Kelly Townsend, candidate for LD22 GOP legislator, as well as owner and founder of Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots has been the focus of some troubling ethical questions due in part, to her website.  Kelly, along with the 912 Tea Party Project Pinal County co-owners with Sassia Niederste-Hollenberg , Stephen (a candidate for Casa Grande School Board)and Melinda Kohut, have acted in ways that contradict the Glenn Beck’s 9 Principles and 12 Values prominently featured on the Pinal County website.

          On these two websites, some of the most incredible blogging activity has occurred over the past six months since JD Hayworth announced his candidacy for Arizona’s US Senate seat in Congress.  It has culminated over the past three weeks with some phenomenal attacks on numerous tea parties in our state, a blog post by a Senate candidate’s wife calling an avowed racist JD Hayworth’s “best friend’ and discovery that one of Jim Deakin’s strongest supporters, and wife of the co-owner of a Pinal County TPP website, pretending to be interested in endorsing a candidate.  Lastly we’ve discovered the completely duplicitous and hypocritical actions by two Tea Party websites and their owners.

           Beginning last April there was growing group Tea Party groups who started working together to form a coalition of Tea Parties for creating resources, sharing ideas and providing a stronger voice in Arizona.  While there was considerable difference as to the shape and form of this coalition, there was complete unanimity in recognizing the need for such an organization.  One of the key issues that developed was the recognition to determine a legal way to endorse candidates.  This culminated on August 2^nd, with a group of 16 statewide and national groups endorsing JD Hayworth for US Senate as the Tea Party candidate.  You would have thought all hell broke loose among Jim Deakin’s supporters, both on the blogs and in Deakin’s campaign.  Jim and his wife Adonia began making posts, attacking all this coalition, calling them “Fake Tea Parties”.  Also Deakin sycophants began making accusations of law violations and threats to file complaints with the Federal Elections Commission.

          One such supporter, Stephen Kohut, co-owner of the 912 Tea Party Project of Pinal County website, has been extremely vociferous, threatening to file complaints with the FEC.  So outspoken has Stephen been speaking out, that you’d almost forget that, at least according to his own words, Kohut did not ‘make up my mind’ until after the July 16-17^th, debates.  Stephen claimed on various Tea Party websites and in his voluminous comments on Sonoran Alliance that he was “undecided” as to his choice for the US Senate.  Kohut EVEN claimed that while his wife Melinda had decided to support Deakin, even contributing $500 to his campaign, he remained “undecided”. Yes, and I have oceanfront property in Quartzite, Arizona for bargain prices!

          With Deakin’s utter failure to garner any Tea Party endorsements, Jim has taken to condemning those Tea Parties who have endorsed JD Hayworth.  This is where it gets interesting.  Kelly Townsend’s Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots is a 501(c)4 organization, hence cannot endorse any candidates.  Also, Sassia Niederste-Hollenberg and Stephen Kohut’s 912 Project Pinal County Tea Party Patriots “claims” to be a 501(c)4 group.  ‘Claims’ is the operative word; for last March when I questioned them about a video of some Massachusetts independent ‘endorsing’ Jim Deakin prominently on their front page, and I then repeated my concerns with another question, they suspended me from the website!  Stephen recently called my questioning, “cyber-intimidation”.  Yet, since they weren’t even a 501(c)4 group, my question was irrelevant, EXCEPT they claimed then and now to be a 501(c)4 group!  Why would they make such false statements?

          Here are the facts: when I recently checked the AZ Corporation Commission’s listing of corporations, there was nothing for Kohut’s group at the time.  NOT until May 7^th did a reservation for a group, “Pinal County Tea Party Patriots” appear, reserved by Melinda “Mindy” Kohut.  The reservation expires on September 5^th and to date there appears that no corporation exists.  Then on June 8^th, Kelly Townsend filed for a registration of trade name for “Pinal 912 Tea Party Patriots”; thereby intertwining the two Tea Party groups completely together.  Yet they use their websites to take a cheap shot at the Tea Party groups that endorse candidates.

