Honor and integrity take a back seat to politics in Austin, Texas

Commentary by James Shott

In April 2013 in Travis County, Texas, where the capital city of Austin is located, District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested for drunk driving. Her blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit (.08 is the threshold, and her level was .23), and there was an open bottle of vodka in her car, in violation of the state’s open container law.

Dash cam and police station videos, which are available for viewing on YouTube, show Ms. Lehmberg failing sobriety testing and taunting arresting officers and even threatening them at the police station. One of the officers described action that took place off camera in which she kicked doors and acted violently. Her bad behavior also included rudeness, being uncooperative, and pointing her finger like a gun. And eventually she had to be placed in a restraining device. Reports say her behavior could have earned her a felony charge for assaulting a police officer.

Ms. Lehmberg pleaded guilty to drunk driving and served about half of a 45-day sentence, but said she would not resign from her position of trust as DA.

Ms. Lehmberg has been battling alcoholism for some time, according to reports. Alcoholism does not automatically preclude a person from being a public servant, even a prosecutor. However, someone whose alcoholism leads to an arrest for driving drunk, a crime that too often ends in the death of innocent citizens, followed by the poor behavior demonstrated by Ms. Lehmberg, has proved himself or herself to be unsuitable for the role of prosecutor. Put in the best possible light, it both looks bad and smells bad: You simply cannot have a confessed drunk driver as a prosecutor.

Among those who think Ms. Lehmberg should have stepped down is Texas Governor Rick Perry, although he has no official authority over county DAs.

Following her refusal to step down, Gov. Perry said he would cut $7.5 million in state money from Ms. Lehmberg’s Public Integrity Unit unless she resigned, which he later did through a line item veto. By law, the governor has veto authority.

For acting in the best interest of the people of Travis County, a jury decided it was an abuse of his power, and indicted Gov. Perry on two felony counts.

An Austin attorney filed a lawsuit to remove Ms. Lehmberg from office, but last December a judge ruled that she could keep her job. That attorney has now filed an ethics complaint against her, citing alleged unreported campaign contributions Ms. Lehmberg used to defend herself in the removal lawsuit totaling $227,000.

As it turns out, the Public Integrity Unit has a history of politically motivated prosecutions that failed for lack of substance. Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson was indicted, but never tried, and Republican Congressman Tom Delay was indicted, tried, convicted and then had his conviction overturned on appeal for lack of him having actually committed a crime. It appears the Unit is more concerned with generating political results favoring the Democrat Party than it is with integrity. Sen. Hutchinson may run for governor, and Mr. Delay had earned the hatred of Democrats through his activities. It is not a stretch to use the term “corrupt” in describing at least some of the Unit’s actions.

It’s interesting that the source of the action against Republican Gov. Perry arises from the very office that he defunded because its head, the convicted and jailed drunk driver Rosemary Lehmberg, refused to do the right thing and resign. You see, Travis County, Texas, is heavily Democrat, and Ms. Lehmberg is a Democrat.

Liberal law professor Jonathan Turley had this to say about the indictment: “In this case, the special prosecutor [who answers to Ms. Lehmberg] seemed to pound hard to get these square facts into these round holes. A bit too hard for such a case.” And Democrat political advisor David Axelrod termed the indictment “sketchy.”

Mary Anne Wiley, General Counsel for Gov. Perry, said in a statement following the indictment: “The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto authority afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution. We will continue to aggressively defend the governor’s lawful and constitutional action, and believe we will ultimately prevail.”

The grand jury process is secret and entirely controlled by the prosecution, and the accused has no opportunity to argue charges made by the prosecution, and in fact is not even present during the process. Which is the reason for the now-famous observation that through the grand jury process you “can indict a ham sandwich.” It is instructive that the staunchest defenders of the grand jury system are prosecutors. Gov. Perry would no doubt prefer to replace the sour grapes on his ham sandwich with Swiss cheese.

During the arrest procedure, Ms. Lehmberg repeatedly accused police of ruining her career by arresting her for being three-times-the-legal-limit drunk behind the wheel. Then, her Public Integrity Unit goes after a sitting governor in a way that results in the Governor having an indictment and a mug shot on his record. Whose career was really damaged by a third party? And who benefits from this episode of gutter politics by Democrats?

Cross-posted from Observations

Obama's Pearl Harbor: Alien Invasion

Obama’s Pearl Harbor:  Alien Invasion

 

America has a virtual President who casts an inconsequential shadow on a nation starving for leadership. Invasion USA is now taking place on our southern border with the blessings of Barack Obama. Word has spread throughout Central America, Mexico and elsewhere that American immigration laws are no longer enforced. To support this thesis; deportations are down, border patrols have been diminished, prosecutions of illegals are on a downward slope and Obama has forgotten his oath to protect the borders. The egregious events surrounding Pearl Harbor may look pale when compared to the catastrophe playing out in the south. Illegals are introducing an array of diseases that could be disastrous when seeded within urban populations. Poverty and crime are an integral part of the baggage illegals bring with them as the government plants these people throughout the nation. Citizens are finally comprehending the breadth and depth of the illegal incursion. Protests in California, Illinois, Virginia and elsewhere have deterred  large numbers of illegals from arriving in these jurisdictions. Yet immigration forces are plowing ahead with resettlement schemes which eventually may bring tens of thousands to a city near you.

