My Email to Michael McCrum
I just sent this to Michael McCrum via his online form:
Mr. McCrum,
You should be deeply ashamed of yourself. This prosecution is a joke. It is perhaps one of the most outrageous abuses of power by a prosecutor I have heard of in years. I’m a prosecutor myself — writing you on my own and not speaking for my office — and I just want you to know that your actions tar good prosecutors everywhere. Thank God you never became U.S. Attorney. I hope you lose quickly and are drummed out of public life in disgrace.
Patrick Frey
Los Angeles
Too nice?
UPDATE: Thanks to Scott Johnson at PowerLine for the link.
UPDATE x2: Add one more voice to the mix. From the comments, Jeff Greeson, a prosecutor in Northern California, says he sent McCrum this:
I am a prosecutor in Northern California, but I write today as a citizen, and am not expressing the opinion of my employer or the elected district attorney.
Your abuse of the judicial process is a crime against democracy itself. I hope whatever tawdry political favor you are going to get from the Harris County democrat party machine was worth your personal honor. While I am not familiar with the Texas Bar’s ethics code, I cannot conceive of an ethical system that would permit a cheap political prank disguised as a solemn legal duty. You have brought great shame on yourself and our profession.
Nicely said.
I hope I don’t get indicted for felony expression of opinion!
Patterico (9c670f) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:13 pmfor serious Mr. P
doesn’t the Texas Bar have a duty to discipline this bozo?
people pay dues for some reason no?
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:14 pmI live in San Antonio, want anything hand delivered?
BradnSA (5f3184) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:16 pmhe’s gonna sic BK on you… 😎
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:28 pm“You should be deeply ashamed.”
The operative phrase is “should be”.
But, as we all know, if Mr. McCrum had any shame to begin with, we wouldn’t be typing these words now.
PCachu (e072b7) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:29 pmthe attaboys Rick Perry is receiving really do a lot to underscore the sexism inherent in the equally approving reaction the R’s had to Palin’s resignation under similar circumstances
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:41 pmNo matter the urge to write, that’s the kind of letter it’s best to hold off sending till tomorrow.
ropelight (d138fa) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:51 pm?
tomorrow is Sunday Mr. ropelight
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:57 pmher finalstraw was when the defense fund against frivolous ethics complaints, was subject to an ethics complaint, that was when things became too ridiculous.
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:07 pmmore ridiculous than being sued over a veto?
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:10 pmI can rest content tonight, knowing that Mr. Crum has encountered just consequences for his disgusting behavior.
Um, but I must say, if he looks you up, it may be hard for him to take you seriously once he sees your avatar, just sayin’. 😉
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:12 pmI guess it is one of those unintended consequence thingies,
(maybe you ought to have an alter avatar that looks more like Clint Eastwood- NOT done in Simpsons style)
Republicans pat little girl governors on the head and say that’s ok sweetie they were being so mean
but little boy governors they say we’re behind you go kick some ass hell yeah
it’s just who they are
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:18 pmhttp://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Defense-lawyer-DA-spar-at-contempt-hearing-5154150.php
of course, it could be a big misunderstanding.
Michael Ejercito (becea5) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:20 pmhappyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 5:41 pm
Palin resigned because of a drinking problem?
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:20 pmMD in Philly, now you know why I stick to my far more handsome avatar rather than get one made like Patterico’s.
SPQR (c4e119) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:29 pmIt is perhaps one of the most outrageous abuses of power by a prosecutor I have heard of in years.
There was the prosecution of Tom Delay, but yes, this is worse.
This seems to be a habit in Texas.
Sammy Finkelman (dbec95) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:44 pmWhy is it that it seems that putting a “D” near your name makes one unable to consider the long-term political consequences of one’s actions?
MunDane (932862) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:53 pmHere is a comment on another forum.
Michael Ejercito (becea5) — 8/16/2014 @ 6:59 pmDemocrats: Protecting drunken public officials since 1969
JRob (124668) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:09 pm“I live in San Antonio, want anything hand delivered?”
BradnSA (5f3184)
Show him the basement at the Alamo…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:09 pmI don’t think you were quite clear enough about where you stood on the issue. 🙂
Seriously, I hope your tax documents are in order.
Patricia (5fc097) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:15 pmThey’ll have a hard time with the cognitive dissonance created by the content of your message, Patrick, and the “Los Angeles” location. “Wha- wha- what’s this? Someone from California who doesn’t want to help us lynch Rick Perry? That just can’t be, can it?”
They might assume you’re from Los Angeles, Texas.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:17 pmMr. Finkelman (#16 — 8/16/2014 @ 6:44 pm): Don’t confuse Travis County with the rest of Texas. But yes, political prosecutions do indeed have a very long history in Travis County. They happened even when Texas was a one-party (Democratic) state from the end of Reconstruction through the mid-1990s. And they’ve just gotten much worse since the rest of the state went deep red while Travis County stayed bright blue.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:21 pmPerfect letter to perfect idiot. Huge props for sending it.
