Patterico's Pontifications

1/10/2011

Megyn Kelly’s Quietly Devastating Cross Examination of Sheriff Dupnik

Filed under: General — Aaron Worthing @ 7:06 am



[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here.]

Clarence W. Dupnik, the Pima County sheriff, shot his mouth off over the weekend over the Giffords’ shooting, saying:

“When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous,” he said. “And unfortunately, Arizona…[has] become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

So for a little morning Rule 5 fun, we get Megyn Kelly interviewing Sherriff Dupnik.  It’s not the fiery kinds of interviews you are used to seeing from her, but that would be inappropriate.  Lawyers know this, and know how to quietly destroy a person’s credibility when it makes sense. And boy did she, here:

And no, by invoking Rule 5, I am not saying Ms. Kelly is just a pretty face. But its nice when an impressive mind is framed so well.

And this is another reason why I believe this blood libel will backfire.  We have at least one news network that will tell the truth.

[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]

55 Responses to “Megyn Kelly’s Quietly Devastating Cross Examination of Sheriff Dupnik”

  1. That’s all well and good, but this is the same network who gave that liar Rep. Clyborne yet another mouthpiece moment to smear Tea Partiers and Republicans in general yesterday morning on the Wallace show. Not only that, but their own reporter refused to admit that his intial reportage on Clyborne’s lying about usage of the ‘n” word on the WH lawn last summer was fraudulent. When even Fox news is taken in by these types, we have indeed a very long way to go.

    Dmac (498ece)

  2. That was good.

    carlitos (a3d259)

  3. Yes, Pergram’s a fool, Wallace isn’t much better, this idiot Dupnik is submerging the prosecution.

    narciso (6075d0)

  4. Media whores like the sheriff just cannot help themselves.

    elissa (a8031f)

  5. Dupnik is really being an ass about this.

    He’s had more than enough time to grow a brain. Narciso’s right that he shouldn’t be blaming anyone but the shooter, though he said right there he’s making this up as he goes, so perhaps it won’t carry much weight with a jury.

    I would watch Meghan Kelly if she looked like Jabba the Hutt. What a great parry and riposte. He doesn’t have any evidence for his claims, which are extremely and obviously political. What a piece of work.

    He sees this as a political opportunity. He doesn’t care about doing the job he swore to do.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  6. Dupnik: Democrats good, Republicans bad, speaking ill of Democrats criminal.

    Kevin M (298030)

  7. Also, I don’t know if he’s dumb enough to go back on Fox News Channel, but there’s a good chance they will not be as gentle with him next time he’s on. He admitted he had no evidence for claims that are simply abhorrent.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  8. Dustin

    he might be dumb enough to go back on if Megyn smiles at him. 🙂

    Aaron Worthing (1a6294)

  9. That’s probably a great point as to how her looks further her career. I was thinking they might actually keep her from being taking seriously… Megyn is not really much like the other Fox News Babes, IMO. But a lot of old gasbag democrats who never watch Fox News probably think they are dealing with a sweetie moron, and she uses that to get them to tell the truth.

    ‘come on grandpa, you just made all that crap up about TV and Radio, didn’t you? You have no basis for that other than you personally hating TV and radio, right? Can I have a cookie?’

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  10. dustin

    exactly, they misunderestimate her. Never write off your opponent. you gratuitously give them the element of surprise.

    Aaron Worthing (1a6294)

  11. They should know by now, she usually leaves them like Monty Python’s ‘black knight’ in recent recollections.

    narciso (6075d0)

  12. That sheriff should be in an Arizona retirement home.

    daleyrocks (e7bc4f)

  13. He is really pretty ignorant about history and she pointed out a few examples from 50 years ago. I am almost his age and I have read quite a bit about the Roosevelt administration. There was similar rhetoric at the time and Roosevelt was almost assassinated in 1933 before he was inaugurated. Anton Cermak, the mayor of Chicago was killed. Fools will blather on, unaware of their foolishness but the sheriff is really not the one to be making such statements.

    Mike K (568408)

  14. From the original home of the Ministry of Truth, the BBC;

    http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/america-s-reckless-political-language-20110109

    narciso (6075d0)

  15. he blames the deadness on Congress’s failure to pass bumble’s Disclose Act?

    For reals?

    He’s a silly monkey.

