2014 March Badness AZ Edition: Second Round

By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings

And then there were eight…

Even though the calendar has turned to April, the AZ edition of the March Badness tourney continues.

We’ve reached the part of the tourney were there are not going to be any real “upsets” as anyone who is left has the “Badness” credentials necessary to go all the way.  Some just need the right matchups.

The latest results:

Summaries:

Lafaro over Biggs – Biggs had innate meanness on his side, but that was no match for Lafaro’s focused battiness.  The contest was close well into the 2nd half until Lafaro pulled away when he called Biggs “Judas Junior” for failing to block Medicaid restoration, with his dead body if necessary.

Huppenthal over Kavanagh – Kavanagh started off strong, raining bombs like the $900K gift to a private prison operator he put into this year’s budget, but the seemingly teflon-skinned Huppenthal merely shrugged them off, cruising to a comfortable victory.

Melvin over Herrod – A close one, Herrod was close until Melvin defended his ties to a white supremacist.  For the first time in her many years as a “mover and shaker” in AZ politics, even Herrod was stunned into silence, giving Melvin an opening, on that he never relinquished.

Shooter over Brown – The heavy (and varied) experience advantage held by Shooter stood him in good stead as he simply overwhelmed the game upstart Brown.

Thomas over Burges – Both “danced with what brung ’em” to the big dance, and Thomas’ “I may be disbarred, but I’m still a viable candidate for governor” beat Burges’ cry of “Birther!”.

DiCiccio over Townsend – DiCiccio just kept rolling along, using his smarm and sleaze to land body blows to Townsend’s enthusiastic but rote nuttery.

Murphy over Yarbrough – Both are noted for proposing self-serving legislation, but Yarbrough’s money bombs to himself (expanding school tuition tax credits) couldn’t hold a candle to Murphy’s attacks on CPS for that agency having the audacity to investigate sex abuse allegations lodged against him by foster children placed in his care.  Ultimately, no charges were filed, but Murphy has been lobbing warning shots CPS’ way all session.

Horne over Yee – Horne may not have been disbarred (like Thomas, above), but his ethical “challenges” as Arizona’s attorney general easily trumped the anti-medical marijuana and anti-choice epistles (aka – “legislation”) proposed by Yee.  With his increasing age and shrinking likelihood of winning reelection, this may be Horne’s last go-round, but if it is, he isn’t going to fade away quietly.