Arizona Lawmakers Say They’re Afraid Of Their Colleague

[appleannie1]

If what his colleagues in the Arizona statehouse say is true, Rep. Daniel Patterson might be the most feared politician in the state.

But it’s not his politics they say they fear. It’s his angry, threat-filled outbursts that they say are becoming all too normal. One such outburst managed to rattle a fellow lawmaker enough that she says she now sleeps with a weapon at her bedside — just in case.

This week, those same lawmakers said they are now considering throwing Patterson out of office after an ethics investigation uncovered a series of similar outbursts, along with other allegations, including that he once offered to give a lobbyist his vote in exchange for sex and that he regularly smokes marijuana.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/daniel_patterson_arizona_violence_accusations.php

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/04/03/20120403lawmakers-decline-immediately-oust-patterson-from-house.html

[immoderate]

1. They're afraid because he might have sex or smoke marijuana?

Reality check!!

--imm

[Lionessa]

2. Seems a little more serious with the domestic violence etc.

Could be that the mj is actually helping keep him a tad calmer, as folks say about me when they find out that I smoke daily, "Geez, I can't imagine you without it, you're still so wound up."

Anyway from the AZ article linked in the OP,

"An ethics investigation into Patterson had alleged domestic violence, outbursts against other lawmakers and staff, marijuana use and offers to trade sex for a vote."

[immoderate]

4. Yeah, for public safety, don't take away this guy's marijuana!

I cannot say it makes people calmer, but it seems to stop them from acting out. I don't think it stops the rage; it makes it easier to say, "fuck it!"


--imm

[Lionessa]

5. Exactly. Thought you might not have seen that it was more than sex and mj

though. Domestic violence and threatening co-workers does seem pretty serious and worthy of police interference not just expulsion from politics.

[immoderate]

6. Oh, I understand. Even marijuana doesn't fix everything...

... it just makes it better!

--imm

[ges5626sek]

12. +1

[Lionessa]

3. She says she sleeps with a weapon,??? WTF

Apparently in AZ when you feel threatened you become armed instead of going through the courts and getting a restraining order against him? Seems kind of weird that with his outbursts and threats so public, she doesn't go through the courts to get him restrained AND arm herself.

I've been armed most of my adult life, so I have no problem with that, but when you have an identifiable threat, first step before thinking about armed defense should be legal defense, imo.

[thelordofhell]

7. His ex-wife and his girlfriend both tried to get restraining orders

both failed in the court

[Lionessa]

8. oh. well that explains it. my bad.

[PavePusher]

9. Disagree.

First step would be taking personal security measures, including arming yourself, if you so choose.

Working through lawyers and courts to do R.O.'s takes time, and you need to take steps to elevate your immediate protection while waiting for the legal items to process.

[MiddleFingerMom]

10. this

[ges5626sek]

11. nvm.