But he's been so...useful.

Here's an interesting development.

Four Democratic U.S. House members are calling for the new Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary to investigate allegations of racial profiling against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

So wouldn't that be a conflict?  After all Governor Napolitano and Sheriff Arpaio enjoy a special relationship. 

Here's how the Republic's Richard Ruelas covered the situation in October of 2002

On her last day as the U.S. attorney for Arizona, Janet Napolitano did Sheriff Joe Arpaio a favor. Now, five years later, he has paid her back.

Arpaio has taken to the airwaves to defend Napolitano 's record. "As U.S. attorney, she was the Number One prosecutor of child molesters in the nation," the ad says.

Ruelas believes that the commercial was payback for Napolitano letting Arpaio of the hook in when she was US Attorney.

In 1997, she decided not to pursue civil rights charges against Arpaio , despite documenting abuse in his jails. She ended the two-year investigation with a lawsuit and settlement she described as "lawerly paperwork."

Since Napolitano won her initial election by around 11,000 votes, it's easy to credit Arpaio with her victory.  And while in office, her position on immigration evolved from her supporting driver licenses for illegal aliens in the begining of her administration, to calling for an employer sanctions law and putting troops o the border by the end of her administration.

She brilliantly parlayed her hardline immigration approach into a cabinet position while managing to convince local Democrats that she was on their side.  Now, as the former members of her administration are emptying their desks into cardboard boxes and the local Democratic establishment is in chaos, national Democrats are asking for Janet to investigate Arpaio.   

They don't understand that Arpaio was responsible for her victory in 2002 and that her adoption of his militaristic approach to immigration enforcement was responsible for her ascension to a cabinet post six years later.  Investigate Arpaio?  Fat chance.

(Of course, there is long line of unemployed Arizona Democrats who will argue that loyalty is a one way street with Napolitano and her support evaporates as soon as the recipient of that support is no longer useful.  Since Napolitano's unlikely to ever return to Arizona except for photo opts or layovers, she may throw Joe under the bus just to impress the folks in Washington.)

Comments

[Appleblossom]

This almost appears as if you are complimenting Janet. You really need a vacation.

[Simon says:]

"Of course, there is long line of unemployed Arizona Democrats who will argue that loyalty is a one way street with Napolitano and her support evaporates as soon as the recipient of that support is no longer"

You got that right Greg.