As most everyone knows by now, Lou Dobbs has reported that someone has taken a shot at him and his wife or at the very least, his house. The police dispute Dobbs’ claims, but that hasn’t stopped America’s self-proclaimed Toughest Sheriff Joe from jumping on the Dobbs bandwagon.
Somehow, our esteemed Sheriff Joe has drawn the conclusion that since Dobbs was allegedly shot at by illegal immigrants or people who disagree with his anti-immigrant stance, that Sheriff Joe is now threatened.
The sheriff’s department is evaluating whether or not Sheriff Joe needs to beef-up his security because someone allegedly took a shot at Dobbs across the country in New Jersey.
It is true that a handful of protesters protest daily in downtown Phoenix across the street from Sheriff Joe’s offices. The number of protesters vary, but it has been reported that there are usually 5 to 8 people and their protests are peaceful and on the verge of boring.
Yet somehow, Sheriff Joe feels threatened by a group of ‘brown’ people carrying signs, which is ironic for a man who claims the title of America’s toughest sheriff.
Not too long ago, Sheriff Joe declared that he’d been threatened and with the help of the county’s district attorney, they requested a warrant for the computers from the Phoenix New Times, since the New Times are very critical of the sheriff. It had been reported that the Sheriff wanted the names and ISPs of every single person that logged onto the New Times and they not only wanted that information, they wanted the history of all that logged in to track their reading habits before and after they logged into the New Times.
The New Times is a paper where locals log in to search for cars, the latest restaurants and hot spots for local talent, want ads, etc. The public had been so outraged that several people logged into the New Times and with the help of the Internet, thousands of people took up the fight and logged into the site from all over the country, with a several hits coming in from Europe and Australia. The local news people, including the local Fox station, snickered at the outrageous request.
But to makes things even better, or worse, depending on your perspective, two New Times reporters were arrested in the middle of the night.
After much ridicule and public outrage, the red-faced attorney general appeared on TV and announced that the request for the New Times computers and all the data on visitors was dropped, and the two New Times reporters released and the charges dropped.
Arizona has some crazy, scary politics, and getting scarier by the minute. If you want to read more about Sheriff Joe and his escapades, log into the Phoenix New Times.
And in case you’re wondering why Sheriff Joe is so popular, well, listen to Lou Dobbs.
In case anyone is interested in reading more about the FBI investigations into Joe, here’s an article that describes some of the allegations under investigation.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/143703/%22america%27s_toughest_dictator%22_fbi_investigating_joe_arpaio_for_using_office_to_bully_opponents/#more
Sorry if this is a repost, but the Pulitzer Prize winning series on Sherrif Joe is some good reading if only because it got under his skin big time: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/page/reasonable_doubt
Wow, it’s almost as if we have our own little Arizona corner here! Yes, he has his fans down here in Pima County, but thank goodness we’re too liberal (by Arizona standards) to ever have someone like him. I, like FeloniousMonk says, don’t so much as roll my eyes with every new story about him anymore. He is a disgusting creature of habit. Even this transplant who has only lived in Arizona for a few years now is relatively inured to his behavior. I do take joy that Janet is an even bigger thorn in his side now, though! I have to take some comfort in the fact that she left us with Brewer and an unchecked legislature in Phoenix, after all. Please come back in time to challenge Kyl!
That was an excellent series on Joe.
Sadly, the Trib is no longer going to publish the free version any longer.
I miss that paper and dislike the Republic.
We only buy the Republic on Sundays for the TV guide booklet.
I heard that. Never thought much of the Republic, and The Daily Star has gone downhill, as well. Not that I ever thought it was stellar. Cons call it the Red Star, and I’ll admit that at least our editorial cartoonist, David Fitzsimmons, qualifies!
I heard this asshat interviewed today by Patt Morrison.
Jesus, he gave me the creeps. The exact opposite of Bratton.