 

President Obama ultimately wants a path to citizenship for the millions who have decided to make America their home. With gross disregard for established laws Obama continues to deride the Constitution utilizing Executive Orders to complete his endgame: reconfiguring our society. Ramifications of his edicts ripple across the country as the flood of the unwanted make their presence known. Since October of 2013 over three hundred thousand have transgressed our borders, a sub-segment of which are children. Obama has been successful in diverting the nation’s attention away from the border crisis by continuing to stir a dozen other scandals involving his participation. Requests for him to come to the southern border have been numerous. Most recently Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas, made such a request. The President felt it was more important to attend a fundraiser than view the mess he created. Obama’s disconnect with reality has been the subject of much discussion in the media. Defenders of the Administration give Obama high marks for attempting to remake America. Opponents see him as an inept man who vantages himself through the miseries of others. The Hispanic invasion of the United States has succeeded. Unlike FDR who led us to victory in WWII President Obama drives the nation further into the hands of the invaders. For this he must be held accountable by the people and Congress. Now is the time people must cry out in one voice enough is enough and impeach the shadow living in the White House under false pretenses.

 

Mark Davis MD, President of Davis Writing Services. www.daviswritingservices.com

 platomd@gmail.com

For media content, book critiques and author support

contact us. Dr. Davis is a media consultant who can be

heard on many radio programs.

Perry’s Position On Illegal Immigration Is Worrisome

Perry’s Position On Illegal Immigration Is Worrisome

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

I am far more concerned over Rick Perry’s position on instate tuition for Illegal immigrants than I am over the all too obvious fact that he is no debater. 

That he cannot debate does not concern me in the least. That he is not as polished a public speaker as a certain orator in the Oval Office doesn’t trouble me – at all.  In fact, I am more than a little tired of the oily-tongued politicians from the halls of elitist academia.  A heck of a lot of Americans are ready for a straight-shooter who will “tell it like it is” and is capable of doing so using less that “sixteen cylinder words.”

I am tired of Washington’s snake oil salesman telling me why all that is wrong with America is my fault – and -- that I am too soft.  That is a crock!

As I was saying – Perry has some problems with many conservatives over his in-state college tuition for illegal aliens. I’m one of them.

I have no doubt that Mr. Perry has done many good things along the US/Mexico border to try to secure it.  But the American electorate, especially that portion from the southern states, and more especially the southwestern border states, want a President who will stop feeding us the line of bull about the border being more secure today than in the past.  I, for one, want the border secured by the US military -- even if that means changing federal law to place US Armed Forces on the border.

Rick Perry is on record as opposing the building of a fence along the Texas/Mexico border.  WHY? I cannot fathom his thinking on a fence.  Everyone knows the old saw:  “Good fences make good neighbors.”  Its old… but it is TRUE. A fence/wall would not only reduce illegal immigration but it would be a huge boon to national security, as well.

Illegal immigration is one of the most important problems facing America today.  It is right up there in importance with the financial chaos of our economy and unemployment of Americans who actually want to work.

  

The following is a clip from an article in the Brownsville (Texas) Herald dated August 28^th, 2007.  It is datelined Mexico City and is titled “U.S. Congress lacks 'maturity' to solve immigration, Perry says.” The article states the following:

“Texas Gov. Rick Perry criticized the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for failing to make progress on immigration reform, suggesting its members lack "maturity" and calling the proposed construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border "idiocy."


Perry was in Mexico City on a trade mission intended to strengthen Texas and Mexico's economic ties through trade, investment and energy initiatives, especially renewable energy.


"I don't think this is that difficult of an issue if Congress would have the maturity to sit down and really discuss it and cut out all of the mean rhetoric and really talk about what is a solution to this issue," Perry told a news conference.


Regarding immigration reform, Perry highlighted the importance of developing a foolproof biometric identification system to track individuals and to ensure that they pay taxes and "live within our laws."


He suggested offering renewable, 24-month visas for those who follow such requirements and "incarceration and/or deportation" for those who do not.


He added that, under such a system, he would support a "free flow of individuals between these two countries who want to work and want to be an asset to our country and to Mexico."  (You may read the entire article HERE.)


Does that sound like a conservative candidate for President of the United States?  More importantly, does that sound like a man who would actually DO something to secure the US/Mexico border, stop the flow of illegal aliens into the US across that border, and enhance the security of the United States?  No, it doesn’t to me, either.


As a conservative voter I am still looking for a candidate I can vote for and expect that that candidate will have a fair chance of besting Obama in 2012. I am as frustrated today as I was at this same time in 2007.


