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chuck 02/03/2011 5:37:00 PM
what a group of SCUM......hiding behind the facade of their badges!!!!!
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Jorge Gutierrez 01/25/2010 10:24:00 PM
It is very obvious, because of the lack of respect from his supervisor for the court and also because of the reaction of the MCSO, that the action of stoddard are a mere result of the culture in the MCSO.
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Lion of Truth 01/24/2010 1:32:00 PM
It's such a shame, this state the sheriff office is in today. You know what they say... Turds float to the top... In a past life I knew of Trombi. He is an opportunist, a kiss ass with no morals or direction of his own. Seemingly he holds, like his company, a contempt for what is good and right. Rather he will do what needs to be done to achieve status.
In reality he is not to blame, for he is merely a pawn in a big game run by an egomaniac manipulator. His name is not Arpaio, for he is the fall guy in this game. The manipulator is Chief Deputy Hendershott. I hope the federal grand jury gets the job done.
It is a tragedy that this government and our society has let this go this far. Lest we not forget, remember our history. Its chock full of megalomanical, egocentric, manic oppressors. And by ignoring their childish behavior we validate and support their missions to inflict damage to the world.
I cannot change them, you cannot change them, we cannot change them. I can change myself, as you can chose to not permit this way to exist in you. Herin lies the key to making this world a better place. Strive to live your life by example, and through this you can play a part in making the world a better place. Be of peace inside. Have hope that those who cause pain in this world may someday be aware of their being and chose to no longer suffer. That is the way. But it is your choice to do as you see fit. You have been entrusted to make a choice in this life, as I have to do on a daily basis. To live in peace, or be of hate...
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Th58 01/12/2010 2:50:00 PM
With the past social movement of building prisons and locking everybody up, we see 'ole Joe make his dramatic appearence. Screw the little guy and immigrant Mexicans is his claim to fame on the backs of those who cant defend themselves.
I have no doubt that Joe will get his in the end, but my question is this,
Why is he still there. Where I live he would have been run out of town on a rail.
I dont get it, he has trashed just about every civil liberty we have.
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Concerned Citizen and Taxpayer 01/11/2010 8:34:00 PM
This comment needs to be here:
"FormerRepublican says:
Who wants to guess that the house of cards will tumble soon at MCSO? At the speed of Arpaio's misdeeds, one cannot imagine that something won't be catching up with him soon.
Today, according to the news, the former Veterans Administrator was indicted by the AG's office.
Good, that ought to free up some of their time and investigators once THAT case has been turned over to the courts. Now they can get to work on the Sheriff.
Look at the charges with the Veterans Administration guy. Very much like I imagine Arpaio will be charged with.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 @ 9:45PM"
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fr33bird 01/10/2010 2:39:00 AM
Excellent journalism. This is crazy. I just can't believe what goes on here, and what these people (MCSO) get away with.
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Kimono Kijiwa 01/01/2010 9:29:00 PM
Chris Long said: "That's the "duh" in all this. That Illegal should have been deported many years ago..."
That would be a naive answer; often illegals who are deported come back again and again and again. If an illegal commits a serious crime here, don't immediately deport him. Make him work for the benefit of the state while he is in prison.
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 5:56:00 PM
Chad Snow: Take it out on me and insult all you want. I don't blame you. You got suckered Big Time into the 'world-class' desert blast furnace. I went walking in the woods this morning with the dogs and sat by the stream. What did you do, go to a mall ? A fast food joint ? Ride the Light Rail back and forth ? On XMAS Eve, we rode a haywagon and cut down XMAS trees.
Perhaps you went to Encanto and got mugged ?
What with living in a place that is farce and a joke to the rest of the country due to corruption, enjoy ! You have seen those from other states blog on here and laugh at the place.
Ya'll are looking for a savior, and there isn't one in sight...Goddard ain't gonna' ride to the rescue of Phx and Maricopa County...hell, he's part of the problem...
Happy New Year...maybe your anger will subside a little.
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Chad Snow 12/30/2009 4:52:00 AM
Chrissy Long says: "Chad snow: How can non-citizens be covered under the Constitution, which only applies to citizens ? I don't follow..."
