Rep. Ben Quayle hits the comedy circuit: Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner

Real Clear Politics provides the video from last night’s Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner.

The attendees supply the polite tittering as AZ CD 3 Rep. Ben Quayle attempts to tickle the funny bones of Anthony Weiner, Eliot Spitzer, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and other high power politicians.

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AZ Republic: Buying ink by the barrel provides power to destroy

You remember the scenario. A frustrated teacher wrote a letter to AZ Senate President Russell Pearce (R-Dist.18) detailing the belligerence he encountered in his Glendale classroom and describing with specificity the attitudes of the 8^th grade students to whom he was trying to teach history and language arts.

Sen. Pearce passed the letter on. The incident culminated with Sen. Lori Klein (R-Dist.6) reading it aloud (video link) in the legislative chamber on March 17.

Now we witness the result of substitute teacher Anthony Hill’s letter. If you are thinking that the students at the low-performing Harold W. Smith Elementary School were reprimanded, you’d be wrong.

The students aren’t under fire.  It is the teacher.

For daring to expose the flagrant behavior of many in the class, his personal martial discord leading up to and including allegations made by his wife during their 2007 separation, are now spread across the newspaper.

The agendized Arizona Republic, in close collaboration with legislative Democrats, is now trying to remove Hill’s ability to earn a living. Sen. Steve Gallardo (D-Dist13) publicly questioned the wisdom of using the letter in “light of Hill’s background.”

The newspaper’s tried and true retribution tactic is underway with numerous articles attacking the man’s credibility. Now it wants his earning power reined in.

Hill’s scholastically disinterested students have learned something. They’ve been exposed to powerful lessons about how those with agendas will rally to protect their system rather than ensure excellence in education. They’ve learned that under-achieving students are rewarded for defying authority. And they’ve been given a front row seat watching the erosion of the Mr. Hill’s First Amendment freedoms.

AZ’s Fiesta Bowl scandal: Grant Woods merits his own “woody award”

Amid allegations of serious misconduct within the highest ranks of Arizona’s Fiesta Bowl — leading up to yesterday’s firing of longtime CEO John Junker and resignations of other top ranking officials — what a surprise to find the arrogant Grant Woods‘ head peeking out above the fold of today‘s daily.

The newspaper reports reveal details of an ongoing investigation of alleged contract irregularities, lavish spending, political campaign finance violations — including reimbursements for employee donations which were then concealed — and other financial misconduct. The New York Times coverage is here, unequivocally acknowledging the breadth of these actions.

The complete 276 page report can be read here courtesy of the AZ Republic.

The Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors faces an ongoing investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s office into the campaign contribution scheme, which threatens to put its nonprofit status at risk of being revoked.

Grant Woods, a former Arizona Attorney General and onetime John McCain Chief of Staff was hired by the board to conduct an investigation into suspected irregularities in 2009. Woods, in turn, hired as his assistant, Gary Husk, a lobbyist who had been working for the bowl and who, investigators now say,  played a key role in collecting political contributions from employees. Husk was a congressional candidate in 1994, soundly defeated by J.D. Hayworth.

Woods’ examination reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing.  Odd, given that misconduct was rampant. He paid Husk $20,000 for his assistance with the probe.

Renegade Woods is seen here giving one of his “Woody” awards.  He should be crafting one for himself right about now.

PAChyderm Coalition: Newly released legislator ratings

The PAChyderm Coalition, a Reagan Republican organization, has just released its latest cumulative evaluations of legislators. 

This list reflects legislative actions as of 3/25/2011. It was last updated 3/29/2011. Scroll down to see the bills used in the evaluations and the summary of criteria used to weight bills.

Howard Levine’s narrative follows:

There was some movement in the ratings as a few more votes have been taken. We are in the process of reviewing amended bills. As always, we are always interested in feedback from fellow Republicans. We especially welcome information concerning bill amendments that you think should affect the weight assigned to a bill.

Scroll down to see the bills used in the evaluations and the summary of criteria used to weight bills.

Oops — Jeff Flake’s crown slips as he sinks to mere McPolitician

The Arizona Republic is editorially sputtering out of control today. Jeff Flake has fallen from grace as the newspaper’s anointed amnesty advocate since declaring his candidacy for the soon to be vacant U.S. Senate seat. Editorialist Doug MacEachern calls Flake’s change of heart on legalizing millions of illegal aliens “jarring.”

