2/7/2010 6:00:00 AM Column: Rule of law deserves respect
Ron Walker Mohave County Manager
I guess I'm surprised by the overzealous, ill-informed and negative response of those who were told they could not pass out special interest or political pamphlets during U.S. Sen. John McCain's recent visit to Mohave County.
The senator spoke at a town hall meeting in the County Board Room. During that meeting, some were distributing political literature and were asked to cease. They did not seem to like the fact that Mohave County does not allow partisan politics on county property. We base that rule on Arizona Statute 11-410. Now, one of those who got their feelings hurt wants the taxpayers to fund a recall election on the chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He thinks he deserves an apology for the county policy of enforcing and upholding the rule of law.
As county manager, I believe those who come onto county property have a right to expect they will not be subjected to any kind of "panhandling" to conduct their official business. The county's facilities are for official business. Sen. McCain's visit was public business not a campaign stop. Whether one supports Sen. McCain's positions or not, he is a duly elected senator for the state of Arizona and deserves the respect inherent of his office.
The disgruntled citizen who wants the taxpayers to fund a recall election is a naturalized immigrant citizen from Italy. He has attended the last two Board of Supervisors meetings where he was allowed to speak on the formal agenda. In his speech, he displayed a blatant disregard and disrespect for state law and rules for conducting county business. When the chairman of the Board intervened to remind the speaker that he was out of order, the chairman addressed the speaker and his entourage as "you people." The naturalized immigrant chose to find an insult in that remark. Since English is not his native language, perhaps he does not understand that there are many different cultural forms of speech in America.
Now, the former Italian national wants the supervisor to apologize for enforcing state law and Board policy. He also wants an apology because the chairman used the words "you people" in his response to the speaker's violation of the state Open Meeting Law.
Chairman of the Board Tom Sockwell is a plain-spoken man, born and raised in Oklahoma in different political times from today. Tom is an Army veteran, a patriot, a conservative, a retired aerospace worker and a long-time good citizen of Mohave County.
Is "you people" insulting? I think not. Since I'm from Texas, I guess the fellow would have been insulted as well if he and his entourage were addressed as "you all" (actually y'all). If he found that an insult too, I hope he doesn't travel to Texas and take offense to the expression. If so, I'm sure he will get a convincing down-home culture lesson. Plus, if an Army veteran wanted to verbally insult someone, I doubt "you people" would be his choice. As an ex-Navy man, I know I could think of some better insults.
Our naturalized citizen seems to believe that free speech law allows anyone to say what they want, when they want, and how they want. He needs some more study on that issue. Try espousing your free speech rights from the balcony of the U.S. Congress or state Legislature. Even better, try it with a gun on your hip.
So, it seems to me, the real argument is over the rule of law. The chairman and other Board members respect the rule of law, and they swore an oath to uphold it against all enemies foreign and domestic. That means they don't pick and choose laws they like to enforce. They enforce all laws whether they agree with them or not.
I'm reminded of a quote on the subject of rule of law by Teddy Roosevelt. It says, "No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor." I'd add that we don't apologize for demanding obedience to the rule of law.
Good ol' Teddy also coined the term "lunatic fringe." Yes, it has a history. According to Teddy, "lunatic fringe" is a term he used to characterize members of a usually political or social movement espousing extreme, eccentric or fanatical views. Now mind you, he did not say we could not be a part of the lunatic fringe as a part of our freedoms. What I think he meant is that there are always those who espouse extreme views on their pet subjects and, in my experience, often show little tolerance for anyone who may differ with them.
The lunatic fringe normally exists on both sides of most social and political issues. This is a great country exactly because we can choose to be part of the middle or the extremes, as long as we follow the laws of the land in doing so. However, one should be fully aware of some of those on the fringe.
Some in the "lunatic fringe" are respectful in their campaign to achieve their end game; some are annoying and insulting in their campaigns; some are clowns and entertaining; and some down-right dangerous. Let us never forget a former local person who blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 innocent people and injuring 681 others.
So while some believe they can pick and choose the laws they like and ignore the laws they don't like, it is not so with the Mohave County Board of Supervisors. They must enforce the rule of law fairly and without bias.