I am not a fan of Romney but I am beginning to believe that he will, in fact, be the republican nominee for President.  However, I still do not believe he can win against Obama.
 
There are two camps among the candidates, in my opinion, who want Romney to be the GOP candidate.  They are: the Romney camp and the Obama camp.


I am convinced that the Romney camp believes conservatives will, in the end, vote for Romney as a vote against an Obama second term.  At the same time, I believe the Obama camp believes it can overcome Romney in the election because history teaches that voters will vote for the real thing every time over an imitation.



Perry is in trouble with conservative voters.  His decline in the polls will become even more pronounced in the coming days.  Romney AND Obama are counting in it.
 
J. D. Longstreet

Rick Perry's Campaign Is In Deep Trouble

Rick Perry's Campaign Is In Deep Trouble 

Perry’s In-State College Tuition for Illegal Aliens May Have Cost him the Election

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Allow me to be blunt.  I have had my fill of “compassionate conservatives” from Texas. In the last republican debate Rick Perry defended his stance on allowing in-state college tuition for illegal aliens in Texas. His defense fell flat with my wing of the Republican Party. 

Perry wounded himself politically.  He may have dealt a deathblow to his chance to occupy the Oval Office in January of 2013.

As I watched and listened intently to the debate I became instantly angry when Perry told those of us who disagree with his stance that we had no heart.  That is pure Bovine Scatology!

Look.  I am past tired of being the sugar daddy for uncounted millions of illegal aliens who have come into the United States illegally over the years and who have gorged at the trough of American largesse.  ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

I side with those who advocate the building of a wall/fence from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico -- and passing any needed legislation or constitutional amendment that would allow the US military the responsibility for securing that border. 

I think it has become clear, over the past decade, that the leaders of neither political party want that border secured.  If they did – it would have been secured a long time past.  Each party has its reasons for wanting illegal immigrants in this country.  And they don’t give a rat’s rear-end what you or I want in regards to our safety (and the safety and security of the nation) from the very real threat posed by that porous line in the sand between Mexico and the US.

As long as the government continues to offer rewards for those breaking into our country they will continue to steal across that border by the millions.

Michelle Bachman was spot on when she said during the debate:  “The American way is not to give taxpayer-subsidized benefits to people who have broken our laws and are here in the United States illegally.”

Sometime ago I wrote:  “I recall a TV game show where the booth announcer would enthusiastically shout: “Come on DOWN” to those chosen as contestants on the show. The chosen contestants would rush to the stage expecting instant riches to await them there.

It seems to me there is something similar going on at the southern border of the US. I visualize democrats standing along the border gesturing to the would-be illegal immigrants on the Mexican side to: “Come on OVER!” And, boy, they are coming – in DROVES. The illegals climb the fence, go under the fence in tunnels, around the fence, and, quite often, through the fence, all the while, expecting great riches awaiting them on the American side including free healthcare, free education, welfare payment checks each month and a guarantee of citizenship -- if their numbers become great enough to swing the elections in the democrats favor -- all of this as a result of breaking the US laws and becoming criminals.”  (You may read the entire article at INSIGHT on Freedom HERE.)

We are losing our country.  “Very soon America will resemble nothing more than a banana republic with a socialist dictator in the mold of Hugo Chavez of Venezuela – or -- the Castro brothers of Cuba.” HERE.)

“Perry’s stance toward immigrants is similar to that of George W. Bush, another Texas governor and presidential aspirant who likewise was attacked for his moderate solutions to immigration reform, such as guest worker programs. Mr. Bush endured the attacks and won the presidency, but Perry, who polls show is the current front-runner, may face a more difficult time.” (SOURCE)

At least a dozen states already offer in-state tuition to illegal aliens.  It is a huge drain on the pocketbooks of the state’s taxpayers – and -- in my opinion, it gives the back of the hand to the face of American students who are legal residents of the country and may be struggling financially, as well.

Mr. Perry’s stance may play well within the Hispanic community but it sure as heck does not within the conservative republican community.  Perry’s slippage in the polls would indicate that it has already cost him support and I suspect, as the campaign rolls on it may become the deciding factor between Perry and Romney as the eventual Republican Candidate to face Obama in November of 2012.

And by the way, I still contend that Mr. Romney cannot win against Obama.  I am very afraid it will be McCain-vs-Obama all over again.  I do not believe the country can survive another four years of Obama.

  

J. D. Longstreet  

Rick Perry To Be GOP Presidential Nominee

Rick Perry To Be GOP Presidential Nominee

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

OK.  So my tongue WAS firmly fastened in my cheek when I wrote the title to this piece.  But, I have to tell you that signs are pointing to Perry becoming the GOP nominee and eventually President of the US.

Admittedly, predicting (at this point) that Perry will be “President Perry” is a bit of a stretch, but I am beginning to feel the inevitability of it.

