[Maricopa County Sheriff Joe] Arpaio -- whose jurisdiction includes Phoenix, the capital and population center of the heavily Hispanic border state -- announced Monday afternoon that he will not join the crowded Republican primary for governor, and will instead run for a sixth term in his current high-profile position.
Oh goody! He just increased Gov. Janet "Papers Please" Brewer's chances! Weeee!
Well at least this way, he can continue his pursuit of those who Breathe While Mexican, keep booking American citizens for imaginary crimes, and keep booking himself on Larry King Live. Why give all that up for a bigger residence and mandatory luncheons?
By GottaLaff Today's Quickie is a twofer, and they both come by way of Greg Sargent:
* Today’s prize for bucking the Beltway-approved narrative goes to Jonathan Alter, for making an audacious suggestion: Rather than asking whether the Gulf spill is Obama’s Katrina, let’s ask whether it should give new momentum to energy reform.
* Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, a gung-ho backer of the Arizona immigration law, says he will decide whether to ride his tough-on-immigration notoriety to launch a run for higher office, commenting thusly:
“I am not running for governor now until I decide over the weekend with a glass of wine and my wife, since my mother and father came here from Italy, with a little spaghetti and meatballs.”
Well now, those are two hefty little Quickies. One relates back to this post, in which I complained about the Katrina meme that the pretend news insists upon pushing.
As for Arpaio, I posted about him here. He's hopeless and has no business being in the public eye or in public office, let alone anywhere else.
That was today's Quickie Twofer. Was it good for you?
Several people interviewed said they had not been to a pro-immigration march since the massive protests in 2006, but that Arizona's law compelled them to come out.
[...] Latino activists and civil rights attorneys contend that profiling is already a reality in the Maricopa County, where two-thirds of the state's residents live. [...]
Since 2008 [Arpaio] has sent hundreds of his deputies and sworn volunteers on "sweeps" through immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, where they stop jaywalkers or drivers with broken taillights and ask for identification and immigration information. An analysis by civil rights lawyers found 70% of those arrested in these operations have Spanish surnames. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and Scottsdale, is only 31% Latino, the majority of whom are legal residents or U.S. citizens.
Arpaio's tactics, which he says are necessary to suppress crime, have made him wildly popular in Arizona.
Arpaio even pulls over his supporters. What better way to maintain popularity with your base?
U.S. citizens? Pfft. Arizona is an equal opportunity persecutor. Take 64-year-old Dan Magos, for example. He had a gun inside his truck, which is legal, nor had that never concerned the police before. Magos was pulled over for (supposedly) not having a license plate on the trailer he was pulling:
[T]he deputy made him wait 10 minutes before letting him go with the words: "I don't want you to think this has anything to do with racial profiling."
Of course not, why would anyone think that?
The Times describes a few more instances like that one.
Remember when Arizona was a vacation destination, a place where people went to relax?
The new Arizona law in effect orders every Arizona law enforcement officer to respond like Arpaio's deputies.
That new Papers Please law should be quite a boon for the tourism industry.
Call me crazy, but I have a feeling getting arrested for Driving While Ethnic just isn't the draw Arizona hopes it will be.
Arizona lawmakers on Tuesday approved what foes and supporters agree is the toughest measure in the country against illegal immigrants, directing local police to determine whether people are in the country legally. [...]
Immigrant rights groups were horrified, and contended that Arizona would be transformed into a police state.
"It's beyond the pale," said Chris Newman, legal director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. "It appears to mandate racial profiling."
The bill, known as SB 1070, makes it a misdemeanor to lack proper immigration paperwork in Arizona. It also requires police officers, if they form a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person's immigration status.
Currently, officers can inquire about someone's immigration status only if the person is a suspect in another crime. The bill allows officers to avoid the immigration issue if it would be impractical or hinder another investigation.
Are we getting a clearer picture of the battle over immigration reform now? And don't get me started on Joe Arpaio.
The police chief in Maricopa County Arizona, Joe Arpaio, could be sanctioned by a federal judge after checking that the controversial sheriff's office shredded documents related to a lawsuit that accused him of racial discrimination.
District Judge of the United States, Murray Snow said there was enough evidence to punish Arpaio, known as "the toughest sheriff in U.S.
As conflicts between Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors and the sheriff and county attorney escalated in 2009, rank-and-file county employees were plunged into a yearlong emotional roller coaster. [...]
The grand jury is looking into allegations of abuse of power by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his chief deputy, David Hendershott, in their dealings with judges and county officials.
Now, as they wait to see what will happen, a cross-section of county employees spoke with The Arizona Republic [...] [R]unaway fears were such that they worried that Arpaio's deputies would come after them as well.
And how fearful were they?
Unsure what or whom to believe, many county workers quit talking about sensitive matters on the telephone or in e-mails, even when using their personal home computers.
Conversation in hallways and elevators stopped.
Some feared they would be arrested while pulling into the same parking garage where deputies took Supervisor Don Stapley into custody.
Others worried that even minor infractions - a chipped windshield, having a beer before driving home after work - would be an excuse for deputies to pull them over or arrest them.
One Superior Court judge moved meetings with her staff and other judges to the chamber restroom, believing it would be a less likely spot for a listening device.
Not enough for you?
One employee was so rattled she could barely speak.
Oh, it gets worse:
Isham told his wife to be careful. No U-turns. Never leave the kids in the car when returning videos. Who knows what they might call child endangerment?
Budget supervisor, Ryan Wimmer:
"Everything I do," he said, "I just assume it will be used against me."
Let's hope all of this will be used successfully against Sheriff Lunatic. This is beyond belief.
County Manager David Smith and Deputy County Manager Sandi Wilson said they met with representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office on Wednesday to prepare for the grand jury.
