Let me give you three examples. First, public corruption cases by themselves are nothing new. We’ve even had them here in Arizona. Thomas and Arpaio, however, are prosecuting their political enemies. Doesn’t that make you even the least bit suspicious? Any sensible prosecutor would send these cases out to another agency to avoid any appearance that the prosecutions are politically motivated. Thomas tried to send these cases to Yavapai County, but the Republican prosecutor there got fed up with Arpaio’s tactics and sent them back. Now Dave Hendershott claims she’s in on the conspiracy. Really? If their accusations are so strong, why can’t their get another county attorney to take them? Seems odd to me.

Second, Thomas elected to avoid the grand jury in the criminal indictment of Judge Donahoe. He just typed up his greviencses and filed a complaint. That is extremely unusual. Why didn’t Mr. Thomas take his case to an independent panel and present evidence? I mean it’s not like getting an indictment is all that hard. Judge Wachtler once said a good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwhich. So, Mr. Thomas’ case against Judge Donahoe is weaker than claims against lunch? Ask anyone involved in the criminal justice system. This is a bad sign.

Third, do yourself a favor,read the probable cause statement on the criminal complaint against Judge Donahoe and try to explain the bribery claim to me. It’s unintelligble. At best it says Judge Donahoe blocked multiple criminal prosecutions so he could get a nicer office for a year or two. Even Mr. Thomas couldn’t explain this allegation.

Robert Robb has it spot on. The “evidence” so far on the claims against Donahoe is non-existent. Either there are serious, compelling facts in this prosecution that haven’t seen the light of day or Mr. Thomas and Mr. Arpaio are engaging is a gross abuse of power. Prosecutors always lead with their best evidence. That they currently lack any is frightening.

The weak-minded, Whiskey Jack, are those who take what Arpaio and Thomas say at face value without critical analysis. Look how many of the bloggers (like Conservative) immediately jump to their defense because Arpaio and Thomas talk tough on illegal immigration–even though none of these cases have anything to do with immigration. You know, it is possible Thomas and Arpaio could be on the right side of the immigration question and on the wrong side on these other issues. That fact seems to escape much of the “strong-minded” public.

Obviously we are seeing a lot of circling the wagons to protect corrupt government officials, but that’s what always happens…The public sees that, the weak-minded do not.

on a side note, In between the lines he does make some great points about how and why he is going down though.

I’m sorry, but when you raise money for your campaign then go spend it on the personal items Supervisor Stapley spent them on, YOU DESERVE TO BE PROSECUTED! I think it is astonishing that the media (with the recent exception of Robert Robb – http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/2009/12/19/20091219robbstapley20.html) continues to defend these slimebags from any accountability! As if their sleaziness is somehow Arpaio and Thomas’s fault. Let me remind Sonoran Alliance readers:

Stapley allegedly spent $6000 of these funds at Bang and Olufson electronics, along with $1300 for hair implants, $400 for candle holders and $10,000 for furniture for his home. He also spent these funds, solicited as campaign money, to buy tickets to Broadway plays and movie theatres, flowers, grocery store bills, massages, department stores and trips for his family to Sundance, Utah to ski, a trip for his son and friends to Florida and a three-week vacation in Hawaii for his entire family at a beach house costing approximately $11,000.