It's clear that when the Board of Supervisors demands the rule of law be followed, some factions of the lunatic fringe (who don't get their way) are going to get upset.
Reader Comments
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!
Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Article comment by:
Please Step Up and Help with www.RecallSockwell.com
To help with RecallSockwell go to www.RecallSockwell.com or e-mail MohaveFreedom@Yahoo.com The cause is growing 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.
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
CIndy Lou
Sir, I don't even know where to start in response to your tirade against the Italian Immigrant (NOW U.S. CITIZEN) but I'll start off by saying that your mentioning a terrorist while describing the incidents that took place, while linking that together and calling him part of (the "lunatic fringe") is not only unprofessional as a journalist, but insulting to any Citizen that stands up for his 1st Ammendment rights. And it is my opinion (yes, I have one just as you do), that you are an embarrassment to not only your profession, but to Texas as well. I live in Texas, born and raised here. My Ancestors fought for Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto and there's no one I know any more proud of Texas as I. But I cringed when I read what you wrote about him coming to Texas and getting a cultural lession. I know if he came to my property, I'd welcome him with a hug and a handshake (which is what REAL Texans do). We are known here in Texas for being Friendly, hospitable, and welcoming, NOT for insulting and degrading, Sir, you are a disgrace to all (true) Texans and I for one would like you to stop bringing our wonderful State into our lunatic tyrades. And lastly, you should renounce your Texas Citizenship, there's no longer a welcome mat here for you! ~6th Generation Texan & Proud!
Posted: Friday, March 05, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff Cummins
Mr. Ron Walker
Here is an issue that sort of reminds me of your attitude on laws
****"In March of 1857, the United States Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, declared that all blacks -- slaves as well as free -- were not and could never become citizens of the United States. The court also declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, thus permiting slavery in all of the country's territories.
The case before the court was that of Dred Scott v. Sanford. Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in the free state of Illinois and the free territory of Wisconsin before moving back to the slave state of Missouri, had appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of being granted his freedom.
Taney -- a staunch supporter of slavery and intent on protecting southerners from northern aggression -- wrote in the Court's majority opinion that, because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue. The framers of the Constitution, he wrote, believed that blacks "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it."
Referring to the language in the Declaration of Independence that includes the phrase, "all men are created equal," Taney reasoned that "it is too clear for dispute, that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included, and formed no part of the people who framed and adopted this declaration. . . ."
Abolitionists were incensed. Although disappointed, Frederick Douglass, found a bright side to the decision and announced, "my hopes were never brighter than now." For Douglass, the decision would bring slavery to the attention of the nation and was a step toward slavery's ultimate destruction."****
It is quoted from here
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2933.html
1. Laws are not always good.
2. Many people dont like breaking the law.
I have tried my entire life to be a model citizen. I am not involved in crime, illegal drug dealing or use, I have not murdered, and nor do I have any desire to do so. I dont rob or rape, heck....I dont even have traffic tickets!
I have worked hard as a mechanic all my life and my body aches because of the years of labor. I know the sweat toil it takes to earn an honest buck. I have excellent records from every employer I have ever worked at.
I pay my income taxes. I pay my property taxes. I am not on welfare and nor have I ever been. My wife is a legal immigrant and most of my family were legal immigrants. My wife is a hard worker and also has impeccable records with her employers and no records of criminal activity at all.
Part of the point I want to make is that as citizens of this country we should have every right to confront officers of the government with either rebukes or praise.
Across this nation we have government at all levels that are spending far faster than us workers are producing, and we should have the right to speak about it, write about it, and hand out fliers about it in a non violent way that infringes on no rights of others.
Another point I want to make with this is that I HOPE and PRAY for YOU daily.....that GOD will move your heart to see that even an Italian immigrant can have a deep concern and passion for his new nation and basic rights that should be protected.
Luca is a human being just like you and John McCain are. He should be just as entitled to express his opinions, views, and concerns as John McCain is.
Luca is not a second class citizen, a third class citizen, or a fourth class citizen.
He is a first class citizen just like you and I are, just like deputies are. Luca is made in the image of God just like you, John McCain, and myself.
We want our voices to be heard and an event like a John McCain political gathering is one of the places people should be able to express themselves in a polite and non violent manner and that is exactly what Luca was doing.