Consider this:  When the media raises the question of a republican candidates IQ… that means they are genuinely frightened that that candidate poses a serious threat to THEIR candidate.   THEIR candidate, of course is the current occupant of the Oval Office, Barack Hussein Obama.

For evidence of this, one need look no farther than President George Bush.  According to the political left, and the leftist media, George Bush was DUMB.  How the heck did a dumb man graduate from two Ivy League universities and manage to fly jet fighter planes   … AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?? 

And then there was Ronald Reagan.  My, oh, my, how the democrats challenged the man’s intellect.  They ran a pitiless campaign throughout his presidency questioning Reagan’s ability to reason.  It actually gained the democrats nothing as the American people caught on quickly to whom, exactly, the mental midgets were.

It is no secret the democrats favor elitist egghead presidents who are disasters as chief executives of the nation.  As evidence we offer Jimmy Carter and Barack Hussein Obama.  When the democrats manage to elect a non-elitist, good ole boy, for president, the country gets along fairly well – for a country run by democrats, that is.

The United States does not need an elitist, educated beyond his ability, to try to run the country.  America needs a man who can actually lead.  A man who can actually make decisions without confusing himself with advise from a host of councilors, each with his own agenda.

I am a firm believer in the “bumblebee theory.”  Aeronautically, the bumblebee cannot fly.  The body to wing ratio is just too great.  The tiny little wings simply cannot create enough lift for that large bulky body to ever get off the ground let alone sustain it in flight.  But, you see, the bumblebee is so dumb he doesn’t know it – so he just goes on and flies anyway.

So, maybe we need a “dumb President.”   Maybe he’ll be so dumb that he doesn’t know the problems with the US can’t be fixed and just goes ahead and fixes them, anyway.  I’ll vote for that kind of dumbness  -- and I expect a whole slew of Americans will, as well.

Honestly, I am tired of the flowing oratory of the Obama speechwriters.  Well, to be honest, its not so much the oratory I am tired of – it is the FLOW.  The word “flow” does not do justice to the absolute FLOOD of words coming from Obama.  In reality, his oratory falls flat.  Why?  Because they are just words – words from the brain not the heart. 

For an orator to be effective, he must speak with conviction from the heart about his subject.  And he must speak to his audience as if he were speaking to a single person, a confidant, and a friend. 

Obama’s speeches are cold and calculated and the listener knows it.  They don’t know who he is talking to, but they know it is not they.

I have yet to hear Rick Perry deliver a speech.  But I can imagine a southwestern accent where the “g” and the “t” are dropped.  (The Texas accent is not too different from the South Carolina accent.)  Having never heard him, I’d bet that he knows how to speak directly to every member of his audience and each audience member will leave believing that Gov. Perry was speaking directly to him or her.  He will have connected with them and he and his former audience will share an intimacy of knowledge they did not know prior to the address.   That is effective oratory.

If Mr. Perry can, indeed, do that, the White House will be his.

It seems to me, that that ole cotton-picking country boy from Texas is an unexpected problem for the Obama campaign.  Now they must switch gears from campaigning against a republican, whom southerners feel is not too different from Obama, to campaigning against a populist candidate, a man of the people, a country boy who is plain spoken like so many of the American people.  It will be a challenge.

The Obama campaign and the Mainstream Media are, once again, underestimating the GOP candidate they have already judged as dumb.  I think they have made a massive mistake that may cost them the White House – and I couldn’t be happier about that.

J. D. Longstreet

“It is only a ceasefire for Israel. It is never a ceasefire for the terrorists in the Gaza Strip.”

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle



From the Sderot Media Center:

Waiting for the Color Red

by Jacob Shrybman

(Israelnationalnews.com) As this is the third ceasefire in three years between Hamas and Israel - with over 226 rockets being fired in the seven months since Operation Cast Lead - you will be hard pressed to find a person in Sderot who believes in the relative quiet. There is a common joke that it isn't a true ceasefire, but more like we "cease" and they "fire".

One of the most visible developments is the extensive construction of bomb shelters underway throughout Sderot. There is a huge influx of building materials for private one-room bomb shelters attached to people's homes and whole apartment complexes adding bomb shelters to each level of the building. Wherever you look in this small city of 19,500 residents, you can see thousands of shekels being poured into preparation for future rocket attacks.

Besides the various terror attacks on the border that have thankfully been thwarted by the Israel Defense Forces, there remains steady smuggling of terror weapons into the Gaza Strip. According to Israel Security Agency Chief Yuval Diskin, "Hamas is continuing to increase its strength, manufacture longer-range rockets and smuggle rockets of a far superior quality." One of these newer Grad missiles, coming straight from Iran with heightened targeting capabilities and explosive power, hit a school in Ashkelon over the Sabbath back in February. In early June, Hamas terrorists packed horses full of explosives and attempted to attack the IDF on the Gaza border.