Imagine what it’s like seeing something he said on a daily basis and knowing it affects your life. When my Representative, John SHaddagg, had his town meeting out here, he had Sheriff Joe bring the mobile command center and everything. Obviously there might have been secret Libs hiding in this upscale conservative community. Oh, yeah, there was, me.
Great article, Javaz. I really hate hearing stories like this guy, who obviously isn’t very bright but found a power vacuum and filled it. There are a lot of aggressive people like this in powerful positions who have nothing to offer in addition to their aggression.
A few years ago I signed up to volunteer with the local police department as a victim advocate. I go out to crimes scenes and death scenes (I’m on call right now) and explain procedures and provide support and referrals to the victim or loved ones while the cops do their thing. Since I started doing this, I’ve gained a newfound respect for cops and the kind of crap they put up with day after day. Most of their cases involve the same people over and over — even the deaths. I think every unattended death (death in a home) I’ve been called out to when it involves a fairly young person (not a senior citizen), it’s been someone the cops have encountered before. There are usually booze and drugs involved. When they’re dealing with someone intoxicated, they get called every name in the book, get spit on and kicked, but they have to maintain their cool. Most of them do, believe it or not.
Most of the cops I’ve dealt with have been regular people — well, a lot of alpha males and gum-smacking females — but still, decent people. Most of them would despise this sheriff for giving them a bad name. Of course, there are a few who just have too much testosterone and want some place to throw their weight around. Your sheriff is obviously one of those.
I applaud you volunteering for such a difficult job.
I could not imagine.
I do have a great deal of respect for law enforcement, but I dislike those who, as you say, give the police a bad name.
They have a hard enough time as it is without the public despising them and worse and some do because of what they’ve heard about bad cops.
I truly believe that we do not pay police officers enough or give them enough credit for what they must deal with every day.
Thank you for sharing your personal story.
I agree completely.
Well said…
My Aunt is a retired Las Vegas Metro Police Officer.
She is one of the most decent people I have ever known.
Most Officers are very good at what they do, and yet are marred by the actions of a few lunatics with a badge…
Excellent, Escribacat…
You rock..
Unfortunately the bad apples are the ones on the front pages of the newspapers…
My husband maintains all the police boats for several towns in our area, what a great bunch of people..but there are always one or two that like to go ‘rogue’…
~rogue~
LOL….nice reference..
Oh, he is plenty smart. Just no soul.
Wow a lot of respect to you. I’ve been on the other side of cops and can’t stand their bullying and alpha-male crap; but realize that I’m not the sort of person they deal with mostly. They need to be like that, I realize. Who knows underneath the politeness and compliance I could actually have a weapon and they can’t take that chance. I’ve even had encounters with cool cops, who have their priorities in check and give you a pass – don’t want to make it sound like I’m a big time miscreant, though – we all have a story or two, I imagine. It is because of the good cops that I have all the more respect for their profession and necessary function in society. Unfortunately, to add to the echo chamber, it’s those that abuse their power that mar the rest. They know full well how to size people up, and most of us don’t deserve the treatment we sometimes get by a few with major chips on their shoulders, napoleon complexes, and daddy issues. Treatment received even when you’re the victim, sometimes.
Yes, it’s true that a lot of them have very few social skills. I was on one call recently where a teenager stood across the street and shot up a house. There were seven people there (4 teens in front, a pregnant mom and two little kids inside). Amazingly nobody was hit. I was there hanging out with the mom for a long time and the cops were so fascinated with the holes in the wall and the back door and so on, they were very brusque with her. That pissed her off more than anything and I spent a lot of time listening to her rant about it. We finally convinced her to leave the house and go down to the station where her kids were. They could have saved a lot of grief if they had just spoken kindly to her, but they were in “investigator” mode and it just didn’t occur to them. That’s one of the reasons they call the advocate — so they don’t have to figure out how to be nice.
