I look forward to a republication of these comments after all Arpaio opponents concede. I know, good luck.
1
With apologies to Crystal Gayle: Won't he make your red state blue?
6
Despite Trump's intervention, Joe Arpaio is a proven and convicted criminal. Yet the law permits him to be elected to office.
Trump is a proven sexual offender; a thief who only avoided conviction in the Trump University case by settling out of court; a proven and chronic LIAR who is guilty of libel (at least) in the case of the birther conspiracy; a corporate charlatan who is known to be in violation of the emoluments clause; and a criminal on multiple but yet to be specifically detailed charges who is so actively hiding his guilt that he has committed the crime of obstruction of justice and admitted it (in the Lester Holt intveview).
Yet the law allows him to remain in the most powerful office in the country (and that over the unequivoval result of the popular vote).
In America, the exceptions in politics and the law mean that democracy is a sham and blind justice, a fantasy. Worse, the citizens are powerless to do anything about it.
So far the citizens have passively and cooperatively endured these conditions. Rebellion is now a credible possibility. How it happens is unpredictable.
7
I'm praying that Donald Trump will give Sheriff Joe the same, full-throated backing that he did for Judge Roy. That is, until his candidate lost and then he, manfully, denied ever having backed him.
At any rate...run, Joe, run!
NOT my president
5
I hope for a strong, experienced Latino to run against him. He is a convicted felon with a record of deviant behavior along with being just a nasty person.
5
Good People of Arizona and surrounding states, PLEASE do everything you can to make sure this horrible man does not get a seat in OUR United States Senate.
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton is right - The Con Don and his brethren are deplorables.
5
Please run, Mr. Sheriff, so you can suffer the same fate as Roy Moore. A GOP choice between Arpaio and Chemtrail Kelli Ward guarantees the Dems another Senate seat.
5
May he fail quickly and silently.
2
Sorry Joe, but unless you are running against Roy Moore or the like, you don't have a chance here in Arizona.
6
The only candidate who can use this as his campaign slogan: Convicted but never jailed.
5
And when Sheriff Joe loses, Trump will say he knew that would happen.
3
Wouldn't it be deja vu (Alabama) if a Democrat were to win a race against the "pardoned" yet most repulsive Arpaio? This may end up being a good year after all. Think Senate and House equals Democrat. Touché, Mr. Trump.
5
Another analogy to remember for a future Miller's Analogies test: Arpaio is to Arizona as Moore is to Alabama
4
If a person of color had a conviction, do you think we would tolerate them running for a national office?
2
I thougt convicted felons could not run for office?
3
Before we get too, too deeply set in the notion that all corrupt politicians and ignorant voters come from the Republican ranks, let’s take a moment remember the colorful Louisiana Democrat Edwin Edwards. Long known to be as crooked as an old country backroad, he was elected Governor for 4 not-quite-consecutive terms (won against former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke in one of them - bless his heart). After his last term as Governor, he was convicted on racketeering charges (federal, I believe) and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He served most of that term, and was released in 2011, and his probation ended in 2013. GW Bush refused to pardon him (pretty classy), and Obama never responded to his petition for pardon (classier yet).
Then...wait for it...Edwards announced his intention to run for Congress during early 2014. He was 87 years old. He did remarkably well in the polls, and though defeated, about one-third of the people voted for him. That’s right - 87-yr old, convicted felon was the candidate of choice for one-third of the Louisiana voters.
A Democrat. And Democratic voters. And apparently no rules that a convicted felon could not serve in Congress. This happened in 2014 - just 3 years ago.
My point: Let’s call out craziness when we see it, but not assume that only Republicans can be problematic or an embarrassment to our nation.
Has anyone told this man that to accept a Presidential pardon is to admit guilt?
4
I would guess that Trump will come out an endorse him. But at least he is not a child molestor. Donny could use the vote to build the WALL, THAT MEXICO IS PAYING FOR. Anymore jokes to tell feel free to post. America needs another laugh. Also, Arapio was considered for dog catcher by local town board in NY. However was not appointed as he was not qualified for job. :)
Would be nice if Arizona finally flips to Democrats, joining New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado as a new solid block of Western states voting Democratic in senate and national elections.
5
This is so unbelievable, that I don't even know where to start. Well, how about the fact that this man is a convicted felon, and so openly racist. It is just disgusting that people like this have the gall, temerity, and audacity to run for office after being such a despicable human being. The things this man has done with his continual abuses of power as a sheriff regarding inmates and even the framing years ago of an innocent man!!! should make him immediately disqualified.
The good people of Arizona please don't entertain this foolishness.
1
Only an 85 year old white guy who’s been an elected official for 24 years thinks he brings “new blood” to politics. smh
8
Will everyone stop freaking out, please.... Arpaio is not a legitimate candidate, and has no chance of being elected a Senator.
He's been a cartoon figure for years now, even here in Maricopa the voters rejected him by over 10 points in the last election.
3
They're all losers - Trump, Arpaio, Moore, Bannon, etc., etc., with more losers on the horizon!
2
Here's hoping her wins the primary and another Senate seat goes to the Democrats.
3
Wow, these Republicans really seem to have their minds set on losing control of the Senate.
8
It may be that Republicans think that the majority of the public like and worship corruption... Republicans = Corruption...
1
As a recent transplant from Arizona, I can tell you the people of Arizona are sick of him. If he does get the nomination, which he probably won't, he won't win the general election. His tenure as sheriff along with SB1070 empowered and emboldened a whole generation, a coalition led by Latino and Hispanic activists, who mobilized against him through voter drives, canvassing, protests, etc. Their efforts led to him losing the sheriff's race. And now that people are still furious about his pardon and disgusted by this announcement, they will be working harder than ever before to activate, educate, and ensure that Arpaio crawls back under the rock he came from.
10
Nice to see the GOP learned so much from the Roy Moore debacle.
7
Thanks for the democratic senate seat. If this tool wins the primary, a democratic victory is all but assured.
4
That's what I said about Trump getting the nomination. This fool will fit right in with the rest of the deplorable GOP. Trump would probably give him a cabinet position, like director of DOJ.
I am glad you think this is fun, Greg. I live in Arizona, sadly, and we have been subjected to this dreadful person's vendettas as sheriff for too many years. We did not know from one day to the next who would be targeted by his campaigns, his diatribes, and his policies. He demonstrated disrespect at every turn for the rule of law and was able to do so because out of state financing. I can't even imagine what would strike you as fun. I will finally get involved in any way I can to oppose his election.
7
Oooh! Fun!
10
Enforce immigration laws ?
Deport illegal aliens ?
Prosecute criminals violating federal drug laws ?
Prosecute violent gang-bangers instead of persecuting police officers ?
The Sheriff gets my money - I just wish I could vote for him.
4
He also violated people's civil rights regularly. We can do better.
7
@James Hamilton - Don't worry James, someday you will get legal status in the US and will be able to move to Arizona without fear of deportation so you can vote for this most American of fascist.
Illegally targeting minorities, he prosecuted very few criminals for drug laws, his entire police for was targeted for illegal procedures. Yep you must be a Trumpster, the heck with peoples civil rights.
Good. This further cements the Trumpublican brand, consisting of the twin pillars of sexual predation and perversion of justice. You know, like the best family values.
31
Can't Arizona come up with a better candidate for the Senate than a loud-mouthed, racist, 85-year-old criminal?
No wonder America is rapidly heading for the dustbin of history.
31
Will he hire Steve Bannon or Roy Moore as his campaign manager?
21
Perhaps both.
I will say given how corrupt the Senate Republicans and Trump have been... Joe will fit right in....
Arpiaro won't get 35% of the vote...
17
He'll probably do better than 35% if he's found to be a pederast. The GOP is way into that for some reason.
1
Who is the GOP going to run next? Cliven Bundy?
25
Could be.
9
I grew up it Nevada. It could happen.
3
They wanted Ted Bundy but he was not available.
Coming soon to a map near you in Arizona: The Color Purple.
13
He was convicted. Doesn’t that make him inelligble to run for federal office?
7
That's a valid question. Does the pardon "unconvict" him?" But this is the age of Trump, so who knows about legalities any more, since Trump is an illegitimate president.
This is more proof that the "Deep State" is really the GOP.
14
All things end, even Joe Arpaio.
7
“But in the end he’ll be another Roy Moore,” said Mr. Montague, referring to Mr. Moore’s contentious hard-line positions. “I think a lot of serious conservatives will realize that and reject his candidacy.”
This reminds me of what Republicans were saying about Trump's chances during the Republican primaries. I wouldn't underestimate the number of Arizonans who share Arpaio's values. My guess is that if Arpaio gets the nomination, Mr. Montague will end up working for his campaign.
6
I would not OVERESTIMATE his support here in AZ either. While he was popular when he first took office, his continued law breaking eventually got him voted out (bigly).
1
Arpaio is NOT Roy Moore. Roy Moore was accused of sex offenses (and still lost only by a narrow margin). Arpaio was accused of abusing minorities in his job as sheriff. Many Arizonans (I have no idea how many) applaud what he did. If these people were mobilized in a campaign with lots of money, Arpaio could certainly win. Democrats need to be vigilant (as they have not been in the past.)