Chris, are you really that effing stupid??? That one ignorant comment totally discredits anything you've ever said on this site. Why don't you ask your Grand Wizard there in Georgia - he'll tell you that the Constitution doesn't apply to PEOPLE, it applies to the GOVERNMENT, and what it can and can't do. While there are certain rights given only to citizens, the due process rights of the 4th and 6th Amendments apply to everyone - even narrow minded ignorant bigots like yourself.
BTW, I am a lifelong Republican, as is TommyC, EnoughisEnough, and FormerRepublican, who also post on this site. So save your liberal bashing for your next Klan meetin'.
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WhoKnows 12/30/2009 1:42:00 AM
To good ole Georgia boy -- you took it out of context. This applies to the sheriff and his legal side-kick. where narcissism is very transparent. Hope this helps you.
"THE NARCISSIST WILL UTILIZE THIS DYNAMIC TO INCITE PEOPLE INTO EMOTIONAL STATES WHICH CAN BE EXPLOITED INTO DISTRACTIONS FROM THE CORE ISSUES."
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 1:35:00 AM
Stoddard saw words out of sequence and his imagination filled in the gaps, though the true sequence of the words, taken out of their contextual meanings, had no significance...
What if the words had been, like, "Nuclear weapon", 'will", "explode", "in the courthouse" "this afternoon" ?
Now, THAT would have been exciting !
Words taken out of sequence and context can mean anything you care to impart to them...
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 1:35:00 AM
Stoddard saw words out of sequence and his imagination filled in the gaps, though the true sequence of the words, taken out of their contextual meanings, had no significance...
What if the words had been, like, "Nuclear weapon", 'will", "explode", "in the courthouse" "this afternoon" ?
Now, THAT would have been exciting !
Words taken out of sequence and context can mean anything you care to impart to them...
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 1:26:00 AM
Chad snow: How can non-citizens be covered under the Constitution, which only applies to citizens ? I don't follow...
I get a sneaking suspicion that assertion is part of the "even terrorists deserve constitutional rights" blah-blah of the hysterical left.
Show me a statute that other than deportation due process, non-citizens are accorded the rights of citizens...waiting...
Lee Kuan Yew cautioned all of us during an interview with Charlie Rose, paraphrasing him, "...fruit pickers flooding into the United States are not the equivalents of your founding fathers and enterprising immigrants..."
Funny, the utter hard-core denial of the Liberals who will not admit, unto death, that Illegals from May-he-co are fleeing a corrupt and plutocratic political system.
Uh, think they might need to take up arms and get themselves a little ol' revolution down yonder like we did here ? Why can't they do that ?
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 1:16:00 AM
Concerned citizen typed: "Recognizing the presence of narcissistic forces is an important aspect of the transformational process. Moving to the next phase, interacting effectively with narcissistic forces, involves a number of important factors which include: awareness of and freedom from victim complexes..."
Just what in the HELL does all that gibberish mean ? Sounds like a misguided treatise in a PHI 220 class ! Wow ! That stuff is ozone all the way...
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Chris Long 12/30/2009 1:13:00 AM
Glad to see a poster from Americus, GA ! See, we Georgia boys get around !
Anyway, no, removing a few antagonists does not solve the problem in Maricopa county ! There are more corrupt politicos lined up and waiting in the wings for their turn. Hey, I lived there 16 years and the politicos always asked first, "Who are you with ?"
If you are not "with" some group flashing cash, forget it...they don't care about you...
National and local politics has abandoned me, so I have abandoned them and withhold my vote as a protest.
There is no answer to all this. Make sure you and yours are taken care of, watch your topknot and keep the you-know-what loaded and cocked.
Sad, but you have lost, game, set and match...
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Teo Buneo 12/28/2009 11:09:00 PM
Maricopa County has a real problem. There is not much possibility of cooperation between the MCSO and the court system. It appears that Detention Officer Stoddard feels empowered to ignore the law because his boss Joe Arpaio has misinformed his staff that the judiciary and the defense bar are in cahoots with the "criminals" that they (MCSO) are sworn to battle, thus all are suspect. Arpaio's rampant paranoia has destroyed a working relationship between the parties at the county courthouse. Then add in the paranoid lunacy of County Attorney who seemingly trained in law at Regent University with Monica Goodling and the fundamentalist crowd, Maricopa County has become totally dysfunctional.