This is one of my favorites of recent:
From Oct 22, 09. From the Az Daily Star: “Stiff measures prepared for illegal immigrants”. The article goes on to list 3 new measures proposed by the Az Senate Prez. (Russell Pearce). The one that strikes me the most is:
“Let prosecutors subpoena business records and testimony to investigate whether companies are hiring undocumented workers, WITHOUT FIRST GETTING A WARRANT FROM A JUDGE”. Hey, the state gets to violate both state and federal constitutions!
(at the press conference -in the pic- were Sen. Pearce, Sheriff Joe, And blowhard J.D.Hayworth)
azstarnet,com/sn/border
Russell Pearce is yet another embarrassment.
I’m trying to forget JD!
You didn’t like “the man with no neck”? He wasn’t even a good sportscaster, let alone representative.
I don’t think he ever proposed a bill, yet, he was on the house floor and MSM nightly spewing his “thoughts.”
Heard a rumor “down below the Gila” that JD was thinking of running for Gov. Any scuttle elsewhere?
I heard that, too.
I don’t really believe that he’d stand a chance against Goddard.
Of course, the governor before Napolitano said he was thinking about it again. Geez, what a crook. Just what we need a convicted felon for a governor. Remember all the highway money that magically appeared after he left office? The freeway tax hadn’t bought us anything until he was gone.
The one time I actually voted for a Republican, I voted for Symington.
I forget the Democrat running against him, but jeepers.
Symington was impeached!
Never will vote for a Republican again!
Learned my lesson!
Yea, I voted for McCain once because at the time I thought the democratic candidate (was it Karen English?) was too liberal even for me.
I feel so ashamed now.
Clinton pardoned him. So now he is a “pardoned felon”. LOL
Something to do with him saving him from drowning. as to you voting for mac. He was at what one time a somewhat of a decent person.
I once thought that, but it was before I became aware of all those little details which were not exactly easily available before the modern web. His treatment of his first wife alone would have told me everything I needed to know.
I missed that, but I read (sometimes) the Republic. And they leave out so much it’s pitiful. Talk about biased media.
Great addition. I did not know that.
He puts me in the mind of a great old movie.
Very good!
Thank you!
Great analogy KQ, that’s how I imagine him to be too after hearing him speak and listening to his words. He gave me goosebumps.
LOL. I don’t speak Italian but I’m guessing their version of the title is “The Hot Night of Inspector Tibbs.” Hilarious.
I’ve seen this nutty one-man crusader on my podcast news a few times and know that he’s been asked by the authorities to stop what he is continuing to do. It seems that just asking him to stop hunting for illegals and throwing them in jail, is not working. Just how much power does he have and isn’t there someone higher up who could simply intervene to make sure that he is held accountable for defying the request to refrain from this obvious campaign of fear and hate?
I’m not that sure how your police or legal system works but he’s no better than a stray dog catcher and should be stopped. When I think of all those poor families being separated, my heart bleeds for them.
Well done javaz, knew you could do it!
Thanks!
He is currently under investigation by the FBI.
The Mayor of Phoenix called in the Feds, but we shall see what happens.
The investigation is ongoing for Joe’s possible abuse of power.
“Abuse of power” such an innocuous naming of blatant racism and a hate filled heart. I hope that they strip him of this “power”soon.
Great post, Javaz! This guy needs as much attention as we can give him in order to bring him down. Scary dude, imo.
Thank you!
He loves the attention, but I have to admit that I’m a bit nervous putting this out there, because I do not want him to come after me!
I’m a paranoid person enough as it is!
Then again, I do live in a different county, thank goodness!
Excellent, Thank you javaz…
The lengths these people will go to to circumvent our rights is baffling and quite frightening to say the least.He has already tangled with the current administration regarding his tactics.
Thanks again….
Thank you for reading it and taking the time to reply!
(it’s much nicer here than on HP, don’t you agree?)
Thanks again, javaz.
The freedom to speak plainly is amazing.
The format rocks…
And they listen to the people who post here, for suggestions…That,in and of itself,speaks VOLUMES…
I’m very impressed…
Are you working on anything new?
