I think we all dreadfully expected a few ill-mannered and chronically bitter political opportunists to turn our day of crisis into a platform for misplaced blame and immature calculations about our society based on the crazed cowardice of one evil man in the Tucson massacre. However, I believe that few, if any of us, thought that such repugnant words would come from the man designated to oversee this investigation and represent our state in this time of mourning. Setting fire to any credibility he once had, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik wasted no time or police investigational resources in coming to his exceedingly absent-minded conclusion that this event was the result of talk radio and some television programs. He went on to say that Arizona has become the "capital" or the "Mecca for prejudice and bigotry" and that the United States needs to do some "soul searching."
And so, in a time of mourning and coming together for our community, Sheriff Dupnik thought it wise to fire off a thinly-veiled attack against what can only be Fox News, tea-partiers and conservative talk radio. In several interviews, Sheriff Dupnik callously and childishly chose to instantly re-polarize our community and at least partially discredit what ought to be the most serious and politically-neutral of all police investigations. We have no idea what caused this person to open fire on our beloved servants and neighbors, but the absolute last thing we need at this moment are moronic statements from the man in charge of bringing the ultimate justice to bear on all those responsible for Saturday's actions. Sheriff Dupnik should not hesitate to remove himself from this investigation and step down as sheriff, for it has become clear that he is incapable of even the most elementary level of shame or respect for the mourning process. Our thoughts and prayers are with the fallen and the wounded.
Dan Jones, Phoenix
sockratties posted at 4:13 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
I agree with Mr. Jones about what should be, but the political climate the sheriff alluded to does, indeed, exist. Mr. Jones identified the targets of the comments, giving credibility to those assertions. If we want to bury our head in the sand, so be it, but this is not an isolated incident. It’s another incident that will fade into the backdrop of rhetoric and vitriol unless we acknowledge it as a disease that must be cured.
Trying to muzzle an official by discrediting him rather than considering his comments makes us “politically correct” but ineffective. The sentiments of Dan Jones’ letter are far more divisive than the sheriff calling for a toning down of the pundits on talk radio and TV.
wdgnas posted at 5:52 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
In several interviews, Sheriff Dupnik callously and childishly chose to instantly re-polarize our community and at least partially discredit what ought to be the most serious and politically-neutral of all police investigations.
Like that did not happen from the aforementioned crowd. both the left and the right.
and the beat goes on...
Marcus Gallio posted at 7:32 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
Contrast the roles of media, Sheriff Dupnik and Dr. Peter Rhee in times of crisis. KTAR-FM broadcast that "the Tea Party, Glen Beck and Sarah Palin were responsible for this tragedy". Dupnik stated, "it was left wing media and the Tea Party". Dr. Peter Rhee, the trauma surgeon tending to Gabby Giffords and the others, with the assistance of Dr. Michael LeMoyne, said, as he looked directly into the live TV camera while wearing his surgical gear "“I want everyone to know, I’m proud to be an Arizonan, I’m proud of the hundreds of people that are helping deal with this major problem. I am proud of this State. We will get through this.” Dr. Rhee is a U.S. Navy combat surgeon. Check it out: http://uanews.org/node/16147
Thank you Dr. Rhee and Dr. LeMoyne for leading when others failed miserably.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:23 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
Is it right to yell...."FIRE"....in a crowded movie theatre?
Well that's what Tucson area Sheriff Clarence Dupnik did in that first TV press conference on that tragic morning. He ranted and raved without proof as to who was to blame for the shooting. He managed in 30 minutes to rip the scab off the 2010's Election's raw wounds. The Congress, during the Swearing In Ceremony tried to start this Country's healing process. But now the "scapel" words of Sheriff Dupnik have cut America to the quick.
The Democrat Left-wing leaders like ex-Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid have trashed the Tea Party Americans from day one. Democrat Left-wing TV hosts and commentators have fallen in "lock-step". Bill Maher's crude jokes against Republican women politicians. Joe Scarborough saying that "George Bush's mental weakness is damaging America's credibility at home and abroad". Ed "MSNBC Ed's Show" Schultz telling a Tea Party activist "Go pick up your gun and march if you are too stupid to read". Rachel Maddox trashes Sarah Palin on every single one of her programs. Dan Rather complains that Republicans "demonized" Nancy Pelosi during the 2010 Elections but does not complain about the Democrats "demonizing" Sarah Palin, Rand Paul or Christine Odonnell.
Last but not least we have Keith Olbermann. He has called George Bush a "pathological liar and/or idiot-in-chief" and an "unhinged, irrational Chicken Little of a President". Keith Olbermann has also called ex-President Richard Cheney a "warmonger". What he has said about and called Sarah Palin is contemptable and disgusting.
Have any of you heard Sheriff Dupnik "calling out" any of these Democrats for their "inflammatory" speech? No, and Sheriff Dupnik is now going from one Left-Wing/Liberal TV program to another on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS. Any day now we can expect him to show up on "The View" and our own tax-payer supported (through PBS and ASU funding) KAET Channel 8's daily 7pm "Horizon" tv progam to express more of his anti-Arizona rants. In closing I just want to repeat that great old adage..."PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES".
Dale Whiting posted at 10:34 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
I did not read into Sheriff Dupnik's statements attacks pointed at either side in our increasingly polarized society. Those quoted above must have escaped me. But from the tone of the statement by Sheriff Dupnik which I did hear, statement heard on Fox, on CNN, on MSNBC, he was politically neutral.
It appears to me that where the volunm of criticism against Sheriff Dupnik comes from the right, it must be their subconscious mind speaking condemnation to which they now "doth protest too much." In particular criticisms by Sheriff Arpaio, the king of the political underground in Arizona, illistrate this observation.