Joe Arpaio, recent recipient of a presidential pardon, will run for the Senate.

Courtesy of the Washington Examiner:  

Republican Joe Arpaio, a close ally of President Trump and former sheriff known for his provocative approach to combatting illegal immigration, is running for Senate in Arizona. 

The 85-year-old Arpaio could shake up the late August Republican primary in a critical open-seat race to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. Trump pardoned Arpaio last summer, sparing the former sheriff jail time after he was convicted of ignoring a federal court order in a racial-profiling case. 

The polarizing yet iconic former Maricopa County sheriff, beloved by many conservatives for his hawkish immigration policies, presents an alternative to the unimpressive Kelli Ward and a potential obstacle to Rep. Martha McSally. She is expected to launch within days and is widely viewed as the Republicans’ strongest general election candidate. 

In a telephone interview with the Washington Examiner, Arpaio shrugged off concerns about his age, dismissed Republican insiders’ anxiety that his poor reputation with nonwhite voters would put the seat in play for the Democrats in the midterm, and discussed plans to work with Trump on behalf of Arizona. 

“I have a lot to offer. I’m a big supporter of President Trump,” Arpaio said. “I’m going to have to work hard; you don’t take anything for granted. But I would not being doing this if I thought that I could not win. I’m not here to get my name in the paper, I get that everyday, anyway.”

Renowned racist, convicted in a court of law, pardoned by an equally racist president, and now running to represent Arizona in the Senate.

Could only happen in Trump's America.

I actually hopes that he wins the nomination, and then loses spectacularly to his Democratic opponent.

THAT would be justice.

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake caught on a hot mic admitting that the Republican party is "toast."

Courtesy of ABC News:

Flake, R-Ariz., was at a tax reform event in Mesa, Arizona on Friday night when he was caught bashing the president in a conversation with friend, Mesa Mayor John Giles. 

"If we become the party of Roy Moore and Donald Trump, we are toast," Flake was caught saying by ABC affiliate KNXV.

Well, he's not wrong. 

Senator Jeff Flake announces his retirement while taking the opportunity to eviscerate Donald Trump.

Courtesy of Politico:

Embattled Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) will retire after his current term expires, he announced on Tuesday in a decision that further roils a 2018 Senate landscape marked by multiple Republican retirements. 

Flake was one of the most vulnerable Republican senators up for reelection next year. A vocal critic of President Donald Trump throughout and since the 2016 campaign, Flake said it became clear that that opposition would make it impossible for him to get through a Republican primary. 

He took to the Senate floor to deliver a full-throated denunciation of Trump. 

"We must never adjust to the coarseness of our dialogue, with the tone set up at the top," Flake said. "We must never accept the deadly sundering of our country. The personal attacks, threats against principles and freedoms and institutions, and flagrant disregard for decency."

"Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified," Flake continued. "And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy."

Flake was trailing in the polls against a primary challenger supported by Steve Bannon, so this is of course being seen as a victory by the Breitbart crowd.

However the Republicans also see this is as an opportunity to pick another establishment candidate without Flake's baggage (He was an early critic of Trump's.) that can compete aggressively in the primary.

As for Democrats, well this is a whole new ballgame and they are both energized and excited at the possibility of picking up a Senate seat in Arizona.

Personally I think this is yet another indication that the Republicans, who actually care about government, are simply finding it impossible to work in the toxic atmosphere created by the election of Donald Trump.  

Driverless cars are almost here.

Courtesy of Ars Technica:

Real driverless cars could come to the Phoenix area this year, according to a Monday report from The Information's Amir Efrati. Two anonymous sources have told Efrati that Google's self-driving car unit, Waymo, is preparing to launch "a commercial ride-sharing service powered by self-driving vehicles with no human 'safety' drivers as soon as this fall." 

Obviously, there's no guarantee that Waymo will hit this ambitious target. But it's a sign that Waymo believes its technology is very close to being ready for commercial use. And it suggests that Waymo is likely to introduce a fully driverless car network in 2018 if it doesn't do so in the remaining months of 2017.

......

According to Efrati, Waymo's service is likely to launch first in Chandler, a Phoenix suburb where Waymo has done extensive testing. Waymo chose the Phoenix area for its favorable weather, its wide, well-maintained streets, and the relative lack of pedestrians. Another important factor was the legal climate. Arizona has some of the nation's most permissive laws regarding self-driving vehicles. 