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  16. dustin

    btw, i should say my comment at 8:34 was not quite as deep as i think you thought it was.

    my thought was more like this. They say a man has enough blood for his brain, and enough for his penis, but not enough for both at the same time. 🙂

    Which is probably another major advantage she has. if you watch closely during the interview, the man is clearly suffering from low blood pressure in the brain. (kidding)

    Aaron Worthing (1a6294)

  17. Happyfeet’s comment to Karl’s post was the funniest thing I’ve read in at least 3 days.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  18. It really was, it was worthy of Treacher, if not Iowahawk

    narciso (6075d0)

  19. Well, Aaron, I don’t know that Dupnik is capable of appreciating a Fox News Babe that way. Maybe he is, but I personally got the impression that he’s extremely arrogant and thinks his personal opinion, with no facts behind it, is the most important thing to talk about when people ask about a homicide in his jurisdiction.

    He was so arrogant about his loathing of media that I suspect greatly he doesn’t listen or watch it. He rejects them because they bashed Obamacare, and then stacked on his myths to demonize them.

    Because of this attitude, he completely failed to understand that Kelly wasn’t foolishly stepping in the issue, enabling Dupnik to trash FNC. She was asking him a direct question in hopes of using the answer to inform the audience, and capable of reflecting on his answer quickly.

    So here he is admitting he made it all up. That’s simply superior journalism than you’ll EVER see on CNN or MSNBC or CBS, etc. We can go a lot further into the soul of a man who would want to use this tragedy for political ambition and fame, but I barely even care that there’s another example of trash out there.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  20. Comment by Aaron Worthing — 1/10/2011 @ 9:19 am

    Short hand:
    Don’t let the little-head do the thinking for the big-head!

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  21. Dupnik arrogance…
    I think that in his own mind he is in competition with Joe Arpaio.
    Fortunately for the rest of AZ, he’s losing.

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  22. Yes, he grew up in a better time, when these things didn’t happen.

    Kennedy was never shot, nor was Dr King.

    Also, those darn blacks knew their place! Why can’t things be like they were?

    The Departed (d027b8)

  23. Here’s Sheriff Dupnik last summer explaining that illegal immigration is no big deal in Arizona, and how, you guessed it, “right-wingers” are the real problem.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b82Of8fSQs&feature=player_embedded

    At the 5:45 mark he assures us that Mexican drug violence is not spilling across the border into Arizona. Apparently he doesn’t speak with the sheriff of the next county north of him who commented on the subject two months earlier.

    http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/other/mexican-drug-cartels-now-control-parts-of-arizona

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  24. KVOA Tucson explains the need for the Bureau of Land Management to erect these signs two months prior to Sheriff Dupnik’s denial of Mexican drug cartels being a danger in Arizona.

    The US Bureau of Land Management are obviously right-wing bigots.

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  25. Wow, Narciso. That’s just all kinds of messed up.

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  26. Dupnik apparently isn’t doing his job effectively.

    Maybe instead of calling his jurisdiction a mecca of bigots, blaming people for murder with no evidence, and generally being a political gasbag all the time, he should start doing his damn job.

    If it turns out that Dupnik’s office simply dropped the ball on Jared Loughner, then that really helps complete the picture on this Sheriff.

    I suspect he’s just totally ineffective. The county near him is struggling with violent drug runners, and part of the reason is probably because he refuses to do his job. Disturbed crazy people wind up going on a shooting spree because he’s not very interested in his real work and would rather be on TV.

    I don’t think Dupnik is inventing his accusations in an effort to divert attention from his dropping the ball… I just think he’s probably so obsessed with politicizing his work that he’s completely ineffective, and the result is that crime will be a bigger problem. That entire area is full of problems stemming from the border, and I’m sure it really hurts that his jurisdiction doesn’t enforce the law if the politics aren’t up to Dupnik’s liking.

    There is that darker possibility that Dupnik knows he failed, and is trying to preemptively attack the media that is about to enlighten his voters.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  27. And perhaps some will think I go too far, but DRJ’s links on this character where extremely disturbing. Anyone who was investigating him before the shooting should have been able to determine he is a ticking time bomb. He was completely crazy, and had an established problem with Giffords that had absolutely nothing to do with Obamacare or Fox News (as Dupnik suggested).

    They should have been keeping an eye on him, and noticed his updates that suggested an imminent attack. I can excuse this if they had no clue to pay attention to Jared. But…

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  28. “Here’s Sheriff Dupnik last summer explaining that illegal immigration is no big deal in Arizona, and how, you guessed it, “right-wingers” are the real problem.”

    Blue Ox – I think he must have talked to Janet Napolitano who told him the system was working.

    Plus, if Jared had shouting Allahu Akbar before pulling the trigger, I’m betting the sheriff would have just been sticking to facts in front of the media.

    daleyrocks (e7bc4f)

  29. dustin

    i won’t say you’ve gone too far, but i think i its 20/20 hindsight. there are creepy people all over the place. most don’t go off, but when one does, we are like “the signs were all there.”

    i mean kman has an obsession with me. do i think he will get violent? nope. But if you found me dead tomorrow and kman standing over the corpse everyone would be like “we saw the signs.”

    ditto with a certain flute playing moron from tennessee.

    i guess i am afraid of a government investigating people for acting a little weird. i don’t want government to know that much or to have that much power. there are lots of people who act odd that never harm a fly.

