Cactus flowers

by David Safier These were in my backyard this morning, on a cactus I stuck in the ground as a slip a few years back that had never flowered before. Those tropical-looking flowers are about five inches in diameter. That low performer turned out to be a late bloomer, kind of like some of my … Read more

Harper: Let the churches take care of you

by David SafierIt seems everyone including me missed a letter Sen. Jack Harper had in the Capitol Times March 6. But the Valley Interfaith Project revived, and reviled, it. Here is an excerpt from Harper's letter: "I do not speak for the entire Republican caucus, and certainly not the minority party, but I hope to … Read more

Banzai Brewer: I cannot let the state commit hara-kiri

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: When Jan Brewer was in the state legislature she was always good for a "crazy quote" in the local media (I encourage our media villagers to review their archive files for a "best of" series). Brewer was always shooting her mouth off with out-of-context references or outrageous statements that occasionally landed her … Read more

Judicial Temperament: another non-starter attack on Judge Sotomayor

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: One of the laugh out loud attacks on Judge Sonia Sotomayor from the right is examined in today's New York Times. Sotomayor’s Blunt Style Raises Issue of Temperament [T]o detractors, Judge Sotomayor’s sharp-tongued and occasionally combative manner — some lawyers have described her as “difficult” and “nasty” — raises questions about her … Read more

GOP budget battle: Of course you realize, this means war!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Like Jim Nintzel at the Tucson Weekly, I can't afford to subscribe to the Arizona Guardian, which is reporting that Gov. Jan Brewer is ready to unveil her own budget—and she's "preparing for war on the Legislature" with some kind of campaign blitz to persuade Republicans to support her. Brewer Ready to … Read more