"Arizona’s oversight group has met just twice in the last year, and found no reason to suggest any new rules or restrictions on autonomous vehicles, so long as they follow traffic laws," the Arizona Republic reported in June. "The group found no need to suggest legislation to help the deployment."

This of course is still in its infancy, and I imagine that even when these cars start showing up all around the lower 48 that here in my home state of Alaska we will be among the last to have access, due to our inclimate weather and treacherous driving conditions.

I just hope that it finally arrives while I am still around to participate in this amazing breakthrough.

This is without a doubt when of my all time favorite technological advances.

Fake News creator, who believed he helped get Donald Trump elected, found dead in Arizona.

Courtesy of the New York Post:  

Paul Horner, who penned debunked articles about Bill Murray running for president and President Barack Obama opening a Muslim museum, was discovered unresponsive in his bed Sept 19. 

There were no signs of foul play, according to the Maricopa County medical examiner, and there was evidence the death could be due to an “accidental overdose.” 

During the 2016 presidential election, Horner created a list of websites that appeared to be legitimate news sites to spread false information. 

One article that claimed protesters who disrupted Donald Trump rallies were paid $3,500 went viral on the internet and fueled endless rumors about the alleged conspiracy. 

Despite the fact that no evidence existed, Trump repeated the charge about the paid protesters while on stage during one of his rallies. 

Horner told the Washington Post last November that although the information was clearly fabricated, he made thousands of dollars each month from them because Trump’s supporters were “easy to fool.” 

In the same interview, Horner said he thought Trump won the White House because of him.

Man I am not going to go all Alex Jones here, but damn this is convenient. 

Horner was the face of 2016 fake news, but he was by no means alone.

Without the Russians helping to push his fake news stories, and without Donald Trump himself actually repeating at least one of them to his audience, he would have had virtually no impact at all. 

This guy made "thousands of dollars each month." Let me tell you, THAT is not easy to do.

In order to pull that off you have to have a lot of help from others who also want your articles to be spread far and wide.

And now that this guy is gone, I have a feeling that this is one investigative channel that is going to be a lot harder to explore.

Damn, I did go a little Alex Jones there, didn't I?

This guy went through a great deal of trouble to prove that Donald Trump lied his ass off about the size of the crowd at his Phoenix rally. It really deserves your attention.

(Hint: The music is really obnoxious, especially this early in the morning, but if you mute it you can still enjoy the video.)

I think at this point we are all more or less numb to the fact that Donald Trump lies like a three yer old who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but still it is good to remind ourselves just how far Trump is willing to go to trick the media and the American people.

(H/T to Democratic Underground.)

Okay let's talk about Trump's completely unhinged speech in Phoenix, Arizona last night.

I have to imagine that Sarah Palin must watch this and just every once in awhile whisper to the drunken barfly on the stool next to her and say "I taught him that. Isn't he magnificent?"

This speech essentially went off the rails the minute that Trump opened his little anus shaped mouth.

CNN did their very best to itemize the incredible cavalcade of lies and misrepresentation of the facts that Trump vomited forth on his audience, and you can see that here.

I will present some of the lowlights to save you some time: 

"And just so you know from the Secret Service, there aren't too many people outside protesting, OK. That I can tell you."

This was literally the first line, or should I say lie, of this speech.

There were in fact thousands of protesters outside of the venue and there was also a number of arrests.

"Our movement is a movement built on love."

Perhaps the biggest lie of the night, and one that Trump himself will refute a little later on when he starts attacking his opponents, on both side of the aisle, and in the media.

"Just like (the media doesn't) want to report that I spoke out forcefully against hatred, bigotry and violence and strongly condemned the neo-Nazis, the White Supremacists, and the KKK."

"So here's what I said, really fast, here's what I said on Saturday: 'We're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia' -- this is me speaking. 'We condemn in the strongest, possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.' That's me speaking on Saturday."

Trump purposefully left out the part about there being hatred and violence "on many sides, on many sides."

THAT is what sparked the initial criticism against him.

"The New York Times essentially apologized after I won the election, because their coverage was so bad, and it was so wrong, and they were losing so many subscribers that they practically apologized."

Trump has said this a number of time, but it did not happen.

"How good is Hannity? How good is Hannity? And he's a great guy, and he's an honest guy. And 'Fox and Friends in the Morning' is the best show, and it's the absolute, most honest show, and it's the show I watch."

