AZ República hearts Señor Juan McPhony, extols illegal releases

The amnesty devotees at the Periódico de la República de Arizona (Arizona Republic) are in a congratulatory mode. The object of their editorial affection is none other than the “senator [who] showed political moxie.”

That, of course would be John McCain, the doddering dodger who nearly got run out of several Arizona towns as he took his amnesty show on the road last week. Readers will recall that after facing angry crowds at Town Hall meetings — just preceding his chummy tête-à-tête south of the border with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto — promising a path to citizenship for Nieto’s own citizens, McCain actually said “I’ve seen a shift in attitude….”

There’s not a chance he came away from those meetings with enraged constituents drawing that ridiculous conclusion, but when did reality matter to John McCain?

McCain’s new senate underling Jeff Flake rates editorial praise, also. The two of them are colluding with other pro-amnesty hustlers known as the Gang of 8, (although Flake managed to work in a short side trip to Cuba to shore up his creds in the Communist island). But back in March 2011, that was not the case. As his McMentor strolled the border claiming he wanted to “complete the danged fence,” Flake was busy shifting into campaign backpedal form. Clearly dismayed editorialist Doug MacEachern called Flake’s change of heart on legalizing millions of illegal aliens “jarring,” and declared Flake a mere “politician” — no longer a “statesman” — for emulating John McCain’s campaign border epiphany during his last senatorial campaign.

Now happily able to blame the mandatory federal budget cuts of sequestration, Janet Napolitano, Homeland INsecurity chieftain, has begun releasing illegal aliens held in detention centers across the country. An ICE spokesman farcically claims they will “be placed on an appropriate, more cost-effective form of supervised release,” monitored either by electronic device or by being required to check in with ICE by phone or in person.

Such clearly illogical reasoning begs the question, “How are committed lawbreakers, who hold our sovereign nation and its laws in the lowest of regard, going to be held on ‘supervised release’ and ‘required’ to do anything?”

The editorial concludes: “McCain didn’t take the easy way. He showed the kind of leadership that is essential to achieving immigration reform. Bravo Senator.”

Rational thinkers beware. Such language carries a high probability of causing gag reflexes to unexpectedly shift into high gear.

Don’t call me “illegal.” Call me arrogant

There is a world of difference between legal immigration and illegally breaking in

Meet Jose Antonio Vargas.*

Vargas testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, seated alongside Chris Crane — a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and president of the ICE agents’ union — who is no longer able to arrest him under the Obama administration’s new non-deportation policies – directed by former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. She is now the chieftain of Homeland INsecurity.

Declaring “no human being is illegal,” Vargas, who contends that the term “illegal” is insulting, refers to himself as an “undocumented immigrant,” or “migrant.” 

Undocumented? Not quite. Foreign nationals who have come here illegally have numerous documents. Stolen from unsuspecting citizens, even children, whose medical records provide a fertile ground for undetected theft. Counterfeit and fraudulent documents including driver’s licenses, social security cards and birth certificates are not in short supply. Providing such documents undergirds a lucrative black-market business, facilitating illegals as they establish themselves in American cities.

“In 21st century America, diversity is destiny,” said Vargas. “That I speak Tagalog — my first language; that I happen to be gay; that I was born in the Philippines — none of that threatens my love for this country.”  This shockingly honest video (click link to view) blatantly displays the real destiny envisioned by such “immigrants.”

Last week, U. S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr. also warned colleagues against using the term “illegal immigrants.” Conyers said, “Our citizens are not — (then correcting himself) the people in this country are not illegal. They are out-of-status. They are new Americans that are immigrants,” the Michigan Democrat clumsily lectured his colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee.

Whew! We at Seeing Red AZ are in luck.  Unlike the pro-open borders/amnesty proponents at the Arizona República newspaper that employs the word “migrant” in two headlines this morning, we’ve made it a practice never to use the terms “migrants’ or “illegal immigrants.” We prefer the more plainspoken and accurate term of “illegal aliens.”

