The ol' Nativist Soft Shoe: Sheriff Joe does Conan O'Brien
By David Neiwert Thursday Jan 08, 2009 2:00pm
Crazy Nativist Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Arizona was on Conan O'Brien's late-nite show last night, touting his dubious new reality-TV show on Fox. They showed a clip of it, and it looks like an entertainment straight out of Brazil.
What resulted was the usual travesty when entertainment talkers host newsmaking figures -- the underlying issues were distorted and falsified, and an ugly authoritarian was presented as a mainstream "good guy."
O'Brien couldn't evade the fact that Arpaio is a controversial figure (in fact, NBC had been inundated with phone calls protesting his appearance), and brought it up:
O'Brien: OK, let's cut to the chase. You are quite a controversial, polarizing figure. You'll admit that, that is true. You've done some things in your state that have a lot of people upset. We actually had a group distributing leaflets downstairs for a group protesting your appearance on the show. That has not happened since Howie Mandel was here several years ago.
[Laughter]
O'Brien then starts to enumerate the supposed reasons people are "upset" with Arpaio -- and names Arpaio's use of pink underwear for his inmates in Maricopa County's jails. From there the interview devolves into a cute depiction of Arpaio as a get-tough kinda guy who just wants to put bad guys in jail.
The pink underwear, however, is just a minor indication of the bigger problem Arpaio represents: a toxic mix of Nativist racism and thuggish authoritarianism in a police authority.
The people downstairs don't care that much about the pink underwear. What they care about is the naked racial profiling Arpaio has indulged in harassing Latinos in his county. They care about the horrendous law-enforcement record that Arpaio's fetish about illegal immigrants has produced. They care about the expensive lawsuits taxpayers will have to ante up for that Arpaio has wrought, mostly from the horrendous jail conditions he has permitted.
O'Brien, for some reason, didn't mention any of that. Instead, one of the country's ugliest authoritarians was packaged for the public as a stand-up guy. What a joke. And it's not a funny one.
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The poster answered their own question -- Conan is a talk show host, which means he's an entertainer and not a journalist. His job is to entertain his audience and increase ratings for his show. Getting a guy like Arpaio will boost ratings and Conan, being simply an entertainer, will not challenge him on his positions. That's just not his job and he and Arpaio knows it.
Good comment, IMO.
Yet I bet if Dave had Joe on the hotseat, the interview would have gone much differently. Frankly, I couldn't watch it, I live in Maricopa County, and this guy needs to be under federal investigation.
The pink underwear, however, is just a minor indication of the bigger problem Arpaio represents: a toxic mix of Nativist racism and thuggish authoritarianism in a police authority.
the most insidious effect of ix/xi and aftermath has been to empower these small-town totalitarians. they get excused by the folks who pay their salaries because the thugs claim to be 'protecting' their constituents from popular terrors...
I think you have hit the nail on the head. Sheriffs like this one can be a bully just as bush has been. They like the tough talk and their new appointment of fighting "terrorists". There is one on the west coast of Florida who has the same attitude. Were he in any other occupation, he would be fired for being a lunatic. Sadly, he keeps getting re-elected. I guess he is in an area that approves of his insanity.
I've got a court date there on Tues the 13th. Fighting a BS drug possession charge under his county's "zero-tolerance" program. I've been fighting the charge, but I may just take the year or so in jail. I just got laid off, so a roof and three meals a day, however shitty, is looking better and better.
Arpaio certainly does have a "small-town totalitarian" mentality, problem is, his regime is located in Maricopa County, home of Phoenix, America's sixth-largest city. One can only hope that with her elevation to a Federal position, Janet Napolitano is more able to put reins on old Joe than she was as Governor of Arizona. I wouldn't count on it, though.
Arizona is not as red as it used to be (Democratic representation in the state legislature has grown stronger in recent years), but Maricopa is still a stong-hold of Republican sentiment. Maricopa is home to several large suburbs with heavy Mormon and other conservative Christian populations. They are the ones keeping Arpaio in office. But in the end, the high birth rate of Mexican-Americans will likely bring a halt to this abuse.
girl.
She did not even endorse Dan Saban, who ran as the Democratic Candidate against Arpaio in the last election. And the State Legislature gained more Republican seats in the last election. Please get your facts straight.
Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_S...
The state legislature got more Republicans because almost no money flowed into our state because McCain is from here.
We got more Federal Democrats though, and Jan Brewer (SoS - soon to be our governor) has plenty of enemies on both sides of the aisle.
Fifth largest city (SUCK IT PHILLIE!) and Fourth largest County.