Until Arpaio and Thomas are removed along with all the rotten fruit in both their offices the county will continue being a greater and greater laughing stock of the US law enforcement community. And county taxpayers will continue paying for the pair's paranoid antics.
Anyone up for a Recall?
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Concerned Citizen 12/28/2009 6:52:00 PM
Thomas and Arpaio need mental health evaluations (along with their enablers). Until them this might better help the public is getting to the right questions.
Narcissists:
THE IMPACT OF NARCISSISM ON LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY
http://ceres.ca.gov/tcsf/pathways/chapter12.html#recognizing
RECOGNIZING NARCISSISM IN ACTION
When the narcissistic defense is operating in an interpersonal or group setting, the grandiose part does not show its face in public. In public it presents a front of patience, congeniality, and confident reasonableness. However, beneath the surface it is supremely smug and superior. It is confident it can deceive the "fools" or their objective it is committed to blocking, while maintaining its own control and dominance over either the rules, and/or the flow of events.
It is critical to understand that the narcissistic defense is ADDICTED TO POWER AND CONTROLl. It, the defense, and they, the people who are controlled and possessed by the defense, must have power. The addict in the private sector gains power by instantaneously gratifying his needs through drugs, alcohol, sex, or gambling. The addict, or the person or group dominated by the narcissist, gains and holds power by dominating and controlling the flow of information, the rules, and the processes for participating in life.
One of the best places to spot narcissism, unfortunately, is at the TOP of a company or a public organization.
The narcissism can be detected by being sensitive to resistance from the top. The top, or the person or persons at the top, will RESIST EFFORTS TOWARDS CHANGE in process or structure. The resistance is communicated through a variety of techniques: always needing more information, appearing confused or having a lack of clarity; excuses; premeditated "blowups" or other distractions from whatever the issues being considered. A common example is as follows: a position needs to be filled in order for an important project to move forward. The boss, preferring control over progress and efficiency, delays and delays the hiring of the new executive, consistently finding something wrong with either the candidates or the search firm.
Another common sign of narcissism is the experience of pressure. This pressure comes from the unrelenting demand for perfection which is necessary to the narcissism if the grandiosity and illusion of omnipotence is to be maintained. The employee or group member will feel pressure either to conform, or to continue producing until exhaustion. The pressure is unpleasant and contains the negative expectation that people can't meet objectives through their own resources and cooperative participation without pressure from above. It devalues pride of accomplishment, commitment, and capacity to follow through and complete tasks.
When narcissism perceives that it could lose control of a situation or process, it often feels threatened. The grandiosity's sense of omnipotence is being threatened. When this happens, NARCISSISM'S RESPONSE CAN BE ONE OF CHARACTER ASSINATION OF THOSE THREATENING ITS OBJECTIVES. The presence of character assassination is another way of detecting the presence of narcissism.
There is another important way to recognize narcissism. Narcissism is often contained in language through the use of "I". If a person listens carefully to another's use of "I" one can detect the grandiosity inside, the part speaking for the whole.
INTERACTING EFFECTIVELY WITH NARCISSISM FORCES
Recognizing the presence of narcissistic forces is an important aspect of the transformational process. Moving to the next phase, interacting effectively with narcissistic forces, involves a number of important factors which include: awareness of and freedom from victim complexes, freedom from being intimidated, skills to deal with intimidation efforts, excellent emotional boundaries, accountability skills, skills for building consensus with others in the group, empowering others, and a highly developed inner ability to tolerate frustration and anxiety.
Most people feel victimized by narcissistic forces and narcissists. This is because they have felt consistently oppressed, suppressed, or frustrated by narcissistic forces (e.g. bosses, companies, owners, partners, religious organizations, governments). This becomes problematic in terms of achieving sustainability. When one is in a "victim state," one sees the oppressor as the enemy, as the one with the power, and as a result, the victim is easily manipulated into frustration and anger. THE NARCISSIST WILL UTILIZE THIS DYNAMIC TO INCITE PEOPLE INTO EMOTIONAL STATES WHICH CAN BE EXPLOITED INTO DISTRACTIONS FROM THE CORE ISSUES.
Victim states can be detected by the accent the person puts on "they, them, he or she", which conveys that the other is bad. The most debilitating component of victimhood in terms of sustainability and transformation is that the victim perceives the power as being in the other and outside of oneself. This is in direct opposition to a principle tenet of sustainability that power is shared, and essential power is achieved through collaboration, not dominance.