H/T *The Washington Times, Inside Politics

An urgent message from Sheriff Joe Arpaio & Update

Seeing Red AZ urges support of our sheriff, Joe Arpaio

Fellow Patriot,

Just three weeks after I was sworn into office for a sixth term as Maricopa County Sheriff, a group of radical extremists filed a recall campaign to forcibly remove me from office.

This is very serious. These left-wing groups of agitators are the same ones who spent millions against me in last year’s campaign in an effort to defeat me. Because they didn’t like the outcome of that election they are now going to spend millions of dollars to force a recall election this coming fall.

So far they have raised over $1.3 million to defeat me!

These sore losers just never stop. They figure if they can force an election in an off-year they’ll be able to turn out every pro-illegal immigrant voter and steal this election. We saw them do the very same thing to an Arizona State Senator just over a year ago.

It’s clear that these people will go to any lengths to see me defeated and out of office. They’ll resurrect all the lies, distortions and personal attacks from last year’s campaign and use them against me this year.

And what is this all about really? Why do they hate me so much? It’s simple: I am the only law enforcement official in this state that enforces our laws against illegal immigration. Period. Everything else they’ll talk about is a deceptive smokescreen because they know they cannot win on the issue of enforcing the law.

In fact, in their statement about the recall this group claims that I don’t “respect, defend or protect the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution!” This, coming from the same group of people who have waged a relentless campaign against me in an effort to stop enforcing the laws! I have sworn an oath to protect and defend our United States Constitution probably more times than these clowns have pledged allegiance to our flag.

You were such an important part of my victory last year even though we faced insurmountable odds. I certainly did not plan on this recall, but I have to ask you again for your support. The fight starts now. Over the next several months I am going to be bombarded with negative attacks and lies. I must have the necessary resources to defend my record and run a winning campaign.

But I don’t care what threats they make. I will never back down one inch when it comes to doing the job I was JUST elected to do. I will continue enforcing all the laws on the books no matter what the consequences.

I am going to need your help now more than ever before. This campaign starts NOW. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Trust me; I never dreamed I would have to come to you for a contribution again. But it’s clear that I must ask you for your support and your prayers if we are going to beat our opponents.
Thank you for everything you have done and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Very Sincerely Yours,
Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County, Arizona

Paid for by Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Using the absurd moniker “Respect Arizona,” the recall group filed with Robert Unferth listed as its only officer. 

It’s obvious these malcontents hold no respect for the vote of the nearly 680,000 Maricopa County citizens, who recently returned Joe Arpaio to his post to begin serving an unprecedented sixth four-year term. In fact, they hold Arizona voters in contempt.

These people have previously registered as non-resident petition circulators. Since their addresses are redacted, the states where they actually reside are unavailable.

AZ Sheriffs join others standing against BHO’s gun grab

Not here, not on our watch

Barack Obama’s push to limit firearms and ammo is meeting with strong resistance in Arizona. Three county sheriffs are joining a growing list of sheriffs across the nation who refuse to enforce any laws they believe to be unconstitutional.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher stand with an ever growing number of sheriffs nationwide — now said to be over 100 –  who place the Second Amendment above Barack Obama’s “executive order” power grab.

Sheriff Paul Babeu has sent this letter to Obama stating that he will not obey unconstitutional executive orders banning firearms.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, “I took 10 oaths of office, and they all say I will defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of my state, Arizona. I take that very seriously,“ adding. “I may not enforce the federal law.”

 Stay tuned. This unified law enforcement show of support for the Second Amendment is just beginning.

Ben Arredondo: Gets off easy on fraud charges

Betrayal of public trust nets Democrat politician a slap on the wrist

Former state legislator Ben Arredondo has won a legal jackpot in avoiding prison time for his corrupt dealings, netting only 18 months of home confinement and three years probation on charges of public corruption. Additionally, he was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $540 in restitution — proving that on occasion, crime does pay.

