Arrogant and shameless, they’re running for the U.S. Senate

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Running for the U.S. Senate are two men who have no business running for office. The first is Don Blankenship of West Virginia, and the other is Joe Arpaio, the former long-time sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona.

Blankenship was the CEO of Massey Energy when a coal mine it operated exploded in 2010, killing 29 men. Blakenship went to prison for a year for conspiring to violate mine safety standards. Prosecutors argued he was part of a conspiracy where employees were directed to ignore safety practices that threatened profits.

He’s notorious for another reason as well. He bought a judicial election in 2004. After a $50 million verdict was rendered against Massey Energy, Blackenship knew that to prevail on appeal he had to change the composition of West Virginia’s Supreme Court, and so he ran a smear campaign against the incumbent chief justice.

Blakenship contributed $2.5 million to a political action committee that characterized the incumbent as too soft on crime and too dangerous for kids and spent another $500,000 on advertising. Altogether, Blankenship spent three times what the challenger’s own committee spent. A year before the Massey case came before the court, the challenger was seated as its new chief justice—and threw the deciding vote that reversed the verdict.

Blankenship has stated that his Senate campaign might be the “next and best approach” to continue his “campaign for the truth.” He apparently continues to blame federal regulations for what happened. Never mind, I suppose, what those jurors had to say.

While serving as sheriff, Arpaio was ordered by a federal judge to stop detaining people without reasonable suspicion of a crime. Arpaio disregarded the order and directed his subordinates to continue detaining people unlawfully.

In July 2017, he was found guilty of criminal contempt for disobeying the court—for his “flagrant disregard” of the judge’s order. Before being sentenced—Arpaio faced up to six months in jail—President Trump pardoned him.

Let this sink in for a moment. A sheriff, who swore to uphold the law, decided to blow off a federal judge’s order.

What one trait do these men share? Unbridled arrogance. They did what they wanted to do, irrespective of what might have served the common good. They also share the companion trait of arrogance. They are shameless. Blackenship and Arpaio—these are bad men—should be relegated to the shadows for what they have done.

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Jack D’Aurora writes for Considerthisbyjd.com

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Also published on Medium.

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Comments

  1. Ben Z  April 13, 2018

    Jack, thanks for the article. I learned of Blankenship from the documentary on netflix, ‘Thunder on The Mountain’… well worth a view! What a bad man!

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 15, 2018

      Yep, Blankenship is a prime example of how NOT to lead your life.

      reply
  2. xenia  April 13, 2018

    Flagrant arrogance is the THEME du Presidency too! Nevermind all the others in leadership roles with the POTUS. i’m embarrassed beyond words.

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 15, 2018

      I’m right behind you, Xenia. The French is a nice touch too.

      reply
  3. Debbie Fette  April 13, 2018

    Felonies, prison terms, etc. do not matter for politicians. It only matters when trying to get that $8.50 an hour job.

    A politician can have a felony against them, be in prison for a crime they committed (even while in office,) etc. and still run for office. However, I guess the positive thing is they will be short one vote because felons are not allowed to vote so they can’t vote for themselves.

    SHAMEFUL! How does this make sense. I’m all for forgiveness and giving someone chances when they are truly repentant and take full responsibility for their actions, but how does it make sense you can run for any office but can’t vote??? Would love to hear the legalities behind this one!

    reply
  4. Steven Spring  April 13, 2018

    Who needs government regulations? Big Business always polices itself!!!

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 15, 2018

      I’m assuming you’re speaking with tongue-in-cheek. (Please say yes,)

      reply
  5. Phil L  April 15, 2018

    Great article Jack, but a sad testament to American politics. These are just two examples of individuals that belong in prison – not in a public office – and I’m sure there are many more candidates and current office holders that are just as bad, if not worse. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans don’t take the time to look past party affiliation and campaign slogans when deciding on who they’re going to vote into public office. The “party” system is failing the public when they back criminals for public office, but its going to keep happening until people rise up and shout “enough is enough”. It’s all about “We the people…”, not “We the politicians…”.

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 15, 2018

      Great thoughts on your part, Phil. But here’s what’s even worse about our current state of affairs. People will adopt and rationalize their party’s position even when it’s out of sync with their own. In essence, we’ve become tribal. Yikes!

      reply
  6. Charles  April 16, 2018

    Sheriff Arpaio is hardly in the same camp as Don Blankenship of West Virginia. This is a man who simply believes in doing his job…enforcing the laws he is responsible to uphold. There are a number of California politicians (Ms. Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland…. is only one) who do not take their sworn responsibilities seriously and feel their moral high-ground, “social justice” of sanctuary cities is above the law. That’s not how it works. Great example of someone “adopting and rationalizing their party’s position”….even when it’s in defiance of the Federal government. Don’t take the oath of office….if you choose to adopt your own views of the laws of the United States Justice Department. I hope you cover her next election bid with the same level of concern voiced for Blankenship and Arpaio.

