During the summer of 2010, we watched as Joe Arpaio re-election ads ran on television even though he isn’t up for election until 2012. Turns out he was up to his old tricks of pushing the envelope to put the political dagger in the back of Maricopa County attorney Rick Romley.
It worked. Arpaio’s guy — Bill Montgomery — is our new county attorney. You see, Romley has long been accused of being a RINO (Republican In Name Only). I hate to see Romley go. He was one of the only Republicans I’ve ever seriously considered supporting. I guess he was too “fair and balanced.”
During most of the year, Arpaio was raiding small local businesses ridding them of their cheap labor — thus opening up low-paying jobs for the rest of us. Ha! You should see the lines forming at the local landscape company. If it wasn’t his covert operations complete with news helicopters, reporters, supporters and demonstrators, Arpaio was busy telling the world how innocent he was and how he was the victim in the ongoing grand jury and FBI investigations into alleged racial profiling, abuse of power and misuse of public funds.
Something has happened over the past two or three months that has had a marked impact on the “Toughest Sheriff in America.” He was a no-show on election night. He has been thanked but no thanked for some of his normal holiday show of force. He recently began piping Christmas music into his jails not only in English but in Spanish too! He even is playing music for Ramadan!
So what’s going on with Arpaio anyway? He’s hunkering down and lying low.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors took away his high-priced attorneys several weeks ago. Some of his most trusted and highest-ranking assistants have been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into their own alledged wrongdoing. The feds have been incrementally winning court approval of their requests for financial records and e-mails.
The door is closing. Justice may be lurking around the corner.
So what happens to Arpaio if he is found guilty? My guess is that the penalties will appear to be quite stiff in terms of jail time and fines. However, if history serves me correctly, politicians such as Arpaio typically don’t go to jail. Normally, they will plea bargain with the prosecutors and agree to something like resignation, probation, restitution, etc. Sort of a slap on the wrist. Though I believe if you “can’t serve the time, don’t do the crime.”
In this case, just to see Arpaio out of office would be akin to justice finally being served.
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Jon Beydler is a 32-year Valley resident and the former mayor of Fountain Hills who now lives in Chandler
Slabside posted at 2:35 pm on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
Oh blah, blah, blah Beydler. You admitted thinking Jimmy Carter the best president ever. Ever consider Arpaio is just busy doing his job? No, didn't think so. Go play in traffic.[yawn]
Dale Whiting posted at 4:39 pm on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
What's wrong Slabside? Did Jon cite too many irrefutable facts for you to defend Arpaio on the merits so you had to attack Jon, the messenger?
Slabside posted at 8:05 pm on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
No Dale, like you Jon wouldn't know a fact from the usual liberal spin that the both of you adhere to everything you post. Yawn...[yawn]
Dale Whiting posted at 8:27 pm on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
Oh, Looks like my observation struck a sensitive spot!
Slabside posted at 11:04 pm on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
Forkedlift.. er I mean Dale, you couldn't strike water if you fell out of a boat.
Accuracy posted at 10:56 am on Wed, Dec 15, 2010.
Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is known as “America's Toughest Sheriff.” Sheriff Joe says he worries about increased violence along the US-Mexico border and says Mexico and the U.S. need to work together on the border problem.
Jon Beydler is only knocking the avidity with which Sheriff Joe Arpaio seeks out through the open mike and the live-camera.
But, concerning Beydler’s continuous sarcastic criticisms and racial/ethnic issue protests by others, Sheriff Joe has concluded before; “They’re all Democrats
Poorman posted at 1:04 pm on Wed, Dec 15, 2010.
Usually don't agree much with poster Slabaside to often,but the post on this one is spot on good show.
VofReason posted at 2:23 pm on Wed, Dec 15, 2010.
More advise on how to see something from Jon beydler. Yes, evrything up is down and down is up. Check and Check. This guys liberal line has gotten old. Isn't there some other crazy that can hold a pen?
VivaSB1070 posted at 6:44 pm on Wed, Dec 15, 2010.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Jon, you are a bore, your article is lame, and you even LOOK like the poster boy for the liberals. In your next life you may have to live in the REAL WORLD like the rest of us, your punishment for being such a shallow human being.
Rich posted at 10:25 pm on Wed, Dec 15, 2010.
"Why is Sheriff Joe lying low?" Because he's a better politician than you are. Could wish he was a half decent sheriff, but you can't have everything.
Accuracy posted at 10:57 am on Thu, Dec 16, 2010.
Is Sheriff Joe lying low? Quite the contrary.
Barack Obama's Attorney General, Eric H. Holder has had Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio under investigation, on a variety of fronts, since 2008.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio is right now opposing the U.S. Justice Department's request for more jail records. Not lying low . . . Sheriff Joe stated this week that he believes this inquiry by the feds is focused on his immigration efforts.
manini posted at 8:55 pm on Thu, Dec 16, 2010.
Arpaio's waiting for the new Maricopa County-elect Montgomery
to take office in January 2011, to continue to get the bad guys & gals& perverts on the Maricopa Board of Supervisors, Maricopa Superior Courts & their thieving shyster lawyers & fiduciaries. Arpaio also needs to go after the AZ State Supreme Court whose responsibility is to enforce Probate laws & fiduciary certification statewide.
abimopectore posted at 10:50 am on Fri, Dec 17, 2010.
manini,
Hate to break it to you. Montgomery is already in office.
surfer-joe posted at 4:20 pm on Sat, Dec 25, 2010.
Joe isn't "lying low!"
It's just that the media have taken Christmas off and are not making snarky remarks about him.
Between Montini and this guy Beydler, Sheriff Joe gets hammered every day by those that personally dislike him. I'm not crazy about any sheriff. But one that does give a try to getting rid of illegal aliens will get my vote every time.
sockratties posted at 3:39 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
Come on y'all.
Joe is a class act!
Unfortunately, that's all it is... an act!
Remember, you can't get elected unless everyone knows your name.
PortTabacco posted at 4:15 pm on Sun, Jan 30, 2011.
I love Sheriff Joe! Go Joe Arpaio and keep them all guessing!
And lasso the criminals!