Posted on 11/29/2006 8:11:44 PM PST by repentant_pundit
All the candidates for office in GOP Legislative District 11 (Phoenix) belonging to the Sen. John McCain faction, in an effort to capture the district leadership from conservatives, lost in Tuesday night's election.
Former governor Fife Symington was defeated by incumbent district chairman Rob Haney, 215-166.
Symington was not a gracious loser. On his way out, he suggested that proxy voting should be done away with. Symington and McCain have been friends for a long time.
John Acer won the race for first chair, and all of the other conservative candidates won against McCain's slate of RINOs. The margins in all races were substantial.
Haney said, "The true grassroots conservatives swept the pretend grassroots Republicans."
Symington, who attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute after he was forced to resign from office on fraud convictions (later overturned; he was also pardoned by President Clinton), was sent "back to the kitchen" in a failed attempt to heat up his political career. Symington briefly considered running for governor last year, as well.
State Republican Party leadership also took a big roundhouse punch to the chin. Sen. Jon Kyl, Congressmen John Shadegg, Rick Renzi and Jeff Flake all wound up with egg on their faces for endorsing Symington. So did Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas, Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and former legislator Laura Knaperek.
Thus, District 11 remains safely in conservative hands.
NOTES: Former Maricopa County GOP chair Tom Liddy had tried to peel off Haney supporters prior to the meeting. ... In the opening introduction of dignitaries present, Haney introduced Symington and said "wonder what he's doing here." Symington smiled and said, "You'll find out after the election results."
In addition to Acer's victory, Tom Husband won second vice chair, Carolyn Berta was elected corresponding secretary, Charlotte Reed was elected recording secretary and George Teegarden was selected treasurer. ... Husband remarked that most of the PCs in attendance had been recruited by Haney.
...but it's a rare defeat for the drive-by media's favorite Arizona Legislative District 11 resident, John McCain...
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Yes it is. Their poster-boy RINO. McCain has no one with an IQ over 65, fooled as to who and what he stands for. Just McCain...but sadly this is a systemic disease that is carried by most of Washington now.
A strong conservative will challenge him for his Senate seat in 2010 and will defeat him.
Great news!
Softheaded, softhorned rinos. May their days in office be few, and decent Republicans take their place...
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