Also, I think commenters should think twice about disqualifying Arpaio on the basis of his age. Many ninety year olds have clear minds. Rates of dementia increase with age, but many older people are spared. Voters should decide on the basis of a candidate's abilities and policies, not his or her age. The last thing we need is to add ageism to the equation.
4
The old white men in Arizona who will vote for Arpaio — and there are many, many of them — likely look back on their mid-80s as their salad days.
Arpaio is as bad as Moore. He thinks he is above the law, the same way Moore did, he was convicted of disobeying a federal judge, his tactics were found unconstitutional, and his entire police force was cited for racist tactics and violating people civil rights. Yeah he is such a winner.
Orrin Hatch of Utah, a boxer at youth, said it was now time for him, as an 82-year old, "to hang up the gloves."
I can see it now. Joe gets the nomination and then loses, giving the dems control of the senate. Trump's karma.
10
Is this country still our leader of the USA? Convicted, but pardoned, and now declares his plan to run for a Senatorial seat of Arizona, simply because Trump needs more clonies at the Capitol Hill. Where is McCain's allies? Please repeat this message to the Arizona people.
2
A man without honor or decency. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Trump supporters.
29
This is excellent news! He's neck and neck with Roy Moore for toxicity and if he gets the nomination that will make a competitive seat a Democratic one.
Dan Kravitz
6
I notice that Sheriff Arpaio states he is running "for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again."
Silly me. I thought the reason people ran for Senate, Congress, and even the Presidency was to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Seems to me there was an oath somewhere in the Inauguration Ceremony?
I think Mr. Trump has lost sight of what he is supposed to be doing up there in that big ol' white house. Mr. Trump has, time after time, put himself and his cronies above the rule of law. His agenda is not to support and defend the Constitution, his agenda is to make sure his name is indelibly writ in the history books, to have as many people swear loyalty to him as possible (think of that disgusting display of boot-licking in his Cabinet meeting), and to remake the country into his own fantasy image of powerful white men running the country to suit and enrich themselves.
The ONLY loyalty oath that ought to be sworn in the USA is to our Constitution: to support, protect and defend it, in order to support, protect, and defend this country we love, the values we love which are laid forth quite clearly in Constitution, and the citizens working to uphold those values. I believe one such oath ends thus: "...One nation, under God, indivisible; with liberty, and justice, for all." To instead swear fealty to a single man and his agenda sounds more like treason to me.
16
Trump never knew what he was supposed to do, since he never expected to be elected.
1
Absolutely right, he was CONVICTED of violating the constitution!
"Wonderment pours from our faces
Thunder is born in our eyes
And we see them - four horsemen - last judgment
Apocalypse is nigh
In the early rains of the dawn."
4
Felons can’t vote, but they can run for Senate?
16
An excxellnt observation. Except Arpaio is above the law and in fact, makes his own laws.
1
I have lived in Maricopa County for almost 40 years now & every election after he was voted in, I cast my vote against him. And every election he got his job back. He threatened city officials, he was the ultimate example of cronyism, he had his deputies profile people (he would have his deputies do raids on businesses and lock up people based on the color of their skin. And, in some cases those people were US citizens who just didn't have an ID on them at the time. So before somebody says it's not profiling, it really is so- don't. The Caucasians & the African-Americans were not taken away... only the Latinos. I believe one of the lawsuits was from a woman who had been placed in jail for 3 or 4 days until an ID could be tracked down for her and she was a US citizen) and this is NOT the job of the County Sherrif. He was told repeatedly not to and he flagrantly ignored it. He was a huge proponent of AZ SB 1070 which authorized the police to demand papers proving citizenship & the way they determined whether or not to demand papers? It was based on how people looked or spoke. Taxpayers have had to foot the 70m legal bill & then, when it was possible he was FINALLY going to do time, Trump pardons him. Well Sherrif Penzone is taking down tent city, relations are slowly improving & now this? The scarey thing is that there are still Arizonans that would vote for him because, like when they rejected MLK Day originally, they don't like to be told what to do. And that opens the door..
16
This is state that still has a DAR statue for the confederacy in their statehouse garden (no Union memorial). Sheriff Joe is part of this tradition.
1
This will be interesting to watch. I hope I don't offend anyone as I say from the outside looking in at the recent senate race in Alabama and how I read the results the African American people realised their vote could make a difference and turned out to vote to show that. (Voting is compulsory in Australia we get fined for not voting.) Perhaps I have misunderstood the results being as an outsider looking in that is how I read it.
2
I certainly hope so although in AZ, our Latino citizen usually do show up to vote. Previously they had a tendency to vote more on the conservative side however, recently that has been changing at least according to polls. And Arpaio is such a polarizing figure who causes protests wherever he goes, that I don't think there is much of a chance they will pass up the chance to humiliate him (as we all would LOVE to see). I, for one, am tired of Arizona being associated with racists, bigots and crazy people walking around with guns on their hips in a Walmart (it's absolutely legal) like this is Tombstone, circa 1875 (or worse, at political demonstrations).
3
If I denounce my military oath to support and defend the constution, violate the citizenry's constitutional rights, ignore court orders to stop doing it, duck out of a conviction with a pardon from a sleaze king, can I also run for Senate?
14
Good God. The man is 85. The GOP is for really really really really old people. You see it in Trump rallies as well. It's the same old folks you see stuffing themselves at an all you can eat buffet in Vagas. If only they had healthcare.
6
If he wins will the "holy" three demand that he be seated or will the Senate wake up and get rid of him?
Will the Democrats have a good chance of getting another seat?
It's like the GOP is saying, "all you low-life's that have been hiding under rocks since the civil rights movement, come on out and serve your leader. You will be protected as long as you pledge allegiance to the Trump and dedicate yourself to opposing anything Obama."
3
Democrats thank you very much, Mr. Arpaio.
3
Arpaio and Moore,.. Trump's choices !!
Remember,.. We did not elect Trump
He lost by 3,000,000 votes.
So, without the republicans, who infest the electoral college, there is hope for America after all.
We just need "Democracy".
Isn't it about time?
5
Arpaio's run, seems to me, is outstanding good luck for a democratic contender since Arpaio seems like a Roy Moore clone easily endorsed by his pardoner, trump. Stupidity abounds, it seems, for Republicans now. Thank you, thank you for the wonderful gift of Jeff Flake's seat to help restore a democratic Senate.
1
The man is a comic buffoon who cost taxpayers millions & FINALLY voters had sense enough to extricate him from office. It's no surprise he's running for office again, but thankfully he stands little chance of winning the primary let alone getting elected. He galvanized Hispanic and smart-minded voters in droves so hopefully he'll have the same effect again.
5
Roy Moore... Joe Arpaio.....
Does trump just sit around all day hoping the phone will ring so he can promote another crook or criminal?
Yes, I'm aware that he moseys into the office by noon and is in bed by 6 or 6:30 and all that is because no one trusts him to actually DO anything except pardon convicted crooks or sit by the phone waiting for Pooty to call like some love-sick teen-age boy... but must the collapse of our government be SO obvious?
And, if anyone is looking for some connection between Roy ad Joe, it is sexual abuse.
Roy's we know all about, but we might have forgotten that one of the reason's for Joe's Fall was because he ordered his staff to ignore all cases of reported sexual abuse if the reports came from a particular part of town..... if you catch the drift. In time, that number of cases passed over 400. None were looked into. And, none of his staff cared either.
So, there we are: Combine all of trump's abuse accusations and all of Roy's cases and Joe Arpaio still has them both beat by hundreds of cases.
What a bunch...
6
Hey, Steve Bannon, take heart!
A chance to make a comeback by backing another aging ratbag!
7
Arpaio is a law and order guy who used illegal methods to harass illegal immigrants. He is a high school grad and a one issue candidate. Roy Moore attended West Point and has a legal degree. He has a whole series of hateful beliefs. Arpaio's personal life seems to be clean. Moore's is a disaster. The two are political rabble rousers. Other than that, they have next to nothing in common. In some sort of vague, imprecise, unsophisticated, illogical manner, you could compare their candidacies. It would help if you knew nothing about politics.
Hopefully voters here in Az will remember how much Arpaio's legal woes were (and are still) costing citizens in the most populous county. Arpaio lost his run for sheriff because of this and hopefully he will lose this bid as well and be relegated to the dustbin of history.
11
Arpaio's candidacy is not going to fly.
In addition to disobeying the order of a federal judge and the racial profiling, several negligent homicides occurred in the county jail on his watch, costing the Maricopa County taxpayers millions of dollars.
It is different from but analogous to Roy Moore's senate run in Alabama. He might make it through the primary, but there is too much negative for Arpaio to win the general election.
Also, I do not feel he is bright enough, especially at 85 years old, to give cogent answers on major issues. Kyrsten Sinema will appear more vital and better prepared.