          Both websites and the Tea Party groups’ leaders, Townsend, Sassia and the Kohuts have been solidly supporting Jim Deakin.  So imagine my surprise last week to find out that Mindy Kohut asked two months ago to join this coalition of Tea Parties.  For the last two months Stephen’s wife, Mindy a contributor to Deakin’s campaign, has been a member of the website, but failed to acknowledge her support for Deakin by joining the Jim Deakin group.  So, while being a member of the Association that was seeking legitimate avenues for endorsing candidates, Melinda’s Pinal County Tea Party Patriots is strongly opposed to endorsements of candidates.  She pretended to support the concept of endorsing a candidate, which WAS an option for Tea Party leaders for ANY candidate, as a result of the Association.  Needless to say, her membership has been terminated.  Here’s the link to their page look for their statement on endorsing candidates: http://thepinalcounty912project.ning.com.

          It’s interesting that Kelly, the Kohuts and Sassia, along with Jim Deakin, want the exclusive right to define WHAT CONSTITUTES A TEA PARTY!  THEN they dare to condemn anyone or group that doesn’t fit THEIR definition!! 

          Now with Kelly Townsend working with and closely allied to the Pinal County group, it’s not too surprising to find that her actions also clearly violate the 912 standards.  For example, over the past eight months numerous groups formerly affiliated with Kelly left her organization.  In most every case she refused to let them keep their name, since SHE was the registered owner.  The key reason for leaving was simply that Kelly concentrated the control and authority in the hands of herself and the members of the board, Les White, Charles McCain, and Chris Rossiter.  For example, after a national group, Tax Day Tea Party, endorsed JD Hayworth, Kelly immediately contacted Robert Mayer, Roger Boone and Patrick Beck of the Tucson, Flagstaff and Bullhead City “Tea Party” groups and issued a press release claiming to be the four largest Tea Parties and that they were NOT endorsing JD Hayworth for the Senate seat.  This press release garnered widespread press attention, thanks to John McCain’s powerful influence.

Two interesting facts about this press release: 1. one members of Kelly’s Board at the time was NOT even informed about the press release, let alone involving her, leading up to the press release!  2. While Kelly’s and Roger’s groups could NOT endorse ANYONE due to their status, the Tucson group had made the decision NOT to endorse any candidate for any race, not just JD Hayworth for the US Senate.  Lastly, Patrick Beck did not EVEN HAVE a Tea Party group!  Sure, he had organized a rally for April 15^th last year that attracted 400 attendees in Bullhead City. However, there were NO meetings, until he set up an ‘association’ last May, and THEN only ONE!  This was a concerted effort to mute the impact of any endorsements for JD Hayworth.

          Lastly, Kelly Townsend shows complete hypocrisy on her website in what she allows or censors in the discussion groups.  Specifically, when there were very heated discussions regarding the Senate race, in the West Valley and the Greater Scottsdale groups, causing several members to complain and leave the discussion pages.  Kelly rightfully set up a Senate discussion group on June 10th, and after she complained to me about ‘strong language’ (not foul, just forceful) she told me in a phone call that in the new group, “almost anything goes”.  Then on June 14^th, I used the term “Deakinistas” in reference to the more rabid supporters, given to insults and personal attacks.  Kelly suspended me, and another person who used the term “Deakinasses” for 30 days.  BY contrast, Adonia Deakin post the MOST despicable of blogs, claiming that JD Hayworth asked his “best friend” David Duke to get his friends to call on his behalf!!  She also posted this on Smart Girl Politics and it was quickly deleted!  Kelly simply asked Adonia to ‘revise’ the post.  SO, Kelly doesn’t mind blatantly false and despicable posts in a completely disgusting display by the wife of Jim Deakin.  Yet she is “offended” by the term “Deakinista”!?

