ARPAIO, RUSSELL & READY
My regular readers know that I’ve made it something of a hobby to document abject insanity that has become the Maricopa County GOP and elected “Republican” officials in the county who truly need to be excommunicated, starting with Sheriff Joe. Maricopa County is in the forefront of the whole anti-immigration battle, pushed ever farther right by a bastion of characters that would make any group of decent people blush. Their first attempt, Protect Arizona Now (or something like that) was spearheaded by Rusty Childress (who always seems to be around) and Virginia Abernathy a card carrying SPLC mentioned member of the KKK. Seems to me we ought to be able to qualify who calls themselves a Republican. Frankly, I’d much rather have them be called conservatives than Republicans.
The Maricopa County GOP couldn’t wait to broadcast the embarrassing news. AZ Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain did rather poorly in the straw poll during their annual meeting. I’ve been told not to worry, that McCain will do well in AZ, his home state.
From the Sonoran Alliance
“Overall Votes (662 Votes):
#1 - Mitt Romney - 28.4% (188)
#2 - Fred Thomson - 18.3% (121)
#3 - Ron Paul - 17.4% (115)
#4 - Duncan Hunter - 14.0% (93)
#5 - John McCain - 12.1% (80)
#6 - Rudy Giuliani - 5.0% (33)
#7 - Mike Huckabee - 4.8% (32)
Most Acceptable (1781 Votes): #1 - Fred Thompson - 20.8% (370) #2 - Duncan Hunter - 20.1% (358) #3 - Mitt Romney - 20.0% (356) #4 - Rudy Giuliani - 13.2% (235) #5 - Mike Huckabee - 11.6% (207) #6 - John McCain - 7.6% (135) #7 - Ron Paul - 6.7% (120)
Most Unacceptable (1949 votes): #1 - John McCain - 21.9% (427) #2 - Ron Paul - 20.3% (396) #3 - Rudy Giuliani - 18.3% (357) #4 - Mike Huckabee - 17.4% (340) #5 - Duncan Hunter - 8.0% (156) #6 - Fred Thompson - 7.8% (152) #7 - Mitt Romney - 6.2% (121 )”
Most Acceptable (1781 Votes): #1 - Fred Thompson - 20.8% (370) #2 - Duncan Hunter - 20.1% (358) #3 - Mitt Romney - 20.0% (356) #4 - Rudy Giuliani - 13.2% (235) #5 - Mike Huckabee - 11.6% (207) #6 - John McCain - 7.6% (135) #7 - Ron Paul - 6.7% (120)
Most Unacceptable (1949 votes): #1 - John McCain - 21.9% (427) #2 - Ron Paul - 20.3% (396) #3 - Rudy Giuliani - 18.3% (357) #4 - Mike Huckabee - 17.4% (340) #5 - Duncan Hunter - 8.0% (156) #6 - Fred Thompson - 7.8% (152) #7 - Mitt Romney - 6.2% (121 )”
On the surface it looks bad, doesn’t it? I had an email from someone in the know over Arizona way.
The straw poll was controlled by Rob Haney, who detests John McCain because McCain won’t, well, kiss his …”… All the McCain supporters (who have most of the $$$) have pulled out of the MCRC (County) and AZ GOP because of Haney and his small band of wackos…” There is more, but I don’t feel free to repeat it.
Unable to run against Joe Arpaio in a GOP primary because of Arpaio’s history of dirty tricks, conservative Joe Saban made it official today that he is going to take America’s most incompetent High Sheriff. Even conservatives are applauding this move. Sonoran Alliance
“…The current police chief of Buckeye, Saban made the announcement on Saturday while county Republican gathered for their annual meeting. This time however, Saban will not be running against Arpaio in the Republican primary. Instead, Saban has reregistered as a Democrat and will square off against Arpaio in the General Election in November. A member of major east valley evangelical church, Saban certainly embraces conservative principles but probably re-registered to avoid a possible loss in a primary in which Arpaio still enjoys high name recognition. But Arpaio’s popularity has been waining heavily in recent months following the arrests of Phoenix New Times publishers, numerous costly lawsuit settlements and other elected officials whom have distanced themselves from the cantankerous lawman. Quietly, some Republicans are applauding Saban’s decision to challenge Arpaio. Many believe someone like Saban may finally be able to unseat the longstanding sheriff who has bluntly placed his reputation and notoriety at the same level of performing his duties. There is no question Arpaio enjoys being the center of attention of Arizona politics. But some Republicans are beginning to believe that Arpaio’s quest for the spotlight has become a political and financial liability. America’s toughest sheriff may actually be vulnerable. Meanwhile, Dan Saban is focused to take on the Sheriff despite the ugliness and heavy-handedness that is sure to ensue. The race for Maricopa County Sheriff will likely prove costly and get downright dirty as these two rivals head for another round of politicking, Arizona style….”