Kevin Stafford (5a2acb) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:25 pmSo if it goes to Trial will the voir dire have any questions concerning the taking of a “fifth
EPWJ (8b746f) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:30 pmThe word “perhaps” doesn’t belong, but otherwise it’s great.
Alan (4ba191) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:35 pmToo nice? heck yes.
Don’t hold back: tell him how you really feel.
You should also include your legal analysis why the indictments themselves are bunk.
If you are kind to the cruel then you will eventually be cruel to the kind.
Vice versa: if you are nice to those who are mean then you will eventually have to be mean to those who are nice.
Now’s NOT the time for niceties.
chaz (dc8610) — 8/16/2014 @ 7:35 pmTheir online form probably goes directly to /dev/null.
Dave (in MA) (c98058) — 8/16/2014 @ 8:06 pmI’m just glad to know I didn’t Kalifornicate this state by moving here. Clearly the seeds of destruction were already sown.
But I’m willing to work against it if everyone else is. I propose making it a felony to be from Austin.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 8:11 pmI thought it *did* look like Clint Eastwood. Just maybe more bad-ass. . .
. . . and in Simpsons style.
Patterico (cbc81a) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:09 pmAlan,
Yeah, but there have been a lot of those. I am sad to say.
chaz,
I was kidding about the too nice thing.
Patterico (cbc81a) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:11 pmKevin Stafford,
Thank you. High praise, always appreciated when it comes from you.
Patterico (cbc81a) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:12 pmFeets, your comparison between this and Palin is ridiculous. Perry’s job performance will not be affected at all. He can pretty much ignore this indictment; if and when it ever comes to trial, he can send a state-paid lawyer to move for dismissal. And it has no impact at all on his staff. Palin was facing a situation where dealing with the frivolous ethics complaints was going to consume all of her time, and all of her staff’s time, paying for her lawyers was bankrupting her, the legal fund was itself subject to an ethics complaint — the only one that ended up being upheld! — and most importantly her staff was facing the same situation. They were also having to pay lawyers, and facing bankruptcy as a result. Nobody even tried to set up a legal fund for them. That was not fair on them, and in that situation nobody in his right mind would continue to work for her, or take employment with her. I was disappointed with her decision, but really, what else could she have done? What would you have done in her place?
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:25 pmGreat letter, Patterico, and some really great posts today re Gov. Perry’s predicament.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:28 pmi would’ve fulfilled my oath
palin bailed like a coward and became a cheap cable news propaganda slut
rick perry won’t give them the satisfaction
advantage: rick perry
Hodaka Combat Wombat
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:31 pmyou can’t surrender to these people and their tactics
and that should be the very *minimum* what people who vote for you or, god bless, fund your campaign, can expect in return for their votes or monies
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:40 pmThe was a typo in there – McCrum is spelled twatwaffle.
JD (285732) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:42 pmYou know how Mr.Feet gets about the former governor, milhouse.. As I recall, even Mr. Goldstein had to tell him ixnay on the utslay business. No different today. The fellow can’t help it.
Getting back to the point of this thread, I always wanted to like Governor Perry, and thought he had been poorly treated. . The way he handled this nonsense made me think very highly of him. Great speech today, and many folks seeing how dirty the indictments were.
I don’t know that your letter will change a thing, Patterico. But I’m glad you wrote it.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:45 pmpalin bailed like a coward and became a cheap cable news propaganda slut
oh good grief, happyfeet, it’s amazing that you’ve consistently held Palin in contempt for doing about the only thing she could, and never once have I heard you hold in contempt those who filed the endlessly frivolous lawsuits. Shouldn’t *they* be the ones deserving of your contempt? Why not those who drove her to the decision instead?
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:45 pmI thought that was your Wall Street Journal-style portrait, Patrick. No?
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:45 pmno you do not understand why i am contemptuous of Palin Dana
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:47 pmand it is not unrelated really to the travails of our governor friend from Texas
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:47 pmI agree Dana, but here comes more of the ick, I’m sure.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:47 pmYou brought her up, feets, using her name and “slut” in the same sentence.
No matter, this is about Perry, not Palin.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:53 pmi thought it ridiculous that she quit the job she’d campaigned for yes
but what makes me sick about Palin is how she bailed on her job and then pretended like she was still somehow worthy of the presidency come 2012
LOL
someone who couldn’t handle a governorship from an insignificant practice state like Alaska
and remember, this was of the same moment when americans were being treated to the mind-blowing concept that a pothead empty-suited loser like barack obama was himself of presidential caliber
and what happened in 2012?
our good friend rick “momo” perry entered the race late late late and woefully unprepared why?
cause he’d dithered while waiting for lightweight tea party superstud Sarah Palin to make up her mind if she’d deign to run for president or, you know, (hairflip) maybe do some more reality tv
and so weirdo willard won cause the teadoodles couldn’t get their act together
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:55 pmImagine if Palin became a baker with a side business of dress making. hf’s little noggin would exploderate!
Gazzer (42663b) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:57 pmHeh.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 9:57 pmYeah…2012. That was some Presidential election. I remember voting in it.
