“It’s not a serious story, guys. It’s not a burp. It’s barely a fart.”

— California Gov. Jerry Brown (D), quoted by the Sacramento Bee, on Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) radio ad trying to lure California business to his state.

David Letterman asked New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) if he minds fat jokes.

Atlantic Wire: “Not that this was really in doubt, but Chris Christie is a fantastic sport.”

[Read more…]

“Do you think a few tricks from a politician is going to make any difference?”

— California Gov. Jerry Brown (D), quoted by the Sacramento Bee, about radio ads being run in California by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) criticizing the state’s business climate.

“My greatest fear in the state of Maine: newspapers. I’m not a fan of newspapers.”

— Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), quoted by the Waterville Morning Sentinel.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), an Eagle Scout, “said emphatically Saturday that the Boy Scouts of America should not soften its strict policy barring gay members, and dismissed the idea of bending the organization to the whims of ‘popular culture,'” the New York Times reports.

Perry’s 2008 book, On My Honor, “detailed his deep love for the organization and explained why it should continue to embrace traditional conservative values — including excluding openly gay members and leaders.”

A new Public Policy Polling survey finds that 20% of Texans — including 35% of Republicans — would support their state seceding from the Union in the wake of President Obama’s re-election, up from 14% in September 2011.

Nevada assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) was released following a mental evaluation and allegations that he threatened a state Democratic Assembly leader and told the AP he’ll serve his elected office when the state Legislature convenes again next week.

Brooks “spoke non-stop for about three minutes when reached Friday by telephone… Then he hung up.”

He declared himself “lucid” and said he’s “no longer on medication.”

“These are
people who are going to have to answer to a much higher power than me about why they have appealed
and appealed and appealed.”

— Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), quoted by the Columbus Dispatch, saying critics of his JobsOhio program will have to answer to God.

“In the eyes of party strategists, Virginia’s off-year elections represent a first opportunity to bounce back from the losses of 2012 – a chance to reset the political debate in a critical swing state, send off popular Gov. Bob McDonnell on a high note and deliver a national message about the direction of the Republican Party,” Politico reports.

“If only the Republican state legislature, local conservative leadership and de facto gubernatorial nominee could stick to the talking points. Instead, national Republicans fear the true believers in Richmond could shout down their fledgling message of prudence and moderation in a state that’s easy prey for much of the political media.”

Montana state Rep. Jerry O’Neil (R) has introduced a bill that would allow criminal defendants to bargain with a judge for corporal punishment in lieu of time behind bars, the Great Falls Tribune reports.

“The measure is already raising eyebrows and is sure to catch the attention of those on the lookout for ‘bat crap crazy‘
legislation this session. Republican leadership has been doing its best
to tamp down any potential bills the other side might use to embarrass
the GOP as they work to craft a budget. This one apparently didn’t get
tamped.”

Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) has been detained by police for a psychiatric evaluation after a disturbance at his grandmother’s house, the Las Vegas Sun reports.

Police said Brooks “was exhibiting what was described as bizarre behavior” and seized a sword from him.

The detainment is the latest development since last weekend, when Brooks was arrested on charges of threatening the life of Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick.

The Las Vegas Journal-Review has a must-read interview with Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D), who was jailed last weekend for threatening to kill the state House speaker.

“The disjointed, 35-minute interview took place in a sparsely furnished North Las Vegas apartment. Present were Brooks, his attorney, Mitchell Posin, and a man who only identified himself as Darren and said he is Brooks’ driver. Brooks was shirtless much of the time, walking with a heavy limp and showing a reporter myriad swollen spots on his face, neck and torso that he and Posin attributed to mistreatment before and after his arrest.”

New Mexico state Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R) has introduced a bill that would legally require victims of rape to carry their pregnancies to term in order to use the fetus as evidence for a sexual assault trial, the Huffington Post reports.

The pre-booking Declaration of Arrest for Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) is truly extraordinary.

[Read more…]

Jon Ralston has more details about how Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) came to be arrested over the weekend on charges of threatening Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D).

Brooks apparently told another lawmaker that was looking to “do in” the speaker and was driving around with a loaded gun in his car. Police later found a .357 Smith and Wesson with 41 live rounds of ammo in his car.

Relatives also told police Brooks said he “was not afraid to die and willing to have a shootout with police.”

Nevada assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) is in jail, arrested for threatening Speaker-elect Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D), the Las Vegas Sun reports.

“A source said he was arrested with a loaded gun after threatening to shoot Kirkpatrick… Another Democratic source with knowledge of the situation said Brooks publicly threatened to harm Kirkpatrick because he was unhappy with the committee assignments given to him by Kirkpatrick.”

“Democratic sources with knowledge of the caucus said that Brooks’
behavior in caucus meetings had been ‘erratic’ and leadership had begun
documenting his behavior.”

With Republicans roundly criticized for being tone deaf to concerns of minority voters, John Avlon notes “it might surprise you to hear that Republicans are by far the more diverse party when it comes to statewide elected officials such as senators and governors. On this front, they leave Democrats in the dust. And that’s why the GOP actually has a greater depth of diversity on their potential presidential bench looking to 2016 and beyond.”

Idaho Rep. Ron Mendive (R) “drew audible gasps” when he asked representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union if their pro-abortion rights stance also means that they support prostitution, the AP reports.

Mendive said that since the ACLU supports a woman’s right to choose abortion, shouldn’t the organization also support prostitution, arguing that prostitution also is “a woman’s choice.”