# It's time (again) to officially Pit Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County prison program. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329 "2011-12-15T19:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/41 "2011-12-21T02:10:52Z")
I don’t recall where I came across this, but it sucked me in and I read every single blog post of the course of a few days. A since-released English ‘guest’ of Joe Arpaio, his blog, and newly-published book: [Jon's Jail Journal (by Shaun Attwood)](http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.com/2004/03/date-19th-feb-04-deep-shit-we-have-had.html) [http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Time-Shaun-Attwood/dp/1845966511](http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Time-Shaun-Attwood/dp/1845966511) I find him to be a very engaging writer. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/42 "2011-12-22T04:23:59Z")
Man, I just kill threads, don’t I. Anyway, read this dude. It’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/43 "2011-12-22T18:27:31Z")
For the record, i read it and found it very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/44 "2011-12-23T11:58:13Z")
**DUKE** , good advice, I’ll try to follow it, but I AM human. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/45 "2011-12-23T14:45:14Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Even the Irish, and for that matter, even the Irish TERRORISTS, didn’t whine about it. Actually, yes we did. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/46 "2011-12-23T17:13:04Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > Actually, yes we did. What ? You’re saying that you are/were an Irish Republican Terrorist ? Do I know you ? All the ones I knew/know, didn’t, and I was on close terms with many of them. Perhaps you were a very special and secret Republican Terrorist, known only to a secret inner sanctum consisting of yourself, and er…you. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/47 "2011-12-23T17:30:06Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > No such thing. It’s a bullshit rhetorical technique. It’s also bullshit simply on a propositional level, because the presupposition of the question is that non-whites are more likely to be of foreign origin in Arizona, when in fact, non-whites have been living in that area longer than whites. As for the language, families there have been speaking Spanish since before Arizona was a state. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/48 "2011-12-23T17:44:34Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > It’s also bullshit simply on a propositional level, because the presupposition of the question is that non-whites are more likely to be of foreign origin in Arizona, when in fact, non-whites have been living in that area longer than whites. As for the language, families there have been speaking Spanish since before Arizona was a state. True. I read a great article about immigration either in Texas Monthly or the Houston Press a couple years back, and there was one story that was particularly apt. A woman’s family had lived and farmed in what is now east Texas since the time of the Spanish settlers. In her grandparents time, they relocated to west Texas. She moved her family back to the area and her neighbors asked her how long she had been in the country, even though her family had been in the area before there was even a US. It’s also not an uncommon assumption in modern Texas, where the older rural generation don’t necessarily have problems with their Texican neighbors (whether born there or immigrant), since they’ve been there for as long as they remember. But there’s a huge influx of urban/suburban Texans who don’t know and/or don’t care about that or any history older than the settlement of Texas by immigrants from the US. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/49 "2011-12-23T18:29:19Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > What ? > > You’re saying that you are/were an Irish Republican Terrorist ? > > Do I know you ? > > All the ones I knew/know, didn’t, and I was on close terms with many of them. > > Perhaps you were a very special and secret Republican Terrorist, known only to a secret inner sanctum consisting of yourself, and er…you. No you twit discrimnation against Irish especially Irish Catholics was a major source of contention in The Troubles. Quite frankly given your postings you have all the culture of a Chav, but none of the redeeming social graces ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/50 "2011-12-23T18:40:52Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > But there’s a huge influx of urban/suburban Texans who don’t know and/or don’t care about that or any history older than the settlement of Texas by immigrants from the US. Generally, though, I think more Texans are aware of the history of their state than people in Arizona, where a larger part of the population have migrated recently from other parts of the country. Someone like Arpaio can get elected more easily by a population newly transplanted from Minnesota or wherever that sees Arizona simply as a warm place with affordable real estate, unconcerned with history. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/51 "2011-12-23T18:43:36Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll add in that, **as somebody who used to run prisons** , that Arpaio is a disgrace to our profession. You retired now? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/52 "2011-12-23T19:44:40Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > So is your mother still sucking dogs cocks in front of audiences for free drinks ? > > Is she still sucking your cock ? > > And are you still sucking your fathers cock? > > … > You’re a cunt. [Moderating] **Lust4Life** , calling other posters “cunts” or “cocksuckers” is a violation of the Pit’s language rules. Please avoid this in the future. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/53 "2011-12-25T04:46:08Z")
Are there any good viable candidates against Arpaio in the 2012 elections? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/54 "2011-12-25T05:05:40Z")
