Patterico's Pontifications

8/19/2014

NYT: “…Doesn’t Seem To Rise To The Level Of A Criminal Act. . .” .

Filed under: General — Dana @ 7:56 pm



[guest post by Dana]

I realize I’m late to this and that a number of you are already caught up, but I’m going to post it anyway.

The New York Times joined in the chorus of liberals who are not supportive of the indictment against Rick Perry. Amusingly, from the get-go, they felt compelled to reassure readers they still do not like nor approve of Perry one little bit before casting doubt on the proceedings against him:

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is one of the least thoughtful and most damaging state leaders in America, having done great harm to immigrants, abortion clinics and people without health insurance during his 14 years in office. But bad political judgment is not necessarily a felony, and the indictment handed up against him on Friday — given the facts so far — appears to be the product of an overzealous prosecution.

The editorial then moves on to the indictment:

Mr. Perry should have left the matter [of Lehmberg’s resignation] to the courts, where both a criminal and a civil attempt to have her removed failed, or to the voters.

But his ill-advised veto still doesn’t seem to rise to the level of a criminal act. . . .

Governors and presidents threaten vetoes and engage in horse-trading all the time to get what they want, but for that kind of political activity to become criminal requires far more evidence than has been revealed in the Perry case so far.

Also today, Perry turned himself in, and looking rather dapper, had his mug shot taken.

“I’m going to fight this injustice with every fiber of my being. And we will prevail,” Perry said before walking inside the building, where he set off a metal detector but didn’t break stride, heading straight to a first-floor office to have his fingerprints taken and stand for the mug shot.

I’ve got to say, the man wears defiance well.

Untitled-2

(h/t elissa for mug shot)

–Dana

26 Responses to “NYT: “…Doesn’t Seem To Rise To The Level Of A Criminal Act. . .” .”

  1. Second look at Perry? I was for him before he blew up. I was then for Mitt, but sadly I think he will not run again. I understand why, and it is a shame for our country, but there it is.

    Gazzer (3584f6)

  2. Hello.

    Dana (4dbf62)

  3. Oops, ladies first.

    Gazzer (3584f6)

  4. Wait until Cuomo is indicted. They will go nuts.

    Mike_K (90dfdc)

  5. Criminal act of acting like a responsible governor.

    His insistence on accountability drove the Demos wild.

    DejectedHead (9b0c64)

  6. I still don’t like him dignifying this farce by cooperating with it.

    Milhouse (9d71c3)

  7. Milhouse,

    Sorry, that sounds like a great way for Perry to end up both convicted and in prison. Ignoring felony charges ranks right up there among the dumbest things anyone can do, regardless of how unfounded the charges.

    Far better to make the prosecutor lie in the bed he has made. made.

    Soronel Haetir (02427a)

  8. What reasonable options does Perry have, Millhouse, other than cooperate?

    Dana (4dbf62)

  9. Was he summoned? If not, no need to appear. If so, challenge it. There’s got to be some way to do that. Send in an official portrait and a copy of his fingerprints, and demand that they accept them. File a complaint against McCrum with the bar association, and publish it. I don’t know, just don’t give it the dignity of treating it like a real indictment for a real crime.

    Milhouse (9d71c3)

  10. I am sorry but I do hope death to the Judge and Prosecutor who went for this.

    Never ceases to amaze me how LIBERALS politicize everything.

    Rodney King's Spirit (8b9b5a)

  11. watch how many lies you can cram in one paragrapj

    http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2014/08/19/hey-rick-perry-will-be-convicted/

    narciso (ee1f88)

  12. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is one of the least thoughtful and most damaging state leaders in America,

    Behold the brain of a liberal to spew such claptrap.

    If he or she were doing an editorial on Obama (or Hillary) being indicted for, say, embezzlement, I can easily envision the writer starting off with “President Barack Obama is one of the most thoughtful and caring politicians in America, a wunderkind who has helped heal this nation’s racial divide. But his stealing money, although it’s a felony, perhaps is a sign of his confusion or possible blackmail by his opponents. We believe he therefore deserves our patience, understanding and undying gratitude.”

