# Birther-crap might sink Sheriff Arpaio **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 1, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350 "2012-10-01T02:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/1 "2012-10-01T02:18:01Z")
You’d think it would be all that egregious shit that [the DOJ is suing him for.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=651579) But, no, apparently, [it’s gonna be the Birther-crap.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/joe-arpaio-super-pac-arizona_n_1912636.html) (If anything, knock wood.) > [@](#): > > Opponents of controversial Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R) are hoping that a new super PAC launched last week and backlash from Arpaio’s embrace of the birther movement will unseat the longtime lawman. > > A bipartisan coalition of Phoenix-area politicos led by state Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Phoenix) said that the new group, called Citizens for Professional Law Enforcement, will be a grassroots-based organization looking to raise funds and educate county voters about Arpaio’s record, outside of immigration and jail issues. Gallego said he believes that while Arpaio is known for his immigration policies – and support for the state’s controversial immigration law, SB 1070 – it will be Arpaio’s decision to investigate President Barack Obama’s citizenship that will be his downfall. > > “I think the birther issue will have the most impact,” Gallego told The Huffington Post. “SB 1070 has been an issue for years. The birther issue is something that is bipartisan in Arizona, across the board not popular.” > > Arpaio, who has been in office for two decades, is being challenged by Democrat Paul Penzone, who new polls show six points behind the incumbent. Gallego said the polling information is what he and his allies believe will give them an opening to bring down the sheriff. He also cited Arpaio’s declining approval rating among county voters. > > Gallego said Arpaio’s use of tax funds for an investigation into Obama’s birth certificate, during which he sent his “cold case posse” to Hawaii, will hurt the sheriff. The birther issue is part of the group’s decision to label Arpaio as a poor manager of the sheriff’s office. Though Arpaio is known for his tent city jail and his bare-bones jail conditions, Gallego points to 400 child sex crimes not being investigated by the office, while the president’s birth certificate is. This [Paul Penzone](http://www.penzone2012.com/) is a former 20-year Phoenix police officer. [More on those child sex crimes.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/joe-arpaio-paul-penzone-sex-crimes-ad_n_1760164.html) Is anyone here from Arizona? Would you care to predict as to Arpaio v. Penzone in November? ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/2 "2012-10-01T03:09:26Z")
I don’t vote on every office and issue, but whenever I get the chance I always vote “not Joe.” It seems to me that there is a very elderly, gullible, white, scared demographic that loves Joe and a lot of reasonable middle of the road moderate republicans who say “he’s kind of a tool, but he’s not a democrat, so…” His anti-illegal immigration schtick appeals to both groups. I’m sure it appeals to a lot of Democrats, too. This cycle he is airing ads that say “40 years ago Sheriff Joe worked for the DEA and he was a real badass” and “Sheriff Joe arrests people who abuse or neglect animals.” He makes no mention of this ridiculous birther witch hunt. I think it pisses off his moderate voters that he would make them look so foolish by association. I really think there is a good chance he won’t win reelection. Polls likely won’t paint an accurate picture at this point in the game as many of his votes come from snowbirds and they mostly come back in October. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/3 "2012-10-01T07:00:09Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > I really think there is a good chance he won’t win reelection. Polls likely won’t paint an accurate picture at this point in the game as many of his votes come from snowbirds and they mostly come back in October. 😕 Aren’t snowbirds non-residents, from further north, who come to the state for the winter? That’s what the word means in Florida. There’s no snowbird vote. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/4 "2012-10-01T11:22:55Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Aren’t snowbirds non-residents, from further north, who come to the state for the winter? That’s what the word means in Florida. There’s no snowbird vote. However, many of those snowbirds have declared Florida their “permanent” residence (no income tax) and do vote here (whether they still vote back in the home state too is unknown). They’re still called snowbirds by the year-rounders. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/5 "2012-10-01T11:25:24Z")
Maybe he meant all the retired folks who leave town for June-September. I’ve seen several “Adios Arpaio” signs, which is comforting. I’m disheartened by the six to eight point lead, though. And there are two challengers to Arpaio which is not going to help things. Keeping my fingers crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/6 "2012-10-01T13:12:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Aren’t snowbirds non-residents, from further north, who come to the state for the winter? That’s what the word means in Florida. There’s no snowbird vote. The climate based migration is what makes them snowbirds, not their “home” state. Plenty of them vote here. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/7 "2012-10-01T15:14:59Z")