Another thing....I never met Mervin in my life. I dont know the man. I do have enough understanding to figure out that if he did intend to harm people in the building....if he did, he would have just gone in legally with a firearm and shot everybody up.
It is clear that he was only trying to make a symbolic statement and it is totally unreasonable to even assume that he had any violent intentions. He knew as soon as he walked in he would be arrested because there was an officer right there waiting.
I really do not think that any of these people that love free speech and the right to keep and bear arms have any desire to break any laws.
they are just tired of laws being broken. They are fed up of being treated like the voices of silent slaves in a nation where we have government officials throwing our money around like it just fell off the trees in our back yards.
They are tired of elected officials saying one thing to get elected, and then turning around and doing something totally opposite once they are in.
They are tired of the abuse and they want to be heard.
When you make laws that oppress and silence people so they cannot even communicate with each other, you cannot help but understand they will want to protest such laws, just like many slaves protested being slaves under the law.
I guess they could just sit down and shut up?
Anyways, I am also a very concerned citizen. I love my nation, my county, and my state.
I want to have a good impact just like many other citizens do.
I dont want my rights stolen even under the color of law when I happen to be an honest, law abiding, hard working, and tax paying citizen.
Regards
Posted: Thursday, March 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff Cummins
After reading this letter again, I dont think I am finished yet.
"Rule of law deserves respect"?
How about the rule of treating others like you would wish to be treated?
The County gave no law that actually applied to what Luca was doing.
The County had no written policy on the matter either, and that is why you have NOW written one.
Ron Walker said
"The disgruntled citizen who wants the taxpayers to fund a recall election is a naturalized immigrant citizen from Italy."
Taxpayers to fund?
Guess what?
Right now I pay about $100.00 per month in property taxes to live in MY OWN home on MY OWN property and it does not even fund enough Sheriff protection to protect me from people that impair our rights to keep and bear arms along with our free speech.
If I do not pay these people off with these taxes, the Sheriff department will find a way to make my entire life miserable and my property will be taken.
I would lose my own home on my own property if I do not pay the County to protect me from the County.
Let me put it to you straight.
I would be HAPPY as a taxpayer to pay $100.00 per month EXTRA if it would actually purchase the recall of every supervisor on the Mohave County board.
At least I would be getting something worth my money as a taxpayer.
I would pay even more WILLINGLY if I could actually purchase as a customer, a Sheriff department that actually cared about protecting citizens and their rights from all enemies foreign and domestic.
Dream world I suppose?
Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Tom Cochrane, Red Rider
The Lunatic Fringe is not We The People, it is you, the elected and appointed. We are tired of your tyranny. We shall win, you shall lose.
Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Tom Cochrane, Red Rider
Lunatic Fringe - I know you're out there
You're in hiding, and you hold your meetings
I can hear you coming, and I know what you're after
We're wise to you this time - we won't let you kill the laughter
Lunatic Fringe - in the twilight's last gleaming
This is open season, but you won't get too far
'Cause you got to blame someone for your own confusion
We're all on guard this time against the Final Solution
We can hear you coming - no, you're not going to win this time
We can hear the footsteps out along the walkway
Lunatic Fringe - we all know you're out there
Can you feel the resistance?
Can you feel the thunder?
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Article comment by:
S. Lane
May justice prevail over the law. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
John Smith
Doesn't Arizona have rules and regulations for removing Ron Walker from office? I mean, a public servant who demeans, degrades and disrespects his position to that degree should be removed for wanton display of insanity, if for no other reason ...
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Concerned Citizen
I did not attend the MCCain Townhall meeting, however I did attend the subsequent Board of Supervisor's meeting on another unrelated matter.
As an uninvolved by-stander, I found the conduct of Tom Sockwell, the Chairman, to be extremely disquieting. If he thinks terms like "you people" are appropriate, he should try that in the middle of the Watts District in Los Angeles.
It appeared that he was referring to the speaker who had legally immigrated to this Country to get away from the fascists who overran Italy, either ethnicly or because of the reference to the Minutemen Organization. Either way, it was completely inappropriate.