If Obama had spent any money early on in AZ we'd have gone blue, seriously, my hardcore conservative family (2 parents, 4 grandparents, 2 uncles, 2 aunts, 6 great uncles, 3 great aunts, etc.) had two people vote for Obama and most of them didn't even vote for Kennedy back in the day so that's saying something.
It won't just be the Hispanic birthrate, because Arpaio's tactics are become more and more well known. Dan Saban or someone else will eventually be able to topple the old tyrant and we'll finally get past this nightmare. Let's just hope that the new guy sells Arpaio's Black APC (featured in the Fiesta Bowl Parade) on ebay. Farking thing sucks! ;P
I think Sheriff Joe Arpaio makes an appearance in the recent documentary 'American Drug War' as well. Quite a documentary.
Yeah He sure is. Here's the Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBQu1spxxFA
Thanks Dave.
I'm reminded of the way the Sunday shows and pundits STILL invite Tom Delay and/or quote him, totally ignoring the fact this man should be in prison, not in front of a camera to spew his crap.
Delay should be discounted from the public discource until he is cleared. Why do we see him all the time?
When the MSM plays with republican scum they play with fire.
Well, hell, what did you expect, a 60 Minutes style grilling? I'm surprised he even brought up the fact there were protesters.
..on a high profile entertainment television show is that they will be watched and therefore validated.
I need to hold my tongue though since I'm one of those who honestly believes that Judge Judy would be a wonderful asset in Obama's cabinet.
name was announced to a decidedly reduced clapping level. Fuck the POS. If he ever get's kicked out of AZ, he'd feel right at home in MS, AL, etc.
First off Woody - Maricopa County is THE largest county in the US and is the 4th most populous. THIS is NO small town covering Phoenix which is 5th largest city in the US.
David I wish I had thought of catching pictures of Arpio as to my surprise I was on the same plane as him to NYC. I had never seen him in person, he is several inches shorter than my 5'6" and someone needs to send him a case of Head&Shoulders as that dandruff problem is pretty bad..... He had a gaggle of admirers around him at the gate.... I had to call friends to do an intervention so I wouldn't do something stupid....... BTW he did sit in coach..... bulkhead row.....
is largest in area (20K+ square miles), Los Angeles Co is largest in population (10M+ people).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_(United_States)
At least the POS flew coach, I guess.
For what it's worth (not very much, but I happen to know, living here) San Bernardino County is the largest county in the country, by area.
The lawyers ♥ Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
As an Arizona resident, I dislike Arpaio and his tactics.
I know that there are many in AZ (especially in Maricopa County, the county that contains Phoenix) that are for his tactics and seem to think he is taking their needs at heart.
However, coming from Pima County (Tucson) we all see how bad his tactics are, especially in light of how he creates SWAT-like raids on possible illegal immigrants, even though he is going against the jurisdiction of municipalities, and, occasionally, the state.
His biggest F-U to his county and our state is the fact that he is creating a reality show out of it. How is doing his elected, governmental job--and doing it in the most controversial and inhumane way possible--compatible with being a reality tv "star"?
County sheriffs. That's usually a good sign of a problem with at least one of the groups. Sounds like it's Joe and the sheriffs.
I have two friends on the Phoenix PD and another who's dad is a Phoenix PD and they've talked about the brawls they've gotten into (that are quietly hushed up) between PPD and Sheriff's Officers.
The Sheriffs are a bunch of mini-fascists who try to encroach constantly into all of the cities and the City cops hate them - although I've heard some bad things recently about the Peoria PD.
It sucks because legitimate arrests have happened in City Proper and then get thrown out because stupid Sheriffs did it and didn't have jurisdiction, but then they go right back and do these show boating events with Joe's stupid Black APC and make even more of a mess that the Phoenix cops have to try and clean up.
I've lived all across the country and I can say that without a doubt the greater Phoenix area has some of the best cops and the worsts sheriffs I've seen anywhere - but don't get me started on the Border Patrol or the whacked out Minutemen (which is a front for racist KKK wannabes).
O'Brien. Stewart, he ain't.
obrien is not entertaining and this
show is yet another reason for not
watching this boring shit.
the Phoenix New Times follow him;
http://news.phoenixnewtimes.com/
The Phoenix New Times is about the only source in Arizona of serious political journalism. They've published documented information about John McCain's military record, Cindy McCain's history of drug abuse, and look closely at subject such as child abuse, prisoner abuse, etc. Unfortunately, many Arizonans treat the paper as an old hippie rag, yawn, and look away.
Used to read it whenever I made the drive east from LA. Unfortunately, the comparable versions of the paper in other cities, including here in Miami, pale in writing standards.
gave my "Free Street Band" a best of Phoenix award in '07.
