FREEDOMWORKS

When I say “Arizona,” what springs to mind? Cactus. Rattlesnakes. Dry heat. However, politicians in one Grand Canyon State suburb decided that hockey was the perfect fit for their desert bedroom community.

The Phoenix Coyotes weren’t happy sharing a new downtown arena with the Suns. So the city of Glendale, Ariz., flush with tax revenue from the Sun Belt real estate bubble, built a hockey-only facility surrounded by miles of cotton fields.

Sure, the arena was 20 miles of rush-hour traffic from downtown, but the politicians promised if they built it, economic development would come. But Glendale’s rink of dreams quickly descended into a field of schemes.

FREEDOMWORKS

The left constantly proclaims its pro-choice bona fides, but only in one very specific area. Should you be able to choose your own light bulb, elementary school, health insurance or soft drink? All of a sudden liberals don’t appreciate choice so much.

One of the left’s many anti-choice positions is their furious resistance to “right-to-work” laws. As with so many other basic liberties, most liberals don’t trust American workers with workplace freedom — the decision to join, or not to join, a labor union.

DAILY CALLER

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer earned much conservative praise for her finger-pointing duels with President Obama. So Republicans from coast to coast were stunned to find her transformed into a passionate Obamacare booster.

Earlier this month, Brewer challenged the authority of her GOP-led state legislature and rammed through a vast expansion of the Medicaid program through Obamacare. A “Brewer Coalition” of every Democrat and a handful of Republicans engineered a 3:40 a.m. house vote, refusing to answer any questions about the controversial measure. The legislation was rushed through the state senate and proudly signed by the governor.

Now Brewer and her liberal allies are finding the fingers pointed back at them. Grassroots conservatives are fighting back with primaries, rallies, and now a possible repeal.

One group filed paperwork this week for a ballot referendum to reverse the Obrewercare expansion. They’ll kick off the “People’s Veto” with a rally at the State Capitol this Saturday at 10 a.m. They need to gather 100,000 signatures within the next 82 days, but organizers are confident it can be done.

Apparently Brewer agrees that it can be done. Within hours of filing the People’s Veto, the governor’s allies began attacking the URAPC, formed an opposition committee headed by former DC lobbyists, and scheduled a counter rally at the capitol.

It’s shaping up to be a long, hot summer in Arizona — even hotter than usual. With the help of conservatives inside and outside the state, fiscal sanity will carry the day.

FREEDOMWORKS

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer earned much conservative praise for her colorful duels with President Obama. So Republicans from coast to coast were stunned to find her transformed into a passionate Obamacare booster.

Earlier this month, Brewer challenged the authority of the GOP-led state legislature and rammed through a vast expansion of the Medicaid program through Obamacare. A “Brewer Coalition” of every Democrat and a handful of Republicans engineered a 3:40 a.m. house vote, refusing to answer any questions about the controversial measure. The legislation was rushed through the state senate and proudly signed by the governor.

FREEDOMWORKS

Like many moms with young kids, Rhea Lana Riner was struggling to live on a very tight budget. While some moms were buying name-brand outfits for their children, Rhea Lana was digging through consignment stores and garage sales to find the best deals. As her kids outgrew their clothing, she would sell them at her own garage sales but couldn't earn enough to keep her budget balanced. 

Frustrated by the experience, Rhea Lana decided to invite other cost-conscious moms to get together to buy and sell each other's clothes at her home. Every sale attracted more families eager to sell and buy, so she moved to larger venues. Some of the consignment moms started volunteering to help at the community events. 

Hundreds of young families were helped by Rhea Lana's Children's Clothing Exchange, the poorest of whom thanked her while fighting back tears. She moved the sales online, then started franchising the process to help parents and kids beyond her hometown. Last year, 51 Rhea Lana events were held across 22 states.

FREEDOMWORKS

Throughout the nation, politicians are screaming about the soaring cost of medical care. The jump in prices was the primary argument used to force Obamacare on an unwilling public.

But did you know that the price for one area of medical services has actually fallen over the past 20 years? If you adjust for inflation, these health care costs have dropped by about a third. How is this possible? Because consumers pay for these expenses out of pocket instead of through insurance or expensive government programs.

Since 1992, the price of all medical care has increased an average of 118 percent, with an inflation rate that has increased by 64 percent. But the free-market cosmetic surgery sector only saw prices rise about 30 percent. Once you take inflation into account, that’s a big price drop, despite significant innovation and a massive increase in demand.

DAILY CALLER

I’m beginning to lose faith in the sound judgment of America’s celebrities.

Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. is a rap artist whom the kids call “Lil Wayne” or “Weezy.” (I am unsure of his height, but apparently he quite lil and might have asthma.)

He recently recorded a hip-hop tour de force titled, “God Bless Amerika.” His love of understatement precluded the use of three K’s.

While filming a music video, he stomped about on a U.S. flag while singing, “My country ’tis of thee / sweet land of kill ‘em all and let ‘em die / God bless Amerika / This so godless Amerika… the stars on the flag are never shining.”

Which doesn’t even rhyme.

As you have probably guessed, I am a hip-hop aficionado who prefers his beats dope and his flow fresh. However, l’oeuvre Weezy appears to be that of a sucka MC. It puts me in a mind to wax a chump like a candle.

Here’s the video of DJ Bill Ayers in action:

Speaking of chumps, Lil Wayne feigned shock at the accusations of improper flag protocol. On Twitter he pled with patriots everywhere, “I didn’t step on the flag on purpose! It’s a scene in a video where the flag drops behind me and after it drop it’s just there as I perform.”

If America can’t trust Weezy, who can we trust?

DAILYCALLER

Since Jim Treacher is away, I decided to sneak aboard the DC Trawler. You might know me as ExJon on Twitter, read my blog posts, or enjoyed my antics in your local police blotter. For the rest of you, a brief bio is in order. Ahem:

Thanks to Jim and the lax security for allowing me aboard!

RICOCHET

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has earned much conservative praise for her colorful duels with President Obama. Now out-of-state Republicans are shocked to find her transformed into a passionate Obamacare booster.

Earlier today, Brewer challenged the authority of the Republican-led state legislature and rammed through a vast expansion of the Medicaid program through Obamacare. A “Brewer Coalition” of every Democrat and a handful of Republicans engineered a 3:40 a.m. house vote, refusing to answer any questions about the controversial measure. The legislation was rushed through the state senate and is now on the governor’s desk.

Brewer’s unprecedented power play outraged the conservative leadership along with the grassroots.

FREEDOMWORKS

Once feted by grassroots conservatives nationwide, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer moved radically to the left in 2013. In her State of the State address, she surprised many by embracing Obamacare, calling for a massive expansion of Medicaid.

Like many state politicians, she claims the multi-billion dollar expansion would be largely funded by "free" federal money. Of course, the funding dries up in the out years and comes with strings attached that will tie up the state for years. And then there's that tiny problem of the federal government having no money in the first place.