          You have to wonder, DO the Kohuts believe it proper to make false claims of support for the Association, or being “neutral” and criticize all Tea Parties who do not agree with them calling them “Fake”?  Does Kelly Townsend believe that it’s proper to control over 3-5,000 Tea Party members in over a dozen groups, with just 3-5 board members, not giving the leaders of the various groups say in thei leadership?  Further, does she possibly believe that no one can see through the flimsy claim that they don’t really moderate the blogs?  One thing is for certain:  the voters in LD 22 and the Casa Grande School District need to take a very close look at these candidates’ ethics.  BOTH should be subject to a MUCH closer scrutiny, based on their actions over the past six months.

A m e r i c a n  P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona



I am not saying JD Hayworth is a racist, a KKK member, or anything of the kind.  I am saying…David Duke wants JD to win in a big way!  David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the KKK, is sending out the message… 

On the “Official Website of Representative David Duke, PhD” is a long, angry missive detailing why David Duke wants JD Hayworth in Congress.  The premise is that Jim Deakin is the spoiler and needs to be convinced to drop out of the race and endorse Hayworth.  

The national website of the former Grand Wizard of the KKK has posted Jim Deakin’s home phone number on his site, calling for folks to wage an assault on Jim Deakin demanding he immediately withdraw and endorse JD.  That’s right, on the top of the David Duke national website, in big, bold letters and numbers…”Ask Jim Deakin to endorse J.D. Hayworth at….” and gives his phone number! 

The crowd that would burn crosses in yards, lynch blacks, and destroy lives for going against their beliefs is making a national call for their goons to harass and intimidate a private citizen, acting on his own, to fulfill his Constitutional right to run for office.

The official website describes Duke, the avowed racist, this way:

Duke has dedicated his life to the freedom and heritage of European American peoples.

There’s more…

Over sixty percent of the European American voters of Louisiana have voted for Rep. Duke in statewide races.

I’m not linking to his site..a simple google search will do it for you.  His brand of hate is so ugly, I won’t offer any help getting there. 

I doubt JD had prior knowledge of this action.  But once aware, your silence is complicit; to sit by while this hate group, led by a man famous for wearing a Nazi uniform, who blames 9-11 on the US and calls the standard understanding of that event the “Big Lie”, who encourages intimidation techniques to squash your opponent is wrong! 

JD, denounce this effort and denounce David Duke!

On CNBC this morning, House Majority Leader and FreedomWorks Chair Dick Armey ripped former Congressman Hayworth. 

CNBC’S JOHN HARWOOD: Mr. Leader, let me ask you for your evaluation, having served a long time with J.D. Hayworth, that a) he’s one of the dumbest members of Congress, b) John McCain’s criticism of him is somebody who took too much money from Jack Abramoff and is somehow tied into the influence scandal. And thirdly, his criticism for free trade and of business on immigration.

 
DICK ARMEY: First off, remember, I’m a free market economist that begins with Adam Smith. So obviously free trade is a position I’m going to draw a sharp distinction between myself and the position taken by J.D. It was my job for eight years to manage the Republican majority. I’ve made this point in Arizona. J.D. had a fairly undistinguished career. I don’t remember a single legislative initiative that he took nor do I recall him actively working on a legislative manner. J.D. was quite an orator. He would take the well and give fairly good orations. But –

 
HARWOOD: He noted that yesterday he was the first Republican to serve from Arizona to serve on Ways and Means. And he’s saying in his ads and in the town meetings that he helped write the Bush tax cuts.

ARMEY: Well, is that right?

HARWOOD: Yep.

ARMEY: See, I was there at the time, but I must have been busy with something else because I missed that

The House Majority Leader says he “missed” JD having anything to do with the Bush tax cuts.  He also can’t remember JD being of much use in the House but does remember that he could sure  talk a lot and well.  Hmmm…maybe that is where he gets the “consistent” label!