I think that speaks for itself. (I will however remind everybody that in a 2012 study it was found that viewers of Fox News were LESS informed than those who watched no news at all.)

"But, you know, they all said, Mr. President, your speech was so good last night, please, please, Mr. President don't mention any names. So I won't. I won't. No I won't vote -- one vote away, I will not mention any names. Very presidential, isn't' it? Very presidential." 

This is the sitting president literally going after one of the Senators, John McCain, in his home state, during a campaign style rally.

"And nobody wants me to talk about your other senator, who's weak on borders, weak on crime, so I won't talk about him. Nobody wants me to talk about him. Nobody knows who the hell he is."

And this is the sitting president going after the other Senator, Jeff Flake, in his home state, during a campaign style rally.

"I don't believe that any president has accomplished as much as this president in the first six or seven months. I really don't believe it."

The thing about facts is that you do not actually have to believe them. And the facts do not even come close to supporting this claim.

In fact they prove the exact opposite.

Trump also mentioned "They're trying to take away our culture. They are trying to take away our history," as a dog whistle to his faithful about the Confederate statues being torn down.

Another thing that Trump kept referencing was the huge size of the crowd gathered inside the convention center to hear his speech, but that was also quite the exaggeration. 

Here's the full crowd as #TrumpinAZ finishes up. pic.twitter.com/iUGVUmppGZ

— David Catanese (@davecatanese) August 23, 2017

But one thing that CNN left out that TPM caught was Trump toward the end of his speech suggesting that he might close down the government if Congress does not okay his stupid border wall.

To be clear this is the guy in charge of the government, threatening to lock its doors and turn out the lights if he does not get his way. 

Well I promised you unhinged, and you have to admit THAT was unhinged.

Our long national nightmare is over as Sheriff Arpaio "proves" that President Obama's birth certificate is a fake.

FOR ALL YOU OBAMA LOVERS!
Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Probe proves Obama birth certificate is fake https://t.co/MlgucGspXF

— Jack (@risetoflyy) December 16, 2016

Courtesy of AZ Central: 

At 4 p.m. sharp, Arpaio and a member of his Sheriff's Office's Cold Case Posse had a message for the 40-odd journalists in attendance: You were wrong. 

Arpaio and his aides announced that a five-year probe had proved that Obama’s birth certificate from Hawaii in 1961 was, in fact, a forgery. 

The news conference opened with a spokesman criticizing members of the media for critical coverage of the investigation. He then turned the stage over to Arpaio, who said he hoped to enlighten the public with information on this “fake, fake birth certificate.” 

Arpaio insisted that the investigation was not linked to his legal conflicts with the Obama administration; it was about the allegation of a forged document.

“Think of it. We were trying to clear the president,” he said, adding, “It didn’t work out that way.”

Oh the renowned racist who has been at war with the Obama Administration for years was only trying to "clear" the President.  And it has nothing to do with his legal battles.

Okay sure.

It should be noted that this makes the third press conference that Arpaio has called during whihc he claimed to have proof that President Obama was not born in this country.

Those were back in 2012, and Snopes made short work of those allegations.

I listened to the actual presentation, and have to admit I have virtually NO idea what in the hell they are talking about. Though that is certainly not stopping the conservative news sites from rubbing themselves raw over this "revelation."

However I will say this.

The Right Wing has been trying to delegitimize Obama's presidency since before he even took office, and they have attacked him and his administration from virtually every angle imaginable. So does ANYBODY really think that some podunk sheriff in some dusty corner of Arizona really found something that even the Republican party and Donald Trump with all of his billions could not find?

One bright spot in yesterday's election, Joe Arpaio is no longer the sheriff of Maricopa County.

Courtesy of ABC 15:

Maricopa County has a new sheriff in town. 

Democrat Paul Penzone beat long-standing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio Tuesday in a campaign that featured plenty of attacks on both sides. 

Arpaio, who has been sheriff since 1993, is still in the midst of criminal contempt charges for continuing to profile Latino drivers after a federal judge barred him from doing so.

In no way does this make up for a Trump victory, but at least it's something.

So at least this one county in Arizona is now a little less racist, while the rest of the country is pulling out their best white sheets and cutting little eye holes in them.

This maybe the very first time I have ever even considered moving to Arizona.