Narcissistic forces are also critical; they can be harsh in their judgments of anything short of perfection. They can be bullying and abusive in their verbal criticism, daring others to challenge their destructive communication tactics. Their underlying message contains some or all of the following: "I CAN INTIMIDATE YOU ANYTIME I WANT. YOU ARE AFRAID TO STAND UP TO ME, CHALLENGE ME. YOU ARE WEAK AND SPINELESS. Sometimes I will say something that I know is completely untrue or bullshit just to prove that you won't challenge me." Intimidation is used like a large boulder on a mountain road, saying "deal with me, or go down the mountain, and forget going ahead. I AM THE ROADBLOCK THROUGH WHICH YOU MUST GO.
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Who does this describe? You be the judge.
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Sam Merritt 12/27/2009 8:22:00 PM
Ever see kids misbehaving and wonder if it's the parent's fault? As a non-parent I sometimes feel guilty about such ideas because I really don't know much about it. However, when I hear about the uncivilized, uneducated, and just plain scary craziness of Arpaio, it doesn't surprise me that his "children" (i.e. his underlings) turn out to be uncivilized, uneducated, and just plain scary as well.
Sam Merritt
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Concerned Citizen 12/27/2009 7:05:00 AM
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PEOPLE!
IT'S ABOUT ABUSE OF POWER BY A COUNTY ATTORNEY.
YOU COULD BE NEXT!
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Gustavo Arellano 12/26/2009 5:12:00 PM
Another great Arpayaso expos�y my New Times hermanos!
Arpayaso apologists: v�nse a la chingada. No speakie Spanish? Read my column!
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Sanity Prevails 12/26/2009 3:38:00 PM
What propaganda crap. Joe is last bastion in the US who is attempting to keep the Mexican horde and LA wack jobs from completely destroying what is left of the once great AZ.
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Coz 12/26/2009 6:08:00 AM
They saw the light my friend years ago, just none of them have the balls to do anything about it....until recently..
>>I am hoping some of the ethical and professional officers at MCSO will 'see the light' and take needed action NOW to clean up the agency, starting at the TOP.
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Chad Snow 12/26/2009 5:58:00 AM
Mears and Long: even "scumbags" and "illegal aliens" have Constitutional rights. It's what distinguishes us from corrupt Third World dictatorships - or at least what USED TO distinguish us from them.
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TommyC 12/26/2009 12:56:00 AM
Leonard Clark, if you're going to profess to be a Christian, at least learn how to spell it, or learn how to use spell check, please.
Also, once again, I will ask that you start posting some position statements so your 'run' make take on some semblance of reality.
Just ranting and raving on an internet blog won't likely get you many votes. Then again, you probably aren't expecting any.
As a veteran, Leonard, we thank you for your service.
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TommyC 12/26/2009 12:48:00 AM
I'm still curious why Chris Long, from Georgia, is worried about what is going on in Phoenix.
Tom Mears is an MCSO concubine and is to be ignored. He eats, sleeps and drools over the idea that he may one day become the clone of his hero, the Flaccid Fool.
Anonymous is... well, anonymous, and as such has no value whatever.
Mr. Rubin did a very nice job once again recreating the sordid tale of misdeed by the miscreants of MCSO and MCAO.
The kid Stoddard, is just that, a kid. Just a fool who thinks his virility is based on feedback from the MCSO shurf or that really obese guy.
So, a detention officer told a sworn deputy to go make copies, eh? That seems backward in the pecking order of most law enforcement agencies. Generally speaking the detention officers are hoping and praying for the day when they can actually become sworn and can 'hit the road' as a law enforcement officer. No disrespect to detention officers, of course. I have had many over the years who were friends and have done a wonderful job.
Anyway, the issue and subject of the article is clear. This is just one more example of the wide ranging and very deep corruption of MCSO. I once thought the corruption was just at the top, with a few detention officers and deputies going along for the ride.
Even after having met with 'The Captain' and hearing his story I thought maybe the corruption wasn't that bad.
I was wrong, folks.
And, I think, The Captain is part of the corruption. Whether through intent or simply stupidity, he is a part of the problem of MCSO corruption and will never be a part of the solution. He is too embedded with the shurf and the Phat Guy, who donated to the PAC, to ever recover. No, not even your God will get you out of this one, Captain.