Previous posts on this stellar example of law enforcement:
Arpaio's dubious tactics include ordering investigations of officials in Maricopa County and others simply because they do not agree with his tactics. He shows a lack of respect for federal laws.
I initially thought I was reading the story of a Third World dictator. To my amazement, I learned Arpaio is a sheriff in Arizona.
**** Because it's common knowledge that The Times has strong feelings of sympathy toward the plight of illegal aliens, it comes as no surprise that your recent article covering Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio would portray him in a negative light.
Say what you want about the guy, but I love him. I wish he'd run for president. There must be other people who like him as well, because your article mentioned his reelection victory last year with 55% of the vote in Arizona's most populous county.
If this nation had about 500 more Joe Arpaios, the illegal alien problem, and its associated chaos, would be nonexistent. He's unique among politicians: one of those who refuses to have his better judgment clouded by political correctness and bleeding heart liberalism.
Maybe Lou Dobbs can be his running mate in 2012. They'll have my vote!
If you are a victim of Sheriff Arpaio's harassment or abuse or any of his deputies call the FBI at 602 279-5511.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona has been bringing prosecutions against political enemies, and now a judge. Why? Because he didn't like the way he ruled. No, I'm not kidding.
Like a lot of anti-Arpaio activists in town, videographer Dennis Gilman has been helping the U.S. Department of Justice gather evidence of abuse of power and racial profiling by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. [...] But like many who've been patiently waiting for the feds to act, he's fed up with their dithering.
And so he wrote a letter. Here it is, in part. Please go read the whole thing, because I left out a lot:
Dear Department of Justice,
I cannot express how disappointed people I speak with are and how disillusioned I have become.
What once was hope that human rights would be a concern in this County has turned into a forgotten memory. [...]
How many more broken arms, women torn from their children, deaths in Arpaio's Jails will it take? Should we care? They are just poor people. They have no money or power. Many are used to the abuse. They will never cost you your careers. [...]
Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias states there is more than enough evidence. But what could he possibly know? [Laffy Note: See video]
What is it really going to take? How many more Judges need to be harassed? How many will dare question the Almighty Sheriff or any actions of his deputies for fear they will not be allowed to conduct normal court business? (Look it up. If you think I'm exaggerating I'll prove you wrong in a heartbeat). [...]
How many politicians do you think will speak up against the abuse when to do so surely means they will be investigated, indicted, harassed and have their lives turned into a living hell and their careers ruined at a minimum? How many more of us have to wind up in jail while you desert us here?
Who is in charge? The FBI, DOJ, Obama or Arpaio? [...]
I can tell you in no uncertain terms that many activists are abandoning any hope of conventional justice and turning to the Anarchist movement in alarming numbers in this area.I can no longer try to convince them they should work with you or the FBI.[...]
Arpaio's faithful followers have become more violent toward Day Laborers and those that speak out against Arpaio at the protests and on the streets. It's only a matter of time before blood will start spilling. [...]
Dennis Gilman
Truly unbelievable.
David Iglesias: "I can't believe this is happening in the United States."
Mighty original way to protest. Here's the first paragraph of the song they sang, the rest can be found here.
Immigration Rhapsody
Is this legitimate? Is this atrocity? Caught up in politics- No sense of reality- Open your eyes Look down to the south and see- The border stops brown folks, they cannot cross the line. But its easy come, easy go, for the rich, their cargo. Anyway the migrants flow, doesn't really matter to me, To me
One of the sheriff’s critic’s says, “I am very hopeful that he will take this bid and run for governor."
Arpaio says he does not plan to announce his final decision until May or June. He says he is not worried about time because everyone already knows him so raising money will not be a problem.
The most recent atrocity committed by the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" involves a woman who was detained while 9-months pregnant. Alma Minerva Chacon's case has been receiving media attention due to the brutality with which she was treated. The very same night of her arrest, Chacon went into labor and found herself afraid and alone, being rushed to a local hospital with her hands and legs chained in shackles.
Once she reached the hospital, nurses repeatedly begged the Sheriff's staff to allow them to unchain the mother, but they refused and Chacon was forced to give birth while still shackled to the bed. At one point, the nurse asked for them to release her so that she could be escorted to the bathroom for a urinalysis, but even that request was denied. But the worst came once Chacon gave birth to her baby girl.
What a wonderful idea Fox!! A reality show about a facist, racist bully. Alert Lou Dobbs!!
HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- Reality television featuring law enforcement officers on the beat is nothing new. A show featuring a lawman who makes jailed inmates wear pink underwear and uses actors to trick suspects, however, is a new twist.
Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- whose showy brand of justice has raised charges of discrimination and civil-rights abuses while making him a hero among fans of his tough-on-crime attitudes -- will star in "Smile: You're Under Arrest."
The show, which premiers this weekend on Fox Reality Channel, features Arpaio and other officers using elaborate ploys crafted by comedy writers and carried out by professional actors to arrest suspects with outstanding warrants.
(snip)
But Arpaio's critics aren't amused.
They say they fear the show will give the controversial sheriff positive publicity, ignoring what they call a darker side to his 16-year tenure as top lawman in the county that includes Phoenix.
"It's going to celebrate a sheriff that's frankly scaring this community, a sheriff that has seen violent crime increase significantly in his county, a sheriff that is racially profiling the Latino community, and I doubt that the show is going to reflect that," said Paco Fabian, spokesman for the immigrant-rights group America's Voice.
A state civil-rights panel is recommending that, because of racial-profiling complaints, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors end a contract with the federal government that allows the county Sheriff's Office to enforce immigrations laws.
The Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board also is asking federal officials in Washington, D.C., to investigate the Sheriff's Office for possible civil-rights violations during the enforcement of immigration laws. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon made a similar request earlier this year.
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