Michelle Obama, Donald Trump's worst nightmare, explains why Arizona needs to help make Hillary Clinton the President of the United States.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

Michelle Obama stumped for Hillary Clinton in Arizona today and went after Donald Trump in possibly much harsher terms than she did last time. 

Obama called out Trump for constantly playing into an “us versus them” mentality where he can easily “dehumanize them… because you don’t know them, you can’t even see them.”

“He demeans and humiliates women as if we’re objects meant solely for pleasure and entertainment rather than human beings worthy of love and respect.”

I swear that NOBODY, not even the President, hits Trump harder and more effectively than FLOTUS.

She knows exactly where his weak spots are and seems to see it as her special purpose to drop him to his knees.

And if you notice, he does not dare to hit back.

That may be one of the only smart decisions he has made in this election cycle.

On another note, I used to kind of scoff at the idea of a Senator Michelle Obama, mostly because I heard that she was uninterested in a career in politics.

But these days while seeing her speak, and while seeing her passion for this country, I cannot help but think that it would be America's loss to never have Michelle Obama in the Senate.

Or perhaps back in the White House?

Sarah Palin finally sells her Arizona house.

Courtesy of the LA Times: 

Onetime Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has sold her gated estate in Scottsdale, Ariz., for $2.275 million. 

Built in 2001, the approximately 8,000-square-foot house came to market last December for $2.499 million and was more recently listed at $2.375 million, records show. Palin bought the house in 2011 for $1.695 million.

So she had to face reality and drop the price $224,000, but at least she finally sold the place.

Though I still think that the buyer is a sucker for paying that much.

What special features does it even have anyway?

Designed for outdoor entertaining, the property includes such backyard features as fireplaces off the covered patio and veranda, a built-in grill station and a swimming pool and spa. A water-saving synthetic lawn, a lighted sports court and a putting green are also within nearly five acres of grounds. 

Inside, living areas have a contemporary vibe with subdued hues, vaulted ceilings and wrought ironwork throughout. Formal living and dining rooms, a media/room theater, an oversized kitchen and a wine cellar are among the common areas.

A white trash road kill grill, never used basketball court, fake grass, and a home theater that you just know showed more porn than regular movies.

If it were me I would have the whole place fumigated and disinfected, especially that bacteria incubating pool, before I ever set foot in the place.

And thus ends Palin's desperate attempt to run away from Alaska and start a brand new life. Now she is stuck here, and trust me that is the LAST thing that she wanted. 

Of course the other takeaway from this is the knowledge that Palin now has some disposable cash on hand.

Even if Palin has barely made a dent in her mortgage she still stands to clear well over half a million dollars.

So the question is what will she do with that money? Something intelligent, like invest it? And can it really do much to return her to the lifestyle to which she has grown accustomed?

Probably not.

In fact she probably still needs to pay off that high priced lawyer she hired to keep Track out of jail. Not to mention all of those ongoing payments of hush money which must be getting harder and harder to maintain.

Sarah Palin suddenly and inexplicably becomes outraged again over being blamed for the shooting of Gabby Giffords.

I just remembered something else I've been pissed off about for years.

Courtesy of the Queen of Denial's Facebook page:

Another epitome in media double standards, in my opinion: A schizophrenic shoots an Arizona representative and the media goes berserk blaming me for the crime. That year's SarahPAC electoral map had included a "target" icon, and media erroneously claimed it somehow spurred on the criminal. https://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/dont-get-demoralized-get-organized-take-back-the-20/373854973434/  (This links to the 2010 Facebook post that preceded Gabby Giffords being shot.)

The attack on the Arizona politician and innocent bystanders was beyond horrific, and many of us continue to lift up in prayer those who are affected by any unwarranted violence, as the nation witnessed that day in Tucson. Also unwarranted is the blame game liberals capitalized on then, as they continue to do today. 

Back then, unable to defend myself with the obvious message that I had nothing to do with the shooting, and wanting to remind the media that using target icons in graphics is used universally by democrats and liberal media (including the liberal "Crossfire" news program), I finally disobeyed my employer's directive (FOX News) to stay silent about the false accusations. Days after the tragedy I made my own video to post a defense, hoping to help exonerate ALL who are falsely accused. http://abcnews.go.com/…/sarah-palin-gabrielle-giffor…/story… (This links to the jaw dropping "Blood Libel" video that essentially destroyed all of Palin's future political aspirations. For some reason she wants you to watch it again.)