In a just world, a cactus would be a viable opponent to that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/55 "2011-12-25T05:47:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > In a just world, a cactus would be a viable opponent to that guy. In a just world, a cactus would be a suppository for that guy. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/56 "2011-12-25T05:55:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In a just world, a cactus would be a suppository for that guy. The problem has been that Joe would already had launched investigations against that cactus. Many of the ones voting for him do not care how bad he is for the taxpayers of Maricopa county, I would not be surprised that the new expense that is coming thanks to [the expected lawsuits](http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/12/judge_grants_class_status_in_l.php) will not bother them; and on top of that, opponents do get harassed or arrested by him or his minions, as the editors of The New Times alternative weekly magazine were a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/57 "2011-12-25T16:50:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Moderating] > **Lust4Life** , calling other posters “cunts” or “cocksuckers” is a violation of the Pit’s language rules. Please avoid this in the future. > > No warning issued. > [/Moderating] Sorry I was out of line, warning noted. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/58 "2011-12-26T00:35:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > In a just world, a cactus would be a viable opponent to that guy. The cactus would probably poll 30-35% in a head-to-head race. So would the dirt off the bottom of my shoe. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > The problem has been that Joe would already had launched investigations against that cactus. > > Many of the ones voting for him do not care how bad he is for the taxpayers of Maricopa county, I would not be surprised that the new expense that is coming thanks to [the expected lawsuits](http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/12/judge_grants_class_status_in_l.php) will not bother them; and on top of that, opponents do get harassed or arrested by him or his minions, as the editors of The New Times alternative weekly magazine were a few years ago. Ever notice how many opponents of Arpaio prefer to remain anonymous? There’s a reason for that. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/59 "2011-12-26T01:24:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > In a just world, a cactus would be a viable opponent to that guy. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > In a just world, a cactus would be a suppository for that guy. :smack: I dunno what either of us were thinking… In a just world, this guy wouldn’t even exist. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329/60 "2012-04-23T02:38:58Z")
[ > [@](#): > > In the September 2009 speech in Houston, Arpaio boasted that he arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants after politicians and federal investigators started to pick apart his patrols. He said he wouldn’t cooperate with the inquiry, but said he would tone down the patrols - if he was proven wrong. > > “But I’m not. After they went after me, we arrested 500 more just for spite,” the self-proclaimed “America’s toughest sheriff” said, pausing for laughter and applause. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_ARIZONA\_SHERIFF\_FEDERAL\_PROBES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-22-20-17-22](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ARIZONA_SHERIFF_FEDERAL_PROBES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-22-20-17-22)) For someone I think so little of, it’s somehow hard to find enough words to describe it. He goes on to “joke” about how he’s arresting people on the County Commission who work against him. [ > [@](#): > > At the time of the speech, only Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley had been criminally charged, though the sheriff was investigating other county officials. > > “We have already indicted one, so I am not their favorite guy,” Arpaio said in Houston, drawing laughter. “The county has cut my budget $35 million just for spite. But I’m still locking them all up. I have ways to get the job done.” ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_ARIZONA\_SHERIFF\_FEDERAL\_PROBES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-22-20-17-22](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ARIZONA_SHERIFF_FEDERAL_PROBES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-22-20-17-22)) Will the feds indict him before he dies? He’s already 79 years old. Will he manage a Kenneth Lay style escape from justice? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-again-to-officially-pit-joe-arpaio-and-the-maricopa-county-prison-program/606329.md?page=4)