THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE'S ANTI DEATH PENALTY AGENDA REDUCES IT'S CREDIBILITY ON THE ISSUE TO THAT OF AN EDITORIAL RAG

"Drama likely as Scardino, Siegler face off in retrial"

 

So reads today's headline in The Houston Chronicle as it reignites the personal smear campaign on one of the most talented prosecutors in Harris County history and the death penalty generally.

The Houston Chronicle begins it's assault with:

"Two experienced attorneys, one a former Harris County star prosecutor known for theatrics and the other a skilled defense attorney, will face each other in the retrial of Anthony Graves, whose capital murder conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court."

The obvious implication is that Siegler is merely a very good experienced "actor" while Scardino, on the other hand, is a very good experienced trial lawyer. Not too subtle.

The Chronicle goes on to say: 

"Kelly Siegler — once a feared Harris County assistant district attorney — has been hired by Washington-Burleson County District attorney Bill Parham as special prosecutor in the Graves case."

Feared-- not respected, not fair, not a good trial lawyer, but simply feared.

The Chronicle then concludes:

".....Attorney Nicole Casarez, a journalism professor at St. Thomas University whose students found evidence they say shows that Graves is innocent, and Amarillo attorney David Mullin are working on the case for free because they believe in Graves' innocence."

Well there we have it! The defendant is obviously innocent so why even bother with a trial.

"Siegler, who declined to comment, has faced Scardino and Phillips in previous trials."

Well why did Siegler not comment? She must have something to hide, right? 

OR perhaps Siegler prefers to work up the case and have the requisite familiarity with the actual facts BEFORE making a comment.  For all we know Siegler may, after factual review, concur with the Texas Court of Appeals.  Maybe justice at all costs is more important than winning or losing at all costs for someone of her caliber.
Oddly the results of who prevailed at the referenced "face-offs" between Siegler and Scardino/Phillips are not mentioned; I am willing to bet that Siegler crushed the pair of defense attorneys at each "face-off". 

"...Scardino's toughness and Siegler's flair for the dramatic..."

Puh...leeze!

"....Parham said he hired Siegler because he only has three assistant district attorneys, two of them inexperienced. “I have a small office and I need the extra help,” Parham said.

This is not the first time that Siegler has been hired to help a district attorney in a small county. Wharton County District Attorney Josh McCown hired Siegler in 2008 to help prosecute the county's first death penalty trial in 29 years."

Perhaps staff writer Harvey needs to tell the rest of the story.....The Wharton County defendant was convicted and sentenced to death for executing a Texas game warden.

harvey.rice@chron.com

It is my opinion that at The Houston Chronicle:

The anti death penalty agenda has clouded their objectivity. 

Editorializing has supplanted journalistic integrity.

Personal vendettas have eroded balanced reporting and trust.

It is no wonder readership is so dismal at the once venerable publication......

CONROY MURRAY, M.D.......ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OR CRIMINAL CONDUCT

Should a patient's social status and notoriety be a factor in evaluating the guilt or liability of a treating physician's conduct?  The answer seems to be obvious, but society has chosen otherwise.
If the "King of Pop" had instead simply been the head of the local PTA, does anyone really think that Dr. Murray would be facing involuntary manslaughter charges?

What kind of precedent does this set for the administration of health care in America? 
Henceforth should all health care providers suspected of malpractice now be presented to a Grand Jury as well?

Every bad outcome does not constitute criminal activity.....accidents and poor judgment are often simply just that.

When a bus driver, without evidence of enhancement, accidentally crushes and kills a small child who runs in front of his vehicle it is tragic but vastly different than a reckless tow truck driver racing down a feeder road with cocaine metabolites on board who T-bones a car killing it's passengers.......the prosecutors need more than a bad outcome to a celebrity patient to prosecute a doctor who exercised poor judgment.

HARRIS COUNTY'S POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT INDUSTRY IS NOTHING MORE THAN LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION

The political endorsement industry has truly become a seedy business.
In Harris County, WHAT an individual knows, too often takes a back seat to WHO he knows, literally.   When a candidate succumbs to the brothel mentality that lures him into the political elite's backseat; we're the ones getting screwed at the end of the day.

The Harris County "King Makers" (as these skanks like to be called), not the voters, elect our local politicians. 
I am not sure who is more vile and disgusting: the vermin of the political endorsement industry or the apathetic uninformed citizenry of Harris County who have,by proxy, conceded and acquiesced the process.

What coffee or luncheon a politician attends and who is outright paid off is more significant to a successful campaign than what qualifications or experience a candidate has.
Unf*ckingbelievable!
The average citizen lives in an oblivious fog to this reality; while those of us informed as to the actual qualifications, ability and experience of the candidates in a particular race are self righteously appalled. 
But lest we be hypocrites; most of us that truly are well informed on a particular race, are so for personal reasons; proclamations to exclusively serve the best interests of the community, notwithstanding.

