1/21/2010 6:00:00 AM Letter: Let's leave the '70s in the past
Those of us who remember the 1970s can look back and chuckle at a lot of silliness that, hopefully, will never come back. Aside from the wacky hippie uniforms, we all got used to seeing advocates for every cause known to man gathering at places like MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. There were anti-war pontificators, political organizations of every stripe, street-corner preachers, Hare Krishnas, race activists of every category, a variety of flower children seeking support for a new utopian world and religious cults advocating the end of times.
As long as they didn't get out and block traffic, sit in at college administrations or stop people from going about their normal lives, they were within their rights. But as we remember, many wingnuts decided they were above the law. They took to the streets. They accosted people at functions and airports across the country. You couldn't get off an airplane without running into a gaggle of people trying to pin flowers on you while seeking petition signatures and donations.
I remember the laughing and cheering during an early showing of the comedy "Airplane" as Robert Stack walks through the airport punching and kicking his way through a long line of wacky activists. Well, those days are over, and now we have other problems at airports. But letter-writers Bridget Langston and Luca Zanna want to return to the days of making people walk through a gauntlet of activists at Mohave County facilities.
I talked to Zanna on Nov. 3 regarding an issue, yet today he claims he hasn't talked to any of us. He doesn't listen to anything he disagrees with. Obviously, Langston is a member of his entourage, the "you people" I personally addressed during the Board meeting. Both of these activists claim to be in an organization that demands immigration laws be obeyed. I agree that the border needs to be secure and only legal immigration allowed. But they must believe all other laws only apply to the rest of us.
Arizona Revised Statute 11-410 forbids use of county "personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections." That ensures the public has a right to get permits, record documents, vaccinate children or engage in other government business without being panhandled by activists - and Zanna can go elsewhere to hand out material attacking honored veteran U.S. Sen. John McCain.
Zanna was told before the last Board meeting that the Arizona Open Meeting Law states that only agenda items can be discussed. Zanna doesn't think much of that law either. He ignored the information and broke the Open Meeting Law as he believes he is above the law. That makes me wonder how many other laws this man ignores. Does he really want to just protect our borders like the rest of us? Or does he think all people with dark hair who don't speak English very well should be stopped on the street and ordered to produce "their papers"? I hope not.
The Arizona Public Records Law, Open Meeting Law and the law that forbids political activism at publicly owned county facilities protect the publics' right to open, transparent government. Mohave County is an organization of laws. We follow every law. Unlike some activists, we don't pick and choose.
"We the people" should be able to carry out the publics' business without running a gauntlet of soapbox activists like Zanna, Langston or Hanoi Jane.
Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Article comment by:
We Can Recall Sockwell
Folks, the recall is really charged up, we are raising money and getting signatures! This county has been under the corrupt thumbs of this BOS for too long, and they have gone too far. We can now remove Sockwell from office. Help us do this. Please go to RecallSockwell.com to help! We meet every week, we need your help, be part of history to clean up this county! RecallSockwell.com for info! y82kh6
Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Thomas Paine
Mr. Walker should be ashamed. The 70's were probably some of the greatest years of our country. We protested the Viet Nam war, and other great causes and he ridicules them? Calls them 'flower children' and 'hippies' and implies that they were Hare Krishnas begging for money at airports??? What a disgraceful letter and what an insult to the proud Americans, my son being one of them, who cared enough about this country to express themselves. Where would Civil Rights be without these people? Where would the right for women to vote be? Where would ANY cause for the rights of all people be without protest? We built this country on protest...is Walker going to ridicule the Founding Fathers? Who 'protested' King George and started this great country? What is wrong with this man? He needs to go home and plant some flowers or something and leave running the country to someone who understands what America is all about.
Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010
Article comment by:
Please Step Up and Help with www.RecallSockwell.com
To help with RecallSockwell go to www.RecallStockwell.com or email MohaveFreedom@Yahoo.com. We are getting stronger every day but we still need people to circulate petitions and we need donations. Now is the time for change and we can do it. Thank you
Posted: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Article comment by:
Someone who cares
I am not a Mohave County resident, but I read this article as an interested observer of the Mohave County government because I own property here. I wanted to ask one question in response to this article. Does this man have any clue what he is talking about? Not only are his points and references completely inaccurate, but they make absolutely no sense.