From what I can see, from the perspective of a retired law enforcement professional, most of you folks at MCSO are nothing but losers, crooks, or at the very least, liars.
I am hoping some of the ethical and professional officers at MCSO will 'see the light' and take needed action NOW to clean up the agency, starting at the TOP.
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Leonard Clark 12/25/2009 4:20:00 PM
These filthy thugs who have made a mockery out of law and order and Arizona have got to be stopped before there is no one left to stand up to their unconstitutional fascist acts! These thugs perpetuate the idea that tyrants rule not only in Arizona but over our whole country ! As long as they are allowed to violate the law and the constitution and their officially elected positions we can say nothing to Iran, China, Russia and the Taliban !
I did not come home to my native Arizona from serving in Iraq to see it happen all over again here in my beloved Arizona ! My comrades did not die for this! Filthy thugs step down now ! You can only jail and kill so many of us !
County Attorney Thomas, you call yourself a Christain ? How can you a supposed Christain violate the laws of GOD by bringing false witness against those of your fellow citizens? You are breaking the tenents of our own Christain beliefs !
President Obama, why do you act so concerned about human rights in Iran and in the Middle East when you will not even address violations of human rights and the U.S. Constitution right here in the United States and in Maricopa County Arizona? This is hypocrisy on the highest level ! We need you to intervene here instead of worrying about getting Arizona to vote for you in the next election !
We stand non-violently against these filthy criminal and unconstitutional thugs Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas!
Leonard Clark arizonaislove@hotmail.com
Persian Gulf/Iraq Occupation III Vet
Indpependent Progressive Candidate for the U.S. Senate
former chairman of the recalls against these two thugs !
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Frank Tilley 12/25/2009 12:22:00 PM
What is the process for throwing this buffoon (Arpaio) out of office, and why hasn't it begun yet?
Same question with regard to the county attorney who is so deep in sheriff Joe's hip pocket that sexual innuendos begin to emerge.
What a disgrace these 2 clowns are to our county.
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Omar Tentmaker 12/24/2009 7:11:00 PM
Why do PNT writers insist on trying to go after Sheriff Joe? He has been duly elected by county residents. He is not the subject of a recall. He is not under indictment. If PNT writers don't like him, they should attack the voters who keep him in office. PNT has space to fill week after week and should at least try to find some other subject than Joe.
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Chris Long 12/24/2009 6:55:00 PM
How many fools among us actually believe getting rid of Arpaio and Thomas solves the problem ?
The problem is systemic within the politico-legal system and far, far too embedded to be addressed with the removal of just a few antagonists.
Within a year, you're right back where you started and more corrupt hacks have replaced the previous corrupt hacks.
Want peace of mind ? Ignore what they do and get as far away as possible; take care of you and your own. Anything more is Sisyphaean...
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Hank Hill 12/24/2009 6:06:00 AM
So let me get this straight, some of you jackasses actually looked at the video and don't think that moron Stoddard did anything wrong? Shit... Stoddard is an idiot. Jokkke is an idiot. Candy is an idiot. All of their followers are idiots too and can kiss my ass.
I'm saving a bottle of JD Single Barrel for the karma celebration. Good thing the shit ages well... Lord knows Goddard and Obama don't have the balls to do anything.
By the way, where has Joel Fox been? Looks like the kool-aid has worn off.
I like how all of you nativist shitheads talk tough but don't follow through. What are you going to do? Urinate in the street?
But seriously, I hope you have a great Christmas and Santa brings you a case of the crabs.
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Former Republican 2 12/24/2009 2:02:00 AM
above comment: "The electorate does not understand what a danger the county attorney and sheriff pose to the administration of justice."
Yes, many of us do. The Anti-Thomas Protest on Monday, Dec. 22nd informed the world the how dangerous thomas is. Only thomas doesn't have the ability to see himself or what he looks like. His sound bytes are getting stale. Don't we all want criminals locked up, starting with him.
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PUBLIC OUTCRY!! WHERE'S THE DO 12/24/2009 1:52:00 AM
THIS IS WHAT WE WITNESSED IN THE 10 MINUTE COURTROOM VIDEO -- How cases are handled in the Maricopa County Courthouse and at a Sentencing, no less!
