Posted by AzBlueMeanie: One by one, Republican senators have been breaking ranks with their Senate leadership — Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl — and announcing their support for the New START treaty. A vote to invoke cloture of debate passed today by the critical two-thirds vote that will be needed for final passage, 67-28. New arms treaty … Read more

by David Safier Q: How much does an 800 pound gorilla charge for access? A: Anything he wants. In Russell Pearce's case, the charge for access — for now, anyway — is $250 a head. That's the cost of attending a fundraising event January 7. Of course, that's only the suggested donation. Anyone can give … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: How is it possible that Sen. Tom Coburn is a medical doctor? This is the same guy who told a weeping woman, obviously emotionally exhausted from being a home health care provider for her husband who suffered a traumatic brain injury, during a health care town hall that her neighbors should help … Read more

by Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings Confirming something that was already widely expected, as a result of the 2010 Census Arizona will gain a 9th seat in the U.S. Congress. The new apportionment map is here (state numbers only; actual districts will be mapped out in the coming year.) Having 9 seats in the … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: On Friday, the attorneys general of Arizona and Nevada filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, accusing it of engaging in “widespread fraud” by misleading customers with “false promises” about their eligibility for modifications on their home mortgages. Arizona and Nevada Accuse Bank of America of Fraud – NYTimes.com: In withering complaints … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Last week when Sen. John McCain was yucking it up on the Senate floor about killing the omnibus spending bill, ostensibly because it contained "budget-busting" earmarks (actually less than 1% of the omnibus spending bill), much of the mainstream media's infatuation with this bogus earmarks crusade over the years led them to … Read more

By Brett Hunt, posted upon request of the Truman National Security Project Senator Kyl continues to delay the New START arms pact with Russia, even though it has the unanimous backing of the uniformed military leadership, every living Secretary of State, and even former President George H.W. Bush.   Because of this delay, the treaty has … Read more