Mr. Sockwell, Luca Zanna is not some half stoned hippie trying to mooch some spare change from hard working, tax paying, citizens who are trying to enjoy the fruits of their labors as you suggested in your article. He is simply trying to stand up for and execute what our forefathers fought and died for: Our constitutional rights. Just as John McCain and his staff were trying to use county property (which is paid for by the county residents) for his political agenda, so should the rest of us be able to do the same. If the people (who pay for the property) cannot express themselves politically on their own property, but our elected officials (who's salaries are paid by taxpayers)can, Mohave County and the rest of the country are heading down a path of tyranny that so many Americans have died to save us from. I think all of our elected officials need to remember that this is a government that is supposed to be "of the people, for the people, and by the people". When our elected officials feel that they are above the people, they need to be removed from office and reminded that this country was founded on the ideal of democracy. I'll let you, Mr. Sockwell, look up the definition of democracy .
I would like to finish with one last point. Distributing elected officials voting records, which is what Luca Zanna was doing at the McCain town hall meeting, is not political activism. It is public record. One might wonder why distributing that information was frowned upon.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
anti sockpuppets
Dear Mr. Sockpuppet, er, I mean Mr. Sockwell Your first and only duty is to those who pay your salary. You exacerbate your situation further by attempting to attack a justified, first amendment protected right to assemble and speak freely. You sir are a traitor!
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Concerned Mohave County Resident
I found a YouTube posting that is by Luca Zanna and he explains exactly what occurred at the alleged town hall meeting or better known as a campaign stop for Senator John McCain. The link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6u9KWP8yHU can take you there.
It is time for all of us to take back our county and recall Tom Sockwell. Furthermore, the Arizona Attorney General should investigate and file criminal charges against all persons, both elected and employees of Mohave County that kept Luca Zanna from exercising his First Amendment rights.
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
Article comment by:
Spartacus
@ The Watcher --
A letter writing campaign would work, assuming people remember what they read by the time the next election rolls around.
The quickest way to bring down a county politician who abuses authority is to request the state's Attorney General look into the matter.
If ARS 11-410 is directed at employees of the county -- not residents of the county -- Sockwell is in trouble, and it's a matter of getting Goddard involved. If Goddard reviews this, and determines Sockwell violated ARS 11-410 by allowing McCain to stump, at the same time prohibiting Zanna from doing the same, Sockwell should be removed from office.
If that's the case, Zanna, Bridget Langston, and perhaps others as well, would have grounds for a civil rights suit.
But that's assuming ARS 11-410 concerns county employees rather than residents. If it doesn't, then all this is moot. Sockwell remains an imbecile, unarguably arrogant and completely out of touch with the people who put him in office, but not in violation of the statute.
I've contacted the AG concerning this, as have others.
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
Article comment by:
The Watcher
I know many of us believe Mr. Sockwell has sealed his fate in his next election and as Dave G asked, “Do you suppose this will remind all the other elected officials who they work for?”
The problem is most of Socwell’s constituents of his district live and work in the Bullhead City, Mohave Valley and Golden Shores area and only a few reside within the confines of Golden Valley.
I would venture to say the majority of his constituents probably read the Mohave Daily News and Bullhead City Bee. Unless Sockwell sent his ranting letter to the two newspapers that service that area, not many of the people who voted for him even know of his tirades.
Sockwell is such an opinionated ignorant man who has lost sight of reality, appears to be spouting his mouth off before engaging his brain and even if he was issued a media specialist by the county to “put out the fires” he starts, I doubt he has the wherewithal to accept the individual’s recommendations.
Maybe the best thing for all of us to do is start a letter writing campaign and send letters to the editors of the two newspapers that service the largest portion of Sockwell’s District. Let’s “stir up the hornets’ nest for him.” If Sockwell’s wants to commit political suicide, maybe we all should supply the rope for him to hang himself.
Let all of his constituents know of his arrogant attitude toward the residents and how he has chosen to insult and berate citizens who simply exercise their 1st amendment Constitutional rights.
As said in the classic movie Pure Country, let Sockwell “dance like a chicken on a hot grill.” It is time Sockwell realize the citizens of Mohave County want him to be one of our public servants.
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
Maybe we need a certain person to make a showing and explain why he told Luca it was illegal to hand out fliers?