The apoplectic media pinning me for the crime caused turmoil and threats that are inexplicable, stretching still to this day. I say this not to claim any sort of victimization, but to point out the power the media has to try to destroy someone's career, reputation and spirit, by employing its common double standards. http://www.breitbart.com/…/remember-when-the-gabrielle-gif…/  (This links to a Breitbart article that is almost four years old. I swear I'm getting whiplash here.)

This morning on MSNBC the liberal media once again features their "target" icon in their political graphics. And all is well in the lamestream media. Let's hear it for consistency... http://conservatives4palin.com/…/cnn-puts-sarah-palin-cross… 

- Sarah Palin

Okay the link at the end of her rant goes, not to a recent example of CNN using a target icon, but to a 2014 Sea O'Pee post falsely accusing CNN of using a "target" icon.

This is what they use to support that claim.

 As you probably know CNN has a wall filled with screens that often show a number of breaking stories.

 When they need to make an image larger they expand it over more than one screen which provides an image like this.

Apparently in the minds of the 2014 Palin sycophants this exonerated Palin's use of this image.

It didn't.

Now I have to admit that I was racking my brain to figure out what could have triggered this outburst from Palin.

And then I remembered this story from last week.

It featured this image that Arizona Republicans used against the Democrat challenging John McCain for his Senate seat.

Now for some reason Palin herself does not mention this poster, but since it caused news agencies all over the internet to reference her target icons it was most likely what triggered this latest psychotic break.

You know, a week later.

Boy it must be a real joy to live in the same house with this lunatic.

The Arizona Democrats know an opportunity when they see one.

I think that taco truck gaffe may be one of the greatest things that has happened this election cycle.

And Arizona Democrats are not the only ones taking advantage of it.

Registering voters at #TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner because we are #StrongerTogether ! @gsanchofl @hfa072016 pic.twitter.com/6hODF3NWaO

— Delilah AghoOtoghile (@delilah_agho) September 2, 2016

Gotta admit that pretty brilliant.

Arizona Republicans release bullet riddled wanted poster attacking Democrat challenging John McCain.

Courtesy of Think Progress:  

Arizona Republicans, who are scrambling to help Sen. John McCain win the “fight of his political life,” unveiled a poster this week depicting the face of McCain’s Democratic challenger surrounded by bullet holes. 

The Wild West-themed poster accuses Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) — who is polling neck and neck with McCain — of not holding enough public events during her campaign. 

The image has outraged many in the state, as it comes just five years after another Arizona Democratic congresswoman was shot in the head at a public event.

Yes and we all remember the image that preceded THAT shooting.

In fact Gabby Giffords released this statement to Think Progress to express her disgust: 

“In a state and country that know the toll of gun violence too well, there is no room for invoking the use of firearms in our politics,” she said, in a statement emailed to ThinkProgress. “Our political leaders have the responsibility to avoid a descent into messages that might suggest that elections are settled anywhere else than at the ballot box.”

Damn Republicans are either the slowest learners on the planet, or they simply to not care if they foment gun violence as part of our political process.

It looks like Sarah Palin's boyfriend Joe Arpaio might be prosecuted for criminal contempt of court.

Courtesy of AZ Central: 

A federal judge on Friday referred Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and three of his aides to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, requesting that they be prosecuted for criminal contempt of court.​ 

The landmark decision comes after U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow found that Arpaio intentionally violated various orders rooted in an 8-year-old racial-profiling case.

Could not happen to a more deserving POS.

Gee perhaps when he gets sent to the big house Sarah Palin can gift him with a pair of pink underwear just like the ones he once gave her.

Like I said, POS.

John McCain's Democratic challenger in Arizona is using his support for Donald Trump against him.

Damn!

That definitely makes McCain look like a guy who is putting party ahead of country.

So much for the "straight talk express" huh John?

You know McCain is a great example of a Republican who is supporting his party's nominee even though HAS to realize how dangerous this lunatic's candidacy is to the country.

But then again, what could you possibly expect from the guy who choose Sarah Palin for his running mate?

So does somebody actually want to buy that overpriced Palin house in Arizona?

Courtesy of Redfin:  

After 9 months on the market, the Palin family is about to say goodbye to their sunny getaway in Scottsdale, Arizona. The six-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home is now pending, meaning someone submitted an offer. Palin originally listed the estate on December 21, 2015, for $2.499 million, but dropped the price a few months later to $2.375 million. 

