Tom Horne's Hearings Rescheduled: Will the AG Beat the Rap?

Kimerer is expected to file a brief this week arguing that Horne's right to due process was violated and that the county attorney unlawfully brought this action against Horne.

The MCAO will respond. And Eigenheer eventually will rule on it.

If Eigenheer finds the county attorney does have jurisdiction, the hearing will proceed, though her decision could be the basis for a later appeal by Horne and Winn.

If she finds that the MCAO does not have jurisdiction, the case would be dismissed.

"I definitely think that jurisdiction is an issue that would have to be established before we could go forward," the Eigenheer stated, adding, "I don't see the point of wasting everyone's time if it turns out there is no jurisdiction."

I know the feeling. I'm beginning to wonder why we bother to go through this hick-state Kabuki theater when it comes to addressing bald-faced corruption.

Might as well do what a Maricopa County superior court judge suggested recently and overturn all of our campaign finance laws in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United case.

I mean, listen to the recording of the December 6 hearing yourself. Eigenheer seems as if she'd be content to let the MCAO and the attorneys for Winn and Horne work the whole thing out between themselves.

"As far as discovery goes," she tells the lawyers, "if the parties can get together and resolve, specify what the issues are, stipulate to exhibits, stipulate to any allegations...any fact issues, [then] that will cut down a lot on our time...and I think will be better for everyone involved."

Corruption persists when the public allows it to exist, tolerates it, becomes complacent to it. Politicians like Horne and their lawyers assume that all they have to do is wait us out, till we move on to the next outrage, the next travesty.

The Hornes of the world emerge from the sewer with a slap on the wrist and a smile on their faces. They know they can appeal even the slap, and end up with a nudge, at best.

Shamelessness, in their world, is a virtue.

Karma will catch up to Horne in the form of an opponent willing to throw his state-financed gal-pal in voters' faces, as well as the litany of his other transgressions. And for that. we'll have to wait about a year and a half, until the GOP primary is in full swing.