11-410. Use of county resources or employees to influence elections; prohibition
A. A county shall not use its personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections. Notwithstanding this section, a county may distribute informational reports on a proposed bond election as provided in section 35-454. Nothing in this section precludes a county from reporting on official actions of the county board of supervisors.
B. Employees of a county shall not use the authority of their positions to influence the vote or political activities of any subordinate employee.
C. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as denying the civil and political liberties of any employee as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions.
Arizona Constitution;
2. Political power; purpose of government
Section 2. All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.
6. Freedom of speech and press
Section 6. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.
Posted: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
I sort of figured Mr. Sockwell would not want to make any further comments.
The 'two feet in the mouth syndrome' has already impaired his speaking ability.
Get those feet out!
Posted: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Sockwell, you need to go. I was at the Jan. 11, 10 meeting. "YOU PEOPLE" how belittleing, you act as though you are above us. Shame on you. This goes to show you how little this crook thinks of the people who vote for him. Years ago this crook allowed Bullhead City to tax a BHC city tax on Ft. Mohave residents on their phone bill. It took Dave Hayes months of talking to Sockwell to be reimbursed for this injustice. Government coruption starts on the local level. Let's have a real tea party. John Mcain was given special treatment as a POW. There are still pow's over there and Mcain and Kerry know about it and do nothing to get them home. They are both as crooked as they come. Let's vote Sockwell and Buster Johnson out. By the way the 70s were a great time to grow up.
Posted: Sunday, January 24, 2010
Article comment by:
Viable 3rd Party
3rd party candidate against Stockwell
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
P-Rod,
Good idea.
I have contacted the Arizona Attorney General office with questions on the matter.
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
P-Rod
I have to say good job to Luca, Jeff C., Spartacus and everyone else including all of the NNP's that have stood up to one of many political menaces we have in this county. I have loved reading all of these opinions and every one of you have made very good points. I hope these injustices will be addressed by our BOS ("S" in BOS meaning something quite different than "Supervisors") but I doubt that they will. These good ol' boys have to much of a stronghold on this county and we as American citizens, residents and taxpayers of Mohave County need to get all of these dirtbags out of office.
Someone said something about making complaints to the Attorney General... seems like a viable idea and I think we should all do it. If there are numerous complaints received by the AG about these dirtbags maybe that will stir Goddard into action.
By the way Sockwell.... looks to me like you're outnumbered!
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Dear Tom Sockwell,
This is a quote from your article;
"Arizona Revised Statute 11-410 forbids use of county "personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections." That ensures the public has a right to get permits, record documents, vaccinate children or engage in other government business without being panhandled by activists - and Zanna can go elsewhere to hand out material attacking honored veteran U.S. Sen. John McCain."
Permits huh?
Frankly....I would rather not have to go to any County building to pay any County to obtain permission (permit) to build a building on my own property just so I can be taxed by the same County to live on my own property.
And if people need to vaccinate children, that is one more thing that I think private enterprise can handle on its own by the laws of supply and demand.
If County government was as limited as it was meant to be, we would hardly need to go to County buildings and we certainly would not need all the ones the County has been building in the last several years.
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
Dear Luca Zanna,
Great job!
Dont give up on the good fight and dont let tyrannical elitists wear you out.
I also handed out some fliers at the McCain event and one person in the event actually stood up and read some of the facts from the flier.
The voting history of John McCain should be something he should be very ashamed to have handed out at any of his events!
His guts probably churn when he has to come up with ways to double-speak his way out of some of his voting history.
You should have just as much right to liberty as John McCain does.
Liberty and justice is for ALL...not only McCain and his ilk.
Why is it the County supervisors think that only McCain is the authority on what is going on in this nation?
Why did they not invite JIM DEAKIN to give his perspective?
Do they think people like you and I are blind and only McCain can see?
I just wanted to post this as a message of encouragement to you.
GODSPEED my friend!
Jeff
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
I dont think that Mr Tom Sockwell understands laws very well.
First of all, if there was a law that applied to ALL of us, it sure did not apply to John McCain and his soap boxing. So is John McCain above the law?
People like to have laws, as long as they are GOOD laws!
When a law is made that makes it 'against the law' for a black person to read or write...it may be a law, but it can easily be deemed as a BAD law.