6
When Oliver North (remember him, the "5-Star Lieutenant-Colonel" as wag Mark Russell tagged him?) ran as a Republican against Chuck Robb for a Virginia Senate seat, Republican icon, Sen. John Warner, the senior senator, loudly refused to endorse him. Warner condemned him for committing the crimes for which he was convicted. North's sentence was overturned on procedural grounds, but, as Warner put it: He still did the crime he was convicted of. Robb won.
Arpaio's conviction was NOT reversed. The Courts found nothing wrong with his conviction for the most vile offenses, and his quid-pro-quo pardon for endorsing Trump doesn't erase the fact that he is a convicted felon.
It's time for the Senior Senator from Arizona to do a John Warner, and demand that Arpaio drop out. I hope you read this, Senator John McCain and reclaim your mantle of doing what is right.
13
After Judge Moore, Republicans calculated they had nowhere to go but up... wait a minute; maybe they don't want to go anywhere. Guess who Democrats are rooting for in the primary?
1
Good! I'm sick of Republicans like John McCains, Susan Collins, Bob Corkers, Jeff Flakes, and Lisa Murkowskis whose toothless criticism of and empty threats against the president just end up entrenching his power. They hide behind a fig leaf of dissent while slavishly supporting Trump's legislative agenda. At least Arpaio's rhetoric would match the ugliness of his actions.
The fact is there are no more moderate Republican politicians, just a handful that give the country the false impression that the party hasn't totally lost its moral compass. Get rid of them all. Force Republican voters to tick the box for the Moores and Arpaios. Make them own this mess.
16
The races in Az are a prime chance for democrats to put Congress the way it should be under this president. Democrats are already acting as a break for a lot of crazy plans Trump has as a candidate. Imagine if they had the majority.
4
Git r done, Republicans. I pray we get to watch this guy lose as the Democrats pick up another senate seat.
10
Aside from being another Roy Moore type, and a criminal who was pardoned , How does someone who is 85 years old run for the senate? Are their no age limits?
3
I hope the GOP runs every unreconstructed George Wallace wannabe they can lay their soft manicured hands on. Despite this current hiccough, the GOP is setting itself up for decades of defeat at the hands of millennials and women who have finally woken up. Short-term pain, long-term gain.
8
Joe Arpaio ran the Maricopa County Sheriff's department, for decades, as his own secret police force. He set up outside tents in the Arizona heat for those who could not make bail while awaiting trial, went after political enemies on trumped-up charges, ignored and serially violated federal law and even investigated the federal judge investigating him.
His antics cost Arizona taxpayers over *$70 million dollars!*, with more to come and, like Roy Moore, he has zero respect for the law. It is emblematic of how Trump has affected this country that this man could run for dog-catcher much less the U.S. Senate. Arizona, don't embarrass yourself.
10
Alabama returned to the folds of civilization with the election of Dean Jones.
Let's see if Arizonastan can come up with a better candidate that this holdover from the Stone Age.
13
Anyone who votes for this anachronism should be ashamed of himself/herself...
12
An 85 year old bigot. I sincerely hope the Latino voters turn out & make sure he doesn't win. Like with Alabama & Virginia, voter turn out is EVERYTHING
25
Nothing like winning an election through voter fraud, right?
Or with Russian tinkering. You might want to read the papers more - Trump"s Voter Fraud Commission was just disbanded - because they could find no evidence of voter fraud. Trump still has a hard time admitting that a woman got almost three million more votes than him (and yes, yes, he won the Electoral College).
1
Thanks for changing the subject. Typical.
Hmm..
You are convicted of a felony ........ the BLOTUS pardons you ...... you announce a run for the senate, while pledging support for the BLOTUS who pardon you.........
Sounds a like good old fashioned Quid Pro Quo, or in this case, perhaps we should say "Quid 'Amateur' Quo".
17
In this case, however,
the opposite of quid PRO quo
would be quid CON quo.
Big CON.
3
Joe Arpaio is not "Sheriff" anymore (thanks heaven for that).
Joe Arpaio is a disgusting man and people voting for him would be ill-informed voters or disgusting slobs like him devoid of human proper emotions.
13
Roy Moore's brother from another mother. Aging white guys aren't lloking very good these days - maybe if they hated people less...
20
So a convicted felon decides to run for senate following on the heels of a noted pedophile. The true character of the GOP is being slowly unfurled.
29
Arizona has three population centers: Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. Of these, Phoenix is the most conservative. Joe Arpaio lost his last bid to remain sheriff of Maricopa County, where Phoenix resides. Trump did not even win a majority of the Arizona votes, coming in with only 48.1% of the tally. If I had to bet, with Flake bowing out and the other Republican hopeful in Trump's camp, I'd put my money on Kyrsten Sinema, the moderate Democrat.
31
In reply to Bill McGrath: What you say makes good sense, that Arpaio lost the election in Maricopa County, but I've been reading Jane Mayer's 'Dark Money'. If monied backers bankroll Arpaio's campaign, he has a very good chance of winning. It changes the equation. And, with respect to losing previous elections, I'm old enough to remember Nixon losing to Kennedy, losing the governor's race in California, and then coming back to win the presidency.
1
Arizona is on this and the work of registering voters has begun en force. Arizona is shifting, did shift when Maricopa County voted Arpaio out in 2016, and is about to turn a welcome shade of blue. Joe Arpaio represented a reign of terror and the people of Maricopa County had had enough of cruelty, in addition to becoming sick of footing his legal bills that added up to more than $30 million. Enough people could not bring themselves to support a convicted criminal.
We've got this one. Representative Kyrsten Sinema is a fine candidate for US Senate and we will see that she takes that seat.
41
Is it possible for Franken to move to AZ and establish residency in time to run against Arpaio? That would be the ultimate hoot--they could charge admission to debates.
6
Dare the Democrats dream of picking up another U.S. Senate seat. By all means Sheriff Joe...run baby run!
27
Cannot wait to see him lose.
28
Vote for Joe. He has conviction!
42
He has Conviction? Or he has "a" conviction? Just need clarity here.
Just enough that he was under a criminal investigation is enough for him to be censured by the Senate. And, even if he wins, there will be a call to prevent him from every taking his Senate seat. Let's hope the people of Arizona never let this person to get on the final fall ballot. One thing is certain, if he runs, there will be a high turn out of Hispanic, and other minority, voters to make sure he never makes it to Washington.
30
Just the latest sign of Republicans being on wrong side of history. Old and out of touch is starting to be synonymous with GOP. Lets not forget, the RNC supported an accused pedophile in the midst of a national "me too" movement.
55
He's simply trying to raise money now that Maricopa County taxpayers are no longer responsible for his legal bills. He and Mrs. Arpaio have been begging money ever since he lost the election and must not be getting enough. I don't see him winning the primary and certainly not the general election: he was never that popular statewide and has also lost the Maricopa County vote. Most of his funding the past two or three elections came from out-of-staters and since he's out of office and has no power, there's no reason to donate. He's Arizona's own Donald Trump - a narcissistic huckster.
47
The 35% minority of the "people" you refer to have now had their fifteen minutes of fame. You are about to see a massive correction in 2018 when Democrats take the House for certain and, perhaps, the Senate. The "people" drank the Kool-Aid, have nothing to show for it, and the majority will take back this country from those whose anti-everything posture is no longer a factor. Republicans are already dropping out of 2018 races in record numbers.
1
Great! First Richard Mourdock in Indiana, then Roy Moore in Alabama, now Joe Arpaio in Arizona. Hand another one over to the Democrats. Bring it!
22
keep quiet. Let him win the nomination first.
As DJT was quoted yesterday speaking to the famers:
"Oh are you happy you voted for me? You are so lucky that I gave you that privilege."
15
It's better to see these worms out in the open and squirming on the carcass or their party. Trump's racism and bigotry has tarred the Republican party forever. Arpaio and Moore make it crystal clear what the GOP has become. Even Nicky Haley and Lindsey Graham will reek of Trump/Arpaio Stink for the rest of their lives.
31
Are you sure he's not being funded by the Democrats?
10
Snufflupagus, the imaginary Muppet friend of a Big Bird on Sesame Street, is not only a better Senate candidate, the lifeless puppet itself would be a better Senator. Everyone there likes to be neighbors, at least.
17
The ad campaign writes itself.
"Joe Arpaio - The Roy Moore of Arizona!"
36
It looks like Arizona could son have its "Roy Moore Moment." Let's hope that it ends as Alabama's did.
31
Roy Moore, Part II.
20
Who's next, David Clarke ??? Please Proceed, GOP. Seriously.
20
So what, Matt Gaetz Florida congressman areested for 7 DUI's, daddy got him off. He won with his background, just imagine the sort of people living in his district for goodness sake.
6
As a 67 y/o white Arizonan who was horrified by the racism and bigotry of Joe Arpaio, I say only that My Eyes Glaze Over at the prospect of he and Kelli Ward beating each other over the head. To be sure, there is a large number of Arizonans who love him for all the reasons he was so detestable, but I can't think of another person who so clearly exemplifies all that is deplorable and despicable in the Republican Party. He truly is Arizona's Roy Moore.
Sheriff Joe, you've made my day.
39
Well, we all knew that there were more Roy Moores coming. I just didn't think it would be so soon. A blue tsunami is coming in 2018.