From the Feathered Bastard
“…'Numbered are the days when members of the press and our citizens need to fear having a Sheriff who violates their Constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of speech'. And so on. My favorite line was Saban's brief reference to the Hendershott in Honduras affair: 'As I stand here today, gone are the days when we send deputies to Honduras when the residents of Aguila, Gila Bend, Sun City, Sun Lakes, and Anthem are being neglected'.
Saban declared that when he becomes Sheriff, he'll make reopening satellite jail facilities a priority, go after the 40,000 felons Arpaio's ignored and return dignity, honor and respect to the office. He also stated he will not renew the contract for MCSO offices at the downtown Wells Fargo Bank building, saving taxpayers from having to cover the steep rent there. And Saban promised that once he's sworn in,
"I will order an immediate and detailed audit of the existing finances and expenditure patterns within this office."
The small earthquake you just felt was Arpaio's Chief Deputy David Hendershott trembling.
Honestly, it was a great speech, as was Romley's. And I daresay that the MCSO is nervous. Poll numbers show Arpaio's approval ratings to be high, but nevertheless down some 20%. Sure a wounded dog is dangerous. But if Arpaio pulls some numbskull shit like his camp did against Saban in 2004, they risk an outrage as great or greater than when the MCSO arrested my bosses Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin in the middle of night this past October.
As the Police Chief in Buckeye, and before that as a Commander in the Mesa PD and in numerous other ways, Saban has distinguished himself as a bona fide lawman, not a nickel bag ne'er-do-well like his opponent. It's time for Arpaio to go, and Saban's got mojo enough to make him….”
Saban declared that when he becomes Sheriff, he'll make reopening satellite jail facilities a priority, go after the 40,000 felons Arpaio's ignored and return dignity, honor and respect to the office. He also stated he will not renew the contract for MCSO offices at the downtown Wells Fargo Bank building, saving taxpayers from having to cover the steep rent there. And Saban promised that once he's sworn in,
"I will order an immediate and detailed audit of the existing finances and expenditure patterns within this office."
The small earthquake you just felt was Arpaio's Chief Deputy David Hendershott trembling.
Honestly, it was a great speech, as was Romley's. And I daresay that the MCSO is nervous. Poll numbers show Arpaio's approval ratings to be high, but nevertheless down some 20%. Sure a wounded dog is dangerous. But if Arpaio pulls some numbskull shit like his camp did against Saban in 2004, they risk an outrage as great or greater than when the MCSO arrested my bosses Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin in the middle of night this past October.
As the Police Chief in Buckeye, and before that as a Commander in the Mesa PD and in numerous other ways, Saban has distinguished himself as a bona fide lawman, not a nickel bag ne'er-do-well like his opponent. It's time for Arpaio to go, and Saban's got mojo enough to make him….”
HALL OF SHAME
Russell Pearce, a member of AZ State House and (gulp) a Republican is one of the more interesting in the cast of GOP characters in Maricopa County. Awhile back he forwarded an email from a neo-Nazi source, saying nasty things about Jewish people. According to the Feathered Bastard (Nov 2007) Then there is T.J. Ready, an honest to goodness Neo-Nazi who is part of the local GOP’s executive committee.
“…This avian first thought Ready was lying about being a precinct committeeman, one of the, um, storm troopers of the two-party system. The unpaid position can be appointed or elected, and PCs usually help their party get out the vote. Ready's fibbed about his résumé in the past, specifically in regard to his criminal and military history. This, while running for the Mesa City Council in 2006.
A call to campaign finance director Kristi Passarelli at Maricopa County Elections confirmed Ready was telling the truth about his PC-ship. Passarelli informed this pelican that Ready was elected in 2006 from precinct 529, also known as Mesa 67. There were two slots open for Republicans, but Ready was the only one on the ballot in that primary. He received 36 votes.
County Republican Party Chairman Lyle Tuttle was too busy playing golf to return The Bird's call. But Sean McCaffrey, executive director of the state GOP told the Taloned One the party was unaware of Ready's Republican position. He vowed Ready will be asked to step down. If Ready refuses, the party will field candidates for his PC-ship in '08, when Ready's term's up, to make sure Ready's not re-elected.
"People that campaign on hate and people that campaign on fear, well, that eliminates neo-Nazis and Democrats from the Republican Party," McCaffrey informed this egret. Cute comparison, Sean. But local Dems aren't the ones with an Adolf Hitler-lover in-house. Nor does McCaffrey's cheap shot explain why the Arizona GOP didn't try to stop Ready from becoming a precinct committeeman in '06. McCaffrey's excuse was that he'd just arrived in AZ this March, and that most of his staff is new and from out of state. But state Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen's no neophyte to local politics, being a two-time loser in the Phoenix mayoral race. Pullen can't be expected to know all the more than 3,000 Republican PCs, but Pullen and Ready run in the same immigrant-hating circles. They've spoken at the same Mexican-baiting rallies. And both have attended meetings of Rusty Childress' immigrant-bashing United for a Sovereign America.