The last home that was hit in Sderot on May 19, 2009. (Photo: Noam Bedein)

The situation in southern Israel is quieter than during Operation Cast Lead; however, as one can see from various small news bites, it is a very delicate silence.

As this delicate silence continues, the more trouble the victims of this once daily reality of rockets have with any sort of treatment. The emergency center that treats victims of the Kassam attacks shut down this June. The two centers that treat the vast psychological damage to the people of the region will shut down in the coming months due to lack of funding. One of the private sponsors of the centers, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, cut their funding due to a restructuring of priorities.

While the medical professionals diagnose people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as frequently as they do a common cold, there remains the unique Sderot phenomenon that there is no "post-trauma" yet due to the continuation of the rocket fire. Dr. Danny Brom, the founder and director of the Israel Center for Treatment of Psychotrauma, says that, unlike the northern cities of Haifa and Kiryat Shemona following the 2006 war with Hizbullah, Sderot is "not in a post-traumatic reality." Even though the need for trauma treatment is ever present, the centers serving Sderot and the surrounding areas are closing.

After the widely covered Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip this past December and January came the widespread criticisms and condemnations of Israel's actions. The United Nations established a fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict. Although the Israeli government did not officially participate, private individuals flew to Geneva to testify about the rocket fire in southern Israel. This past July, along with Noam Shalit, Sderot Media Center Director Noam Bedein gave testimony, with the assistance of videos, explaining the human side of the daily reality of rocket fire on civilians.

This is the third "quiet period" Sderot has seen. During the first, over 300 rockets landed in the region and during the second, over 500; now, the number is steadily rising to over 226 rockets. The world may have found new topics in the news, but that has not stopped the rockets. Sderot is continuing to go about its daily life through the eerie quiet, knowing well that the rockets will return in full force in due time.

In a cease-fire, both sides are suppose to stop all attacks. Not just one side.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Texas Governor Perry Visit Emergency Center in ‘Missile City’

by Jacob Shrybman

Following four rocket and mortar attacks in southern Israel this week making it 230 attacks since the ceasefire on January 18th, ranking Republican member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) and Texas Governor Rick Perry visited Sderot, Israel and the shut down Sderot Emergency Center accompanied by the Sderot Media Center yesterday. During the visit, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen noted the still apparent rocket threat, “It is only a ceasefire for Israel. It is never a ceasefire for the terrorists in the Gaza Strip.”

Texas Governor Rick Perry in Sderot, Israel.

The Congresswoman and Texas Governor visited the city of Sderot, Israel today to see first hand the toll that over eight years of rocket fire has had on the people of Sderot. The Sderot Emergency Center which provides immediate first aid to the victims of the rocket attacks was closed last month due to lack of funding and was specially opened for Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Governor Perry.

View video here.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen expressed her concern for the deterioration of the situation in Sderot. “We are very worried about the budget cuts of the trauma clinics. That is going to have such a severe negative impact on the children and the families of this ‘Missile City’.” The Congresswoman continued to highlight the city's psychological crisis and the closing of its trauma centers, “The needs are getting tougher and tougher and yet you see trauma centers getting closed. It just makes no sense.”

After visiting the closed Sderot Emergency Center, the Congresswoman and Texas Governor spoke to Sderot residents and viewed a short clip from Sderot Media Center ’s and American producer Liane Thompson’s upcoming feature-length documentary, Missile City Kids , that aims to create global awareness of the psychological trauma of Sderot’s children.

Texas Governor Rick Perry commented after the clip of Missile City Kids, “I hope most Americans realize that there’s a part of the world where children are still being victimized, and individuals, freedom loving people, who just want to live in freedom and live in peace are being victimized every day by individuals, who for whatever reason, want to attack in the most vicious and thoughtless way to destroy lives. And for what reason? G-d only knows.” The Governor continued conveying his support for Sderot, “Americans and certainly Texans are going to be supporting the citizens of this city.”

Gov. Perry not only paid a visit to Sderot, he is in Israel discussing security, seeing the sites, and received the Defender of Jerusalem Award.

Besides the lone star that sits boldly on both of their flags, Texas and Israel have much in common, and a sturdy relationship that should continue to grow, according to Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is in the country on a visit aimed at strengthening economic ties between the Jewish State and his own.

"I come from a pro-business, pro-prosperity point of view," Gov. Perry told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, "And the first goal of this trip was to further some of the economic development that already exists between Texas and Israel, and to recruit some of the Israeli businesses we visited here to expand and come to Texas."

Perry also recalled the Texas-Israel Exchange - a body that supports the trade of agricultural know-how between Texan and Israeli scientists - which he established in 1991, while serving as the Texas Agriculture Commissioner.

"We have a connection that goes back many years," he said. "And Israel has a lot that we can learn from, especially in the areas of water conservation and semi-arid land - Israeli technology has helped us a lot in dealing with drought."

