It’s a combination many Republicans in this state fear, especially GOPers like Joe Arpaio who made a career out of profiling and debasing brown people. But whether or not Arpaio wins reelection tomorrow, this group of individuals will change Arizona politics for decades to come. These young Latinos have tasted the power of political activism, …
Read MoreIf you’re old enough, you may remember this infamous Willie Horton ad from the 1988 presidential election between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. Many people credited this ad for helping Bush turn the conversation in the campaign and win the presidency. And as attack ads go, this one was definitely one of the best. …
Read MorePardon my French, but it takes balls to take on Joe Arpaio without an army of supporters behind you. So when a virtual unknown, a local artist, decides to self-fund a commercial attacking Sheriff Arpaio, you gotta wonder, “what was he thinking?” He wasn’t thinking about himself, that’s for sure. Instead, he was more concerned …
Read MoreShe was walking home from a friend’s house that night with another teenager, a boy who lived in her neighborhood. She was 14; he was 16. The two were acquaintances and had been at the friend’s house with several other teens. No doubt, this girl assumed she was safe. But without warning and in the …
Read MoreI join Robert Robb of the Arizona Republic and former candidate for Phoenix mayor, Jennifer Wright, on 12 News Sunday Square Off. This week’s topics include Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery’s moderate immigration plan, the lack of state funding for education, and the end of the criminal investigation of Sheriff Arpaio.
Read MoreJoe Arpaio is not an island. His ability to waste more than $150 million in taxpayer monies didn’t happen in a vacuum. We know that the now disbarred and disgraced former County Attorney Andy Thomas helped Arpaio abuse his power by charging and prosecuting numerous cases without any legal merit. We know he looked the …
Read MoreTwo Americans isn’t a fairy tale. Two Americans doesn’t have a happy ending. But Two Americans may be one of the most important documentaries you’ll ever see, especially if you live in Maricopa County. The Americans in this story are 79-year-old Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and 9-year-old Katherine Figueroa. Arpaio, the obvious Goliath in …
Read MoreArizona certainly doesn’t lack for crazy ideas led by equally zany lawmakers. From politicians working to further the ‘birther’ conspiracy to legislators redefining conception to two weeks prior to ovulation, we’ve got more than enough material to keep comedians like Jon Stewart in business. But instead of shaking our heads or shrugging our shoulders over …
Read More“Illegal immigrants chose to come here against our laws and proceeded to choose which laws they would follow and which they would ignore, demanding rights to which they are not entitled.” This was taken from a recent letter to the editor in the Arizona Republic. The woman, Alice Wilson, goes on to say, “Legal citizens …
Read MoreThe list reads like a Who’s Who of Sheriff Arpaio’s nearest and dearest allies: Former MCSO Chief Deputy David Hendershott Former MCSO Deputy Chief Larry Black Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas Former Deputy County Attorney Lisa Aubuchon One by one, those responsible for helping Sheriff Arpaio take revenge on his enemies or silence his …
Read MoreCorruption is the topic of the day on this week’s 12 News Sunday Square Off. Two political heavyweights, Attorney General Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, are the subject of investigations, while fellow Democrats push for state legislator Daniel Patterson’s removal from office.
Read MoreThe world stands with bated breath, anxiously awaiting the results of Sheriff Arpaio’s investigation into the authenticity of President Obama’s birth certificate. Or at least that’s what Mr. Arpaio would like to believe. For the vast majority of Americans, this issue was put to rest a long time ago, but for the tea party extremists, …
Read MoreWhen my oldest son was in preschool, the teachers had a daily ritual where they would gather the kids in a circle and ask what each child was thankful for. After hearing a story about Martin Luther King, Jr., my son said, “I’m thankful I’m white.” Though shocked to hear my four-year-old make such a …
Read MoreI sat down with Channel 3’s Frank Camacho on his show, Politics Unplugged, to discuss civil discourse, Sheriff Arpaio and the decriminalization of marijuana. We also spoke about some of my predictions for 2012.
Read MoreIn 2012, we should “expect the unexpected.” How do I know that? Well, according to numerologists, 2012 is a number five year (this is based on the sum total of the numbers: 2+0+1+2=5). And the only thing one can predict in a number five year is that it is unpredictable. Taking that into consideration, I …
Read More“America’s Toughest Sheriff” may soon be getting a new title, “America’s Most Disgraced Sheriff.” That’s a more fitting title for a man who allowed rapists and child molesters to roam free while hundreds of young girls and mothers lived in fear and shock after their reports of sexual assaults were dismissed by the Sheriff’s department …
Read MoreFor as long as I’ve lived in Arizona, Republicans have dominated state politics, and though I haven’t always agreed with their policy positions, I’ve never felt threatened by their governance. Until now. From Russell Pearce to Joe Arpaio, Arizona’s Republican party is now dominated by extremist ideologues. These individuals have muscled their way onto center …
Read MoreIn Arizona we pride ourselves on being tough on crime. That’s Sheriff Joe’s motto, after all, and people in this state eat it up. From the infamous pink underwear to jailhouse tent cities, Sheriff Arpaio has made a name for himself as someone shameless about shaming criminals. But recent headlines about major security lapses at …
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