Tony Reinhard

The widely-circulated memo put out by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) addressing the Republican Party's weaknesses this election cycle has stirred controversy and speculation. It also has a direct bearing on the congressional races in Arizona that may prove to be some of the most closely-watched in the nation.

Whatever Davis's missive says about the turmoil within the National Republican Congressional Committee - and the possibility that he is angling to lead it - it has also yielded two radically different interpretations from both of Arizona's parties. It remains in the hands of the voters to determine which view will prove correct.

The Arizona Republican Party is fuming over what it sees as Governor Janet Napolitano's latest blow to anti-illegal immigration efforts.

In an executive order signed Monday, Napolitano redirected over $1 million slated to go to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office for immigration enforcement. The funds will be used instead for a task force she's appointed to serve tens of thousands of outstanding warrants statewide.

Coupled with her veto of a bill that would have enabled county and municipal law enforcement agencies to have greater cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Arizona Republican Party is making its displeasure known, and accusing the governor of refusing to enforce laws and obstructing Sheriff Arpaio's efforts.

The question, though, is how far are frustrated Republicans willing to go to stop Gov. Napolitano?    

Anyone expecting a repeat of Nevada's Republican Party Convention today was sorely mistaken. Despite an effort to secure the election of supporters of Rep. Ron Paul as delegates to the Republican National Convention in September, the "Unity Slate," crafted by the party to ensure that only delegates who fully support the state's favorite son would be represent Arizona in Minneapolis this September, was elected with almost no changes.

U.S. Sen. John McCainOn the fifth anniversary of Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, Democrats are taking the opportunity to once again throw Sen. John McCain's words on Iraq back in his face.

Despite complaints that McCain's remarks to the effect that it would be acceptable for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq for 100 years were taken out of context, Democrats are not letting up on the issue. Moreover, they are trying to paint McCain as a "flip-flopper" for having previously advanced a position at odds with his current view on Iraq.

This has been the week of the GOP going after Democrats over rising fuel costs, trying to marry that party to consumer woes. The Democrats have responded, but now Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party, is lending her voice.

Republicans claim the Democratic leadership in Congress is failing to lead on this issue, and furthermore advocating a stance that will lead to higher gas prices. Democrats countered today with a list of specific legislation that they say works to achieve the object - with a note from Bittner saying Republicans care more about Big Oil than the middle class. 

Tony Reinhard, the spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party, usually lets party boss Randy Pullen do the attacking. Today, though, Reinhard is hitting hard at Emily Bittner, his Democratic counterpart. Bittner is roundly regarded as a pit bull in the best sense by Democrats and Republicans alike, and now Reinhard is trying to show that his office can give as good as it gets.

Despite vetoing a Republican-backed spending freeze that would have indefinitely tied up $580 million of state funds, which GOP lawmakers argue is necessary to help combate the $1.2 billion projected budget deficit, Republicans described this morning's negotiating session between House Speaker Jim Weiers (R-Phoneix), Senate Pres.