So, what do people who deal in reality think? 

Armey commented on that, too.  Armey predicted a decisive McCain victory on Tuesday, saying

The fact of the matter is that we consistently hear from our ears on the ground, our real activists who are involved is that John McCain cannot be beaten in the Republican primary in Arizona. I think the polling data that the experts from afar garner from it validates the observations of our activists. So I would predict John McCain to win this thing and win it decisively based on the polling data which is the second better source from our people on the ground.”

 

UPDATE…You may see the entire interview here.  The excerpted dialogue calling the election for McCain can be seen at about   2:52 into the over 5 minute long video.  The section of the interview where Mr. Harwood asks Mr. Armey questions begins at 3:45 and continues as Mr. Armey says he must have “missed” JD having anything to do with writing the Bush tax cuts.

A prosecutor must seek justice regardless of a defendant’s wealth, connections or position. Unfortunately, Arizona prosecutors who try to follow this standard come under public attack.

Throughout the recent controversies in Maricopa County, a clear theme has developed. On one side are the elites-the political establishment, courts, major media-supporting the board of supervisors no matter the evidence of wrongdoing and egregious taxpayer abuses. On the other side are the people. They have a stubborn habit of siding with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and me when we’ve brought cases before the county grand jury. This divide became clear once again following the self-serving and false claims by interim County Attorney Richard Romley about investigations and prosecutions done with Sheriff Arpaio’s office. Romley’s recent efforts obviously were done to distract from his rejection by members of his own party who are tired of his liberal policies and endorsements. When citizens seated on a grand jury have heard the evidence of guilt involving county officials, they have sided with Arpaio and me.

Two county supervisors-Donald Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox-have been indicted twice by two separate grand juries. A third grand jury heard testimony related to alleged hindering of prosecution by county officials who ordered a publicly funded sweep for electronic “bugs” immediately after Stapley was served with his first indictment, and alleged misconduct by Judge Gary Donahoe.

Right after the grand jury heard the evidence, they asked for a draft indictment. Experienced prosecutors know this request almost always leads to some sort of indictment.

However, before the grand jury could finish deliberating, Judge Donahoe’s lawyers appeared before a judge in another county and obtained a stay blocking the grand jury’s deliberations. But for that action, all signs suggest the grand jury was prepared to act.

Later, our prosecutors asked that the grand jury end their inquiry so it could be referred to another law enforcement agency. They did so.

It’s not easy to tackle public corruption, just as it wasn’t easy to take up the fight against illegal immigration years ago. But I did so unapologetically.

For their part, the board of supervisors and their employees have brazenly retaliated against Sheriff Arpaio and me, both directly and indirectly by exploiting their network of relationships.

Forgotten is the fact that I sought to appoint highly qualified special prosecutors so I would not have to prosecute these matters. The board of supervisors blocked their appointment, then complained when I handled them myself.

I also offered to hand over the matters to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They declined to take them. Now that same office reportedly is investigating and second-guessing Sheriff Arpaio’s and my handling of the same cases they refused to accept.

If true, this is not only a blatant violation of state police powers and the Tenth Amendment. It threatens to destroy our system of justice. Prosecutors simply will not bring charges against powerful officials if they know their work will be subject to effective lobbying before the Obama Justice Department or the State Bar.

I’ve taken on public corruption and paid a political price with election-year smears from friends of these officials. But like Sheriff Arpaio, I’ve always believed I answered to the people. Soon the people will make the ultimate decision, choosing whether they want a top prosecutor who will tackle these tough cases or take the easy way out. As for me, I will do my duty and serve the people no matter the cost.

After the release of grand jury records revealing Andy Thomas had purposely mislead the public for his own personal and political gain, often referring to an ongoing investigation that had long since been  thrown out, you would think he would learn a lesson.  Or maybe when other County Attorney’s told him..you’ve got no case, buddy…he would stop.  But, no.  He lied and attempted to keep it going while he shopped for someone to prosecute what he perceived as his political enemies. 

