As for selling policies across state lines, I believe that one of the reasons that that is not being featured by Republicans nearly as much is because some in the GOP have acknowledged that that is not practical and not likely to fly. (BTW, the CBO doesn’t even try to score that aspect.)

You claim you never said Joe was pure, and that I am thusly smearing you. However, I never said that you said that, only that you seem to believe it. And, you did say that the Supervisors are "the only ones" playing revenge and smear games.

You followed that with THE ONLY article you have cited in this discussion, one noting that the Sheriff has opened an investigation into Wilcox (and hubby) re: the Sky Harbor leases. This article does not indicate that Arpaio has any legitimate reason for the "investigation," nor has anything come of this "investigation". The article also cites the Dowling case and others where similar Arpaio "investigations" have fallen apart after his p.r. office spreads the hype love. So, tell me how this proves your point?

I have absolutely no "open borders" agenda, and that you would even accuse me of that for simply raising questions about Arpaio's/Thomas's tactics does not speak well for your "smear campaign", and leaves one to wonder why he or she would "debate" you.

If you want to take off your blinders, perhaps we can discuss each move in this degenerative game that our County officials are subjecting us to. Maybe, when the County is completely paralyzed and/or broke, you and I can agree to throw all of 'em out of our county!

Maybe they could bolster their argument by putting a picture of Tina Fey on the cover instead.

Very clever stuff! We definitely need to make sure this gets display space near rogue.

But, it got even better. He has apparently stepped on his own with a couple of TV interviews since then, basically admitting that they racially profile (his spokespeople tried to walk it back), and saying both that his 287(g) status is clear but that he wants an opinion about it from Thomas.

Thing is: not only does the media give him the rope, but he hangs himself with it, and the voters still don't pay attention. Too many are blinded by the bluster. (Hmmm, song parody idea!)

I agree that they could take it pro bono, although I doubt they would - they've already received the best headlines they'd likely get from this second-chance, second-rate case.

BTW, Maricopa County (and Phoenix, for that matter) is no "small town" - 4th most populous county, 5th most populous city. Which makes our pathetic politician cockfights all the more embarrassing! (Though that could mean that we've "arrived" in the big leagues, I'm afraid our current crop ARE more like "small town".)

Again, I am not saying that the Supervisors are the cleanest/best/most ethical (the same voters elected them as elected the Sheriff, btw) politicians, though Joe-Andy haven't found anything that holds up to independent scrutiny. (Lord knows, Andy-Joe has tried. And, don't get us started on Joe-Andy's problems with the judicial branch, either!)

But, you seem to believe that Joe-Andy are Jesus-like pure. How do you navigate the downtown streets with those blinders on? How do you justify their behavior - in this case and in so many others?

I have seen Arpaio's behavior and tactics both close up and from afar; I am progressively more appalled. You may have seen him up-close, too, and have obviously learned well from him.

However, your analysis oversimplifies the situation, and misstates some of the facts. We're not talking about "abuse and corruption"; we're talking about the sheriff playing revenge and publicity games, and putting together shoddy cases against a political enemy. This arrest-without-indictment came a couple of days after the prosecutor decided to dismiss the rest of the counts from the first indictment, based on most of the same iffy issues. As the New Times put it: for Arpaio and Thomas, it is all about the perp walk.

This is not to say that Stapley, his colleagues and the County Manager are Ivory pure or are not playing the power struggle game, too. But, that doesn't mean that there is nothing to see in this latest development, Resistance.

Thomas/Arpaio made a big political and publicity play announcing the diGenova/Toensing deal. Assuming it never comes to pass, it is another piece of evidence in the case against the Joe and Andy Show.

I just spent some time going thru the Lewin Report. Thanks, Fred. It IS worthwhile reading!

Now, Fred (or anyone else), correct me if my skimming conclusions are wrong, but it appears that the Lewin Group concludes that the public option will CUT OVERALL GOVERNMENT (federal, state, local) SPENDING by $111.6 BILLION between 2010-19! (pages 4-5) In addition, it will decrease employers' spending and will decrease consumers' spending.

Where does that come from? Well, the interesting thing (to me) is that the report does NOT explicitly predict the downfall of the private insurance system; however, it seems to lead you right up to that conclusion, and allows you to make it for yourself. (Of course, that may be right.)

They indicate that providers will take a hit from the Medicare-plus payment limits. BUT, they predict that those providers would make up for quite a bit of that by hitting private insurers/insureds. (Part of what'll make the ins cos less competitive.)

More later, but a worthwhile read, with their possible biases in mind.