20
The party has more than just some serious issues and if he actually gets votes, that may be very telling about the people also.
10
He would be another Roy More or Richard Mourdock, If he wins the primary, the seat will likely go Democratic. Hopefully Republican leadership and donors will realize this, and deny him support and funding, and he will lose the primary.
Hopefully.
4
The gentleman appears to be in good health and of sound mind, even if you disagree with him. Should he go through with his plans, he may beat the odds and be a welcome addition to Trump's stable of the unstable.
3
We need a constitutional amendment to set a maximum age to run for Congress. Perhaps seventy-two for senators and seventy-four for representatives? That way, they should all be retired by age eighty. We should also take a look at a maximum age to run for president.
I am generally opposed to age discrimination in the workplace, but our government no longer represents the people. Too many politicians are hanging around into their eighties, and now even running for office at eighty-five. It's time for change.
26
You go, Joe! You can do for this senatorial election what Roy Moore did for the recent contest in Alabama. With help from Kelly Ward, the turn out of minority, young, and liberal or progressive voters should be unprecedented in Arizona this year.
16
The Roy Moore of Arizona.
I'm sure he'll refuse to concede when he loses, too.
14
The monster that Republicans created keeps coming back to haunt them. These are the candidates that the party deserves, and until the dog whistles and fear-mongering stops, we need candidates like Joe Arpaio to show up as the face and brand of the modern conservative movement, so voters can truly know who Republicans are, and reject them.
13
Arpaio has now become a parody of himself.
Why on Earth does this story have an Albuquerque dateline? Albuquerque is in New Mexico, and is not even the capital of that state. Arpaio lives in Maricopa County, Arizona. What's the Albuquerque connection?
2
The man is 85 years old. His politics aside, does the GOP not see a problem with that?
53
Diane Feinstein is also 85 (or will be in a matter of days), and she is running for reelection to a sixth 6-year term. I say this as a Democrrat. We can hardly point to this as a problem for Republicans when we have our own entrenched fossils!
1
If the Democrats can't mount a decent candidate I hope he wins. The shock of the win will kill him. By then the Dems might have their act together.
1
ONLY in America! A criminal runs for Senate? Theatre of Absurd? Or new reality? 85 and running? As Trumpy will say SICK!!!
47
Ah, but in Russia Putin uses the Court system to prevent rivals from running for office and if that doesn't work, they have fata accidents of the 5 grams kind. talk to us when you have had your first free and honest election.
1
Oy! Until now I was unaware that Arizona was located in the same stratum as Alabama!
36
Oy, indeed, but if you'd been following relatively closely, you'd have been aware that between Arpaio's humiliation and civil rights violations of immigrants, and his governor's support of him, that he was not convicted in a vacuum. Only our Humiliator in Chief's pardon saved him from the hoosegow, and enabled this new travesty. Would the good folks of Arizona support a convicted 85 year apparent racist with questionable grasp of the law? I think not, but stranger things have happened.
7
Many of us have known it for some time.
2
A Senator who regularly violates the rule of law and is proudly, overtly racist. I guess this is the new normal in 2018.
56
Maybe the Republican Party should run an ad. Are you lawless? Have you been arrested, indicted, served time, or been removed from office for refusing to obey or enforce America laws? Do you espouse positions that are fundamentally indecent and/or in defiance of our laws? The Republican Party is currently seeking candidates for the United States Senate and House of Representatives. No prior legislative experience is required. Qualifications include name recognition, adherence to backward faiths, an unwillingness to raise taxes on the wealthy, membership in the NRA and a history of bigotry. Minorities need not apply.
163
You sum it up well.
4
Refuse to obey or enforce American laws??? That's rich.
2
It seems the only reason Arizonans would vote for Joe Arpaio would be to get him out of the state. Please, can't we send this guy on a 4 year deep sea fishing trip instead?
27
Perhaps an all expenses paid jaunt to Mexico would suit his fancy, he might meet some former patrons.
5
Ah, the days when a UofA engineering student campaigned for McGovern on campus and nearly got tossed out by the university cops. And now, 40+ years later I shake my head that the Arizona I loved then has turned into Arpaio's outhouse. Please, please good citizens, don't vote for that clown, or anyone like him, so that I can make a pilgrimage back to your state and lite a candle at the Dove of the Desert. Please duplicate what the albeit slim majority in Alabama wisely did.
28
SERIOUSLY???!!!! Yes, he does need to go right ahead and run for senate so he can quickly bury himself and free up another spot for a Democrat. Obviously no lessons were learned from the Roy Moore debacle; no one here seems to be, like, really smart.
32
I'm just curious what his platform would be on?
Where I come from, I make my own rules. The law doesn't apply to me, I am the rule of law. Wait a minute, didn't Trump say the same thing?
At least in the Senate, he can try to eliminate all the laws he doesn't like. He can make America White again.
This guy is an abomination of a human being. He is an embarrassment to the Law Enforcement community and they really need to speak up about this law breaker. Arpaio is a criminal who should be jailed. Anyone who votes for this guy should be looked at for hate crimes.
Just say NO...to Joe.
36
Well Donald will be in the hot seat on this one from this moment on. Does he come out swinging for his pal Sheriff Joe or keep his big mouth shut? I am sure that the very stable genius is enjoying the praise Sheriff Joe heaped upon him in his announcement and it will be so tempting to just start the love fest.
Well, as they say, no fool(s) like an old fool(s). Donald and Joe perfect together.
21
The Republican Party seems like it is enjoying pulling itself to pieces.... do you all really feel that powerless to actually reject a candidate? It's your party just say no. No to criminals, no to pedophiles, no to people who's only qualification to call themselves a Republican is not being a Democrat... Get a backbone, yo.
Well - as far as I am concerned, go for it Mr. Arpaio - I'm betting you don't have a whisper of a chance at actually getting elected, but you could certainly act as a spoiler, which doesn't upset me. More Democrats in the Senate won't upset me at all.
22
Thanks for the new Democratic seat, Joe!
18
Wow! Another Dream Conseravtive Candidate ! Where do they come from? Republicans must be so thrilled! Now perhaps Mr. Bannon and Mr. Trump will help mentor this maverick, while Roy Moore can provide all three with horsemanship lessons, though I'm sure Joe could give Roy a few pointers. Then they can have an arresting PR campaign based on "the four horsemen of the apocalypse", Hopefully no-one gets elected, but some are arrested.
9
Well, Trump did pardon him because Trump thinks the guy is a champ. Let Ol' Joe run, and further illustrate the bad judgment of our .. our... whatever it is Trump has made out of the office that used to denote the leader of the free world, what used to be a position that required respect because of the office even if you didn't agree with the man holding the office....that leadership thingy.. oh yes, the US Presidency!
Dotard and Dotard, doesn't exactly rhyme with Marley and Marley, but sure sounds familiar! May the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future ruin their sleep for as long as it takes to either get them to reform, or go away.
10
How handy for the smart genius. I would assume that the Republicans will be wearing pink socks and undies and the contractors and workers will too. I hope you all see why Trump pardoned him. Shall we call Arizona a Pink State.?
10
I wish I could say that this imbecilic announcement is funny. It isn't.
So, I'll just describe it for the sham it is:
"Roy Moore Redux"
Good luck, Arpaio. I hope you're emotionally prepared for the Utter Disaster that will be your Senate bid.
14
The quickest route to a run for higher office in American politics: Break Federal laws. Get convicted, with subsequent pardon from the sitting president. Go for it!
16
I'm sure he will be fully endorsed by Bannon, Roy Moore and trump, of course.
This might appear to be an easy win for Democrats, but we can't dismiss the dirty tricks, voter suppression of US Citizens - especially of Hispanic descent[ - gerrymandering, etc. Staying home is a vote for this horrible man.
27
No thanks to Mr. Trump we’ve been saturated with sleaze, inundated with grifters, bewildered by liars. Allow your mind to drift back a few very short years when we hardly knew their names: Kushner, Manafort, Scaramuchi, Conway, Price, Hannity, Stephen Miller, Donald jr., Flynn, Assange, Moore, Sanders, Poppendopolous, Pence, Bannon and who’ I leave out besides Arpaio?
12
Joe apparently meets all of the qualification to be a Senator in today's Government...sad.
10
I didn't think Arpaio was eligible to run for public office. He was convicted of Criminal Contempt (a felony, unlike contempt of court - a misdemeanor). Although he was pardoned, on 10/20/17 he asked to have his conviction expunged, but was declined. Thus, although pardoned, he is still a convicted felon. By law, convicted felons can't run for Congress or Senate.
43
At last, relief for my disappointment over not seeing the GOP Senate torn to shreds by a Senate vote to seat a religiously-inspired criminal, followed by a House impeachment vote to remove him. One more chance at the apple!
3
Perfect. Roy Moore's campaign strategist and public relations advisors are both available.
7
He's 85. EIGHTY FIVE. Competency has got to come into question.
6
He has never been competent. But he has really been going downhill for the past several years. Frankly, I am surprised he was able to make the announcement. The odds here in Arizona are that this is just another scam from him to get funds to pay his legal bill.