I am, but am afraid to post too many articles, so will stick to one or two a week.
I don’t want to be an annoying pest! 🙂
I am struggling with attaching images to the post, but with the help of my husband, we should figure it out eventually.
Why don’t you author something?
Except for the attaching image thing for me, it’s really quite easy!
javaz, please don’t hold back, post articles as you’re inspired to.
Maybe sometime in the future, if membership grows much bigger, we may have to limit the number of articles per week that we can feature on the Home page (so each article gets a healthy amount of exposure) but for the time being, please post away!
Your first post was a bullseye, javaz! Good choice.
The local sheriff in our area is also being investigated by the FBI for the cover up of a beating death at the county jail.
The guy is 72 years old, has been in office forever, has a long standing local reputation for corruption and–in spite of the charges against him–is STILL holding office as County Sheriff! For a while, he wasn’t allowed to carry a gun, but he even has that privilege back now. There’s only one local newspaper of any size, and it seems to be terrified of taking him on.
Anybody ever see that old B&W movie called “I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang”? Late 1930s, but scary as hell. The brutality and corruption portrayed in that movie are alive and well today.
Oh my gosh, a sheriff not allowed to carry a gun is sort of hilarious, but the reasons he lost the right are probably scary.
And then to give him the gun back is even worse.
Sheesh, what is wrong with law enforcement?
Never saw that movie, but did watch a series on PBS about a prison in Texas back in the late 60’s and early-70’s and that was shocking.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Heh. You’re right. I’d missed the humor factor in that story. Andy Taylor used to take away Barney Fife’s bullet every now and then when he misbehaved! :0)
Take his bullet away….LOL…
Oh, I forgot to add a question I had intended to ask. It may not be PC, but here it is:
What is the the ethnic origin of the last name Arpaio?
I would find it ironic if this guy happened to be the descendent of Mexican immigrants.
Totally OT, have to leave for a while to pick up my favorite 3d grader. Back later, y’all.
Arpaio sounds like it might be Italian, but then again of Spanish/Mexican orig may not be off the mark either..
Just looked it up, our Joe here is a child of immigrants from Naples, Italy….
Yep, or was it “Sicily”. Only kidding Joe, don’t send the boys around! Momma mia!
Wow, you guys are fast!
I just found him on Wikipedia and yup, he’s of Italian descent.
10 PM, I’m back home. Child and Mom are crashed, and I find plenty to laugh about here. Momma mia, indeed!
You guys make my day!
Great post Javaz! This is what I had hoped HP would be. I love learning and becoming well informed.
Thanks!
I was worried that people, other than Arizonans, wouldn’t care about this subject.
Now, if I could only get the attaching image thing down . . .
LOL
This should be on the National News Networks, oh right, MSM is only concerned with tearing down Obama and his policies…what was I thinking
Very true, plus with the anti-immigration fever, well Joe is a hero.
I’ve always thought that they should go after the employers.
I was thinking the same thing after I read Monks attached articles…Monk and others here do a better job at investigative reporting than Huffledownpoop does…
Oh yes, I appreciate him helping out and providing links!
Thanks Monk!
You are most welcome. I have high speed connection here so I can research faster than you on a dial-up. Not a problem.
I’m hungry for some Roberto’s Mexican Al Pastore but, unfortunately, it’s probably still lunch hour and the MCSD substation all come over there for lunch. I don’t mind the guys, but it takes forever to get your order when you’ve got a dozen cops and a half dozen firemen waiting ahead of you.
Oh, my favorite is Serrano’s after they closed Matta’s.
Supposedly there’s going to be another Matta’s opening in the Mesa River Park once that gets going.
Thanks again for your help and keep the links coming!
When we first moved to the valley we lived in Mesa.
Now I spent some time living in Albuquerque and love New Mexican food with hatch green chili. The Blue Adobe Grill on Country Club in Mesa is very good, too.