They're very good! ;)
...here: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arpaio
While the people in his jails don't deserve hot meals or showers, he sure looks like he eats everything he sees, the fat fuck. Why is this criminal on tv in the first place? He is the classic red neck,bully we see in movies that the good guys are fighting against. What the hell is wrong with the hicks down there who keep putting this "boss hog" in office? If you people are so frightened of those "mexicans", perhaps you should move north...wait then you would be scared of the people from canada, how about some other world,far,far away, send us a postcard, if your not "a-feared" of the postman. CEO,citizens,eyes,open
Switch channels ... Craig Ferguson is way fresher and funnier than Conan. And he is not afraid of communicating his views, political or otherwise.
here.
I haven't seen Craig Ferguson's show but I've always thought neither Conan O'Brien nor Jay Leno is funny.
I'm a Letterman guy, I guess.
..but whenever I find myself staring at the box in that particular time slot, Ferguson is the man for me these days.
This coming from someone who once religiously watched Conan until just before Andy Richter left the show.
I'd like to see the Indians, Mexicans and Chicanos get organised as a voting bloc and jettison this tool.
BTW, most of the Native Americans around here seem to prefer "Indian."
Anyway, it seems as though the Chicanos look down on the immigrant Mexicans, the Mexicans look down on the Indians and the Indians look down on the Mexicans.
Divide and conquer.
the Phoenix area is populated (home owners) by a bunch of 70+ white retired individuals who cling to the past.
Though what you say is also true.
Especially Sun City.
But Not Surprise!
A lot of liberal oldies live in Sun City Grand and Surprise (Baby Boomers mostly) so things have been getting better over here. But Sun City, and Sun City West (both their own towns - but not incorporated so Arpaio's goons rule) have tons of old money (supposedly more millionaires over here than in Scottsdale and PV combined) and crazy conservative racists.
All Mormons, all the time.
The Mormons practically run Mesa and Gilbert (former resident of Gilbert).
... which I suppose would be nice if you were stupid enough to go in for that sort of thing.
Brrrrr!
Don't forget the Conservative areas outside of flagstaff - Jeff Flake of the Snows and Flakes is a hardcore conservative Mormon and Northern rural Arizona is prime breedin' country for the Mormon expansion.
Mormons - nice folks, crazy beliefs.
i was in the first work crew laying sewer lines for dell e web i believe it was 63 or 64, thier wasnt one house built there at the time, outside of phoenix thats sun city!
Rather than attacking the root sociological problems related to crime--poverty,lack of education etc--let's make a buck turning it all into cheap entertainment.Its really not hard to envision a not too distant future wherein corporate prison systems compete for prime time tee vee dollars by subjecting their "clients" to all manner of life threatening indignities.We're almost there now.Cops and soldiers must not be seen as anything other than unquestioned Heroes while prisoners(and for that matter the poor)are held up to ridicule and contempt:worthless expendable clowns who,having failed to succeed have proven themselves useless,fit only to be exploited for our entertainment.We're becoming more and more desensitized,militarized and ultimately dehumanized.
Those TV cop shows are brutal. Who are the bad guys again?
WTF is a Nativist?
...they were called Isolationists. American people first, everyone else stay out!
are of European decent. I also wonder how Native Americans feel about "Nativists?"
These people never cease to amaze.
This guy is a piece of crap, the new show on FOX is a piece of crap, Fox is a piece of crap. They are all Pieces of crap. I didn't get the impression Conan was being easy on the guy, I got the impression from the interview Arpaio is a piece of crap. :P
The only good thing about this I saw was one of the 3 channels inmates are allowed to watch in their 140 deg. tents is Cspan, get a good look at em, don't forget their faces. Muhahahaaahahaha
Does anyone watch this crap?
Does anyone with half a brain watch fox?
No one with half a brain is on fox.
Watch it if you are an idiot.
I wonder what these cowardly congress people and senators would do if they knew this guy was showing pictures of them to mass murderers who might come after them when they get out.
Wouldn't that be funny! lol
Msnbc has the same type of show intraping and embarrassing criminals with their "To Catch a Predator show." No person ever asks to see the supposed 13 year old girl they are hoping to have sex with, lured by internet trolling cops. Of course they can't legally use an under age girl so basically it becomes a thought crime based on intent. Arapeo's show looks as though it will be just as degrading.
One quick story about Sheriff Joe sums up his entire psychopathic existence for me:
Back in 2002 (or so), a 12 year-old girl was abducted and murdered. The city went up in arms and Sheriff Joe made quick work arresting a local transient. Instead of placing such an individual in protective custody--as would be the norm--Sheriff Joe dumped him into general population ... while awaiting trial.
