The closing of the conservative mind has been in the making for a long time. It has now morphed into something as surreal as a Salvador Dali painting or an encounter with "Alice in Wonderland's" Mad Hatter.

Arizona’s next governor said she’s prepared to do what she believes the incumbent has not done: say “no.”

Conservative media stars Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter are scheduled to help launch a national effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to prevent gay marriages at an event this weekend in Mesa.

Award-winning network TV reporter Bernard Goldberg first hit pay dirt in the book world with “Bias,” his 2001 best-seller exposing how the news we saw was distorted by the liberal bias of the journalists he worked with during his long career with CBS News.

Bill Steigerwald: Sure, Walter Cronkite was a great print and electronic journalist and a historic TV broadcaster. But Uncle Walter was never objective or even particularly fair or balanced. As his friends and enemies could tell you, he was a typical East Coast liberal journalist who remained a typical East Coast liberal till the end of his life.

Floyd and Mary Beth Brown: A new documentary movie by courageous filmmaker John Ziegler entitled “Media Malpractice” made its theatrical début Thursday in Seattle. The movie systematically proves how corrupt and dishonest the American media were during the campaign of 2008.

New federal rules that would allow a single company to own newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market are on hold for now while pressure is building for a congressional veto showdown with President Bush.

WASHINGTON - A conservative group asked federal election officials on Thursday to investigate whether television ads for director Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" violate campaign finance law regulating when commercials may feature a presidential candidate.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

As states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives.

We were greatly amused by the call last week from a coalition of "consumer" and "public interest" groups to "protect public broadcasting from politically motivated bureaucrats and lawmakers." They’re especially anguished about political string-pulling on the Public Broadcasting System, which feeds at the federal trough.

As the New Year approaches and we all make our 2011 resolutions, I have a suggestion.

Chris Coppola: We heard from a lot of people around the country Friday, and more than a few closer to home, who were not happy with us here at the Tribune. This was disappointing because many of these same folks, just one day earlier, were thrilled with us.

The attorney for the man accused of driving 147 mph on Loop 101 in May cited the “media environment” and a tough stance on speeders in Scottsdale as the primary reasons her client accepted a plea deal and avoided a jury trial.

The hot new thing involving politics and the Internet is for folks to post a politician’s awkward moments on YouTube so all the world can see. And state Sen. Ed Ableser became part of this trend last week.

What does it mean to be called a conservative?

Grassfire.org, a conservative advocacy organization, has targeted Sens. John Mc-Cain and Jon Kyl of Arizona, among other U.S. senators, in television and Internet ads that ask, “Where’s the fence?”

An antiabortion, antigaming, religious rights group is working to pressure Gov. Janet Napolitano not to appoint a political ally to the state’s high court.

Scottsdale council members praised the clarity brought by the Arizona attorney general’s legal opinion that leaves no doubt that they can speak with the media or their constituents about an upcoming vote.

ROME - Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi reclaimed power in key U.S. ally Italy on Monday after clinching decisive victories in both houses of parliament. The 71-year-old media mogul was congratulated by his main rival, former Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, who conceded defeat even though the vote counting was still under way.

Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh lashed out at NFL union leader DeMaurice Smith, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the media a day after being dropped from a group trying to buy the St. Louis Rams. On his syndicated show Thursday, Limbaugh said he was approached by St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts earlier this year about participating in a Rams bid. Checketts assured him his involvement as a minority investor had been vetted by the NFL, he said.

The rising tide of conservatism may have peaked, at least in Arizona.

The rising tide of conservatism may have peaked, at least in Arizona.