phoenix

PHOENIX — John McCain and Sarah Palin will be back on the campaign trail Friday, their first time campaigning together since McCain lost the presidential election a year and a half ago with Palin as his running mate. This time, they have a different prize in sight: McCain’s Senate seat. The Arizona senator is in the midst of the toughest re-election battle of his Senate career, facing a primary challenge from the right. Former congressman and conservative talk-radio host J.D.

“I don’t know, Senator,” says John McCain’s assistant. “There’s no return address. Just a Phoenix postmark.” “The bastard.” “J.D.?” “Who else?” McCain holds up one of the black flip-flops. “Not even my size.” He flips the rubber sandal back into the box, tosses it to his assistant. “Get Shiree in here.” Fifteen minutes later, McCain, his composure reclaimed, leans back, hands clasped behind his head.

PHOENIX — Defeated just two years ago as the Republican presidential candidate and with his bonafides as a true conservative again being challenged, John McCain finds himself in a struggle to get even his party’s nomination for another term in the Senate. Many conservatives and Tea Party activists are lining up behind Republican challenger and former talk radio host J.D. Hayworth, reflecting a rising tide of voter frustration with incumbent politicians. Only 40 percent of Arizonans have a favorable view of McCain’s job performance.

20th Century Musical Geniuses… Sir Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999) was a Jewish American-born violinist, violist, and conductor who spent most of his adult life in the United Kingdom. He began playing the violin at age three, and his first public performance, with the San Francisco Symphony, occurred when he was only seven.

Leaked copies of two speeches Sarah Palin prepared for last year’s US election night have revealed she planned to salute her husband Todd as the nation’s “first ever Second Dude” in the event of victory.

In defeat, which she suffered with Senator John McCain at the hands of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Republican vice-presidential candidate wanted to tell Todd to “get ready for the Iron Dog snow machine race!”.

Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the three-time major champion said Wednesday he will suspend his PGA Tour schedule indefinitely. According to a release from Mickelson’s management company, his wife was to have more tests but begin treatment with major surgery as early as the next two weeks. Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world with 36 career PGA Tour victories, was to play the Byron Nelson Championship this week before defending his title next week at Colonial. It was not certain if he would return in time for the U.S.

PHOENIX–Arizona is not a sexy state. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, DC, these are the locales people pay attention to. Arizona politics barely gets attention in Arizona. So, when non-party-hacks start following Arizona party politics for the entertainment value — and not just regular politics but inside baseball party politics — then something is happening. Whether it’s good or bad depends who’s asked.

There she is…the former Miss Wasilla, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, entering the deep bastion of America’s corporate elite, The Alfalfa Club, in “a black satin evening gown and matching wrap” that doesn’t quite look like it’s been worn too often in the Last Frontier. Proper moose hunting attire it is not, even if one is hunting from an airplane .