As John McCain’s comprehensive immigration reform/amnesty co-author Jon Kyl bids adieu to the senate, political observers agreed that the loosey-goosey, pro-amnesty Flake would win the newspaper’s heart. Today the dejected MacEachern referred to Flake’s previous appeal, now irretrievably tarnished, as exemplifying the “patron saint of unlikely causes.”

Imagine our surprise as the Republic declares Flake to be a mere “politician” — no longer a “statesman” — for emulating John McCain’s campaign border epiphany during his last senatorial campaign.

In his failed presidential bid, McCain hired the preeminent extremist, open borders proponent Juan “Mexico First” Hernandez, as his Hispanic Outreach director and made amnesty promises to the radical racist group La Raza. Then as a panicky senatorial candidate, he backtracked to border hawk and suddenly the salty tongued McCain wanted to “complete the danged fence.”

Jeff Flake, who has  made a career of his opposition to costly congressional earmarks, has never explained his bonding to the costliest of measures as he partnered with far-left liberal Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez on  the STRIVE Act — granting tuition and other taxpayer funded benefits — while gifting amnesty for illegal aliens living in our country. STRIVE and the nightmarish DREAM Act were both applauded by La Raza.

Jeff Flake’s politically expedient reversal on border policy exposes him as McCain‘s astute protegé.

Obama hauls out American exceptionalism — when it suits his purposes

In 2009, while attending the European summit of the Group of 20 major economic countries, President Obama was asked if he believed in American exceptionalism. He blithely responded, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”

Fast forward to this address on Libya yesterday:

“For generations, the United States of America has played a unique role as an anchor of global security and as an advocate for human freedom. Mindful of the risks and costs of military action, we are naturally reluctant to use force to solve the world’s many challenges. But when our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act.” (1 min. 29 secs)

Now it sounds as though Obama is embracing that exceptionalism he was never previously able to detect in attempting to make his case for U.S. involvement in Libya.

The border charade continues

WorldNetDaily exposes the farce that masquerades as border security from the highest levels — the White House. The article carries the catchy name: “Hey Arizona! Obama ‘committed’ to immigration law enforcement.”

Although the Arizona Republic went to great lengths in a front page story to report “Push by states for migrant laws fades,’ facts are stubborn things. Here even the slanted mainstream media outlet ABC News concedes that additional states want more stringent laws dealing with the mammoth and costly problems associated with illegal immigration. The skewed language provides clear evidence of the press’ discontent, as claims of inroads by the pro-illegal labor force business community are given prominence. But the law they repeatedly refer to as “controversial” has sired many replicas. 

States across the nation enacted a record number of bills and resolutions dealing with issues related to the illegal onslaught during the 2010 session. Each and very state meeting in regular session in considered such laws, according to this National Conference of State Legislatures report. Forty-six state legislatures and the District of Columbia passed 208 laws and adopted 138 resolutions for a total of 346.

Here in Arizona we recently encountered a pathetic group of state legislative defectors, looking towards financing their reelection campaigns, with hopes of gaining the lucrative financial support of the Chamber of Commerce members.

The newspaper quotes Muzaffar Chishti, who is identified as a lawyer who monitors state and local immigration laws for the [supposedly] nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute (MPI). “Finally, business has started talking,” he boasts. He’s right in one regard. Holding the purse strings that fund campaigns, they talk the green language of money.

If this group actually had a unbiased stance, it would not lump the illegal invasion of our country under the word “immigration,” which implies legally immigrating.  For example, one article promotes “providing legal pathways for low-skilled workers,” while another wrings its hands over diaspora advocacy.” We’ve warned about the newest class of refugees seeking political asylum.  They won’t be known as “illegal” anymore. This was the ruse used to gain legal status by Barack Obama’s illegal Kenyan aunt — who although twice ordered deported, was living in public subsided housing in Boston for years.

The MPI website used to bolster the Republic’s biased coverage is also sated with misleading and distorted articles.

What a surprise!

Sen. Adam Driggs such a jokester: Favors chairs wearing robes

In a ridiculously skewed article in which the newspaper vents its fears of the legislature “politicizing” Arizona’s judicial selection system, the takeaway is this peculiar quote from state Sen. Adam Driggs (R-Dist.11):

“The goal is: How do we get the best judge in that chair with the robe on?”