7
"Old" does not necessarily mean "incompetent." There are many super-annuated individuals who are entirely 'compos mentis' while some much younger people's competency is severely impaired. One needs only compare the mental acuity enjoyed by former President Jimmy Carter, now in his nineties, with that of our incumbent to see the problem of equating age with competency.
4
I was thinking President Bush who is up there in years and definitely shows it. I doubt that any of us believe that Senator McCain will finish his term.
And in a related story, Roy Moore has announced he is moving to Arizona and running for Maricopa County Sheriff.
8
Joe Arpaio and Roy Moore are role models for Bannon's path back to the good graces of President Trump. All Sloppy Steve need do is break a federal law (I'm thinking climbing onto Lincoln's lap and relieving himself in public view ought to do the trick), getting convicted and then Trump will, reflexively, pardon Bannon, giving him the green light to run for the Senate, though which state he might do so is a bit of a question mark, given that he doesn't appear to have set down roots in any one place for several decades. But, given Trump's track record for elevation of crooks to the Senate, it's probably a lost cause.
1
Why is this good news?
1. Arpaio is 85, toxic, extremist. He's an embarrassment to the GOP.
2. He's competing for the nomination against Kelli Ward. Kelly Ward is toxic, extremist, and an embarrassment to the GOP. Meaning that he'll be drawing off campaign money from her.
3. They're both running to take the seat being surrendered by Jeff Flake, who could at least pose as a sane, responsible legislator by making feeble theatrical gestures of separation from Donald Trump while he voted exactly as Trump wanted him to vote. Now the GOP views sanity and responsibility as character flaws. This toxic extremism is helping to discredit whatever remains of centrist statesmanship inside the GOP. They aren't an American party anymore. Their prospects weaken with candidates like these.
The Democratic nominee is likely to be Krysten Sinema, M.S.W., J.D., Ph.D., secular centrist, currently serving in the US House. Arizona's other seat is in play as well.
12
The guy knows nothing of the Constitution, yet he wants to be a Senator. Sounds about right.
3
Beware American taxpayers. His disregard for the rule of law cost the taxpayers of Maricopa County north of $30 million in legal bills. Quien sabe what the tab might be on the national stage.
11
GOP is a gift that keeps giving. Trump, Roy Moore, and now Arpaio. They are certainly not sending their best
7
His candidacy should result in an effective drive to register voters - by his opposition.
7
As goes Trump, so goes Arpaio. What happens with Trump before the Arizona primary will be the controlling factor of Arpaio's success, or lack of it.
1
Ugh. Sheriff Joe should just retire. And now the Republican choice in the great state of Arizona is between Arpaio and Kelli Ward, another complete wacko. But Maricopa County voted for Joe until he started spending all their money on court cases---he became too expensive. Hopefully AZ voters will remember that come election time. I know I will.
4
So the true intentions of President Trump has emerged. His Presidential pardon was nothing more than a setup for this convicted criminal to run for the US Senate after President Trump chased off Republican Senator Flake. Perhaps Senator Flake should revisit his decision to clarify where the people of Arizona truly stand.
62
I’m not sure I’d give Trump that much credit for cleverness. I imagine that Trump pardoned him more like the Godfather Don Corleone showed mercy to loyal members of the family who groveled before him. Of course, that was usually temporary with the Don and their bodies were later dredged from river bottoms.
1
I may have to move to Arizona just to vote for him in the primary.
2
I moved a mile across the county line and was unable to vote AGAINST Arpaio as I always did. With this state-wide campaign, I might have a chance to vote against him one more time. A nice gift to enjoy again.
9
Why not go to Pluto, or beyond, instead?
Arpaio violated the oath he swore to uphold as a Sheriff and law enforcement officer. He broke the law, plain and simple. If he didn't agree with a law, or a lawful court order, then he should have resigned. That was the honorable, and lawful, way to go. He deliberately choose to break the law.
I can just imagine what his "many plans" are if he gets into the Senate.
Please, fellow citizens of Arizona. Do the right thing. This man broke the law he had sworn to protect. Reject him, once and for all.
10
Sassy just move out from Alabama to Arizona, Arpaio needs a horse. About the gun, I am pretty sure that Arpaio has a bigger gun then the one of Moore.
What I find ironic is that the GOP, party of law and order, welcome Moore and Arpaio two individual whom show no respect for the law and the constitution.
At least, a good news, Arpaio is already 85 years old so, if elected, he will not be there for 50 years as the segregationist Strom Thurmond.
4
It appears I might be the only conservative resident reading the NYT, but I like Sheriff Joe for upholding the law. He was a political target of Obama after Joe challenged things like Obama giving weapons to the Mexican drug cartel to stage an anti-gun cause. That said, I do NOT support him for Senate. At 85, it's time for him to enjoy retirement. We have a young, energetic Conservative in Kelli Ward who will likely win the primary and election. She's female, but that probably doesn't count to the NYT audience...
2
How is it that on multiple occasions courts held him in contempt if he was upholding the law? He wasn't enforcing the law, he was making his own laws. Conservatives are supposed to uphold the Constitution, not trample on it.
86
He was convicted and sentenced to prison for a reason. Even if you don't like those particular reasons, that was the law.
That's the problem in America right now. People want to pick and choose which laws and rules work for them. GOP wailed "state's rights" when it came to guns and abortion, but legal pot and open-carry crossing state lines? Nah.
That's not how it's supposed to work.
14
MEM - "Some" courts didn't like the laws he was upholding or how he was upholding the laws.
1
Excellent choice Joe! Guess we can put Arizona in the Blue State column after November, eh?
56
I do not know what is more repulsive: This incompetent bigot deciding to run for Senate or the fact that there are people who will support him. This state must resoundingly reject this embarrassment.
86
Joe Arpaio, comes from mold of right-wing candidates including Sharron Angle (Nevada), Christine O'Donnell (Delaware), Ken Buck (Colorado), Richard Mourdock (Indiana), and Todd Akin (Missouri), who were able to win in conservative leaning Republican primaries, but who were unelectable in a general election.
After winning the special election in Alabama, Democrats only need to flip two Senate seats, while defending their own seats, to flip control of the U.S. Senate. As the election cycle proceeds, that task appears to becoming more likely, most recently, when Josh Mandel (R) ended his Senate bid in Ohio. Democrats were already eyeing Arizona, a state that Hillary Clinton lost by 3 percentage points. With Arpaio in the race, Democrats will have a very strong opportunity to pick up that Senate seat, which will dramatically improve their odds of taking the Senate.
If Democrats are able to organize, register voters, and elect a candidate, it may also make Arizona a more competitive state in 2020, making the map less friendly to Donald J. Trump.
15
The Social Security life expectancy calculator says an 85-year-old male has a life expectancy of 6 years, so, in theory Mr. Arpaio has a 50% chance of living for most of a 6-year term as an unrepentant, racist old white guy in Washington...if he were to be elected to the Senate. If history has anything to tell us, it is that those senators who reached that pre-mortem state were not the sharpest tacks on the corkboard, and those men (they all were men) aged into that dotage were already Senators with decades of seniority behind them.
Arizona, if it sends Arpaio to DC, will not be doing itself --and certainly not America-- any favors.
22
I hate to be a pedant, but if his life expectancy is 6 years, then the chances of him dying in less than 6 years is more like 63%. That is because in averaging lifetimes, the few who live much longer than 6 years get weighted in the average, making the average lifetime deceptively long. That is even more reason not to elect Arpaio to a 6 year term.
1
But, William, if elected, he has less time in which to wreak havoc, which, as a doddering freshman Senator, should not be much to begin with. He would probably take pages from Ted Cruz's playbook, which would not endear him to anyone in the Senate.
What next? Abe Simpson runs for the Senate in whatever state houses Springfield. This story sounds like an episode of that long running cartoon.
14
I'm flummoxed, I can't fathom anything that is going on in our government anymore; its beyond anything any normal person can accept.
Perhaps my definition of normal is the problem, but if it is then all the dictionaries are wrong, and 100's of millions of us are seriously deranged.
Wikipedia excerpt - "Normality as opposed to being deviant, eccentric or unusual. Behavior can be normal for an individual (intrapersonal normality) when it is consistent with the most common behaviour for that person. Normal is also used to describe individual behaviour that conforms to the most common behaviour in society (known as conformity). Definitions of normality vary by person, time, place, and situation – it changes along with changing societal standards and norms. Normal behavior is often only recognized in contrast to abnormality"
See that excerpt from the excerpt,
" - it changes along with changing societal standards and norms"
That line itself sort of lays a foundation for what is currently occurring in our government.
So what to do, what to do ?
I think I'll look for a "normal" psychiatrist, discuss my problem, and hopefully he or she can change my 68 years of abnormal normal thinking.
Hmmn, I wonder if I can find one of those new normal psychiatrists.
6
Cool. The Moore recipe in action. Another win for the Democrats.
20
Support Trump, and get pardoned, no matter what you did.
9
In accepting a Presidential pardon, one accepts the guilt associated with the conviction. Does Arizona really want to send a felon to Washington?
19
Are we on our way to become a police state??