"But also," the governor continued, "when I was here for the first time some 18 years ago and I was touring the country, the comparison between Masada and the Alamo was not lost on me. I mean, we're talking about two groups of people who were willing to give up their lives for freedom and liberty." Beyond the comparisons, Gov. Perry said another point of his trip here was to show other people "what was really going on", with regards to the military threats facing the country, and in particular the IDF's recent Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

"We went to the border with Gaza and received a briefing from the army there, and we went to Sderot and saw the police station with all the Kassam rockets piled up, we saw playgrounds that had to be covered from rocket fire. It's a powerful place." In that vein, the governor said he was also interested in learning more about security aspects while in the country, as Texas has a large, porous border with Mexico, and the recent violence in that country had unnerved many Texans.

"Israel is a leader in security technology, and another reason for our visit to the Gaza border was to see some of the security measures being used there," said Perry.

Read the full story here.

Wouldn't that be funny. The Texas border safeguarded by Israeli technology. I wonder when the Mexican government would start comparing itself to Gaza.

“I hope most Americans realize that there’s a part of the world where children are still being victimized, and individuals, freedom loving people, who just want to live in freedom and live in peace are being victimized every day by individuals, who for whatever reason, want to attack in the most vicious and thoughtless way to destroy lives. And for what reason? G-d only knows. Americans and certainly Texans are going to be supporting the citizens of this city.” Gov. Rick Perry.

I hope you will support Sderot too. Just click here, and donate what you can. The smallest amount goes a long way.

And this tribute is for Gov. Rick Perry and all the good people of Texas. How I wish he was my Governor!

Texas, our Texas - Lone Star State tribute

America’s Border and Sovereignty in Giuliani’s Hands

As much as I like Rudy and honor what he did for our nation following 9/11, I have some very big concerns. You be the judge . . .

A few weeks ago elitist Republican Texas Governor Rick “Good Hair” Perry endorsed his Trans Texas Corridor pal, Rudy Giuliani, for the Republican Presidential nomination.

If there were any doubts as to where Giuliani stands on the NAFTA highway, those doubts have been cleared up; - much to the dismay of anti-illegal immigration conservatives. Giuliani’s law firm is the exclusive legal counsel for Cintra – the Spanish corp. that will build and control the TTC for 50+ years. (FYI - The TTC is the first leg of the NAFTA highway.)

According to Bloggernews, “When Texas legislators tried to block and slow the Trans Texas Corridor, as the folks of Texas strongly desired, Gov. Perry went against them all and vetoed it. And most recently Gov. Perry told those of us who want a border fence that what we believe is “idiocy” .

Here's the quote from the Associated Press

“MEXICO CITY (AP) - Governor Rick Perry today used a stop in Mexico to criticize the U.S. Congress for failing to make progress on immigration reform.
The Texan suggested that members of Congress lack "maturity."

Perry called the proposed construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border "idiocy. . ."

By the way, it’s been rumored that Giuliani might give Perry a vice Presidential nod.

Perry, beloved by his big money and foreign national donors, is as detested by as many conservatives as liberals in Texas. Hypocrite is a mild term to describe Perry.
According to Corridor Watch Perry is disconnected from his base and at odds with his own party!

"It is truly incredible to see a Governor who's actions are completely disconnected from the people he is sworn to represent. His actions are at odds with his own political party party platform and leadership, they are in conflict with overwhelming public opinion, they offend a wide variety of large organizations that previously supported his election, they fly in the face of the virtually unanimous will of the Legislature. Who can help but wonder who Governor Perry represents and who's interests is he protecting?

Now the stage is set for the Commission to demonstrate just how far they will go to protect their Spanish partner. Despite incredible pressure North Texas has rejected the Governor's pre-selected private business benefactor. Will the Commission continue their now routine pattern of putting what Perry wants first and the people want last? Sadly, we believe that our Governor serves the money brokers, not the people. He has demonstrated that his loyalty is not with the people of Texas, but resides exclusively with those who can provide the kind of money that can further personal and political ambition. "

Here’s a little history on the TTC/Perry/Giuliani alliance.

"...At the center of negotiations for multiple legs of the Superhighway Corridor throughout Texas, is none other than Rudolph Giuliani's law firm which landed the Comprehensive Development Agreement for a widening of Interstate-35, now referred to as the TTC-35, in addition to the Master Development Plans for State Highways 121 and 130 among other legs of the TTC. All negotiations for Cintra were and are presently handled by the law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, of which Republican Presidential candidate, Rudolph Giuliani, has been a senior executive partner since March 2005. His law firm is the exclusive legal counsel for Cintra. Bracewell & Giuliani is comprised of 400 attorneys, based in Houston, TX with offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., London and Kazakhstan.

Cintra joined with San Antonio, TX-based Zachry Construction Corp. to help land the contracts, in which Zachry owns a 20% interest. The Cintra-Zachry proposal for TTC-35 includes a private investment of up to $6 billion in upfront payments for the complete construction, design and operation of a 316-mile toll road between Dallas and San Antonio, giving Cintra the right to set tolls and keep toll road profits for a period of 50 years, as it will for each road it has contracted..."
Source: http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/006620.html

Follow the campaign money to Bracepac on Giuliani. Note the very interesting list of contributors.

