It's Good to be King - Arizona politicans behaving badly

[Kopji]

Arizona. Setting the pace of the nation.

I get a distinct feeling that everyone is sick of hearing from Arizona, I know I am. An update is in order here at Peyton Place of the West.

Short story: Bundgaard made the mistake of being caught, and was deposed as second in command:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/artic...15arizona-bundgaard-out-as-senate-leader.html

He did not however, do anything unethical:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/elect...aard-ethics-complaint-dismissed-brk17-ON.html

Bundgaard, 43, still faces a Senate Ethics Committee hearing Thursday. But committee Chairman Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said he wants the ethics complaint dismissed so it doesn't interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation into possible domestic-violence charges.

"I don't want to prejudice a criminal case in any way," Gould said. "I'm not trying to shield the guy. I think it's the best, most prudent way to proceed."

No need to make this stuff up.

I started losing interest in the details, but the more he talked the worse it got. 'Worse' started about the time he accused his girlfriend of going for a gun, and then sheepishly admitting that it was his gun after all.

Bundgaard avoided a vote March 8, when, during another closed-door meeting on the matter, he told Senate Republicans that forthcoming police reports would show that his girlfriend reached for a gun during the quarrel in his vehicle. He asked them to hold off until this week before deciding his fate.

Hey, I could turn this into a gun thread. Or maybe she was a closet abortion rights advocate. I know - she was a gun toting, man abusing, abortion rights advocate who supported Hamas.

So Bundgaard - he loses some dignity.

******

The story today is that five of the ballyhooed anti immigration bills being promoted by Republicans for the past few months were defeated... by themselves. What a waste of time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42141129/ns/us_news/

Gotta go get some of those antinuke pills before they run out...

 

[Kopji]

The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
This episode...

Sports Illustrated
or
Junker Bonds with Strippers

The investigation that brought down one of the most powerful figures in college football came on the heels of a previous investigation, which the Fiesta Bowl was forced to conduct in December 2009. That investigation came in response to allegations in The Arizona Republic that Fiesta Bowl employees were regularly reimbursed for making contributions to state and local politicians -- a felony. Employees would write a check, the story alleged, then be reimbursed shortly afterward, usually in the form of a bonus from the Fiesta Bowl. (Junker denied the allegations at the time and has not commented publicly since.)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/29/fiesta-bowl-junker/

 

[Kopji]

The Wayback Machine - 2009

The original Arizona Republic investigation article is full of interesting stuff.

...More than $38,000 in campaign contributions have been made since 2000 by 14 Fiesta Bowl employees.

...Those contributions come on top of the $4 million the Fiesta Bowl spent during the same period on lobbyists, trips, dinners and golf retreats to build relationships with athletic officials who control the Bowl Championship Series and to garner support from politicians.

...Dan Beebe is commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, one of the six conferences that determine which bowls stay in the BCS. Beebe said the organization and customer care from Fiesta Bowl officials is "second to none."

...The Republic contacted officials with the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls. No other BCS bowl takes their state lawmakers on football trips. The Orange Bowl hosts an annual golf retreat for college officials, but the Rose and Sugar bowls do not.

One Arizona lawmaker who has taken these trips is Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa.

"I go to help," Pearce said. "Every four years we run the risk of losing the (BCS) championship game, and I do everything I can to keep the Fiesta Bowl viable. . . . It means millions of dollars for the state."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarep.../12/18/20091218fiesta-bowl-investigation.html

I'm gonna go out on a limb and call this another epic fail by Pearce

 

[Swagomatic]

I blame the media.








(sarcasm alert)

 

[Kopji]

The womenfolk are better protected today, at least in the big cities. Huzzah.
Oh wait, there is no impact on big cities (that don't have a doctor shortage). Let's make those poor rural women go 200 miles to get an abortion.

My cynicism protects me from the whiplash I'd get if I believed our current leaders claim to be for smaller government and less involvement in our life. They want to rule us. Got that part.

