So Long, and Thanks for All the Gulags: John Shadegg Retires

It's true we only started paying attention to Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) recently, perhaps because most of our Arizona-related brainspace was occupied by that other guy. But man oh man, what a wild ride it's been with the Shadeggster in the past few months… remember how he helped take down the terrifying intern infiltration? How about the time he discovered imaginary gulags in the health care bill?

We will miss him when he's gone…

Republican U.S. Rep. John Shadegg announced Thursday that he won't run in November for a ninth term as the representative from Arizona's 3rd District.

With Shadegg's decision, the GOP-leaning district's open seat is expected to create a feeding frenzy for ambitious Republicans.

The most coveted endorsement in this race will, of course, be that of Baby Maddie.

I hear she's leaning toward Elmo.

Tags: Arizona, House of Representatives, John Shadegg, Republicans

Jon Stewart Is Not Thankful for the Congressional Recess

Congress is taking a break for Thanksgiving, and as Jon Stewart pointed out on last night's Daily Show, it's bad news for everyone. After all, without Congress in session, who will warn us that the terrorists are going to kill us all, who will offer detailed plans for killing us all to the terrorists, and, perhaps most importantly, who will make the founders perpetually spin in their graves? That's where they get electricity for heaven, you know?

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

Tags: House of Representatives, John Shadegg, Jon Stewart, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Louie Gohmert, New York City, Terrorism, The Daily Show, Video

John Shadegg Is Afraid for Mike Bloomberg's Daughter

We've learned what Rudy Giuliani and the other Rudy Giuliani think about the upcoming trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohamed, but Rudy Giuliani isn't the mayor of New York any more. Mike Bloomberg is the mayor of New York, now and possibly forever, and he's said it's "fitting" for the 9/11 mastermind to face trial in the city (instead of in, say, a steel bunker on Mars).

So last night Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) had a couple questions for Hizzoner, including this one: "Mayor, how are you going to feel when it's your daughter that's kidnapped at school by a terrorist?"

Gotta admit, I don't understand where Shadegg's going with this.

I mean, if anybody can afford to pay a couple kidnap ransoms, it's Mike Bloomberg.

Tags: 9/11, John Shadegg, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Michael Bloomberg, New York City, Terrorism

Colbert and Stewart on the House's Health Care Reform Opponents

As you know, House Democrats recently passed a health care reform bill, despite fierce opposition from the GOP. Honestly, I don't know how they pulled it off when the Republicans were pulling out the big guns: Leis and babies. After all, who can forget that famous proverb, "If you spout non sequiturs about flower necklaces and awkwardly exploit your grandchildren by the river long enough, eventually you'll see the body of your enemy float by"?

Stephen Colbert's take can be found below.

The Daily Show and Colbert Report air Monday through Thursday starting at 11pm / 10c.

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Tags: Hawaii, Health Care, House of Representatives, John Shadegg, Jon Stewart, Michele Bachmann, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Video, Virginia Foxx

A Child's Treasury of Health Care Hijinks from This Weekend's House Debate

Congratulations, America, your House of Representatives stopped dithering and passed a health care reform bill — final tally, 220-215. Yay/boo. Now the focus shifts to the Senate, but they'll have a tough time surpassing the amount of crazy that went down in the House during Saturday's interminable debate.

Here is a child's treasury of health care debate hijinks, starting with an actual child courtesy of Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ). See, Maddie wants patient choice. Maddie does not want her mom's taxes to go up. Maddie/Trig '44!

Oh, there's more.

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Tags: Anh "Joseph" Cao, Babies, Conservatives, Hawaii, Health Care, House of Representatives, John Shadegg, Michele Bachmann, Racism, Republicans, Twitter