Buying Corrupt Repub Renzi in AZ-1's Vote

Embattled Republican Representative Rick Renzi from Arizona CD-1 has already made the 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress list. Now, he has shown us exactly how much his vote costs, $26,000. Renzi is the only member of Arizona's congressional delegation not to back Arizonan John Shadegg for majority leader in favor of Roy Blunt.

Details past the fold...

The connection between Renzi and Blunt according to the Arizona Daily Sun article:

Blunt and his political action committee have sent Renzi $26,000 in campaign contributions over the last four years, compared to a few thousand from Shadegg, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

Mike Caccioppoli, running as a Democrat against Renzi, is quoted as saying:

"Renzi has relied on Blunt in order to get elected and now he is paying back the favor. This is a prime example of how corruption and cronyism works."

And what does Renzi say about Caccioppoli:

Renzi, when asked about this fall's race, said "Cachoppa -- who?"

This is great news for the Caccioppoli campaign as we all know that when they start trying to laugh you off, they ARE getting scared!!! AZ-1 is a seat the Democrats can pick up. Democrats hold a sizeable registration edge in this district and Renzi's baggage is growing by the day.

•  Don't Forget Hayworth

  J.D. Hayworth have received thousands from Abramoff and others. He was voted by  his colleagues as the "Dimmest Bulb in Congress." I think the netroots has a lot to offer the Dem candidates for AZ-05 and AZ-01. I think AZ-01 will have a competitive primary but AZ-05 has only one candidate, Larry King of Scottsdale. We should be making these districts competitive and show how Renzi and Hayworth are two of some of the dirtiest and corrupt members of Congress.

  by Fox Ringo on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:21:21 PM PDT

  •  Hayworth is a hack

    You're right that Hayworth is very deserving of the "dimmest bulb in Congress" award. Even some Republicans I know cringe whenever he talks. But unfortunately, the demographics of his district make him a fairly safe bet for re-election, although not entirely to the point that we should abandon the seat (given that "safe" incumbents do sometimes self-implode).

    I'd recommend spending the most time on AZ-1 (Renzi's seat), and retiring Republican Jim Kolbe's seat. Even though Kolbe was re-elected in '02 and '04 by comfortable margins, it's a swing district with healthy levels of Democratic registration, and given some of the wingnuts who are currently eyeing, it might be one that we can win back into our column.

    by pine on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:26:59 PM PDT

•  Renzi is a slimeball

  I lived in Flagstaff for a few years while I was a student at NAU, and I saw Renzi's meteoric rise to power. The man is an evil slimeball and a carpetbagger who literally has no real reason to be representing Arizona (aside from his time as a student at NAU in the mid-1980s, he's spent the vast majority of his life in Virginia). Unfortunately, Renzi's fundraising abilities mean that Democrats will need a heavy-duty candidate to take him down. But '06 might be the year to do it.

  I'm pleased to see a healthy Democratic primary this time around. If I still voted in the district (which I don't), I would be more inclined to support Jack Jackson, Jr. than I would Caccioppoli. Still, I think that a healthy primary will be helpful to prepare whoever the eventual nominee ends up being.

  (For whatever it's worth, I was a former volunteer for George Cordova, Renzi's '02 opponent. It was a heartbreaking loss--Cordova was a dark horse who came out of nowhere to win the Democratic primary, and lost to Renzi by just 1 or 2 percentage points, even after the national Democratic Party abandoned the race).

  by pine on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:22:44 PM PDT

•  Jack Jackson is going up against Renzi

  A Navajo, Jackson has a good resume, and IIRC, was on the ballot for DFA support a few months ago.

  http://www.backjackson.com/
  

  by NMRed on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:37:42 PM PDT

  •  agreed

    I've long thought that it would be an effective strategy for Democrats to run someone from the Navajo Reservation against Renzi, especially since Renzi is delusional enough to consider himself a prominent advocate for Native American issues. Jackson's credentials are strong and he is in my opinion by the far the most logical Democrat for taking on Renzi.

    by pine on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:49:39 PM PDT

•  Renzi is rotton to the core

  Renzi is in government because like Willie Sutton said that's where the money is.  I don't understand how Renzi has continued to win in a district with more Democrats than Republicans.  We need to make this race a priority this year.  There's no reason for Renzi to get a pass this year.

  I doubt that Caccioppoli can run a credible campaign given that he has no experience and no money, but Jack Jackson Jr., is running a good campaign so far.

  http://www.backjackson.com/

  by ortcutt on Sun Jan 29, 2006 at 01:38:49 PM PDT