    Aaron Worthing (b1db52)

  30. I just can’t get out of my head wondering what that little girl’s parents are going through today.

    Dupnik isn’t perfect and is bound to drop the ball sometimes, so it’s unfair to lay this at his feet. But he seems like a particularly unfocused police officer, and he should work harder ensuring his community is safe, instead of trying to score cheap points and glorify himself as the watchdog of the news.

    He should apologize and stop talking to the media altogether. Get someone to be a spokesman to relate just the facts. Let this family have the measure of justice it can find. There could be real problems with that if the Sheriff continues to expand the list of people other than the shooter who are to blame, or merely makes the police look incompetent.

    This is so much more serious, to the victims and their families, than Dupnik’s long habit of moaning to the cameras.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  31. dustin

    we live in a completely f—ed up age. too many media whores around. there, i said it.

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  32. i guess i am afraid of a government investigating people for acting a little weird. i don’t want government to know that much or to have that much power. there are lots of people who act odd that never harm a fly.

    Comment by Aaron Worthing

    Great point. You’re right.

    However, we have people whose job it is to monitor potential violent threats. In my opinion, Loughner’s final videos and commentary were obvious indications he was about to get extremely violent towards Giffords. They had a history, and the police had enough exposure to Jared to know they should google him, see exactly who he is, and hopefully turn his name over the Homeland Security.

    Just my opinion. Yes, this amounts to some level of investigation for mere weirdness, but not much investigation before you realize it’s worse than Kman level screen lickery.

    My concern is that they didn’t have an officer at the Giffords public event, even though I think that measure was justified.

    At any rate, I feel most of my frustration here because of how obviously unserious Dupnik is about investigating and discussing this case and his job. That kind of attitude has a major impact on the performance of his department.

    It’s not fair to lay this at anyone’s feet but the shooter, but I think someone could have seen the signs, as you say, had someone been looking. I hope we don’t learn his family had more indication of his problems. Wasn’t one of his myspace pals deleting his video comments, including the violent stuff, just after the shooting?

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  33. However, we have people whose job it is to monitor potential violent threats.

    We do? That’s news to me, Dustin.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  34. “i won’t say you’ve gone too far”

    A.W. – Check your mail.

    daleyrocks (e7bc4f)

  35. We do? That’s news to me, Dustin.

    Comment by SPQR —

    I probably deserve a little flack for this.

    Perhaps it’s not a good thing that DHS looks after a number of people it perceives as a threat.

    But yes, there are a lot of people who pay attention to crazy people, and then react if things seem to heat up. I suppose it would take an industrial scale of scrutiny to look at every youtube video from every crank, though. I’m probably out of line.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  36. A.W. – Nevermind, Dustin already linked what I sent you.

    daleyrocks (e7bc4f)

  37. The reports say Judge Roll did not file charges against people who threatened him at the recommendation of law enforcement, possibly the Secret Service. Dustin also links unconfirmed reports that Loughner was making threats and law enforcement discouraged the victims from filing charges. My experience is that this is a common recommendation, because the charges often end up being watered down and the conventional wisdom is that the person charged may get even more motivated to target the people who filed charges.

    If it turns out Loughner was threatening people, this case may make law enforcement and victims rethink whether or not to file charges against those who harass or threaten them.

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  38. Had some friends over on Saturday when news of the shooting came across. Several, who all work for State government (not AZ) immediately remarked how some Tea Party nutcase must have been mad about AZ’s immigration law. They then wished death upon Sarah Palin. This was within 30 seconds of hearing of the case.

    Oh yeah, Sheriff Dupnik, those right-wingers are clearly unhinged.

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  39. i guess i am afraid of a government investigating people for acting a little weird. i don’t want government to know that much or to have that much power. there are lots of people who act odd that never harm a fly.

    Comment by Aaron Worthing

    True enough, I suppose. However, there is more than just talking a little crazy in Jared’s past. The guy was calling and making threats all over the place. I’m pretty sure that passes “nutty” and goes straight into “We need to send someone to this guy’s house”

    The Departed (d027b8)

  40. Dustin, DHS is watching only a narrow set of people. Secret Service will do a minimal amount for people who send death threats to the White House. No LEO has general responsibility for “watching” people who are showing signs of mental disturbance in general.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  41. btw, they say he was a loner who mostly played video games. so i expect someone to propose banning violent video games in 3… 2… 1…

    Aaron Worthing (e7d72e)

  42. “And unfortunately, Arizona…[has] become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

    I take that to mean that all kinds of Democrats are moving there.