One of the things I hope this new movement to awaken America achieves is that people of character become more informed and involved in the political process generally and not limit involvement to narrow personal needs. That not only do they become fed up with this corrupt way of pre-selecting our candidates based on payoffs and political extremism; but also that some of them decide to stand up and replace the self serving professional politicians.
President John F. Kennedy was profoundly prophetic when he implored Americans to: "....Ask not what your country can do for you; but what you can do for your country..."

Men and women in our communities with real life experience who have excelled in their chosen field based on ability and merit; whether in the private sector or in government, must actively decide to make a difference in the governing process. 
Entrepreneurs, plant managers, small business owners, doctors, teachers and others should be encouraged and supported to take the time and make the sacrifice---not to enhance their careers or portfolios; but because it is the right thing to do for their community.
Giving back, for those that have been blessed with so much, is a privilege.

So if you're tired of inept professional politicians like Pat Lykos----get involved in the process and promote quality leadership for Harris County. 
You have no right to complain if you don't vote and you should not vote if you are not informed.

OBAMA PRAYS FOR CIVILITY....OR DOES HE?

Speaking at the annual National Prayer breakfast yesterday, and fresh on the heels of the personal rebuke handed to him by Scott Brown's populist victory; Obama stated " there is a sense that something is different now, that something is broken, that those of us in Washington aren't serving people as well as we should."
Really! Who knew?
Obama moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue campaigning  precisely on this theme.  Obama's failure to deliver on this campaign promise is due to his ineptitude, indecisiveness and desperation.  To imply that this is a new epiphany, rather than arrogant incompetence, is a gross underestimation of the American people.

O man then pulled another card out of his victim deck when he declared: "you can question my policies without questioning my faith or citizenship".
Really?  Then why not actually join a church and produce a birth certificate instead of spending big bucks to hide it.  Very simple solutions to such insincere protestations.  He reminds me of the child who killed both of his parents and then pleaded for judicial leniency based on the fact he was now an orphan.
Apparently Obama likes to promote the controversy of his birth and faith so as to distract the people from the real issues of import and marginalize scrutiny of his "leadership skills".

Finally, not to miss an opportunity to blame Bush for something, Obama also said that his office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships had  " turned the faith-based initiative around" from it's previous incarceration under the Bush administration to "find common ground among people of all beliefs."
We can all agree that Bush made some poor decisions during his tenure as POTUS; but  certainly no one can reasonably criticize his personal commitment to Jesus Christ or his sincere respect for the legitimate faith of others. 

 This blatant hypocrisy is falling on deaf ears--even among his staunchest supporters outside the African-American community.......the dress rehearsal is over, Mr. President!

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INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OR BIG GOVERNMENT.........THE NEXT MIDTERMS ARE CRUCIAL

"The free enterprise system has blessed the United States of America with the greatest prosperity, the highest standards of living, and, most important, the greatest individual freedom known to man. If we can preserve this system, and our freedom, we can look forward to turning over to our children, and our children's children, an America that is more productive, prosperous, and stronger economically, financially, morally, and spiritually, than the one we inherited."
--William E. Simon,  the 63rd Treasury Secretary of the United States

The current US Treasury head, Timothy Geithner,  is no William Simon. He and his fellow Secular Progressives have chosen to dismantle Simon's ideal through a sordid path of blame, bailouts, entitlements and big government.
As we allow big government to replace our individual liberty and moral compass we lose that which made America the envy of the world.

If we are to survive as a nation worthy of being passed on to future generations; then we need to be worthy ourselves. "American Correctness" needs to supplant "Political Correctness".
America's greatness was not predicated on class envy that rewarded failure or inferiority.  Our foundation was premised on early Americans heralding  hard work, sacrifice and common sense traditional values. In contrast, modern Americans are content to be ridiculed and scorned for sharing these beliefs.
Enough is enough.

America must reclaim her sovereignty that she unwittingly abdicated to the fringe groups of each Party.
The average American knows right from wrong; but her lines of judgment have been blurred.  The sensory overload of the socialist secular movement is formidable; but their death grip on American government must be challenged.  Conceptually they are no different than the Sunnis and Shiites and we have allowed them to dominate our public policy nationally, locally and abroad. Each group clings to their own special interests with total disregard for America's best interests or survival.  Corporate America versus the unions.  The "Mom and Pop's" are fading fast.  A feeling of helplessness fueled by anxiety feeds America's trepidation and anger.

So America has a choice:
1. Do we sit back content watching American Idol and NFL football apathetic to our eroding liberties; OR
2. do we demand that our government and elected officials live true to the United States Constitution and serve, rather than exploit the American people.

I submit that the sanctity of life coupled with the freedom of individual liberty affords man the greatest opportunity to achieve happiness.....it is a privilege that our forefathers fought and died for and must never be abandoned or taken for granted.

PRETENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL PLATITUDES........PULEEZE

"Believe what I say NOT what I do", has officially replaced "Change we can believe in".