What’s wrong is right, felons get pardoned, and pursue postions to write laws. Laws that could make our lives difficult, precarious and lose our freedoms.
Is this what they meant by
“Make America Great Again.”
13
David Dukes, Roy Moore and now Joe Arpaio. Trump is sure bringing out the best in America for elective office.
25
Just what we need. Another octogenarian in the Senate. NOT!
12
Why? He became famous for his disregard for the rule of law.
I encourage Joe to run - I'm tired of Republican's co-opted this angry and ill-informed base to further their own ends but then are quick to distance themselves from their own electorate when they take to the streets with torches or make incredibly inflammatory remarks.
Time to pin the Republican's down - these are their people. If they don't like that image, stop pandering to the lowest common denominator to get your tax cuts rammed through congress before the people catch on.
I hope Bundy runs as well. We need more people like this coming out in the open so we can all collectively disabuse them of the notion that their antiquated and ill-informed opinions have no place in a modern society.
15
I think Arizona is done with Arpaio. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema has an excellent shot at winning the Senate seat. I am an enthusiastic supporter and have a feeling she will win, no matter who the Republicans nominate. Republicans' best chance of keeping the seat is to nominate a more mainstream candidate acceptable to business interests. But decent Republicans (and there are a few) have a hard time surviving the primaries.
12
An American Patriot. He has my vote if I lived in Arizona. Our states share the same problems.
And all the lawsuits he lost when he went after people and arrested them illegally? Please contribute to the county tax payers who ended up paying millions.
8
Held in contempt for repeatedly violating the Constitution. Funny parameters you have for patriotism...
9
To me, Arpaio has the smell of BO.
3
By any objective measure Arpaio was a failure at being a sheriff. Yet I know a lot of people in Arizona who, despite his felony conviction, think he's the bee's knees. He talks tough and appeals to people's revenge fantasies. They don't care that he is as phony as Trump. My hope is that he fails in the primary if he even makes it that far. (By the way, according to the polls, the current leader of the GOP pack for that office is, by any measure, a complete wacko of the Michele Bachmann variety.)
10
The people who voted for Arpaio should be asked to pay for all the law suits he lost (and was surely to lose given he lied to the courts). Millions....
4
I wish this angry old man would just retire.
10
So this is the sheriff that jailed Hispanics in a tent and left many in life-threatening conditions?
Dems like Arpaio has about as much respect for laws as Roy Moore. Both were held in contempt, and Moore lost judgeships twice as a result.
Arpaio was charged with content of a court order until he was pardoned by the president.
Sounds like the perfect candidate for a deliberative body like the Senate—can’t Republicans find any candidates that DO respect the rule of law?
15
Whoops!! “Republicans like Arpaio, not Dems. Heresy!!
13
O Christine...how could you !
3
Maybe this is just what is needed to bring Bannon and Trump back together.
5
Roy Moore Part Deux!!
Run Joe, Run! I truly hope he wins the primary so we can elect another Dem to the Senate. How the GOP can grandstand about morality and claim to be the party of Jesus with this guy on the ballot just boggles my mind. You can't make this stuff up folks!
32
Maybe Sheriff Joe can get some pointers from Judge Moore on how to run a successful campaign. Perhaps Joe will get the support of trump and bannon; it was so helpful in Georgia. Now, he definitely should be locked up!
16
Another stellar GOP candidate from Planet Trump
24
Arapaio is 85. Maybe nature will take care of this before we're subjected to this potential national embarrassment. And to think, this comes after dodged the bullet in Alabama. * smh *
16
It would be nice to think that he hasn't a snowball's chance in Hades but, after all, it is Arizona.
21
Good to know the Greedy Old Pirates are preparing to run another convicted felon while the Dems gnash their teeth about possibly running a billionaire TV star. One party gnashes it's teeth in an orgy of self flagellation while the other party has abandoned shame altogether.
9
America Diminished
12
With such untethered corruption, racism, incompetence and general criminality daily threatening our democracy, we're watching the Republican Party shuffling toward extinction before our very eyes. The question now is will what replaces them be any worse?
12
Arpaio is as deplorable as Roy Moore -- but this time Trump won't be able to blame this disgrace on Bannon.
Trump will have to be accountable for this failure.
14
Stable Geniuses don't do accountable.
9
After having shown a total disregard for the rule of law and after profiling and abusing hispanic inmates at his jail, this vile man now wants to be senator. Another GOP deplorable running for office.
13
OMG, this is just too much. I guess he thinks if Trump won, then he will certainly follow suit.
“Being a U.S. senator is a little different than being the sheriff, because you can do a lot of things in the U.S. Senate, and I have many plans, believe me,” Joe Arpaio.
Being a senator is quite a lot different. Trump has lowered the bar so much that this disgusting racist criminal feels he has a good chance of becoming a senator. I can only hope the people of Arizona do not forget that. Will Trump endorse him and back another loser for senator like he did Moore? I believe Arpaio thinks so.
9
Ah.....a candidate to make Republicans proud to be Americans.
7
Ugh. I grew up in Arizona and Sheriff Joe is one of many, but one of the worst, stains on it's history. So many people there thought he was finally gone, pardoned out to pasture. Alas, according to him, he's just getting started!
Sorry Joe, you don't have a lot to offer the people in Arizona or the USA. You're a sad, racist birther who was convicted of crimes, pardoned by the sad, racist, birther Trump, who will convicted of crimes soon enough. Go away--your time was up a long time ago.
27
Joe Arpaio running for statewide office is a clarion call to Arizonans to register to vote. Make us proud Arizona and show this convicted felon to the curb.
19
Hopefully this will galvanize both Black and Latinos voters in Arizona.
16
Excellent, bring on the nutty.
5
Hilarious.
3
Sheriff Joe probably believes that Trump is a “stable genius.”
6
Only saw a portion of the headline on my homescreen, thought it was an obituary. "Corrupt Joe" lives in a city named Fountain Hills, a "Planned Community", wink,wink ,nudge, nudge, no Dreamers allowed!
6
This is just full circle sick. It's not even a little funny anymore.
11
Alabamians went to the polls and defeated the odious Roy Moore. The people of Arizona need to do the same with the racist and dishonorable Joe Arpaio.
15
Please Proceed, Joe. You may hand the seat to Dems. Also, get some help from Roy Moore. PLEASE.
10
What's the matter, Joe?
Not enough pension from your over-long career in state government?
Or are you trying to get your hands on some of that Congressional diamond-plated healthcare?
What a leech on the system you are!
12
Roy Moore lives!
1
There's no fool like an old Trump pardoned FOOL. Keep it up, Arizona. You might make KANSAS look reasonable. Seriously.
10
How appropriate. A convicted scofflaw runs to fill the political space once slated to be occupied by Roy Moore, credibly accused of pedophilia.
Hope the people of Arizona consign Arpaio to the dustbin of history. If he makes it to the General Election, he will lose.
3
The nerve of some people. I'm moving there soon, so I get to vote against him.
22
Hopefully the voters of Arizona will follow Alabama's lead and elect a senator who respects and follows the rule of law versus mocking and ignoring the rule of law.
Roy Moore and Joe Arpaio. The best the Republican Party has to offer.
28
"Roy Moore and Joe Arpaio. The best the Republican Party has to offer."
That's a sad state of affairs, isn't it?
3
Hopefully this plays out like Alabama. The Republicans select Arpaio in their primary, and it draws out big turnout for the Senate election. Let's hope the Koch Bros and Mercer's spend big bucks on this.
8
This is good news.
With him, we will finally get our Great Wall from sea to shining sea, bristling with guard towers, machine guns and electrified barbed wire.
A wall completely defaced by pornographic graffiti featuring Donald Trump, Uncle Sam and him.
A wall with so many gaping holes and tunnels that watching people climb over and crawl under it will become a major tourist attraction.
A wall so popular in Mexico that they will be calling it chief among Trump's follies.
A wall so popular in Mexico that a week-long festival called "The Wall That America Paid For" will be celebrated every year.
9
Wow! Now we are safe again! The man really can't be serious?
4
OMG, NOOOOOOOOOOO!
He even sounds like the Donald. Check out the quotation below. He provides even uses the phrase "believe me" after saying he has plans but not describing them.
“Being a U.S. senator is a little different than being the sheriff, because you can do a lot of things in the U.S. Senate, and I have many plans, believe me,” Mr. Arpaio told The Washington Examiner in announcing his bid. “I have a lot to offer. I’m a big supporter of President Trump.”
Channeling my inner Donald - Sloppy Joe Arpaio is, like, a criminal convict.
15
Meet the New Swamp
Worse than the Old Swamp.
We won't get fooled again . . .
7
Excellent news! I wish him success at winning the GOP primary.
Why? Because while Trump narrowly won Maricopa County, 48-45, Arpaio lost his reelection bid by a 56-43 margin. There were a whole lot of voters who could stomach Trump but couldn't stand this guy. His reelection margin had been declining by double digits in each election since his 2000 landslide, showing a rapid trend away from him that happened much faster than even the rapidly changing demographics of the Phoenix area, indicating that even white voters rapidly grew tired of him.
