READ: Arizona's Supreme Court Request To Delay Issuing Driver's Licenses To DREAMers

  Arizona SCOTUS Applic For Stay Pending Writ

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Goldwater Institute VP Bolick Makes Strong Endorsement For Jeb Bush In 2016

Clint Bolick - the well-known VP of Litigation for the Goldwater Institute - made a strong case on Facebook this afternoon for Jeb Bush to be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2016.

Bolick prefaces his endorsement of the former Florida Governor by saying that he was not a fan of either of the first two Bushes in the White House.  His preference for planting a third there is based on his personal knowledge and experience with Jeb.  (His full comment is below. Click to expand.)

Incoming Arizona Governor Doug Ducey named Bolick to co-chair one of his transition committees (on federalism and states' rights) two weeks ago.

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UPDATE, #AZ02 McSALLY/BARBER RECOUNT: Rep. Barber Losing Staffers While Hoping For Recount Reversal, McSally Has Armed Services Committee Assignment Awaiting

While the recount of the #AZ02 contest between Rep. Ron Barber (D-Cd2) and GOP challenger Martha McSally winds down, reports are surfacing about two Barber staffers securing positions elsewhere and about McSally's committee assignments if the current results hold.

Legistorm reported today that Barber's staff has lost military legislative assistant Jeremy Wilson-Simerman and legislative correspondent/press assistant Julia Nash.  No word on their new positions, nor on whether other members of his staff are executing exit strategies.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Star reported yesterday that McSally has a seat on the House Armed Services Committee waiting for her.  McSally is a well-known retired USAF Colonel.

The mandatory recount is underway, with both Pima and Cochise counties recounting the ballots this week.  A hearing on the recount results is set for next Tuesday.  McSally held a 161-vote lead going into the recount.  A legal contest of the recounted results could be filed by the losing candidate.

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IN OUR PRAYERS: Former Phoenix Mayor & Western Savings Executive John Driggs In Home Hospice, Wife Gail Suffered Heart Attack

Our prayers going out to John Driggs, his wife Gail, and their family today.  Arizona Senate Majority Whip Adam Driggs reports that his father, who was Phoenix Mayor in the 1970's, is dying and was brought home on Monday. "Related to the stress," Adam also notes that his mother, Gail, had a heart attack and was hoping to be released from the hospital.

Besides serving as Mayor, John, 87, was also a long-time executive with the family business, Western Savings.*

Through the MCRC Briefs newsletter, Adam urges friends to share memories of best wishes on either father or son's Facebook pages.

*Western Savings was taken over by the federal government's Resolution Trust Corporation in the S&L bust of the late 1980's.

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WATCH: Rep. Gosar Questions Jonathan Gruber, Marilyn Tavenner Re: Obamacare, Lying

Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar had five minutes plus to question Jonathan Gruber and Marilyn Tavenner as part of the House Oversight Committee's hearing on Obamacare numbers and statements made by Gruber regarding the drafting and passage of the Affordable Care Act.

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WATCH, READ: Sen. McCain On Senate Floor Re: Release Of Report On CIA Interrogations/Torture: "Truth Is Sometimes a Hard Pill To Swallow"

Noting that "truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow," Arizona Senator John McCain (R-AZ) spoke on the Senate floor at length this morning in support of the release of the Sennate Intelligence Committee's report on CIA Interrogations and practices in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The 13-minute speech is below, with an unedited C-Span transcript of the remarks below that.

MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR
02:27:12	MR. McCAIN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES,
02:27:13	THE PRESIDING OFFICER INCLUDING
02:27:14	MR. McCAIN THE C.I.A. THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY DEFENDING OUR NATION. I HAVE READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND I ALSO HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE ENTIRETY OF THIS REPORT. I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE RELEASE, THE LONG-DELAYED RELEASE OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE'S SUMMARIZED, UNCLASSIFIED REVIEW OF THE SO-CALLED ENHANCED INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES THAT WERE EMPLOYED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TO EXTRACT INFORMATION FROM CAPTURED TERRORISTS. IT'S A THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL STUDY OF PRACTICES THAT I BELIEVE NOT ONLY FAILED THEIR PURPOSE TO SECURE ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE TO PREVENT FURTHER ATTACKS ON THE U.S. AND OUR ALLIES BUT ACTUALLY DAMAGED OUR SECURITY INTERESTS AS WELL AS OUR REPUTATION AS A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT -- INDEED, RESPONSIBILITY -- TO KNOW WHAT WAS DONE IN THEIR NAME, HOW THESE PRACTICES DID OR DID NOT SERVE OUR INTERESTS, AND HOW THEY COMPORTED WITH OUR MOST IMPORTANT VALUES. I COMMEND CHAIRWOMAN FEINSTEIN AND HER STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENCE IN SEEKING A TRUTHFUL ACCOUNTING OF POLICIES I HOPE WE WILL NEVER RESORT TO AGAIN. I THANK THEM FOR PERSEVERING AGAINST PERSISTENT OPPOSITION FROM MANY MEMBERS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, FROM OFFICIALS IN TWO ADMINISTRATIONS, AND FROM SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES. THE TRUTH IS SOMETIMES A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW. IT SOMETIMES CAUSES US DIFFICULTIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. IT IS SOMETIMES USED BY OUR ENEMIES IN ATTEMPTS TO HURT US. BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO IT, NONETHELESS. THEY MUST KNOW WHEN THE VALUES THAT DEFINE OUR NATION ARE INTENTIONALLY DISREGARDED BY OUR SECURITY POLICIES, EVEN THOSE POLICIES THAT ARE CONDUCTED IN SECRET. THEY MUST BE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHETHER THOSE POLICIES AND THE PERSONNEL WHO SUPPORTED THEM WERE JUSTIFIED IN COMPROMISING OUR VALUES, WHETHER THEY SERVED A GREATER GOOD, OR WHETHER, AS I BELIEVE, THEY STAINED OUR NATIONAL HONOR, DID MUCH HARM AND LITTLE PRACTICAL GOOD. WHAT WERE THE POLICIES? WHAT WAS THEIR PURPOSE? DID THEY ACHIEVE IT? DID THEY MAKE US SAFER? LESS SAFE? OR DID THEY MAKE NO DIFFERENCE? WHAT DID THEY GAIN US? WHAT DID THEY COST US? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. YES, SOME THINGS MUST BE KEPT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE TO PROTECT CON DESTINE OPERATIONS, SOURCES AND METHODS, BUT NOT THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. BY PROVIDING THEM, THE COMMITTEE HAS EMPOWERED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO COME TO THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE EMPLOYED SUCH PRACTICES IN THE PAST AND WHETHER WE SHOULD CONSIDER PERMITTING THEM IN THE FUTURE. THIS REPORT STRENGTHENS SELF-GOVERNMENT AND ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE, AMERICA'S SECURITY AND STATURE IN THE WORLD AND I THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE. I HAVE LONG BELIEVED SOME OF THESE PRACTICES AMOUNTED TO TORTURE AS A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD DEFINE IT, ESPECIALLY, BUT NOT ONLY THE PRACTICE OF WATERBOARDING, WHICH IS A MOCK EXECUTION AND AN EXQUISITE FORM OF TORTURE. ITS USE WAS SHAMEFUL AND UNNECESSARY, AND CONTRARY TO ASSERTIONS MADE BY SOME OF ITS DEFENDERS, AND AS THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT MAKES CLEAR, IT PRODUCED LITTLE USEFUL INTELLIGENCE TO HELP US TRACK DOWN THE PERPETRATORS OF 9/11 OR PREVENT NEW ATTACKS AND