In issuing his light sentence, U.S. District Judge Frederick Martone noted Arredondo’s lack of previous criminal history, health and age as factors, and then bizarrely questioned whether the crimes would have been committed if there had not been a sting operation.

If stings are the culprit, it makes the entire AZSCAM debacle that rocked the Arizona legislature in the early 1990’s, resulting in the downfall of twenty legislators, lobbyists and political insiders seem meaningless. Several served prison sentences, paid hefty restitutions, and were given hundreds of hours of community service.

Ben Arredondo was indicted on federal counts of bribery, mail fraud, false statements and extortion in connection with soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars in sport and charity event tickets along with other perks from FBI undercover agents in exchange for brokering property deals. The crimes occurred while Arredondo was a Tempe City Council member.

In an October plea deal, Democrat Arredondo, 65, pleaded guilty in federal court to two felonies related to public corruption. Each felony count carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 20 years and $250,000 in fines. Up to $50,000 in restitution could also apply. The plea deal included his resignation from the Arizona Legislature.

The plea agreement recommended that he be sentenced to between 27 months and 51 months in prison.

Previously in May 2012, Arredondo pleaded not guilty, but ultimately changed his plea when faced with the mounting body of evidence against him. Still, his lawyer called the charges against his client “manufactured,” and referred to him as “a dedicated public official targeted by the government in D.C.” He said, “Ben Arredondo is not for sale.”

At the time, we questioned why the liberal Obama administration would target a kindred AZ House member.

After serving 16 years on the Tempe City Council, Arredondo was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010.

The corrupt Arredondo solicited donations for a college scholarship fund he had ostensibly set up for needy students and then provided nearly $50,000 from the account to help his own relatives attend Arizona colleges.

Despite the evidence against him, Democrat short-termer U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, wrote an absurd letter to the court, in which he compared this crook to President Abraham Lincoln.

It obviously worked.

The 10-page May 16, 2012 indictment (courtesy of the AZ Capitol Times) can be read here.

Truth or agenda? Which takes center stage at AZ Republic?

Editorial filled with wild distortions and blatant dishonesty

The far-left AZ República often plays fast and loose with the truth. Monday’s editorial titled Arming faculty shortsighted is a case in point.

There is never a deceptive maneuver too far afield for the radicals at the failing newspaper –  deeply committed to destroying conservative Republicans — as it slips its own surly bonds. The daily’s concerted effort to oust state Senate President Russell Pearce was aided by a partisan redistricting committee that wreaked havoc on legislative and congressional boundaries. Emboldened by its collusion with open-borders radicals, the newspaper then tried, in vain, to remove Republican Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Now the editorial board has Republican Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne in its sights.

The daily wasted no time blasting the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre for suggesting firearms trained personnel in schools in the wake of the horrific massacre of 6-and-7-years olds and their instructors, at a Connecticut elementary school.

The Republic pounced, “The outcry was immediate — LaPierre and his lobbying group were widely panned as insensitive, villainous fear-mongerers wholly out of touch with contemporary societal mores,” writing the idea was a “calculated, shrewd provocation meant to engender a knee-jerk response.”

Irrespective of the facts, the editorialist continues, “One of the quickest to react was Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, who said each of our schools should train and arm its principal or another staff member. He called his idea the “golden mean” between the status quo and LaPierre’s extreme proposal. Horne’s endorsement strips this issue from LaPierre and the NRA and places it in the hands of Arizonans, and we now must confront the apparently legitimate possibility that soon, our school administrators will have to carry firearms.”

“…have to carry firearms?” Says who?

And more blatant deception: “Arming our faculty, however well-intentioned, is a disastrously short-sighted and irresponsible means of ensuring children’s safety.” After lamenting that the schools are under-funded due to budget cuts, they drop another lie bomb: “Now, those districts might have to find the money to train and arm administrators on top of that? That’s lunacy.”

Provocative?  For sure.  Truthful?  Not in the slightest.