All in the name of the law.

But, it is very clear that the law means nothing to Mr. Thomas and the truth even less.

Today the Thomas campaign issued a press release, you can see it in the post below, saying the ACC was investigating Tom Horne.  If you read the letter they use as the evidence, it is nowhere near a statement of investigation.  It is nothing more than a reply to a letter of complaint they received from Thomas’ campaign. 

There is no investigation. Thomas’ claims are not true says the Arizona Corporation Commission.  Not at all.

But, never one to let the truth get in the way of a good press release…Thomas ran with it and once again, lied.

It’s actually not accurate,” commission spokesman Rebecca Wilder said of the Thomas press release. “We received a complaint. We’re not conducting an investigation at this time.”

So will Andy retract his statement…of course not.  He will continue to spread his version of the truth.  After all, isn’t that all that matters?

Thomas however is under investigation;  reportedly by the State Bar and the FBI over abuse of power allegations related to his pursuit of criminal charges against county judges, supervisors and top administrators. 

Either the law means something or it doesn’t.” Jason Rose….

 

Unless you are Andrew Thomas.

A m e r i c a n  P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Tribune exposes Romley’s fake police database campaign trick

Romley swipes funds from Arpaio’s immigration sweeps and creates new $130k “illegal immigration” job as payback to crony

Cmdr. Bob Rampy, who has led the AZLINK effort and does a lot of the sheriff’s IT work, said, “I’m concerned he’s (Romley) is coming around and taking credit for what has already been done.” Rampy said he was not invited to Tuesday’s meeting. “AZLINK has really been widespread. He should’ve done a little more due diligence on data sharing efforts going on.”

Leesa Morrison-Weisz and her husband George Weisz

Romley also pulled a fast one by taking away funds from Sheriff Arpaio’s illegal immigration sweeps and transferring them to his own office, where he created a fake new position for a supporter of his. The job title is “Special Assistant for Immigration and Border Protection,” but since Romley supports amnesty and open borders, and the person he chose to fill that position, Leesa Morrison-Weisz, came from former Governer Janet Napolitano’s administration, you can rest assured that it will be a complete waste of taxpayers’ money and there will be no actual illegal immigration enforcement. The circumstances surrounding Morrison’s appointment are typical sleazy quid pro quo. Morrison’s husband, George Weisz, was working as an advisor for Democrat Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. He quit that job to become a political consultant for Romley’s election campaign. Two days later, his wife was appointed to this brand-new position. How nice, you go work for Romley’s campaign and your wife gets a fat new job custom-created for her two days later! It probably also helped that the Weisz’s have contributed to Romley, some of the County Supervisors’ campaigns, and attorneys who oppose Sheriff Arpaio.

Rick Romley is demonstrating after just a few months that he intends to run the County Attorney’s Office equally as corruptly as the Supervisors are running their office. We wonder what will happen to the Shadow County Attorney’s Office now that it’s in the middle of these two corrupt agencies, which the Supervisors stole away from Andrew Thomas when he was County Attorney?

I have been reading Espresso Pundit for years.  I usually agree with Greg on most subjects and find his wit and style interesting.  He is front and center in the CD5 campaign, anyone who has read his blog for more than awhile knows he is squarely behind Schweikert.   A CPA, he is also an attorney and dude, until recently did not have a TV in his house!

 He doesn’t pull any punches. Greg has taken on APS, The Republic, and now he has a new object of his effort.

Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due, Greg Patterson who writes Espresso Pundit,  nails the reality of Andy Thomas in his latest post on the subject… 

With such flagrant and well documented ethical violations, I don’t see how Thomas could possibly still be a licensed attorney this time next year. 

This is the reality most have come to believe.  The evidence pointing to extreme abuse of power and corruption is so overwhelming, that to suggest Thomas will escape this without, at the minimum, being disbarred is foolish.  The odds he may very well be sitting in Camp Cupcake very soon are pretty good.  Disappointing.

