GUN PUTZ
More proof in my book that wackos who "open-carry" their firearms are often cowards compensating for their shortfalls in other areas: AR-15 slinger Christopher Broughton.
That's the name of the guy who caused all the hubbub recently by bringing a loaded assault rifle to greet President Barack Obama at his address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Phoenix Convention Center. It was revealed rather quickly that the whole incident was a staged interview, a publicity stunt that successfully put the guy who orchestrated it — libertarian nutjob Ernie Hancock — and his Web site FreedomsPhoenix.com on the news map for about 15 seconds.
But though Broughton, a nerdy, horn-rim-wearing 28-year-old, was badass enough to tote that big gun outside where the Prez was speaking, he was keeping his identity a secret until recently. Indeed, the whole libertarian community was aiding him, referring to him only as Chris or Chris B. in the gun-worshippin' diatribes that hailed him as a hero.
When confronted by the Arizona Republic with his last name, Broughton only reluctantly 'fessed up, saying, aw shucks, he didn't wanna be a celebrity or nothin'. He didn't really want to (echoing the words of Thomas Jefferson) water the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrants, as such loonies normally claim.
"I don't want to be Joe the Plumber," he told the Rep. "I don't want to be famous."
But Broughton, who, according to the Federal Elections Commission, once gave moonhowlin' liber-tard-ian Congressman Ron Paul $300 for his presidential run and who listed his profession as "tech mold/apprentice mold maker" (dare to dream!), was singing a slightly different tune during his appearance on conspiracy maven Alex Jones' radio show.
Nah, Broughton wasn't copping to his last name there, either. But he was reveling in the attention from Jones, a man who believes the "global elite" regularly gather at the Bohemian Grove retreat in Northern California to worship Beelzebub or some other occult deity, a man who believes the swine flu vaccine is poison meant for the masses, and who has been a huge supporter of the insanity that 9/11 was an inside job by the George W. Bush administration.
"He's quite a hero to the 2nd Amendment," gushed the paranoid lip-flapper about "Chris."
Broughton advised Jones he was more an "anarchist" than a libertarian and that he was a follower of Tempe Pastor Steven Anderson, the Baptist preacher known for his weird run-ins with the U.S. Border Patrol, the most famous of which got his car window busted into and him Tasered.
The interview was full of exchanges like this one, punctuated by ads Jones does for different survivalist products:
"Fundamentally, we need to all be armed," opined Jones.
"If you're a good, honest person," seconded Broughton, "wouldn't you want to be armed?"
But Broughton's most interesting comments came in response to a caller, Jake in Texas, who suggested that Chris should have told a woman at the Obama event — who had criticized the militaristic accoutrement slung over his shoulder — that he was there to protect the U.S. chief executive.
"You should have said," offered Jake, sarcastically, "'We're actually here to defend the president against assassination from these crazed healthcare maniacs who're just finding what's going on.'"
"To be honest with you," snickered Broughton in reply, "I definitely wasn't there to do that."
Would Broughton and Ernie Hancock and Alex Jones applaud if someone went Lee Harvey Oswald on President Obama. I'm guessing they would as long as they weren't implicated in any way.
The nation is slouching ever closer to a really ugly bout of violence cheered on by gun crazies and self-described "patriots." Remember back in the day when it was considered bad manners — no matter if you hated the guy or not — to wish ill on the president?
Man, how far we've regressed.
LIARS AND LAWYERS
It must be great to be an MCSO deputy. You get to arrest somebody who opposes your boss, Sheriff Joe Arpaio. You get to blow off subpoenas from his attorney and drag out the legal process on the taxpayers' dime. Then, if an angry judge dismisses the case against your target, you can get the county attorney to appeal.
This is apparently what happened in the case of Orlando Arenas, a 28-year-old pro-immigrant community activist who works with various human-rights organizations in town, such as Salvador Reza's Puente. Arenas was near Tent City in February when Arpaio did his infamous "200 Mexican March," segregating Mexican nationals in custody by parading them past TV cameras, all for the greater glory of Arpaio.