Of course, I also miss Long Wong’s wings. They were so much better than everyone elses.
I love the Mexican food in Albuquerque, especially the sopapillos. (sp?)
It amazed me after moving west how Mexican food varies from state to state.
People think “Mexican Food” is either Taco Bell or their local Mexican restuarant, but it is so much more. So many regions, so many food types. It’s like saying “American Food” is fried chicken.
Have you tried San Carlos Bay on McDowell? Excellent Mexican seafood.
And remember in northern New Mexico the quisine is established by the influences of the Spanish and the native American tribes, as opposed to the peoples of Mexico.
We usually stick with restaurants in the East Valley, and honestly, we only go out to eat once or twice a year!
We’re frugal people.
The only restaurant in Michigan that served Mexican food was Chi-Chi’s and I used to think that food was so good.
Then I went back and found out that it really is awful and not Mexican Food at all.
Since we’re in a negative cash flow situation right now, I understand, we used to go regularly but not anymore.
BTW, did you know what “Chi-Chi’s” were when you went there?
No!
But all them years later, my husband told me!
And I didn’t meet him until moving here!
@Javaz Oh, it’s a “male thing”. I first went to Chi-Chi’s in Wichita, KS in the early 80’s, and the guys knew.
It’s a good thing nobody chose that other slang word cahones for a restaurant name!
Great topic to choose. This guy is the poster child for all that is wrong with our immigration policy and local policing.
FYI. For your image to show up as a thumbnail you have to upload it to the Planet so I uploaded another image. Animated images don’t look animated as thumbnails anyway. Believe me I tried.
Okay thanks!
How do I remove the AZ flag, or should I not bother?
We followed the directions.
My husband is a computer whiz, and we downloaded the URL, scrolled to the bottom and clicked center and filled in that field thing and then previewed it, and it was okay but then after we hit publish, well, it ended up where it is.
Sorry about that and will try again, but thank you so much for providing a better image!
No the flag looks great in the post. Actually I love adding animated graphics to my articles. I’m a visual person so I the more images in a post the better.
Husband’s back and wants me to ask you how to upload the image to the Planet so it shows as a thumbnail.
Thanks again!
When you upload a photo there should be a place further down the page where you can choose the size and the position you want the photo to be in before you enter the photo to Planet.
I’m on a Mac so maybe it’s different on a PC. Ask KQ, he will know.
I may be ashamed about a lot of things about my state, but our flag totally rocks.
The very first story that I remember once Joe took office, was a story of a 19 year old kid speeding on a freeway that was out in nowhere back then.
The deputies pulled him over, ordered him out of the car, and told him to drop to the ground, but before he could comply, they shot and killed him. They claimed he was armed and threatening, but they never found a weapon.
Of course, the public was on the side of the Sheriff and his deputies, but the family sued and was awarded millions for wrongful death.
Then there was another man in his mid-30’s, high as a kite on meth, but they strapped him in a chair at the Madison Jail, and he was mouthing off, so the deputies used towels around his throat and mouth and broke his jaw and suffocated him to death.
That family filed a lawsuit and it was going to court, but somehow the broken mandible from the man that had been in a file cabinet in Joe’s office was suddenly missing.
The county settled out of court and paid that family millions.
Joe costs the county millions in lawsuits, yet the voters keep voting for him because of his anti-immigrant crime sweeps that have netted a hundred or so actual illegals.
What a nut job this guy is. He is the face of the Neoconservative movement. He claims to be tough but is scared to death of a few peaceful protesters outside. He claims to be pro law enforcement but seems to want to desecrate Constitutional law with his antics. What an embarrassment to America this guy is.
I agree and as an Arizonan, he’s an embarrassment for our state!
Sheriff Arpaio is not untypical of the Good Old Boy law enforcement of many of our youths. In 1968 there were thousands of Arpaios in Chicago, and around the nation. Arpaio is acting not that much differently than the real sheriffs of the old west, not our glorified ones. Read your history and discover that we haven’t evolved that much here and in tough times the meanest of “us” come to the surface more.
