people who defended the Capitol and the country from Cheeto's machinations

I would NEVER vote for Rusty Bowers, but any who stands up to a bully who a wannabe tinhorn dictator gets a little admiration from me, and apparently, Joe Biden agrees.

From CNN -

First on CNN: Biden to honor 12 people with Presidential Citizens Medal on two-year anniversary of January 6 insurrection

President Joe Biden on Friday plans to mark the two-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection by awarding for the first time in his presidency the Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 people.

The individuals include law enforcement officers who were injured defending the Capitol, a Capitol Police officer who died the day after rioters stormed the building and election workers who rejected efforts by former President Donald Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

From ABC15 in Phoenix -

Arizona politician Rusty Bowers to receive Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House

Arizona politician Rusty Bowers is set to receive a Presidential Citizens Medal this week at the White House.

Bowers was the Arizona House Speaker during the 2020 election and "(resisted) pressure from those seeking to overturn the election results,” according to the White House.

The ceremony will take place at the White House on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.

The ABC15 article has a complete list of recipients.

The Lake platform can be summed up in one word. That one word? "Wahhh!"

From the Tucson Sentinel -

Kari Lake wants the Arizona Supreme Court to order a new election

But only for her race & only in Maricopa County

Kari Lake still wants a "redo" of the governor's race that she lost by more than 

17,000 votes, even after Katie Hobbs was sworn in as governor Monday.

Lake has called for the Arizona Court of Appeals or the Arizona Supreme 

Court to throw out the results of the governor's race and for a new election 

to be conducted — but only for her race in Maricopa County, according 

to court documents filed late last week.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled against Lake 

Dec. 24 in her initial election challenge.

Short Attention Span Musing

...Am I the only one who thinks that Congress-elect George Santos is the incoming Congress' version of Madison Cawthorn?  Just as creepy, but with even more baggage?  And not just US-based baggage?

...It's been popcorn-riffic to see Republican Kevin McCarthy's desperation to be Speaker of the US House of Representatives.  He's made a lot of concessions to the MAGA types in his caucus in order to gain the support, but at this point, he could offer to step into the well of the house chamber and publicly kiss the ass of each member of the GQP's "Freedom" Caucus, and many of them still wouldn't vote for him.

...USSC Chief Justice John Roberts is desperate, too.  Unlike McCarthy though, he's worried about the legacy of his court.

It's too late - his time as chief justice will be remembered with neither fondness nor respect.

Hobbs takes the reins as AZ governor. That works.

From AP via Yahoo! -

Democrat Katie Hobbs takes office as Arizona governor

Katie Hobbs took the oath of office Monday to become Arizona’s 24th governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2009.

Hobbs was sworn in during a private ceremony at the state Capitol as she formally took over from Republican Doug Ducey. A public inauguration for the governor and others taking statewide offices is scheduled for Thursday.

From KTAR

What's old is new again for the NRA

Found this in my email from ConservativeIntel, a conservative fundraising organization -

Appealing to fear is NOT a new tactic for the NRA, especially against Democrats.  And there's one in the White House now.

From CNBC

In 2012, they went after then-president Barack Obama.

From Billboard.  Not a pic of him as president, but I like the pic.

From Politifact, dated 6/15/2012 -

Is the NRA right that Obama is 'coming for our guns'?

[snip]

"The gun control debate is over," said Rick Wilson, a GOP political consultant. "We live in a country where guns are a fundamental part of mainstream American culture. The moment I saw that Walmart now sells AR-15s (a type of semi-automatic rifle), I knew the debate was over."

[snip]

In a new campaign mailer -- the contents of which we expect to be repeated in emails and at dinner tables -- the gun rights group is casting Obama as a gun control crusader who is "coming for our guns."

In 2000, they went after then-president Bill Clinton.

From The White House

From CBS, dated 3/15/2000 -

NRA Targets Clinton

In televised ads and media interviews, the National Rifle Association has launched an all out attack on the Clinton administration as the president lobbies for more extensive gun laws in the wake of recent shootings.

But as CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart reports, that's not just hot smoke and insults the NRA is blowing at President Clinton. It's a tried and true political strategy.

In the past week, the president has blamed the NRA for influencing lawmakers to stall gun control reforms, and the rifle association has accused the president of dragging his feet on enforcing existing gun laws. Then the gun group charged the president tolerated gun violence for political advantage.

