Here’s an excerpt from the Midland Reporter-Telegram article.
Giuliani's ties to Houston law firm gives him Texas boost
Republican Rudy Giuliani -- thrice-married, liberal on social issues and a consummate New Yorker -- seems an unlikely White House contender to be embraced by a Texas' GOP establishment rooted in the energy industry and dominated by religious conservatives.
But the former New York mayor has built a formidable political base in Texas with the help of well-connected Republican money men. He owes his advantage in part to his role as a name partner with a powerhouse, Houston-based law firm known for its impressive roster of energy-giant clients, Bracewell & Giuliani.
His partnership in the law firm has also brought Giuliani unwelcome criticism in connection with some of the firm's more controverisal clients, including a Spanish contractor involved in planning part of a Texas superhighway toll road known as the Trans-Texas Corridor. . .
I would like to thank Proprietor Nation for bringing this to our attention with the article, Hatchet Job Masquerading as Political Analysis. Although PN has done an excellent job of demonstrating political bias especially in the Midland Reporter-Telegram’s characterization of the GOP, I do take issue with PN’s characterization of those thousands of Texans - mostly bi-partisan - who are fighting the Trans Texas Corridor and it’s Spanish partner, Cintra. PN hinted that Texas farmers and other landowners are being taken in by Conspiracy theorists.
“Texas farmers and other landowners are worried their property rights will be trampled to make way for the highway. Conspiracy theorists see Giuliani, because of his highway connections, as allied with a cabal of international monied interests plotting to supplant the United States with a North American Union that includes Mexico and Canada . . ."
Far from conspiracy theory!!!
The Trans Texas Corridor (part of the open border NAFTA highway) is a multi-billion dollar reality. I should know because I spoke at the TXDOT hearings on the TTC last year!
Millions of Texas land acres and thousands of Texans will be fighting a losing battle over eminent domain. And just in case you aren’t too interested, the NAFTA highway goes all the way from Mexico to Canada – so your state may be affected as well.
Here’s an excerpt from the enlightening web page devoted to bringing Texans the truth about the Trans Texas Corridor – CorridorWatch.org.
Last weekend (August 2007) Governor Perry vetoed 49 more bills.
Property protections were dashed with the veto of an eminent domain bill TxDOT didn't like. Another bill that would have required TxDOT to consider using existing highway routes for future TTC routes was struck down. A bill that called on the Attorney General to study the impact of international agreements on Texas was ridiculed by the Commission and also vetoed by the Governor.
A few more vetoes smack of retaliation dealt to those who opposed the Governor's view of the TTC, HPV, TYC or education during the session. . .
Anyone who cares to look at the maps of the upcoming NAFTA highway will note that this eminent domain issue doesn’t stop at the Texas border!
Aside from my criticisms of the PN article, it is a great read and a good primer on how to spot bias. Here’s an excerpt from the PN article: . .
Right from the get go, the article is suspect. Imagine, the shoe on another foot. One could see this sort of lead in, Democrat Hillary Clinton, scandal ridden, highly polarizing and with negatives already at or near 50%, has bucked convention and continues to lead nationwide. Let's try another... despite his Mormon background, flip flopping on key issues, and reputation for being to slick for his own good, Mitt Romney maintains a lead in Iowa.
While it is pefectly fine to lead in in such a way, if there is going to be straight analysis, we will expect to understand how he has bucked the conventional wisdom that a social liberal could lead in a social conservative party. Instead, what we get is a nebulous reason that is really just an excuse to attack Rudy in a backhanded and terribly unfair sort of a way.
But the former New York mayor has built a formidable political base in Texaswith the help of well-connected Republican money men. He owes his advantage inpart to his role as a name partner with a powerhouse, Houston-based law firmknown for its impressive roster of energy-giant clients, Bracewell &Giuliani. . .
It can’t be stated enough – all politics is local! We can complain all day long about the MSM, the NY Times, The Boston Globe, etc., but if we ignore the bias in our own local newspapers, we’ve missed the point entirely!
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This Michael Volpe, proprietor at Proprietor Nation, and I want to set the record straight. I don't know anything about this case, and I certainly didn't mean to say the case itself is some sort of a conspiracy theory. I don't know and frankly I don't care, since at the bottom of the article it made clear that Rudy is not involved with the specific case and probably doesn't know anything about it. My point was that the two groups mentioned, John Birch society and the Eagles Forum, are both fringe groups, not mainstream Conservative groups as was hinted by the article. Furthermore, the idea of a North American Union is also not something that is taken seriously by most mainstream conservatives.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of a North American Union was brought up by the article as a red herring. It was meant to scare people when really it is something discussed by fringe groups.
It is quite possible that this law suit has merits and the people representing by the firm are trying to take advantage of people, and I say so what. There is no big law firm anywhere in the U.S. that is not involved in some sort of a controversial case. To try and tie Giuliani to this case is really rather unfair. That was my point. I never meant to demean the merits of the specific case.
Faultline: A rose by any other name is still a rose. The rose exists, the rose grows, the rose takes in nutrients ... it exists
ReplyDeleteWhether people want to say that the NAU, by whatever name they place on it, is conspiracy theory, is just ... well ... nuts. Like the rose, it exists, it's growing, it's taking in money and businesses.
"Fringe" groups have been know to be right about things. Just because the majority have not been informed of the facts, doesn't mean the facts are not so.
I will say it again. The accuracy of this NAU superhighway is really not the issue. If you look at a top ten list of any issues among conservatives planning to vote in the Republican primaries, and giving or planning on giving money, it won't be there. It won't be in the top twenty, thirty, or one hundred. Thus, it is not an issue that drives Conservatives when voting or giving money. Thus, if it is mentioned in a piece analyzing Rudy's electability, it is not analysis, because his ties to it, or lack thereof, have no effect on his electability.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Rudy wasn't involved with the case. He doesn't even know it exists. He leant his name to the firm. Any big law firm will always have significantly controversial cases. That is just the way it is. To highlight one with some sort of conspiracy in it, in a piece that analyzes someone's electability, is done merely so one can do a hatchet job on them.
Because the NAU it is not being discussed is precisely why it needs to be brought up. Yes it is in the creation part of it and I would say all candidates are aware of it and Rudy is just a little more in bed with it than others. It is well know and not conspiracy that it is being discussed and is kept under the radar. This is not an issue to forego and return to later. It needs to be nipped in the bud NOW.
ReplyDeleteRON PAUL is the man who is in bed with just his wife and can restore this country back to its greatness.
RON PAUL 2008
With all due respect to Mr. Volpe who said “I don't know anything about this case, and I certainly didn't mean to say the case itself is some sort of a conspiracy theory,” yet goes on to say, “Furthermore, the idea of a North American Union is also not something that is taken seriously by most mainstream conservatives,” he is not only dead wrong, his statements in the comments are obviously totally contradictory.
ReplyDeleteMr Volp3, the issue of the NAU is very well documented and not just within, as you say, “fringe groups.” Want some facts you can deal with? Start with the Council on Foreign Relations for starters.
Although I personally like Giuliani, he is no social conservative. During an election cycle it is imperative that allegations of serious ties to open borders by any conservative candidate should be seriously vetted.
I tend to agree in part with Mr. Volpe in his statement, “There is no big law firm anywhere in the U.S. that is not involved in some sort of a controversial case. To try and tie Giuliani to this case is really rather unfair.”
I for one, hope and pray that Giuliani has no further ties, but since the allegations have been brought forth, we must pursue the truth.