I’m always amazed by people who didn’t, who seem quite concerned now about what happened. I’ll take all the weirdos and such who did vote in that election, any time.
But that’s probably pretty unfair of me.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:06 pmand for the record Dana – because records are key – i used the phrase “propaganda slut”
which is a GREAT phrase i will have you know
and it’s a phrase i use liberally to denote any kind of “journalist” – of any gender under the sun – or any kind of commentator – of any gender under the sun – what resides in the ether of failmerica’s sad pitiful excuse of what passes as news media here – be they personages what dabble in print or cable or broadcast tv or even online
the keyword is propaganda, whilst “slut” indicates that they are bought and sold like prostitutes – and that there’s no good reason to get all too invested in taking down or exposing any given one – they’re quintessentially fungible you see because the service they provide is just filler
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:09 pmWhat on earth is that first rule of holes? Oh, yes: quit digging.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:11 pmand yes if Palin opened one of them gay-hating bakeries I’d probably have an aneurysm
god bless america land that i love
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:11 pmNo officeholder takes an oath to serve the full term. Lots of people quit mid-term, often because they’ve decided they like some other job better. E.g. if Palin had been elected VP in 2008 she’d have resigned the governorship then; would that somehow be oath-breaking?
So let’s finally hear what you would have done in her place, feets. In detail. Explain how you would have been able to keep governing the state, how you would have been able to keep a staff, how you would have kept your obligation of loyalty to your current staff who were being bankrupted by legal fees, and how you would have been able to save your own family from bankruptcy.
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:11 pmlook Mr. Jester it’s just my perspective and if it were a super-commonly-held perspective it really wouldn’t be worth all this typing now would it
no it wouldn’t
so there you go
I’m a giver
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:12 pmhappyfeet @ 50,
I agree. You’re most certainly an equal-opportunity slut.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:12 pmHow did she do that? What did she say or do that “pretended” this? Mind you, I think she was worthy of it, and I hoped she would run, and I think if she had she could have won, but she didn’t. So tell me what she did to justify your claim.
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:13 pmplease cite the part of her oath she didn’t fulfill.
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:14 pmOops. Should have been a “propaganda” in there, but you know what I mean.
Dana (4dbf62) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:14 pmAh, it won’t matter, milhouse. The guy has issues on this topic, and he is a popular guy. The sooner he quits explaining how he isn’t a misogynist because he calls people “sluts” and “hootchies,” the better.
The former Governor is really, really under his skin. Deep. It’s not the usual flippancy.
So the sooner there is a new topic, the better.
But that’s just my opinion. I’m no expert, and just one voice.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:15 pmMr. M
she failed
it’s that simple
her governorship was a failed one
she lost
they won
they were emboldened
she was diminished
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:16 pmPalin/Perry 2016!
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:17 pmTeh Attack of the Governators!
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:17 pmHappyfeet’s hatred of Palin never fails to lead him to delusional statements.
SPQR (c4e119) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:21 pmyes yes yes I do my part Dana
but you have to trust my heart is in the right place
i believe that 2012 was the last election of any consequence this little country will see
and it makes me sad
but angry too
it’s not just Sarah Palin what’s the target of my anger disillusionment rage disappointment despair
Mitch Daniels is another who shirked his duty
and Rick Perry should’ve had his act together – I supported him when he entered the race and then
and then he quickly became embarrassing – especially when he targeted the gay soldiers – guys who put their lives on the line in the prosecution of America’s strange and quixotic military adventures – as if they were somehow the root of all that sucks in failmerica
and that pizza boy guy
what’s up with all those chippies?
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:21 pmOh, my…
“…i believe that 2012 was the last election of any consequence this little country will see…”
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:24 pmThat’s ironic, dude.
please cite the part of her oath she didn’t fulfill
i actually tried once to nail down the oath she took
google google google
but all I found were lefty sites that had tried the same thing and published their best guess, but by no means were they able to provide any documentation that the oath they cited was indeed the oath Palin took
I guess cause the wee small part of Alaska what is governed by their governor is so obscure and tangential to American life, people don’t bother to keep records
you have to remember that the vast majority of the state is owned by sleazy federal bureaucrats
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:26 pmit’s not ironic Mr. Jester i lived in California
i could’ve voted til i developed callouses in unseemly places and food stamp would’ve still defeated weirdo willard
soundly
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:29 pmGoogle is your friend:
§ 5. Oath of Office
All public officers, before entering upon the duties of their offices, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Alaska, and that I will faithfully discharge my duties as . . . to the best of my ability.” The legislature may prescribe further oaths or affirmations.
http://ltgov.alaska.gov/treadwell/services/alaska-constitution/article-xii-96A0general-provisions.html
nk (dbc370) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:34 pmyeah i found that Mr. nk but there’s no way to say for sure that that’s the sum total of what Sarah swore she’d do
but what we do know is she bailed
which is FINE
(sort of)
it just means your political career is over and you’re there-to-fore about as or less presidential than an organic rutabaga
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:38 pmwhich is the same as an organic turnip
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:39 pmYou have said that before, Mr. Feet. Your privilege not to vote.