If your’e here in Maricopa County, and differ with him, it’s best to do it quietly, and not discover how he feeds prisoners on less than a half dollar a day. BTW, the chaingang here is a “priviledge” not a punishment. Think about that one for a while.
Joe seems to be “the Law unto Himself”, too bad for those who live there….Lou must be hanging out with him a lot more, because Lou baby has rampted up his retoric on brown people of late..I just can’t believe this, I’m just speechless…
Today’s sheriff Joe has more power and yet is a shadow of how I remember him when I first came to the valley of the sun in 1991. Back then he was Joe Headline, every day. For people who are confused by Arizona politics now, it was much worse then, IMO. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s department patrols my neighborhood, and I am around them on occasion, but I learned from my youth, I no longer hastle those who can do more to make my life uncomfortable than I can do to theirs. We have had several other articles in the Media lately about how anyone who comes up against Joe may find themselves being investigated. I think he believes he’s the reincarnation of J. Edgar Hoover. And, of course, Joe lives well, and isn’t suffering financially. I don’t know where he’s made his money, but he was a DEA Agent at one time. I’m only saying…
Again, a good reference source about Joe is http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arpaio
Hi FM!
Sheriff Joe lives in Fountain Hills and did you read the New Times article about the woman from New York who was stopped in his area and asked for her papers?
Chilling, but of course, the Joe supporters did not believe her story.
Did you happen to watch the expose on Joe that was on CBS last week?
It was very good, but once again, the supporters are blaming the liberal media doing a smear job on the man.
(moved here in 1984)
In general, I just turn away when I hear another Arpaio story. He’s been so consistant over the years that it no longer suprises me.
I’m sure he’s glad the former governor is gone but not at all happy that the federal funds he receives come from the department she heads (for all of you, that’s Janet Napolitano who’s the head of the Department of Homeland Security).
And his supporters are a bunch of retrograde boneheads, to put it kindly.
Afternoon Monk, went to you link…Joe’s like to poster boy for Civil Rights Violators…my God, how does he get away with this?
And I like your reference that he was a DEA agent, Just saying…..
How does he get away with it? The county picks up the tab for all his fiascos, he’s oblivious.
Here’s an article from 2007 talking about it. At that time his escapades had cost the county $41 million!
http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking08/SheriffJoe.html
and here’s another site dedicated to his infamy.
http://www.arpaio.com/wordpress/?cat=2
Read these articles, the man is costing you guys millions, how come, other than the FBI investigation, this info hasn’t made national news…and if it did, how did I miss it…
I don’t know how you missed it.
Appeared on an episode Politically Incorrect in 1996, during which he failed to impress host Bill Maher, who quipped: “I can respect the toughest sheriff, but I can’t respect the stupidest sheriff.”
http://www.nndb.com/people/890/000046752/
And has continued to get coverage. I’ve traveled a lot and it’s amazing how many people know of and (gag) love this guy. Geez.
Guess I’m so used to NYC news, a cop farts and it’s on the 6 o’clock news…No I didn’t see that episode…they may know of him because of Lulu Dobbs, but do they really know what he has been doing…man what a scum bag
I meant people around the country have known about him for at least a decade. From Seattle to Kansas to Savannah, GA, I’ve had people ask about him, usually with some envious gleam in their eyes for his “law and order” and his “tent city” style justice.
Great Post! I can’t believe that this guy, Sheriff Joe, actually ask for the IP info and names, was he that threatened! And to boot, two reporters were taken in for questioning…does the Sheriff have that much clout? I though he was taken down a peg or two last week…Is it because he is in law enforcement and the ‘wall of blue’ stick together? I’m just speechless…my mouth is open, I can say no more….
Sheriff Joe is being investigated by the FBI for using his deputies in retaliation for anyone critical of him and his policies.
Yes, he has a lot of clout and acts as though he’s above the law.