Driggs, a lawyer, is a member of the senate judiciary committee. He was one of the turncoat Republicans who voted with the Democrats on all five bills addressing the continued illegal invasion of our state by foreign nationals routinely breeching the porous southern border. 

It might seem a lawyer would have a better command of the English language. But Driggs’ legal specialty is immigration law and he highlights his proficiency in Portuguese and Spanish on his business website. It’s a good bet his immigration practice isn’t geared to assisting those who are legally immigrating using the orderly and legal process the United States generously provides.

That Adam Driggs opposes transparency and the party’s grassroots organization is bad enough. But being unable to articulate his inane vantage point makes his comment the joke of the week.

Sen. Kyl and the company he keeps

The daily benignly notes that federal Judge Mary Murguia was formally sworn in as the newest member of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday. The ceremony was held for Judge Murguia at the federal courthouse in Phoenix.

Among those in attendance were U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Arizona’s liberal former governor who says with a straight face, “Our border has never been more secure.”

Murguia was nominated to the appellate bench by President Barack Obama, an amnesty proponent.

The judge’s twin sister, Janet Murguia, is the President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza* — “the Race,” a group whose two-sentence motto is chilling to everyone who values equal rights for all: “For The Race everything. Outside The Race, nothing.” Extreme leftist advocacy runs in the family. Their brother Carlos Murguia is a Kansas-based U.S. District Court Judge, appointed by Bill Clinton.

How does Sen. Jon Kyl fit into this alliance?

The link* is an article written by former U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA). Rep. Norwood, a conservative who died in 2007, was a practicing dentist prior to entering congress and attained the rank of Captain in the U. S. Army.

Great Britain: Cutting off nanny spigot enrages unions, anarchists

A mammoth crowd estimated at near 500,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, NHS workers, other public sector employees, students and pensioners from across the UK took to the streets of central London today in a violence-laced demonstration where union officials condemned “brutal” cuts in jobs and services, the UK Independent reports. At issue is privatizing the unsustainable, publicly funded National Health Service. The London Telegraph has shocking, live video coverage here as thugs lit street fires, took over stores and shops including the venerable Fortnum & Mason (in business since 1707), and smashed the windows of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

We’ve witnessed mob mentality in Wisconsin, where the tap has run dry, but the dependants are demanding more.

Let’s hope Barack Obama can tear himself away from his endless vacations, golf soirees and college basketball to pay attention.  Socialized ObamaCare is also fiscally unsustainable. And make no mistake, government panels will mandate compulsory age and risk-based cost consideration restrictions on medical care. Obama health care advisor, Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D. wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association, about trimming costs by cutting back what he termed the “overutilization of health care.”

This parable defines the issue of government dependency:  Years ago a wise farmer noticed that wild pigs roamed freely in the woods adjacent to his farm. “If I could just capture some of those wild pigs, I could fatten them up and reap financial rewards,” he told his neighbor.  But the neighbor scoffed, “Those pigs are wild animals, clever in fending for themselves. You can never round them up.”

The wild pigs were suspicious of any advances by the farmer. However, the farmer was a very patient man, and knew the rewards would be great if he was able to gain their trust. The farmer set out with his plan to tame the beasts.

His plan evolved. Each day he took corn and tossed it in the woods where the pigs could safely feast under the cover of darkness. Gradually, as the pigs grew less cautious, the farmer scattered the corn in a pasture located nearer the farmhouse. Then he set about hammering in fence posts around one side of the pasture. That night, the pigs noticed the posts with some curiosity but were eager to dig into the big pile of corn the farmer had left them. A few nights later, they noticed more posts had been erected. At last, the farmer attached wire to the posts around the perimeter but the corn inside was so enticing and delicious that they gobbled it up as they had gotten used to doing, setting aside any apprehension they had about the fence.

Finally, the pigs noticed there was a fence around the entire pasture with a wide and welcoming gate, swung open and leading to where the sweet corn was piled high. Although a few pigs were suspicious and refused to enter the gate,  the more fearless ones entered the enclosure. After several nights when no harm came to them, the others decided to join in the banquet and gorged to their delight, as pigs do.

Finally one night as the pigs were busy feeding, the farmer quietly walked up to the gate, closed and locked it.

So it is with reliance on government to meet our basic needs. The trap is set.  We simply have to anticipate the gate swinging shut on us.