Forget all that - where can I donate to the superPAC? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/8 "2012-10-01T16:30:00Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Forget all that - where can I donate to the superPAC? [Here’s](http://www.citizensforprofessionallawenforcement.org/) their website. (Note that the welcome page mentions only the guy the organization is against, Arpaio, and says nothing about Penzone; I suppose this has something to do with its superPAC status, some legal requirement to keep it separate from any actual electoral campaign.) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/9 "2012-10-01T17:35:10Z")
Right. SuperPAC’s can’t endorse a candidate. They have to be about ‘issues.’ Thus, they all do negative ads about the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/10 "2012-10-01T20:15:21Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Right. SuperPAC’s can’t endorse a candidate. They have to be about ‘issues.’ Thus, they all do negative ads about the other guy. . . . Something’s wrong with this picture . . . ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/11 "2012-10-01T21:51:14Z")
The only way Arpaio leaves office if it’s feet first. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/12 "2012-10-01T21:57:01Z")
Admittedly the preferred solution. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/13 "2012-10-01T21:59:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You’d think it would be all that egregious shit that [the DOJ is suing him for.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=651579) You mean the “egregious shit” on which [DOJ dropped the case against Arpaio](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/feds-drop-criminal-case-against-sheriff-joe-arpaio/)? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/14 "2012-10-01T22:21:22Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > You mean the “egregious shit” on which [DOJ dropped the case against Arpaio](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/feds-drop-criminal-case-against-sheriff-joe-arpaio/)? You need to read more carefully, Terr. From that article: _In a separate probe, the U.S. Justice Department has accused Arpaio’s office of a wide range of civil rights violations, and in an unrelated case, a federal judge has yet to rule in a civil case brought by a group of Latino plaintiffs that claimed Arpaio and his deputies engaged in racial profiling._ It was this probe that was being referred to, and it appears to be still active. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/15 "2012-10-01T23:22:16Z")
How long before Arpaio ‘investigates’ this opponent? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/16 "2012-10-02T04:19:46Z")
Isn’t Maricopa County a heavily Republican area? Are there enough voters in the county who _don’t_ believe Pres. Obama was born in Kenya to affect the outcome of the election? I think Republicans will vote for anyone who opposes Obama on anything, even something based on an issue as completely ridiculous as birtherism. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/17 "2012-10-02T14:43:24Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > You mean the “egregious shit” on which [DOJ dropped the case against Arpaio](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/feds-drop-criminal-case-against-sheriff-joe-arpaio/)? No, I mean the egregious shit – racial profiling, etc. – that the DOJ is still **suing** him for. Your link is about an investigation into entirely different matters which was closed without filing **criminal** charges against Arpaio. The lawsuit is still going on. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/18 "2012-11-26T01:32:28Z")
Well, [it didn’t sink him.](http://news.yahoo.com/controversial-arizona-sheriff-arpaio-wins-sixth-term-073445881.html) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/19 "2012-11-26T01:42:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, [it didn’t sink him.](http://news.yahoo.com/controversial-arizona-sheriff-arpaio-wins-sixth-term-073445881.html) Well, at least the pressure will remain on him, you would not believe how much support this guy got elsewhere, a lot of the money he got for his reelection came from other states, as my crazy relative from Florida put it (Yes, he is Hispanic, and a tea bagger, go figure), “the cavalry was coming” to release the pressure Arpaio has from the federal government as Romney was expected to win. Oh well, it seems most of the residents in Maricopa do not mind squandering money to keep his sorry posses and out of court settlements going until he dies of natural causes, still, it is clear that the federal government will keep an eye on him. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350/20 "2012-11-26T16:48:29Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Well, at least the pressure will remain on him, you would not believe how much support this guy got elsewhere, a lot of the money he got for his reelection came from other states, as my crazy relative from Florida put it (Yes, he is Hispanic, and a tea bagger, go figure), “the cavalry was coming” to release the pressure Arpaio has from the federal government as Romney was expected to win. > > Oh well, it seems most of the residents in Maricopa do not mind squandering money to keep his sorry posses and out of court settlements going until he dies of natural causes, still, it is clear that the federal government will keep an eye on him. I have only given money to Democratic candidates and I live on the East Coast. Still, I got a mailing from this whack-job’s campaign asking for a donation. I wonder what mailing lists they were buying. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-crap-might-sink-sheriff-arpaio/636350.md?page=2)