Long story short, a few days later, the actual killer was caught by Phoenix police. It was NOT the transient Sheriff Joe busted. At a press conference held upon his departure from the Maricopa County jail, the transient showed a fresh incision where his spleen had to be removed after being severely beaten by inmates thinking he was a child molester.
Sheriff Joe has had numerous suspects die in custody, many under suspicious or questionable circumstances. As noted in the article, he has been the subject of (and lost) repeated lawsuits for violations of prisoner's 8th Amendment rights to not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment. The costs are just passed on to the Maricopa County taxpayers.
Sheriff Joe's "get tough on crime" act--fueled by his monstrous ego--has made him the judge, jury, and executioner of numerous suspects. The last thing that is needed at this point is for NBC, FOX, or anyone else to inflate his ego even further.
And let's not forget his graft and corruption where he hired back 'retired' employees so that these guys were double dipping into the system. Or how he's arrested New Times reporters and State AGs for all sorts of trumped up charges when he and his cronies were/are being investigated.
Force gang members to wear rival colors while in prison. And don't give me some pitiful PC response while you sit in your McMansion behind your gated community. I was attacked randomly by gang violence and they are not human, they are cockroaches.
There is hope for gang members though, as one of my best friends is a former gang member from the Pilsen district of Chicago. She is now a college graduate with a BA in psychology and works at a non- profit after school activities center for at risk youth. Though she never killed anyone, I guess those are the ones that moreso than not can be saved.
Ah, a conservative in the making - this is currently the pupae stage, and soon they'll emerge as a beautiful and bigoted butterfly.
Seriously? They're cockroaches? All of them? Every single gang member?
You don't happen to live in a gated community or a McMansion yourself do you? And you know that a lot of gang members are recruited...in prison?
Btw, I went to elementary and HS with a bunch of gang members here in Arizona, and because I had just moved from a really racist East Coast Virginia town and had hated it I tried to become friends with the non-white kids in my new school. I became friends with several of the guys who's brothers/dads/uncles were members of the Mexican Mafia - I think they had been Dog Town or something - I remember them using that name. The first guy I became friends with was Chris Vega. I was still a kid and very naive so I didn't really understand any of what I got myself into until I grew up. If I know now what I did then I'd have probably been too afraid of try and be their friend.
I got to be the first white kid to play basketball with them, but only after Randy Camacho cornered me in our classroom one day when the teacher was out and threatened to beat me up (I was tall then I'm 6'3" now, and he was a lot shorter but a crazy mean bruiser and huge muscles even then) and tell him why I was trying to hang out with them. I said I just wanted to be friends and said I didn't like where I had come from. He backed down and was wary of me for a long time, but we later became friends.
A few years later I convinced one of my friends who's family was all embroiled in this stuff to join my boy scout troop. We were a tiny ass group meeting in my neighbor's garage and we needed 5 guys to stay a troop. He joined and after college we lost touch. I ran into his mom a few years ago and she said that because I got him into boy scouts and whatnot that it probably saved him from going to jail because a bunch of those guys I went to school with did. Randy had already been to prison once I heard, but both Manny and Chris had gone on to GCC and later ASU and UCLA respectively (Chris was crazy smart) and gotten degrees.
It makes me feel really small, but really happy to know that my stupid, but friendly naivete helped them out so much.
It isn’t the elected that is a problem but rather the electorate.
Only if the electorate get's the message though, and that means money.
I don't know - I thought Conan did a fair job.....I mean, it's not hard to make Arpaio look like a fascist. When Arpaio wanted to claim that he hadn't re-instituted the chain gang, Conan pointed out that this was a largely abandoned practice. It was pretty clear from his questioning about the TV shows which the inmates were allowed to watch that Arpaio offered the Food channel to torture the inmates. OK, blame Conan, but it's pretty sad that it falls on a late-night talk-show host to do even the slightest bit of holding a crook's feet to the fire. Yes, he could have been tougher on him but Conan's stock in trade is pointing out the shortcomings and wrongs of others and then allowing them to twist in the wind. I thought Conan did OK.
Arpaio has been reelected, 2008, by 55.2% of the County's Electorate. Recall petitions have failed for lack of Signatures. Evidently his constituency think he is doing a good job.
The recall petitions weren't well circulated and the petition seekers were harassed by Sheriff's deputies.
The AZ Republic and the other papers (even the Phx New Times) are reluctant to publish stories because he's lawsuit happy and very liberal with his harassment of reporters. Plus, he supposedly has a few judges in his pocket - so yeah. =P
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