The truth is that no one would be carrying a firearm. There would be an administrator or designee with access to a locked gun in case of an emergency.

The truth is that there would be no costs incurred. Currently, Sheriffs in Apache, Mohave and Pinal County have stepped up to offer free firearms training and suitability evaluations. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is weighing the idea of having some of his 3,000 posse members on the outer perimeters of schools. 

The truth is the programs would be completely optional.

And, did we mention Arizona’s Attorney General Tom Horne is the former two-term elected statewide Superintendent of Public Instruction, who previously chaired a school board, served as a pro tem judge, and graduated with honors from Harvard College and its law school ?

Listen as AZ AG Tom Horne speaks the truth:

Phoenix Dad with gun stops intruder

A quote worth contemplating

As his daughters, ages 4 and 7 slept, a Phoenix father stopped a home invasion suspect trying to break through their bedroom window just before 2:00 am. Wednesday.  The father shot the man three times, fatally wounding him.

The attempted forced entry occurred in the area of 28^th Avenue and Acoma, where the man was previously observed trying to break into cars.

The suspect, who has not been identified, is described as a 35-year-old white male, who was acting irrationally, and appeared to pull a weapon from his pants.

Police say the homeowner, who was simply trying to protect his family, was not arrested.

 “The only thing that will stop a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun.”

– Wayne LaPierre, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President.

Emergency preparedness: AZ AG Horne’s worthy proposal

AZ Attorney General looks to ensuring student safety

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has announced a thoughtful proposal intended to reduce the risk of another horrific school massacre. He is joined by Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County, Sheriff Tom Sheahan of Mohave County and Sheriff Joe Dedman of Apache County. Other Sheriffs are also considering participation in the proposed program.

The proposal is that any school that wishes to do so, may designate the principal or another administrator, to receive training in the use of firearms and how to handle emergencies such as the recent Sandy Hook School slayings in Newtown, Connecticut. Training would be provided free of charge by personnel of the Attorney General’s Office and the cooperating Sheriff’s Offices. The designated individual would then be authorized to keep a securely locked firearm, and would have adequate means of communication to be alerted to an emergency in any part of the school.

“It may not be possible to afford a police officer in every school,” Horne said. “In that case, the next best solution is to have one person in the school trained to handle firearms, to handle emergency situations, and possessing a firearm in a secure location. This proposal is analogous to arming pilots on planes.”

Some Arizona schools have sworn officers, referred to as School Resource Officers (SROs) currently on campus, but budgetary constraints have impacted the ability to expand the program.

Rep. David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista) has agreed to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session to put Attorney General Horne’s voluntary participation plan in place. Horne emphasized that only one person in the school will be designated. That person will be evaluated for fitness for this program. Training will involve not only firearms, but also “use of force” laws, defensive tactics, judgment, simulations, and properly securing the firearm.

The most recent Gallup poll, conducted after the Newtown massacre, indicated Americans want trained school officials armed to protect children. They rated the effectiveness of three potential actions higher than the semi-automatic weapon ban proposed by Democrats and Barack Obama.

According to the survey, the most popular option chosen by respondents is boosting police presence at schools; 53 percent of respondents said more police would be “very effective” at reducing acts of mass murder, while another 34 percent said it would be “somewhat effective.” Forty-seven percent say decreasing media and video game gun violence would be “very effective.”

In the wake of the shooting other states are also reacting. Among them, South Carolina is introducing similar legislation. In Utah more than 200 teachers recently signed up for free concealed-weapons training offered by the Utah Shooting Sports Council. A Texas district has allowed teachers to carry guns since 2008. Michigan state lawmakers passed a similar bill — one day before the Newtown school shooting — that would have allowed those with concealed weapons permits to carry guns in schools. It was vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

NRA responds to school shootings

Two school shooting threats in Arizona in past day

Today the National Rifle Association’s CEO Wayne LaPierre announced that former Arkansas Congressman Asa Hutchison, will lead an NRA program that will develop a model school security plan that relies on armed volunteers.