So, what is a conservative to do?  Patterson had this to say about Tom Horne:

…he supported parental consent as well as the ban on partial birth abortion–and he has pledged to defend the laws that the legislature passes. 

So I can say that from a Conservative perspective, I’m not simply voting against Thomas.  I’m very comfortable voting for Tom Horne. 

However, there is another point that has been made by more than a few very conservative folks.  When faced with the idea of having an AG who is likely to be indicted, disbarred, and tied up in personal fights of corruption…

And if Horne doesn’t win the Primary…?  Ok, then I’ll simply be voting against Thomas.

A growing number of R’s will not pull the lever for Thomas.  No D’s will.  Certainly a good portion of I’s will go with the Democratic nominee.  In light of these latest developments, Andrew Thomas should immediately step aside, get his house in order, fight his good fight and when, or if, he can… return to public service.  For now, he is doing more harm than good.

A m e r i c a n  P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona

Corrupt County Supervisors and RINO Rick Romley target nonpolitical line prosecutor in order to tarnish Andrew Thomas Lisa Aubuchon, an experienced career prosecutor, one of the top prosecutors in the office, has had enough of their abuse

As part of their desperate attempts to avoid prosecution, the Maricopa County Supervisors have appointed their crony, liberal Republican Rick Romley (who has endorsed numerous Democrats – even Jan Brewer’s last Democrat opponent) as interim County Attorney. As the Supervisors’ puppet, Romley is doing the bidding of the Supervisors which means destroying conservative Republicans like Thomas and Sheriff Arpaio – including FIRING a lifelong experienced, nonpolitical line prosecutor, Lisa Aubuchon. Aubuchon had worked her way up to management at the County Attorney’s Office under multiple administrations, and had a reputation for being extremely tough on crime – even on domestic violence, not exactly a conservative issue. Lisa is no partisan political figure – she is a regular person like you or me. The Supervisors are trying to destroy her in order to destroy Andrew Thomas.  Lisa is fighting back with a claim of her own against the corrupt Supervisors. Let’s hope she wins – and the corruption is stopped. Read her complaint against the corrupt big-spending Supervisors here.

A m e r i c a n  P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona

Supervisors may skate on millions of dollars wasted Media, friendly liberal judges and libertarians help them flip blame to prosecution

