Bogey Dope, Part 1

A combination of new districts for 2012 in Arizona, and Congresswoman Giffords resignation from District 8 - now becoming District 2 - has resulted in an interesting situation on the Arizona political scene. First, there is a special election to fill Giffords' seat. The primary is on April 12, then the general election is on June 12. However, a question then comes up as to who will win in November. Part of the reason this is interesting is because the existing CD 8, where the special election will be held, offers a Republican advantage, but the new CD 2, where the election will be this fall, shows a rough parity.

However, the election is interesting for other reasons, as well.

We begin by considering excerpts from McSally, 1st female AF pilot to fly in combat, joins GOP race in Dist. 8, dated February 9, 2012 (see also here):

The first woman to fly fighters in combat for the Air Force, and first to command a fighter squadron in combat, is entering the special election to fill U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' vacated congressional seat.

Martha McSally confirmed her intentions Wednesday to join the Republican primary. She made her decision after analyzing three factors: was it feasible, was she electable, and did she feel called to run.

Skipping down in the article, McSally explained part of why she should be considered a serious candidate.

"I've got a record of standing up for constitutional rights, of doing the right thing regardless of the personal cost," McSally said.

In 2001, McSally sued the Pentagon over its requirement that military women serving in Saudi Arabia wear abayas, or traditional black Muslim cloaks, off base. She said the practice was offensive to her as a Christian.

After the Supreme Court agreed, McSally said the military retaliated against her by giving her poor performance reviews and deeming her unfit for leadership positions. She vowed to continue a legal battle against the Air Force until her career prospects were restored.

Then in 2004, she was named commander of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 354th Fighter Squadron, a position she held until 2006. She dropped her suit at the time.

More background on McSally can be found in Fighter pilot McSally aims at GOP CD8 race. Of course, her campaign website may be of interest, as well.

McSally brought this particular Congressional race to national attention when she was interviewed in Fox News. Though McSally did a great job, the interview really turned into a homerun when McSally was asked about Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum's concerns about easing the restrictions on women in combat. Her response went viral, and may have earned her a new nickname.



From McSally about Santorum: 'I wanted to kick him in the jimmy', February 17, 2012:

In an interview Santorum said that move could compromise the interests of mission because of "other types of emotions that are involved."

"I agree with many of the things that Rick Santorum says," McSally said. "But when I heard this I really just wanted to go kick him in the jimmy."

When the announcer repeated her phrase, "Kick him in the jimmy?" McSally continued:

"Yeah, he's totally out of touch. I mean, completely out of touch," McSally said. "These are the kind of arguments we heard 20-25 years ago as to why women couldn't be fighter pilots. It's an insult to the men and women who are serving overseas, putting their lives on the line and focusing on the mission right now."

Colonel McSally, at this point I find no reason not to take you at face value, so I will offer my input: perhaps the reason you agree with many of the things Rick Santorum says, but have this urge to "kick him in the jimmy", is because Santorum is really just a 'rider'.

Specifically, my question for you - and this may take some research on your part - what did Santorum do to be named to Sibel Edmonds' Dirty Dozen list?

You might be surprised to find out that you worked in the office of another US Senator who made that list.

Assuming I can take you at face value, perhaps you are aiming too low: maybe you are the one who should be running for the center seat, not Santorum.

But, then again, who knows? The Sibel Edmonds case opens the door and sheds some light into a very convoluted underworld, doesn't it?

This will be the first in a new series of posts following this Arizona Congressional race... a race which, I believe, raises many questions, and may have some related topics.

Meanwhile, other Republican contenders for the seat include: school district employee Adam Hansen, who suspended his campaign and endorsed McSally; State Senator Frank Antenori, who is a combat veteran of the US Army Special Forces, having received a Bronze Star for action at Debecka, Iraq; businessman and community activist Dave Sitton, who has no military service but has received honors for advocating on behalf of the military; Army veteran John Lervold, who served as an airborne infantryman and later as an interrogator, then left the Army and began training Army interrogators at Fort Huachuca; and Marine veteran and businessman Jesse Kelly, who currently works as a project manager for a construction company.