No one did anything to stop the officer's illegal actions -- the judge, the prosecutor or those on the side of the justice system. While Sheriff arpaio "protected" this illegal action by a marginal officer. It is shocking to see and worse to be a part of. This is standard operating procedure in the Courtroom -- "kangaroo" courts, Sentencing someone's life away and no one blinks an eyelash. Mandatory minimum sentencing the prosecutors' tool to send people away for decades in Arizona!! As routine as it looked in the courthouse video -- truly shocking.
No wonder the huge hoopla has been created by thomas and arpaio to re-direct the attention away from this serious breach of the justice system, as the sheriff and prosecutors control the courtroom.
It's time to file felonies and racketeering charges against the elected officials - County Attorney thomas (the little, big man driving his puppet) Sheriff arpaio.
THOMAS AND ARPAIO SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND THROWN INTO THEIR OWN JAILS AND PRISONS THEY CREATED FOR "OTHERS" AND MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING USED AGAINST THEM!!
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Emil Pulsifer 12/23/2009 11:35:00 PM
P.S. Most undocumented immigrants try to keep a low profile and avoid run-ins with the law, because they're here to make money legally and share it with their extended families back home. The argument that "illegal aliens bring crime with them" is a little like saying that "marijuana is a gateway drug" and therefore the way to stop crime and target the cartels is to run random traffic stops of long-haired men in the middle of town, in the hope of pulling in a couple dozen drivers with a doobie in their pocket.
(For that matter, don't most marijuana users initially experiment with alcohol in their youths? Maybe the real way to target crime is to put deputies in random bars and arrest every drunk in sight?)
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Emil Pulsifer 12/23/2009 11:14:00 PM
Great article, Mr. Rubin.
Some remarks in response to the comments thus far:
(1) To Mark Andersen: Joe McCarthy's scattershot approach was bound to hit an actual Communist agent or two eventually, given how many individuals he falsely accused. He picked victims on political (rather than security) considerations first, then dragged the river to see if the mud wouldn't churn up something, anything, he could use to justify his vendetta; he relied on the propaganda value of the public accusations to ruin victims' reputations and to intimidate other critics, both actual and potential; he relied on innuendo and unsubstantiated speculation. (Does this sound familiar?)
He used hearings the way that Thomas uses the grand jury process: as a one-sided, easily manipulated tool with low standards of evidence and procedure, which gives its user both a forum and (as a means of political camouflage) a specious claim to legitimacy. McCarthy was a smear artist and a coward, and the comparison to Arpaio and Thomas is apt.
(2) To Chris Long: the Lozano case would have proceeded without public awareness had it not been for the illegal actions of Deputy Stoddard. As for deporting undocumented immigrants, did it ever occur to you that they can get back in the same way they arrived the first time? Deportation is not a solution to the problem of border security where professional criminal aliens are concerned. Virtually nothing is, since even their economic motive is the lure, not of jobs, but of drug dealing and distribution, and other criminal enterprises which do not require the use of E-Verify or other checks.
The only solution to keeping serious criminal aliens off the streets is to target them and their organizations for investigation, painstakingly build a strong case, and prosecute those cases to the fullest extent of the law, with the guilty receiving long prison terms.
That's why the antics of Uncle Joe Arpaio and Candy Thomas should be anathema to anyone seriously concerned with the problem of the infiltration of alien criminal gangs: by concentrating resources on otherwise law abiding dishwashers and landscapers, prosecuting individuals for "smuggling themself", and similar circus tricks, instead of targeting habitual criminals and real criminal conspiracies, these clowns -- who occupy the two highest law enforcement positions in the county -- waste the taxpayers' money, waste law enforcement resources in a time of tight budgets, and waste the opportunity to attack a serious problem. (The constitutional issue of racial profiling; the alienation of a large fraction of the population whose cooperation is needed by law enforcement; and the black eye which such activities give to Arizona in the national and international press, are additional considerations.)
Instead of concerning themselves with serious law enforcement, as is their sworn duty, they spend much of their time thinking out propaganda skits to impress their adoring public, for purposes of political self-aggrandizement. They spend taxpayer money on public relations puppets (some of them unacknowledged, Mr. Long) to troll the news media and criticize their enemies while extolling the meretricious virtues of their bosses; frequently attempting to turn every controversy involving those bosses to a discussion of illegal immigration, an issue where emotions run high and the reputations (however undeserved) of Arpaio and Thomas are the silver lining in every cloud which threatens them.
