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McCain backs Minuteman Graf; Giffords wants Hastert to resign
The Business Journal, Phoenix ^ | 8 October 2006 | Mike Sunnucks

Posted on 10/09/2006 2:26:40 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles

McCain backs Minuteman Graf; Giffords wants Hastert to resign

The Business Journal of Phoenix - October 8, 2006
by Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal

Arizona Sen. John McCain has endorsed conservative Tucson congressional candidate Randy Graf despite a split between the two on immigration and the Mexican border. Graf is also a member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a controversial group that patrols U.S. border and wants tougher immigration controls. The Minutemen have opposed McCain's approach to immigration, including a guest worker program.

Graf faces an uphill climb against Democratic rival Gabrielle Giffords in a southeastern Arizona U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe. The Arizona House race is one of the most competitive contests nationally and a top target of Democrats.

Dems hopes the affable Giffords can win the Arizona contest and help them gain control of Congress in the wake of the increasingly unpopular Iraq War and GOP ethics scandals including the recent incidents involving Mark Foley and male congressional pages.

McCain is backing Graf, according to Graf's web site and a Sunday story in the Arizona Daily Star. McCain and Graf have profound differences on the issue of illegal immigration. The Republican senator favors a guest worker program and some sort of legal path for some illegals already in the U.S.

Graf opposes McCain's guest worker plan and favors the Minuteman approach to immigration including tougher security and opposing legal paths or 'amnesty' for illegals already in the U.S. Graf has been critical of President Bush on immigration. Bush favors a guest worker program. National Republicans and business groups backed state Rep. Steve Huffman, R-Tucson, over Graf in the September GOP primary but the latter prevailed. Graf challenged Kolbe in 2004. The retiring congressman backed Huffman in the primary and is not supporting Graf. Kolbe also supports a guest worker plan.

Graf, a former state lawmaker, has the backing of the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and security-first immigration hawks. Polls show Giffords, a former state senator, leading Graf and national Republicans have been hesitant to focus on the race.

Giffords has the backing of Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson/Yuma/Nogales; labor unions and environmental groups. Giffords - whose boyfriend is an astronaut and U.S. Navy fighter pilot - is telegenic and considered an upcoming star in the Democratic Party.

If Giffords defeats Graf in November, she could also be eyed in future runs for Arizona governor or U.S. Senate.

McCain is expected to announce a second run for president after the November elections. He has been campaigning hard for Republicans in key contests and has sought to heal old wounds with conservatives. That includes backing conservative candidates such as Graf.

Giffords has recently joined other Arizona Democrats, including Grijalva, in calling for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to step down in the wake of the Foley scandal. They say Hastert and other GOP leaders did not act fast enough when first informed of Foley's inappropriate advances towards male pages.




TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: aliens; cd8; cochise; elections; graf; immigrantlist; mccain; nrcc; pima
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More info on Giffords and Graf differences.
1 posted on 10/09/2006 2:26:40 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles
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To: axes_of_weezles

Let's hope Giffords good sense rubs off on McCain.


2 posted on 10/09/2006 2:28:45 PM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender!)
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To: axes_of_weezles
I think if Giffords married Kathy Lee, he should resign!

What? Wrong Giffords?

Never mind

3 posted on 10/09/2006 2:29:49 PM PDT by llevrok (When you take my gin from my cold, dead hand....)
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To: axes_of_weezles
b>36% Feel House Speaker Hastert Should Resign Rassmussen did a poll on Foleygate. Out of ALL respondents, Democrats and Republicans only 36% felt Hastert should go, 64% either did not or did not care. Pretty much nukes the "Everyone hates the GOP because of Foley" story line being spread by the Leftist Noise machine now does it not?
4 posted on 10/09/2006 2:30:33 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Evil Dooer, Snowflake, Conservative Fundamentalist Bush Bot Dittohead reporting for duty!)
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To: MNJohnnie

Yep.

I thought it's kind of funny this article is reduced to pointing out her "boyfriend" is an Astronaut.

Hahahaha.


5 posted on 10/09/2006 2:31:58 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles
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To: MNJohnnie

Good post Johnnie. With the bogus USA today polling coming out today, it is nice to get some facts from Rasmussen.


6 posted on 10/09/2006 2:35:56 PM PDT by Welike ike
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To: VictoryGal

"Let's hope Giffords good sense rubs off on McCain."

What, you want McCain to marry an astronaut?


7 posted on 10/09/2006 2:37:07 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: axes_of_weezles

Axes, if McCain can pull out a Graf win, he will get credibility from the Conservatives.


8 posted on 10/09/2006 2:37:17 PM PDT by Welike ike
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To: axes_of_weezles

I want Hastert to stay and McCain, "The Manchurian Canidate" can shut up.


9 posted on 10/09/2006 2:38:07 PM PDT by JOE43270 (JOE43270, God Bless America and All Who Have and Will Defend Her.)
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To: axes_of_weezles

I wonder who the astronaut is. They should have named him. I am a space enthusiast so I am curious.


10 posted on 10/09/2006 2:40:41 PM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: RegulatorCountry

Gah, I meant Graf. I'm underslept.


11 posted on 10/09/2006 2:41:27 PM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender!)
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To: VictoryGal

Oh, OK. LOL.


12 posted on 10/09/2006 2:43:10 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: TNCMAXQ

How many Navy Astronauts are there?


13 posted on 10/09/2006 2:46:05 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles
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To: Welike ike

No, he won't.

At least not this conservative.

McCain is endorsing a number of politicians (or wannabe politicians) because he wants their support in his '08 Presidential run. I will not extend ANY praise or credit to Johnny for a political calculation that as always is meant to serve himself. I am willing to use McCain to get the petulant Kolbe Reps onboard...if he even has the ability to bring them on...but I won't empower McCain in any way, shape or form.

The last time I praised him was the '04 Convention when he smacked Michael Moore with Moore in attendance. One of the highlights of the convention and most of us cheered him for it. Not an hour later he was on cable apologizing for having done so. He'll take the praise and turn around and smack you with it.


14 posted on 10/09/2006 2:52:13 PM PDT by Soul Seeker (Kobach: Amnesty is going from an illegal to a legal position, without imposing the original penalty.)
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To: TNCMAXQ

I don't know but check out her web site, she is definitely easy on the eyes even though she is a dim....


15 posted on 10/09/2006 2:57:18 PM PDT by martinidon (Bush won sKerry lost and Soro's is out millions for nothing!)
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To: axes_of_weezles

Not sure but I checked her website and got the answer. I feel dirty just for going to a Demo website. ;) But the astronaut is Mark Kelly, who flew on mission STS-121 last July.


16 posted on 10/09/2006 2:57:24 PM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: TNCMAXQ

She has such a weak personal identity (id/ego/superego) that she has to identify with an Astronaut, instead of talking about issues.

I can only think of the Rolling Stones song StarF***aStarF***.


17 posted on 10/09/2006 3:00:28 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3pools; 3rdcanyon; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; ..

ping


18 posted on 10/09/2006 4:29:14 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: axes_of_weezles

If I were a GOP candidate for office, the LAST thing I would want is an "endorsement" from John 'closet lib' McCain!

McCain is living in a dream world if he thinks he has a hope in h**l of ever being president!


19 posted on 10/09/2006 5:49:13 PM PDT by Mtner77
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To: MNJohnnie; All

This story has no legs and will be yesterdays news in a day or two, despite all the desperate attempts by the left and the MSM to revive it. ........and Giffords can eat my shorts!!


20 posted on 10/09/2006 6:00:55 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Our troops will send all of the worlds terrorists to hell in a handbasket with no virgins!)
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