ATROCITIES. I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THE ABUSE OF PRISONERS WILL PRODUCE MORE BAD THAN GOOD INTELLIGENCE. I KNOW THAT VICTIMS OF TORTURE WILL OFFER INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING INFORMATION IF THEY THINK THEIR CAPTORS WILL BELIEVE IT. I KNOW THEY WILL SAY WHATEVER THEY THINK THEIR TORTURERS WANT THEM TO SAY IF THEY BELIEVE IT WILL STOP THEIR SUFFERING. MOST OF ALL, I KNOW THE USE OF TORTURE COMPROMISES THAT WHICH MOST DISTINGUISHES US FROM OUR ENEMIES, OUR BELIEF THAT ALL PEOPLE, EVEN CAPTURED ENEMIES, POSSESS BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS THE UNITED STATES NOT ONLY JOINED BUT FOR THE MOST PART AUTHORED. I WILL, TOO, THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN WAR. I KNOW IN WAR GOOD PEOPLE CAN FEEL OBLIGED FOR GOOD REASONS TO DO THINGS THEY WOULD NORMALLY OBJECT TO AND RECOIL FROM. I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS THAT GOVERNED THE DECISION TO RESORT TO THESE INTERROGATION METHODS, AND I KNOW THAT THOSE WHO APPROVED THEM AND THOSE WHO USED THEM WERE DEDICATED TO SECURING JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AND TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM FURTHER HARM. I KNOW THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WERE GRAVE AND URGENT, AND THE STRAIN OF THEIR DUTY WAS ONEROUS. I RESPECT THEIR DEDICATION AND APPRECIATE THEIR DILEMMA, BUT I DISPUTE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT IT WAS RIGHT FOR THEM TO USE THESE METHODS WHICH THIS REPORT MAKES CLEAR WERE NEITHER IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF JUSTICE NOR OUR SECURITY NOR THE IDEALS WE HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH BLOOD AND TREASURE TO DEFEND. THE KNOWLEDGE OF TORTURE'S DUBIOUS EFFICACY AND MY MORAL OBJECTION TO THE ABUSE OF PRISONERS MOTIVATED BY SPONSORSHIP OF THE DETAINEE TREATMENT ACT OF 2005, WHICH PROHIBITS -- QUOTE -- "CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OF CAPTURED COMBATANTS WHETHER THEY WEAR A NATION'S UNIFORM OR NOT AND WHICH PASSED THE SENATE BY THE VOTE OF 90-9. SUBSEQUENTLY, I SUCCESSFULLY OFFERED AMENDMENTS TO THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006 WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS PREVENTED THE ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN COMMON ARTICLE 3 OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND BROADENED DEFINITIONS IN THE WAR CRIMES ACT TO MAKE THE FUTURE USE OF WATERBOARDING AND OTHER -- QUOTE -- "ENHANCED INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES" PUNISHABLE AS WAR CRIMES. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE MISINFORMATION DISSEMINATED THEN ABOUT WHAT WAS AND WASN'T ACHIEVED USING THESE METHODS IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION. THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION USED IN 2011 TO CREDIT THE USE OF THESE METHODS WITH THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN AND THERE IS, I FEAR, MISINFORMATION BEING USED TODAY TO PREVENT THE RELEASE OF THIS REPORT DISPUTING ITS FINDINGS AND WARNING ABOUT THE SECURITY CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. WITH THE REPORT'S RELEASE, WILL -- WILL THE REPORT'S RELEASE CAUSE OUTRAGE THAT LEADS TO VIOLENCE IN SOME PARTS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD? YES, I SUPPOSE THAT'S POSSIBLE. PERHAPS LIKELY. SADLY, VIOLENCE NEEDS LITTLE INCENTIVE IN SOME QUARTERS OF THE WORLD TODAY. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL BE TELLING THE WORLD SOMETHING IT WILL BE SHOCKED TO LEARN. THE ENTIRE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS THAT WE WATER BOARDED PRISONERS. IT KNOWS THAT WE SUBJECTED PRISONERS VARIOUS OTHER TYPES OF DEGRADING TREATMENT. IT KNOWS WE USED BLACK SITES, SECRET PRISONS. THOSE PRACTICES HAVEN'T BEEN A SECRET FOR A DECADE. TERRORISTS MIGHT USE THE REPORT'S REIDENTIFICATION OF THE PRACTICES AS AN EXCUSE TO ATTACK AMERICANS, BUT THEY HARDLY NEED AN EXCUSE FOR THAT. THAT HAS BEEN THEIR LIFE'S CALLING FOR A WHILE NOW. WHAT MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE NOT JUST TO OUR ENEMIES BUT TO MANY AMERICANS IS HOW LITTLE THESE PRACTICES DID TO AID OUR EFFORTS TO BRING 9/11 CULPRITS TO JUSTICE AND TO FIND AND PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS TODAY AND TOMORROW. THAT COULD BE A REAL SURPRISE, SINCE IT CONTRADICTS THE MANY ASSURANCES PROVIDED BY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS ON THE RECORD AND IN PRIVATE THAT ENHANCEED INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES WERE INDISPENSABLE IN THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. AND I SUSPECT THE OBJECTION OF THOSE SAME OFFICIALS TO THE RELEASE OF THIS REPORT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT DISCLOSURE, TORTURE'S INEFFECTIVENESS. BECAUSE WE GAVE UP MUCH IN THE EXPECTATION THAT TORTURE WOULD MAKE US SAFER. TOO MUCH. OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED INTELLIGENCE TO DEFEAT OUR ENEMIES BUT WE NEED RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE. TORTURE PRODUCES MORE MISLEADING INFORMATION THAN ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. AND WHAT THE ADVOCATES OF HARSH AND INTERROGATION METHODS HAVE NEVER ESTABLISHED IS THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE GATHERED AS GOOD OR MORE RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE FROM USING HUMANE METHODS. THE MOST IMPORTANT -- THE MOST IMPORTANT LEAD WE GOT CAME FROM USING CONVENTIONAL INTERROGATION METHODS AND I THINK IT'S AN INSULT TO THE MANY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED GOOD INTELLIGENCE WITHOUT HURTING OR DEGRADING PRISONERS TO ASSERT WE CAN'T WIN THIS WAR WITHOUT SUCH METHODS. YES, WE CAN AND WE WILL. BUT IN THE END, TORTURE'S FAILURE TO SERVE ITS INTENDED PURPOSE ISN'T THE MAIN REASON TO OPPOSE ITS USE. I HAVE OFTEN SAID AND WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN THAT THIS QUESTION ISN'T ABOUT OUR NAMES, IT'S ABOUT US. IT'S ABOUT HOW WE WERE, WHO WE ARE, AND WHO WE ASPIRE TO BE. IT'S ABOUT HOW WE REPRESENT OURSELVES TO THE WORLD. WE HAVE MADE OUR WAY IN THIS OFTEN DANGEROUS AND CRUEL WORLD NOT BY JUST STRICTLY PURSUING OUR GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS BUT BY EXEMPLIFYING OUR POLITICAL VALUES AND INFLUENCING OTHER NATIONS TO EMBRACE THEM. WHEN WE FIGHT TO DEFEND OUR SECURITY, WE FIGHT ALSO FOR AN IDEA, NOT FOR A TRIBE OR A TWISTED INTERPRETATION OF AONIAN GENT RELIGION OR A KING BUT FOR AN IDEA THAT ALL MEN ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH INALIENABLE RIGHTS. HOW MUCH SAFER THE WORLD WOULD BE IF ALL NATIONS BELIEVES THE SAME. HOW MUCH MORE DANGEROUS IT CAN BECOME WHEN WE FORGET IT OURSELVES, EVEN MOMENTARILY. OUR ENEMIES ACT WITHOUT CONSCIENCE. WE MUST NOT. THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT MAKES CLEAR THAT ACTING WITHOUT CONSCIENCE ISN'T NECESSARY. IT ISN'T EVEN HELPFUL IN WINNING THIS STRANGE AND LONG WAR WE'RE FIGHTING. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT TRUTH AFFIRMED. NOW LET US REASSERT THE TEMPORARY PROPOSITION THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SUCCESS IN THIS WAR THAT WE ASK THOSE WHO FIGHT IT FOR US TO REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES THAT THEY ARE DEFENDING A SACRED IDEAL OF HOW NATIONS SHOULD BE GOVERNED AND CONDUCT THEIR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS, EVEN OUR ENEMIES. THOSE OF US WHO GIVE THEM THIS DUTY ARE OBLIGED BY HISTORY, BY OUR NATION'S HIGHEST IDEALS AND THE MANY TERRIBLE SACRIFICES MADE TO PROTECT THEM BY OUR RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY, TO MAKE CLEAR WE NEED BE RISK OUR NATIONAL HONOR TO PREVAIL IN THIS OR ANY WAR. WE NEED ONLY REMEMBER IN THE WORST OF TIMES THROUGH THE CHAOS AND TERROR OF WAR, WHEN FACING CRUELTY, SUFFERING, AND LOSS, THAT WE ARE ALWAYS AMERICANS AND DIFFERENT, STRONGER, AND BETTER THAN THOSE WHO WOULD DESTROY US. MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.

