Arizona GOP's Proposed Bylaws Revive Joe McCarthy, Witch Hunts, Loyalty Oaths

Then, if you support a "non-Republican candidate" in a nonpartisan election, like, say, a mayor's race, you're screwed.

Certainly, the greatest sanction will be for those who've ever supported a Democrat, and since there's no statute of limitations on this thing, party purists can go back as far as they want to root out anyone deemed to have ties to Ds.

Which means there can be no defections from the D ranks to the R ranks, as a former D certainly will have given "material support" to a Democrat at some point in the past.

Under the new regime, the ghost of the Gipper need not apply for membership, as Ronnie Reagan was once, eek, a Democrat. Hell, Reagan used to be a union president, for cryin' out loud. And he supported the GOP's Great Satan; i.e., FDR.

Same goes for Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, once a D, though I wouldn't count him as any great loss for the tuskers.

This is what happens to Rs who even think about supporting a dirty Democrat

Sheriff Joe might as well tear up his party card, since he once did a campaign commercial defending none other than former Governor Janet Napolitano, a Democrat.

What if you're an R, but your brother's a D, and your bro's running for something? Too bad, party comes first, way before blood, dude.

That part about, "Representing the Republican Party, the Republican Party Platform, and Republican General Election candidates in a positive light," seems tailor-made to keep anyone from criticizing the party or exersizing his or her freedom of speech.

Gee, how, um, communist.

What if an acknowledged crook is running as a GOPer in a general, with felony convictions up the wazoo?

Just keep your mouth shut, bub, and don't make waves.

But what if it's John McCain who's running, a man the wingnuts in this state hate almost more than President Obama? He is, after all, a Republican. So if he's running in a general, the crazies will just have to grit their teeth.

The punishments for disobedience? You will either be: a) cast into the outer darkness; b) burned at the stake; or c) branded for life, just like Chuck Connors in that old TV series.

Ah, the gool ol' days, when all Republicans were like Tail-Gunner Joe

Interestingly, none other than the mad Irishman himself, former Maricopa County Party chair Rob Haney, has had to defend Robert Graham, the guy he's endorsed for state party chair, as not being part of the McCain mafia.

In a letter published on his website, Haney warned of the dangers of "guilt by association," and yet, the GOPers I know tell me they believe that Haney and his fellow-travelers might be behind these proposed bylaw changes.

Ah, tuskers. Without you, what the hell would I ever write about? Liberals and Democrats are so boring by comparison. If these changes pass, it'll be fun watching you tear each other apart.