When a law is made claiming that Jews cannot have radios, Jews are probably going to see it as a VERY bad law.
It used to be illegal in many countries for people to preach without a permit, or to translate Bibles into other languages.
People stood up and broke such laws and we had people like Wyclif that stood up against tyrannical elitists.
He preached the Word of God and he taught people to preach the Word of God and he worked to translate the Bible.
'Street preachers' like John the Baptist would probably not have done very well with people such as Tom Sockwell, just as he did not do very well with Herod.
History is packed full of people (HEROES) that stood up, spoke out, and faught against tyrannical and unjust laws.
Even if there was a law claiming that people could not hand out fliers on County property...it could easily be construed to be a BAD law.
Just because people make laws...it does not make them good laws.
A lot of the problem in our society is that people are mixed up on basic absolutes.
In our society you could have given a man a certificate of honor for providing the greatest number of partial birth abortions, while on the same day a woman is being held guilty for the death of her unborn infant because she used harmful drugs.
We need to start the RE-EDUCATION of our children so they know they can stand up to tyrants.
Here is one very small example of how an educated 'We the people' could work;
Lets say a law is made that claims people may not keep side arms on the person.
Lets say a man is arrested because he exercises his right to carry a sidearm and he feels the law was a violation of his basic right to self defense.
The matter needs to go to court and this man should be judged by a jury of his peers.
One of the most effective ways to get a 'garbage' law thrown out or dismantled is to simply dis-regard the law.
The jury (if we had an informed jury of people that ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD basic rights) could simply declare the man innocent and the law would be made null and void. This nullifies the works of tyrants in legislature.
The jury would simply see that the law is not worth the paper it is written on.
To see they must have light. People need to be re-taught.
Much of what we need today is a waking up of the people.
Start taking the time to teach and train the youth of our society.
When people make a law stating that you cannot eat.....I say break the law and EAT!
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
Dear Mr Tom Sockwell,
Care to make any additional comments to all these comments?
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
HEIL HITLER!
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Article comment by:
www.infowars.com
The 70's were fun. Great rock and roll, police understood their roles as public servants, and gas and a pack of smokes was .50 cents. NO this is much better, hyperinflation, banksters, turning people into felons for unconstitutional laws, spying on Americans, people protested, they stood up. Now most are brainwashed or ill, or both. Are you a member of the CFR? Have you ever been affiliated with the Communist party?
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Well said Spartacus! It is apparent that this Board of Supervisors is out of touch with the citizens and voters. It is time to sweep out the trash, RECALL! Let's start with Gary Watson, he has not listened to anyone unless it is a Company that will only benefit the Company, and take our natural resources. And let's face it if you live in District 2 - Tom Sockwell is well just an embarressment, and is completely out of touch with reality. And lastly Buster Johnson has just been in to long, it is time for a change. And just a reminder isnt it time to get rid of County Manager Ron Walker, he controls what is said and done. But this is typical of an arogant, dictatorship. We the people is the beginning of the Coinstitution except in Mohave County, where it is taxed with out representation or a Dictatorship. And just a reminder the Bill of Rights under the 1st Amemdment allows for the Freedeom of Speech, what Out of Touch Sockwell quotes is only a statute, and its the wrong statute. Again time to RECALL, RECALL them all. Time to clean house once and for all!
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010
Article comment by:
d!girl
spartacus, loved you in the mvie with kirk douglas. yummy. how bout kickin some goverment b**t around here. love ya!
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010
Article comment by:
P-Rod
Geez.... it looks like Sockwell opened a can of worms.... maybe he needs a media specialist too!
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Spartacus
Great comment. You put in words what alot of us can't. Thank's for holding Sockwells feet to the fire. He needs to answer for this. And thanks to Luca.
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010
Article comment by:
P-Rod
Well Sockwell... I give you credit for one thing only ... at least you don't have a mouthpiece speaking for you right? Unlike the Sheriff who's taxpayer money is spent for him to have a "special" county attorney assigned to him and a "media specialist". You see, he can't even talk without someone making sure his comments are politically correct and to discuss the legal ramifications of such comments. I find it dispicible that our elected officials have to pay someone to protect them from themselves.
Therefore, I must applaud you for the courage to open your mouth.... too bad you weren't saying something when you did.