This article was sent in by a reader Democrat Supervisor and activist Mary Rose Wilcox is one happy lady these days.  “I think we’re finally beating back the prosecution. The best way to beat criminal charges is to accuse the prosecution of being unethical and overly zealous. We’ve got the liberal media on our side, since they support the big-spending programs we direct taxpayers’ money to, like Chicanos por la Causa, environmental initiatives, and AIDS prevention.  We’ve also got libertarians on our side like the Arizona Republic’s Bob Robb and the Goldwater Institute’s Clint Bolick, who mostly ignore our big-spending because they’re more concerned with looking “fair” so they would rather attack guys like Sheriff Arpaio and Andrew Thomas who are tough when it comes to law enforcement. It doesn’t matter how much money we spend, or that Tea Parties are organizing protests against us, those two guys give us a free pass and help us attack the prosecution.” Wilcox is under investigation for funneling grant money to Chicanos por la Causa, then turning around and giving herself a cheap loan from Chicanos por la Causa. She has been in trouble with the law many times in the past, and due to her connections, escaped a criminal conviction for illegally razing down an historic home. (Read more about Wilcox’s shady background here and here) The Supervisors and a couple other employees who work with them have filed complaints (technically – “Notices of Claim”) against County taxpayers, demanding $47 million in damages for suffering “emotional distress” over being prosecuted. They hired their own pricey “mediator” to then adjudicate the claims, to ensure that they will receive them. As a result, Tea Party groups across the Valley have become enraged, and are planning a protest. Liberal Republican Don Stapley is equally happy at beating the rule of law. “My name is Stapley, there is a street in Mesa named after me. Sheriff Arpaio and Andrew Thomas were fools to run on a platform of “ending public corruption” a couple of years ago knowing they would be taking ME on. Granted, I have a long history of seedy dealings well-documented in the Phoenix New Times, which includes a shady land swap and unscrupulous dealing with my friend, convicted felon Conley Wolfswinkel. It’s understandable why they looked at me. It’s not like they got any benefit out of it either, I’m from their same party! Idiots. Should have just left me alone. Because they don’t have the connections that I do. As Supervisors, we control the purse strings for the judges. And we share the same attorney as the judges, former Democrat Party attorney Tom Irvine. That was a smart call on our part. It may be unethical, but what judge is ever going to dare rule against the JUDGES? I think I’m pretty clever to have come up with that. We’re completely insulated from prosecution! I love to be me.” Stapley is under investigation for spending $60,000 raised for a campaign where he had no opponent on personal luxury items for himself.Stapley allegedly spent $6000 of these funds at Bang and Olufson electronics, along with $1300 for hair implants, $400 for candle holders and $10,000 for furniture for his home. He also spent these funds, solicited as campaign money, to buy tickets to Broadway plays and movie theatres, flowers, grocery store bills, massages, department stores and trips for his family to Sundance, Utah to ski, a trip for his son and friends to Florida and a three-week vacation in Hawaii for his entire family at a beach house costing approximately $11,000. Stapley is also being prosecuted for lying about his finances when applying for mortgages. “I realize that I dishonestly didn’t follow the law,” Stapley said. “But I’m THE DON Stapley. I am a powerful County Supervisor. I am not like the little people. The rules don’t apply to me because I MAKE THE RULES. I figured out how to get the media and judges on my side – pursue a big-spending liberal agenda – and they support me no matter what I do.” Fulton Brock, another liberal Republican Supervisor, is ecstatic that the $64,344 he spent on taxpayer-funded county credit cards on mostly questionable items like promoting himself will go ignored. “Normally, I would think the Goldwater Institute would be all over the hundreds of thousands of dollars we racked up on county credit cards on things that probably should have been paid personally. But since they’ve decided to go after law enforcement instead, emphasizing their libertarian criminal justice side, they’ve given us a free pass.” All of the Supervisors had big smiles knowing that the $340 million Taj Mahal court tower they insist on building during the recession for the judges (wink, wink, nod, nod) seems to be escaping scrutiny. The tower will be made of travertine and marble, wooden floors, and will have separate “robing rooms” for the judges. No extravagant expense was spared, even as the county was laying off employees. Wilcox said, “The Tea Parties are having a fit over the tower, but who cares what they think. WE control the purse strings. And we must not not dock a penny from the cost of the tower since we need the judges on OUR SIDE, otherwise we risk being prosecuted.”

You know a political campaign is desperate when they start putting up a flurry of last-minute signs in front of other candidates’ signs. Jim Ward’s campaign must have done some internal polling and discovered that he is way behind in the primary. It is illegal to tamper with other candidates’ signs, and the way some of the Ward signs have been put up raises suspicions. The photos below reveal that Ward has tied his signs onto other candidates’ signs – did the candidates approve or was the activity illegal? It wouldn’t be the first time Ward has illegally posted his signs; in the past he has posted oversized signs blocking the view at intersections. It is amusing watching the Jim Ward meltdown. He started out his campaign as a San Francisco elitist with ties to McCain, and now is resorting to elementary school tactics.

It was never a matter of “if”, but more of “in how many ways” can the JD campaign implode?  In the vernacular of pop culture…JD has jumped the shark.  Ironic does not come close to describe the comparison of JD and the originator of the phrase. 

