Well, international readers. Have you been wondering who Sheriff Joe Arpaio is, that US President Donald Trump pardoned last week? I was, so I set out to do research, as usual. Enjoy the results here.
America still has a wild side. This has fostered outspoken maverick sheriffs who have allegedly been a law unto themselves. Some organisations say that's terrible and must be stopped. However, I notice by the length of their tenure, that the people who elected them seemed to want them back each time. Sheriff Arpaio stayed in his job well into his eighties.
So , last week's President Donald Trump controversial news of the day, featured him pardoning Joe Arpaio, a long time supporter of Trump, who was convicted of contempt of court. I don't think anyone should have been surprised at that. Trump rewards his supporters. That he allegedly interfered in the judicial process to do it, before sentencing, was a bad thing. Trump seems to be conducting a war of sorts with the courts. I don't see that happening in Australia, where the courts seem to be respected by parliamentarians, maybe because so many of them studied law, and may want to go back to that line of work. Trump, of course, didn't work in that field. Note, many Australians don't respect the courts, citing too short sentences.
Sheriff David Clarke is another controversial character, very outspoken, with a social media presence like Joe Arpaio. Although African American, and supposedly a Democrat supporter in a mostly Democrat county, his views are Republican and he supports Trump also. His department have been sued multiple times under his watch, like Joe Arpaio's. There are many parallels.
Both of them have gimmicks. Arpaio's included putting jail inmates in pink underwear, which after it became notorious, he cashed in on by selling pink underwear merchandise. Clarke is noted, among other things, for wearing lots of medals on his uniform. Some say many of them have not been earned by him.
I advise you all to read the links at bottom of this page, and make up your own minds about these maverick sheriffs. Were they doing just what they had to do, in difficult circumstances? In so doing, were they acting for the voting majority of their constituents? Or were they violating human rights, wasting taxpayer monies, ignoring aspects of the laws, etc?
In making your opinions, try to put yourselves in the shoes of people who lived under their policies, who didn't have a voice, due to poverty etc.
For those who don't know, Arizona has a long border with Mexico.
safe link to short biography of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
another satire link note this site as a whole is not suitable for under 18 s.
13 comments:
If I'm honest I have conflicting views about everything to do with immigration. Ideally I'd love every country to be equal in peace and prosperity, which would negate the need for mass immigration.
I can't really imagine the plight of these people because I live a comfortable and secure life, but I am saddened that they are driven to such extremes.
I want to wave a magic wand and have it all made better but kind words and rhetoric versus reality is I'm sure somewhat tested when you're faced with your own life and neighbourhood being altered and disrupted.
My extended family live in a town that is overrun (their words) with immigrants. They don't like it.
I cannot comment other than to say they feel ostracised themselves and have oft said their ways and standards are different.
It's an uncomfortable truth that has been repressed for years, but we have to accept that opposition to immigration exists.
I can put myself in both camps shoes momentarily but remain divided in any firm opinion because of course there is merit for and against in both.
I have lived among mass immigration. From what countries are the immigrants living near your relatives, Fizz? We haven't got many here yet, though I've noticed an increase the last few years.
By here, I mean in my current town.
Mostly Eastern European, Polish
Hopefully the controversy surrounding what looks like a worrying pardon from Trump will mean he has to think carefully before repeating this kind of suspicious behaviour.
I live with three migrants.
The only ones who aren't immigrants in America are the Native Americans which have been pushed into a few corners of the US. Everyone else came from immigrants at one time or another, by birth or immigrating here.
I don't condone illegal immigration but I do blame our immigration system which has been broken for years. Instead of raising the temporary migrant labor allowances and installing a process to track them, many companies over the years have brought in migrant labor who ended up staying and raiding their families here. Illegal immigration has been decreasing for years.
Joe Arpaio apprehended and jailed many minorities unfairly for minor driving infractions and at the same time didn't apprehend the many rapes and sexual,predators in the Latino communities. I don't have a problem with him being strong on illegal,immigration but I do fault him for playing along with Trump's birther theory about Obama. He even sent a team to Hawaii to look into it and said he found interesting info when in fact there was nothing. The man claimed he was proud to be associated with the KKK. The maximum sentence he would have served would have been 6mo but that is doubtful. The only reason Trump pardoned him was he helped him with birther theory and to show loyalty.
Sheriff Clarke resigned today. He has two pending lawsuits against him. I hope he isn't going to get a job working for Trump.
You are right. As a Trump supporter, I'm sure he will get rewarded. Rumour was he was not going to get reelected.
It does seem that being an open Trump supporter results in increased unpopularity for people who survived perfectly well before that.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/31/david-clarke-milwaukee-sheriff-resigns
What is this Hot Topics light?
It does seem that being an open Trump supporter results in increased unpopularity for people who survived perfectly well before that.
LOL- ain't that the truth!
One can not even support the candidate of their choice anymore in America, the land of the Free, without the left trying to censor. Who wants a world like that?
Well I did always tell you the truth.
Wasn't David Clarke n your old state, Margo? What do you think of him (and his medals?)
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