LA Times: Arizona's us-versus-them brand of politics

[pampango]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-shooting-politics-20110110,0,7257251.story

Years before 'tea party' entered the political lexicon, conservatives took over the state's Republican Party. Some have long warned that the heated rhetoric could have grim consequences.

Shortly before a gunman shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the head and killed six bystanders, the man who helped position Arizona at the vanguard of a national right-wing populist revolt addressed supporters in Phoenix.

"We're leading the nation," state Sen. Russell Pearce told the Maricopa County Republican Party as he celebrated the GOP's clean sweep of state elections in November and Arizona's influence on immigration and other issues. Pearce, who wrote a tough immigration law last year, went on in the speech later posted on YouTube: "If it wasn't for Arizona you wouldn't have the debate going on that you have. … We've changed the face of this nation through the tea party, through Americans who want their government back."

Hours later, Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik offered a different assessment of Arizona politics. "The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous," Dupnik, a Democrat, said at a news conference after the rampage. "And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

[DonCoquixote]

1. I would like to think it is AZ

But to be honest, Florida is not too far behind. The only difference is, our incompetent democratic Party is keeping the GOP afloat.