“Bracepac” is shorthand for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani… The same “law firm” with ties to Cintra - the Spanish company with plans to build the Trans-Texas Corridor. I-10 (Interstate 10) in Houston is being “expanded” as another arm of this deal. For more information on Giuliani and the TTC google “Giuliani + Cintra”.
Source: http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/041007_giuliani_ttc.html

According to the primary authority on the Trans Texas Corridor, Corridor Watch, here’s why Giuliani is owned by certain Texas interests.

"AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — 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."
Source: http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc_2007/CWA0709210.htm

Another TTC authority is Sal Costello. His Muckracker claims that Giuliani is profiting from the TTC and that Giuliani might give Perry a vice Presidential nod

Here's an excerpt from Sals' The “TTC Duo” in 2008?
Perry created the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC), and Giuliani has already profited off the first leg of the TTC eminent domain land grab. Giuliani's lawfirm, Bracewell & Giuliani, represents Cintra, the Spanish Company who will be building one of the first portions of the 4,000 mile TTC toll road (Nafta Super Highway). . . .
The talk is, this early endorsement and past ties, could add up to a Vice Presidential nod for ol Gov. good hair. . ."
Source: http://salcostello.blogspot.com/2007/10/giuliani-and-mr-39-in-2008.html

A view of Guliani from the left . . .

According to the radical left rag, The Nation, the dirty money ties between Perry and Giuliani run deep. You might want to discount this rag but the fact is that there may very well be some truth here.

"As I reported in my recent article, "Rudy's Dirty Money," the ties between the Perry and Giuliani camps run deep. Giuliani's new chief fundraiser, Houston day-trader Jim Lee, bundled hundreds of thousands of dollars for Perry's campaigns and was appointed last year to the board overseeing Texas's $96 billion public school employee pension fund. Other top Giuliani fundraisers, like corporate raider Boone Pickens and Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, have also donated generously to Perry.

Moreover, Perry has been a major booster of a controversial proposed toll superhighway, known as the Trans-Texas Corridor, which Rudy's law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, has helped represent. . ."

Source: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=243693

Some one-issue conservatives are so dim they can’t understand why Perry has endorsed Giuliani! Here’s the take from the Dallas Morning News.

"The Texas governor, who accompanied Giuliani on a campaign trip to Iowa later in the day, said, "Mayor Giuliani is not the enemy. Rudy Giuliani is a culture warrior."

Perry is the first major-state governor to endorse Giuliani. His endorsement comes just in time for a three-day "values voter summit" that begins Thursday by the Family Research Council, a religious conservative group. Giuliani and other GOP candidates plan to attend.

Perry was also to attend two later town-hall style meetings in Iowa, appearances apparently aimed at reassuring conservatives who might be leery of Giuliani because of his support of abortion rights and past stands on gay rights and gun control.

Perry's endorsement of Giuliani is a letdown for many Texas social conservatives and gun groups, who have considered Perry a reliable ally on opposing abortion and embryonic stem cell research and defending gun ownership rights.

Elizabeth Graham, director of Texas Right to Life, said Perry called her Tuesday to tell her of his planned endorsement. She said she urged him to wait.

She said she was baffled by the endorsement.

"I reminded Gov. Perry we worked so hard in Texas to pass legislation .... and those efforts will be stifled on the federal level by a pro-choice president," Graham said.

Texas land commissioner Jerry Patterson, who is a chairman of rival Fred Thompson's Texas campaign, said he was confused by Perry's endorsement.

"One of the most, if not the most, conservative governors in Texas history endorses a pro-choice, rabidly anti-Second Amendment former New York mayor, who as mayor endorsed the Democrat Mario Cuomo over the Republican George Pataki for governor of New York? . . .

Perry, now in his second full term, is seen in some circles as a possible vice presidential nominee. But for that he would have to overcome voters' "Texas fatigue" from President Bush's administration. "

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8SBALE81.html

For a good background on NAFTA, The Tras Texas Corridor and Perry, read Anti-NAU Warriors Beginning to Move the Rock Uphill

"Desperate people are forced to get creative when dealing with a government which refuses to protect people’s rights or to even engage in dialog. Such has been the case in Texas, where Governor Rick Perry and his administration have not only vetoed any legislation aimed at slowing down the TTC process, but have refused to even discuss it. . ."

Source: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/204

Texas Toll Party video shines light on secret deal between Perry and Cintra
". . .The video was also created to shine a light on the secret deal made between Gov. Perry and Cintra behind closed doors that will result in the start of the massive evictions in order to begin construction the TTC, according to Costello.In an effort to help the public visualize the impact of the TTC, the video shows a cartoon of Perry literally kicking families out of their homes and off their farms and ranches all across Texas."Texas families getting kicked out of their homes to benefit foreign construction companies is a horrific lottery with scary odds," said Costello. "They are forcing the TTC on Texans, and depending where they draw the line on the map will determine who gets booted from their homes."