    Then the editorial writer loads up his Mercedes Benz and moseys on up to the Hamptons for the weekend, happily self-assured that his love, generosity, egalitarianism and compassion remain as firm (and beautiful) as ever before.

    Mark (14a4db)

  13. Milhouse,

    Rick Perry enforces the laws of Texas. It is naturally necessary for him to cooperate with them even under these circumstances. He will have his day in court, and like anyone else in Texas, is expected to behave himself and not act like his station somehow makes him special from that cooperation.

    Rosemary Lehmberg didn’t get that. She thought her station entitled her to special treatment. She thought that because of her power and access she should get out of trouble, and when she was asked to cooperate, spat and kicked and acted like the criminal she was.

    I’m glad Perry is above that. Yeah, these charges are bogus. So he stands tall and proud, standing by his decision and showing not a hint of shame or remorse in his mugshot. That mugshot is now an indictment of those who have abused our legal system.

    As far as the Times’s summary of Perry’s damage as governor, I suspect most of this country could do with the ‘damage’ of balanced budgets and business friendly policies.

    Texas isn’t perfect by any stretch, and this case is an embarrassment. I remember all these politicians, such as some in Dallas and San Antonio, who were caught by the FBI in overt corruption. Why didn’t this Travis County PIU root this corruption out? I hope it’s not because it was built to protect the right partisans, but regardless, it is time to remove this office to the state level, under the Texas attorney general’s office. There is simply no reason for a county, especially this one, to have that scope of responsibility, and it’s clearly not working right.

    Dustin (7f67e8)

  14. Some group will run a side-by-side of the two booking photos, asking “Who knows the fix is in place?”

    htom (412a17)

  15. Bret Baier on FoxNews Special Report described Rick Perry’s booking photo as a “smirk”.
    That sounds Fair & Balanced.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  16. R.I.P. Charles M. Young, Rolling Stone Magazine music writer

    Icy (7ba3ca)

  17. Here are some insiughtful quotes I like… Lemme know if you like them:

    “Imagination is more important than knowledge.

    “I, at any rate, am convinced that He (God) does not throw
    dice.”

    “The significant matter is not to stop questioning; interest has its own reason for existing.”

    “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

    “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
    and I am not sure about the universe.”

    “Falling in love isn’t at all the most dumb thing that people do
    — but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.”

    “The most beautiful experience we can have is the
    mysterious.

    “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

    “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of worth”

    party bus rentals (74579c)

  18. Because O’Bumbles has done such great things for American citizens, fetuses, and people WITH health insurance. NYT can suck eggs.

    dfbaskwill (ef4805)

  19. The best thing Perry can do right now is to push for an immediate trial.

    Jay Stevens (3de80f)

  20. Shttp://pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/08/19/several-perry-grand-jurors-broke-the-law-to-explain-why-they-think-perry-broke-the-law/

    narciso (ee1f88)

  21. Oh, hell, the NYT has been sucking eggs, and things less wholesome, for some decades now.

    C. S. P. Schofield (e8b801)

  22. The best thing Perry can do right now is to push for an immediate trial.

    He needs to call Jacqui to the stand, to tell the jury about the kind of damage people like Rosemary Lehmberg do.

    Michael Ejercito (becea5)

  23. I saw at least one proposal for a missed opportunity, noting he should have been wearing a MADD shirt for the picture. Just for that extra bird-flip effect.

    But I suppose that’s why he’s a Governor and I’m doing contract work in my basement.

    PCachu (e072b7)

  24. I took a few hours to sit back and look at Perry’s indictment objectively. I read the papers. I even took into account a local conservative radio commentator’s opinion that Perry should have stayed out of the drunk driving arrest of a county DA.

    I read the Internet and heck, I live in Texas. I do keep up. I know the prosecutor and the judge involved are independent. I know the Grand Jurors gave their opinion to the Houston Chronicle despite the fact that is illegal for jurors to talk to the press.

    Keep in mind, I’m not a Perry fan. This indictment is bull shit.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  25. I’m all for Perry doing this! Maybe I’ve read too much Ayn Rand, but the fastest way to expose corruption and a lie is to follow it to the letter. Show up in a business suit to get a mug shot – and laugh. Refuse to let them drag you in like a criminal; stride in like you own the place.

    bridget (438600)


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