I just thought your diatribe about people “not doing their part” was odd, given that fact.
Maybe you are right. But I know that I felt better voting, and so when I don’t like how things are going, I know that I did what I could to prevent it.
To each their own.
Simon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:42 pmyes yes yes I’m glad you felt good about voting
nobody can ever take that way from you
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:46 pmI think I know how you feel. I have spent all my life playing with knives, and concluded that Victorinox sells a better knife than the pioneers fought Indians and killed bears with for $26.47 plus shipping. It kind of makes your wonder if you should care about anything deeply, you know.
nk (dbc370) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:46 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/05/19/how-a-texas-district-attorneys-dwi-arrest-led-to-a-criminal-probe-of-gov-rick-perry/
Michael Ejercito (becea5) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:48 pmhey let’s kill some bears
you and me
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:49 pmon average bears eat two of us americans every year you know
i know this cause of Mr. instapundit was upset this week about the population growth of eurasian brown bears – so i googled
which – turns out – eurasian brown bears are not at all deadly really
they’ve killed like 2 people in the last 70 years or something
whereas american bears are much more productively murderous
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:52 pma cheap cable news propaganda slut
I doubt if any of the cable orgs that have dealt with Sarah Palin would describe her as particularly “cheap”.
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:07 pmPersonally, I’d like to see more bears and fewer academic lawyers. But that’s just me. You’ll never guess what the most dangerous North American mammal is. I thought it was the domesticated bull, myself, but I was wrong. http://reason.com/archives/2001/11/21/north-americas-most-dangerous
nk (dbc370) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:09 pmYeah!
Although if I was buying new , and this is important, a Royal Enfield.
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/Military/
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:12 pmOh, and thanks to all who weighed in on the two stroke oil question. Which was nobody.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:14 pmi haven’t seen any deer here in like a month
it must be a drought thing i guess
plus the fawns are all turning into yearlings around now so I think that means they can sleep longer during the day
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:20 pmI think it needs to be pointed out, also, that how productively murderous bears are depends greatly on where you live. The chance of you getting the final chop from a bear varies greatly if you live in Guam as opposed to next door to Glacier National Park.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:20 pmyes yes yes
Glacier is ground zero for a-bear-ate-my-face
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:21 pmi’m hoping to roadtrip to chicago through there if i get that job
not a for reals roadtrip just a sort of scouting get the lay of the land kind
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:23 pmI’ll be glad to show you around. I don’t have much to do these days.
nk (dbc370) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:30 pmChicago?
Let me tell you about Chicago.
Never been there. But I know how the USS Chicago was sunk. The fleet tug Navajo swung her bow around into the attack. Still, she was sunk so quickly the crew didn’t even have time to strike the colors.
I know about this because my dad served in Navajo’s sister, the Cherokee. I’ve always had a soft spot for fleet tugs. And Navajo did all she could.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:34 pmChicago had been injured in a previous engagement, hence Navajo’s involvement at the Battle of Rennell Island, in case that wasn’t clear.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:52 pmSometimes Feets, we may wonder whether you are a serious person. No offense.
gary gulrud (46ca75) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:54 pmi’m a be in your hod I think Mr. nk
Mr. gary I’m super serious I promise
just not as serious as Mr. 57
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:59 pm*hood*
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:59 pmAm I a bad guy?
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:06 amnonono
just serious is all
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:26 amI learned it from my dad. I figured I owed it to my sailors. To be serious.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:36 amA bigot writes about Palin: “i would’ve fulfilled my oath”. That looks like a goddamned lie to me. Her legal bills were adding up to more than her gross pay, which means they were much more than her net pay and she wasn’t just working for free, but working for negative pay. If she were a Rockefeller or a Kennedy, she could have lived off her inherited millions, but she doesn’t have any. She wasn’t allowed to take contributions to help pay her legal expenses, either. Nevertheless, she hung on for months (more than a year, I believe) to finish up the big Canadian pipeline deal and make sure her Lieutenant Governor was ready to step in and continue the job she had been doing before resigning. Anyone who criticizes her for ‘quitting’ is either ignorant or dishonest or both.
Dr. Weevil (3fb27f) — 8/17/2014 @ 5:26 amMr Feet wrote:
As I recall, former Governor Palin did not run for President in 2012. Such would seem inconsistent with your claim that she “pretended like she was still somehow worthy of the presidency come 2012.”
The Dana who spotted the flaw (1b79fa) — 8/17/2014 @ 7:12 amI s’pose, using the criterion specified by Mr Feet, Barack Hussein Obama, who resigned from his elected office as a Senator, failed in his duty, as did the younger George Bush, who resigned from his job as Governor of Texas, as did Eric Cantor, who, following his primary defeat, resigned early from the House of Representatives, as did . . . need I go on?
The constitution of Alaska specified an individual to become governor in the event that the sitting governor left office early; Mrs Palin’s resignation did not leave the state untended. Personally, I believe that she made the wrong move, and that she should have completed her term, but I don’t see the resignation as somehow abandoning her duty.