Observers say the strategy looks familiar.

Every time there's a school shooting or mass killing, Clinton urges passage of new gun control laws. And every time—in order to deflect from the carnage, say some observers—you can count on the NRA to attack Clinton.

In 2016, they went after then-presidential candidate (and former US Senator and Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton.

From the National Women's History Museum

From US News and World Report, dated 9/22/2016 -

NRA Ad: Hillary Clinton Could Get Rid of Your Guns

A new advertisement from the National Rifle Association asserts that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will take away people's right to self-defense via firearm.

The ad, which runs for 30 seconds, features a woman in bed hearing the sound of breaking glass in her house and leaping up to call 911.

“She’ll call 911," a narrator says. "Average response time: 11 minutes. Too late.”

The woman reaches for a safe and inputs the code to get out a handgun, but then the safe and the gun disappear.

“She keeps a firearm in this safe for protection. But Hillary Clinton could take away her right to self-defense,” the narrator explains. “And with Supreme Court justices, Hillary can.”

It's been said that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

The NRA is *very* consistent.

Taking out the trash/Friday newsdump: Az Supes side with the AZ Legislature against society

[start sarcasm]

I'm as shocked as I know you are.

[/end sarcasm]

On Friday, December 30, the justices on the Arizona Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision (justices Brutinel and Bolick recusing) upholding a decision by the Maricopa County Superior court, one overturned by the Arizona Court of Appeals, that summarily dismissed a 2019 lawsuit by some nonprofits against the Arizona Legislature.

From the decision by the supes -

Yes, they're ruling that (alleged) public servants acting in a manner that is contemptuous of the public constitutes a "nonjusticiable political question".

If this were football, that would be called "punting the ball away"...if the special teams unit for society and the officials for society were helping the other team.

The opinion by the AZ Supes is here.

The case number in Maricopa County Superior Court is CV2019-014945.  The case history page is here.

The opinion forom the AZ Court of Appeals is here.

The 2023 session of the AZ Legislature will be dominated by culture war attacks, but that shouldn't distract folks from attacks on societal infrastructure

They've already indicated that everything will be under attack; their culture war stuff will get most of the attention, but some of the more mundane stuff will be just as devastating to society.

First up: some culture war stuff -

Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Cathi Herrod's water carrier) has already introduced SB1001, a bill, which, if passed, would bar school district employees and/or school district contractors from referring to a student by their preferred gender pronouns if said pronouns differ from the student's publicly apparent physical gender.

But don't fall asleep on the pro-corporate/anti-society stuff -

Rep. David Livingston has already introduced HB2003, which, if passed, would reduce corporate income tax rates by almost 50%..

Hang on folks.

Legislatively, 2023 is going to be a bumpy ride.

A Christmas tale of two presidents

Pointed at this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

I think Cheeto's handlers should do two things -

1 Take his phone away; if he can't post, he can't post ugly things.

2. Put him on a peanut butter and crackers diet with any water he needs admistered by IV; if he can't talk, he can't say ugly things.

AZ political predictions

 This is completely tongue-in-cheek (except for the parts that come true).  And mostly lege-oriented. :)

January -

Governor Katie Hobbs takes her oath of office with a speech filled with words and phrases like "cooperation" and "best interests of Arizona".

The Rs in the AZ legislature, led by House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen, respond with only "wanna bet?"

In one of her first acts as governor, Hobbs calls the legislature into a special session to address the aggregate expenditure limit looming over public ed.

The measure fails on a party line vote as the Rs in the legislature are upset it doesn't give more money to vouchers.

Kari Lake sues to overturn the 2022 election results.  She is represented by a reasonably reputable attorney.

Her lawsuit fails.

Kelli Ward is deposed as chair of the AZGOP.  Guess losing an election or two bothers R PCs more than being a party to treason.

February -

There's a riot in a bingo hall in Oro Valley when a caller refuses to award a Bingo designation to someone who doesn't have one.  Mark Finchem says he wasn't there, but photographic evidence says otherwise.

Abe Hamedeh sues again to overturn the 2022 results.

The lawsuit fails.

March - 

Sen. John Kavanagh runs a bill allowing police officers to kill anyone they want for any reason they want.....so long as they don't kill rich people or white trumpkins.

It passes the legislature on a party line vote.  