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g4th 12/23/2009 8:45:00 PM
The electorate does not understand what a danger the county attorney and sheriff pose to the administration of justice.
In an unprecedented and extraordinary order, the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court appointed a former justice of that court as a special master to sort out the mess the recent filings have created. This is part of the order:
During the last several months, the Maricopa County Attorney has filed civil and criminal legal actions naming various current and retired superior court judges as defendants. In addition, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has taken control of a criminal justice computer system used to process thousands of court transactions each month, an action that is now the subject of litigation. Other cases have been filed as well and, according to public statements by the County Attorney, more are to come. In connection with these pending and impending cases, members of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office have conducted several interviews of superior court employees, both at work and at their homes.
Because of allegations of conflict of interest contained in some of the lawsuits, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court have assigned several of the cases to judges from counties other than Maricopa County. Such allegations have also motivated counsel in unrelated criminal cases to file motions alleging that the Maricopa County Attorney has an ongoing conflict in prosecuting criminal cases in the Superior Court in Maricopa County. These motions are pending.
The Superior Court in Maricopa County is the fifth largest court in the United States and handles more than 28,000 criminal felony matters each year. These investigations, cases, motions, and allegations, particularly the allegations of conflicts of interest and a conspiracy among the members of the Board of Supervisors and certain judges, including the Presiding Judge, have the potential to impair that court's ability to carry out its responsibilities and threaten the perception of impartial justice. More significantly, if a true conflict is found to exist requiring the transfer of all criminal cases prosecuted by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to out-of-county judges, a public safety emergency would arise.
In an attempt to ensure that the lawsuits and investigations do not further affect the administration of justice in the Superior Court in Maricopa County or diminish public trust and confidence in the justice system, I am appointing a Special Master with power to administer cases stemming from the various actions or investigations by the Maricopa County Attorney or the Maricopa County Sheriff against any judge of the Superior Court in Maricopa County or the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors or any of its members.
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Chris Long 12/23/2009 7:02:00 PM
Naive question: What was an Illegal Alien doing in court charged with his 4th or 5th crime over a number of years ?
That's the "duh" in all this. That Illegal should have been deported many years ago...
The system allowed him to keep going back to the well, so to speak. The case of Lozano speaks more to the way Illegals victimize repeatedly, contemptuous of America and its legal system, and carry on their illegal activities in prison, scarcely missing a beat.
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Tom Mears 12/23/2009 6:51:00 PM
There sure is a lot of innuendo and speculation of Stoddards motives in this article. I don't think any of you are qualified to judge why Stoddard did what he did, nor his motivations beyond what he testified.
The man was doing his job, protecting the courts and the jails from what he interpreted as misconduct at the time. Had this been some 99 year old grandmother on a parking ticket, I'm sure things would have played out differently. However, this scumbag that was being sentenced was a violent illegal alien who has shown a pattern of violent behavior both in the jail and out.
It's unfortunate, but more than one lawyer has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar in Maricopa county and Cuccia is not above suspicion. Just because she's some East Coast fast talking Italian sheister doesn't mean she gets a free pass.
The New Times makes me want to vomit. You're all garbage.
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Chris Long 12/23/2009 5:35:00 PM
Thank goodness Rubin wrote the piece and not that hysterical, hyperventilating hack, Stephen Lemons. Keep Lemons in the blogs where he belongs.
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Randy Hensley 12/23/2009 4:58:00 PM
All I can say is, I'm glad I don't have to live in Maricopa County. It must be unnerving, especially for hispanic minorities to live with the knowledge that you may be pulled over for the color of your hair. It should start penetrating some of the thick skulls that seem to be prevalent there, that this combed over dinosaur is not good for the county no matter how much he caters to the sun city crowd.
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CooperG 12/23/2009 2:50:00 PM
Somehow, shaking your head in disgust just doesn't quite cut it anymore. That these so-called "protectors of justice" feel that their agenda gives them license to rewrite laws on the fly, violate Constitutional rights on a whim and then attempt to destroy the reputation of anyone who gets in their way just shows how out of control they are.