The Dana who never resigned a political office . . . because he never held one (1b79fa) — 8/17/2014 @ 7:27 am“i would’ve fulfilled my oath
palin bailed like a coward and became a cheap cable news propaganda slut”
I stopped reading your comments a while ago. I accidentally saw this one and was reassured that I had done the right thing by ignoring you.
Mike K (b5c01a) — 8/17/2014 @ 7:31 am“For months, Palin has been stoking rumors that she would get into the race — launching a bus tour that took her to New Hampshire and Iowa…” Washington Post 10/05/2011.
This is from a story reporting that Palin would not run in 2012 which certainly implies that Palin was, in fact, seriously considering running. Overall I am with potential new Chicagoan, Happyfeet, on this one. Consider this, Newt Gingrich took a great deal of heat over a $500,000 dollar book advance back in 1994 after the R’s won control of the House for the first time in 50 years. He said something like “I have to look out for my family..” in rationalizing why he would take the advance. (Forget that those issues would never have been raised if Gingrich were a D). Gingrich would go on, after leaving office, to rake in millions. The same would have been true of Palin. She should have stayed in office and fought it out. Yes it would have been a formidable task, but in my opinion, she chose the easy way out. Given the way the press is overtly hostile to R’s in general and R women, especially one as telegenic as Palin, in particular, her task would have been very very difficult. I get that, but that is the lay of the land politically for conservatives everywhere and I wish she had stayed and fought. Palin needed more seasoning, but she had a great deal of potential. The good guys lost one when she stepped down.
P.S. Happyfeet, I have lived in Chicago most of my life. As I have said many times, there are 3 total conservatives that live in Chicago. I have yet to meet the other 2. Maybe you will be the second one. (:
Ipso Fatso (10964d) — 8/17/2014 @ 7:40 amP.S. Happyfeet, I have lived in Chicago most of my life. As I have said many times, there are 3 total conservatives that live in Chicago. I have yet to meet the other 2. Maybe you will be the second one. (:
If he’s the type who’d fit the label of conservative but only in the context of your city (or most typical urban areas throughout the US), that illustrates why such communities ultimately have to depend not on their governance, politics or politicians, but on their demographics. Namely, if such cities are attracting or luring in enough well-educated, skilled, talented residents. Take that away from a city, then mix in plenty of loony-bin leftism, and — voila! — you end up with a Detroit.
Mark (a847d2) — 8/17/2014 @ 7:52 amhttp://www.mccrumlegal.com/Profile/
I suppose this is the type of legal work one might expect for a top graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law (http://thirdtierreality.blogspot.com/2011/03/reprehensible-waste-pile-fourth-tier-st.html).
Lorem Ipsum (cee048) — 8/17/2014 @ 8:03 amLI, see my comment on the other thread. https://patterico.com/2014/08/16/jonathan-chait-is-correct-this-indictment-of-rick-perry-is-unbelievably-ridiculous-with-bonus-detailed-legal-analysis/#comment-1671884 😉
nk (dbc370) — 8/17/2014 @ 8:07 amMr. feets also wrote:
But apparently it’s not FINE. Sarah Palin got out of politics and is doing cable TV.
Which if Mr. feets meant what he said should be FINE with him. That it’s FINE to quit as long as you realize your political career is over. So then she quit politics and went into TV. All of a sudden, that’s not FINE, either. What would be FINE with Mr. feets, if you’re Sarah Palin? Dunno. Maybe what Mr. feets meant was that if you’re Sarah Palin it’s FINE to quit as long as you realize you should then just die.
If a bear makes number 2 in the woods, Mr. feets, and nobody is around to see it, is Sarah Palin still wrong?
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 8:12 amSarah Palin would be fine in happyfeet’s eyes if she were to come out as a proud member of the GLBT and declare she was getting married to a woman.
Mark (a847d2) — 8/17/2014 @ 8:21 amMark @103, true. But it’s also kind of fascist.
I have no idea what occupations Sarah Palin should be restricted to in order to make up for being Sarah Palin. Mr. feets has ideas on the subject, it appears.
Do you have a list of what things Sarah Palin can do, Mr. feets? Because I don’t think Todd (I think that’s his name) makes enough to pay off the legal bills.
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 8:37 amIpso facto:
You’re ignoring 1. That fighting the complaints was taking up all of her time, and 2. That her staff was being charged as well, and had no resources nor even a (questionably legal, as it turned out) legal fund. What would you have done? What choice did she have?
I also wish she’d have found some way to make it work, but the only way I can think of would have been to announce that she and her staff were no longer going to bother fighting, that since it was clear that all the complaints were frivolous they would be spending no time or money fighting them, and if the ethics commission couldn’t see that and found against them they would ignore its decisions, and if the legislature didn’t like it they could impeach her. And that she’d be pardoning her staff for whatever the commission found against them, so it shouldn’t bother. That would have taken brass balls, and if it worked it would have guaranteed her the presidency, but I don’t know whether it would have worked.