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 16, 2018

      As Keith Jackson would have said, “Whoa, Nellie!” Let’s slow down a bit, Charley. You’re talking about two unrelated things and using one to justify the other in a way that makes no sense.

      First, you say Arpaio “simply believes in doing his job … enforcing the laws he is responsible to uphold.” Second, you’re taking issue with Libby Schaaf and the Mayor of Oakland. Maybe these two women erred. I don’t know. I’ll assume you’re right, but their errors don’t justify what Arpaio did.

      Arpaio unlawfully detained people, was told by a federal judge to knock it off, decided he didn’t have to listen to the federal judge and, in turn, was found to be in contempt. He blew off a federal judge. Plain and simple. Arpaio’s bad behavior is not excused because of whatever Libby Schaaf and the Oakland Mayor may have done, no matter how badly they may have acted.

      reply
      • Charles  April 16, 2018

        Libby Schaaf IS the Mayor of Oakland and has been told by the US Atorney General to “knock it off” for what likely is her illegal behavior. I hope they “lock her up”……and I know just the person who would be a good cell mate at the Women’s Reformatory…….if “reform” would even be an achievable goal?
        Please google Ms. Schaaf and read about her noble social behavior……and I think you’ll see your article has plenty of similarities. Elected officials are not above the law!

        reply
        • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 17, 2018

          Thanks for making the connection. I didn’t realize the mayor’s name was Schaaf, and I now I recall what she did–alerted immigrants about an ICE raid.

          That point aside, I don’t see what Schaaf has to do with my blog post. I wrote about two men who I think acted very badly yet have the stones to run for office. In response, you rail against Schaaf. Why? I’m inferring you think I’m a supporter of hers. I’m not. If Schaaf broke the law, let her be prosecuted or lose the next election or both. Help me understand what in the word Schaaf has to do with my criticism of Arpiao and Blakenship.

          reply
  7. Bruce Lackey  April 17, 2018

    “Whoa, Nellie!” Jack, apparently you touched a nerve with this post. I wonder if this one will make The Dispatch Editorial page?

    Keep them coming! And yes, Pride is a Sin.

    reply
  8. Franklin Wilson  April 17, 2018

    If either of these two men win it will tell us a great deal about the voters in their respective states.

    1. I do have faith that the voters get it right more often than not…….but we are living in very strange times.

    2. We learned in 2016 that voters will turn a blind eye to deplorable behavior if they think the candidate has their back.

    reply
    • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 17, 2018

      Here’s the difference. I don’t think either Arpaio or Blankenship can pull off the populist trick as well as Trump did. Remember Roy Moore?

      reply
      • Franklin Wilson  April 19, 2018

        1. I do remember that Judge Moore almost won the general election in Alabama despite the fact that he had been accused of being a child predator.

        a. Arpaio seems to be out of his element in trying to run in s state wide primary and his poll numbers show him trailing by 10 points. At this point it appears that his role will be as a spoiler in the GOP election. His unyielding support for President Trump and his hard line immigration stance will resonate with some Arizona voters.

        b. Blankenship on the other hand has a real chance to capture the GOP nomination in West Virginia and then defeat the Democratic incumbent in the general election. Blankenship is presenting himself as a victim of a corrupt legal system and that plays really well in West Virginia. His poll numbers rose by nine points last month and money does not seem to be a problem for him. In addition, he is spreading the Trump message that if you elect me I will shake up Washington.

        2. Both Arpaio and Blankenship have had serious legal issues but that does not appear to be an issue for many loyal Republican voters. I am not going to be surprised if we see an uptick in candidates with a resume that would have eliminated them in the past throwing their hat in the ring.

        reply
        • Franklin Wilson  April 25, 2018

          POLITICO Reporting That Blankenship Lives In Vegas :

          1. What happens near Vegas doesn’t stay near Vegas when you’re running for Senate in West Virginia.

          2. Republican Don Blankenship’s “primary residence is a $2.4 million villa with palm trees and an infinity pool near Las Vegas,” The New York Times’ Trip Gabriel and Stephanie Saul report.

          3. Blankenship also owns a residence in West Virginia and has expressed interest in gaining Chinese citizenship despite running an America-first-style campaign.

          reply
          • jdaurora@behallaw.com  April 30, 2018

            I’m not surprised that a man with millions would want a mansion in Las Vegas. I’m not surprised that a man so full of himself like Blankenship would think he has what it takes to be a senator. But he wants to gain Chinese citizenship? Never saw that coming. Did anyone alert President XI about this?

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