Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The problem with political reporters is that they are, well, reporters. Their job is to take a snapshot in time and to describe the picture. It is superficial, there is no depth of understanding the picture they describe. And their reference point is always backwards looking – "this is similar to" analysis, rather … Read more

by David Safier In 2010 I wrote close to 30 posts about headlines in the Star. Three of the posts were non-negative. The rest inspired me to coin the term, Star's Creative Headline Writing Team. They ranged from slap-your-forehead annoying to bang-your-fists-on-the-table infuriating. I've chosen five-plus-one headlines. OK, it's six total, but the last one … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: During his press conference last week, President Obama spoke eloquently of his disappointment over the failure of the Senate to pass the DREAM Act — due to the betrayal by five conservadem senators who voted against cloture — the votes were there for final passage of the bill. After the press conference, Republicans … Read more

by Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings Culled from an Arizona Republic article written by Alia Beard Rau.  The House and Senate schedule/deadline memos aren't posted yet, but when available, they'll be posted on the legislature's website. Commentary, some snarky, some not, added by me for educational and entertainment value. Some of the scheduled upcoming events … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Republic on Sunday published an Associated Press "analysis" by Nancy Benac and Calvin Woodward that it recaptioned President faced a difficult year. This AP "analysis" has been published around the country since December 20 under this caption, Obama's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year – Fox Nation, taken from … Read more

by David Safier Maybe I missed something. Did the November elections wipe out the entire Democratic presence in Arizona? Or is there a clause in SB1070 saying illegal immigrants Democrats must be ignored until all of them are shipped out of the state? I ask because Howie Fischer, who, due to budget cuts at the … Read more

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Just in time for Christmas, Paul Krugman writes about The Humbug Express: Hey, has anyone noticed that “A Christmas Carol” is a dangerous leftist tract? I mean, consider the scene, early in the book, where Ebenezer Scrooge rightly refuses to contribute to a poverty relief fund. “I’m opposed to giving people money … Read more