Recall me and grandma gets it!
Yesterday we learned that Maricopa County has agreed to pay another $1.5 million for two more lawsuits that were brought against the county and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The bigoted coot has now cost county taxpayers more than $50 million, and, as attorney Michael Manning
says, "When this story is finally written by some historian 10-15 years from now, the cost of Joe Arpaio to the taxpayer will be startling. It will be far beyond $50 Million."
Not only is Arpaio expensive, he's just not good at his job—protecting the people of Maricopa County. Last year, for example, he famously failed to investigate or prosecute more than 400 sex crimes that had been turned over to his office. Of course, he's also under investigation by the Department of Justice for racial profiling, cronyism, misuse of funds, and a shit pile of other crimes.
So it comes as a surprise that his supporters would send out a hair-on-fire letter saying Maricopa County will become a hotbed of crime if Sheriff Arpaio is recalled. The group organizing the recall, Respect Arizona, has gathered more than 150,000 signatures already, with more than two months to go before the May 30 deadline. They need to collect 335,000 names to force a recall election.
But if the recall is successful, say the Arpaiobots, watch out!
In the letter, Arpaio said the Valley’s public safety was at stake in the recall. Without Arpaio, the letter said, those who would be in danger include single mothers whose children face “a rampant drug culture,” the hypothetical mother of a child killed by a drug dealer whom Arpaio is not able to keep in jail, and small-business owners whose livelihoods are threatened by illegal immigrants who have control over neighborhoods.
It's strange, isn't it, that the crime rates in other Arizona counties, where they don't have Sheriff Joe Arpaio on duty,
have fallen far more than Maricopa County? In fact, immigrant crossings and crime at the border, which Arpaio has had a hard-on for since he was first elected in 1992, is
down considerably.
That's why a group of law officials and politicians spoke Wednesday in favor of the effort to recall Arpaio.
Several retired Valley law-enforcement officials have joined the recall effort against Sheriff Joe Arpaio, criticizing him for using what they consider scare tactics to raise money to fight the recall.
The recall organizers released supporting statements from former Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris, as well as former Phoenix Assistant Chief Bill Louis. Their statements accused Arpaio of doing what he's been doing for twenty years—fearmongering, telling the little old ladies in Sun City that druggies and Mexicans are coming for them, and he's the only thing standing in the way.
“Arizona law enforcement will continue to fight crime and ensure public safety long after Mr. Arpaio leaves office,” Harris said in his statement.
Former U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton and former Arizona AG Terry Goddard also released statements supporting the recall. During a Wednesday press conference, other law officers, who were joined by former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, piled on as well, calling Arpaio's fundraising letter "disingenuous." That's being kind.
Arpaio's supporters have attempted to recruit a "shadow army" to intimidate petition signers, they've filed a lawsuit to stop the recall, and they're even trying to change the Arizona Constitution to keep Arpaio in power. Clearly they're worried—and they should be!
Respect Arizona! Recall Arpaio!