Posted on 12/18/2009 8:31:19 PM PST by jazusamo
Sheriff Joe Arpaio - the self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff" in America - likes Christmas music, especially "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and anything by Alvin and the Chipmunks, and apparently he thinks the 8,000 inmates inside his Phoenix jail should, too.
So it was with some glee that his Maricopa County office announced Thursday in a red-and-green press release that the "sixth and perhaps final lawsuit" brought by inmates to stop the sheriff from playing the holiday songs all day, every day, during the holidays had been dismissed in federal court.
"We keep winning these lawsuits. Inmates should stop acting like the Grinch who stole Christmas and give up wasting the court's time with such frivolous assertions," it read. "But chances are they'll keep suing and we'll keep winning."
The latest lawsuit was filed by inmate William Lamb, who said that being forced to listen to the Christmas songs 12 hours a day was a violation of his civil and religious rights. But U.S. District Judge Roz Silver disagreed, dismissing the case and denying Lamb's claim for $250,000 in damages.
Sheriff Arpaio catapulted to national attention when he cracked down on the thousands of illegal immigrants who swarm daily through his county; put inmates in pink jumpsuits and underwear; worked them in chain gangs; housed them in tents in the Arizona desert and fed them bologna sandwiches.
He said that his Christmas selections were multi-ethnic and culturally diverse, from all faiths and ethnicities. He told The Washington Times earlier this year that in addition to tunes by Alvin and the Chipmunks, the music included the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bing Crosby and Doctor Demento.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Go Joe Go!
That is how all sheriffs should conduct themselves. A real American sheriff.
finally some good news for the holidays at least
Sheriff Joe wins another round. :-)
He really ought to add “Must be Santa” by Bob Dylan to his play list. I think the inmates would enjoy it a great deal, especially the ones who are into polka and Norteño and Klezmer.
Heheh...
While I think this is really, really hilariously Hell-Funny, Sheriff Joe is skating very close to the edge with this.
People go to gaol AS a punishment, not FOR punishment.
There seems to be no good reason for the nonstop carols except to make the gaol experience even more miserable than it needs to be, just because Joe can.
If I were Joe’s boss, I’d say “OK Joe, you can do this, but on one condition: you gotta listen to them too.”
Except for the voters, Joe IS the boss.
That is cruel and unusual punishment.
Yeah, I hear you but Joe’s boss is the voters, and they keep voting him in by landslides.
“There seems to be no good reason for the nonstop carols except to make the gaol experience even more miserable than it needs to be, just because Joe can.”
Erm - well, who decides how miserable it needs to be ? It’s a bona-fide 4-star hotel compared to a prison in Turkey, Indonesia or Saudi. And, if anyone decides to add to that “misery” it’s Joe (and the voters if they don’t like it at election time).
Sheriff Joe for president!
LOL!
I have to agree. The other evening my youngest grandson came over with a DVD of Alvin and his two pals singing Christmas music, by the time he left I was happy to see him go. :-)
I actually like that song...
...and Dr. Demento. Cool. ;)
“Christmas in Jail” by The Bobs
Merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas,
Happy New Year to you...
Christmas in jail
Christmas in jail
I had a little too much to drink
I ain’t got no bail
Gotta pee in a pail
and I’m spendin’ New Year’s Eve in the clink
I was in the wrong lane
Feelin’ no pain
Zoomed my car to seventy-five
I ran right into
You can guess who
and they say I’m lucky to be alive
Merry Christmas
Happy New Year
They’re singin’ down the street
While everybody’s havin’ Christmas turkey,
they give me bread and water to eat
Christmas in jail
Christmas in jail
I wore my shoes out pacin’ the floor
I got rocks in my head
I wish I was dead
Ain’t gonna drink and drive no more
Merry Christmas
Happy New Year
They’re singin’ down the street
While everybody’s havin’ Christmas turkey,
they give me bread and water to eat
Christmas in jail
Christmas in jail
I wore my shoes out pacin’ the floor
I got rocks in my head
I wish I was dead
Ain’t gonna drink and drive no more
No, ain’t gonna drink and drive no more
No, ain’t gonna drink and drive no more
I do too. I grew up with the Mitch Miller version, and Dylan’s is a step up. The video is great too.
Good one, thanks!
This seems to be the result whenever anyone goes toe to toe with the ACLU in court over the “Christmas display” issue. If it has Santa then it’s OK.
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