Sunday, February 28, 2010

Russell Pearce - the feds should do as we say, not as we do

Amazingly enough, this *isn't* about the state's budget mess, where their blind obeisance to Grover Norquist (and not-so-coincidentally, corporations and AZ's wealthiest residents) and their blindness to fiscal reality has led them to gut the state's future...

Nope, not now anyway. However, that will be covered in a future post.

From a Washington Examiner article about Joe Arpaio (emphasis mine) -
With a sheriff's helicopter beating overhead, the man known as "Sheriff Joe" stood behind a line of officers as 10,000 people marched past — but this was not the usual show of affection and support for Joe Arpaio.

"Joe must go! Joe must go," whole families chanted, as they rounded the corner in front of the county jail complex run by the five-term Maricopa County sheriff famed for his confrontational tactics, his harsh jail policies and a gift for publicity. The parade of mostly brown-skinned people wanted to show they hated his trademark immigration patrols.

{snip}

Even supporters of his immigration efforts like state Sen. Russell Pearce, a former top deputy under Arpaio, acknowledge concern. "You always have to be worried," Pearce said. "If they are going to investigate whether you have crossed your T's and dotted your I's on every issue, I doubt there is anybody without fault."

Ummm...weren't the Stapley indictments/arrest all about "crossing T's and dotting Is"?

3 comments:

Thane Eichenauer said...

I continue to find it surprising that you and others characterize the ATR taxpayer protection pledge as a fealty oath to Grover Norquist. The wording itself in my eyes is clear:

I, ________________________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _______ District of the state of ____________________ and all
the people of this state that
I will oppose and vote against
any and all efforts to increase taxes.

Other than providing the words this has little to do with Mr. Norquist and everything about the political position taken by the elected official who signs the pledge.

Craig said...

Thane -

1. They were elected by the people of Arizona to represent the best interests of the people of Arizona.

If they want to represent the ideology of Norquist and the ATR, they should resign their legislative positions and send copies of their current resumes to Norquist.

2. In theory, the words of the pledge aren't a loyalty oath; in practice, when they consult Norquist on how to vote on a referral of a sales tax increase to the voters, it is.

Unknown said...

By taking such a pledge, you are demonstrate blind obedience to dogma, an unwillingness to carefully consider any possible solutions that may present themselves in a wide spectrum, and subject yourself to the approval of one outside your elected constituency.

If you are willing to tie one hand behind your back before the fight, so be it. But when you can't defend yourself, don't cry foul. Take your a@@kicking and go back to your corner and think again about why the most vulnerable people of this State are paying such a price for your ignorance.

Looks pretty clear to me Thane.