Arenas was already well known to Joe's flunkies for his nearly daily presence outside the Wells Fargo Building, where the MCSO keeps two floors of pricey, executive offices and where Puente has kept up a sign-waving, drum-banging protest of the sheriff for about a year now. The MCSO's arrest report for Arenas notes that Deputy Lindsey Smith, who works on the 19th floor of the Wells Fargo Building as part of the sheriff's media staff (or at least used to; she may do something else up there now), told the arresting officers that Arenas, who was quietly filming the event with a video camera, needed to go.
This is really admired for providing wonderful information on this blog with brand-new information. I've found this very valuable. Your post is great! pretty much sure lot of your readers had a great knowledge after they read your post. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Vernice
My blog : http://www.pianodecuisson.net
It just doesn't make sense that MacIntyre would resort to telling the truth when he can just make something up and the court is expected to believe it.
All this time I thought perjury was a crime. If he testified that he didn't advise Smith and didn't even know who the defendant is, and then Smith testified that he did and did, then someone is lying. Of course it must be Deputy Smith. No one in MCSO command staff would perjure themselves, would they? Oh hell no...
Hey Birdbrain,
Since you think that Chris B. was a coward for carrying a loaded rifle while the president was here, prove it at the next real opportunity and you carry a real, loaded rifle around without acting or even feeling scared.
I thought so. You need to use your journalistics skills to find the truth. All you're doing is starting with your hoplophobic and political fears and then rationalizing them.
It's transparent you're an emotional, liberal, political activist posing as a thoughtful, objective, hardworking journalist whose looking for and reporting the truth as best as he can find it.
I hadn't read the New Times in a long while. Thanks to your article I now remember why.
As Orlando's Kindergarden teacher that I am very disappointed but not surprised at Orlando's premeditated "criminal Trespassing".I still remember Orlando, a quiet child who kept to himself.� I asked all my students to draw pictures of what they wanted to do when they grew up. The sweet, innocent children drew themselves as fireman or police, dog catchers and soldiers. One was a spaceman. But Orlando drew elaborate drawings of himself on county property in handcuffs. I was very troubled by this and asked him what it meant. He told me he wanted to be "a criminal trespasser" when he grew up. This was very disturbing. In fact, the details were haunting. With every detail clearly drawn out and using only 2 basic crayollas (I gave the more elaborate crayons to the white kids because I was certain the Mexicans would steal them) There it was, his future as a criminal trespasser in full detail. He drew himself standing with on foot on the sidewalk and the other defiantly on county property. Two men with ski masks were grabbing him. You could see little tents with bars in the background. As puzzled as this was, I asked Orlando one question: How will they know to arrest you? He said he planned on protesting every day in front of the sheriff's luxury office suite that will cost the tax payers millions. I was disgusted." How dare you question the Sheriff or his business" I scolded.
I only wish I would've acted sooner to stop this horrendous crime from taking place. Just because our wonderful Sheriff Joe advertises that he will be doing an public prisoner march with 200 Mexicans in chains to the world and invites the media and public to attend in Roman fashion without taping off any areas of county property doesn't mean Orlando couldn't have been stopped and those pebbles under Nike wouldn't have been left for only more suitable feet to step on.
My apologies to the world. I should've reported this years ago lest he "criminally Trespass" again. Never mind the unserved warrants or uninvestigated rapes. We need to go after the Orlando's of the world.
Jodi Arias Jury Done -- No Decision on Death Penalty; Mistrial of Penalty Phase Declared; State Wants to Retry
Greg Patterson, AZ Board of Regents Member, Restarts Controversial "Espresso Pundit" Blog; Says He Won't Cover University Issues
The Undercover Animal Cruelty Videos that Spurred Big Ag's Censorship Crusade
Find everything you're looking for in your city
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