The bill would newly apply current state requirements on personnel and facilities to clinics that perform medication abortions. They now apply only to clinics that provide surgical abortions.

Planned Parenthood of Arizona's president has said the change would force it to curtail services in Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. Nurse-practitioners _ not doctors _ provide services at those sites.

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/state-and-regional/article_57cc8737-0c28-53c7-9582-2ea7445c3640.html

 

[Kopji]

Oh I almost forgot this from the 15th. Pissed me off. A bunch of Tea Party activists were wearing their T shirts to the polls. To many people, this was a form of protest called electioneering. The polling volunteers work pretty hard for free, and in past years they have been very fair handed in keeping political messages out of the polling place itself. No more. Flagstaff lost the case and we all need to pay $46,000 to the non existent Tea Party because someone was told to take off a T shirt that as far as I'm concerned - is clearly electioneering.

So here we go:

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/article_817f87c3-9c4e-5b65-af92-154242dc089f.html
Coconino County will now allow people to wear shirts or buttons near polling places as long as they don't urge a vote for or against a specific candidate, issue or political party. This comes after the county and the Goldwater Institute have settled their federal lawsuit over a local voter's fight to wear a "tea party" T-shirt to the polls. The agreement, which will cost Coconino County about $46,000...

And LO AND VERILY... here is the president of the Arizona Senate proclaiming on his website that he is president of the Tea Party:

http://www.russellpearce.com/

Russell Pearce
Tea Party Senate President (I love my Tea Party Patriots, I was Tea Party before Tea Party was Cool)

And the jokes on us, we are $46,000 poorer.

 

[Kopji]

Ah, I'm gonna screenshot that from Pearce's site because he's just slippery enough to take it down.

 

[Swagomatic]

Ah, I'm gonna screenshot that from Pearce's site because he's just slippery enough to take it down.

[qimg]http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/imagehosting/10614d96ac4cebe08.jpg[/qimg]

Did you see where Pearce is now claiming to have paid for all those tickets to football games he received from the Fiesta Bowl committee? I'll believe it when we see the cancelled checks (or when pigs fly).

 

[Kopji]

Yea sorry. I should admit I'm more likely to get my news from ArsTechnica...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/artic...a-bowl-report-pearce-denies-free-tickets.html

...Senate President Russell Pearce said Friday that he has never accepted free tickets to football games from Fiesta Bowl representatives, a statement that conflicts with an investigative report released earlier this week.

...Pearce's comments come as several of his fellow lawmakers have rushed to reimburse the Fiesta Bowl for game tickets they accepted while participating in cross-country junkets paid for by the bowl and its representatives.

The trips are legal - state lobbying laws allow lawmakers to accept free lodging and travel - but since 2000, statutes have included an "entertainment ban" that prohibits lawmakers from accepting tickets or "admission to any sporting or cultural event" for free...

...The opinion, issued in December 2000, concludes that state statutes prohibit "lobbyists from purchasing entertainment for a particular state officer or employee, even if the state officer or employee will subsequently reimburse the lobbyist for the purchase

The problem as I see it, it that these ethics laws and opinions were written when Democrats were in power. Tea Party Republicans are in power now so they are not really required to obey those laws. To the victor goes the spoils and all that.

I'll be shocked if anything comes of this.

 

[Swagomatic]

Yea sorry. I should admit I'm more likely to get my news from ArsTechnica...



The problem as I see it, it that these ethics laws and opinions were written when Democrats were in power. Tea Party Republicans are in power now so they are not really required to obey those laws. To the victor goes the spoils and all that.

I'll be shocked if anything comes of this.

There are a lot of dirty fingers in this. Grant Woods looks to be in trouble - I thought he was one of the good guys. Oh well, it just goes to prove that, in the end, all feet are clay.