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:12 amhttp://tinyurl.com/l8yq6ue
From Jack Marshall
Michael Ejercito (becea5) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:12 amSorry that I haven’t read all the threads and posts on this topic but that hasn’t stopped me from posting.
Has anyone questioned Perry’s lack of political wisdom when he cut funds that was directed at public corruption? That just doesn’t look good. Maybe it was the only leverage he has against this buffoon of an Austin DA but the spin can easily be made that Perry cut this funding because he is corrupt and doesn’t want to be a target. Isn’t it ironic.
AZ Bob (34bb80) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:18 amAZBob @107, I have real problem following your logic. A DA gets arrested for DUI, is abusive toward the police and attempts to misuse her authority to get out of the situation, and the governor should be concerned about appearances?
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:23 amMilhouse:
You raise some very good points, and you very well may be right. I don’t claim to have any workable suggestions as to what she should have done versus what she did do. All I know is that (from what I remember of the time) it was spun by the press that 1) she gave up, 2) she was corrupt, 3) she couldn’t stand the heat etc,. Perception is reality as they say. That fact is that the bad guys won when she left office. Yes, (as someone up thread pointed out) Obama left office early too, but it was under entirely different circumstances, he won a new elected position (as awful as that was). The left has a very big pocket book. They can call on George Soros, or in my town (Chicago) Fred Eickner (spelling may be wrong)to help allay costs associated with holding office. I don’t recall if any R with a national reputation came to her aid and offered financial support but that is probably what it would have taken for her to survive. Again, in the end by her resigning the left got there scalp and ended her ability to run for national or for that matter statewide office. the good guys lost.
Ipso Fatso (10964d) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:34 amAZBob @107, I have real problem following your logic. A DA gets arrested for DUI, is abusive toward the police and attempts to misuse her authority to get out of the situation, and the governor should be concerned about appearances?
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:23 am
The governor is a state office and the DA is a local/county office. There is no connection except for this one budgetary item that is for the purpose of public corruption. Sure, he should use his bully pulpit to bring attention to her behavior but I would not have gone after this function of the office.
Her worst behavior was throwing her weight around after her arrest. Telling the cop she knows his boss. She should be sanctioned by the State Bar for that.
AZ Bob (34bb80) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:50 amAZ Bob, that wasn’t leverage. Perry simply refused to entrust state funds into the hands of someone who is manifestly unfit to administer them. How does he know she won’t spend it all on booze?
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:53 amShe established a legal defense fund, and ironically that was the only complain that ended up being upheld! Despite the best legal advice she could get, the ethics commission decided that Alaska law did not allow such things; a person in her position must pay all her own expenses out of her own pocket, or do without representation. (No legal aid, of course)
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:56 amMilhouse (9d71c3) — 8/17/2014 @ 10:56 am
the ethics commission decided that Alaska law did not allow such things; a person in her position must pay all her own expenses out of her own pocket, or do without representation. (No legal aid, of course)
Which caused her to resign, although she didn’t want to say that, probably on legal advice..
Sammy Finkelman (3ba0b7) — 8/17/2014 @ 11:58 amAZBob, I think what you don’t see is the specific office she held has state-wide jurisdiction. That places an entirely different set of circumstances in play. Essentially, she worked for the state, not local government. If this had been a local office, Perry couldn’t have used a line-item veto. The bully pulpit you mention would have been his only immediate choice.
Bill H (f9e4cd) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:00 pmi just took an oath to go cross the street and get a tasty burger and a couple salads for laters
three guess what I’m gonna do
hells yeah I’m gonna fulfill my oath
cause that’s just how i roll
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:05 pmActually the office is only county wide but it was given a special mission by the legislature to bust political corruption statewide. I haven’t heard any complaints on how this function was playing out.
It seems like it was Perry’s only hook to get at her. Kind of like closing lanes in a tunnel.
AZ Bob (34bb80) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:18 pmWhile the indictment is bogus, Perry needs to brush up on political warfare if he is going to be considered a viable candidate for 2016. There are three problems he has in running for President but I can’t remember the third.
AZ Bob (34bb80) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:20 pmOops!
Seriously, though, his statement yesterday seems to show he’s come a long way. That was a stirring statement.
Patterico (9c670f) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:26 pmFrom earlier in this thread:
These are thoughtful questions and observations. My reactions to them are:
A public official, elected at the county level but with unique and uniquely important state-wide responsibilities and impact, has gone rogue. She’s demonstrated conclusively her unfitness for office — not just by breaking the law herself in a dramatically dangerous and reckless fashion, but by then attempting to use her office to secure preferential treatment and threatening consequences to individual law enforcement personnel who weren’t knuckling under to her demands. She’s pleaded guilty to the obvious crime, but so far she’s gotten away with the worse one — and now she won’t quit.
Put electoral politics completely aside for the moment: In these circumstances, all Texas elected officials have to examine how their own performance of their respective constitutional obligations are affected. And pounding their own pulpits, bully or not, just ain’t enough to fix things, nor to even constitute a good-faith effort toward that.