The classic TV show Happy Days had hit the skids, with few of the remaining characters left it needed to ramp up its ratings and tried a series of 3 “Hollywood” segments.  The cocky, cool, and full of himself character…The Fonz… makes a jump on water skis over a shark.  Fonzie “jumped the shark”.  The scene was so cartoonish that it has become the quintessential phrase for identifying the event when an endeavor has met its downturn and certain demise.

No one can deny JD’s pandering ways.  His ability to triangulate and move a topic from the original point to the place he wants it to be, in order to make his desired point…no matter how unrelated…is no big news.  Anyone who listened to his radio show for more than 5 minutes could tell you that.  But he has been in overdrive!

Just when did the JD effort begin to fall apart, come unhinged, or “jump the shark”?

The suspicion of imminent implosion was when JD mouthpiece Rachel Alexander described the announcement of Luke Air Force Base’s preferential position in the F-35 placement as “pork”.   Trying to desperately move the title of pork-lover, big spender from her guy to McCain, the campaign actually hoped voters would think keeping Luke open was a bad thing.  A $2 Billion annual infusion into our state’s economy, a national defense necessity, an international security effort…pork?  Desperate doesn’t even come close to describing such a statement.  I know Rachel thinks herself an “intellectual” but does she think everyone else is just plain stupid?  

The determined intention to go off the deep end was made clear when JD attacked the Bush family in a radio interview saying:

The sad fact about the Bush family is this stubborn notion of noblesse oblige, combined with verbal dyslexia.” JD Hayworth

Are you kidding?  JD cannot build himself up enough; the incessant desire to huff and puff is beyond his own control.  Foghorn Leghorn would be proud.

But JD’s answer to a question this week at a tea party meeting could easily be the point of lift-off. 

JD actually suggested that Obama is a better president than McCain would have been. 

By now, people have started to shake their heads and are giving the eye roll.   The fall-out from this statement is when propulsion definitely was achieved.  In yet another of many episodes where JD refuses to accept responsibility for his own words and actions, he calls in to Barry Markson, the “sitting-in for Barry Young” host.  It is while Markson is taking a call from a listener who is expressing his opinion about JD’s Obama love-fest when JD can’t take it anymore…..

Listen for yourself as he dodges the issue and hangs up rather than answer.

Never one to disappoint in the unbelievable category, full height was reached when Hayworth surrogate “American-Post Gazette” decided to go for broke and sent out a diatribe that can best be described by a comment made on the post… “insanely spurious”.   

The disgusting piece of propaganda used the sexual orientation of a non-candidate to draw a very jagged line to the support of gay marriage.  Apparently, to JD and his supporters being gay must be antithetical to being a conservative. Such a notion is the equal to this ridiculous statement by Harry Reid, “I don’t know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican…”     

I do not support gay marriage.  This has nothing to do with gay marriage.  It has nothing to do with Prop 8 in California.  It is simply an ugly, low-life and determined effort to move the needle on a desperate campaign. 

So, in keeping with the JD mentality…are all gay folks to remain unemployed or is it they just can’t work for anyone with an “R” after their name?  Someone better send that memo to DC because there are more than a few openly gay staffers in some very high positions. 

Does JD Hayworth really believe being gay is tantamount to being unqualified or is it disqualified?  If he is adhering to such a position, someone better check out the EEOC guidelines on hiring because a lawsuit cannot be far behind with such a policy.  Now that the originating email has made its way around the net…I can just imagine the scrutiny his hiring practices would bring.

Between the anti-Bush statement, the gay-bashing rhetoric, and Obama-love one must wonder, just what is it this guy is thinking?  Clearly, he isn’t.

I fully expect the attack comments from folks invoking the Christian right will fly ….so let me save some of you some time.  I am a born-again, spirit-filled Christian. I oppose gay marriage and believe the Bible is very clear on the matter.  I will make no apologies to anyone on that issue.  The Bible is also very clear on a few other things…like the “love your neighbor” and “whatever you do for the least of them” sort of stuff.  If given a choice, I will choose to walk in love not hate.