Also, Ready's tight with state Representative Russell Pearce, who's bashed Mexicans ever since a Latino teen shot off his finger when he was a county sheriff's deputy. Pearce is a racist law machine, pumping out statute after statute targeting the brown segment of AZ's population. At a June anti-illegal demonstration at the state Capitol, Ready and Pearce worked the crowd arm-in-arm.
Remember when Pearce forwarded a neo-Nazi e-m
ail to supporters in '06? Pearce claimed a "friend" sent him the e-mail. Could that "friend" have a last name that rhymes with "Freddy"? The blanket isn't big enough these days for all the bigoted bedfellows who want in on the nativist lovefest. In any other state, Pearce's ties to a white nationalist like Ready would make him a pariah, especially after the outrage over that neo-Nazi e-mail. Instead, both Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Candy Thomas recently honored Pearce at a "gala reception" and dinner to raise moolah for Pearce's committee exploring a primary challenge to Congressman Jeff Flake, a moderate Republican who's championed comprehensive immigration reform. It was $100 a plate for the dinner, $200 if you wanted a pic of yourself with Thomas, Arpaio, or radio wingnut Bruce Jacobs. Minuteman leader Chris Simcox was on the fundraiser's planning committee….”
A call to campaign finance director Kristi Passarelli at Maricopa County Elections confirmed Ready was telling the truth about his PC-ship. Passarelli informed this pelican that Ready was elected in 2006 from precinct 529, also known as Mesa 67. There were two slots open for Republicans, but Ready was the only one on the ballot in that primary. He received 36 votes.
County Republican Party Chairman Lyle Tuttle was too busy playing golf to return The Bird's call. But Sean McCaffrey, executive director of the state GOP told the Taloned One the party was unaware of Ready's Republican position. He vowed Ready will be asked to step down. If Ready refuses, the party will field candidates for his PC-ship in '08, when Ready's term's up, to make sure Ready's not re-elected.
"People that campaign on hate and people that campaign on fear, well, that eliminates neo-Nazis and Democrats from the Republican Party," McCaffrey informed this egret. Cute comparison, Sean. But local Dems aren't the ones with an Adolf Hitler-lover in-house. Nor does McCaffrey's cheap shot explain why the Arizona GOP didn't try to stop Ready from becoming a precinct committeeman in '06. McCaffrey's excuse was that he'd just arrived in AZ this March, and that most of his staff is new and from out of state. But state Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen's no neophyte to local politics, being a two-time loser in the Phoenix mayoral race. Pullen can't be expected to know all the more than 3,000 Republican PCs, but Pullen and Ready run in the same immigrant-hating circles. They've spoken at the same Mexican-baiting rallies. And both have attended meetings of Rusty Childress' immigrant-bashing United for a Sovereign America.
Also, Ready's tight with state Representative Russell Pearce, who's bashed Mexicans ever since a Latino teen shot off his finger when he was a county sheriff's deputy. Pearce is a racist law machine, pumping out statute after statute targeting the brown segment of AZ's population. At a June anti-illegal demonstration at the state Capitol, Ready and Pearce worked the crowd arm-in-arm.
Remember when Pearce forwarded a neo-Nazi e-m
ail to supporters in '06? Pearce claimed a "friend" sent him the e-mail. Could that "friend" have a last name that rhymes with "Freddy"? The blanket isn't big enough these days for all the bigoted bedfellows who want in on the nativist lovefest. In any other state, Pearce's ties to a white nationalist like Ready would make him a pariah, especially after the outrage over that neo-Nazi e-mail. Instead, both Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Candy Thomas recently honored Pearce at a "gala reception" and dinner to raise moolah for Pearce's committee exploring a primary challenge to Congressman Jeff Flake, a moderate Republican who's championed comprehensive immigration reform. It was $100 a plate for the dinner, $200 if you wanted a pic of yourself with Thomas, Arpaio, or radio wingnut Bruce Jacobs. Minuteman leader Chris Simcox was on the fundraiser's planning committee….”
Then precious little Sheriff Joe once said it was an honor to be compared to the KKK!
“…Arpaio's a Joe-come-lately to the bigot parade, but he's been making up for lost time, mending fences with former rival and second-in-command Pearce. Arpaio was even on Lou Dobbs' show recently, calling it "an honor" to be labeled KKK by certain detractors. "It means we're doing something," he informed the conservative CNN pundit.Days later, Arpaio tried explaining away the Klan remark, but this worm-wrangler thinks Arpaio was right from jump. There's precious little shame in the game of certain Republicans these days. That's why virulent anti-Semites like J.T. Ready are able to infiltrate Republican ranks. And it's why racists like Russell Pearce are feted as heroes….”
Trackposted to Mark My Words, Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, DragonLady's World, Big Dog's Weblog, Adeline and Hazel, Allie is Wired, Faultline USA, third world county, Nuke Gingrich, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, Celebrity Smack, Dumb Ox Daily News, and CORSARI D'ITALIA, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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