One such elected official is the governor, whose constitutional powers, duties, and indeed obligations include presiding over and administering the funding of a great many state agencies and programs, including the one which largely finances the rogue official’s own office. There’s no practical time or opportunity for any other element of the state government to help restrain the rogue: the Legislature can’t effectively respond in less than a period of many months, even when in session.
So the question facing the governor is: Given these facts on the ground, and given your obligations as the final steward of Texans’ tax dollars, do you continue to fund this abomination with millions of tax dollars extracted from the pockets of all Texans? Or do you use the line-item veto right and responsibility that you have under the Texas constitution to ride herd on rogues?
I think the answer to that is easy, although it requires political courage, for the very reasons you’ve mentioned, AZ Bob.
You’re completely right that the optics on this were always capable of being spun by the Democrats. Like every corrupt prosecutor in history, this one claims that any efforts to remove or even reign her in are prima facie and, indeed, conclusive proof that she’s doing a great job (based on the false assumption that only the guilty would ever have reason to complain of a prosecutor’s fitness).
And the Left’s smoke and mirrors, their spin, pumped out over Texas and across the rest of the country, would probably work here — except for those damned videos, huh?
The blood alcohol level, the open bottle of vodka in her car where she’s passed out, the obvious lies to the arresting officers (“two glasses of wine”), the pattern of liquor bills, but especially the videos, it has become impossible for the left to defend this clown of a district attorney anymore.
If y’all don’t think Perry saw this whole thing coming months ago — if you don’t think that his press releases threatening the veto weren’t crafted in keen anticipation that the D.A. would respond with the most powerful retaliation in her power, an indictment — then you’re underestimating our governor. He may have only gotten a “D” in his Texas A&M agricultural science course entitled “Meat,” but he’s an experienced practitioner in the blood sport of Texas politics.
As I wrote in a comment on Prof. Althouse’s blog,
But Perry, of course, is thinking beyond Texas’ borders. He’s not likely to be able to turn Lehmberg into the national face of the Democratic Party. But this incident — while feeding the happy bloodthirst on the far Left, at least initially — has plenty of boomarang potential for Perry to exploit in his quest for rehabilitation of his national reputation as a conservative leader and potential presidential nominee.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:45 pmGentleBeings – we have to go easy on our regular commenter – happyfeet …
After all, the reason they are happyfeet is cuz he keeps ’em in a warm and comfortable place – in his happymouth !
Alastor (2e7f9f) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:47 pmYou might check with Tom DeLay about that.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:56 pmI just sent him this:
Jeff Greeson (fe8075) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:57 pmmmmph
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/17/2014 @ 12:59 pmNicely done Mr Greeson.
Gazzer (42663b) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:12 pmWhy did hf cross the street?
To get to his sides. (Runs and ducks)
Gazzer (42663b) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:13 pmHe can not turn Lehmberg into the national face of the Democratic Party.
But Debbie Wassermann Schultz is.
https://twitter.com/DWStweets/status/500709661595926528
Michael Ejercito (becea5) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:15 pmSimon Jester (c67fae) — 8/16/2014 @ 10:15 pm
Underneath it all, he knows – but refuses to admit it even to himself – that Palin’s a better person than he is.
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:27 pmSteve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/16/2014 @ 11:12 pm
Vintage look, and the performance to match – some would say it doesn’t have enough power to skin a grape.
And what 2-stroke oil question?
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:34 pmhttp://americanthinker.com/2014/08/ferguson_missouri_to_gaza_damascus_and_sinjar.html
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:35 pmhHoettp://americanthinker.com/2014/08/ferguson_missouri_to_gaza_damascus_and_sinjar.html
Off topic: Posisble treatment for ebola that nmight reduce the death rate from 60% to 90% to 10% to 15% (if they die from sepsis)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/opinion/can-statins-help-treat-ebola.html
Naturally, everybody but that is being suggested by fraudsters:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/science/agencies-issue-warnings-over-bogus-ebola-cures.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
People who have real cures are very very careful.
The WHO is composed of or run by idiots. So says the New York Times (almost)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/opinion/a-painfully-slow-ebola-response.html
Sammy Finkelman (31cdef) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:43 pmBorder control = death
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/world/europe/spain-suspects-morocco-allowed-a-brief-flood-of-migrants.html?rref=world/africa&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Africa&action=keypress®ion=FixedRight&pgtype=article
Sammy Finkelman (31cdef) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:44 pmDoes it really make a difference if the mix is 40:1 or 50:1?
Steve57 (5f6c2a) — 8/17/2014 @ 1:49 pmThe only 2-stroke I rode for any time had oil-injection (Kawasaki H-1) so I never had to think about it – just put gas in the gas-tank, and oil in the oil-tank. The garden implements, I follow the manufacturer’s recommendations – they have a lot of expertise, and don’t want to have to warranty seized cranks. That being said, they probably err on the side of caution which can mean more plug replacements. My Poulon chain-saw recommends 40:1 – 3.2-oz oil/1-gal of gas.
askeptic (efcf22) — 8/17/2014 @ 3:31 pmAbout 10 seconds after I hit “submit comment” I realized I said Harris County. I meant Travis County. Of course, Harris is infested with machine Democrats, too. But I wanted to admit my error.