At a Washington. D.C. press conference,  LaPierre, said that “the next Adam Lanza,” the man responsible for last week’s brutal massacre in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 26, including 20 6-and-7-year children — is planning an attack on another school.

LaPierre also placed blame on video games, movies and music videos, which routinely expose children to a violent culture. “In a race to the bottom, many conglomerates compete with one another to shock, violate, and offend every standard of civilized society, by bringing an even more toxic mix of reckless behavior and criminal cruelty right into our homes,” he said.

Mass murderer Lanza was reported to be addicted to playing violent video games.

LaPierre’s views are substantiated by these two news reports emanating right here in Arizona — within the past day.

A 16-year-old Mesa female reportedly has been arrested in conjunction with a foiled school shooting plot. She was taken into custody after her threat was posted on a YouTube channel owned by a transgender community in Toronto, Canada. The teen, who has a history of mental health problems, told officers she planned the attack in advance of last Friday’s school carnage. The owner of the channel contacted Toronto police who then worked in concert with Arizona law enforcement and tracked down the teen who had plans to assassinate her schoolmates at Red Mountain High and kill herself. She will be charged as a juvenile, with one count of computer tampering and one count of threatening and intimidating. Under the circumstances, the charges sound like a slap on the wrist.

Prescott’s Daily Courier reports Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man for disorderly conduct and disruption of a school after he entered Rimrock High School Thursday, and made references to the recent mass shooting in Connecticut. Deputies say the man, who also admitted a history of mental problems, came into the office requesting to remove two students without providing their names or proof of legal connection. The staff said the man became agitated when they refused to release any students to his care and he began making references to the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass killing.

LaPierre, whose organization numbers 4.3 million members, says another school shooter is waiting in the wings. “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”

The entire transcript of LaPierre’s speech can be read here.

Since the Newtown massacre, bulletproof backpacks sold by companies like BulletBlocker.com are seeing quadruple the number of sales.

Rep. Grijalva: Losing him would be swell, but unlikely

“Hometown kid?’ Ya’ gotta be kidding

Arizona’s U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva is the open borders radical who irrationally called for a boycott of our state after the passage of SB 1070 – ultimately harming many Hispanics in the hospitality industry. He’s been unfailingly mute on the Fast and Furious gun-smuggling scandal, even though the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry occurred in his district.

Now this committed socialist, who refers to himself as a “progressive,” is being promoted — via petition — for Secretary of Interior, as Obama reshuffles his cabinet. It’s a position Grijalva has coveted since Obama’s first term when he was thwarted in his quest by Ken Salazar in 2009.

Salazar has vehemently opposed developing oil shale on public lands, although the fuel is cleaner than coal, and would markedly reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.  This would undoubtedly be the identical position of Grijalva.

Office of Personnel Management director John Berry is rumored to be in first place for the post. You might want to acquaint yourself with Berry.

As CD 3 Congressman, Grijalva sponsored legislation (H.R. 6609) that would have designated the Tumacacori Highlands, a rugged expanse just north of the Arizona/Mexican border, a wilderness area. The proposal was widely scorned since its actual intent was to hamstring the Border Patrol — a law enforcement organization he obviously cares little about. Like many of his efforts, the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Act attracted not a single co-sponsor, and no support.

They say you can tell a lot about a politician by his endorsers. To get a flavor of Raul Grijalva, check out his pals.  Gateway Pundit outs socialist Grijalva here.

And the Periódico de la República de Arizona’s leftist bellwether Linda Valdez?  As might be imagined, she is in all her glory, writing Arizona could wind up with another “hometown kid” in the Obama Cabinet “if a coalition of 238 environmental groups have their way.”

Arizona has been home to two previous interior secretaries. Stewart Udall held the post from 1961 to 1969, and Bruce Babbitt served from 1993 to January 2001. Both men were Democrats.