Despairing NYT readers take heart: the pink underwear, rotten food, and flagrant racism variety of "justice" is unpopular even for a substantial fraction of Trump voters. He has no chance whatsoever of being elected to the Senate.
12
I just finished watching a documentary on David Bowie when I read this. The one thing that struck me was what David Bowie said shortly before he died...."The 21st century has been a real disappointment so far...." under-stated but was he ever right!!!!!!!!
8
Arpaio lost his job when the voters of Maricopa County voted him out in favor of a Democrat. He'd be even less popular in other counties. In all likelihood, if he wins the GOP primary there that seat could end up in the Democrats hands, not unlike what happened with Roy Moore in Alabama. Arpaio is more radioactive to Latinos than Moore was to African-Americans. If Republicans really want to run him, by all means do so.
Finally, if he does somehow win, he's in his eighties, which means he has one, at most two, terms in him. If The Grand Canyon State really sends him to DC, it won't long endure.
5
One correction: Arpaio is more radioactive to any human who has a brain, a heart and a soul. The same can be said about Moore in Alabama.
How could anyone who calls herself a Christian possibly vote for this wretch of a creature, and stain on the great people of Arizona?
3
Normally I can't sum up my thoughts about an article in one word. Because there's always nuance and variables to consider. That being said, this news I can sum up my reaction towards in one word: REVULSION.
10
Well, that's great, the prospect of yet one more senator who remembers the 1940s like it was yesterday. Does this country even have a future any more?
11
I ma confused.
How can an 85-year old with a felony conviction consider he is capable of representing Arizona in the United States Senate.
My aunt who is 85+ is very sharp, lives in her own home, manages her own investments, chairs her book club book club and is active and happy. However, she is retired and knows her limitations.
She would not even consider running for her local city council much less being a candidate for a more senior elected position.
On the other hand, Joe Arpaio might get a rousing endorsement from Pres. Trump so we will wait to see,
8
I think he believes because the president won, he forgets by electoral votes. Senate and other elections are voted on by the people. I have faith and Arpaio doesn't have a chance. America is stronger than these people who think the ways of the past will last.
8
I guess all of those legal bills have necessitated some post-retirement fund raising. "Don't delay! Make your $50 donation today and Sheriff Joe will have one his friends at the Maricopa County jail rough up a misbehaving inmate!"
This old rotter should be living out his few remaining years in a concrete box.
7
Good. I hope he gets the nomination and then gets trounced by whoever runs against him.
I wouldn't even be surprised if Flake gets more votes as a write-in.
5
Climate change is real, not only in the real world environment, but also in the current US political system. The bad news is, the change is going to have a huge negative impact on our daily life, and unfortunately, the next generations too. We will see many Moores and Arpaios.
3
This strikes me as either an act of delusion or a publicity stunt. Arpaio will no doubt tout his strong support of President Trump, but that sentiment was not sufficiently reciprocated the last time Arpaio ran for re-election as Maricopa County Sheriff in 2016: he lost, even as Trump won the county (en route to winning the state), meaning that at least some Trump supporters voted against Arpaio or at least refused to vote for him. This spells trouble for Arpaio in terms of competing against Kelli Ward for the support of the alt-right - and both of them figure to be up the creek with more moderate Republicans once Martha McSally officially throws her hat in the ring, as she is universally expected to do soon.
Democrats are no doubt salivating over the chance to run Kyrsten Sinema against Arpaio in November, but it would take a stroke of tremendous "luck" for Arpaio to be the Republican nominee.
3
Why are nonlaw abiding citizens seen as politically viable office holders? Those that won't follow the law shouldn't be writing them.
7
Trumps base will put this guy over the top I am sure. The "stick it in their eye" reflex is still very much alive. After all, he did receive a Presidential Pardon and they don't hand those out like Halloween candy...
First, there are his dreadful politics. Second, there is his casual cruelty and rage - on full display for years as sheriff. Third, there is his advanced age. When do these guys FINALLY ride off into the sunset? Even Orrin Hatch has given it up. Only unbridled ego - encouraged by the chief of unbridled ego - would think that running for high office at age 85 is a good idea.
7
Joe Arpaio would fit right in with Senate Republicans. They don't respect the rule of law and neither does Arpaio, and they'll welcome him with open arms. Arpaio will surely have more influence with the president than either McConnell or Ryan.
10
IF this energumen runs and wins AZ's senate seat, I and many others will avoid spending a dime on anything this already infamous state has to offer. No gas, no food, no hotels, no nothing! BOYCOTT AZ! is my next bumper sticker.
6
Is it me or have the Republicans lost the ability to run any credible candidates anymore?
10
I lived in Phoenix for 34 years. Sheriff Joe was popular for a time until he decided it was politically advantageous to be "anti-immigrant", a stance he had not previously taken. He cost Maricopa county taxpayers millions of dollars settling law suits brought as a result of his racial profiling. In addition to that, he was under scrutiny for abuse of power launching criminal investigations against his political opponents. Again, a waste of taxpayer dollars. That this 85 year old man will not fade gracefully into the sunset is disturbing but not much of a surprise. What's more disturbing is that Arizonans have made some incredibly poor decisions in their choices of candidates. Evan Mecham, Fife Symington, Rose Mofford, Jan Brewer. Arizona was the laughing stock of our country. I hope voters have grown wiser and more discriminating.
100
The wonderful thing about our immigrants is they have raised the State IQ....
4
Just wonderful. Government of the uninformed, by the uniformed and for the rich who convince the uninformed that this is good for them.
7
At his age with his meager intellect he will be the perfect foil for almost anyone the Democrats nominate a la Missouri 2012 and Roy Moore of recent vintage
Does anyone know where we can contribute to his campaign for the nomination?
2
85 years old and running for Senate? ... No.
5
With all the hate in this man's heart, it's a miracle he's lived half this long. I hope the voters in Arizona aren't so cynical as to actually want him as their senator. He's supposed to be in prison.
4
Joe Arpaio, pardoned by Trump, has just announced he is running for Jeff Flake's
Senate seat in Arizona? At 85 years of age? Whoa, give us a break, Joe - retirement should be your go-to job!
4
Great news! Another extremist Senate candidate in a state (this time AZ) seemingly up for grabs. This can only help Sinema.
6
Please please please run! We Dems are determined to take back the House this year. Your running as the Republican candidate would be great insurance for a win the AZ.
Joe Arpaio? A United States senator? Blech!!!
6
Arpaio's plans for the U.S. Senate are what?
Committing more crimes Trump has to pardon him for? Harassing more innocent brown people with resources that are needed to solve real problems, like the sexual assaults he ignored while Sheriff?
Go ahead Republican Party. Keep this stuff up. Do more to let all the people not of "white" European decent that you hate their guts and are willing to do anything, including break the law, to trample their rights. Good luck with the changing demographics.
3
Will the twice-convicted criminal and financial drain on his county run as a fiscally conservative law and order candidate?
4
Where are all of yesterday's 'rule of law' Republicans cheering the expulsion of 200.000 people? Surely they must reject a man who thought himself above the rule of law...
Hypocrisy sure has a way of keeping people quiet.
26
I am of the opinion and 85 year old has no business running for US Senate. He has many more yesterdays than tomorrows. We need leaders who can speak to the future and not the past.
253
I couldn't care less about his age
What is really disturbing is the undeniable fact that this man sees a way to win a Senate seat.
He knows that millions upon millions of Americans will vote for him.
Dear God, how did we fall so far, so fast ??
2
I agree with you, but by that standard, we should also object to Dianne Feinstein's running for reelection to a sixth 6-year term. She will be 85 on June 12.
1
Gee. I hate for it to be an age thing.
While I can't think of who. I don't like thinking that I wouldn't
vote for a person because they are 85
Why would someone with such disrespect for the rule of law want to join the body that makes them?
284
@CPD: It's obvious. He wants to make laws he would enjoy enforcing.
23
Answer: Because he can!
P.S. And that doesn't make it right.
4
Birds of a feather.
1
just when you think things couldn't get any worse for Arizona
20
Hooray! The GOP has found its next Roy Moore.
48
Joe Arpaio's announcment is unbelievable! I am absolutely speechless. This man has no moral compass and no morals and I indeed wonder if this is indeed what the US has come to?
If he is elected all I can say is "there is no hope for the US" and dark days are indeed ahead of us and especially the young people.
27
This is very dismaying. Arpaio made a name for himself as a meanspirited racist sherrif humiliating inmates and sadistically cladding them in pink underwear. He was a lousy sherrif and does not have an infantecimal fraction of the statemanship necessary to be an effective senator. He needs to go the way of the telegraph.
22
I like the play on your choice of words, very funny. Infinitesimal, sure. Infantitesimal, too, works for me.
John McCain, this is your time to speak up! You have given years to both the Senate and the state of Arizona. You know that 'Sheriff Joe' has too little regard for the law to be a lawmaker. You know that he is too hot-headed to work with colleagues.
Please, end your career by using your clout to speak up for both the institution and the state you have served and against Sheriff Joe.
88
The GOP is now officially hostage to its own worst expressions.
31
Arpaio is 85 years old. For God's sake, get someone younger to run!!! This old man is way past his "sell by" date.