Jeff Greeson (fe8075) — 8/17/2014 @ 4:01 pmPalin did bail on her gubernatorial responsibilities, right? And she did proceed to employ herself as a talking head for a cable news channel, right? So happyfeet is basically spot-on?
Anyone who wants to argue that Palin did not bail on her gubernatorial responsibilities, feel free to do so.
Leviticus (474f8b) — 8/17/2014 @ 5:35 pmPeople seem to be arguing that she had no choice but to resign, but she obviously did have a choice.
Leviticus (474f8b) — 8/17/2014 @ 5:36 pmwhat they’re also missing i think personally is that she had a moral duty not to resign
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/17/2014 @ 5:38 pmshe she duid have the means to defend herself and her staff, or waste the state’s resources, in an abuse of power, much like the lawfare directed against Walker and now Perry. capisce
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/17/2014 @ 6:10 pmthe Austin capoiera squad, already took down Delay on points, despite the fact that he ultimately won on appeal, much like their opposite numbers in Rome, that went after Berlusconi,
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/17/2014 @ 6:19 pmLeviticus (135): already done in #94. She hung on for many months, working for (in effect) negative salary, since her legal costs were greater than her gross income, so she could finish her signature Canadian pipeline deal and make sure her Lieutenant Governor was ready to take over. Looks pretty damned responsible to me. The fact is that her opponents were able to hit her with dozens of totally bogus accusations, each of which cost massive quantities of money and time to refute, and she was not allowed to ask anyone for help paying the lawyers. What was she supposed to do? Tell the kids “Sorry, no college for you, in fact you’re all going to have to drop out of school and take two jobs to help mom pay her massive and ever-increasing debts”.
Dr. Weevil (3fb27f) — 8/17/2014 @ 9:58 pmNo more than 0bama and Biden bailed on their senatorial responsibilities, and no more than she was going to if she’d been elected VP. If someone elected to office has some sort of obligation to finish the term, why is it OK to “bail” on that if you’re elected to something else, or appointed to another political position (e.g. cabinet secretary), but not for any other reason?
Please explain what that choice was. How could she have stayed in office and made it work? How would you have handled the problem?
Really? Why? And why would she not have had the same duty if she’d been elected VP? Why did W Bush not have the same duty in 2001?
Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/18/2014 @ 12:42 amI believe that any elected DA, or any official, who takes such action should be determined to have committed malpractice in office, because they have exceeded their authority. Gov. Perry has every constitutional right to veto any action that may be in violation of the “budgetary confines” of Texas law. If every elected official (or other statutory official) had the power to bring criminal charges against elected officials because they didn’t like what the official did, our form of constitutional republican government is finished. This country has become nothing more than a banana republic that cow tows to the whims of the weakest persons in this country, i.e. those who are only concerned with their own self-interests and want to cater to the masses for their desires to achieve and attain higher office.
reagan (daa4b2) — 8/18/2014 @ 2:10 pmPalin committed the grievous crime of disagreeing with happyfeet. As a fellow criminal in that sense, I would have to laugh at the fact that happyfeet seems to be fine with claiming Palin should have continued to hold the office, without giving a method for doing so.
I’m just curious – why do people pay attention to happyfeet anyway?
OmegaPaladin (a0e77e) — 8/18/2014 @ 3:03 pmnot everyone has to have the same opinion about Sarah freaking Palin you know
i think she handed her opponents a big victory and emboldened the soros-funded whores what embrace these lawfare tactics
and I think she sold herself cheap
a half million dollars of legal bills
pfft
her hot to trot daughter made about that much jigging around on that dance show
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/18/2014 @ 3:16 pmNow, now, Mr. Feet. Did you have to go and insult her daughter, too? She didn’t choose her mother and father, after all.
David Letterman got into trouble for being all nonsexist and ramrod straight to the truth like you say you are being. And look at Bill Maher.
I think you should just write that you don’t like Sarah Palin one tiny little bit, save the link, and every time anyone mentions her, you can just link to that post.
Done and done.
Otherwise you have to keep explaining that you really and truly aren’t a offensive sexist jerk.
Because everyone says you aren’t. Right?
I’m not being snarky here. You truly aren’t helping your own position; this kind of thing causes people to dismiss your point of view.
But that’s just my opinion. You have lots of fans.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 8/18/2014 @ 4:30 pmsee this is the kind of diversity of opinion what makes the internet so much fun!
thanks Mr. Jester!
anyways the point is the legal bills weren’t really as onerous as Sarah made them sound given her earning potential
so yeah I always found her reasons for quitting to be kind of disingenuous
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/18/2014 @ 4:35 pmWell, I tried.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 8/18/2014 @ 4:51 pmyou’re a good man Mr. Jester
happyfeet (8ce051) — 8/18/2014 @ 4:52 pmhttp://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/08/17/gov-perry-indicted-everything-big-in-texas-even-this-bs/
narciso (ee1f88) — 8/18/2014 @ 4:58 pm