Who’s Gonna Clean Up This Mesa?

MESA, AZ (KPHO/AP) -Voters have ousted state Sen. Russell Pearce in an unprecedented recall election, a first for an Arizona legislator.

With a majority of the precincts reporting, the top vote-getter, Republican Jerry Lewis, steps into the District 18 legislative seat for the second year of a two-year term.

Lewis claimed victory at 9 p.m.

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They Need an Empathy Transplant

From THINK PROGRESS:

As ThinkProgress has reported, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) and the GOP-controlled state House have turned a blind eye to the plight of 98 Arizona patients in desperate need of organ transplants. Since Brewer enacted painful cuts to the state’s Medicaid program in October, two Arizonans unable to pay for the transplants they needed passed away. After months of appeals and protests, it appears Brewer has finally agreed to set aside a $151 million “uncompensated-care pool to pay health-care providers for ‘life-saving’ procedures, including transplants.”

However, state House Republicans remain vigilant in their anti-human life campaign. They are refusing to let measures to restore funding for organ transplants advance because, as the state House Appropriations Committee Chairman John Kavanagh (R) explained, “not enough lives would be saved to warrant restoring millions in budget cuts” for the transplants.

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Brewin’ Up a Budget

From The Arizona Republic:

Arizona State University economist Tom Rex said Thursday that raising taxes and fees would have a less negative impact on the state’s economy than the spending cuts Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget plan proposes.

The governor relies heavily on spending reductions, including eliminating health-care coverage for more than 280,000 Medicaid recipients, to close a budget deficit her office estimates at $1.15 billion for fiscal 2012.

Brewer has said she has no choice but to recommend cuts to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System given the magnitude of the state’s fiscal crisis.

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Bronzo the Clown, Party Animal

From the NY DAILY NEWS:

House Speaker John Boehner is taking heat from some Democrats after skipping out on Wednesday’s memorial service for the shooting victims in Arizona and instead hosting a cocktail party for the Republican National Committee.

The Ohio Republican turned down President Obama‘s invitation to travel on Air Force One to Tucson, Politico reported.

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Too Bad She Can’t Get a Heart Transplant!

Did you see this, kids? Governor Droopy Dog Jan Brewer of Arizona posted it on her Facebook page to wish all her constituents a Merry Christmas. Well, all of them, except those awaiting transplants. Screw those Debbie Downers!

I don’t know why she has to roll up her sleeves in order to ring a bell, but that’s not what’s important at the moment.  As you can see, there’s been a terrible mix-up, and someone on her staff used a picture of some young attractive woman instead of the real hag with a face like a used teabag Governor Jan. Good thing I’m in a holiday mood and not holding any grudges. I’ve corrected the error.

It’s Comical, Part 4: Comic Book Books Edition

There are some cartoon characters who start out in the funnies and then show up in books. For example, there’s Little Orphan Annie. It was a daily comic strip written and drawn by Harold Gray. It ran for 86 years, ending in June 2010. We don’t have to miss it, though, as Governor Jan Brewer has taken her place.   Makes sense to me, as Governor Jan sorta looks like a Leapin’ Lizard.  You probably heard the sad story Jan tells about her father dying while fighting the Germans in World War II.  Such a good story.  Too bad it wasn’t true…

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(Sheriff Joe Arpaio is making a guest appearance as Daddy Warbucks Waronhispanics)

The Macaca Awards! Part II

We continue with nominations for the Mock, Paper, Scissors–Hysterical Raisins 1st Semi-Regular Macaca Awards.

(Image courtesy of Tengrain)

Tonight’s category is Outstanding Achievement in Race Baiting, and the nominees are:

Yuck, Nyuk, Yuck

From POLITICO:

The subject line of a DNC email to supporters today: “Leader DeMint.”

Communications director Brad Woodhouse emails the list with tales of the South Carolina senator and a request for money:

There might be some Republicans who are concerned about the radical ideologues pushing their party toward extremism, but Sen. Jim DeMint isn’t one of them.

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