 

[Kopji]

Oh, given enough time they all live up (down) to my expectations. I'll have to be careful on this one, the Arizona Republic owner is one of the Fiesta committee guys. Their 'paper on my doorstep' emphasis is a little different than the web version today. (we sit around and share one at work while we should be working, I don't really get a Republic delivered to my door up here in the forest).

They had a front page feature article today about that maybe fans don't really care about the corruption and are quick to forgive. Not nearly as prominent on their web version of the paper where it is buried on Sports.

Fiesta Bowl under fire: Does it really matter to sports fans?
Reports of bowl corruption the latest test of devotion, but history shows a desire to forgive

It is divine to forgive.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colleges/articles/2011/04/04/20110404fiesta-bowl-fans-forgive.html

"A look back at sports through the years reveals a long history of tolerance."

In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were barred from baseball for their roles in a plot to throw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in 1919. They earned the label the Black Sox.

Baseball fans were so outraged, attendance increased for almost every team the following year.

and in closing...

John Zidich, CEO and publisher of The Arizona Republic, has been on the Fiesta Bowl's 25-member board of directors since 2005. He joined the bowl's five-member executive committee in 2010. The Arizona Republic is a Fiesta Bowl sponsor.

What bugs me more than an occasional lapse in ethics is the rather pervasive sense of specialness - that they can do no wrong because they rule, and as rulers one of the things they deserve are tickets and kickbacks.

 

[Kopji]

This is almost non-news, but might serve to illustrate how the conduit of misinformation works. Pinal County sits about 70 miles north of the border, and south of Phoenix. It is has a loud voice though Sheriff Paul Babeu.

On Fox News, the sheriff told host Greta Van Susteren he's facing "one of the highest crime rates in America" and crime is "literally off the charts in Arizona."

That claim also appears to be inaccurate.

Pinal County does not have the highest crime rate in Arizona, which is listed 16th among the states for violent offenses, according to the Statistical Abstract of the United States.

An analysis of U.S. Census data and Department of Public Safety records shows 11 of Arizona's 15 counties have crime rates higher than Pinal County's. Residents of Maricopa County are victimized nearly twice as frequently as their neighbors to the south.

Pinal County records show violent crime plummeting over the past few years in every major category except homicides, where numbers are too small for statistical significance. Aggravated assaults in Pinal County decreased 29 percent since 2007. Armed robberies are down 41 percent. Border Patrol records indicate that illegal-immigrant apprehensions in Pinal County have declined every year since 2008.

In his e-mail, Babeu acknowledged that crime is down in the area but said that decrease would be greater if the border was protected.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/.../20110410pinal-sheriff-babeu-trafficking.html

 

[tyr_13]

Well that's great reasoning they have there.

 

[Swagomatic]

I read that article Sunday morning - it's a breath of fresh air, to be sure. The statistical evidence was mentioned a little bit when Babeau was first making his claims, but none of the TV reporters were interested in following up. They just want to find "smuggler caves" in the desert. Any stray cartridge case or bit of trash they find in the desert is assumed to be left by gangs of machine-gun packing illegals smuggling bales of weed strapped to their backs. Unfortunately, the truth will probably not have much effect. People will only remember Jan Brewer talking about beheadings in the desert.

 

[Kopji]

That beheading thing was so weird.

My 'I am so shocked' award would go to the LDS church spokesperson today.

Susan Brock, wife of a well known Mormon politician was sentenced for child abuse today.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/...-sentence-hearing-child-sexual-abuse0407.html

(I feel sorry for her husband, sheesh, I'll bet he never saw that coming.)

The following statement can be attributed to Kim Farah, as a [LDS] Church spokesperson:

Arizona law is clear that no priest can disclose any confession even when it concerns child abuse. Nevertheless, Church leaders worked effectively within the law, and with those involved, to facilitate prompt reporting to the police while protecting the victim.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/artic...statement-brock-disclosure.html#ixzz1JI3JUWVI

Big of them. Especially when Arizona law says no such thing. I hope it is just plain ignorance and not wishful thinking.