The gated estate sits on more than four acres of land and includes equestrian facilities, a basketball court, putting green, pool and an outdoor entertaining area with a built-in grill. Inside, there are Jacuzzi bathtubs, chef’s appliances in the kitchen, gorgeous fireplaces, a wine cellar, media room and rooftop deck complete with stunning mountain views. Palin purchased the home back in 2011 for $1.7 million, so she stands to make some money from the deal if it sells for anything near the current listing price of $2.375 million.

Okay I'm going to suggest that if somebody is actually making an offer that it is certainly not for any $2.375 million. Not for a house that has sat on the market collecting dust for nine months. 

Actually after paying off the rest of what she owes I would be surprised if Palin walked away with even a million bucks when all is said and done.

In Alaska that would easily allow most people in their fifties to live out the remainder of their days in comfort.

However this is Sarah Palin we are talking about so what do we think, two years?

Sarah Palin posts video of pool time in Arizona. Why?

So is this just a chance for Palin to show off her bikini body or does it serve some other purpose?

And is that even her?

The whole thing is just weird. 

Besides it has been hot as balls here in Alaska this summer so who feels the need to fly to an even hotter climate in order to vacation?

Seriously WTF?

P.S. Perhaps she is down there in yet another attempt to sell that house of hers which has now been up for sale on Zillow for 222 days now. Watch for the price to drop yet again.

Former leader of the Minutemen border vigilante group sentenced to 19.5 years in prison for sexually abusing two young girls.

Courtesy of AZ Central:

Chris Simcox, the former leader of the Minuteman border vigilante group, was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison Monday, bringing an end to a sex-abuse case involving two girls under 10.

A Maricopa County Superior Court jury found Simcox, 55, guilty last month of two counts of child molestation and one count of furnishing obscene material to a minor after a three-week trial. The jury composed of three women and nine men, found him not guilty on three other counts of sexual conduct with a minor — a charge that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. 

Simcox was arrested in 2013 after two girls, ages 5 and 6, accused him of touching them inappropriately between 2012 and 2013. 

Simcox was sentenced to two concurrent sentences of 17 years for each of the molestation counts and an additional 2.5-year sentence for furnishing obscene materials to a minor.

Why am I not surprised this happened in Maricopa County?

Or that this Simcox guy was once a favorite guest on the Sean Hannity Show?

Or that he was once a Republican candidate for the Senate?

Look I'm not suggesting that one HAS to be a child molester to run for the Senate as a Republican in Arizona, or appear on Sean Hannity, or live in Maricopa County, I am just pointing out that this child molester did all three.

Kind of like you don't have to be a sexual deviant to run Fox News, and yet there's Roger Ailes now accused of multiple incidents of sexual harassment.

Just things that make you go, hmmm. 

Associate of Bundy militia member caught trying to blow up Bureau of Land Management office in Arizona.

Source

Courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune:  

Federal prosecutors say a Tooele County man placed a pipe bomb against the door of a BLM cabin and pushed the button on a remote detonator multiple times, with no result. 

His mistake? He'd unwittingly assigned an undercover FBI agent to build the bomb. 

William Keebler, 57, of Stockton, was arrested early Wednesday morning in Nephi and appeared Thursday in U.S. District Court, charged by federal prosecutors with attempting to blow up federal property at an Arizona Strip BLM facility that he had allegedly scouted with Robert LaVoy Finicum.

If you think the name Robert LaVoy Finicum sounds familiar that's because he was the guy from the Bundy standoff that got his ass shot to pieces by the FBI because he pulled out a gun after a traffic stop.

And clearly his buddy's critical thinking skills are just as sharp.

If convicted this Keebler guy faces between five to twenty years in federal prison.

Hey maybe he and Randy Bundy can share a bunk?

Seems cozy in a Brokeback Mountain sort of way.

Here's what gets me.

These guys are not trying to blow up the CIA, the FBI, the IRS, or even the NSA.

No they have their tits in a wringer over the freaking BLM, which for most people is one of the most innocuous federal agencies that you can imagine.

It's kind of like being angry at the Church of Latter Day Saints, and deciding that to get even you're going to push one of those folks from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir out in front of a moving car.

It just seems pathetic.