Obama's narcissism is something to behold.  I lost count at how many times he used the word "I" in this, his first State of the Union address to the nation.
Dick Morris was correct in his prediction that Obama was an ideologue who would not pivot--that his arrogance would preclude compromise. Thus the pathetic irony in Obama's condemnation of  his Washington cohorts for this same fatal flaw referenced throughout his pandering oration.

Apparently, the buck stops anywhere except at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
If it's not Bush's fault then it must be the fault of Congress, the banks, Wall Street, the wealthy, big business, any successful small business, the energy sector, China, racism, anyone who doesn't buy into global warming AKA climatic change, etc.
Obama is the quintessential pretender but his role as victim is wearing thin. It is time for him to man up and take responsibility for the office of POTUS.

The mystical nirvana Obama promises will crumble when the consequences of reality reveal the delusional foundation of his Marxist premise that the Federal Government not only can, but should, solve all of America's problems. Big government is, as Reagan pointed out, the problem, not the solution.
The government's role is not to raise us from cradle to grave, responsible for our every need; but rather to promote individual responsibility.

There are common sense reasons why Obama's speech was full of it.
How does Obama keep from falling on the floor laughing when he advocates:
1. the need for Cap & Trade in almost the same breath as promoting aggressive exploration of America's natural resources and being more competitive with China? 
2. that his fellow Dems not politicize health care.
That is Obama's exclusive right.  They must vote for it regardless of personal political consequences since he's not the one up for re-election. After all, if someone is going to fall on the sword it sure as heck won't be Obama.
3. taking money from big banks that are now lending responsibly to provide funds to little banks for high risk loans.
Didn't Albert Einstein say that insanity was repeating the same experiment over and over and expecting a different result?
4. an across the board Federal spending freeze described as irresponsible "hatchet style" by Obama when McCain advocated this during the campaign.
But there is a caveat: ~83% of the budget is exempted, a ~24% increase to the affected 17% has already occurred in the past year, the freeze doesn't take place for another year, if then.
What about cutting spending as opposed to jacking it up and then freezing the inflated amount? WTF?
5. another stimulus even though he hasn't spent 2/3s of the last one yet.
Sounds like a squirrel storing a stockpile of nuts before the freeze.
6. $100 BB fee on big banks for past bad behavior.
I'm sure none of that will trickle down to the consumer! Ha!
More nuts for the hungry squirrel in any regard.
7. pandering to the don't ask don't tell military madness.
Now that is a pressing issue right now.
8. circumventing decisions of the US Supreme Court that he disagrees with.
Personally, I also disagree with the high court on their recent decision allowing unlimited corporate political contributions, but that is not the point. George W  disagreed with Roe v Wade in 1973. Imagine the Left's outrage had W called out the Justices at a State of the Union address with a similar inappropriate outburst?
9. a mandate for higher wages for women at a time when employers are cutting wages and employees.
That's going to make women more attractive to employers in the current hiring environment?
10. it is about the American people and not Obama.
Who the hell is he still kidding?

My brother please!

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS SMILING

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
-Benjamin Franklin

Obama and his so called Progressives could sure use a tutorial from Ben Franklin.

The State of the Union will be delivered in a couple of days.  There is no doubt that the Obama speechwriters are in overdrive trying to account for the once ridiculed Tea Baggers who hold true to this principle of Franklin.
The fishermen are simply fed up with the government confiscating and redistributing their catch before getting to market. 

The privileged elite often underestimate the common sense and power of the working class.
Obama is clearly out of touch with the American workers who provide for their families; that is unless they are unionized.
During the campaign, Obama was more concerned with the rising cost of arugula at Whole Foods than he was with the basic needs of the workers in America.  He ridiculed rural America's strong Christian faith and the 2nd Amendment when he labeled those who opposed him as bible and gun clutching weirdos.  Last week in Massachusetts he ridiculed the average "Joe the Plumber" working class yet again when he stated that anyone can buy a pick up truck-what's the big deal? 
Well the big deal, Mr. President, is that the working class understands and appreciates what Franklin and others of his time stood for; they've just been really quiet about it until now. 
Today they are tired of having to work harder and harder so others can choose not to.
They are the Silent Majority that BOTH PARTIES have taken for granted.
They have finally said ENOUGH and are mobilizing in record numbers all over America.

Populist apathy is what the hard core Republican and Democratic big wigs have come to expect.  It is what validates their extreme views.

So instead of merely complaining about how bad our choices of candidates for public office are----get involved.
*Have the conviction and independence to support merit over Party affiliation.
*Encourage good people to run for office.
*Support qualified candidates with more than your tongue or keyboard.
*Vote in the primaries and runoffs; not just the main election.
*Be a responsible voter and educate yourself on the relevant issues. 

A policy of catch and release does not feed your family.
So stand strong, not down; and support people of character, not professional politicians.