Governor Hobbs vetoes it.

Cheeto appears at a rally in Cochise County.  It's well attended.  He and his hangers-on inflate the figures anyway.

Kari Lake sues to overturn the 2022 election results.  She is represented by a reasonably astute attorney who waits until the retainer check clears before going forward.

Her lawsuit fails.

April -

Sen. Wendy Rogers runs a bill changing voting eligibility so that only retired Christian Dominionists living in counties with fewer than 500,000 people in them can vote.

It passes the legislature on a party line vote.  Governor Hobbs vetoes it.

With that, Hobbs sets the record for number of measures vetoed by a governor.

Incensed by the veto, Rogers runs a proposal to change the state constitution.  If passed by the voters, it would bar governors from vetoing measures supported by Republicans.

It passes the legislature on a party line vote.

Changing things up, Kari Lake sues to overturn the 2020 election results.  She is represented by a reasonably reputable attorney.

Her lawsuit fails.

May -

The lege has entered it's silly season, aka - hurry up and wait season, aka2 - there's no budget but the lege is still in session.  And their boredom, and contempt for democracy, shows.

Rep. Leo Biasucci runs a bill barring Attorneys General from indicting or charging Republicans.

It passes the legislature on a party line vote.  Governor Hobbs vetoes it

Sen. Sonny Borrelli runs a bill barring Arizona SOS' from certifying any election results that the majority in the lege doesn't like.

It passes the legislature on a party line vote.  Governor Hobbs vetoes it.

Abe Hamedeh sues again.

And fails again.

June -

The lege, in the persons of Toma and Petersen, announces that budget deal has been reached and that it solves the aggregate expenditure limit issue.

By taking all of the state's education funding and giving it to private and charter schools.

And then they adjourn the lege sine die and get out of town before Hobbs, or anyone else, can say anything.

Governor Hobbs addresses that by using her line item veto power and calling back the lege into a special session.

When certain legislators make noises about not returning to Phoenix, Hobbs makes noise about sending DPS officers to retrieve them.

Since being in Phoenix in the summer beats being in a jail cell, the recalcitrant legislators return.

July -

And the parade begins.

One of the downsides of Arizona becoming a battleground state will be incessant trips by famous (and not-so-famous) Republicans looking for the 2024 nomination for President (and if Joe Biden gives any indication that he's not running for re-election, it'll be Democrats, too).  2024 will start in 2023 here.

August -

The Biden Administration announces the release of a vaccine for cancer that's 99% effective, one that will be named after Anthony Fauci.

Rs and other anti-vaxxers denounce the vaccine as an unscientific plot by Big Brother to control their lives and proudly refuse to take it.

Cheeto tells them to drink Laetrile-laced Kool-Aid, and it will cure the cancer,.  He'll claim that it's more effective than hydroxychloroquine.

But first, they should send him some money

Cheeto's followers die in droves, but he gets wealthier.

September -

Kari Lake sues to overturn the 2022 election results.  She is represented by an attorney who obtained a law degree from a crane game in a convenience store.

Her lawsuit fails.

October -

Kelli Ward announces her candidacy for the U.S Senate seat that will be on AZ's ballot in 2024.

She wants the support of crazies and others of Cheeto's rubes to coalesce around her.

November -

Cheeto makes another appearance, this time in Mohave County. This one is sparsely attended.

The next day, he cries "Fraud!" and ends his candidacy.

December -

The Rs in the legislature, in preparation for an election year session in 2024, sharpen their pitchforks and pour kerosene on their stakes...errr..."prepare their book bans and anti-LBGTQ legislation".

Kari Lake sues to overturn the 2022 election results.  She is represented by an attorney who obtained a law degree from Trump University.

Her lawsuit fails.

Hey! Fox News affiliates! Need a snowflake for your meteorological team? Found one!

And she used to work for you!

From The Hill, dated 12/18 -

Kari Lake calls for imprisoning Maricopa County election officials

Defeated Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake called for Maricopa County election officials to be “locked up” on Sunday as Lake gears up to contest her opponent’s certified victory in court hearings this week.

Speaking to a crowd of young conservatives at Turning Point USA’s America Fest, Lake discussed her election contest at length, repeating unproven allegations about both the 2020 presidential election and Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs’s (D) victory last month.