Frankly, I hope the Justice Department IS on to them and I hope they nail them to the wall and soon. It couldn't happen to a bigger bunch of losers.
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Opinion 192 12/23/2009 7:31:00 AM
"The detention officer said he had followed procedure by removing documentation that MIGHT have shown evidence of a POTENTIAL FUTURE crime."
Doesn't that statement apply to every undisclosed document in the universe? After all, if you have never read a document how can you say for sure that it does not reveal a criminal conspiracy?
The most profound point in the article was about the organizational culture of the MCSO leading to Stoddard's removal of the document. Indeed, Arpaio has corrupted not only himself, but the entire MCSO organization.
The great thing about this whole incident is that it puts the corruption of Arpaio and Thomas on public display. They are making fools of themselves and they shall lose in the end.
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What Goes Around, Comes Around 12/23/2009 6:31:00 AM
The Rule of Law:
"To Arpaio and his kindred spirit, Thomas, the rule of law is whatever they say it is."
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Tina 12/23/2009 5:34:00 AM
What gets me in all of this are the embellishments of the lie by Arpaio and LAWYER Liddy. With dramatic and dishonest indignation, they still attempt to defend this totally indefensible action by detention officer Stoddard (and Stoddard himself) by trying to besmirch the professional reputation of defense attorney Cuccia -- the "victim" of Stoddard's wrongdoing.
Loudly repeat the lie and innuendos for the eyes and ears of an uninformed public without one shred or hint of evidence to substantiate their slimy words, when they know full well Stoddard didn't have a wooden leg to stand on.
Shortly after Judge Donahoe's 7-page ruling was released, I read and digested it. He thoroughly examined the facts and the law in this matter and Stoddard's actions could not be justified. Liddy knows this. Arpaio knows this.
But then, in lock-step with them, toady Stoddard perpetuated the lie, also effectively said "piss on the judiciary," played the role of martyr, and told the public he "could not apologize to the defense attorney because he could not lie." Incredible!
I thought Liddy/Arpaio announced that Judge Donahoe's Stoddard ruling was being appealed...through the courts, that is. If so, has that idea been abandoned in favor of these latest trumped up charges by Thomas...bribery, racketeering, conspiracy, etc. to smear Judge Donahoe, other judges, and everyone else on their black list to thwart an independent judiciary and silence their critics?
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Bill B 12/23/2009 5:05:00 AM
A big wow here. NOW I get it. This is a dangerous time to be in this neck of the woods.
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Chad Snow 12/23/2009 4:11:00 AM
So let me get this straight: this cocky little prick Stoddard doesn't have the wherewithal or the brains to become a sworn peace officer, but unilaterally annoints himself an investigator and expert on Mexican Mafia operational tactics??? And then has the gall to defy a court order from the chief criminal judge in the face of overwhelming visual evidence that he acted illegally? The Mentally Challenged Sheriff's Office is way more out of control than any of us thought.
And you can put that in my "file" Trombi.
The MCSO Sheriff is corrupt.
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vodog 12/23/2009 12:53:00 AM
Your son, daughter, brother, sister, father or cousin would be lucky to get Joanne Cuccia as a lawyer. She does not deserve this. F+*%*cK you Joe.
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Mark Andersen 12/23/2009 12:48:00 AM
Great article and well researched, except for the part comparing Andrew Thomas to Sen. Joe Macarthy- who actually accused real live Soviet spies in our state department- as we now know through the release of Soviet cables known as the Venona Project. In my view, Senator Macarthy's reputation is unfairly tarnished by your comparison.
But otherwise, great work. I appreciate you drawing attention to this important issue. It's a fascinating case and it's important because the County Attorney's position is that they should be able to invade the rights of the individual without probable cause or even reasonable suspicion without any personal repurcussion from anyone (which is usually the case). Let's hope the feds or the AG gets off of their rears and puts them in their place.
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Hank Hill 12/22/2009 9:19:00 PM
AMAZING! This mafia-like above the law mentality is common among the wealthy and thugs alike but has no place in our justice system. Jokkke and Candy are acting out of egos fed by this community's apathy.
Hello? Goddard? Obama? Can you hear our cries? Nah... That'd be inconvenient and might jeopardize some votes...
I guess it's up to regular people with everything to lose. God help us all.