32
Roy Moore part II? Who saw that sequel coming? The reviews for the first weren't all that great, and if I recall, neither were the ratings.
14
Maybe Roy will let Joe borrow Sassy the horse to give him real cowboy creds
27
Our President is the head of our federal government.
Joe Arpaio repeatedly violates federal court orders and Trump pardons him.
Roy Moore repeated violates federal court orders and Trump endorses him.
This is what our country has become - a swamp in which those who support Trump may flagrantly violate federal law with impunity, but those who oppose Trump should be criminally investigated and/or thrown into jail.
This national nightmare cannot end soon enough.
319
The constant evocation of the word “swamp” to describe the Republican landscape is deeply unfair to the reptiles and birds that inhabit our wetlands. Let’s leave them their dignity, even as Trump’s henchman start infusing their habitats with toxic waste.
1
I wonder if Sheriff Joe is going to hire Roy Moore to ride shotgun on the campaign bus--it would be so fitting.
So we are about to give a pardoned felon who essentially created concentration camps in his jurisdiction a national platform. Outstanding.
137
Relax! No we are not giving him anything! Somebody with money has encouraged Arpaio to 'announce' that he 'might' run for US senate.
As Rep. Gallego said-its a 'fund-raising scheme'. Republicans in Arizona like to give their money to people like Arpaio.
2
They're all surely taking us down the rabbit hole.
When did racism and bigotry become respected values? Only inTrumpworld.
146
Racism and bigotry are America's foundation, to name a few.
3
You have not been paying attention to the Republican agenda over the last decade nor have you been watching Fox or listening to Rush, Alex, Howie and Brietbart. I am not recommending that you start, simply that this is where all of this is coming from. Fox is probably the major 24/7 outlet of bigotry and hate and it appears they are actually supplying the issues and words that our POTUS spews and his GOP lackeys support. Trump is the result of a dream of Roger Ailes, the production support of Rupert Murdoch, and an odd collection of racist billionaires like the Mercers who finance the GOP. It has been a couple of decades in the making. We can unmake it all in 2018 if we can get out the vote.
6
The struggle between Arpaio and Kelli Ward will be about who can out-fascist the other. My bet goes to the contemptibly convicted guy. If I were Arizonian, my vote would go to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
67
I am an Arizonan and I think Kyrsten Sinema will win. She is a pragmatic problem solver that even some of my Republican friends support.
2
Isn't he a convicted felon? Is he allowed to run? Is he allowed to vote? SAD!!
77
Pardoned by his hero DT. He has no more conviction, nor is a felon anymore. Aint America grand!
7
I think yes he is a convicted felon.
It is my understanding that taking a pardon is an admission of guilt to the crime you are being pardoned for.
"Isn't he a convicted felon? Is he allowed to run? Is he allowed to vote? SAD!!" Apparently we need a new Constitutional amendment that forbids convicted felons (pardoned or not) from running for federal office. Yes, Arpaio lives in a state in which felons are permanently barred from voting, but he can still run for Senate. Sad indeed.
1
Let's take this opportunity to demonstrate that the only thing Arizona has in common with Alabama is that our states' names begin and end with "a". This evil fool has done enough damage.
160
They also have the same number of letters and both end with an "a". That's three strikes!
YAAAAEEEE!!!! Go Joe — win that primary, and hand the seat to whomever the Democrats nominate. Maybe we can get a crazy Wisconsin sheriff on the ballot there.
35
Please Joe, just go away... far away. You've already done more than enough to damage law enforcement in AZ.
31
Well this is something.
1
Another unacceptable republican.
29
I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Joe Arpaio is a racist and a criminal. What is wrong with humans, like Donald Trump and Joe Arpaio, who seem to have no real sense of who they are, of humility? What is wrong with people who fail to recognize this flaw and vote for them anyway?
109
Racist psychopathy is as American as baseball and apple pie, Mimi...and it forms the core of the Republican Party.
35
Perfect. The legislative bodies seem to be the perfect destination for gangsters and criminals and where they cannot be held accountable for their actions.
21
Nothing to see here.
Let Arizona voters get riled up one way or another.
And, of course, the full-time haters . . .
1
He is the perfect candidate for the Republican party. He has all of the attributes and morality that Republicans seek in their candidates.
I say good luck to him in his bid to be the next Senator from Arizona!
18
Just a friendly reminder to readers that Joe Arpaio is such a terrible human being that even Trump had to wait until the middle of a Friday night, while the country was being pummeled by a hurricane, to pardon him for failing to uphold federal law.
132
Make America White Again !
The filth always rises to the top in Republican politics.
D to go forward; R for radical, racist regression.
184
@Socrates, that remark about the filth may or may not be a principle; it certainly is an observation.
6
Every day, more grotesque political news....Trump, Roy Moore, this sheriff with no respect for law and human rights....authoritarians, religious dictators, white supremacists that mock the ideals and reputation of America.
1
Arpaio as Senator is a sick and scary image. We don't need another political figure who believes he's above the law. The man's priorities include choosing the most obnoxious undergarments for prisoners as possible. He all but set up a concentration camp.
Arizona, don't throw yourself down this hole.
144
Yes, Repbulicans-- run to the far right and lose. Roy Moore Part II begins today!
22
This is the consequence of electing Donald Trump.
First it's Trump.
Then Roy Moore.
Now Joe Arpaio.
(I'm sure there are many others)
Arizona currently has two of the most level-headed GOP lawmakers in the Senate. Let's keep it that way. Keep Arpaio out.
19
Good grief! Will Arpaio be the mechanism that salves the Bannon-Trump schism?
11
We all saw this coming, much to our state's embarrassment. I wish I could count on people's decency that a man who bragged about the unjust & illegal things he did wouldn't be able to get very far in his campaign, but if Roy Moore taught us anything, it's that my fellow white voters can't be trusted to not vote for the immoral choice. My family is going to have to start knocking doors to make sure Arpio doesn't take office.
328
I will be knocking on doors to elect Krysten Sinema.
5
I'm with you John.
2
My family and everyone I know will be doing the same!
Best wishes to Joe.
Replacing a RINO with a true conservative is a good thing.
1
Well, then I guess a "true conservative" is someone who, as a public official intentionally violated the United States Constitution. If so then it follows that all "True Conservatives" are against the Constitution.
11
Maybe this is a deliberate ploy to keep off a RNC backed candidate challenging Kelli Ward. Make it an ugly fight between two Trump thumpers. If not, this is a sad attempt by a man who should have never been pardoned in the first place.
This new love for lawbreakers among the Republican base (Roy Moore was twice removed from the court for unconstitutional actions) exposes the hypocrisy from the party of 'law and order'. Custodians of law who actually break it and are still rewarded.
75
It would seem Arpaio and Ward both running could set up a nice triangulation for a Republican establishment candidate.
Sheriff Joe: please run! You are the epitome of everything the Republican party currently stands for and the more you and your ilk are exposed to public scrutiny, the better.
295
Careful! That's what they said about Trump.
2
...and if not as a republican, then as an independent! GO JOE, split that vote...
He could be Roy Moore for Arizona and allow the Democrats a chance to win a Senate Seat. We can only hope.
114
Oooh no, Joe, say it ain’t so. Nobody wants you anymore, nobody needs you anymore, just go away. Feh.
20
Moore 2.0
38
Big Trump supporters are going to be big losers this year.
"Tied To The Traitor" will be their description in commercials when Mueller drops the hammer during campaign season this Summer and Fall.
33
The Roy Moore of Arizona. All they need is Bannon's enthusiastic endorsement and Democrats get another seat.
162
Totally unpardonable and even more offensive! Everyday I simply grow sicker with each evil development in the country of my birth!
Distance does not make a difference. If anything is true the pain is greater because the vision is much more acute from afar.
91
If he wins the primary Arizona will have the chance to go on the record about what it stands for.
31
wow- really? Seems like just a waste of a vote. These are serious times and we need serious candidates.....
27
Go for it Joe. Let law and order be your guide. Win the primary, please.
4
TT, "Let law and order be your guide" will be a switch for Joe.
12
You expect law and order from a public official who intentionally violated laws and the US Constitution? After all hed was convicted of a felony for his actions.
5
Yes please, let him win the primary, that will guarantee another Democratic senator!
7
Good! He'll be a daily reminder of the cruelty, intellectual void, and white privilege/supremacism that defines the Republican party.
228
Oh joy. May his campaign go the way of Roy Moore's, poste haste.
33
In related news, Senator Schumer did a backflip when he heard this.
103
RE: "Being a U.S. senator is a little different than being the sheriff, because you can do a lot of things in the U.S. Senate"
Because you can do a lot of things in the Senate. Well, I guess he has been watching McConnell and company and wants a piece of the action for himself.
But I am sure that all those who wouldn't vote for him as Sheriff will think him a fine choice for the US Senate. He has Trump's support but like Roy Moore will he also get RNC support?
11
Of course even the latest trump “ basher”Cory Gardner heading the gop senate re-election will run to embrace him
Thank god
Definition of stupid is repeating the same thing over. Again and again expecting different results