Source: http://corridornews.blogspot.com/2006/09/heat-is-on-texas-gov-rick-perry-in.html

So there you have it. Sorry Giuliani, but your involvement with Perry and the TTC is just too telling!!!





Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Stop the ACLU, Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Chuck Adkins, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, The Uncooperative Radio Show! Special Weekend!, , third world county, Right Voices, Church and State, http://morewhat.com/wordpress/?p=2751, 123beta, Adam's Blog, Phastidio.net, The Bullwinkle Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, , The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Global American Discourse, and High Desert Wanderer, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Midland Reporter-Telegram: Hatchet Job on Giuliani and the GOP?

Is Giuliani in bed with the open borders NAFTA highway crowd??? You will have to decide.

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!


Related tags: politics, terrorist, congress, america, mainstream media, the left, journalists, left wing extremists, media disclosure, democrats, media news, blogging, newspapers, blogs, writing, current affairs, property rights, property-rights, law, mexico, canada, immigration, politics, cafta, america, bush, economy, government, usa


Giuliani
journalism
eminent domain
NAFTA
Trans Texas Corridor

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, Big Dog's Weblog, The Populist, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat,third world county, DragonLady's World, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, Republican National Convention Blog, High Desert Wanderer, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

No More Border Watch - Mexico 2nd Happiest Country in the World!

The Texas Border Watch Test Site is now closed.

It’s a good bet that it won’t open again if fibbing Perry gets his way! Looks like Gov. Rick Perry is now saying that a border fence is a “preposterous” idea – exactly a month after he was re-elected by the dim wits that bought into his “stronger border” ads!!!

Read more about Perry’s about face at squawkboxnoise.com: “So Rick yaka Govt. Good hair, created the virtual border watch. Well it was created in beta and is now closed. Supposedly to be upgraded to real world use.” Wanna bet?

Watch Borders – Star Spangled Video! Then pass it along!!!

In U.S., fear and distrust of Muslims runs deep (Ya think???)

(An excerpt from the usual Reuters Spin by By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent)

“POLLS SHOW WIDESPREAD ANTI-MUSLIM SENTIMENT
Those in agreement are not a fringe minority: A Gallup poll this summer of more than 1,000 Americans showed that 39 percent were in favor of requiring Muslims in the United States, including American citizens, to carry special identification.
Roughly a quarter of those polled said they would not want to live next door to a Muslim and a third thought that Muslims in the United States sympathized with al Qaeda, the extremist group behind the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
A poll carried out by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an advocacy group, found that for one in three Americans, the word Islam triggers negative connotations such as "war," "hatred" and "terrorist." The war in Iraq has contributed to such perceptions.”

It is interesting to note that the Reuters spin doctors failed to mention anything of criticism about CAIR. They just slipped by the fact that CAIR has supported Islamic terrorist organizations!

If you want to learn more about the nefarious CAIR activities, read this post from One Country Voice!!!

Why You Can’t Have an Intelligent Conversation With Loose Bolts (Leftist Loonies)

I thought you might find this utterly contradictory argument by BC Politics amusing, if not so tragically absurd. The author, Dave Nalle, attempts to give us all some “Basic Facts on Illegal Immigration.” The correct title should be “Basic Leftist Propagandized Talking Points for Blanket Amnesty.”

Here’s an excerpt. Please, please try very hard to follow his logic. Be patient with Dave, he just a “reasonable” leftist loon!

“Undocumented immigrants aren't necessarily the poor refuse of the world.

Mexico is hardly an impoverished nation overall. They have a higher GDP per capita and higher wages than most nations and a relatively low cost of living. The average wage is higher than anywhere else in South and Central America, including fairly prosperous nations like Brazil. Real poor people can't afford to travel to another country to earn better wages - they're too downtrodden. Mexicans can come here because they have the resources and skills to make it practical and worthwhile. What's more, Mexicans like the life they have in Mexico. A peculiar survey conducted in 2004 determined that Mexico is the second 'happiest' country in the world in terms of how satisfied their population is with the life they have. The US ranked 15th.”

Mexico 2nd Happiest Country in the World?

Now for real enjoyment, please do go to visit the “peculiar” happiness survey conducted by the University of Michigan. Note: Mexico ranks 2nd in the list of Happiest Countries in the World. We can tell you why. They are all moving to America!!!

“The University of Michigan's World Values Surveys (WVS) has compiled data on the happiest countries in the world for over twenty years. Their results are considered the most authoritative by happiness researchers.”

And oh by the way, have you ever met or even heard of a happiness researcher? I bet you can find them all in that very high region called "La La Land" (aka: University of Michigan).

Linked to Woman Honor Thyself, JustOneMinute