From Business Insider, dated 11/13 -

Andy Biggs, joining David Schweikert, with his acts being considered by the House Ethics Committee

From KJZZ, written by Ron Dungan -

House Jan. 6 panel recommends ethics investigation for Rep. Biggs

The House Jan. 6 committee has urged the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for the Capitol insurrection.

It also recommended ethics investigations for a handful of lawmakers, including Arizona’s Andy Biggs.

The committee issued subpoenas against Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and three other GOP lawmakers — all of whom refused to comply.

At least Schweikert's violations fell under the heading of "conventionally corrupt."

Not sure what heading covers aiding and abetting treason.

Shipping containers as shelters for the homeless? Betcha I know where there are a few serving no good purpose.

First, from 12 News, dated 12/16 -

Shipping container homeless shelter plan approved by Phoenix City Council

Refurbished shipping containers will be turned into shelter units in the City of Phoenix after the Council approved a plan on Wednesday.

The $3 million contract with Steel & Spark LLC will create private units on a city-owned lot near 22nd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road that will house 80 individuals or family units in ‘X’ shape pods of four 40-foot-tall containers.

I know where Doug Ducey has left some.

From The Guardian (UK). dated 12/11 -

Arizona governor builds border wall of shipping crates in final days of office

A makeshift new barrier built with shipping containers is being illegally erected along part of the US-Mexico border by Arizona’s Republican governor – before he has to hand over the keys of his office to his Democratic successor in January.

Doug Ducey is driving a project that is placing double-stacked old shipping containers through several miles of national forest, attempting to fill gaps in Donald Trump’s intermittent border fencing.

His successor, Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, doesn't support Ducey's scheme.

From the Ahwatukee Foothills News, written by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, dated 12/16 -

Hobbs vows to stop shipping container border wall

Incoming Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to halt any further work on building a wall of storage containers on the state’s southern border.

“It’s not our land to put things on,’’ she told Capitol Media Services.

Hobbs said this isn’t just a matter of the state acting illegally. She said the maneuver by lame-duck Gov. Doug Ducey in August to put a double-high wall of containers along stretches of the border after incoming President Joe Biden halted the wall being built by former President Trump makes no sense.

Neither do the Feds.  Not hardly.

From AP, via NPR, dated 12/15 (emphasis added by me) -

The U.S. is suing Arizona over shipping containers on the border with Mexico

The U.S. government sued Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the state Wednesday over the placement of shipping containers as a barrier on the border with Mexico, saying it is trespassing on federal lands.

The complaint filed in U.S. District Court comes three weeks before the Republican governor steps aside for Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs, who has said she opposes the construction.

Ducey told U.S. officials earlier this week that Arizona is ready to help remove the containers, which he says were placed as a temporary barrier. But he wants the U.S. government to say when it will fill any remaining gaps in the permanent border wall as it announced it would a year ago.

Maybe Ducey should set a good example by calling a special session of the legislature in order to fix the aggregate expenditure limit looming over public education, as he promised he would.

But won't.

Alas, poor Mark Finchem. A failure not once, not twice, but thrice

First, his efforts in an insurrection failed.

From The AZ Mirror -

Mark Finchem was much closer to the Jan. 6 insurrection than he claimed

 Rep. Mark Finchem walks through the crowd right in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after rioters had overtaken police and stormed the building. Finchem has said for months that he never got within 500 yards of the Capitol, but these images show he was much closer than that. Screencaps via Getty Images | Edited by Nick Martin/The Informant

Newly discovered footage taken during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot shows Arizona GOP legislator Mark Finchem was much closer to the day’s violence than he has previously claimed. 

Finchem has insisted that he never got within 500 yards of the Capitol building, but Getty footage of the failed attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election that was recently discovered by activists on Twitter shows Finchem walking directly in front of the east steps at the Capitol after pro-Trump rioters had already broken through a series of barricades and police lines, and then smashed their way into the Capitol building

Then his efforts at an election failed.

From the website of the Arizona Secretary of State -

Finally, his efforts in court failed.

From NBC News -

Arizona judge dismisses Finchem’s election challenge in secretary of state race

An Arizona judge on Friday dismissed Republican Mark Finchem's lawsuit seeking a new secretary of state election after he lost the race in November to Democrat Adrian Fontes.

In her ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian dismissed Finchem’s lawsuit against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, and Fontes, confirming Fontes' election win.

The case number in question is CV2022-053927.