We predicted this would happen, but so soon?

A “statesman” has appeared in the daily’s editorial. The newspaper is obviously in full fret-mode over what could be an impending challenge to the old Maverick.

So far, the man they fear hasn’t even announced, but the sweat is dripping off the brow of both the editorial board and Arizona’s Señor Senator, Juan McCain.

He said, he said: Shadegg vs. Bloomberg

Arizona U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (CD-3) has apologized to New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg for this.

“I apologize for the insensitivity of my remarks with respect to the mayor or his family, however I think it is important to note that this decision involves potential risk to innocent people,” Shadegg said in a statement.

Politico’s full  report can be read here.

John Shadegg sole “present” vote on barring abortion funding

The American Spectator reports that the House just easily passed the Stupak amendment barring tax dollars from funding abortion, by a vote of 240 to 194. Arizona’s Congressman. John Shadegg (R-CD3) was the lone lawmaker voting “present.”

In the end, 64 Democrats voted for the measure. Assuming the health care bill passes tonight with the pro-life language, this creates a huge rift among Democrats. Pro-choicers will be pushing to have the language stripped in negotiations with the Senate, and if that happens, it will become difficult for pro-life Democrats to vote on the final reconciled bill. It won’t be easy for pro-life Democrats to go back to their districts and argue, “I voted against taxpayer funding for abortion before I voted for it.”

Planned Parenthood has condemned passage of the amendment in a statement, and promises, “In the coming weeks, Planned Parenthood will work with its allies in the Senate to ensure that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and those who oppose abortion do not once again hijack the legislative process in their ongoing campaign to make abortion illegal.”

Bottom line: What‘s up with the Shadegg vote?

They probably refused to sign his birthday card, too

September 28 marked the 2,560^th birthday of Chinese philosopher and religious leader Confucius, born in 551 BC.

Dan Nowicki, who follows Arizona’s congressional delegation for the daily, reports that last week two of our U.S. Representatives, John Shadegg (R-CD3) and Jeff Flake (R-CD 6), voted against House Resolution 784, which passed the House 361 – 47, nixing the celebratory mood.

True, the resolution was nowhere near the magnitude of this monstrosity, but then Flake was AWOL for this crucial piece of legislation which passed with a 219-212 vote.

A jaw dropper from McCain

Arizona’s Señor Sen. John McAmnesty has seemingly sprung to Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s defense, writing a letter to Homeland Security honcho Janet Napolitano, questioning why Arpaio’s authority to arrest illegal aliens was terminated.  Be wary.

Here ‘tiz:

October 16, 2009

 Secretary Janet Napolitano

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

Recent reports regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to standardize Memorandums of Agreements (MOAs) with participating 287(g) jurisdictions have raised several questions. The majority of 287(g) partnerships across the state of Arizona have proven effective and it is our hope they remain successful.

Please provide an explanation of the review process ICE undertook in determining the new agreements and the possible implications the streamlined agreements will have for 287(g) partners in Arizona. Please explain the reasons for the differing agreements among the six participating agencies within the state. In addition, please provide the rationale for terminating the Task Force Model in Maricopa County and the criteria that made the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office ineligible to continue in the Task Force Model.

Thank you in advance for your timely response to this inquiry.

McCain, it will be remembered, was an integral part of the triad of architects of the so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform – including Sen. Jon Kyl and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, that was nothing short of a means of granting amnesty to an estimated 22 + million illegally in the United States.

Here is McCain’s record on immigration related congressional votes, co-sponsorships, and other immigration actions throughout his Congressional career.

With such an out-of-character move, it appears McCain is concerned about a career-ending embarrassment if former Congressman and popular KFYI radio talk show host, J.D. Hayworth, decides to challenge him.

It’s déjà vu all over again

There were likely several neck cramps this past Sunday as readers scanning the newspaper did a swift double-take. For a moment, it appeared the cash-strapped daily was recycling last year‘s news.

Dan Nowicki, the Arizona Republic’s political columnist assigned to cover Sen. John McCain during his lackluster presidential campaign appeared to morph into a pit bull, sinking his teeth into former Congressman J.D. Hayworth’s leg.

Apparently he is still bonded to and fighting the battles of the man he tailed for the interminable campaign. Conservative Hayworth is now a radio talk-show host, with a loyal listener base urging him to mount a challenge to the liberal senator in 2010.

So where does this take Nowicki? Back to the side of McCain with a banner headline accusing Hayworth of nursing a grudge against an ex-McCain aide.

When there is little to provide readers except purchased news service feeds and celebrity fluff, this inane blow of hot air apparently was intended to fill the vacuum for local news.

This is the recent Time magazine article on what could be a match-up longed for by conservatives.

Jeff Flake: It wouldn’t be the first game he’s “adjusted to stay out of foul trouble”

Flake is the ideal Republican to play ball with Obama

A redo by an out-of-toucher

 As he attempts to shift the GOP to the left, the recent polling survey makes even more sense.

Amnesty advocates send demand letter to Obama

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus recently sent a letter to president Obama demanding the administration “immediately terminate” a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program known as 287(g), that has identified more than 120,000 illegal aliens  — many with criminal records — over the past three years.

The letter is signed by caucus leaders U.S. Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Jeff Flake’s D.C. pal, Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).  The GovTrackUS website lists Luis Gutierrez as a “Far Left” Democrat.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) commented on the Hispanic Caucus’s letter about 287(g), telling CNSNews: “This is just another ploy by amnesty advocates to open our borders and stop enforcing the rule of law. This program has been an effective tool in cracking down on illegal immigration and enforcing our laws. We should make it a nationwide effort instead of shutting it down.”

To date, the Memorandum of Agreement had been signed with 66 state and local law enforcement agencies in 23 states, with more than 1,000 officers trained and certified by ICE, according to DHS.

We urge you to read the CNSNews report here.

Rasmussen: 61% of AZ Republicans think McCain out of touch with party base

Although Arizona’s U.S. Sen. John McCain was the GOP’s presidential nominee in 2008, he’s always had a challenging relationship with the GOP’s base voters.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide survey finds that a whopping 61% of Arizona Republican voters think McCain has lost touch with those in his own party.

That’s up eleven points from 50% in May. More telling yet, only 33% of the Republican faithful in the state believe McCain has done a good job representing GOP values.

But without a viable candidate to challenge him, the outlook for replacing this liberal dinosaur appears gloomy.  Since his initial races, McCain has been fortunate to have little in the way of opposition.  How many voters have heard of Stuart Starky? The 8^th grade math teacher made the history books as a perennial Democrat candidate, but provided no alternative to the well-financed, attractive, returning injured vet held captive in Vietnam.  And so it has been.

William “Bill” Hegarty was the Democrat and Richard Dodge the Libertarian when McCain swept into the then-CD1 House seat in 1982. Harry Braun, III, was the unlucky Democrat to take him on in 1984.

By 1986 McCain was running for the U.S. Senate. There Richard Kimball was the Democrat touncee. Claire Sargent was the Democrat opponent 6 years later. In 1998 the Democrat was Ed Ranger. You get the picture. These names have been lost to history while McCain inexplicably continues to sail through the decades – while representing a more constricted portion of the party with each election.

What is needed is a candidate with gravitas, a loyal following, the ability to raise the necessary financing and a winning “story.”  Such a man will be beginning his weekday 4 – 7 PM radio program on 550 AM KFYI shortly.