    Dave Surls (335dec)

  43. Comment by Dustin — 1/10/2011 @ 11:57 am
    Why weren’t we warned about Loughner by the SPLC?
    Isn’t it their job to monitor the nut-cakes – or do they only look to the right (rhetorical question)?

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  44. #

    Dustin, DHS is watching only a narrow set of people. Secret Service will do a minimal amount for people who send death threats to the White House. No LEO has general responsibility for “watching” people who are showing signs of mental disturbance in general.

    Comment by SPQR — 1/10/2011 @ 12:13 pm

    The distinction I am making is that after the department knew he was making threats, they could have checked him out and determined he was really quite disturbed. More than some ‘sign of mental disturbance’, but rather ‘this is why the bodies are going to hit the floor when I shoot you with this gun right here’, basically.

    If they didn’t have the manpower to identify him as a threatening creep, I understand that. However, I say EVERY LEO has a general responsibility to keep an eye on people who issue threats. Every damn one.

    But then, they have other things to do and can’t be expected to watch this guy’s youtubes every day. If they had, I think they had more than enough cause to make sure there was an officer at Giffords’s public event, but perhaps I’m out of line.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  45. It’s going to be fun to see the look on Sheriff Dupnik’s face when Loughner’s defense is that the neighbor’s Dachshund had been warning him that Rep. Giffords was really Cruella DeVille.

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  46. And LEOs are also responsible for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect civilians, which I realize is something some LEOs have denied upon occasion. Like I said, the complete lack of seriousness in Dupnik’s attitude is an infection disease that is probably part of the problem in that region. His commentary on immigration probably do not fall on favorable ears in departments nearby.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  47. Comment by Blue Ox — 1/10/2011 @ 12:01 pm
    Since I don’t have any insight into the workings of the Leftist mind (does anyone?), I fail to see how TEA Partiers or anyone from the Right would be upset with AZ for their immigration laws. If anything, they would be upset with the Fed Dist Judge who declared that law unconstitutional, or Sheriff Dupnik who proclaimed that he wouldn’t enforce it.

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  48. Dustin,

    Dupnik has a ready-made excuse on the threat issue.

    Arizona’s new gun laws are to blame. Oh, and Republicans.

    Meanwhile, Mexican drug trafficers in next door Pimal county have no trouble obtaining AK47’s to shoot deputies.

    Blue Ox (ff919a)

  49. I blame Pelosi for inflaming the electorate that resulted in the death of a precious child and other irreplacable and loved people

    And the good congresswoman victim, innocent as she is, I wonder years from now will she ever reflect on the fact that it was an evil private enterprize medical system that had some of the very brightest and taleted doctors on site right there to save her life, whereas anywhere else she might have been traiged as fatally wounded and would have most certainly perished

    I’m glad the very system she voted recently to dismantle was able to save her life and perhaps preserve the quality of her life and I pray that this lesson is not lost on everyone as it comes up to a vote soon (ugly as it is we have to go on)

    Attack Sarah Palin leftys’ but her presence on the death panels comment certainly looms large in a scenario where a gravely wounded person such as Representative Giffords is facing routine triage

    For those who blame her – it was Palin’s stand on this bill that may in some part be more responsible for saving her life than she was for the attack on Giffords (if at all).

    EricPWJohnson (8a4ca7)

  50. “…I don’t have any insight into the workings of the Leftist mind (does anyone?)”

    Sure, there’s people who specialize in the field of abnormal psychology.

    Dave Surls (335dec)

  51. Dave, they’re certainly doing a bang up job of it (sic).

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  52. Lighten up folks, he is just an old timer giving his biased opinion. While I certainly don’t agree with the old coot, he is still living in a different time in his mind and just doesn’t feel comfortable with today’s political interplay. If he just could spend more time watching Fox instead of cnn, he could keep up with the times.

    LA (10ef08)

  53. he is still living in a different time in his mind and just doesn’t feel comfortable with today’s political interplay.

    What era do you think he comes from? Is political discourse not drastically improved in America since a generation ago? Seems like everything got much better around 1982 or so. We had a horrible era of evil politics and rhetoric and scumbags, and while things are certainly not perfect today (and perhaps more short attention span oriented) I think we are in a better time than whatever time this gasbag wants to get back to.

    Also, his department told people they had this Jared killer under control. If he’s just some senile crazy old fella you want to hug, maybe he shouldn’t be Sheriff.

    Dustin (b54cdc)


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