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Republicans have desperately been trying to argue that Gabrielle Giffords and Nancy Pelosi are two peas in a pod.

Well, if they get up to Phoenix today, they could snap a nice photo to go with the strategy, since the speaker of the House will be the guest of honor at a re-election party for Giffords.

This is for Republicans what Karl Rove's visit to Tucson was for Democrats early this year — an opportunity to obsess about someone who sends shivers up their spine.

The GOP strategy: They think no one likes Pelosi, so if they can tie her to Giffords, then no one will like Giffords either — even though she is really good at changing tires. Then again, about 35 percent of American voters either have no clue who Pelosi is or don't give a darn.

So, why not have the $500-a-plate event in the Old Pueblo?

Giffords' people apparently tried to get Pelosi down, but the speaker has grandchildren up in Phoenix — and turns out even career politicians have a soft center.

As emotions reached a tipping point over an amendment to a much-debated Child Protective Services bill offered by Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, last week, a lobbyist for Gov. Janet Napolitano got a little salty with one legislator who refused to go along.

When Rep. Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, voted "yes" on the amendment — which gave CPS the option of challenging county attorneys when they keep records on dead children closed — chief gubernatorial lobbyist Mike Haener urged Campbell to "Vote No!" in an e-mail from the gallery of the House chamber.

Campbell wasn't budging. "Seriously, the amendment sucks," he responded, "but (do) we really want to be opposing open records for CPS?"

The e-mail exchange, obtained by Notebook through (ironically) a public records request, doesn't end there.

Gubernatorial gunslinger shot back: "That (expletive) blows. Glad to see the (expletive) caucus is willing to help. Hope that there are no (expletive) changes in Senate."

Despite the aggressive lobbying, the amendment and bill passed the House. And even before the nasty e-mails surfaced, Paton agreed to drop the sentence that inspired Haener's potty mouth.

Napolitano's spokeswoman, Jeanine L'Ecuyer, explained: "I think Mike feels bad about that." Asked whether this is standard operating procedure, L'Ecuyer said, "No, we don't generally go around yelling at each other." As for Campbell, he says he and Haener are still buds — "I take it with a grain of salt," he said.

Notebook was pretty much surprised to see a lengthy interview with state Sen. Charlene Pesquiera in the latest issue of the Phoenix-based Arizona Capitol Times.

When the Tucson Democrat announced earlier this month she wouldn't be seeking a second term, we had to chase her down in the halls of the Capitol, only to be told she conducts interviews strictly through e-mail — even with fellow Tucsonans.

Or maybe that policy applies only to fellow Tucsonans.

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has put together a list of the best blogs nationwide, and in Arizona, Tucson's own Ted Prezelski's blog — www.rumromanismrebellion.net — took the prize. Congrats!