The statue is ARS 13-3620 A

"A member of the clergy, christian science practitioner or priest who has received a confidential communication or a confession in that person's role as a member of the clergy, christian science practitioner or a priest in the course of the discipline enjoined by the church to which the member of the clergy, christian science practitioner or priest belongs may withhold reporting of the communication or confession if the member of the clergy, christian science practitioner or priest determines that it is reasonable and necessary within the concepts of the religion."

http://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03620.htm

bold mine. That's may. Not 'must not' or 'is forbidden', or 'woe to you if you do this', or any similar meaning.

This law may seem obscure, but ministers are not usually so ignorant of the laws of the state where they work. Except I guess, the local Mormon woman serving as a human shield for ignorant male clergy.

 

[Swagomatic]

Russell Pearce may soon be feeling the hot breath of change on his neck. It seems the effort to recall him is reaching critical mass. They need about 7,300 valid signatures to make it happen. Here's the article. AZ Republic

Also, another couple more black eyes for Joe Arpaio, though he (seemingly) remains bulletproof.

Jail Spending

Dave Hendershott

 

[Kopji]

I'm not getting my hopes up on Pearce. The chance of the Mormons of Mesa throwing one of their own under the bus is about -5 on a scale of 0 to 10. And anyway, he's a lot of people's TP hero.

We are back in the national spotlight again. I hope our State public relations company is earning their pay. Bill approacing final approval or maybe ignonimous death like the others. Sponsored by Carl Seel. His legislative page reads like a look what's weird listing.

http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=16&Legislature=49&Session_ID=87

The Arizona Senate has approved a revised bill requiring presidential candidates to prove they are U.S. citizens eligible to run for the office.

The bill approved Wednesday gives candidates additional ways to prove they meet the constitutional requirements to be president.

It was prompted by the ongoing claim by some that there is no proof President Barack Obama was born in the United States and is therefore ineligible to be president.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/elect...rther-bill-senate-approves.html#ixzz1JTETF6m1

I really think the $99 million of misused funds will be the least of Joe's problems once the six federal investigators looking into his use of the sheriff's department to harass politicians is done. What? What do think it is called the sheriff's department for? MINE ALL MINE.

My mom loves him, I'm so embarassed. She lives in California though.

In case you are joining late, welcome to Republican Tea Party la la land.

 

[Kopji]

I almost forgot. And this is really serious, I hate this stuff.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PoliticalInsider/125088/sort_A/Offset20

Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, received a death threat in the mail Tuesday.

...The typed letter mailed from Flagstaff has no return address and is not signed. It states, "You and Jared have your Glock 9. I have Rem. 270. Be very ready." It shows a photo of Gould.

...Note that the hand written note on the envelope that states, "Any idea who this could be?" was written by Gould's secretary, not by the author of the letter

So, I struggle with this. Death threats to politicans are no laughing matter, especially when they are postmarked from Flagstaff, only second to Tuscon as a hotbed of liberal radicalism in Arizona. But to write on what will certainly be a piece of forensic evidence - "Any idea who this could be?" Sheeesh, What kind of stupid is that?

The weirdest thing, go read the reader responses on the link. Most of them think the Repbulicans sent this to themselves. We need a state vacation, that is all so warped.


In case you are not from Arizona and have no idea what a Rem. 270 is, this is a hunting rifle. Not quite as good as a 30-06:

...Correct. If you wanted a rifle for varmints only you would be better off with a .22-250 or a .22 hornet or something else in that range. The .270 will make an effective varmint gun with smaller bullets around 110 grain and makes a very effective big game cartridge with 150 grain bullet. It's the versatility of the caliber that I wanted to emphasize, not it's superiority in any particular application.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1639676/posts

 

[Kopji]

(not intended to be a factual statement)

 

[Nosi]

The cuts to the poor, working class, and the mentally ill that the Repubs are making are only going to stir the pot of nuts.