I was just reading my daily paper online when I saw a breaking story with the headline:
Pueblo Politics: Brewer Rejects Illness Rumors
I immediately linked to that faster than you can say the word "beheading" to see what was the rumor.
I'm not much for believing idle gossip and rumors especially when we're 3 weeks from the election. What caught my eye was the person that started this rumor. Of course in this 24/7 barrage of internet and blogging it's very easy to start a rumor so I take everything with a shaker of salt.
The reason I do think there is some fire behind this smoke is the person who started this rumor. The rumor that Governor Brewer is very ill and may not be alive to complete her term comes from investigative reporter John Dougherty. Mr. Dougherty had run for the U.S. Senate and got beat in the primary by Rodney Glassman a very strong candidate. Dougherty has worked for over 25 years as one of our finest journalists and I had an opportunity to talk to him at length about our failed War on Drugs during the primary season. It was Dougherty's fine journalism that got him recognition for uncovering the Keating Five Scandal that rocked our world back in the late 1980s.
So hopefully this rumor will lead to having Governor Brewer (and all the rest of the candidates) to release their medical records to clear this up. This is a serious rumor and if it turns out Dougherty is just blowing smoke than shame on him but if not I'm glad this has been brought up. My state of Arizona has been maligned enough and run so poorly by the Repugs that we don't need some sick frail woman making decisions as we move forward.
So release your medical records Governor Brewer.