As for the newspaper article by Ron Walker, terms like over-zealous, ill informed, and negative responses appear to refer more to his responses, than to those made by the two men who were silenced in handing out flyers on John Mc Cain's voting records at what Walker describes as a visit for "public business". Apparently the Board of Supervisors intends to control all speech at their meetings. As is obvious from the fact that there is no opportunity for comments from residents.
It appears that they are afraid to open up the room for public comments during their meetings, and felt they could also control the rights of free speech of any activity that occurs in "their" Boardroom. Then Walker states that the citizens who were trying to quietly pass out a paper which contained the voting record of the Senator, were "panhandling". Perhaps he should go to Watts with Tom Sockwell.
And as for his contention that the issue is "The Rule of Law", referring to AS 11-410, which does not apply. Or some un-written policy or position upholding the concept that a County resident can be deprived of the right of Free Speech or to peacefully had out flyers, leads me to conclude that the entire Board of Supervisors as well as the County Manager should be replaced by normal residents, because they have become the lunatic fringe they so fear.
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeff C.
Buster, Walker, and Sockwell, do not have the guts to claim they were wrong by allowing John McCain to use County property and banning a County resident from using the same County property!
Buster, Walker, and Sockwell, should be ashamed of themselves for their total dis-regard for the CONSTITUTION and free speech.
RON GOULD is someone I will vote for and support again because he believes in LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL.
He trusts the citizen, he trusts their ability to speak, and he trusts citizens with the basic right of self defense and does not make snide and snarky remarks about citizens having a gun on their hip while they speak.
Ron Walker has shown his true colors with his remarks as he puts down people that love their LIBERTY, CHERISH their right to KEEP and BEAR arms, and love to SPEAK just as freely as the people that try to silence others.
Ron Walker should be a "walker" and walk on out of Mohave County.
Mohave County is not ready to give up our liberty to thugs that say they love the Constitution while they work against it.
We will stand for LIBERTY.
We may be persecuted by those that hate for us to love our LIBERTY....but we will LOVE LIBERTY until the day we die!
VOTE for RON GOULD.
VOTE for JIM DEAKIN.
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Denise Bensusan
A freind of mine wrote the letter below. Please feel free to copy and paste it in, add YOUR name and send it to Ron Gould AT:
rgould@azleg.gov ___________________
Dear Mr. Gould,
I am forwarding this e-mail to you hoping you can satisfy this issue as stated below:
As a public official you can get an opinion issued from the Arizona
Attorney General and I really need one.
http://www.azag.gov/opinions/index.html
Here in Mohave County we had John McCain come to visit and speak in our
County building.
As far as I know they had fliers, petitions, and John McCain spoke about
his past voting record.
Another person went to the event and before the event started he also
handed out fliers that had past voting records of John McCain. He was
told by a County Supervisor that he could not hand out the fliers because
it was against the law.
Since the event, Mohave County has issued statements claiming that the
person could not hand out fliers because of ARS 11-410.
ARS 11-410 does not seem to claim that a citizen could not hand out fliers
on County property while John McCain could.
It seems to be unfair and unjust that John McCain was given the
opportunity to use County property and a citizen of the County was banned
from using it.
Please help me on this by asking the Arizona Attorney General to issue you
an opinion so we may read and see the opinion.
Thank you*****
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
According to Gould, the attorney who advises the state senate said it was his opinion that the county erred in applying ARS 11-410.
Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Article comment by:
MR. WALKER, READ IT AND WEEP
Hey there Mr. Walker,
Senator Ron Gould Speaks up about County politicking controversy in today's standard!
Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Article comment by:
Me Again
"Some in the "lunatic fringe" are respectful in their campaign to achieve their end game; some are annoying and insulting in their campaigns; some are clowns and entertaining; and some down-right dangerous. Let us never forget a former local person who blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 innocent people and injuring 681 others."
Yeah, good point.
Some lunatics are down-right dangerous!
Hitler hated certain people groups and he worked with the rule of law to control not only speech, but the right of certain people groups to defend themselves.
Hitler did not like certain people to have free speech or guns on their hips and his laws were pretty clear about that.
Do I seem to see a down-right dangerous lunatic fringe in our midst?
Can anyone say "McCain" and "propaganda minister" in the same breath?