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RUNNING... FOR RE-ELECTION?: Looking Past Recount, Martha McSally Files For 2016! (#AZ02 McSALLY/BARBER RECOUNT)

Arizona's newest Congresswoman-Elect-pending-recount-and-possible-challenges, Martha McSally, is taking the long view and yesterday became the first person to file for re-election in the ultra-competitive 2nd Congressional District. (Her Statement of Candidacy is posted below.)

McSally is leading current Rep. Ron Barber (D-CD2) by 161 votes as Pima and Cochise Counties conduct an automatic recount.

The Statement of Candidacy does not bind McSally to a campaign, of course.  Nor does it indicate that she is assuming that she will be running for re-election - it is possible that she would be runnng as a challenger.

However, it does permit McSally to raise money for both her 2014 recount and a possible 2016 race. (For example, if someone wanted to hand her a $7,800 check right now, she could accept it and divide it up between the 2014 general(recount), and the 2016 primary and general.)

This is not uncommon for already-elected offcials - Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (D-CD9) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-CD1) already filed, and most of the other Representatives will do so within the next month.  In fact, Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake filed theirs - for 2016 and 2018 - back in 2012 and January 2013, respectively.

  Martha Mcsally 2016 Stmt of Candidacy

(Arizona election law attorney Paul Weich contributed this article.)

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BREAKING: APS, Bob Parsons (Others) Send $375K In Last-Minute Checks To RGA/Ducey Campaign (FOLLOWING MONEY IN ARIZONA'S POLITICS)

Not only did APS* send a last minute $50,000 check to the Republican Governors' Association to support the campaign of Treasurer-now-Governor-Elect Doug Ducey, but other Arizonans also gave big bucks at the last moment.

Most notably, former GoDaddy CEO and former big Christine Jones-for-Governor supporter Bob Parsons chipped in $200,000 to the RGA in October (in two equal installments on Oct. 10 & 24).

For comparson purposes, Parsons bankrolled an independent expenditure committee Better Leaders for Arizona in the primary election campaign, spending $2.1M supporting former general counsel Christine Jones.  It would appear Parsons preferred contributing to the RGA's attack ad campaign over the pro-Ducey dark money groups that had previously shredded Jones.

Also sending money to the RGA in October were Richard Burke (a Paradise Valley resident who is Chair of the UnitedHealth Group board) and Randy Kendrick (an attorney whose husband is the Managing General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks).  They gave $100,000 and $25,000, respectively.

There were no substantial Arizona contributors to the Democratic Governors' Association in that period, and the RGA outspent the DGA in Arizona $6.1M to $150K.**

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was the Chair of the RGA and made an early October visit to Phoenix to support Ducey.

  rga 8872 post-elec 120414 by arizonaspolitics

*Actually, APS' corporate parent, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation.
**The DGA contributed $150,000 to "Restore Arizona's Future" through October 17. RAF has not yet filed its post-election report (due yesterday).

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